Need a New Roof: Matching Your New Roof Material and Color to the Style of Your House

If your home needs a new roof, it's also an opportunity to give your home a fresh new look. Different styles of architecture require different roofing materials. Also, consider heat gain and potential roofing repairs each different type of roofing may require. For example, in a hot, sunny place like Arizona, white roofs are preferred to reflect the sun. On the other hand, a dark roof could help to keep a home in a cold climate warmer.

Architecture

Your style of architecture can dictate your roofing materials and colors. For example, red terracotta roofing tiles are perfect for the Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes. Log cabins often sport forest green metal roofs. Modern and minimalistic architecture can also look fabulous with an unpainted metal roof. Finally, colonial and cottage-style homes look good with wooden shake shingle roofs.

HOA

However, many homeowners must abide by HOA (homeowner's association) rules and regulations. In that case, the color choices for a home might be limited. Types of roofing materials might also be specified in your HOA agreement.

Environment Color

If you’re making the decision based on color, you’ll likely want to use asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles come in a wide variety of colors and are also the most common roofing material in modern homes. Roofing repairs for asphalt shingles are also relatively straightforward.

To choose the right color, first step back from your home, and take in the surrounding environment. For example, if you live in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, asphalt shingles in shades of brown, gray, and green complement the natural environment. The natural light in the far north has a bluish tint, and roofs in cool shades of gray and blue look serene. 

On the other hand, roofs in the deserts of the Southwest require lighter shades of white and tan to keep the home cool. 

Finally, classic red brick homes often look stunning with a dark-colored roof. Before you purchase any shingles, take home a sample to see how it might look on your home.

Climate

Once again, consider your climate. While a black roof might look stunning on a red brick house in Phoenix, it can add a significant amount of heat to the interior. But asphalt shingles that are California Title 24-compliant are available in a wide range of colors, from light to dark. These “cool shingles” are made with highly reflective granules to reflect the sun’s heat. If you live in a hot climate but would like a dark roof, this is something to consider.

Repairs

Sometimes you don’t need a whole roof replacement. Sometimes you just need some roofing repairs. These will be much more affordable than a whole roof replacement. Instead of finding a new material, you’ll simply need to match the repair materials to your existing roofing. Your roof repair contractor should be able to find a similar material to do the repairs in.

There are no hard and fast rules about selecting a roof color. But, take into consideration any HOA rules and your home's surrounding environment. By taking the time to make the right decision, you can save yourself a lot of money and a lot of headaches in the future.

Reasons You'll Need a Plumber for Your Bathroom Renovation

It is the perfect time to consider a bathroom renovation if it smells old and the layout doesn't work anymore. You should also renovate it if the storage is insufficient and you notice brown rings on the ceiling. But before that, it is best to pick the right person for the job. Read on to discover why you should work with a professional plumber for your bathroom renovation.

Saves You Money

Your bathroom renovation can be expensive, especially when you do it on your own. Most homeowners usually spend more than they should on supplies and tools, which you might never use again after the renovation. You don't have to buy these tools when you hire professional plumbers because they have all the tools for the job. Above all, they will help you find quality discounted supplies for the project.

Complete the Renovation Quickly

Your bathroom renovation can take time, especially if you don't have enough time for the project. For instance, the project can take at least one month if you only work over the weekends. Calling a plumber is the right thing to do if you want to complete the renovation as soon as possible. They will devote their time and attention to the project until the end. Moreover, they have the expertise and tools to complete the job quickly.

On-the-Job Experience

Bathroom renovations are not as simple as they seem on YouTube tutorials. The truth is that things can get out of hand quickly. Regardless of how ready you are for the job, it is a good idea to leave it to the experts. Professional plumbers have been renovating bathrooms for the longest time and have the expertise to deal with any unforeseen problem. Also, they understand building codes better than you do.

Protect Your Valuables and Loved Ones

Accidents and flooding are likely to occur due to poor installation techniques. These issues can cause electrocution if the water gets into contact with electricity. In addition, they might promote mold and mildew growth in your home. Hiring a professional plumber will keep your valuables and loved ones safe during the renovation. Experienced plumbers always put safety first.

Professional Plumbers Can Handle Any Problem

Whether you are planning to buy a home or a realtor representing a client, professional plumbers like Spartan Plumbing and Services will inspect the drains, supply lines, water heaters, and all plumbing fixtures to make sure everything is good to go before you move in.

When hiring plumbers for your bathroom renovation, make sure to hire the best to get great value for your money.

