Category: Home Improvement

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Interviewing a Potential Roofing Professional

Every roofing professional is not created equal. Some are talented but messy. Others are great at paperwork and marketing while their craftsmanship suffers. A few are neither qualified nor properly accredited. Many are hardworking, honest, and extremely able professionals. Asking a few simple questions before choosing a roofing company can help ensure you choose one of the best and result in a relationship that is beneficial to you both.

What to Ask a Potential Roofing Professional

Choosing a talented roofing professional can be tricky. By asking these questions, you can gain good insight into your roofer.

Licensure

It is always a good idea to make sure your potential roofing professional has a license to work in your state. Licensure programs exist to protect you from certain liabilities and to protect contracting industries from unscrupulous business people. When interviewing a contractor, do more than ask about their licensure. Ask them to explain what licensing means. A contractor who is able to explain contractor licenses is more likely to honor the system by performing quality work.

Mess

Repairing an old roof and installing a new roof are both messy jobs. Having a conversation about how to handle the mess can save you considerable headaches. Look for a contractor that has established procedures for collecting and removing waste, and who is honest about the unavoidable clutter that accompanies the project. It is also important to inquire about a contractor’s systems for protecting your landscaping, exterior walls, and gutters from damage caused by ladders, tools, and debris.

Methodolgy

Weather is never 100% predictable. Rain, hail, snow, and wind can interrupt construction work unexpectedly. Occasionally, unfavorable weather can linger for days. Discussing a contractor’s methods for protecting your roof and home from different kinds of weather is a way to determine how prepared and organized your potential contractor is. Doing so will also set your mind at ease should inclement weather appear unexpectedly after the job has commenced.

Concerns

It should be easy to discuss any concerns you have with your roofing professional. The best credentials in the business do not count for anything if your contractor is incapable of listening to your worries, opinions, and requests. By taking the time to ask a few simple questions before hiring a contractor, you not only have an opportunity to make sure they appear qualified to undertake the task at hand, but that they’re capable of clear, honest, and prompt communication.

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How to Winterize Exterior Water Faucets

In many cases smart homeowners take a good amount of time to keep their pipes from freezing around the cold winter months, however many of them seem to forget that water faucets are also vulnerable to the cold. A small crack can quickly turn into something completely horrible as water expands due to freezing, resulting in a huge loss of water each day. The costs will not only affect your repair bill, but also your water bill as well so make sure you fix the issue as soon as possible.

Steps to Winterize Water Faucets

If you want to winterize your water faucets you should really take the time to do it right. This will help you to save yourself the pain later. Follow these tips to winterize:

• Turn off the faucets by closing them until they can’t tighten anymore. This will help keep the water from expanding if the weather gets really cold. Find the main shut-off valve for the faucets outside and cut their water supply by closing it as well.

• Drain the valves inside by placing a bucket or a bowl under the inside valves. Then open their drain plug and let the water flow out until they are empty. Replace their drain plugs and close them again.

• Get outside and remove the hoses attached to the faucets and store them somewhere safe and out of sight.

• You can prevent the freezing of faucets by checking out the local hardware store. Buy a set of faucet covers for your outside faucets and install them. They will fit properly and will protect them from the cold. Follow whatever instructions of domestic cleaning Westminster were part of the package and install them so you won’t have any trouble with the water remaining in the valves.

• Keep in mind that winterizing the faucets will cost you a whole lot less than taking care of the aftermath of a burst and leak. It’s in your best interest do your best to keep water faucets safe.

• Sometimes you may find that despite the best of efforts you’ve put into winterizing a faucet, sometimes they may freeze. If you want to thaw frozen pipes you can use a hair dryer or a heat lamp near them or even an electric heating pad. Space heaters can also work as long as they are pointed at the pipe. You should make sure you never use blowtorches or other flaming tools. This may cause a rapid expansion of water inside, thus leading to an equally rapid damage to it as well.

 

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Home Improvement Blog

Winter Roofing Preparation Tips

There are things during the winter that need to be addressed if you want to keep the water out of your home.  This is especially true during the winter. Because of this, winter roofing preparation is incredibly important. If you have any issues during that season you will have a lot more difficulties dealing with them during the winter. Regardless of how hard a winter may be, you will need to deal with a few winter preparations ahead of time. It’s especially important to focus on winter roofing preparation. Keep in mind that there is much work that needs to be done and it will not be available for you unless you have no snow on your home, allowing you clear access to its roof.

