Downspouts 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…
Read MoreTo understand which is recommended, you have to first understand which each type of ventilation is. Active ventilation actively draws air our of the attic. There are several types of vents that can do this. Passive ventilation relies on convection. Heat rises, and if you have a balanced system where the intake is equal to…
Read MoreYet another gutter protection company called today with an offer to make me the exclusive dealer for their product. Companies that hawk metal gutter protection just don’t get it. It gets cold in Wisconsin. Metal gutter protection conducts cold and contributes to icicles. There are many different types of gutter protection out there and…
Read MoreYes, gutter protection works if you plan it well. Here’s a short list of what to consider before buying gutter protection. Tree types Tree species Roof Slope Climate Zone Sometimes a salesman will come into your house and show you one product that is supposed to work in all cases. The reality is that there…
Read MoreOne of the most often neglected parts of insulation are the rim joists — that cavity in basements where the floor meets the concrete wall. There are a couple options for insulating rim joists. Traditionally, homeowners pack them with batt insulation. Rock wool or fiberglass are the most common types of insulation used for these…
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