When there’s a major problem with the roof, it can affect every other portion of the house. A roofing service might actually be saving your entire home by fixing the roof at the right time. While DIY roof restoration is an option that some people can explore, it’s usually not something that anyone can rely on when they have a brand new roof leaking.
Some of the hidden signs of a roof leak can be easily connected with other household problems. You could start seeing suspicious water stains throughout the walls of your home. If the water made it in that way, some new roof leaks could be responsible. You may also notice similar problems happening at the level of the ceiling.
Roof leaks usually won’t be serious enough to actively cause the temperature of the home to fluctuate too much. Still, they might have a slight effect on it. You might be able to hear the wind at certain points when you’re walking next to a severely damaged part of the roof. Sound changes can become more obvious as the roof continues to deteriorate. When the roof has gotten to this point, you absolutely need professional roof repair help.
If you’re thinking about a good home remodeling project to take on, you should prioritize the roof. This is because when your home has a solid roof over it, it’s more appealing and also very valuable. To this end, you need to find a reliable roofing service to have a look at your roof and advise you on the best improvements to make to it.
If you’re up to the challenge, you could also look into DIY roof restoration. Before doing this, find out from a local roofer the details of roof restoration vs replacement. Once you know everything that these two processes entail, you may find it easier to make the final decision. Do thorough research before starting any kind of work so that you can avoid issues such as having your brand new roof leaking shortly after you work on it.
If you don’t know any local roofers, search online for something like “budget roofing near me” to find some. Make sure to vet the quality of any professional you come across before signing them up for work. When you do this, you may have a better chance of getting a roof that’s going to serve your home perfectly for a long time to come.
Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house. It is extremely important that it remains in good shape. The best way to fix roof leaks is to hire a contractors roof service and have them do it for you. Not only are they trained in the best methods, they also know how to stay safe while working at heights. While you could do some repairs yourself, it is not recommended. Instead, budget to hire contractors. They know the best way to seal a leaking flat roof and can get it done quickly.
If your brand new roof leaking, this is a sign of bigger problems. Make sure that your contractor knows how long ago the roof was installed. This will impact their investigation into what is wrong. Can a roof leak be fixed from the inside? Some can, but others will require outside work. Your contractor will know which approach is best, so talk to them about it. They can give you all the information you need, plus an estimate for how much it will cost.
If you have a bad roof leak, you need to get it fixed as soon as possible. The best roof crack sealer will help you for a little while, but you will need to get residential roofers in to take care of it eventually. Otherwise, the problems in the roof could get larger, causing damage to your home and costing you a lot of money to repair. Roofers know the best roof repair products to use and can make the process very efficient. Paying them might cost you a lot of money, but it is an investment in your home.
Sometimes your roof can’t be repaired. In this case, it will need to be replaced instead. When this happens, look into the best roof replacement companies near me. Find the ones that know how to work with your specific kind of roof. Once you have a few companies with good reviews, contact them and get quotes for the job. Compare these quotes and what the roofers can offer. This way, you can find the work you need for the best price.
While roof repairs aren’t regular occurrences, it is important to get yours fixed as soon as you realize there is a problem. The average cost of roof repair for a leak can be expensive, but it is nothing compared to the cost of the potential damage that can result from the leak. If you get too much water in your house, it can impact the structural integrity of the building, as well as increase your risk of mold. By bringing in local roofers to do asphalt shingles roof repair, you can avoid bigger issues from occurring later.
However, every roof eventually needs to be changed. The average cost to change a roof is very expensive, so make sure that you plan ahead before hiring someone. Once you have the average cost to have a roof reshingled, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate with roofers and get the best repairs for the best price. Talk to your preferred repair people, but also ask around for other options. You might be able to get a good deal on a new roof.
Flat roofs are just as prone to leaking as sloped roofs. Perhaps there’s a growing brown stain on the ceiling. Or you see water dripping from the ceiling. Both of these signs mean that roofing services professionals should be called. Does this mean that you are going to need a whole new roof? Not necessarily.
In many situations, the best flat roof repair maybe just a sealant instead of getting a whole new roof. There are many different kinds of roof sealants. They come in acrylic, silicone, polyurethane, rubber, and even tape. These are classified into water-based and solvent-based sealants. For many people, solvent-based sealants are the best roof coating to stop leaks, but they are considered hazardous materials and should only be used by professionals.
Although it is possible to put on the best roof coating for leaks by yourself, you need to know which sealant is right for your roof. Choosing the right one is difficult. Also, walking on your roof can be dangerous. You also need to be able to pinpoint all the areas where water is coming in. They can be hard to spot. It’s safer and more cost efficient in the long run to hire a roofer. This way, you can be sure of getting the best roof repair.
It is never too late or too early in the year to focus on improving your home. From switching up your interior paint, to making outdoor home improvements on your yard and driveway, there are dozens of ways you could spend your time. If your goal is to improve both the value and overall integrity of your home, we suggest focusing on outdoor upgrades.
