Posts

Stop Roof Raking

January 7, 2014
Posted in

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…

Read More

When is the best time to clean my gutters?

October 9, 2013
Posted in

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…

Read More

Can a Gutter Be Repitched?

October 9, 2013
Posted in ,

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…

Read More

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

August 12, 2013
Posted in ,

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…

Read More

How to choose a Roofing Contractor

July 27, 2013
Posted in

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…

Read More

When is it time to replace my gutters?

June 12, 2013
Posted in , ,

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…

Read More

When is it the best time to replace my roof?

March 24, 2013
Posted in

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…

Read More

Understanding the Rising Costs of Asphalt Roofing

January 16, 2013
Posted in

No one can deny that asphalt-based shingles have gone up dramatically in price over the last decade and the reason is all tied to the cost of oil. Asphalt shingles are made from the sludge left over after refining crude oil into gasoline. When gas rose to prices topping $4 per gallon, refineries saw that…

Read More

Screws, Nails, Spikes and Hangers – A Guide to Long Lasting Gutters

January 7, 2013
Posted in

When choosing a gutter company, homeowners should be sure to ask questions about how their gutters will be attached to their homes. You should understand that one size does not fit all. The climate you live in will help you decide whether you need screws for your gutters or whether nails or spikes will be…

Read More

Downspout Gauge is as important as Gutter Gauge

January 3, 2013
Posted in

Downspouts are one of the major parts of their gutter project that homeowners neglect. Even those who do a fair amount of research rarely understand that there are differences in the gauge of their downspouts. Unfortunately, most contractors will neglect to inform their customers what gauge they are using because of thinner, inferior products. Some…

Read More