Roofing Dos and Don'ts

Home improvement can be exciting and fun!  You and your family may plan new projects each year to help make your home more safe, energy efficient, or just plain old prettier.  However, one home improvement project that most people aren't necessarily looking forward to is putting on a new roof.  Although a new roof may not be the most va va voom home improvement project out there, it certainly is an important one when the time comes.  Here are a few tips to guide you through the process smoothly.

Know when its time to replace your roof
So, what should you look for when inspecting your roof? The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends you do a roof inspection at least two times a year -- spring and fall. The best place to begin is inside your house -- grab a flashlight and make a trip to the attic.
Here are four things to look for on the inside:

1) Places where the roof deck is sagging
2) Signs of water damage or leaking
3) Dark spots and trails
4) Outside light showing through the roof.


When you take a look at the exterior of the roof, pay attention to such things as damaged flashing, missing shingles, curling, blistering, buckling, rotting and algae growth (which occurs most often in humid climates and appears as dark or greenish stains).

Choose the Right Professional
Make sure that the company that you choose is local. This means that they are not just operating locally now, but have an established business and reputation in the community.
We have had many calls from customers that have problems within the standard five-year warranty period. The company that they chose to install their roof closed, moved or vanished. It is very easy to provide a piece of paper, but the warranty is only as good as the longevity and reputation of the roofing company.

Never choose a company based on price. Cheap bids drive down the market and anyone with overhead and proper insurance has to establish pricing to cover such costs.

Those that do work on the side or are just working out of a pick-up truck can always do the work cheaper. But in the long run, you get what you pay for. Customers that are sold on price as their sole criteria ultimately end up spending more money to fix problems, and many of these problems would have been covered under a workmanship guarantee by a reputable established roofing company.

Make sure that your contractor has worker’s compensation and liability insurance. Ask to see the certificates and actually call the insurance carrier to confirm that they are valid.

This keeps all bids on a level playing field, knowing that part of the cost of the roof and the service being provided to you is protected with the security of coverage.

Choose a quality product
Asphalt Shingle:  This is the most commonly used of all roof materials, because it’s the least expensive and requires a minimum of skill to install.
Wood:  Wood was the main choice for centuries, and it’s still a good option, though in some areas fire codes forbid its use. Usually made of cedar, redwood, or southern pine, shingles are sawn or split. They have a life expectancy in the 25-year range (like asphalt shingles) but cost an average of twice as much.
Metal:  Aluminum, steel, copper, copper-and-asphalt, and lead are all durable—and expensive—roofing surfaces. Lead and the copper/asphalt varieties are typically installed as shingles, but others are manufactured for seamed roofs consisting of vertical lengths of metal that are joined with solder. These roofs cost two to three times as much as standard.


Maintain it
Like any investment in your home, make sure you maintain your new roof.  Ask your roofing contractor about materials and labor warranties provided.  Make sure you inspect your roof after long periods of rain and or heavy storms, and remove all debris as soon as possible to avoid leaks starting.

Replacing your roof doesn't have to be a daunting task.  Going into the process as an informed homeowner will ease the stress and help you make your decisions quickly and effectively.  Good luck!

Unified Windows January 2015

Please take a look at our January 2015 ad for specials and discounts.

3 Easy Ways To Make Your Home More Safe in 2015

AS the holiday season of 2014 draws to a close, you and your family may be entertaining a few resolution ideas for 2015. Make sure household safety is on your list this year. With a few simple changes, you could make a much safer environment for your loved ones.

Hold a household meeting

Make home security a habit, with every member of the household—including kids—agreeing to a routine that should include such simple rules as:

Use door and window locks. It costs nothing and takes little energy. Make it a habit to lock every door and window when leaving, after entering, and before bedtime.
Do not open the door to uninvited or unwelcome visitors.
Close and lock the garage door.
Secure your home even if you’re doing work around the house and yard.
Use your alarm system all the time, even when you take a quick trip to the store or visit next-door neighbors.

Light up the outdoors

If you don’t have them already, buy and install outdoor lighting with infrared motion sensors and install one near each point of entry. Replace any burned-out lightbulbs and put your porch lights on timers. Find the best bulbs for outdoor use.

Check Windows and Doors

Are the window locks operable? If not, get them fixed or replace them. Also consider installing aftermarket window locks which let you open the window a few inches while still keeping it secure. Another alternative is to use inexpensive window-break alarms.

Okay, so you’re probably not going to be able to install new doors by yourself over a weekend. But you can inspect your front, side, and back doors. Replace hollow (read: low-quality and easy-to-breach) doors with solid-core (made of wood or metal) or metal-clad doors.

