How to Make Sure Your Roof Is Prepared for Spring Rainstorms

Your roofing is among the most costly elements of your house, and spring storms pose one of the greatest risks to them. From the wind tearing off a few shingles to the big branch dropping and poking a hole in your roofing, these storms will do significant damage to your roofing.

Although there is no solution to stopping this yearly onslaught of extreme weather, here are three simple and economical tips you could do to help shield your home from damage.

Trim Overhanging Branches

As you know, storms can become very turbulent in the spring months, and these moving winds can impose a severe effect on the trees surrounding your house. It is effortless for trees to drop their branches during these windstorms, particularly if some of these branches died in the cold season or if they have just gained their energy back.

Taking your time to check the trees and cut any branches that could be troublesome or unsafe if they dropped during a spring storm could also be one of the best choices you might make.

Clean Your Gutters

Your gutters' key task is to bring rainwater that falls on your roofing to a safe spot on the surface that doesn't harm your house. If your gutters are blocked up with debris as the storm hits, water will remain on your roofing and spill down the outside of your house, which can cause significant and costly damage.

After clearing your gutters of any residual autumn and winter waste, you should inspect them for holes or other harm indications that could prevent them from doing their job effectively or contact a roofing expert for roof repair.

Get an Inspection

Another step towards protecting your roofing is performing roof inspection. Before the storms begin, you should get an expert roofer to check your roofing and ensure it is in excellent condition. If they can help you discover and repair a small issue before the storms start to hit your roof, you'll save money and the hassle.

An experienced roofer will check your flashing. These are the metal parts that cover the joints of your roofing around the chimney and vents. They are more likely to be unplugged than other roof materials. Checking these sections and reassembling or removing any broken or loose flashing should help keep them safe in strong winds.

While you cannot keep spring storms out, you can protect your house by following the above tips. When your roofing is damaged during these extreme weather conditions, contact us.

How to Know When to Upgrade Your Appliances

Whether for cooking or cleaning, we rely on good appliances to help make our lives a little easier. Stoves, refrigerators, washers, and dryers, are all just some of the household appliances we use everyday. These are often large-ticket items that come with a hefty cost, and we try to avoid unnecessary upgrades and purchases by taking care of them when we can. So, it’s easy to become complacent with what you have and put up with the odd burner that doesn’t work quite right. 

How do you know when it’s time to swap out your old stove or oven for a newer model? There are many clues that let you know it’s time to throw out the old and install the new, and we’re here to help you find them! Here are our top three signs it’s time to upgrade your appliances. 

1. Things aren’t working right.

All right, this one is obvious, but it’s true! Because appliances can be expensive, we often put up with things not working properly. After so long, these minor inconveniences can become large hassles and annoying nuisances that take up a lot of extra time in the day. Here’s what to look for on some appliances: 

Stoves: 

A stove or range usually lasts around 15 years, so if you’re pushing that timeline or are well over it, it might be worth it to start looking for something new. When a stove starts to go, you can expect uneven heat distribution and faulty burners. Another sign is the control panel stops working, and this is the most expensive part to have replaced. 

Refrigerators: 

Current refrigerators are built much more efficiently than those of 20 or 30 years ago. These appliances last about 20 years, and can end up costing a lot of money to repair. If you notice a water leak, it may just be a simple hose that needs replacing, or it could be indicative of a larger issue. If your fridge is over 20 years old, it might be smarter to invest in a newer, more efficient refrigerator to cut down on energy costs and electric bills. 

Washing Machines: 

Washing machines last around 8-10 years, and in those years, they do a lot of work for your home. A tell-tale sign of a washer in need of an upgrade is excessive leaking. Some water here and there is no issue, but when it’s an excessive amount every time, you should start looking for a new washing machine. Also, listen for excessive noise. Older washers get easily unbalanced and cause a loud banging that is not only annoying, but causes even more damage to this appliance. 

2. Your appliances don’t match. 

There may have been a time in your life when you didn’t care about having mis-matched appliances. A white fridge, with a black stove, and a brushed-nickel sink seemed just fine at the time, but that aesthetic can become distracting. Or if you only replace appliances as they break, it’s easy to get this style. Because appliances last so long, many kitchens have this look. If you’re tired of your stove from the 90s and modern fridge butting heads, it’s time to upgrade. A kitchen should have a seamless, effortless look that is inviting and modern. Not every piece needs to be exactly the same, but once you pick a theme, stick with it and opt for streamlined appliances that match and make your kitchen look more expensive. 

3. There’s no more joy in cooking or any house work. 

Not everyone likes to cook or do chores like home organizing. When appliances are breaking and not working properly, these simple tasks can become a huge chore that ends up sucking the life out of your day. If you are someone who loves cooking, but have suddenly dreaded the thought of using your stove, you should upgrade! Ovens with uneven heat distribution, dishwashers that make loud noises, and dryers that need to be run multiple times to get the job done make doing small tasks draining. 

Now, a lot of items are built to function, even with broken parts, so that’s why it’s easy to let this go unnoticed for so long. But if cooking your favorite meal fills you with dread, and you often find yourself cursing your appliances, upgrade them and restore that small joy in your life. 

