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  • Prepare Correctly for a New Fencing Installation!

    When having a new fence installation done, it is important to do a few preparations ahead of time to eliminate the possibility of problems that could make it a bad experience.

    Though homeowners can leave all the heavy work to a dependable fence company, there are still a few pre-installation details that should be handled beforehand to make their job easier.

    Whether putting in a brand new fencing installation or replacing an old one that is coming down, these easy preparation tips will ensure a smooth installation and a worry-free fence to enjoy for years to come.

    1. Let The Neighbors Know – Before making any changes, let the neighbors know about the new fence installation. Explain what type of fence will go in, where it will be located, and answer any questions. If there are any issues or concerns, this is the time to deal with them, as opposed to after the fence company has already completed the installation and it is too late to make any changes.
    2. Mark Off Property Lines – When doing a fencing installation along a property line, be 100% positive of where those property lines are to eliminate the possibility of accidentally putting the fence on the neighbor’s property. If there are no markers already present, this could mean having a professional survey done just to be sure.
    3. Stake Corners and Gates – After property lines are marked, put in some wooden stakes to mark where the fence corners and both sides of the gates will go. Homeowners can estimate these markers ahead of time to remind the fence company where these elements should go, which they can use as a guideline before measuring and putting in their own markers.
    4. Call The Utility Company – Next, call 811 in Texas and tell them of the upcoming fence installation so someone can be sent to locate power, gas, and sewer lines and mark them. A mistake made without clearance from the utility could be a costly mistake for a homeowner. If the utility company miscalculates, the cost is on them.
    5. Mow and Clear the Fencing Area – Mow the grass the day before the fence company arrives to do the installation and clear away any debris, furnishings, yard equipment, or anything else that might be in their way while they work.

    Doing a new fencing installation involves careful planning and a lot of hard work.

    By handling these small but critical details ahead of time, homeowners can make the job much easier and faster for a fence company that will appreciate the effort.

    These tips are especially important for preventing neighbor problems later down the road, so do take the time to handle these five easy steps!

  • Should A New Roof Ever Be Installed Over A New One?

    Reroofing is the process of putting a new roof installation over an old one.

    While there are some who believe this can be done in certain circumstances with good results, most roofers recommend against it for many valid reasons.

    What reasons are there for reroofing and why should it be avoided?

    Here are the facts from experienced roofers who understand the pros and cons of reroofing and that the disadvantages greatly outweigh the benefits.

    Why Choose Reroofing Rather Than A Whole New Roof?

    Why do some homeowners choose reroofing over a brand new roofing installation? Usually, it boils down to money.

    Reroofing removes all the hours of labor required to tear off the old roof and the disposal fees for getting rid of the old materials.

    In situations where there is no other choice, some roofers are willing to do a new roof installation over an existing one as long as the existing shingles are still in reasonably good condition and there are no signs of leaks or other damage; however, generally speaking, most recommend against it.

    Reasons Reroofing is Not a Wise Choice

    Even though reroofing over an older roofing installation that is still functioning is an option for avoiding the potential damage of leaving things alone for another year or two, it guarantees nothing.

    In addition, there are many other reasons why the practice should be avoided whenever possible.

    Reroofing may save a homeowner money initially, but experienced roofers who have seen the downside of this practice can point out the many ways that it ends up costing a homeowner more in the long run.

    Not only does it double the weight of the roofing on the building which could result in structural damage to the rafters and trusses, but it can make diagnosing problems like leaks that form over time, ventilation problems, and other concerns much more difficult.

    A second roof installation laid on top of an existing one will not be as watertight as it should be, meaning leaking is more likely as is the chance of shingles being blown off in high winds.

    On top of everything else, when the time finally comes to remove both roofing installations at once for a correct roof to be put on, the tear-off and debris disposal will cost twice as much.

    For this reason, people who are house shopping are recommended to avoid purchasing a home that has been reroofed. That “new” roof installation that would normally increase the value of the home when done correctly might decrease its value and make it less desirable instead.

    Based on these significant reasons, experienced roofers strongly recommend against putting a new roof on top of an older roofing installation.

    Anyone considering doing so need only have this conversation with a roofing contractor to understand the many reasons why in most cases it is a bad idea!

  • Guide on Buying a Vinyl Fence

    Vinyl fencing is getting immensely popular among home buyers for the simple reason that it is not only durable and looks great but is affordable, too.

    When buying vinyl fences for your home, you need to have some information about vinyl fencing, especially if you are completely new to this type of fencing.

    The prime focus of this article is to help you learn about vinyl fencing and what aspects to focus on when buying this product for your home.

    Information to Know About Vinyl Fencing

    Although vinyl fences look great and are inexpensive; however, one should be careful as to what product you are buying and from where.

