Choosing the right siding for your home is a process, and homeowners choose different

materials for different reasons. Many Minnesotans will opt for ‘wood’ siding because they like the way it looks. Wood sidings add to the appeal of every style home. Traditionally, fiber cement siding was the go-to material for homeowners and contractors alike. Although fiber cement is visually appealing, it is not very sturdy, damages easily and absorbs water. Our team has found a similar product with much higher performance ratings: LP SmartSide.

The following article from LP’s website details the benefits of their product;

LP^® SmartSide^® Trim & Siding products offer multiple advantages over fiber cement. Unlike SmartSide, fiber cement products require special safety training, special gear to protect against airborne silica and specific cutting tools. LP SmartSide products are far less likely to break or crack than fiber cement. And LP SmartSide products are significantly lighter than fiber cement siding, which means quicker, easier installation.

LP SmartSide products work and cut just like traditional wood, taking nails and screws with ease. They’re factory pre-primed to take paint, delivering optimal adhesion and consistent application. LP SmartSide products also deliver the beautiful, authentic look of real wood for unbeatable curb appeal. And our proprietary SmartGuard^® manufacturing process helps protect against termite damage and fungal decay. Speaking of protection, our 5/50-Year Limited Warranty provides a 5-year,100% labor and replacement feature and a 5/50 Year Prorated Limited Warranty on the product. Compare LP SmartSide Trim & Siding to fiber cement, and the difference is clear: LP SmartSide products are the smart choice.

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.

DIY Roofing Guide: Things to Consider

Are You Up To The Job?

This is an awesome article from the GAF website that's geared toward helping homeowners decided if they are up to the challenge of completing their own roofing project. It offers tips, tricks and things to consider before your next DIY project. If you have any questions about what you're reading - just ask!

Self-Evaluation

Many people think that installing a new roof is nothing more than just nailing up some shingles. The truth is, a properly installed roof is a complex system of components that work together to keep water (and the damage it can do) outside of your home. Competent roofing contractors spend years learning their trade. They train long hours to learn how to properly handle and install roofing materials, identify risks, keep themselves safe, and follow mandatory building regulations.
Roofing involves a great deal of physical labor, especially if you plan to tear off your existing roof before installing the new roof. If you’re not comfortable walking on a roof or carrying heavy objects up a ladder, you should think twice about taking on a roofing job. There are many critical safety issues that you must consider before undertaking such a task (see our Safety section for more details). It’s also important to have the correct tools and safety equipment, and that you know how to use them properly. Disregarding any of these steps could result in serious problems or even injury. Before you make a decision about doing your own roof, review the materials on this website to gain a better understanding of the requirements of the total project. If it seems daunting, it may be better to hire a professional.

How Much Could I Save If I Do It Myself?

Many factors go into a professional cost estimate for a roofing job—everything from tearing off the existing roof, installing new shingles, and structural repair to disposal of old materials, clean up, and rental of equipment. Other factors include the size of your roof, how steep the slope is, and the amount of roofing materials that you need. It is possible that by installing a roof on your own, you might save a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars.
However, you should carefully consider if this savings is worth the risk. Roofing is a dangerous business. If either you or someone else gets hurt, you may need to hire someone to complete the job anyway. Is it worth that extra cost—and your personal safety? What if a mistake is made when installing roofing materials, or the inside of your house gets wet from a leak? You will incur added costs to fix those problems as well.
Ultimately, your best option is to choose a professional roofing contractor who can do the job efficiently and safely. GAF factory-certified Master Elite™ Contractors are state licensed, adequately insured, have a proven reputation, and are committed to ongoing training to ensure quality installation.

Click here to locate a factory-certified
GAF Master Elite™ Contractor near you.>>

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.

How Long a Roof Replacement Should Take to be Completed

I came across this great article on homeownerideas.com, and thought I’d share it. Enjoy!

A strong roof on a home is one of the most critical elements of keeping the structure in good condition, and when problems occur, it’s vital to obtain the assistance of a professional roofer before any further damage to the home can happen. Home owners can go for years without fixing things like a broken cabinet or a faulty door inside their home, but a roof is far too essential to leave unattended.

Different roofing jobs will have various timelines associated with them as far as how long the overall project might take. There are many circumstances that might impact the average time required to complete a roof replacement project.

Narrowing down the completion timeframe for a roof replacement will usually encompass a few different projects related to the overall project length and the actual time that the roofing company might spend on the roof making changes. A roof can actually be installed in many cases in just a few days on an average sized home that is not too architecturally complex, yet the overall process might take as long as a few months from start to finish.

From the time at which a problem is found until the roof is finally finished, a lot of things need to happen. Those projects include:

1. Inspection by the roofer and/or insurance company
2. Estimate of timeframe and cost from roofing company
3. Approval and funding from home insurance company
4. Acquisition of materials and scheduling
5. Roof repair and/or installation
6. Final paperwork for the insurance company

As long as there are no serious problems during the process, complete repair and replacement of a roof on a standard home would require a project length of a few months. The actual work on the house would be much shorter, however, and could be less than a week.

Additional elements that could lengthen the average time of completion could include:

1. The time of year

Roofing jobs should be scheduled during patterns of good weather although some roofing emergencies might require that a crew does some work during the rainy season or when it’s highly likely to snow.

It is possible to complete a roof replacement job in the dead of winter when there’s snow all over the ground, but the time table for the project is usually a few weeks longer than if it is accomplished in the summer.

2. Materials acquired for the new roof

Common materials for a new or replacement roof may include slate, composite or metal shingles, and the decision to utilize one of these roofing types will usually depend on how much a home owner wants to spend and how long they want the new roof to last. Other popular roofing materials may include clay, plastic, classic wood or simple asphalt.

Roofing materials like an asphalt roll might be installed quickly, but they will only last about a decade before needing replacement. Slate or Spanish tiles, on the other hand, may last over a century but will require longer installation time.

It’s also essential to consider that sometimes a roofing material is out of stock and may be back ordered. This could push back or extend the timeline of the project by a few weeks.

3. Size and complexity of the home or project area

It’s not a surprise to find out that a large home that has five thousand square feet inside it would probably have a much longer timeframe for roof replacement than a home that was just a thousand square feet.

As far as the shape of the house is concerned, sometimes the roof of a home will have nothing more than a single peak rising to the center without any depressed areas where the roof rises and falls. These types of roofs will usually offer the shortest timeline for completion. More complex architectural designs for the roof may require additional materials used to maintain the structural integrity of the building materials and work around impediments like chimneys.

4. Hidden problems and damage

It’s often possible to diagnose a problem in a roof by having it inspected by a roofing professional, but sometimes there is damage that isn’t immediately obvious or which doesn’t become apparent until the repair process has begun. In such circumstances, days or even weeks may be added to the project time frame.

Sometimes when a home owner has decided to have their roof replaced due to general aging and has not had to deal with an emergency, issues of wear and tear could enter into the project. Replacement of certain interior elements of the home could become necessary and would require additional construction personnel and time to bee added to the timeframe.

Minnesota Home Improvements is a full-service remodeling contractor servicing 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 on the web: www.mnhomeimprovements.com and learn how we can help with your next project and make life a little easier.