Contractor

Bombarded by Roofing Companies?

April 26th, 2022|Categories: Contractor|

Bombarded by Roofing Companies After a Storm? You Are Not the Only One. What to Look Out For Have you noticed after a severe hail storm there are 20-30 roofing companies swarming into town trying to find roofs to fix? Well, there’s a reason for this. The roofing business in the United States is a 52.2 billion dollar industry, and many people think they can get a quick and easy piece of the pie. Some businesses even resort to sketchy selling practices such as scare tactics. They may even offer to pay your deductible in order to earn your [...]

Are You Paying Too Much for Your Home Warranty Service?

September 8th, 2021|Categories: Contractor, Storm Damage|

Maybe a better question would be, should you be, does the one you’re using provide adequate coverage? Many homeowners, looking back, realize they didn’t use their home warranty service nearly enough to warrant the monthly fee. Especially when they call and find out what they need to be fixed is not covered by their plan. The average homeowner pays $39.99 a month for a home warranty. That’s not too bad when you look at it monthly, but over one year, that’s almost $500, or $479.88 annually.  Please, don’t take this as advice to stop your home warranty service. However, you [...]

What has Winter Taught You About Your Home Maintenance?

January 25th, 2021|Categories: Contractor, Home Maintenance|

Winter is a rough time of year for several reasons – not least among them, the need for seasonal maintenance. Most home structures are built to last for a significant time, but none are immune from damage or wear and tear. If you want to add value to your property, regular inspection and repairs are a must.  When the weather gets colder, and storms start blowing in, it is almost guaranteed that some areas of your home will fare better than others. If you don’t see significant structural damage, that doesn’t mean that there is no need to worry. Some [...]

5 Tips for Minnesota Homeowners with Storm Damage

July 28th, 2020|Categories: Contractor, Gutters, Installation, Insulation, Remodel, Roofing, Siding, Storm Damage, Windows|

Minnesota weather is nothing if not unpredictable. Minnesotans know that a sunny day can quickly change into a hail, wind, or thunderstorm that can cause all types of damage to homes, buildings, vehicles, and properties. While most storms roll through quickly and may not damage property, there is always a handful that results in branches or trees falling or hail damage to property. For Minnesota homeowners who have dented roofs from hail or broken windows from falling branches, here are five tips to ensure your damage is quickly repaired. Assess Damage for Emergency Repair The first concern for homeowners should [...]

Still have storm damage from last summer? The time to repair is now!

May 21st, 2018|Categories: Contractor, Roofing, Siding, Storm Damage|

It has reached that point in the year where time is running short to complete repairs from last summer’s storm damage. Before you panic that you may not meet the deadline for your insurance claim, there are a few important factors to consider. INSURANCE CLAIM STIPULATIONS Have you fully read the conditions of your insurance claim? If not, now’s the time to refresh your memory. Your insurance company will have set a time limit for completion of work. In some cases, you will have no more than a year from making the claim to completely sign off on the repairs. [...]

Fall is the Perfect Time to Check your Gutters

October 24th, 2016|Categories: Contractor, Gutters, Installation, Remodel|

Fall is the perfect time to perform many of the maintenance operations outside your home that will help see it through the long winter intact. While items such as closing down a pool, doing fall landscaping to protect foliage and securing outdoor equipment might rise to the top of the to-do list, there is one thing that you should add to that list that often gets overlooked -- your gutters. Checking your gutters now can save you time, energy and money during the long and cold winter months. Your Gutters' Purpose If you are like many homeowners, you don't give [...]

How to Choose the Right Insulation for your New Home

October 10th, 2016|Categories: Contractor, Installation, Insulation, Remodel|

Building a new house is an exciting endeavor. If you are lucky, you get to customize aspects of your home. A custom-built home gives you a great opportunity to ensure your home is efficient starting with your walls. Before the builder encloses your walls, you should choose insulation that will help you conserve energy so that you can reduce your monthly expenses. WHY YOUR INSULATION IS IMPORTANT? Heating and cooling your home is one of your largest expenses. Experts estimate that the average homeowner spends $1,900 each year on utility bills. By choosing the right type of insulation, you can significantly [...]

3 Reasons Replacement Windows aren’t a DIY Project

September 19th, 2016|Categories: Contractor, Installation, Windows|

As a homeowner, you look for ways to save money on home improvement projects. If you are like many homeowners, cost savings seems to trump quality, which isn’t a rational way of thinking. In fact, in recent years, do-it-yourself (DIY) projects have become mainstream because homeowners perceive they save money by doing home improvement projects themselves. Some homeowners have tried to DIY replacement windows, with no experience in home improvement. On the surface, it may seem like replacement windows are cost-effective, but DIY projects can cost you extra money and countless hours.   DIYing Replacement Windows Can Lead to Increased [...]

3 Signs your Siding Needs Replacing

September 5th, 2016|Categories: Contractor, Installation, Siding|

Millions of homeowners choose siding as their go-to fascia for their home. It’s obvious why so many homeowners put their faith in siding. Vinyl siding lasts long; it’s easy to maintain; it’s cost-effective. Although it has many benefits, siding isn’t completely maintenance-free. There are times when your siding needs replacing. Keep reading to see what telltale signs indicate you need new vinyl siding. COSTLY UTILITY BILLS With a focus on reducing costs, one early warning sign that your siding needs replacing is large utility bills. In good shape, siding prevents energy from escaping your home. Insulated siding helps prevent energy from leaving [...]

How Efficient is your Home?

August 22nd, 2016|Categories: Contractor, Insulation, Windows|

On a daily basis, you likely think more about how nice your home looks and how much you enjoy the layout and floor plan of it. Then when the power bill comes each month, you wonder about your home’s efficiency. Of course you can’t install a full solar system for a reasonable price nor can you feasibly switch to a woodstove for heat and no air conditioning in the summer. There are, however, a few common sense upgrades you can make to your house which really aren’t very expensive in the overall scheme of home ownership and will pay for [...]