Getting Started on Your Next Roofing & Insulation Project
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 651-461-9226. Here’s the must-know information our COO, Andy Lindus, shared on 10.24.20.
An Introduction To GAF Shingles For Roof Replacements
As the days become shorter and the weather turns cooler, roof installation can become more of a challenge. Ever the innovator, GAF created the Timberline® HDZ™ shingles, which can be installed in temperatures as low as 10°. It also is accompanied with an industry-first wind warranty with no maximum wind speed limitation, making it a great option for roofing projects. Even more impressive is that the GAF shingles are accompanied with a 50-year, non-prorated warranty that covers both labor and materials.
Addressing Ventilation & Insulation Installation During Your Roofing Project
When considering a roof installation project, your home’s attic should also be evaluated to ensure that it’s properly insulated and ventilated in order to give your shingles the longest possible lifespan. It’s imperative that the insulation contractor you partner with can explain their methodologies and their reasoning behind them. They should be utilizing diagnostic tools such as blower doors, smoke sticks, and infrared imaging. The results will help create a customized roadmap for your insulation installation project.
Without a home energy audit, simply blowing in insulation into an attic can actually do more harm than good by creating a cold surface. This leads to condensation and attic mold. Additionally, there needs to be the correct push to pull ratio between the soffit and roof vents when it comes to insulation replacement.
Prior to having roof vents installed, ask for clarification on the type(s) being suggested. Ridge vents are becoming a popular option because they ensure that the highest point of the roof is where the ventilation is taking place.
How Home Energy Audits Inform Your Insulation Replacement:
Exterior Home Improvement Advice
Gutter Maintenance: Downspouts
Another popular question our team receives this time of the year is whether their gutters’ downspouts should be folded up or left outstretched. Our best advice is to fold up downspouts or remove them so that they do not become covered in snow and become damaged by being stepped on or run over.
Deck Maintenance: Wood Stains
For homeowners still hoping to stain their wooden decks before winter hits, we urge them to seek out oil-based stains by either Penofin® or Sikkens. While temperature range recommendations vary by manufacturer, it’s best practice to not stain a deck when it is below 40° out. Once snow does fall on brown-treated decking, special care should be taken to not scratch the deck when clearing it. Failure to clear snow off the deck leaves it exposed to excess moisture, which can eventually cause damage. Composite decking can be installed in the winter months, but special consideration needs to be taken due to the material’s ability to expand and contract.