Roofing Preparation Tips:

The following tips will cover what you need to do for winter roofing preparation:

Roof Cleaning

• Make sure you keep your roof as clean as possible before winter rolls around or when you have a break in the snow. One of the main reasons for leaks and damage to a roof are the debris scattered on it. Get rid of any dead leaves, garbage and branches that may be out there.

• Speaking of branches you should make sure you trim the overhanging ones that loom over your roof. If you have those you must absolutely make sure you take care of them as soon as possible. This will cut down on the debris on your roof, lowering the costs for maintenance and also making sure there will be no piles of snow threatening your roof.

• Clean the gutters as soon as you can, as clogged gutters can be a great danger to your roof. Ice dams can form as well as other issues, so make sure you clear the gutters from leaves and debris before snow sets in or during one of the breaks when it doesn’t snow. If there are too much debris inside the gutters, make sure you spray them carefully with water to clear them.

Ensure Proper Insulation

• Upgrade the insulation of your attic with a better one to prevent roof leaks and to increase the heat efficiency of your home. One of the easiest ways leaks happen is because the heat of your home escapes through the roof and it melts the snow around it. Good insulation will minimize the transfer of heat, thus allowing you to keep things safe and warm.

• Clean the roof with a roof rake, as this is an excellent tool for removing snow from it safely. This will also help prevent the previously mentioned ice dams and leaks. Make sure you do that carefully as to not damage the gutters as you pull the snow down.

Inspect Roofing Material

• Find and fix any loose shingles and reapply roofing cement to hold them back in place. Make sure you replace any missing ones as soon as possible as the roof has constant exposure to water and this may easily lead to rotting and leaks down the line.

• Check out the metal parts of your roof for corrosion, holes and warping and make sure you fix whatever you can to keep things safe and intact. Apply roofing cement if you have to and work out all the issues.

For more tips, visit: http://www.moving-van.org.uk/W4-man-and-van/chiswick-man-in-a-van-W4.html

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Choosing the Best Contractor

Whether you are building a new home or looking to make some repairs on your existing home, finding the best contractor to do the job is essential for a good experience. Some home repairs can be costly, especially when they are not performed correctly the first time. Making sure that you have chosen the right roofing contractor can spell the difference between a job well done and a project that may have to be fixed in a short amount of time.

How to Choose the Best Contractor

Here are some tips to help you find the absolute best contractor in your area. By sticking to these guidelines, you will quickly be able to root our the exceptional contractors.

Are They Insured?

When looking into the professional roofers that you would like to use, you should be sure to find out whether that roofer is insured or non-insured. If you end up hiring a non-insure roofing contractor, you may run the risk of being sued or having legal problems should an incident arise. You would probably be liable for any injury that a non-insured roofer may experience while working on your house. While it may be less expensive to hire someone who does not have insurance, you should really consider whether that is worth it to you in the grand scheme of things.

Are They Licensed?

Not all states require licenses for roofing professionals.  However, you should check to find out if the contractor you are considering really knows what they are doing. Licensing does not always require a test. At least you can be reassured that they have to follow guidelines. They also know the workmanship that is required to effectively roof a home. The best way to find out if a roofing contractor is licensed is to call a local licensing authority. You can call either at the city or the state level to see if their license is up-to-date.

Get an Estimate

Narrowing down professional contractors can be complicated. This is especially true if you are not sure what you can expect as far as cost. A good way to help you decide is to ask for a proposal or an estimate. That way you will not be surprised by the final bill. You can choose someone that fits in your budget.

If you look for these qualities and services in an emergency roof repair company, you are much more likely to have a better, less stressful experience, even amidst a crisis.

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Shingle Roofing Tips and Guidelines

The thing about shingle roofing that makes them so nice and comfortable is the fact that they are easy to fix when problems occur. You could look for curdled, damaged and missing shingles with much greater ease than you would otherwise. You should pay special attention to every place on the roof where surfaces meet. Pay attention to vents and chimneys as well or any damage in the caulking or flashing.