There are a couple of ways to tackle your outdoor home improvements.
You can take the DIY route, which can save you money and be quite rewarding, or you can contact custom home builders to have a professional knock out your projects quickly and with top-quality results.
No matter how you plan to approach your outdoor improvements, you will surely be thrilled with the results. The only question left is, which projects should you take on first? Here are a few of the best outdoor home improvements you can make this year to raise the value of your home.
Driveways, Patios, and Porches
The concrete and asphalt surfaces surrounding your home need consistent maintenance to ensure they maintain their structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. Concrete patios can become cracked after a few cold seasons, which can lead to weeds and other plants sprouting up between the fissures, causing further damage down the line.
That’s why, when it comes to outdoor home improvements, we believe the maintenance and repair of these surfaces should be a top priority.
Upgrading your porch, patio, or driveway doesn’t have to just be about filling in cracks, though. There are a lot of ways to quickly enhance the look of these surfaces that can even be done by the do-it-yourselfers among us.
Enhancing Quality with Tile and Stone
One of the fastest ways to take a porch or patio from functional to fabulous is by introducing architectural tile and stone into the mix. Tile pathways leading between your cement structures is one way of implementing beautiful stonework that can often be handled without the need for professional help.
Homeowners also like to implement precious stones like marble to their outdoor spaces for a more luxurious look. Consider adding outdoor counters, decorative barrier walls, or even adding ceramic tiles along the sides of a hot tub or pool. No matter how you jazz up your space with stones and tiles, you are bound to see an impressive return on your investment.
Enhancing Prolonged Integrity with Upgraded Materials
Driveways tend to be constructed in three ways: pavers, asphalt, and concrete slabs. If you are dealing with a driveway filled with easily broken pavers, chances are you’ve already made up your mind about upgrading your driveway surface. Paver driveways and patios can be beautiful but do not hold up to frequent use, and replacing stones with exact matches can be frustratingly difficult.
So, if you are upgrading your driveway or patio, should you switch to concrete or asphalt. Let’s take a look at each to determine how you should handle your list of outdoor home improvements
- Concrete: Has the potential to last longer than asphalt, but the installation and upkeep is considerably more expensive.
- Asphalt: With proper installation by top-quality asphalt paving services, asphalt can last just as long as concrete surfaces and is often cheaper to repair.
If you are looking to spend more money upfront for the potential to save money down the line, you will likely prefer concrete surfaces. However, if you know your structure is looking at future damage no matter the underlying material, asphalt may be able to save you a lot of money, both upfront and over years of use and repairs.
Lush Landscaping
If you are looking for a way to quickly enhance the look and value of your home, upgraded landscaping can do the trick. In fact, a survey by ally showed that over 42% of homeowners plan to enhance their landscaping this year. Likely because they know it is one of the easiest ways to boost the value of your property.
Even if you have existing landscaping work done, we still think you should include this on your list of yearly outdoor home improvements. Switching up your plants and decorative elements to match the seasons can be a lot of fun and keep your home looking fresh and updated, year-round.
If you have never completed any professional landscaping and are starting from scratch, you will first need to contact a land surveying service. This type of company can send a property surveyor to your home to take precise measurements of your property. These measurements determine the exact location of your property line and help create maps and blueprints for contractors to work from when planning and completing a landscaping project. This pre-planning is important to keep you from sinking money into the materials for projects that physically cannot be completed on your property.
Once your property has been surveyed, you and any professionals you are involving can begin planning the design of your property. Maybe you want a simple design with some installed gardens and privacy bushes, and that’s it. Alternatively, you might want various heights of planting spaces, stone structures, a new pool, a koi pond, and topiaries in the shape of your favorite zoo animals. No matter how big or small you take a landscaping project, the results will add impressive value to your home and turn your yard into a work of art.
Adding Structures to Your Property
If you’ve got a big, unused piece of property, you might be considering adding a new structure. Adding an entire building, whether it be a garage, shop, pool house, or any other structure, can be a scary task. This is because you know once the structure is there, you can’t readily remove it if you decide you don’t like how it looks.
Still, when it comes to outdoor home improvements, adding a beautiful and functional structure to your property can be a fantastic investment.
Adding a Garage
Installing a garage onto your property can add to the overall square-footage of your home which means your resale value will skyrocket. Not to mention, a functional garage is often a “must have” item on many home buyers lists. Even if you don’t plan to sell your home, you will feel truly spoiled by the space for activities and storage that a garage can provide.
Typically, you can make a garage in whatever dimensions you desire, and a residential garage door comes in varying widths and seven feet in height. This is a great choice for smaller garage additions or those considering using prefabricated garages.
However, if you are wanting a larger garage door that can allow you to park RVs or other large vehicles inside, you will want to look into commercial garage door installers. These providers can create doors based on your specific measurements, budget, and aesthetic desires and install them for you. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Adding a Custom Shed
Sheds are fantastic property additions because they range from small buildings for storing rakes and other yard supplies to large add-ons with electricity and water that can be used as activity zones or even small apartments.