    Before purchasing vinyl fencing, do some research if you can and like any other shopping, you will need to list your requirements, budget, and preference when buying vinyl fences.

    Although many local big box stores sell vinyl fencing, many consumers prefer to buy these products online as they can find better prices and variety and make some good comparisons.

    Just go online and you will come across a plethora of online stores have a mind-boggling variety of vinyl fences.

    Searching for the web is convenient, easy, and the prices are low plus you can do some thorough research there about vinyl fencing.

    Of course, you can always look at your local fence shop, but they will probably not be able to have the variety you find at the online stores.

    Be A Cautious Online Shopper for Vinyl Fences

    When placing an order for vinyl fencing, ensure that you are getting vinyl by shopping only at reputable stores that will send exactly what you have ordered and not some replicas of what you saw online.

    Vinyl fence imitations will not last and start rusting very soon in cold and rainy weather and be sure to keep away from sellers offering you vinyl fencing at extremely low prices.

    Although vinyl fences are inexpensive, they can’t be unreasonably priced as you might be getting second-hand products here if you are not careful.

    Find The Vinyl Fencing You Want

    As long as you know what you are looking for and have the right specifications, it is very easy to find the vinyl fences you want.

    Seek the help of experts if you are not very confident or help from your friends who have already bought vinyl fencing.

    There are endless choices on the web, but you still need to pick honest and reputable vinyl fence services that will give you not only genuine and high quality vinyl fencing but also great customer service.

    Find the vinyl fences you want and get them installed soon!

  • Save Some Money With These Great Roofing Tips

    When it comes to the wellbeing of your home, proper roof maintenance is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t know the proper steps to take when it comes to caring for their roof.

    The following article will teach you everything you need to know about keeping your roof in tip top shape.

    Always Use A Professional Roofer

    If your roof is leaking, you want to call in a professional roofer to fix the job. Asking your friends for recommendations can steer you towards a reliable contractor. Always ask for references from anyone you are considering hiring. Otherwise you could end up with a bigger mess than the leak itself.

    Make Roof Repairs Right Away

    Avoid putting off a roof repair for any length of time, even if it seems like a minor issue. Once a shingle or two have blown off, it’s much easier for the wind to get underneath the rest and blow them off too, one-by-one. Fixing your roof right away will minimize damage, saving you money.

    Use Professional Roofing Contractors

    When replacing your roof, always use a reputable roofer. Make sure to find someone with experience and a good reputation in your area. While you might find that a less experienced roofer is also less expensive, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Go for a professional roofer and your new roof will last!

    Make Sure Roofers Carry Liability Coverage

    Ask for copies of the roofing company‘s liability coverage before letting them work on your roof. If they are an experienced and professional company, then they should have these papers with them when they meet with you. Any company that doesn’t carry or outright refuses to provide copies of their insurance and papers detailing worker’s compensation should be avoided.

    Now You Can Save Time and Money on Roof Repairs!

    Having read the article above, you should now have a good idea of what you need to do in order to make sure that your roof stays in good shape. When you maintain your roof, you drastically lessen the chances of having any unfortunate accidents from occurring. This will save you both time and money in the long run.

  • Roofing Information You Really Need to Know!

    The roof is arguably the most vital element of a home’s structure and is therefore deserving of a serious amount of attention. Sadly, far too many homeowners fail to learn all they can about good roof repair and maintenance strategies. Continue perusing the article below, and you can gain a great deal of valuable information.

    Be Careful With Roofing Contracts

    When signing a contract with a roofer, check for the small print about material costs and labor. Do sign with a company which lists the costs and what will happen if their costs increase during the job. Also go with a company which charges around $1.50 a square foot for decking replacement.

    Got A Roof Leak?

    When inspecting your roof for leaks, it is important that you inspect the whole roof, not just one section. If you find a troublesome area of your roof, you should still check all areas, as there could be more problems elsewhere. It will be cheaper for you to have all fixes done at the same time, rather than waiting.

    Don’t Clean Roofs With Bleach

    Never use bleach to clean your roof. While bleach is something that is very effective at cleaning many areas of your home, it should never be used to clean your roof. This is because the chemicals found in bleach are corrosive, and they may cause a lot of damage to the roofing materials.

    Check Your Roof Boots

    Always inspect your roof boots when you happen to be up on your roof, for whatever reason. They have a tendency to dry-up and crack, leaving damaged areas where the rain and snow can come in. Be prepared to remove and replace the surrounding shingles, too. Roof boots can be found at most major hardware stores.

    Adding It Up

    Without a sound roof system, no home can be considered complete. The problem remains, however, of not enough homeowners possessing a sufficient understanding of how to keep a home’s roof in the best shape possible. Fortunately, the article above can serve as a useful, ongoing resource for anyone interested in taking proper care of their roof.

