Archive for the ‘Home Improvement Advice’ Category

Making Your Home Winter-Proof, Part 1: Indoor Repairs

May 10th, 2011 No Comments

So, the summer months are approaching, and everyone here in Colorado is relieved to have made it through another harsh winter. The summer allows us Coloradans to sit back and enjoy the sunshine, while not having to worry about icy roads and sudden blizzards. However, what many people don’t think about when summer rolls around is that it’s one of the best times to prep various parts of your home for the next upcoming winter. Taking the time to do a few things around the house can save you a lot of time, money, and headache come next winter, and really it’ll only take an hour or two out of your long, relaxing summer.

We got the idea for this article primarily from an article at the website for the Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology (or PATH), which splits up the chores you’ll need to do into indoor and outdoor categories. First, the indoor. It is recommended that you take the time during the summer to replace your brick or metal building insulation, as newly installed insulation will help keep your house warmer in the winter and increase your energy efficiency. As an added bonus, insulation will help keep heat out of your home during the summer.

In addition to installing new insulation, you may want to think about installing storm windows and doors, which are thicker and more durable than traditional doors and windows. Storm windows are usually at least double paned, and they are made from a special, insulated glass that also helps to keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer.

Since you will likely be using the heater during the coldest months of the upcoming winter, you should also get your furnace checked and tuned up. You don’t want to have a malfunctioning heater the first time you go to turn it on during the winter, as technicians might not be able to make it out to your home as quickly as they will be during the summer. Many heating and plumbing companies offer specials on these sorts of repairs during the summer, as well, in order to encourage home owners to have these repairs done before winter rolls around.

Lastly, if you have a wood burning heater or fireplace, there are a few things you can do to ensure that it will be working perfectly when you go to use it on that first cold winter day. Make sure you do a thorough cleaning of the inside, especially in the smaller cracks and hard to reach corners. Replace any filters that the heater uses, and if you find any unusual cracks or fissures, make sure you call a heating and plumbing Denver expert to help make the repairs necessary to keep your heater working like new.

Always remember that if any of these repairs are too advanced for you, you can always call an expert company around Denver to schedule a time for professional repairs to be made. For instance, if you aren’t sure about installing brick or metal building insulation, you should call a professional contractor to help you with the project.

Check back next time for more indoor tips on winter-proofing your home and an introduction to the next part of this series, which will focus on outdoor roofing Denver repairs, as well as more heating and plumbing Denver repairs, that you can make to ensure that your house functions well through the coldest months of the upcoming Colorado winter. It’ll be here before you know it!

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Oh, Those Noisy Pipes

May 4th, 2011 No Comments

Pipes can make a lot of weird noises when in use. Oftentimes, these noises are normal and not anything that a homeowner should be worried about. However, we are told by some Denver plumbing repair experts that there are certain noises that pipes can sometimes make that you should be worried about. Here are some brief descriptions of those sounds and what they may mean for your plumbing.

First, there are banging noises. If you turn on the water and you hear your pipes banging against one another or against the inside of your walls, you may need to have a plumber come and take a look at them. Fortunately, this banging usually means that they aren’t securely fastened, so the typical fix would be to add straps to the pipes or to add cushion to them to prevent them from banging up against one another when in use.

Another common noise is a squeaking noise, which is again cause by pipes moving around in their fastenings. This noise, however, is usually caused when you turn the hot water on and a pipe expands. As a pipe expands, if its padding or fastening is not tight enough, it will cause friction with the padding or fastening and result in a squeaking noise. Again, having a Denver plumbing repair expert fix this problem shouldn’t cost you too much money or take up too much of your time.

The last noise that you might experience with your pipes is known as a “water hammer” and occurs when the water is shut off abruptly and water flow comes to sudden halt. The recoil from this sudden stop can cause loose pipes to move around and make a sort of hammering noise. As with our other two sounds, any local plumber should be able to fix this easily for you at a reasonable price.

Most plumbing noises are more of a nuisance than anything truly serious. However, it’s good to stay on top of anything suspicious when it comes to your plumbing, so if you’re experiencing any of these noises, we suggest you call up a local Denver plumber as soon as possible.

