Investing in and installing good quality roof trim is a home improvement project that can extend the life of your roof by preventing rot and mold from taking hold. It can also help with maintaining the leading edges of the shingles.
If you have a large expanse of yard in which you'd like some texture, consider building stone walls in strategic locations. Not only will they define areas, they will provide additional seating.
When buying brick for outdoor or exterior use, select SW (severe weather) or MW (moderate weather) materials. Those with an NW rating (no weather) are for interior use only.
When planning home improvements, choose projects that not only enhance your home's appearance, but its resistance to disasters as well. For example, choose roofing materials that are rated for wind- fire- and impact-resistance.
Ever wonder how Portland cement got its name? It's made from material that resembles Portland stone, which is found on the Isle of Portland off the coast of England.
Removing faucets and sinks goes much faster and is easier to do when you use a basin wrench. This odd-looking cousin to slip joint pliers is designed for the tight spaces and odd configurations of faucet-to-basin connections.
When all things are equal (quality of materials, surface preparation, condition of siding, etc.), paint provides longer protection for siding than stain does. When properly applied, paint can last for seven to nine years.
If you're installing sub-flooring or roof decking, Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is a great option. It performs as well as exterior grade plywood, but at a fraction of the cost.
Feelings of depth and richness can be added to your cabinets by adding framed or raised panel doors. Attractive hardware, detailed carving, or contrasting inserts also add to their beauty.
When working on a home improvement project that requires screws and screwdrivers, make sure you have the right equipment. Different screws have different applications, and their heads have different sizes and configurations. Match the tool to the fastener.
If you will be using latex paint for the exterior of your home, there are temperature restrictions. As they rise, drying times shorten, which can lead to lap marks. If temps are less than 50⁰ F, additives are needed to keep the paint workable.
Make sure that your roof is properly insulated as a lack of it can lead to extremes of heat and cold over the course of a year and wreak havoc on the structure of the roof.
Before painting or staining bare wood, apply a sealer. Doing so protects the wood and prevents the growth of mold. It is also available with UV blockers to prevent sun damage.
Copper tubing for plumbing is 5/8” in diameter, and is available in two thicknesses: M and L. M is the thinner of the two and is acceptable for interior applications well-removed from the chance of freezing. If there's even a remote possibility that the water in the pipes could freeze, choose L.
Directing water away from the foundation of your home or building is important for its stability. Even if the site is properly graded, roof run-off can still attack it. When you're installing gutters be sure to add a splash block to the bottom of the downspout.
Inspect your roof regularly. If you can see it from the ground, look for popped nails and broken, curled or missing shingles. If you must use a ladder, make sure to have someone to hold it in place when you climb up.
If your home was built in the forties and fifties, the plumbing may have galvanized pipes. These have a limited life and can fail suddenly. Talk to us about replacing them with better materials like copper or PEX.
Shutters have both a practical and an aesthetic purpose. If left able to close, they can protect your windows in times of bad weather, and they can also help keep energy costs down by blocking early morning or late afternoon sun.
Want to add value to your home? Year in and year out, the home improvement that delivers the greatest ROI is replacing an old or damaged garage door with a new one.
Copper gutters can be both a practical and aesthetic addition to your home or building, especially if you have a copper, tile, or cedar shingle roof. Their profiles can be shaped to match the building’s architectural design, and they will gradually adopt copper’s distinctive verdigris.
If your basement is only used to house appliances or to store things, let us show you how we can turn it into a fabulous living space that will be the talk of the neighborhood.
Did you have a few damaged tiles replaced and now the new ones outshine the old? Correct the problem by having the tiles resurfaced for uniformity and a consistent look.