There are loads of appliances in your home that only live for so long. Everything from outdoor grills to dishwashers have an impact on your life. Not every appliance needs to be replaced right away, but it is smart to know your options and the tell-tale signs that an upgrade is imminent. 

Replacing appliances doesn’t have to be a hassle or intimidating––you just have to do your research, and there are many resources you can utilize to find the perfect fit for your home. 

4 Dashing Ways to Upgrade Your Home's Exterior

Every home exterior looks different based on its location, climate and materials. You may see a lot of siding damage or grow tired of looking at the same design. Either way, consider these four ways to upgrade the outdoor look and function of your home.

Siding Replacement

Your home's siding is the first layer of protection against external elements. You don't have to replace it only when you find damage, but if you've had damage before, upgrade to a newer, stronger material. Natural wood is not the best material, but engineered wood, brick and aluminum are good choices. Due to the weather, the wood must be very strong to resist all forms of damage, and the metal should be designed to avoid rusting.

Window Replacement

When you look at the outside of a home, you notice the windows but never give them a second glance. There are countless designs available to replace your old windows for a unique, memorable look. In addition, a window replacement increases the amount of light and ventilation allowed into the room.

Door Renovation or Replacement

Remodel the front door by turning it into a totally different color or design. Replacing the door is recommended to change the color, material and design all at once. Improve home security by installing a stronger door with a more secure locking mechanism.

Many homeowners replace their doors with enhanced window designs like stained glass. A door window does not have to be all functional since you can change its shape, size and shape. Change any detail from the color of the glass to the types of window accessories.

Lighting Replacement

Every old home has patio lighting that is outdated, wastes a lot of electricity and burns out very easily. Many homeowners hate having to replace the bulb every few months. Today, there are LED lighting solutions that are more energy efficient and last years longer without being replaced or maintained. In addition, there are unique lighting fixtures to add as decorative elements to your front or back yard.

People have different reasons for enhancing their home exteriors. Some of them want to save energy and money by installing energy efficient lights or windows. Others want to stand from a neighborhood full of similar-looking houses. You have hundreds of different housing styles and materials to choose from. Regardless of your budget and tastes, you'll find the perfect upgrades for your home.

4 Steps to Restore Your Home from Flood Damage

Homeowners are worried about how to restore their houses to how they looked before flooding hit them. Most of the affected homeowners concentrate more on decorating the house than fixing the damages. After your house has been hit by floods it takes more than just cleaning up the water, laying a new carpet, or re-painting. The first thing you should prioritize is safety.

Flood damage house provides the perfect environment for mold to grow hence poor air quality leading to sneezing, skin rashes, running nose, and red eyes. These kinds of health conditions are caused when the post-flood restoration is not done to the very best. Whether the flood is caused by a water system malfunction, groundwater, or falling water, it is crucial to act fast and start doing repairs on your house as soon as the water is cleared out of the structure. What do you do with a flooded house inside? The first thing is, by all means, necessary you should find a way to stop the flow of water but if the water source if from outside then the best way to prevent this is by using sandbags

To conduct a professional flood and water damage restoration in a flooded house you will need to bring on board professional labor to ensure you don’t miss anything. Before gaining access to the house make sure that electricity is turned off from the main switch. Below are steps to guide you when your house is undergoing repairs.

1. Claim insurance

The homeowners who have flood insurance should contact the respective insurance company for them to send an adjuster as soon as possible. Before the adjuster arrives make sure to take photos that will be used as an inventory. After you have done taking the photos of the house both in and out, begin cleanup, drying, salvage, and restore. Cleaning the house will give the adjuster a better view of the damages caused. For the damaged items, keep them as proof of loss. When the adjuster arrives he will assess damages done to the house and later the owner will sign a proof of loss document. If you don’t have flood insurance then the homeowner’s insurance won't cover the damages but if the government declares the floods a disaster you should apply for assistance.

2. Turn Off the Gas and Electrical Services.

Before gaining access to the house it is very important to be cautious and hire a professional to check your flooded house for gas leaks and electric wires. Failure to do this may lead to further damages like getting hurt by fire or electricity which in some cases may cause death.

3. Dealing with the Interior

After the house is declared safe, take your team into the house remove all the furniture, carpet, and bedding take them out. Replace the carpets and rugs because they might be contaminated by the floodwater. In case you want to salvage the carpets then take them out and spread them out, have them cleaned professionally using carpet shampoo, and later rinsing them with a solution consisting of 2 tablespoons of chlorine lead mixed with 1 gallon of water. If you own a wool carpet do not use bleach. After cleaning make sure to dry the carpet to avoid it getting damp after installation.

4. Check the Walls

To prevent mold, prolonged structure delay, and odor all walls should be opened even if they look undamaged. Drain all the water from the structure. When washing the walls use a phosphate-free cleaner of disinfectant starting from the top going down. Dry well after cleaning if possible use a fan, heater, air conditioner, or dehumidifier to speed the drying process.

It is very crucial to act quickly after such a disaster has affected your home to prevent further damages that might increase the cost of repair in cases where homeowners have no flood insurance. It is advised that even if you don’t live in an area that has frequent flooding disasters you should get flood insurance. If left unattended a flood-damaged house will be a new breeding ground for pests and diseases making it hazardous.