Frequent Roofing Problem - Old Shingles

Along with the walls and siding on your house, the roof protecting your home is the skin between the cozy indoors and the rough, caustic elements created by Mother Nature. Many homeowners don't think about their roof until a problem arises. It could be a leak or missing shingles that raise a red flag causing the homeowner to call a professional.

Here in Rochester, we are forced to deal with a bipolar weather pattern. It can literally snow one day, be sunny the next and rain the following day. This crazy weather reeks havoc on the skin of your house—your roof.

We'd like to take a few minutes to explain some of the common roofing problems homeowner's around Rochester tend to see.

The biggest issue is a leak in your roof. If you have a leak, contact a professional to come evaluate the situation. It may be time to find a roofing company who can do a tear-off / roof replacement for you.

Deteriorated Shingles

Based on our location, the warranty period for your roof should remain in tact. Many warranties are up to 30 years these days. If your home wasn't new when you moved it, it would help to know when the roof was most recently replaced. If your shingles start to go bad, you will start to see a build up of rock chip material in the gutters. Be sure to clean out your gutters each year to locate any of this matter. If you catch it early enough, you can avoid a costly repair down the line. Nonetheless, you should strongly consider replacing your roof once you begin to see the rock chip particles in your gutters.

We will be covering other common roof problems in future posts so stay tuned!

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Hiring A Bathroom Renovation Contractor

Hiring a contractor to renovate or remodel your home is a big decision (or any part of your home for that matter). The company you choose to work with will be a part of your life for weeks or months to come. Their employees will be in and out of your home with access to private areas. You want to be sure you select the bathroom renovation contractor carefully, after doing research and reading some reviews.

We proudly present the top 5 things to do before hiring a bathroom contractor:

1. Ask Around — Check in with friends, family and co-workers to see if they've used a reputable contractor in the past. Many contractors, like Trinity, work on a number of home projects (not just bathrooms). Although, that is not always the case. If someone refers you to someone who did their roof or did a minor home improvement project, don't just assume they're a good fit for remodeling your residential bathroom. They might be—but not necessarily.


2. Read Reviews — Doing some simple Google searches can reveal a lot of helpful information about a contractor. In addition to the reviews on the company's website, be sure to read the testimonials on other third party sites like Angie's List, The Better Business Bureau, Houzz, Google and Yelp. The contractor has little to no control over the reviews posted on those sites so they're generally very reliable.


3. Narrow Down The List — There are likely many home contractors vying for your business in your area. After doing your homework, choose two or three that you'd like to pursue.


4. Ask For References — After narrowing the list down to two or three contractors, ask each of them for references and make a couple calls.


5. Obtain Estimates & Information — Meet with each company individually. Ask for specifics on everything from insurance to licensing requirements they might posses. Obtain a clear estimate including pricing details. Unclear on something? ASK! Now is the time to make sure you fully understand how the project will work. Any reputable home renovation company will take the time to sit down with your or chat over the phone to iron out any questions you may have.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Deciding When It's Time For A New Roof

When is it time to get a new roof?

When purchasing a new home or re-roofing the one on your current house, the materials used are 'rated' for a specified period of time. Depending on the material that is used (generally asphalt shingles), it will last anywhere from 20-25 years.

Just like everything else, trends have changed and there are many more choices for selecting a nice looking roof. There are a ton of colors, styles and materials available to pick from.

When you're driving around the Rochester area, pay attention to other homes and see what they've done. Look at the color and style of the roof as compared to the color of the home. Sometimes having some contrast between the siding color and the roof color makes a big difference.

It's time to start thinking about a new roof when the lifespan is reaching its peak and/or if you're spending a lot of money on costly repairs. Just like a car, when the time comes that you're spending too much time on repairs, it is time to find a roofing contractor and invest the money in a new roof.

If you’ve done frequent roof repair, or have discovered that a different roof may save money on your power bill, you should consider getting a new roof.

Where is the best place to find a roof?

A roofing contractor will be your best source in finding the roof you want. They will have the experience, product knowledge and contacts needed to get prices and make an informed decision. Do you really want to spend another ten years doing roof repair? Or do you want to have a spectacular-looking roof?

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

From Lavender To Luxury — New Bathroom Remodel

These homeowners in Irondequoit used to have a dated bathroom with lavender counters and outdated fixtures.

Trinity was chosen as the bathroom remodeling contractor and we essentially gutted the entire space and installed:

• A new bathtub


• Shower fixtures


• Vanity


• Granite counter


• Electrical & plumbing


• Bath fan


• Window & paint


• Custom ceramic tile

The photo you see here is just one picture, of the sink/vanity area. You can see all the photos in their entirety in our Photo Gallery section.