If you still have leaks but you can’t see any direct damage in the area, then you may need to call a roofer. The reason for those might be a deterioration of the shingles themselves. If you do find damaged parts of the shingles you can usually repair them with a bit of work. Curled-back ones will need to be re-glued to the roof by using asphalt cement meant for roofing. You could also use a caulking gun with the suitable compound. Warm weather means you’ll deal with the problem with ease. However, cold weather means you’ll have to deal with shingles becoming more brittle and tougher to flatten.

If your shingle roofing is rotten, torn or even missing, then you will have to replace the shingles. Replace them with new ones as soon as possible. If you can lift a shingle from the roof with as little effort as possible, then this means it must be removed and replaced. If you have a large area of damaged shingle roofing, then you might be in need for a complete overhaul of your roofing area. This may require the help of someone more experienced than you are.

How to Replace Shingle Roofing

If you want to replace your shingle roofing already there, then you must do the following:

Removing Damaged Shingles

If you need to remove a damaged shingle, you should first start by lifting the edges of the shingles surrounding that one. Remove any nails with a pry bar, then follow that up by sliding the old shingle out. If you have any old and brittle roof cement underneath it, then you will need to scrape it off if you want to attach the new one. If any of your shingles were blown off during a storm, then you will need to remove the nails left sticking out.

Adding New Shingles

Putting a new shingle in place means you will have to work on it a bit. Round out the back corners of it with a utility knife.

Slide a shingle into the gap and have its front edge aligned together. It will align with the shingles on each of its sides and the rows above.

Lift up the corners of the shingles overlapping this one and fasten up the new one with some roofing nails on each of its corners. Cover the nail heads with some roof cement, then use that to smooth down the edges of the overlapping shingles.

If you have to replace entire rows of shingle roofing, round out all the back corners of the row where it meets the one above. When working with ridge shingles, the ones situated on top of the roof, you’ll replace them in much the same way. Overlap them on both sides and avoid using flat shingles for the roof peak.

Bio: This article has been created by Ella Andrews. She is keen on house remodeling and home improvement related themes. Currently she writes mostly on London Removal Services and home renovation tips.

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Blog Home Improvement

Being Prepared For Common House Repairs

Every homeowner is bound to run into common house repairs at some point. Frequent situations can occur both inside and outside of the home. Owning basic tools and having a bit of maintenance knowledge can help any homeowner tackle simple problems without hiring a handyman.

How to Fix Common House Repairs

These are the most common problems around the house. Luckily for you, there are common house repairs that you can do before you call in a professional!

Doorknobs

Since doors are used every day, often multiple times a day, the knobs are bound to come loose eventually. This can make it difficult to get a door shut tightly, or the handle can be too loose to turn properly. The simple fix is to tighten up the screws that attach the knob to the door, as well as the screws on the face plate attached to the door frame.

Toilet Troubles

Toilets can cause wet and messy headaches for homeowners. They can overflow, sending water rushing out onto the bathroom floor. This happens when it becomes blocked up, causing the valve to remain open and continue water flow into the bowl. In this case, the tank lid must be removed and the float arm lifted up to stop the water. A plunger can then be used to clear the blockage in the bowl.

Blocked Gutters

Gutters can easily clog with leaves and other debris. In order to maintain a proper drainage system, gutters need to be flushed out regularly. This can be done with a hose by shooting water in at a high pressure. Cracks in downspouts and gutters are also common. The application of gutter caulk should take care of any trouble spots.

Home ownership is a big responsibility, so it is best to be prepared with knowledge. A basic tool kit can have most problems repaired quickly and easily. With a little effort, common issues can be fixed without hiring a professional.

Heat Loss

One area where many homeowners overlook a significant amount of heat loss is in their roof. An aging roof can develop leaks, rot and damage, especially in wet environments or where snow and ice can be especially damaging.

A long winter with accumulated moisture can wreak havoc on the structure of a roof, this can lead to a great deal of heat loss and higher than usual energy bills. Fortunately, a roof that is in good repair prior to the winter heating season can provide protection from cold and the high cost of heating.

Yearly inspections of your roof will help you find any structural issues before you lose heat and gain a higher electricity bill.

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