mid-coast_services

How-To Edition: DIY Summer Roof Inspection

dennis@surethingmedia.com (Dennis Sbrusch Jr.) — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 00:21:09 GMT

How-To Edition: DIY Summer Roof Inspection

DENNIS SBRUSCH JR.

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With Fall slowly creeping up, now's a good time to get your roof inspected. If you're like me and get a kick out of DIYing your own projects, here's 6 simple steps to complete your own Summer roof inspection.

1. Check Your Calendar

You should have your roof inspected at least once a year. Jot down a date on your calendar and stick to it. This could potentially save you thousands of doll ars.

2. Inspect Your Roofing Shingles

Keep an eye out for missing, cracked, lifted, or damaged shin gles. Also look for blisters and sagging sections of your roof. If you notice any shingles with a loss of granules, this could be a sign of weather damage or old age.

3. Survey Gutters and Downspouts

Look for leaf clutter and other blockages that can restrict the flow of water away from your home. High winds and heavy rains have the ability to pull gutters away from your home, so make sure everything is aligned and intact.

4. Assess All Flashing

Look for signs of damaged or loose flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vents. Take note of any cracks or holes you find.

5. Look Inside Your Attic & Home

Start by grabbing a flashlight then make your way into the attic. Inspect all support beams and spaces for any signs of water stains. While in the attic, also look for signs of metal rust around your furnace. Once you're finished inspecting your attic, talk a walk around the interior of your home and search for signs discoloration throughout your walls.

6. Call A Trusted, Local Roofing Contractor

As always, contacting a trusted and reliable roofing contractor is always the best choice when it comes to your roof. Vet your contractors by making sure they're bonded, insured, and will provide you with a written warranty for any work completed on your home.

Mid-Coast Services has served the entire Texas Mid-Coast for over 20 years. We're a licensed roofing contractor and carry a multi-million dollar liability insurance policy at all times to give our customers peace of mind. If you're local to Houston and all surrounding areas, contact us to receive a free drone roof inspectio n of your home. We provide downloadable roof reports, which include high-definition aerial imagery and true project costs at no charge.

4 Simple Tips to Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal Today

dennis@surethingmedia.com (Dennis Sbrusch Jr.) — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 23:19:48 GMT

4 Simple Tips to Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal Today

DENNIS SBRUSCH JR.

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Whether you're putting your house on the market or simply want to liven up your pad, it's always a good choice to improve your home's curb appeal. "Curb appeal", or how your home looks from the street, can draw in potential new buyers or leave Jim and Karen across the way envious of your humble abode. Either way, you earned your home, so why not enjoy it?

Spend a few weekends putting a bit more sweat equity into your house with these 4 simple tips to improve your home's curb appeal today.

1. Green Up Your Grass

A thick, deep green lawn is a simple and effective way to improve your home's curb appeal. Dry, dead grass is always an eyesore, but a lush lawn will always be the talk of the neighborhood. We recommend fertilizing your lawn with Milorganite , which is an organic nitrogen fertilizer. It feeds your grass appropriately and won't burn your lawn if any accidental over-application occurs.

2. Porch & Outdoor Accents

Outdoor accents and a porch that is free of debris is always appealing to the eye. Shrubbery, decorative pots, plants, doormats, and seasonal decor can add a sense of welcoming to any home. The best part is the fun spin that can be put on outdoor decorations with the changing seasons and upcoming holidays.

3. Exterior Painting

Old, cracking paint makes your home quite the eyesore. Applying a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of your home will make a world of difference in terms of curb appeal.

4. Replace Gutters

Easily forgotten are your rusted and clogged gutters and downspouts. Increase the curb appeal of your home—and your roof's integrity—by making sure these stay clean and clutter-free .

The Pros and Cons of Asphalt Roofing Shingles

dennis@surethingmedia.com (Dennis Sbrusch Jr.) — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:09:08 GMT

The Pros and Cons of Asphalt Roofing Shingles

DENNIS SBRUSCH JR.

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Asphalt roo fing shingles are by-far the most used material in residential roofing today. These roofing systems are low cost and easy to install, making them the most popular choice for homeowners across the country. Since your roof is one of THE biggest home investments you will ever make, we've broken down the pros and cons of asphalt roofing shingles to help you decide if this material is right for yo u.

Advantages of Asphalt Roofing Shingles

1. Affordable - Asphalt shingles are the most cost-effective roofing shingle on the market

2. Versatile - They can cover many different angles, slopes, shapes, and forms of a roof

3. Design Variety - From 3-Tab to Architectural, asphalt shingles come in a variety of rich styles

4. Color Options - A wide range of colors are available to improve your home's curb appeal

5. Resistant to Algae - Manufacturers like PABCO offer shingles that defend your roof against those ugly curbside black streaks

Disadvantages of Asphalt Roofing Shingles

1. Short Life-Span - Asphalt shingles last for about 20 years, which is less than tile, slate, or metal roofing systems

2. Susceptible to Damage - Although strong, they're vulnerable to damages from strong winds

3. Temperature Fluctuations - High temperatures followed by quick cool-downs can cause cracking through expanding and contracting

Why is My Roof Leaking? 3 Common Roof Leak Causes

dennis@surethingmedia.com (Dennis Sbrusch Jr.) — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 20:39:26 GMT

Why is My Roof Leaking? 3 Common Roof Leak Causes

DENNIS SBRUSCH JR.

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Waking up to water stained ceilings is NO way to start the day. Unfortunately, with the annually harsh storm season we experience throughout the Texas Mid-Coast upon us, some of us will inevitably confront a roof leak. In order to help you stress less, we’ve put together a list of 3 common roof leak causes to help you better understand and identify issues with your roof.

1. The Age of Your Roof

Over the years, your roof takes a beating from the elements. It's exposed to many environmental factors—such as wind, sun, hail, and rain—that undoubtedly wear away at its ability to protect you from roof leaks and damages. These roof leaks can be disastrous for the integrity of your home, which is why you should pinpoint the exact cause as quickly as possible. Chances are you may have an asphalt shingle roof, seeing as they're the most popular residential roofing system. An asphalt roofing system's lifespan is, on average, 20 years long. If your roofing system is made with asphalt shingles AND happens to be about 20 years old or more, odds are that the roof simply needs to be replaced.

2. Improper Flashing

Flashing is a material used to give watertight seals to any protruding objects on your roof, such as chimneys or vents. The main purpose of flashing is to prevent any possible exposure to moisture. As with your roof, mother nature and father time can each cause flashing to lose its seal and allow water to leak into your home. Flashing repairs can typically be done quickly and for a low cost.

3. Damaged/Loose Shingles

Shingles act as a protective armor that keeps harsh weather from damaging the roof of your home. Once even the smallest area of defense is broken, water can freely leak inside. Roofing shingles will loosen, crack, and wear away over time. Inspect your roof for loose or lifted shingles at least once a year. For a safe and effective alternative, give Mid-Coast Services a call for a no-cost drone roof inspection.