Roofing Month, Week 3: What's a professional roofer good for, anyway?

The third post of our Roofing Month is going to focus on one question that's been asked of people like the office staff of Dream Team for many many years.  Some homeowners have a very "do-it-yourself" opinion about their roof, gutters, and chimneys.  But at the end of the day, contractors are necessary and a good one who trains their employees well, like Dream Team, are priceless.  Remember, we are GAF certified - meaning that our technicians are trained by the material makers for the work they do.

There are several reasons to work with a roofer:

1. As said above, we know the material well.  Unlike a homeowner (who might be coming in contact with shingles (and the dizzying array of shingles available) for the first time) we know our material, and we have professional ties with the material makers, GAF Roofing.  If there's an issue, we'll know before it ever touches your home.

2. We have more skilled people available.  Every one of our technicians are professionally trained before they go out to work and we never send just one person alone.  And with that comes another major issue:

3. Your Safety.  One of the first things we worry about is the safety of both the homeowner and the workers.  We regularly check our tools (vehicles, ladders and safety equipment) to be sure that everyone is going to be safe when we go up to your roof.  We follow all applicable professional safety codes.

4. Your Time.  Let's be honest, this is a big reason too.  Rather than spend hours up on the roof to do any work on your home, we work for you and allow you to keep going about your life while we work.

So overall, there is a great value in working with a roofer, rather than trying to work on your home by yourself.

And one thing I didn't mention: we provide warranties.  We guarantee our work and the skill of our workers.  The worst problems that a roof can have are bad installation and a lack of maintenance, which lead to major problems down the line (especially leaks and loss of shingles in windstorms).  As a certified contractor, we know what a good roof is, and how to insure that every roof we work on is a good roof that will last for a long time.

Roofing Month, Week 2: Ice Dams!

Week 2 of October, and we're looking at a nippy month, but we're still in decent temperatures.  But this winter, our homes are going to have a few massive hazards.  The worst and foremost amongst these is:

Ice Dams!

Now, I'm not going to sit here and argue with you about whether icicles look nice or not.  But this collection of them on the side of a house is properly called an ice dam: a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home. And we already know what water can do from this summer's posts, don't we?

This whole awful mess gets started when your roof is above freezing at the top (where the runoff begins), and below freezing by the time the water hits the edge (where the dam forms).  There are a few solutions to this damaging and dangerous condition for your home.

The first thing you should do is contact your local roofing contractor.  Your roof needs maintenance, and beyond that, contractors have insurances, safety equipment, knowledge, and time that you might not. The simplest fix the contractors have is to take a roof rake and push broom and simply clear the snow off the roof to prevent formation of the dam.  Otherwise, the insulation in your roof could be faulty and need repair.  And there is one natural, permanent solution.

Attic vents and fans help to keep the temperature in your attic even, which in turn keeps your roof temperature even, which prevents ice dams before they can even form.

So, if you're in Westchester or Orange Counties in New York, or anywhere in New Jersey call Dream Team Construction today at our toll-free number, (888)382-2001!  Let's keep your home safe before you have to worry!

Your Roof: Essential to your comfort

We at Dream Team are sure that you're aware that the roof at the top of your home is one of the most important parts of the structure.  Safety, comfort, value, and curb appeal - all of these things have problems and solutions that can be tied directly to your roof.

A good-looking roof is vivid in color and makes your home stand out against the rest of the neighborhood.  A faded, old roof looks dilapidated, and generally makes your home look just old, stale, and tired.  You don't want that - and you certainly don't want it when you go to sell!

Of course, roofs can leak, and we all know that the best material in the world is only as good as the contractor who installs it.  You want to make sure you have someone experienced, who understands your home and knows the materials they're working with.  The plywood under your roof can be damaged from a number of badly installed parts. For instance, the damage to the right was due to that pipe not being properly sealed, which allowed water in, which caused rotting to the roof and warping of the plywood beneath.  It's never a pretty sight, and it's always traumatic to think that your home which provides so much safety and comfort to your and yours could be "that" house on the block.

Calling a licensed contractor is the only right way to deal with this issue.  At your call, the contractor will have an experienced technician come out to your location, so that the problems can be fixed quickly.

Safety risks come from all directions.  The toxic molds that were discussed in other posts on this blog love badly-installed roofs - the warm, dark area is an ideal incubator for that silent killer.  Wind on a badly installed roof rips shingles off, and as more than one person has noted: strong winds are not always dangerous for the wind alone, the danger comes from what is carried along with it.  Enough storms, with enough shingles ripped off, will cause a leak and damage your home.  Moreover, if allowed to get in, rainwater can cause leaks down your walls (that's a part of why the molds are such a huge issue), but even down to your masonry foundations.  In short: left long enough, a bad roof will cause a house to destroy itself.  It's not a question of whether it will or not - only when.

We at Dream Team are GAF Certified, and any contractor you use should be too.  They guarantee the quality of their material, and being certified means that our technicians know exactly how to install it in the best way possible.