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The Cost of a New Roof

May 2nd, 2011 No Comments

There are many factors that go into the cost of installing a new roof Denver on your Colorado home, some which are more obvious than others. As a homeowner, if you are not familiar will all of these elements, you might underestimate what you’ll be spending on a new roof and end up with a bill that is significantly larger than you expected or can afford. The following are just a few of the main factors that you need to keep in mind when deciding to replace your existing roof with a new one.

Perhaps the most obvious factor that goes into the price of a new roof is the type of roof. Certain roofing materials are going to be more expensive than others, so this should be the first element of your new roof Denver that you decide on. Will plain old composite asphalt shingles suffice, or would you rather spring for a longer lasting, lower maintenance material like clay tiles? Whatever you decide, make sure the material is suitable for your building situation and that you get a quote before any work begins, so you can determine just how much of your budget will be going to the materials themselves.

On top of the type of roofing material that will be used on your new roof, the method of installation will also have an effect on the overall cost of the job. For instance, the medium used to adhere the roofing to the building can vary greatly in price. With your typical composite asphalt shingle roofing, price can fluctuate based on the type of nails you choose to install the roofing with. As a side note, if a Denver roofing contractor tries to install your asphalt roofing with staples, you should hire someone else because staples should never be used on asphalt roofing. If you decide on another type of roofing, you may end up using adhesive solvents instead of nails, which can either save or cost you more money depending on what type of adhesive you end up choosing.

These are only two of the many factors that can increase or decrease the price of your new roofing. We’ll be posting more articles soon on the subject of new roofing costs, so check back regularly if you’re a Coloradan in the market for a new roof.

Posted in Contractor Marketing, Home Improvement Advice, Outdoor Remodeling Tags: ,

Getting Started on Your DIY Sprinkler System

April 29th, 2011 No Comments

Installing a sprinkler system does not require one to be a rocket scientist or even a plumbing Denver expert. Many homeowners choose to install their sprinkler systems DIY style, and most succeed at achieving a properly working system within a few hours. Though installing a sprinkler system yourself isn’t a terribly difficult task, there are a few tips and tricks that you can use to your advantage to make the job quicker and less complicated.

Before you begin doing anything, you should survey your property and take note of where you need watering, how much water you need, and how often. Also, you need to call your utility company so that you do not dig into their lines, as this could end up costing you an unthinkable amount of money and trouble in the long run. While you’re making phone calls, you should also call your water company and inquire as to what the capacity of your water system is so that you can base the design of your sprinkler system off of those numbers.

After taking these initial measures, you will need to decide what the water source of your system is going to be. This is sometimes one of the most difficult steps because the plumbing Denver has can sometimes be inconvenient to your sprinkler system design. That is, if the water source you want to use isn’t in a location conducive to the areas you need to water, you may need extra parts and tools to make your design work.

These are just some of the first steps you need to take in order to get your DIY sprinkler system project off the ground. Although installing a sprinkler system is relatively easy, if you find yourself in any trouble during the installation process, do not hesitate to look up a local expert plumber Denver has to offer to help you finish the job properly. There’s nothing worse than putting a whole lot of time and effort into a project just to end up failing because you were too proud to ask for help.

Posted in Home Improvement Advice, Outdoor Remodeling Tags: ,

How To: Getting Your Permits Without Too Much Red Tape

April 25th, 2011 No Comments

Hello Everyone,
Here on this site we usually focus on problems encountered during either the roofing process itself, or warning signs that you might need to call a Denver roofing contractor.  Today, we are going to discuss another challenge in any home improvement project, which is getting the appropriate permits.  The city of Denver’s website has some excellent instructions, and the web has certainly made it easier to navigate the tricky terrain of city bureaucracy.  However, a little ‘how-to’ section on working through the red tape should be useful to any and everyone who is about to embark on a project that includes a new roof Denver officials may want to know about.
The first step in obtaining the correct permits is to check your zoning and landmark status.  Depending on where you live, this could have an enormous influence on the limitations of your project.  Zoning is a list of qualifications on the size and location of any buildings on your property, and also controls the aesthetic of your home.  Moreover, zoning ensures that residential buildings are residential and commercial buildings stay in commercial areas.  Landmark status does some of the same things as zoning; it ensures that neighborhoods retain their historical and cultural feel by controlling what kinds of home improvement projects can happen in any neighborhood.
The next step is to decide if you are doing the project yourself or hiring another party to complete the work.  For roofing jobs, Denver roofing contractors must be licensed and certified to do the work.  If you are a home owner eager to do the work yourself, you might have to pass a Home Owner’s exam, which can be found here.
The final step in getting all building permits in order is to have the project area inspected.  Once you are cleared by an inspector, you are ready to get building.  Just be sure that the Denver roofer you hired does a great job!

