Expert Advice on Upgrading Your Home’s Exterior
Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 830 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Have your most pressing home improvement questions addressed by calling or texting 651-989-9226. Here’s the must-know information our COO, Andy Lindus, shared on 6.20.20.
Timberline® HDZ™ Shingles by North America’s largest manufacturer, GAF, are the talk of the roofing industry. Not only are these architectural shingles aesthetically pleasing, but they are accompanied with the first of its kind wind warranty, absent of wind speed restrictions. This type of shingle works particularly well on roofs with steep pitches, that place a substantial amount of pressure on the shingle. Even more reassuring is the fact that the shingles are offered with a 50-year, non-prorated warranty that covers both labor and materials. To ward off algae growth, copper is ingrained within the shingles.
Ever the innovator, GAF also offers Glenwood® Shingles with the highest possible roof fire rating. The ultra-dimensional shingles imitate the aesthetics of cedar shakes without the pricey maintenance. An advantage of selecting Glenwood® shingles is that they come with StainGuard® Protection which works to ensure that your roof isn’t overtaken with nasty blue-green algae. Glenwood® are also accompanied with GAF’s 50-year non-prorated warranty that covers both labor and materials.
An integral part of a home’s roofing system is attic insulation. An architectural style that is particularly challenging to insulate and ventilate is story and a half homes. This makes them highly susceptible to ice dams. To prevent ice dams, three inches of foam should be applied to provide an adequate thermal break. After the foam has been installed, a metal roof should be placed, which aid in shedding ice and snow in the winter months.
Regardless of the roofing you select, it’s imperative to select a gutter system that is installed on the home’s fascia board, rather than directly onto the shingles in order to keep the roofing manufacturer’s warranty intact. LeafGuard® Brand Gutters fulfill this criterion and are accompanied with a transferrable no-clog guarantee. An impressive feature of the patented system is that their downspouts are 12 square inches, which is double the size of ordinary downspouts. The downspouts that accompany LeafGuard® Brand Gutters are 20% thicker than basic gutter downspouts, making them significantly more durable.
Homeowners opting to have new siding installed in place of stucco should be aware of the significant undertaking the process is. While new siding can be installed over the top of stucco, this process is not recommended, as it does not allow a contractor to address any preexisting water or air infiltration. The best practice is removing the stucco, get down to the siding sheathing, and build out from there.
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