  • What Size Dumpster Is Needed When Replacing Your Roof?

    Whether you have decided to take on the arduous task of a roof replacement yourself or you will go the more recommended route of hiring a professional, getting rid of your old roof is a consideration to be made beforehand.

    Typically, a roof replacement service will take care of it as part of the roofing replacement job, but in case you have to do it, or you are responsible for it, you need to know what size dumpster to bring in.

    Use these pointers to figure out how much waste volume you can expect when the old roof comes off.

    How Big Is The Roof?

    Naturally, the first consideration to make when figuring out how large of a dumpster you need to dispose of your old roof when a roof replacement is being done is how large your roof actually is.

    More precisely, you want to figure out how many squares of shingles were used on it.

    You can do that either by checking your old receipt if you still have it to see what you were billed for when your roofing service put it on, or by finding how many shingles are in a square bundle of your material and then estimating based on the size of your roof and all its angles.

    A square of shingles is how many are required to cover an area of 100 square feet on your roof.

    Once you know how many squares of shingles you have to dispose of, estimate the weight of one square, since different shingles have different weights, and then come up with a total weight.

    How Many Layers of Shingles Are There?

    After determining the final number of squares of shingles you need to dispose of prior to your roofing replacement, look on the edge of the roof to see how many layers are there.

    Typically, there should only be one, but if the top roof was applied onto an existing roof, you have to know how many layers are stacked there.

    Multiply your total square footage and weight by the number of layers being removed.

    What Other Materials Are There?

    When calculating how much square footage of old roofing materials you need to haul off and how much it will all weigh, don’t forget the other materials you may have to remove.

    If your roof replacement will include adding new decking, soffit or fascia, or gutters, all of that needs to be taken into consideration for calculating the size of the dumpster you will need.

    What Are the Dumpster Sizes And Weight Limits?

    Lastly, you will need to call a few rollback dumpster companies to find out the sizes they have available so your dumpster can be delivered in time to start work on your new roofing replacement.

    Inform them of how much waste you estimate having plus your weight estimation as well and choose a unit that’s slightly more than your expectations.

    In a worst-case scenario, it will be a little larger than your roofing needs, but at least it won’t end up being too small to handle the job.

    Get The Right Size Dumpster for Easy Disposal of Roofing Materials

    When you need a roof replacement, expect a big mess when the old roof is coming off, and a lot of debris that has to be disposed of.

    Like all other parts of the roofing replacement process, you’ll need to do some planning to ensure you order the right size dumpster that can handle all of your waste volume and weight.

    If it’s not something your roofer is taking care of and you need to arrange it yourself, ordering the right size will mean less cost for you in the long run.

  • Tips For Finding The Roofing Company For Your Needs

    Home is often referred to as “the roof over your head,” yet the roof over your head is more than a metaphor.

    When you become a homeowner, you also become a “roof owner” and must take care of this roof.

    Read the following advice to learn what you can do to keep your roof in proper shape.

    Roof Maintenance With Clean Gutters

    When it comes to maintaining your roof, make sure that you keep your gutters clean.

    Clear them of any fallen leaves, twigs and other debris so that water can flow freely from your roof.

    If you don’t adequately clean out your gutters regularly you may become prone to flooding problems.

    Start Off With A Clean Roof

    Just like most projects, roofing requires you to have a clean surface to work on.

    The sheathing also has to be perfectly flat, so if you see any warping, replace it.

    Lastly, every last nail has to be removed to ensure it doesn’t affect the new roof once installed, causing problems.

    Ask Your Roofer Lots of Questions

    There are many questions you’ll need to ask a prospective roofer before signing a contract.

    For instance, see how many nails a given contractor uses for every shingle and if they say three, that isn’t enough.

    Ask them about the roofing methods they use and see if they give a good answer.

    If you are not happy with their response, find another roofer.

    Don’t Use Roofing Storm Chasers

    When a storm blows through your area, beware of roofers who knock on your door.

    They often follow a storm and offer their services to everyone on the block, then they put up a cheap, inadequate roof while taking all the money your insurer will offer on your claim, ripping you off.

    Don’t Ignore Your Roofing Issues

    When the roof of your home is in good repair, you’re doing your job as a homeowner.

    A lot of repair jobs that you should be doing to your home may be easy to ignore, but roofing issues aren’t.

    By addressing all roofing-related issues as they arise, you can save yourself a great deal of grief and money.

  • Upgrade With Quality Roof Materials From Leading Brands

    Sourcing roofing materials from renowned brands will go on to foster quality finishes that are durable.

    Renovations and other upgrades to a roof are able to transform the entire look by breathing in new life.

