Warning Signs You Need A New Roof

There are several signs that your roof is in need or replacement or repair. Does your home have any of the following?

Leakage in attic after wind-driven rain: Possibly caused by leaky or inadequate shingle underlayment or inadequate flashing

Leakage in attic after ice build-up: Possibly caused by insufficient or improper underlayments, or failing to ‘rake’ snow off the eaves of your home resulting in an ice dam.

Blistering or peeling of interior or exterior paint:  Possibly caused by excessive temperature or high humidity as a result or poor attic ventilation.

Stains on interior ceilings or walls or mold and mildew: Possibly caused by faulty underlayments or poor ventilation

Exterior sheathing and/or siding: Possibly caused by poor ventilation

Dark, dirty areas on your roof: Possibly caused by loss of shingle granules due to damage or age of the home.

If you notice any of the these issues with your home, or would like a certified roofing contractor to evaluate your property for potential damage – call us!  Our team of qualified inspectors will conduct a FREE evaluation determine the cause of the problem and provide you with cost-effective options to fix it.

Minnesota Home Improvements is a full-service remodeling contractor serving Central Minnesota. Our offices are located in Brainerd, Litchfield, and St. Joseph. For over 35 years we have provided professional service and quality craftsmanship to more than 10,000 homeowners who are happy to refer us to their friends. Call us toll free at 888-363-3305. Or connect with us at www.mnhomeimprovements.com  and learn how we can help with your next project and make life a little easier.

Removing and Protecting Your Home From Ice Dams

The recent weather laid a thick, heavy blanket of snow across Central Minnesota. Many of us experienced snow in excess of six inches. With the promise of warmer weather in the coming weeks (hurray!), it is important that you continue to remove the snow from the eaves of your home in order to reduce the chance of an ice dam.

An ice dam can occur when the snow accumulates on the roof of a house that is improperly insulated. Without adequate insulation, warm air from the home’s attic space heats up the snow-covered roof. Consequently, the snow begins to melt and trickles down the freezing roof. Quite quickly, the melted snow re-freezes on the roof. The process repeats itself and eventually, ice accumulates along the eave and in the gutter. This built-up ridge of ice is what is referred to as an ice dam.

As the weather warms up and melts the snow, the water cannot properly drain through the accumulated ice and into the gutter. Instead, the water backs up onto your roof and pools resulting in leaks that damage ceilings, walls and the roofing structure.

Even the most thoroughly protected roof that was covered with materials to withstand Minnesota’s harsh winters cannot be guaranteed to resist ice dams. A good roof system is meant to shed water and snow, not waterproof your home. Proper insulation and ventilation are also necessary to best protect your home from ice dams.

But keeping your home safe and dry is simple; it does not take a long time to remove an ice dam. First purchase a roof rake at your local hardware or home improvements store. After a snowfall, extend the handle on the rake and gently scrape the snow from your roof in a downward sweep. A good rule of thumb is to remove three feet of snow from the eaves. Take caution not to damage your gutters!

Minnesota Home Improvements can make the rooftop snow removal process even easier. Contact us now and our professional team will stop out and remove the snow from your roof while you watch from the comfort of your home. It’s quick, easy and affordable. We will be happy to plow out the driveway while we’re there, too.

Greetings!

Welcome! Although we are not new to the field of remodeling, we are new to blogging. The idea for this blog was initiated from our desire to connect with and help you, our customers. I can't tell you how many times we've been contacted for advice on projects and recommendations on products. In fact, we've been advising our customers and friends so well for so long (38 years!) that now they come to us with just about any concern about their homes.

Our hope is to continue offering this advice, but extending the learning past just one person. We invite you to e-mail us your repair and remodeling questions, and we will do our best to address each one of your concerns via this blog.

Questions can be submitted via the Contact Us page on our website, or just reply to this post. We look forward to hearing from you.