How To Boost the Curb Appeal of Your Yard

Whether you’re doing it in preparation for selling your home or for personal reasons, improving how your yard looks takes a lot of time and effort. Fortunately, you can do some things to make a lasting impact that doesn’t require constant upkeep. Our guide today is on how to boost the curb appeal of your yard.

Change Up Your Landscape

The constant upkeep of a grass yard is not only time consuming but also quite costly, especially if you don’t get a lot of rain where you live. Plus, grass yards aren’t all that interesting, since they look the same as everyone else’s. That’s why you should start your yard makeover with some xeriscaping, or, as it’s better known, drought-resistant landscaping. Sure, you’ll still have some plants that will need some maintenance, but it will be significantly less than if you had grass.

Pave a New Driveway and Walkway

Stone driveways are popular choices since they’re more colorful and varied than standard asphalt; plus, they don’t require much upkeep. Depending on the stones you use, your driveway could last up to 100 years before it starts breaking apart. While you’re at it, you might as well replace the concrete leading up to your front door so that everything matches and flows well together.

Buy Some New Manhole Covers

Whether it’s in their yards or on their driveways, many people have at least one manhole cover on their properties—and now that you’ve made all of these stylish changes, it’s going to stick out like a sore thumb. Obviously, you can’t remove the hole, but you can replace the cover. Manhole covers can actually be made of quite a few different kinds of materials, so you’ll be able to pick out the type that best matches your new yard.

Switch Out Your Garage Door

If you have a plain garage door, then our final tip on how to boost the curb appeal of your yard is to buy a new one that goes well with your updated driveway. Anybody can have a plain white garage door. Purchasing one that matches the current décor of your home as well as your new and improved yard will significantly improve the overall look of your property.

10 Things To Take Care of Before Listing Your Home

Getting ready to list your home for sale is less stressful when you’re well prepared. Follow our list of 10 things to take care of before listing your home and feel confident as your home goes on the market.

Declutter Surfaces

It’s difficult to move on to the other items on the list if the house is covered in clutter. Start with all of the surfaces of the house, such as counters, coffee tables, and nightstands. Next, delve into the corners of the house where you’ve stashed things under beds and tables.

Clean and Dust

Give your home a thorough cleaning from top to bottom. Pay special attention to flooring, bathrooms, and kitchens.

Get your broom and vacuum ready because it’s time for the dust bunnies to make an exit. Dust everything from ceiling fans to under furniture.

Unclog the Drains

Buyers who are interested in a home will run the water and flush toilets. The last thing you need is a clogged or backed-up drain. Watch for signs that you’ve got a backup in your drainage system and get it fixed before listing your home.

Get Organized

Make the house look so organized that you start to reconsider selling. The most important areas for organization are kitchen cabinets, pantries, and closets. Spend a Saturday organizing, and it’ll make quite an impact during showings.

Paint Doors and Trim

Freshen up the house with touch-up paint on the doors and trim if your trim is outdated or painted and needs refreshing. White is popular and makes rooms look brighter.

Replace Lightbulbs

Walk through the house and replace any dull or burnt-out lightbulbs. This is a simple way to brighten up rooms and make them look clean and bigger.

Shine Glass and Appliances

Grab your favorite window and appliance cleaners and a roll of paper towels and shine all the shiny glass surfaces in your house. Here are some places to consider cleaning:

• Stove

• Dishwasher

• Refrigerator

• Stone counters

• Windows

• Doors

• Mirrors

Open Up Window Treatments

Let the sunshine in and make rooms look bigger by opening all your window treatments. Remove heavy drapes and open blinds and shades. Make sure any window treatments still hanging are freshly cleaned.

Keep the House Cool

When buyers walk through a stuffy home, it gives them a negative feeling. Keep the house set at a cool temperature so buyers feel alert and the house isn’t humid or sticky. Run ceiling fans if the air conditioning isn’t enough.

Make the Garage Attractive

Finally, clean out the garage. Try these steps for a clean and organized garage:

1. Remove everything.

2. Sweep it out and hose down the floor.

3. Remove cobwebs from corners.

4. Wash windows.

5. Go through items removed and donate or throw away what you don’t need.

6. Add shelving if you don’t have any.

7. Place what’s left neatly on the shelves.

8. Pull cars back in.

We hope our list of 10 things to take care of before listing your home helps as you prepare for an exciting move. Remember, every step is worth it for a stress-free, quick home sale.