If your list of outdoor home improvements includes filling in an unused piece of property, we highly recommend utilizing a shed.
First, determine how you would like to use the shed and the space available for the structure. If it is a small shed, you can likely find a level piece of land, or level with concrete on your own without too much additional cost. However, if you are considering large, customized sheds, we highly recommend reaching out to a professional that can both help plan for the concrete base as well as design you’re the perfect building for your property.
General Maintenance and Repairs
Sure, upgrading your landscaping and adding buildings to your property is a lot of fun, but you shouldn’t neglect the general outdoor maintenance of your home. It doesn’t matter if you are planning on living in the home into your golden years or selling at the end of the year, your need to keep the home in good repair. Here are some important areas for your upkeep focus:
- Windows and Siding
- Roof and Gutters
- Pest Control
- Weather Sealing
Windows and Siding
One of the most important items on your list of outdoor home improvements is the windows and siding. Maintaining the integrity of these is vital to keeping your home structure safe from water, mold, and pests.
If you find your home is having trouble maintaining its temperature during the depths of the summer or winter, you might have drafty windows or damaged siding. This can increase your energy bills and lead to increased home damage down the line.
If you are unsure whether you need window repair, look for some of the signs:
- Constantly Foggy Windows
- Water Getting Inside
- Windows are Difficult to Open and Close
- Constant Increase in Energy Bills
- Pests Keep Getting Inside
- Visible Cracks or Warping on Windows
Any of these signs indicate that you should contact a professional to assess your windows for repair or replacement immediately.
Luckily, identifying damaged siding can be a lot simpler to identify. Just look for signs of physical damage like missing pieces of siding, holes and blistering, cracks, or a general rotting appearance.
Roof and Gutters
Roofing contractors will know about all types of roofing materials. People who are interested in effective but cheap roof installation may need to choose specific roofing materials. Understanding the basic classification of roofs can help them.
Contemporary roof shingles are actually constructed using many distinct materials. Some of them are made from plastic. Wooden shingles are also used quite often. Manufacturers will usually use cedar wood in these shingles, although it’s also common to use white oak or elm wood.
Some more expensive roof shingles are made using flagstone or slate material. These shingles are often considered decorative, although almost all roofs can seem fashionable.
Lots of other shingles are metallic. The metallic shingles are specifically formed using steel. However, that steel will frequently have another metallic coating. It’s common to use zinc or a combination of aluminum and zinc in that coating. Shingles that are effectively made using three different types of metal can be incredibly resilient.
Still, lots of people get great results with roof shingles made from asphalt and similar composite materials. Many roof shingles can be used easily in almost all climates. People can choose the roof shingles that they like aesthetically.
We’ve included roof and gutters into the same item because neglecting your gutters can lead to roof damage, but also because if you are going to have to climb a ladder for maintenance, you might as well only do it once! These are some of the more bothersome areas to maintain because of the sheer effort involved, but also the most worth it.
Roof repairs can be extremely costly and replacements more so. If some consistent maintenance can save you tens of thousands of dollars in roof replacement, why wouldn’t you do it?
However, if the time for general maintenance – like removing leaf litter and checking for loose shingles – has come and gone and you are facing a major repair or replacement, we highly recommend reaching out to local roofing contractors for advice and pricing.
Replacing a roof is more than just an important item on a list of outdoor home improvements, it is an investment into the life and value of your home. You don’t want to go with a third-rate repair person and find you need additional pricey work in a short amount of time. A properly installed roof should last you at least ten years, so the investment in quality work is worth your while.
Plus, when it comes to selling your home a roof is important. Homes for sale can vary in the level of landscaping and other amenities and still easily sell. However, a good and functional roof will be legally required for any home sale. You don’t want to find out a week before closing that you cannot sell your home without replacing the roof.
Swing sets, Decks, and Other Entertainment Structures
This wouldn’t be a list of the best outdoor home improvements without mentioning all the amazing add-ons a carpentry contractor can offer. From custom play structures to gorgeous decks, if it is made of wood – a carpenter can make it for you.
These yard add-ons are not only a lot of fun, but they are guaranteed to bolster your home’s resell value. In fact, decks have on the of the best ROIs of any home improvement coming in at an average of 80%, but some sellers have reported an over 120% return on an investment after adding a custom deck to their property.
Some other ideas for custom woodwork are:
- Sauna
- Pool Room
- Gardening Boxes and Storage
- Pergolas/ Gazebos
- Porch/ Railing
- Trellises
- Arbors
- Greenhouse
Take Outdoor Home Improvements One Step at a Time
When it comes to outdoor home improvements, it is important to not get too bogged down in the idea of finishing everything on the list. Whatever you don’t get done this year just becomes fun plans for next year! So, start with important improvements like roof and window maintenance, and move outward from there.
Whether you finish everything this year or put off a thing or two, you will still feel immense satisfaction as you watch your home’s exterior flourish with your own customization and tastes.