What do you think of this new bathroom? Leave us a comment!

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Redo Your Roof The Right Way

Money Magazine and CNN posted an article awhile back entitled: "Redo Your Roof The Right Way" By Josh Garskof @Money May 11, 2012: 6:28 AM ET

Think about this. Aside from perhaps a lavish kitchen remodel, what other home project is as critical for protecting your home's value than a new roof?

To read the full article about roofing and how to redo it the right way, click here.

Here's some highlights of what Josh says:

• Getting a new roof put on your home can dramatically increase your home's value.


• The process doesn't have to be a nightmare!


• Know when it's time to get a new roof (versus repair).


•  Get bids from three roofers, to compare not just prices but also their attitude and approach.


• Hire someone who is willing to: (1) get a building permit, (2) remove only as much roofing each day as he can reinstall by the end of that day, (3) lay protective plywood over decks and patios, and tarps over walls, the lawn, shrubs, and unfinished areas, and (4) clean the job site every night.


• Be sure they also install vents at the roof’s peak and under the eaves — and agree to specify all that in the contract.


• Don’t cut corners.


• Get the right shingles.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

How to Hire Roofing Contractor - BBB Advice

As you know, Trinity is proudly rated with the Better Business Bureau with a grade of:

A 

(view profile and ranking scale)

Thanks to our partnership with them, we are able to bring you this great video they did that talks about how to go about hiring a roofing contractor. As a certified roofing company, placing new roofs on local homes is a big part of our business. We highly recommend you take the 2 minutes to watch this informative video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDdqIH2sRxU

Some Tips:

• Get a business card in the physical location of the roofing business


• Deal only with well established businesses


• Beware of scams (verify the company with the BBB)


• Don't succumb to high pressure sales techniques


• Do your homework - research, read testimonials, look for high customer satisfaction ratings


• Check for required licensing


• Understand the contract you're signing - a good contractor will take the time to explain it to you in detail


• Fully understand and accept the payment schedule

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

How To Choose The Right Siding For Your Home

Take a look at this before & after photo. The results are dramatic. Replacing the siding on your home can make a huge difference in curb appeal.

This Rochester, NY home features Mastic Carvedwood siding with a .044 - Hang double 4” vinyl clapboard siding including all cornice, corner, door and window trim. We installed insulation over the entire surface area of the home and seal tape to all seams before siding to prevent air infiltration. The color was chosen by the homeowner. The home also received a new roof!

But how do you know which type of siding to go with? The Rochester weather can wreak havoc on our homes so you want to be sure you choose the right siding for your house. The decision can be based on affordability, style, durability and more. Here at Trinity, our experience in the field has led us to become experts on all types of siding and their pros and cons.

Vinyl Siding

One of the more traditional choices, vinyl siding is a great fit for many homeowners. It is relatively inexpensive, requires minimal maintenance and is overall quite durable. The nice thing is that vinyl siding now also comes in a style that mimics wood siding! Because you won’t be dealing with natural wood, you'll never have to deal with insect or pest damage.

Vinyl siding never needs painting, doesn't show scratches, doesn't dent, peel or rot, and is not affected by snow, salt, cold or rain.

One "con" to vinyl siding is that it can't be painted over. So, be sure to choose your vinyl siding color wisely. Also, it can become susceptible to the sun over time and may fade (over many years).

Aluminum Siding

While more expensive than vinyl siding, aluminum siding is still more economical per square foot when compared to other types of siding. Aluminum siding expands and contracts much less than vinyl. The main disadvantage to aluminum siding is that it can be easily dented or damaged. However, overall it is durable, can be painted and is low maintenance.

Wood Siding

If you're looking for something a bit higher end (but with more maintenance and a higher cost), wood siding might work for you. Your home will look more unique and will have a distinct appearance to it. Wood siding tends to have more of a warm and classic look to it. The value of your house when you go to sell it will undoubtedly be higher with wood siding.

There are a few negatives to be aware of, however. Wood siding needs to be painted or stained and you'll need to keep up with maintenance of that over time. Not only can this maintenance be a bit costly, but it is time consuming as well. Furthermore, if you fail to maintain the siding properly, it may rot or otherwise fall into disrepair.

Cement Fiber Siding

Cement fiber siding is a new development in residential siding. It's quite durable, very low maintenance, made from recyclable materials (so it's "green") and it's beautiful as well. It is more fire resistant than wood or vinyl, it can be painted, and it may be more cost effective than wood siding.

Cons: More expensive than vinyl; Takes longer to install.

Getting Help With The Choice

Still confused? Aren't sure which option is right for you? There are even more options for siding your house than are listed here. Contact us and we can help guide you in the right direction. Remember, we proudly offer complimentary consultations on all projects!

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com