Energy Master

Gutter Protection Reviews

July 11, 2014
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I’ll start by saying that there is no such thing as a legitimate review of gutter protection done by climate.  I’ve seen many review sites, the best known is Consumer Reports.  Unfortunately in their assessment, they did not control for climate. Here is Wisconsin the main thing that people overlook is quite possibly the most…

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Selecting a Contractor — the Do’s and the Don’ts

June 19, 2014
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As a contractor I’m often asked by friends what they should look for in a contractor.  Of course I always joke with them that they should find someone just like me, but since I specialize in certain products, that’s not always possible. So here’s the scoop. Spend the time to check out your contractor before…

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What does a roof cost?

April 29, 2014
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This is a great question, but an honest answer isn’t simple. Determining the cost of your roof includes many different factors. How many layers, what is the pitch of the roof, what is the condtion of the decking and what is the square footage of the roof? Those are the basics, but you shouldn’t limit…

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Stop Roof Raking

January 7, 2014
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This time of year, when roofs are covered in snow, some people are practicing a decades long tradition of using a roof rake to remove even small amounts of snow.  That’s a horrible idea.  In most cases all you are doing is scraping off a protective layer of shingle granules. Stop it. There are exceptions…

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When is the best time to clean my gutters?

October 9, 2013
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Anyone who tells you NOW NOW NOW is just trying to sell you something. Here’s the simple pros and cons. Pros: The gutters may only have to be cleaned once this fall if all of the leaves near your house have fallen. The rains that typically happen in October should flow better. Cons: If you…

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Can a Gutter Be Repitched?

October 9, 2013
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This is a complex question I often get from customers.    The answer is both yes and no. You can pitch a gutter but you must first understand the anatomy of a properly installed pitched gutter.   A hanger hooks onto the front of the gutter and is attached in the back by tightening the…

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Replacing Your Roof? Here’s a handy Homeowner Checklist to Prepare You.

August 12, 2013
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If there is one home improvement that will cause a dramatic change to your house, it is changing your roof.  But what should you be prepared for?  Is there anything you can do to make it as non-traumatic as possible? Here’s a few tips that you can do that will help you understand what to…

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How to choose a Roofing Contractor

July 27, 2013
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A common way that people choose a roofing contractor is because they saw a crew in the neighborhood and decided to go with someone who their neighbor went with.  Sometimes this makes sense, sometimes it does not. The older I get the more I rely on the “gut check”.  A good portion of what you…

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When is it time to replace my gutters?

June 12, 2013
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Sometimes it makes sense to replace your gutters, and sometimes it doesn’t.  Just like in the medical field, you first need to diagnose the problem in order to prescribe the right medicine. Here’s a list of times you DO need to replace them and times that you DO NOT need to replace them: Overflow:  If…

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When is it the best time to replace my roof?

March 24, 2013
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The short answer to that question is that the optimal temperature to have your roof installed is when the temperature is between 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Here in the upper midwest, homeowners regularly replace their roofs in the middle of summer. If homeowners understood how shingles are made they would probably change their…

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