The Importance of Regular Roofing Maintenance

One of the biggest expenses a home owner will ever have is replacing a roof. Therefore keeping your roof in good repair with regular maintenance is extremely important. Small repairs as needed can extend the life time of the roof. Repairing leaks immediately will also prevent inside damage, like stains, peeling paint, cracked and falling ceilings, rotted wood, wet insulation, and mold. Damage from leaks can add considerably to an already expensive project. Make a habit of thoroughly checking the roof every spring and fall for any damaged shingles. Cut back trees and branches so the roof can dry after storms. Clean out the gutters at least once a year. Walking on a roof can easily break shingles, but more importantly, the chance of falling makes it very dangerous. Safety is a major concern for both professionals and homeowners doing the job themselves. Before climbing on the roof try using binoculars to identify any thing that needs to be fixed. Repair any damaged shingles or leaks as quickly as possible.

The most popular roofing material in the U.S. is fiberglass-base asphalt shingles. They have high durability lasting 15 to 20 years and are less expensive than slate, cedar shakes or shingles, or metal. Today’s roofs are quite complicated with vent pipes, chimneys, skylights, dormers, etc. These are the areas with the greatest potential for leaks and water damage. Flashing is used around these areas and in the valleys where two plains come together to direct water around and downward. If the roof is relatively new and you’re finding widespread leaking, it is most probably the flashing that is faulty. You can temporarily patch damaged metal flashing with black flashing cement. If it is in bad condition or installed incorrectly, it will mean a whole new roof.

Inside the house, look for wet spots on the underside of the roof in the attic and on the floor. The wet spots are seldom right under the leak itself, but it will give you a general idea of the area. If the underside of the roof is exposed and you can see daylight, hammer a long nail through to the outside. Then check the roof outside for the nail and to see if there are broken, torn or missing shingles in close proximity. If a shingle is blown up from the wind, a little roofing cement to the underside of each corner and pressure to spread the cement will take care of it nicely. If a shingle is cracked, raise each side of the tear, spread the cement under the rip, apply pressure, and then nail each side with one nail. If shingles need replacing try to match what is already there. Sometimes previous owners will have left extra shingles. If not, it’s a good idea to buy extra for possible future repairs. When replacing a shingle, gently break the seal of adjacent shingles with a putty knife, and then use a flat utility bar to remove the old nails. Remember that the nails are holding two courses of shingles. If the nails don’t come up easily, hammer them down by first placing a flat utility bar over them. Lift the shingle above and position nails so they’ll be overlapped. Cover all nail holes with roofing cement. Start at one side and nail across so there is no bulging. Minor repairs will prevent needing major work done and delay having to completely reroof.

These are just general ideas for routine upkeep of a roof. Extensive water damage can only be cured with a new roof. Keep in mind, major repair or total roof replacement is best performed by a professional. The money you think you might save by doing it yourself will not be enough to cover medical expenses from a possible fall. Following are a few safety tips:

1. Make sure you are not home alone in case of an accident.

2. Choose a warm, dry day. Roofs can be very slippery when wet and easily damaged when soft from the heat or brittle from the cold.

The bathroom is one of the most valuable rooms in your house. The only other room that even comes close is the kitchen. The perceived size of the room can dramatically affect the value and comfort of the area.

As a Contractor, I have seen a multitude of baths transformed from mediocre and barely functional, to bright and inspiring spaces. How you do it depends on your desired approach, and ultimately your budget.

I generally start a bath reno by choosing the flooring and paint colors. The style of flooring is an important consideration. If you have a narrow bathroom, I would advise a 12"x12" tile, set on a diagonal, or "diamond" pattern. Choose a light colored, slightly textured tile for the best results. If the room is somewhat square, a 12"x24" tile, set in a brick pattern will help elongate the room. When selecting the grout color, try to match it as closely to the tile as possible. The uniformity helps the room look bigger.

The paint color for the walls should be complimentary to the floor, a contrasting color tends to close the room in too much. For the trim, I generally recommend that a very light color be applied, either a white, or a very gently tinted white base. The ceiling should almost always be white, to give the perception of added height.

The trim selection is also really important. For a small bath, use narrower trim and baseboard. This helps by making the walls and floor look proportionally larger, while still providing a nice finished appearance.

Whenever there is a frosted glass or textured glass window in a washroom, I like to replace it with clear glass, and a simple window covering, like a light colored panel curtain. Clear glass lets more light in, and brighter rooms look bigger. For privacy, simply close the curtain.

If you are replacing the fixtures, go with white. It is timeless, and the least intrusive. For optimum spacial perception, go with a pedestal sink. The small footprint allows for more exposed wall, which makes the room look larger.

Generally, I recommend a full height tub surround. If you are tiling, either a plain white looks good, or you can use the 12"x24" tile, set vertically, to give the illusion of height. If you are using a plastic tub surround, a one piece unit is best.

If your shower has glass doors, clear glass will have the best effect. Frosted, patterned, or opaque doors close off the room, much like there is another wall. If you are using a shower curtain, choose one that compliments the walls, and leave it pulled to the side when not in use. A rope-type tassel can make this look more appealing.

The final note on bathrooms- the door. I like a french door with frosted glass. They allow light to pass through, and still provide the privacy required.

From a contractors point of view

There's a lot of things that we all take for granted in this world. A safe, warm home, the support of our families, a decent job, we all need these things.

As a contractor I have seen all of these things ebb and flow in many homes and many families, including my own. The DIY world has definitely created more than it's fair share of casualties, usually in the form of strained relationships (giant holes in walls tend to affect a person's disposition) but also, in some cases creating a genuinely unsafe environment for a family to live in.

I am a huge proponent of the DIY movement. I have always believed that a person should be able to take care of what is theirs. Usually these are skills passed down from generation to generation, as I learned, or through experience working as labors on job sites during our teen years.

The caveat- people should know their limits. I think that flying a helicopter looks pretty easy, pull the stick- go up, push it forward- go down. However, I realize that there are facets to flying a chopper that I don't have a clue about. I simply would not try to fly one without the tutelage of a professional pilot instructor. The same approach should be taken to some DIY projects.

I would like to propose a check list to all of the potential Do-It-Yourselfers. It will save your sanity, and your bank account when you have to call a guy like me in to fix it.

1: Will it kill me?

This is a good starting point- Electricity has a nasty habit of entering your body on the hand holding the pliers, and exiting on the hand holding the aluminum ladder. A very convenient path across your heart. At least your wife or husband will have the extra $50 you saved by doing it yourself to put toward your funeral.

Gas is better though, the improperly connected fitting will slowly leak into your home, causing a) an explosion, or b) carbon monoxide poisoning.

2: Will your wife kill you?

If you butcher a job, or find yourself in over your head, you will experience domestic discomfort. I have seen it as mild as "I told you so" to extremes like "You said you knew what you were doing! how the hell are we going to live with two feet of water in the basement..."

3: Do you know how to do it?

For real- not the kind of "knowing" that you get from HGTV. If it is a simple and safe task like a drywall patch, see #2 and proceed. If #1 applies, and you are unsure, call a pro.

I know a guy who tried to move a toilet 8" on his own. To keep it short, literally every piece of lathe & plaster in his house had to be removed, the floor was re-done, and the electrical was replaced. A plumber would have moved it for $500, with warranty.

Plumbing is the number one part of homes that we see done improperly by people who don't really know. This generally results in either a leak, that will ruin everything below the repair, or drains that cease to function, which is just really gross.

4: Is it legal?

Just about every municipality has by-laws related to buildings, plumbing, HVAC and electrical. Almost anything that you do that involves changing structure, layout, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or additional buildings/additions/decks will require permits and inspections.

Remember, all work done has to meet your provincial code, whether an inspection is required or not. When you go to sell your house, the next guy's inspector will likely pick up on any deficiencies. This will either lower your selling price, or cost you a boat load of money to have it corrected. Again, See #2

5: Will it really save me money?

This one is optional, but strongly recommended. Contractors usually pay less for material, don't have the extra cost of beer to work on a project, have the proper tools, and can get it done quickly. How much is it going to cost you for materials, time, trips to the store, dinners out while your kitchen is out of commission, etc.

Make a plan, add it up, get an estimate, and compare.

Remember, do it safe, do it right, and have fun.