Mold can be a real problem and understanding black mold, the most common of molds, is the first step to managing a problem. But first, you should understand that mold remediation is an unregulated industry. Self proclaimed mold experts are often generous to themselves in their claims. Most often the most common mistake is to…
Read MoreNot a day goes by that I don’t see an ad for a metal roof and a common question I get is, “are metal roofs a good idea”? The straight answer is, “it depends”. But before rushing out to buy a metal roof you should go into it with the knowledge of whether it makes…
Read MoreFinding a contractor you can trust can be a daunting task. There was a time when homeowners would call the Better Business Bureau. The internet changed that. Now there seems to be more options than ever, but how do you really know what’s real? There are many sites that claim they’ll send you the best…
Read MoreWhat does due diligence and research really mean when it comes to home improvements? There are times, that after we show our customers how we can make the building sciences improve their homes, and do it for an affordable price, they say they need to do their due diligence and some research. In an era where…
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? Decades of…
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…
Read MoreOf all of the ways that contractors can drive up their profits, skipping the drip edge flashing is unwise and is likely to hurt the homeowner down the road. Drip edge is a piece of flashing that goes on the gable ends (also known as rake ends) of a home. Sometimes fly by night contractors…
Read MoreRoof raking can damage your shingles and if you’re a roof raker, it’s time to climb the ladder to inspect what damage has been done. It’s understandable that many people go into panic mode when they hear of widespread water infiltration in the winter caused by ice damming. Home improvement shows scare folks about the weight of snow…
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