Home Improvement Blog

GAF is the corporation that started the Timberline shingle line. The architectural shingle was invented to supersede the original three tab shingles. The new shingles brought extended warranties, higher wind ratings and a more aesthetically pleasing look to your home. Timberline shingles mimic the appearance of a natural wood shake roof at half the price and double the durability than wood a wood roof.

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You can easily notice the depth of architectural shingles when compared to the three tab shingle. The highest life expectancy for a three tab roof is 25 yrs. (very few carry 30 yr.) The lowest life expectancy for an architectural shingle is 30 yrs. and goes up to 50yrs. The roof is your homes most important asset. Without a proper functioning roof the rest of your home will be destroyed.

When a new roof installation is performed, it is very important to know what is installed under your shingles. Aluminum drip edge is a very important part of your roof and very commonly disregarded. Aluminum drip edge prevents capillary action which keeps water from penetrating your home and directs the water into the gutter. 

Ice and water shield applications are a major part of a new roof. Ice damming is a common problem across the United States in areas with snowy conditions. Ice dam material should be applied on lower sections of your roof, valleys, chimneys, vent pipes, skylights, etc...

Ventilation is also a big player in maintaining the longevity of your roof. Constantly keeping air movement in your attic reduces chances of ice damming, lowers heating/cooling costs and keeps mold/mildew from forming.

Key ventilation for your attic/roof:

• Ridge vents

• Soffit vents

• Gable vents

• Attic fans

Conclusion is that GAF offers a complete line of products to sustain a fully functional roof and with all systems in order, you should expect full performance from your new roof.

The thought of a new bathroom remodel is always exciting to most of us. Removal of all those old contents in your bathroom should be enough inspiration to work towards the goal of a new bathroom remodel.   

 These are before pictures of a bathroom that we recently renovated. As you can see the bathroom was over 30 years old and over due for an update. We removed the shower doors, shower base, sink, toilet, floor, and diverter. 

We installed a new shower base, single hand diverter, cement board on walls and floor before tiles were applied.

Tiles were then installed on the walls and floor and grout was applied the day after allowing the tile glue to completely dry.

New sink and vanity installed, toilet, paint and Century neo-angle shower door with DFI treatment installed. The customer decided to go with a more modern decor on this bathroom instead of a more traditional decor. These are some of the bathroom ideas you must consider before you start renovation of your bathroom project.

Tips to renovating you bathroom:

• Decide what decor you will be working with so you have direction when choosing products to be installed in your bathroom.
• Choose a reputable contractor that will be honest about start and finish times.
• Keep your distance from companies that promise to be done in a few days. Mother nature does not allow glue, grouts, caulking,  etc. to dry that quickly leaving tiles falling off the walls. Your bathroom probably has waited 20-30 years to be remodeled, what is an extra couple of days?
• Install cement board on walls in shower areas and on floors. Cement board is not affected by contact with water.

Here in the northeast we experience a great deal of ice damming on the roof of our homes during the winter season. A leaking roof, especially during the winter time, is a complete hassle to deal with. Ice damming occurs when heat transfer through your attic begins to melt the snow on your roof. As melted snow makes it over the unheated soffit area it begins to refreeze causing a water back up under your shingles and into your home. The process usaully could take a few days or weeks to occur depending on outside temperature and the R-value of your attic insulation.

Ice damming can all be prevented with ice dam material that is applied to the roof deck before shingles are applied. It prevents water from penetrating your roof deck and seals around the nails used to fasten your shingles. Ice dam material is applied on the lower edge of your roof and three feet up(sometimes doubled to six feet). It should also be applied in valleys and around chimneys and skylights. In some areas building departments have made it code to install ice dam with your new roof. It is the cheapest and most effective way to eliminate the chances of ice damming. If you experience ice damming the best course of action is to leave it be and correct the problem when it warms. If you try to break the ice on the roof you will 99 percent of the time do more damage to the roof shingles and not to mention a dangerous practice.

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Water damage is responsible for trillions of dollars of descruction world wide and I'm sure that we have all experienced some form of water related damage in our lives. If you have a basement in your home then your home should be equipped with adequate footing drains. Footing drains are located at the base of your concrete footings. Most homes we have worked on with water issues I found that improper installation was the cause of failure and we have done quite a few. While as water has a mind of its own I'd like to go over a few key factors for good drainage.