Keep your roof in shape, and your home will always be a great place to live!

Give your home a shower!

Power washing your home is big this time of year.  It's nice and warm out, the skies look bright and cheery, and you want your home to look that much better.  And, if you have aluminum or vinyl siding, like most of America, and certainly most of New Jersey and New York, you know that dirt sticks to it like glue, and with all of the environmental dangers to your home, you can be sure that at the beginning of the summer, your home is not looking at its best.  So what options do you have?

You can't just go outside on a ladder with a steel wool pad - that's way too much work for anybody; and you're probably going to end up hurting yourself.  So you hire a licensed contractor to power wash your home.  Of all the work that can be done on the outside of your home, power washing is one of the best, for several reasons.

This is in the middle of the work, how amazing is that?!

1. It's quick! Most power washings take less than two hours.
2. It's easy! All you do is call a contractor, and they should be able to start making your home look spotless in no time.
 3. It's visible! As soon as the stream from the power wash hits your home, you'll start seeing that dirt and grime peel away, revealing the beauty beneath.
 4.  It's good for your home! It might be hard to believe, but that easy-as-pie power washing can help save your home from deadly and toxic black mold like you saw two weeks ago on this blog.

Other parts of your home can benefit from this valuable service too.  Wood decks take on a new shine and instead of looking tired and filthy, look like real healthy wood again. Look to the left over here.  On the left, we have gray, weatherbeaten, foul-looking wood.  Even walking across that deck wouldn't be as good.  The one on the right looks warm and inviting, like a good solid wood deck.  It's amazing what dirt and dust can do, if they're allowed to build up over time.



And other parts of your home, too, like masonry.  So make your home look the best it can!  Call Dream Team today for a free estimate on power washing.

Take it by the broad side!

You already know that your home has siding. And you know that keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter is important to every homeowner. Not only do you look for comfort in your home, there’s also the energy bill throughout the year. The more of your home’s heat and ventilation you can see to naturally, the less you have to pay the power company for! And now that we're plunging headfirst into a beautiful summer here in metropolitan New Jersey, it's even more important.

Siding is like clothing for your home, too. Like your clothing, the condition of the house's siding can tell a lot about the people inside the house - especially if it looks discolored, warped, or damaged outright. You don't want to be "that" house, do you? No one does! So let's make sure you aren't!

You can call a licensed contractor, like Dream Team, to come out to you home and give your siding a once-over. If all's well, but it's dirty, most contractors will suggest a power-wash, because that's all you need - that's part of what makes aluminum and vinyl siding so effective and so affordable. The difference can be astounding - go long enough, and it will sometimes look like a whole new house where the washer has done its job. Your neighbors will be inspired to brighten up their part of the neighborhood too when you do that. It's quick, it doesn't hurt anything, and it makes things look great - it's a win/win!
 
But sometimes the problems aren't so simple - or even surface level. Part of why we have siding is to keep your home's number one enemy, water, OUT of your home. Since it's summertime now, most of you know that stagnant water is a breeding zone for dangerous, disease-carrying insects like mosquitos. You also might realize that the dark and warm space between your home's outer walls and the siding can be an ideal growth medium for molds, especially dangerous ones like black mold - if that gets into your home, it can cause all sorts of illnesses and even cause small children to pick up asthma that will trouble them for the rest of their lives. And beyond that, I'm sure you've heard of the Grand Canyon - that just took water, and a lot of time. Your home is not so thick as that rock, and you definitely don't want any of that happening in the first place. If you do need new siding, your contractor will be able to discuss options with you, but will probably suggest either aluminum or vinyl. Both are pretty easy to upkeep, though vinyl has many advantages for a home. But, like going to a doctor, please talk to the contractor who comes to your home before making up your mind.

One of those great advantages is pretty simple: it's not hard to clean, and a simple power wash every few years will make it more than pay for itself in the years to come. It also provides a sealed side of your home and is capable of naturally repelling mold and mildew. Plus, it comes in a veritable rainbow of colors! Remember - bad siding is one of the first symptoms of a bad house; and no one wants to have a bad house.

Have you looked at your driveway lately?

Keeping in the spirit of this blog, we at Dream Team wish to point out another part of your home which you may not give a thought about on a regular basis: your driveway.  Of course, you park your car on it to get it off the street.  It also is a part of your home's appearance and curb appeal.  You might not think about it very often, but your neighbors do - and chances are, it's the first thing people see when they come up to your home.

So you don't want it looking like this:

Do you?  Of course not!!

So you want to call a contractor who knows his stuff and can make your driveway look just right.  And, here's a tip that you might not know: Call during the summer, while it's still hot.  Your driveway's blacktop will spread better in the heat - less bumps, less air bubbles, insuring a longer, safer, lifetime for your driveway.

So, for service on your driveway or any other job in or around your home - 
Call Dream Team today at 888-382-2001!