Are Metal roofs a good idea?
Not a day goes by that I don’t see an ad for a metal roof and a common question I get is, “are metal roofs a good idea”? The straight answer is, “it depends”. But before rushing out to buy a metal roof you should go into it with the knowledge of whether it makes sense for your house in your climate. But like everything there are pros and cons. After reviewing this article, you will should have all the information you need to decide if metal is right for you. Pros Durability -…
Due Diligence, Research and Reviews
What does due diligence and research really mean when it comes to home improvements? There are times, that after we show our customers how we can make the building sciences improve their homes, and do it for an affordable price, they say they need to do their due diligence and some research. In an era where the internet affords you the ability to do this work beforehand, these steps should be done before you ever let a company rep into your home or on your property. Here ar…
Building Better – Industry Innovation
If you’re the type of person who likes to improve yourself or your projects each time you do one, you’ll appreciate our approach. Building Better explains how we do things — every project, like every class or seminar, is an opportunity to improve. We ask ourselves, how could this have been done better? Skepticism toward new product innovation Decades of experience have shown us exciting innovations in materials and methods of installation. Some have been go…
One Day Roofing is Possible But Know the Limitations
A good professional company can often do a complete tear-off of a roof and put the new roof on in the same day, but there are limitations and you should know what they are going into your project. Factors that can take longer Multiple facets — Roofers call this kind of roof “cut up”. If a roof is very “cut up”, it means that extra time and effort has to go into cutting each shingle and making it fit well in the area. Rotten Wood — When a roof is torn off, the discove…
Tesla Roofs Rich on Hype, Light on Details
Tesla, the car manufacturer, is now making roofs but they are light on details. Consumers should approach this with cautious optimism and make sure they ask questions. Here are a few that should be on everyones list: Who will install and service the Tesla roofs? We know that Tesla plans to have their own techs install the roofs, and to a certain extent, that makes sense. But what about damage? We know the Tesla solar tiles are strong, but they’re still make of glass and t…
Roof Raking Causes Damage – Inspect your Roof
Roof raking can damage your shingles and if you’re a roof raker, it’s time to climb the ladder to inspect what damage has been done. Granules are scraped off in the winter when homeowners rake their roofs. It’s understandable that many people go into panic mode when they hear of widespread water infiltration in the winter caused by ice damming. Home improvement shows scare folks about the weight of snow on their roofs. Some rush to the store to get …
What Kind of Variables Affect Price of a Glass Block Window?
The first thing you should know is that there is no such thing as an honest “ballpark” estimate. There’s no easy answer but here’s a few things that might help you. Here’s what an installation company is looking for: Identify the location the block will be put in. Basement Bathroom Identify the purpose of the block. Privacy Security Low maintenance High Water Protection Other Will this be for an installation above grade or below grade? Above grade windows means they won’t be…
Ask the Expert: Why is the trim on the bottom of my house bent?
What is causing the trim on the bottom of my house to get bent and knocked off? The photos tell the story. If you look closely you’ll see that your builder used a piece of custom bent aluminum which he adhered over a piece of foam on the bottom. That piece of trim is meant to mimic the apron on older homes. Sometime since the home was built it appears that there was soil pushed up against that wall so that it touched that trim piece. It may have never been a problem if we …
How can you tell if you have a Cedar Roof under your shingles?
Cedar roofs were once the norm prior to the manufacturing of asphalt shingles. In older parts of the City of Milwaukee we find a lot of cedar hiding under layers of asphalt shingles. There’s really only one way to verify with any degree of certainty whether your roof has cedar shingles. Look in the attic. With homes that used to rely on cedar shingles, ventilation was always key to making sure that the cedar lasted a long time. For that reason, decking boards were often pl…