Five key factors for proper drainage:

• Very common issue is the installation of the 4" corrugated pipe. The pipe is equipped with holes on one side to catch the water and remove it quickly away from the footings. Most people think the holes face up, this is absolutely wrong. The holes face down and as the water table rises in the dirt it relieves into the pipe.
• Gravel is natural drainage. Use as much as possible to keep the water flowing.
• Install filter fabric around gravel. This will keep any dirt or debris from silting into the gravel and the pipe.
• Install filter fabric around pipe itself. I call it a condom and it slides right over the pipe protecting the holes from silt. If the holes in the pipe get clogged your footing drains are useless.
• Make sure you have pitch! Without pitch water goes nowhere. Use a level on the pipe or better yet a transit.

As we all know heating and cooling costs across the country are constantly on the rise. Families feel the impact every year and most don't know that there is a solution for lowering your heating costs. Most of the homes when they were built were installed with a single pane window. This means the glass in the window is only one piece as todays windows are a double pane consisting of two pieces of glass. Windows make up a large percentage of square footage of your home and makes it very important to have a quality window to increase your R-value.

I have strongly worked with Certainteed window products over the years and have had tremendous success with their replacement window line. A replacement window fits inside of your existing window frame which saves a great deal of time and money as opposed to a complete window replacement which involves a great deal more work and expense. You can search Certainteed window products @ www.certainteed.com and explore the entire window line available and all the added features you will obtain with installing new windows.

In the meantime, here are a few tips to save energy costs with your old windows :

• Most hardware stores sell plastic shrink wrap that can be installed on the interior of the window frame to insulate and help keep drafts out.
• In the summer open your windows at night to allow the cool air in. Close the windows in the morning to keep the warm air outside.
• Make sure all window locks are locked.

Considering a new facelift on the exterior of your home? Well vinyl siding is a good choice for a almost maintainance free home. While greatly improving the appearance of your home you will also increase the value of your home. So once you have decided you want to reside your home the next step is finding a qualified contractor to install your siding.

Here are a few tips for a quality installation:

• Removal of all old siding is the best method. Many contractors go over the old existing siding saving time and dumping fees. Removal of all existing siding will reveal any water damage and/or dry rotting that lies hidden. If any damage is found contractor can correct the problem. Problems will not dissappear with new siding, like capping a rotten tooth.
• Determine if your home could use more insulation. If the exterior walls are constructed of 2x4's your home is only carrying a R-11 or R-13 insulating value. Styrofoam insulation installed on the exterior of your home will give you an added R-value cutting down your heating and cooling costs.
• Find out what siding will be installed on your home. We use Certainteed siding "Mainstreet" or "Monogram" brands. All siding companies carry different grades of siding. Differences include thickness of siding, quality of locks, UV protection, wind ratings, studfinders, etc. The product you choose will greatly have a result in the final product. Visit www.certainteed.com
• Tyvec paper is used to wrap the exterior of home before siding is installed. Excellent product that I strongly recommend. It protects the home from any water and is also a vapor barrier. You can check out this product @ www. tyvek.com
• Inquire that your contractor knows how to bend aluminum well. A bad aluminum job can be hard to tell if not fimiliar. An installer must understand the flow of water in order to protect the surfaces being protected. This is extremely important because water damage will go unnoticed for years until severe damage has been done. I have had many experiences where capping and/or flashing has been installed incorrectly and the damage is usually severe and insurance will not cover damages due to a poor siding job.

When choosing a General Contractor to be in charge of your project, you the customer should know whom you you are dealing with and what experience they have in the entire project. For instance you want an addition added to your home. You call a General Contractor because you feel he knows every step of your project. This usually is not the case though. Most General Contractors are experienced in only a couple of trades and rely on sub contractors to finish the rest. 

Things to look for when hiring a General Contractor:

• Referrals are very important. If you are spending thousands of your hard earned money you should spend the time to know who you are working with and the quality of work they produce.
• Ask questions. Make sure that your contractor knows all the aspects of the job being performed. A good contractor should be able to for see the entire project before it has been started.
• If sub contractors are to be used inquire what the companies names are and make sure they are reputable.