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The Need for Metal Building Insulation

April 20th, 2011 No Comments

It’s no mystery: steel buildings are on the rise. Steel is usually a cheaper, more durable, and low maintenance alternative to many other building materials, including wood and brick. In addition, steel is more widely available than many other materials in most areas of the country. Just as with buildings of other materials, however, steel buildings do require insulation for many reasons.

First, and perhaps most obvious, steel, as with any other metal, is highly conductive. This means that it will tend to conduct a lot of heat during warmer months and a lot of cold during cooler months, causing the inside temperature of your building to vary with the intensity of the daily weather. With metal building insulation, your steel building will retain warmth during the winter and keep heat out during the summer. This will eventually manifest itself in the form of a lower electricity and / or gas bill for your building.

Condensation is another issue that steel buildings, as opposed to buildings constructed with other materials, experience. Moisture can build up on steel building panels and eventually begin to drip, causing problems with other building structures and posing a potential safety hazard. Moisture can cause steel corrosion which could be hazardous to anyone accessing the roof, in addition to water resting on steel acting as an electricity accident waiting to happen. Metal building insulation can also help absorb and prevent this condensation from occurring by acting as a barrier between outside and inside steel panels, preventing moisture transfer.

If you don’t have your steel building insulation installed and maintained correctly, however, you may experience a few problems. One of the worst issues that you might encounter is insulation saturation. This occurs when too much moisture seeps between steel panels and is absorbed by the insulation. This saturation can eventually result in mold, which can spread to other parts of your building causing a lot of damage. If you catch the saturation early, you can likely have the insulation repaired or removed and replaced. Whatever the price you pay to have this done, it’ll be worth it in the long run when your building isn’t infested with mold.

In the end, insulation is a must for most steel buildings. It will help control temperatures during both the winter and summer months, and keep condensation from causing more damage than it should. Just make sure that you always do your research when it comes to finding a company or contractor who know what they’re doing with steel building insulation.

Posted in Contractor Marketing, Home Improvement Advice Tags: ,

Black Mold: A Silent Destroyer of Homes and Health

April 20th, 2011 No Comments

Hello Everyone,
Today we are going to discuss a very serious issue that may be destroying your home and your health.  While black mold is primarily a problem in parts of the country that get more moisture than Colorado, it is entirely possible to have your home invaded by black mold without knowing it.  Not only can black mold destroy a home within a matter of years, but it has been known to cause such complex health issues as chronic respiratory issues in otherwise healthy people.  Since black mold is so dangerous both to our homes and to our bodies, and is hard to notice in its early stages, we thought it would be very important to discuss how to find it and how to treat it.
Black mold gets into homes via moisture.  While it is most commonly thought of as a side effect of flooding, roof leaks from an old or rotting roof will also allow the opportunity of black mold to hide in the corners of crawl spaces and attics.  The best way to check for such a problem is to perform a thorough roof check.  If there is any sagging, or caving in of your roof in any spot, it could be the location of a dangerous leak.  Another way to check leaks is from the interior of a home.  Interior roof checks look for discoloration in corners and on the ceiling, which would signify a leak that has moistened the ceiling.
The best way to be sure that your family and home are clear of black mold is to keep up on your roof repairs, and never let your roof start leaking in the first place.  Be sure to contact your Denver roofing contractor or a local Colorado Springs roofing company every year or two to be sure that your roof is in excellent shape.  Moreover, do roof checks after every heavy storm, to be sure that no physical damage has been done to your family’s roof.
Many insurance companies refuse to pay for mold removal.  Even rotted drywall, floorboards, beams, plaster and all of your possessions might have to be replaced. Since any substance in your home that has come in contact with the mold spores must be burned, it is essential that you have your roof checked often.  Otherwise, you might end up with your investment in your whole home (literally) going up in flames.  So please, give a local company that specializes in roofing Colorado Springs or a Denver roofer to check your roof and repair any leaks!

