Tag Archives: storms

Aug19

5 Differences You Notice Instantly When You Get Your Roof Fixed

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5 Differences You Notice Instantly When You Get Your Roof Fixed

Your roof is one of those parts of the house you probably don’t think about much until something goes seriously wrong. It’s only then that you start noticing drafts, potential ceiling stains, or even the unmistakable sound of dripping water during after a storm. That’s why you can’t miss the impact of repairing a damaged roof. No matter the level of repair you need, whether you are dealing with missing shingles, age-related deterioration, or even a minor leak, investing in professional roofing repairs will not only protect the top of your home, but it will also transform how your home feels:

#1. Your Home Is More Comfortable:

Does your upstairs feel freezing in the winter? It’s no wonder that roof repairs are on top of the to-do list to winterproof your home. Your roof and attic are part of the thermal boundary that protects your living space from outdoor conditions. So when your roof doesn’t fulfill its job anymore, you struggle to regulate temperatures both in winter and summer. This is because the roof also provides a strong insulating function. It ensures the outside air doesn’t come into your home through the top.

#2. You Are Saving Money:

Insulation doesn’t just make your home more comfortable. It also makes it cheaper to run because your heating and cooling system doesn’t need to fight against the cold winter air (or the hot summer air) inside the house. The HVAC system doesn’t need to work harder, and therefore your energy bills also show a difference. Naturally, you should ensure that insulation is suitable throughout the entire property and not just in the roof area, but there’s no denying that the roof is one of the major ways in for outdoor air.

#3. Rainy Days Are Less Stressful:

There’s nothing quite like heavy rain when you are worried about roof leaks. You are likely to find damp patches on the ceilings just below the roof. This can also bring musty smells and long-lasting moisture problems. When your roof can withstand the rain, you can simply chill and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while the rain pours outside… not inside!

#4. The Whole House Looks Better:

No, seriously, it does. The roof may not be a mind-blowing difference you’d notice in photos. But it does improve the curb appeal of the property, even if you can’t pinpoint the exact elements that elevate its appearance. There’s no discoloration in the roof, no visible missing shingles, or no sagging sections. When the roof looks the part, the entire house looks better for it.

#5. You’re Protecting More Than the Roof:

The roof is designed to protect the structure and materials underneath it, which in short, means the entire house. Damaged roof coverings can allow wind-driven rain into a building and that unresolved damage can eventually affect the entire structure’s strength. This means moisture can damage decking, seep into insulation materials, and fragilize walls.

Fixing roofing problems early is about much more than ticking one task off the to-do list. It’s a protective layer that looks after your home and your comfort!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Aug22

4 Ways To Fortify Your Home From The Elements

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4 Ways To Fortify Your Home From The Elements

There are plenty of fun and unique ways to make your home more comfortable and match your style. However, you also need to think about protecting your home. While this may not make it comfortable in the traditional sense, it’s still a vital component of maintaining your home, especially from all types of extreme weather. Whether you own your home or are renting the property, here is some advice to keep you as safe as you are comfortable all year round:

Keep Out the Storms:

If you live somewhere that gets more rain than you’d ever thought possible, you need to make sure you keep your house secure from the water pounding at your door like a particularly aggressive salesperson. Storms can often cause much more damage than you expect, which is why plantation shutters and robust guttering are essential. The shutters offer a sophisticated yet protective barrier, while guttering will direct heavy rainfall away from your home to prevent flooding in the basement. This is crucial as the basement is typically the area of your home most prone to flooding, after all – the water will always drain downwards to the lowest point it can. Contacting a reputable company and getting a high quality adam basement waterproofing service performed at your property can seal the problem areas of your basement. This can help to prevent water from entering your basement and works in tandem with your other storm management systems to keep your house safe and dry.

Repair Your Insulation and Ventilation:

You should also focus on improving insulation and ventilation within the house. This is beneficial throughout the year, helping your home remain warm during the winter while allowing it to breathe during the blistering summer months. This is especially important if you live in an older property, as the existing features may have worn down or are unsuitable for the current climate. An inspector can check your house and provide advice to give you an idea of what you need to do to make the house more livable.

Check Your Pipes:

The drastic temperature drop during winter means there’s a chance that frozen water occurs within your pipes if they have not drained correctly. This can cause severe problems if you are not aware of it, and your home may flood if you don’t get ahead of the issue. You can use foam insulation strips to cover the pipes and keep the water from freezing. Draining the pipes regularly will also reduce the chances of ice forming. Again, it may be worth getting the pipes inspected by a company to check that they have not rusted or disintegrated.

