Even if you don’t live in a hurricane zone, and your roof appears to be functioning perfectly well, getting your roof in tip top condition for those lazy summer months when roof repairs are the last thing you want to think about, is highly recommended.
Just because you’re good at making minor repairs to your home, and fixing things that have broken, this doesn’t automatically make you an expert at fixing roofs, and unless you’re qualified and experienced in roof repairs, you should almost certainly leave it to the experts.
Routinely checking your roof for damage after a storm has hit, can help mitigate the risk of costly repairs, and having a professional roofing contractor check it out, is always advisable.
Routinely checking your roof for damage after a storm has hit, can help mitigate the risk of costly repairs, and having a professional roofing contractor check it out, is always advisable.
While you might not spend a lot of time gazing up at your roof, or even give it much of a second glance, there are plenty of signs that can show you whether your roof is in need of repair, and the sooner you can spot them and get them professionally repaired, the better for your roof, and your bank balance.
Roofs that are between 15 and 20 years old are generally considered to be older, and oftentimes, when roofs reach this age, they can start to show signs of wear and tear. While some of these signs may not give immediate cause for concern, many can lead to bigger, costlier problems as time goes by, and are worth addressing early on.
Roofs that are between 15 and 20 years old are generally considered to be older, and oftentimes, when roofs reach this age, they can start to show signs of wear and tear. While some of these signs may not give immediate cause for concern, many can lead to bigger, costlier problems as time goes by, and are worth addressing early on.
An asphalt roof can last for many years, and provided its maintained well and repairs are carried out in a timely manner, it might even outlive you! However, there will come a point in time when every asphalt roof needs to be replaced, even if only due to general wear and tear, and when the time is right, it doesn’t pay to hang around and postpone it.
Stucco is a highly durable and enduring option for the exterior of your structure. It is adaptable and can be applied in a sleek or uneven, textured manner. However, despite its strength and cost-effectiveness, like any other substance, it may be susceptible to harm. By identifying the indications of damage early on, you may have the opportunity to address it promptly with a partial restoration, thus avoiding the need for a complete replacement and saving yourself both time and money. In order to assist you in recognizing these signs, we have gathered the various ways in which stucco can deteriorate and the methods to identify them.
While winter can spell disaster for some roofs, if you get yours checked over well in advance of the harshest weather conditions, you can keep it healthy for longer, and avoid costly, inconvenient repairs or even a roof replacement.
While winter can spell disaster for some roofs, if you get yours checked over well in advance of the harshest weather conditions, you can keep it healthy for longer, and avoid costly, inconvenient repairs or even a roof replacement.
It’s not unheard of for homeowners to postpone having the roof of their home replaced due to the cost, but while this is understandable, it’s certainly not a good idea.
While they might look attractive hanging from the edges of a roof in winter, icicles can actually be a sign of something much more unpleasant and potentially harmful, to come: ice dams. These ridges of solid ice known as ice dams, form during snowy, freezing weather, and are often very thick. Forming along the eaves of a roof, they are more than capable of tearing off gutters, loosening shingles, and causing water to back up and start permeating your home.
While their original purpose is no longer relevant, parapet roofs that were once designed as defensive structures for buildings such as castles, towers and temples, are still important architecturally, and used universally in modern designs.
Since having a roof replaced is a significant investment, many homeowners delay the process for as long as possible, without realizing that it may well cost them even more in the long term. Some homeowners opt for the ‘band-aid’ approach of having minor repairs carried out, failing to recognize that this typically serves only to mask the problem, not fix it.
To ensure the structural integrity and longevity of your home, it’s important not to neglect its foundation. A home with a foundation that has become weakened over time, or is damaged in some way, will inevitably lead to your entire home beginning to tilt at an angle if not repaired professionally and in a timely manner. A whole range of other issues can also occur as a result of foundation damage or weakness.
Masonry structures are typically extremely durable, hardwearing and long lasting, but as with most construction materials, time and general wear and tear can cause them to become damaged. In fact, there are a number of different factors that can contribute to masonry damage, either directly or indirectly:
While all business owners want to save money wherever they can, neglecting to care for a commercial roof by not having it inspected on a regular basis, and repaired when necessary, is the quickest way to blow your budget and end up spending money that could easily have been saved.
A leaking roof is no laughing matter, and even if you’re the type of person who chooses to see the glass as being half full instead of half empty, if your roof has sprung a leak and you don’t take it seriously, there will be little positive to glean from the situation. Water has a way of getting into just about any place, even those you might least expect it to, and when it does and it goes unchecked, the consequences can be devastating.
A leak in your roof can cause panic to set in, but while it is important to act quickly as soon as you spot one, there are some simple things you can do to limit the damage and cost of repairs until a professional roof repair contractor arrives:
As your home’s first line of defense against mother nature and everything she throws at us, your roof should be kept in good condition at all times, and any damage to it can put the safety of you, your family and your home, at risk. With this in mind, repairing your roof swiftly when it’s damaged, or replacing it when repair work is no longer feasible, is essential for the longevity of your home, and should never be left overdue. However, some roof repairs can be costly, and relacing your entire roof may be an expense you hadn’t accounted for.
Having your roof repaired or replaced can be a significant expense, and as such, it’s vital that the work is carried out to a satisfactory standard. But should you check on the standard of your roofers work while the project is underway or wait until they’ve finished? And what should you even be looking for?
Flat roofs on any type of building, be it commercial or residential, come with their own set of unique issues, and while they can often look attractive and be incredibly functional, they do require a certain degree of maintenance.
If your attic is poorly ventilated and has too much moisture, or your roof has sprung a leak that you’ve failed to address, you could have yourself a serious roof rot problem, which if left untreated, could spread by as much as 10 feet a year, and even cause your roof to collapse. Sound shocking? That’s because it is!
Did you know that every single year, as many as 3,000 commercial roofs collapse in the United States? While in some cases, a roof collapsing was fortunate enough not to harm anyone, in other more tragic instances, people lost their lives.
There are many factors that make metal roofs superior to ones constructed from asphalt, but it’s always important to look carefully at all of the attributes and benefits before going ahead with a project as significant as a new roof, to be sure that you’ve made the right choice.
While none of us like to think that our roof may have been installed incorrectly, the majority of homeowners aren’t roofing experts, and wouldn’t even know what to look for when checking their new roof installation. Fortunately, there are 4 ways to check whether your roof is capable of doing its job properly, and if you spot any of them, consult with a reputable, local roofing firm at the earliest:
There are many things to take into consideration when choosing a new roof for your home, and you’ll want to think long and hard about how it looks, how it’s going to perform, and how long it will last you. Choose the wrong roof, either in materials, style, or both, and your home could quickly begin to suffer from rot and mold. The right roof, on the other hand, will give you years of solid and effective protection and add both beauty and value to your home.
There are several factors you might want to take into consideration when deciding what material to use for your new roof, such as cost, durability and sustainability. To help you make an informed decision, here are 5 of the most popular roofing materials along with a brief description:
There are many different kinds of materials to choose from when having a new roof installed on your Florida home, and while the choices may seem overwhelming, a conversation with your chosen local roofing contractor will help you determine which would best meet your needs.
Roofs are usually replaced when they’ve become old, damaged and unsafe, and whether you plan to remain in the building or wish to sell it, having the roof replaced in such instances, is usually a necessity. However, while you might see this as an expense you can do without, if you are planning to sell your home (now or in the not-too-distant future), a new roof could boost its value, and even help you to sell it quicker.
Nowadays, protecting the planet and improving our carbon footprint is uppermost in many people’s minds, and with more and more modern home designs reflecting this, eco-friendly roofs are growing in popularity.
Unless you’re skilled and experienced at handling some of the more complex elements of an apartment renovation project, it’s always best to hire professionals to ensure that the work is carried out properly, and perhaps more importantly, safely.
As an expensive home improvement, having a new roof fitted is not something you should rush into, and you’ll need to make sure you choose the right style to suit your home and give both you and it, a good level of protection.
When your roof springs a leak and your entire home becomes flooded (or even a part of your home), the cost, not to mention the inconvenience, can be hard to bear. Thankfully, if you take care of your roof and get it replaced or upgraded as necessary, you should never be faced with such a situation. The following 6 indicators can help you determine whether it’s time to replace your roof, before a costly leak is sprung!