Sliding-glass doors have a latch to close them but are often an easy point of entry for burglars. To make one more secure, place a wood dowel cut to size or an adjustable safety bar in the interior floor track, or consider adding a floor bolt.
Lock your door to the garage. Often, homeowners leave garage doors up when they are at home and don't think to lock the interior door.

With these simple steps, you'll be on your way to a safer 2015!

Unified Windows December 2014

Please take a look at our December 2014 ad for specials and discounts.

Christmas Wreaths for Your Doors and Windows

A Christmas wreath adds instant holiday cheer inside or outside your house. From the front door to the dining room, here are some easy ideas for decorating with wreaths.

A Christmas wreath on the front door is a no fail way to create holiday welcome. Choose one in keeping with the architecture of your house. You might select a pine wreath for a cozy country cottage or a classic magnolia wreath for a stone cabin.

Hang a loose casual wreath on a screen door to amp it up for the holidays.

Windows make great back backdrops for wreaths too. For a dramatic look, hang a wreath on every window on the outside of your house. Punctuate with crisp red ribbon and the look is classic Christmas.

Decorate with wreaths inside too. Hang a wreath from a curtain rod over a set of windows to avoid filling the wall or woodwork with nail holes. Held up with long strands of colorful ribbon with ornaments tied to the end, it's a fresh and youthful look for a standard evergreen.

You can also use removable adhesive hooks to apply wreaths to the wall or use tiny nails at the top of your window trim where the holes will never show.

For a playful holiday style, look for wreaths in unusual materials. Try hanging brightly colored wreaths made out of feathers which blend well with retro decor or in children's rooms.

Wreaths can make an impact in some of the most unlikely places. Use them to embellish chairs around your dining table, Use them to dress up a bare beam, or even over a plain mirror. Look for wreaths in unexpected materials like fresh flowers, olive branches, or acorns for a unique effect.

Whether you hang one simple wreath or dozens in mass, you're sure to make a big holiday statement.  For an even bigger holiday statement, contact us for new windows and doors to hang those wreaths on.

Home For Life

Optimized for aging-in-place, the 2014 Home for Life offers a roadmap to creating beautiful, efficient homes that can comfortably adapt to every stage of life.

Every eight seconds someone in the United States turns 65—and odds are they want to stay in their home.

In January 2011, the first wave of the country’s nearly 80 million baby boomers officially reached retirement age—a  group that will continue to grow by more than 10,000 a day for another 15 years. AARP surveys of those 50 and older have consistently found that this group overwhelmingly wants to stay put as long as possible, however most haven’t yet taken steps to ensure their home can continue to live comfortably as they age. The need for smart solutions that improve how homes function for every member of the family, regardless of age or ability, has never been greater—and that’s exactly what the 2014 Home for Life has to offer.

Created in collaboration with an all-star team of designers, universal design consultants, efficiency specialists, and professional organizations, this year’s Home for Life offers a revolutionary suite of ideas that enable homes to live better, last longer, and perform more efficiently.

Starting with a design based on a typical 1970s suburban home, the team at Case Design/Remodeling and the universal design experts at the Better Living Design Institute crafted a remodel that updates both the home’s aesthetic and functionality with innovative solutions tailored to meet the needs of today's boomers while making life easier on every member of the family.

The most common misconception about universal design, says Herman Johnson, senior architectural specialist at Case and one of the project’s designers, is that people often think of it as something useful only to those with limited mobility. “The spaces are not just about grab bars and wide hallways. Many universal design features are very subtle,” he says, pointing to thoughtful details like raised front-loading washers and dryers that make loading and unloading laundry easier on everyone.

“We’re really after the mainstream audience by adding features that blend in,” says Richard Duncan, executive director at Better Living Design. “Remodelers can bring clients features they’ll see in Home for Life that will work well and look great. They’ll be able to offer all these convenience and ease of use things everyone will like that also happen to work with them long term.”

The home’s performance also got an update with the latest in energy-efficient practices and cutting-edge products that not only cut down on energy consumption but can also improve indoor air quality and the health and safety of occupants.  “It’s not just about energy-efficiency,” says Larry Zarker, CEO at the Building Performance Institute (BPI), which served as Home for Life’s high-performance guru. “It’s also about addressing health concerns, such as asthma triggers found in the home, and safety issues including preventing gas and carbon monoxide leaks.” Efficiency improvements also help ensure all rooms are comfortable and free of drafts, while reducing monthly energy bills.

The result is a design filled with ideas as beautiful and functional as they are adaptable. Remodelers and homeowners can use the design as a template for their own project, or pick and choose the best practices that fit their needs as they create their own home for life.


This post is featured from The Home For Life Project 2014

Unified Windows November 2014

Please take a look at our November 2014 ad for specials and discounts.