TimberTech products add beauty to homes, businesses and resorts. What's more, TimberTech is low maintenance, safe, durable, and can even increase the value of your home.
 

Low Maintenance

TimberTech maintains its color and beauty for years without the work of painting, staining or sealing. And, because it resists mildew, warping and insects, there’s no need to replace rotting, uneven or termite-damaged boards. This saves time and money over the life of your deck and fence. Caring for TimberTech is easier than wood and will allow you to focus on maximum enjoyment instead of maximum maintenance.

Warranty

TimberTech’s 25-year limited residential warranty is best-in-class. TimberTech’s warranty offers 25-years of coverage, that isn’t pro-rated, for residential installations. And our warranty can be transferred to a second homeowner – a great selling feature when you’re ready to relocate. So the first, and second, TimberTech product owners can have peace of mind that their outdoor oasis will look beautiful year after year. For commercial applications, TimberTech offers a 10-year limited warranty for worry-free beauty in high traffic situations. And in the unlikely event that you’ll have to contact us for warranty assistance, we separate ourselves from the competition by placing high priority on top-notch customer care after the sale.

Industry-Leading Products

TimberTech offers a complete line of low maintenance outdoor building products that are durable and made with high quality materials. We listen to our customers and create products that offer a wide variety of color choices and styles, designed to fit your life and design preferences. From traditional wood-plastic composite planks to PVC decking material; from railing and lighting to under deck drainage systems and fastener-free installation options, TimberTech is your one-stop for outdoor living building products.

We’re driven by innovation and have award-winning, industry-recognized, top-selling products to prove it! TimberTech was the first alternative decking manufacturer to introduce a railing system with black as a color option; TimberTech was the first alternative decking manufacturer to introduce a deck plank with a Class A Flame Spread Rating in fire resistance testing – the highest rating available; and TimberTech was also the first alternative decking manufacturer to introduce a patented lighting system specifically created for its railing and fencing systems, providing the best fit and finished look. And if we weren’t first, we look at the products up and coming in the industry and we make them better!

You can rest assured you’re buying from a leading, global manufacturer and expert in the industry when you buy TimberTech!

Increases the Value of Your Home

TimberTech not only adds value to your life, it adds value to your home. When you add a TimberTech deck – or use TimberTech to replank a wood deck – you'll recoup much of your investment when you sell your home. Remodeling Magazine's 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report estimates a national average of  71% return on investment for composite deck additions*. This is a similiar or better return on investment than projects such as bathroom addition, bathroom remodel and major kitchen remodel. To maximize your return, Realty Times suggests using a non-rectangle design, and making your deck an extension of your living space.

*Based on a 16′ x 20′ deck set in simple linear pattern; using pressure-treated joists supported by 4x4 posts anchored to concrete piers; built-in bench and planter of the same decking material; stairs, assuming three steps to grade; complete railing using a matching system made of the same composite as the decking material 

Across the United States the three tab shingle has widely been replaced with architectual shingles which offers a better look to your home as well as many more features. Call wmbconstruction for your next roofing project.

Five key factors you should know:

• Architectual shingles carry a standard 30 yr. life span which can be upgraded to 50 yr. as opposed to a 20-30 year life span.
• Architectual shingles have higher wind ratings which means less to no more blow offs.
• Quality starts under your shingles. The first part of your roof that is extremely important and commonly overseen is aluminum dripedge. Aluminum dripedge is installed around the entire perimeter of the roof to eliminate capillary action of water coming back up into your house.
• Next is ice dam material which is installed along lower edges of your home and three feet up to prevent winters harshest toll on a roof, ice damming. Ice damming is when snow begins to melt on your roof over the heated sections of your roof, when it hits the unheated sections(soffit area)it begins to freeze causing water back-ups back inside your home. Ice dam material greatly reduces the possibilities of this occurance.
• For the longevity of your roof, ventilation is key. There are three factors in roof ventilation; gable vents, soffit vents, and ridge vents. With all three vents installed you will have the necessary airflow in your attic to get the most years.