There can be a number of causes for a leaking roof, such as improper installation, damage from a storm or a lack of general maintenance, and any one of them can cause significant damage to a home if left undetected and unrepaired.
Forming a low, protective barrier that extends out from a wall at a structure’s edge, like a roof, terrace or balcony, parapets are a feature of many modern and ancient structures. Where parapet roofs are concerned, a low barrier wall is constructed out of the roof itself.
Most homes require some sort of repairs to their masonry over their lifespan, but while it can be tempting to tackle them yourself to save some money, should you make one or more of the mistakes listed below, it could end up costing your dearly,
If you’re waiting for warmer weather before tackling your concrete repair work, it might be worth checking with a local construction company as to whether that’s a sensible idea or not. While you might automatically think that a sultry summer’s day would be ideal for repairing concrete that’s showing signs of wear, humid and hot weather conditions can actually stop the concrete from setting properly, while colder temperatures can easily cause the formation of cracks.
If you own your home, are a commercial property owner or manager, or even if you’re a realtor, the decisions you make when it comes to repairs and home improvements, should always be made with the long-term interests of the property in mind. When it comes to reroofing, it’s no different.
An amendment to the rules governing exterior wall inspections and repairs was put in place by the New York Department of Buildings (DOB) in December 2019, after the tragic death of U.S. architect, Erica Tishman. Struck and killed by debris fallen from a brick tower in midtown Manhattan, the new rules came into effect back in February of 2020.
A stunning addition to any home when installed professionally, concrete walkways, driveways and patios can also increase a homes’ functionality from an external perspective, and make getting to and around the property, a lot safer and comfortable.
Patios are a great addition to any home, and having some outdoor space to enjoy and upon which to entertain friends and family, is something most homes would benefit from.
When mortar joints found between masonry materials such as brick and stone are finished, this is known as ‘pointing,.’ While masonry materials are typically long lasting and strong when used in construction, the mortar, however, isn’t quite as indestructible and needs periodic maintenance to ensure and maintain structural integrity.
Used in all manner of construction projects throughout the world, whether for residential, commercial or industrial purposes, masonry structures are typically sturdy, durable, energy efficient, resistant to fire and even sound-proof. That said, while nothing beats masonry in terms of longevity in the construction world, it can still be prone to damage that if left unrepaired or unrestored, can pose a serious threat to the very integrity of a building or other such structure.
When thinking about adding onto your home, it’s not always easy to know whether you should increase its footprint and build outwards, or get your extra space by going up, instead of out.
While building your own home can be a fantastic idea, there are few individuals who are capable of doing so without the project becoming a disaster, as they’re simply not qualified or experienced to act as their own general contractor, or GC. Hence, for most, it makes sense to hire a professional, licensed contractor.
While it’s obvious that building a sprawling mansion is going to cost more than a smaller, more traditional home, if you’re looking for budget friendly house styles for your next construction project, you might be pleasantly surprised to know that there are several:
Going up with your home addition, or out, is a choice facing many homeowners wanting to make their property bigger, and often, the reason for wanting to do so, will influence the direction of the build. For example, if you want to extend your kitchen and make it larger, going out is the natural choice, while a homeowner wanting to add more bedrooms to their home, would likely go upward.
If you want to make some changes to your home, perhaps because you’re outgrowing it or you want to increase its value for selling it in the future, you’ll probably consider a home renovation or addition project. While home renovations and home additions are entirely different, both projects begin with the same series of steps as demonstrated below:
If you’re thinking about having your dream home built for you, it can be helpful to have a better understanding of some of the associated costs, which will help you create a realistic budget.
The different lintel types available for use in construction, each have their own pros and cons, with the most commonly used being made out of timber, concrete and steel.
If you’re having your home built by a professional construction company or general contractor, you’ll need to sit down together and have a conversation about what your home will be built from, and how it will be constructed.
Adding value to your home is easy with the right kind of construction projects, but it’s not always easy to know how much you should spend to get a good return on your investment, and what types of projects to choose.