Choosing to install Glass Block windows is a great way to subtly improve your room but it should be done with planning and a solid understanding of what you hope to accomplish with what could transform into a new space in your home. A properly installed glass block window tends to brighten up the room while…
Read MoreThe nailing zone is a manufacturer-required nailing area just below the center of the shingles. Manufacturers have specific instructions for installation companies. They tend to give about 3/4″ to work with in order to optimize the grip strength each nail has to hold down the shingle. But it is not the nailing zone alone that…
Read MoreIf you’re the type of person who likes to improve yourself or your projects each time you do one, you’ll appreciate our approach. Building Better explains how we do things — every project, like every class or seminar, is an opportunity to improve. We ask ourselves, how could this have been done better? Skepticism toward…
Read MoreYour homes soffit is an important part of a house’s roof system. It’s located on the underside of the roof overhang, and it provides ventilation for the attic space. However, over time, the soffit can start to sag, which can be a major issue. A sagging soffit can look unsightly and compromise the roof’s integrity.…
Read MoreDownspouts are critically important if you want a good water management system and unfortunately are the most overlooked by homeowners who are convinced that they’ve already done their due diligence. There are many differences and homeowners that stop at only one or two, make decisions they end up regretting. Here’s a short list of differences…
Read MoreIn an industry rife with cost cutting, sometimes contractors use a “bait and switch” technique — especially if the uninformed homeowner would never know the difference. Here’s the way to tell if you really have a triple pane window or not. Hold up a lighter to the window. If you see three distinct reflections, you…
Read MoreOut-of-state roofing contractors descend upon areas victimized by hail damage like hyenas after a kill. Often they’ll rent a tiny office where they can get their mail and you wouldn’t know they were from another state until the first time the roof they put on for you needs service. There are ways to recognize this…
Read MoreWhich is best, open valleys or closed valleys? Let’s explore the differences. If you live in the northern zone, such as Wisconsin, the open valley, which has metal in it, is far superior. Metal or open valley: A good contractor will start out by lining the valley with a rubberized membrane casually referred to as…
Read MoreGutters need to be replaced when they are not functioning to move water to a lower point in your property. However, the optimal time to replace them is when the roof is replaced but in a very specific order. Why do I make this distinction? It is because of how the gutter apron, sometimes referred…
Read MoreShingles are made from 3 primary layers which work together to protect you and your home. They are a fiberglass, asphalt, and granules. Fiberglass makes up the base of most modern day asphalt shingles today. This fiberglass matting holds the shingle together and gives it strength. Nearly all asphalt shingle manufacturers purchase their fiberglass…
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