Invest In Dehumidifiers:

Many people think a dehumidifier is only necessary if you live in a humid part of the country, but this is not the case. Dehumidifiers can reduce the risk of mold in your home no matter where you are. This improves the air quality and prevents respiratory problems that could lead to even worse issues. Identify the dampest parts of your house (typically the basement or laundry room) and install the dehumidifier. By doing this, you should keep damp from spreading throughout the house and make it easier to breathe, especially during rainy seasons.

You don’t need to raise the battlements and invest in a moat (although that would be cool). Instead, these tips can help you keep your home safe from the elements all year!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec17

Bad Weather? Here’s How to Protect Your Home

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Bad Weather? Here’s How to Protect Your Home

If you’ve never experienced the damage bad weather can do to your home, you should consider yourself lucky. Sure, rain may make your living room floor soaked if your windows are leaking and a hard gust of wind may weaken the shingles of your roof – but it’s still nothing at all compared to the floods and hurricanes we’ve experienced over the last decade.

While it’s difficult to prepare your home for that kind of weather unless you live in a bunker, you can still prepare it for cold days and heavy falls of both snow and rain. The spring has yet to arrive for a couple of months and the more you can do for your home now, the better off it will be in case your area should experience a storm anytime soon.

Here is a handful of tips in terms of making sure your home is strong enough to handle the elements. It just makes it a bit easier to put your feet up and relax as the wind howls outside:

First: Seal windows and doors

It’s only logical that the first thing you need to do is to ensure that the storm has no way of entering your home. This means, of course, that you need to make sure that all of your windows and doors are sealed properly. Wind funneling through your home will push upwards and may even lift your roof if it’s strong enough. It’s the kind of water damage your home could definitely do without.

You may want to purchase and install special storm shutters for your windows, for example, or just take a tour around your home to inspects the seals and make sure that there are no cracks to allow the wind in. Have a look here if you’d like to make your own storm shutters, by the way. They will be just as strong as the regular ones you’d buy in the shops as long as you follow the instructions.

Next: Consider steel doors:

You will only need this if you live in an area that often experiences stormy weather, but steel doors can really make a huge difference in terms of safety at home. When you have a steel door as your entry door, you avoid seeing hard winds tearing through those weaker double, French, or sliding doors for your patio. Install special hardware to strengthen the doors where they meet and try bolts that fasten the doors into the framing at the top and the bottom.

Think about the other doors in your house that are connected to the outside world; have a look at garage doors, for example, to avoid seeing the storm damage your vehicle, as well. That being said, your car may still get damaged by severe weather and if that does end up being the case, don’t wait to file your insurance claim for hail damage or any other type of damage that comes from the weather. Your insurance will work with you to make the repairs as cost-effective as possible.

Other points to keep in mind while it’s still quiet before the storm is, of course, to clear out your yard so that no furniture is able to fly off – and have an extra look at your roof. While the damage bad weather can do to your belongings is big enough, it can do even more damage if a roof shingle should hit an animal or a person.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr10

DOGS

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DOGS

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend! As you guys know, our newest addition to the family was adopted on Valentine’s Day. He’s a little dog named Ollie and he’s seriously the cutest thing on the planet. Every day my family learns something new about Ollie and it has been recently discovered that he’s really afraid of storms.

The first major rainfall in Ohio happened a couple of weeks ago and Ollie was so scared that he retreated under my bed. We didn’t know this, though, and my dad ended up calling my boyfriend and I upstairs from the basement because he couldn’t find Ollie anywhere. We scoured all of the closets, cabinets, and corners and finally Kyle found him curled up under my bed. It was so scary not being able to find him for those few minutes so it was definitely a huge relief when Kyle discovered Ollie’s hiding place.

Now that we know of Ollie’s storm phobia we decided to break out the thunder coat that belonged to one of our past precious pooches. But the trick is, is that the thunder coat is five times too big for little Ollie! My mom and I managed to figure out a way to get the coat wrapped and secured on Ollie and he was then able to brave the next storm like the big boy that he is! Take a look:

^^^ Omg. SO cute.

I love how the thunder coat looks like a little cape on Ollie! He looks like a tiny super hero dog. The picture of me holding him was taken when it was raining and I couldn’t get over how adorable the way I was holding him was. He got himself like that on his own and it was like cradling a fury little toddler!

So there you have it, some cute new pictures of my brave wittle Ollie!! Has anyone welcomed a new pet into their home recently? How do you help comfort a pup that is afraid of storms? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah