Are you wondering if a new roof is in your home’s future? Here are some signs it might be time to contact us for a roofing estimate.
Signs You May Need a New Roof
Up On the Rooftop: Tips for Safe Holiday Decorating
The holidays have arrived! And this year, even more families are choosing to go all-out with their holiday decorations. Are you planning on getting out those twinkling lights and decorate the whole house for optimal cheer? If your holiday decorating includes exterior lights, we have a few safety measures to keep in mind before you climb that ladder. As the trusted roofer for the Twin Cities, we’ve been up on literally thousands of rooftops and know all there is to know about rooftop safety. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Test the Lights
Before you climb up that ladder, it is important to make sure each and every light is working as it should. If you hang the lights and they don’t work, you’ll have to get back up on the ladder, take them down and figure out what the issue is. Nothing is worse than hanging your lights then realizing they don’t work when you plug them in. So before you bring them up the ladder, plug them in on the ground and make sure they work.
Clean Gutters
Have your gutters cleaned by a professional roofer before you plan to hang up those lights. Many people hang lights near or on the gutters, so make sure there is nothing that could become a fire hazard. One of the most common causes of house fires is bulbs getting too close to dried out leaves.
While cleaning the gutters, also check the surrounding areas as well. If there is snow or ice that wasn’t previously there, check for damage to shingles or gutters.
Ensure a Safe Surface
Make sure the weather is dry to avoid wet, slick and slippery surfaces both on the ground and on the roof. Do not climb wet roofs or roofs with a steep pitch!
Use Proper Equipment
Make sure you’re using a safe, sturdy and correct length ladder or scaffolding. Test your ladder to make sure it is sturdy and tall enough for you to safely reach the areas you plan to hang decorations.
Also, avoid 7-volt light bulbs or higher and make sure to use lights specifically made for exterior use. Interior lights are not designed to withstand weather! And, set a timer so lights will turn off automatically after a certain period time or at a specific time.
Do not use nails, tacks, screws or staples as they can all permanently damage your gutters, roofing or siding. Instead, use insulated hooks which can reduce fire risks due to frayed wires.
Practice Safe Removal
Do not pull lights down by the wire. To prevent damage to roofing, gutters or siding, you should climb the ladder and remove the strands from the hooks. Just as with hanging the lights, don’t climb on a wet roof or unsteady ladder.
To get more information about roof safety or anything else pertaining to the roof, contact our Twin Cities area roofer, JTR Roofing today at 612-419-6906 or Contact Us online.
Don’t Neglect Your Gutters This Fall
As warm weather leaves Minnesota, many homeowners begin to inspect their property looking for areas that require repair and preparation for the cold months ahead. And, there is one area of the home that must not be forgotten during this crucial time of year; and that is the gutters! As the trusted name in gutters for the Twin Cities area, we are here to tell you more about the importance of clean, functioning gutters.
Know Your Gutters
Gutters can play an important role in the structural soundness of your roof. The windy days from the fleeting fall and winter likely blew dirt, leaves and debris into your gutters. Leaves in the gutter block the ideal flow of rain and other precipitation as they accumulate in massive numbers. Having the gutters at your Twin Cities home cleaned, repaired or replaced can help prevent future costly repairs. It’s important to keep rainwater or other precipitation from damaging your home’s exterior with a quality, custom gutter system installed by JTR Roofing. Our experienced team can create gutters that perfectly fit any style or design of your house. Until then, consider these benefits to giving your gutters a little extra TLC this season.
Address Any Damage
If the debris and leaves trapped in your gutters froze and thawed over the winter, your gutters may have experienced some damage. The leaves that accumulated in the fall helped contribute to the damage ice can cause in a gutter, altering the shape and sometimes the overall structure of the gutters themselves. The weight of this ice can easily topple and disconnect from your home the entire spouts and gutters network. It is all but essential as a standard means of maintenance for your gutters to keep them void of clutter. With the ice completely melted, it is now a great time of year to consider any repairs you may require for your gutters.
Consider Replacement
Often, repair is not an option with severely damaged gutters. JTR Roofing can easily help with the installation of new pieces or entirely new gutters if deemed beyond repair. Standards in the world of gutters include those made of aluminum, copper and vinyl. You can even help avoid future leaf accumulation with features like seamless gutter guards. These can completely block leaf access while still welcoming all forms of precipitous moisture for the months ahead. Having gutter guards installed in your gutters will eliminate the need to get up on that roof to clean them out next year.
If you would like a quote on or help with gutters in the Twin Cities, call JTR Roofing at (651) 777-7394 or Contact Us.
A Fall Roofing Checklist from Your Local Roofer
Fall is in full swing. Have you taken care of essential roof maintenance and repairs for the season yet? If you haven’t done so, your roof may be in for a tough time come winter. So, contact your local Oakdale roofer, JTR Roofing, and ask us to take a look at essential areas of your roof before the first snowflake of winter falls. Here are some important items that should be on your fall roofing checklist:
Overall Inspection
Regular maintenance and inspections can reveal any damage to your roof or potential issues that could compromise your roof system later on. Inspections are best performed in spring and early fall. If you missed a spring inspection, you will want to schedule an inspection, replacement or repair before cold weather hits in just a few months.
Attic
Have your roofer check out your attic next. Apart from figuring out whether there are obvious leaks on the rooftop, also consider how well-insulated your attic is.
Shingles
Check the shingles. Your roofing needs to be in pretty good shape to protect you no matter the weather. Ask your roofer to check for any missing or broken shingles or other potential issues.
Leaks
If you have any leaking or other types of issues now, think of how ice and freezing rain will affect your roof now through the spring. Melted snow can seep into open cracks and when it refreezes, any crack you have will widen and increase the chances for leaks and even interior mold. Let your roofer know about any leaks you have noticed.
Gutters
You may not think that you’ll need them as much during the winter, but you want to make sure that gutters are unobstructed to facilitate the drainage of snowmelt away from your roof. Clean out the leaves from the gutters and downspouts, and then see if they are functioning properly.
Of all the seasons of the year, autumn is the perfect time for roof repair and replacement projects. It’s during this time that scorching heat waves are finally over and the brittle cold is still a ways off.
Take advantage of the ideal conditions that autumn provides and have a trusted roofer check your roof. It’s a good investment for such an important aspect of your home. To get more information about our roofer serving Oakdale and the surrounding areas, call JTR Roofing today at 612-419-6906 or Contact Us.
How Our Siding Company Can Prepare a Home or Business for Winter
Though many may wish they could hibernate through our harsh Minnesota winters, life must go on! Homes and businesses alike must prepare for cold temperatures and harsh weather ahead. After all, when winter weather does hit, it’s important to have a warm and efficient respite from the cold. With summer coming to a close, we thought now would be a good time to tell you more about how our St Paul siding company can help your home or business prepare for the months ahead.
Autumn is a fantastic time of year to make your home or business beautiful again with brand new siding. The weather is crisp and the changing season turn sights to the future. Fall temperatures like ours in Minnesota aren’t too cold for home exterior projects like siding, and sealing materials adhere faster in temperate weather resulting in shorter waiting times.
And, big updates such as siding means home or business owners can prepare for not just the winter ahead but for the years ahead as well. This has been a trying year for both home and business owners, so start the new year off fresh with siding that will protect and perform.
New siding can can help improve curb appeal and even increase the value of a structure. It can also improve efficiency for cozier indoor temperatures and lower energy bills. Our siding company can even winterize your home or business. A siding installation is a great time to add a house wrap, which can protect any of your interior walls from moisture and greatly reduce heat loss as well. Even if you don’t go for house wrap, your new siding installation will give you a chance to seal gaps in old, aging siding, which can often lead to drafts and cold air during harsh weather.
Are you ready to schedule your siding installation this fall? Our siding company can evaluate your building design and help you determine if additional weatherproofing features are needed.
Don’t delay on this essential fall project any longer! Schedule your siding installation today, and the experts at JTR Roofing can help you choose the right siding for your unique home or business. Call us today at 651-777-7394 or Contact Us to learn more about what our siding company can do for your St Paul home or business.