    Some exciting aspects of any upgrades such as roofing involve use of genuine fitting and other accessories that will be able to form a sturdy roof capable of withstanding assault from the elements.

    A well laid out plan is important for costing and design so consider the following points about roofing to wind up with a good-looking, sturdy roof.

    Roofing Contractors Offer Many Roofing Material Choices

    Good performance roofing material may seem easy to come by; however, there are many offers in the market and it is hard to narrow down a befitting alternative for the project at hand.

    Credible roofing dealers that stock original merchandise will include valid warranties and other quality checks to assist the buyer in making a good decision.

    What to Look For In Roofing Material

    Easy to install and maintainable roofing material is always a good choice.

    Durable options that are economical are the best choices that will give decent roofing results.

    Before embarking on any purchase, it is advisable to involve a roofing contractor who will do the actual job.

    Only quality roof materials will give impressive results at an overall fair cost.

    Selecting the best locally available roofing material and expertise at reasonable prices is a great starter towards a carefully controlled process that will yield a fantastic outcome.

    Accurate measurements and other basic aspects in the roof installation work are used to get a correct estimate.

    You’re Ready For A New Roof!

    Once finances are ready, there is little in the way of a superbly done new roof that supersedes expectation.

    Trusted brands offer top of the range roofing materials with readily available replacements.

    Take advantage of special offers to tame the cost to replace your roof.

  • Things You Must Know When It Comes To Your Roof

    So you want to find out more about roofing? You’ve come to the right place!

    If you have a roof, you should have some basic roofing knowledge under your belt – that’s just the way it is.

    Whether your roof is in brand new or in rough shape, you’ll be able to use the advice in this article.

    Read on to find some tips and tricks that everyone with a roof should know.

    Protect Ground Area Around Perimeter

    Remember that the area on the ground just beneath your roof is going to take a bit of a beating as your roofing is replaced.

    If you have flowers or other shrubbery in that area, it might get damaged.

    Put protection over and around any delicate plants as there may be nothing your roofer can do to prevent it from happening.

    Avoid Cheap Storm Chasing Roofers

    When a storm blows through your area, beware of roofers who knock on your door.

    They often follow a storm and offer their services to everyone on the block, then they put up a cheap, inadequate roof while taking all the money your insurer will offer on your claim, ripping you off.

    Don’t Work On The Roof Alone

    Never attempt to complete any roofing work alone.

    If you have an accident while working on your roof, you need to be sure that someone will be there to help you.

    This is because the long-term impact of a roofing accident injury is very often related to the time it takes to seek help after the accident occurs.

    Fix Roof Leaks Fast

    If you have a roof leak, fix it temporarily.

    Get yourself a piece of heavy plastic and you can nail that over the leaking area.

    While not ideal, it will provide a temporary solution for you.

    Are You Ready?

    Thankfully, this article has given you some really terrific advice that should help you out in a number of common roofing situations.

    You might want to bookmark this article so you can come back to it in the future.

  • How To Choose A Great Roofing Contractor

    Hiring a roofing contractor is one of the hurdles that you will face as a new homeowner.

    This is a lot like choosing your spouse because the two of you will hopefully be together for life!

    Choose incorrectly and your roof will tell the story.

    Read the tips below to make your selection the best selection!

    Advice on Fixing Roof Leaks

    When fixing a leak on your roof, be sure all repairs are done at the same time.

    Keep checking until you are sure you have located all the problems.

    Check your entire roof and you may find that your leak is actually a bunch of problem areas at work.

    Advice About Hiring A Roofer – Liability Insurance

    When meeting with a professional roofer, ask to see a copy of their liability insurance; any trustworthy roofer should have copies readily available.

    If they have a hard time providing you with their papers, they’re probably not someone you want to work with.

    When you’re trusting someone with your roof, you want all your bases covered.

    Advice About Hiring A Roofer – Warranty

    See if your roofer offers a warranty.

    Even if you’re working with an excellent contractor, mistakes can happen and you want to be sure you’re covered.

    Typically, most roofers offer warranties for roof replacements, but not the cost of replacements.

    See what’s available, consider it when you’re deciding who you should work with.

    Interview Many Roofers

    Don’t talk to just one roofer.

    Your co-worker may have raved over a contractor and you may have been offered an amazing deal, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get multiple estimates.

    Encourage multiple contractors to put in bids for the job.

    When people are competing for the work, you’re going to get better offers.

    Now You Can Hire A Great Roofer!

    A poorly-built roof is always a sign of a poorly-chosen contractor.

    There are plenty of options available in most local areas and the internet is an excellent tool for finding them; however, with so many choices, it’s difficult to know who is the right one.

    Thankfully, the tips provided in the article above should make that decisions much less difficult and much more efficient.