Posted in Home Improvement Advice, Industry News Tags: ,

Quick Dial: Denver Plumbing Company

April 5th, 2011 No Comments

If you’re looking for a fantastic Denver Plumbing Company than you’ll want to check out Plumbing Denver.com. Everyone has your favorite but when it comes to availability, price and professionalism you can’t go wrong with a Best Home Contractors, Denver Contractor.

Visit Denver.BestHomeContractors.com today!

Posted in Home Improvement Advice

Basement Finishing Ideas: Great ways to get started!

April 27th, 2010 No Comments

Finding a good guide to finishing a basement can be a little overwhelming since many on the Internet or in books don’t really give you a good starting point. Here is a brief guide to basement finishing Denver, to help you get started.

Finishing a basement is an excellent way of increasing the value of your home. The amount a basement can add to home improvement is often not thought about. The good news is that you don’t actually have to always go through an exorbitant cost to transform this room.

If you research and understand a few basic things in renovation, such as waterproofing the basement, understanding how lighting works, and knowing how to do repairs, you can drop your costs down considerably as you will not need to get in a professional to do these things for you.

So here are the things you need to think about:

1)Building codes

You will need to research what building codes are required for basements in your area. If you don’t know the building codes you can make some major mistakes, as these revolve around ceiling height and waterproofing, plus many other things. Even having the ceiling too low by an inch is going to render your room outside of the code, and you will not be able to sell the house legally if you wanted to. You need a building permit, as well, before you continue.

2)Plans

You really can’t dive in heads and feet, you must first plan how you are going to do things and what the basement will look like. This will also help you to make sure things fit within your budget. You have to draw up your basic layout and probably also get some professional plans done for the building department. You will need to do research and find out what they require.

3)Things to remember around a basement

Basements usually get damp very easily and are prone to be a breeding ground for mildew. This is why you will need to look at what waterproofing options you’ve got – one that will also insulate the room in case of flooding, as the basement can usually flood quite easily.

Remember, too, about the plumbing and keep in mind where to put things like pipes etc. if you are going to install a bathroom. You don’t want to have pipes sticking out of the walls in places where you actually will want to put furniture. Your walling options need to be considered here as well. There are many panel walling solutions such as the Owens Corning system which will suit well, but they need to be incorporated in your plans in terms of space.

4) Floors

You have plenty of flooring options but not all will suit your needs. Tiling and vinyl flooring are the most popular for basements, as they do well against moisture. Carpeting can present problems as well as hardwood flooring, simply because of the damp.

6) Light

Effectively planning the lighting in the room is often overlooked. Try and keep the basement as open as possible with large doors and if you can have a window then take advantage of that fact.

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Ideas to Make your Roof Last!

April 27th, 2010 No Comments

As anyone that has ever had to re-shingle a home can attest, a roof is an expensive investment. Not only that, but your roof protects your home from the elements. If not working properly, water leakage and seepage can cause costly damage that might even compromise the structural integrity of the home. Once that happens, you’ll be shelling out cash left and right in order to fix the mistake. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you are taking care of your roof and making it last as long as possible. But how do you do that?

First, debris is a huge problem when it comes to deteriorating roofs. Leaves and branches that fall onto your roof can cause moisture to collect. This moisture can be dangerous and cause rotting and deterioration that may compromise your roof. At least once a year you should use a broom or a power washer to clear off any debris that might have collected. If any surrounding trees are touching your roof with their leaves and branches, you should trim the tree so that it is no longer in contact with the roof. While you’re clearing debris from the roof itself, check out the gutters. If your gutters and drains are full of leaves and debris, your drains won’t work properly which can cause serious roof damage. Clear all gutters out carefully and maybe even consider installing gutter guards to keep it from happening again. Also, another important step is to make sure your joints are sealed correctly so that no moisture can cause damage. By following these steps you can ensure that your roof lasts as long as possible.

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