How do I prepare my home for fall?

We often meet clients who ask us about the different ways to prepare for each upcoming season. Since fall has just begun we want to offer 4 easy steps for fall home readiness. As roofing, siding and gutter experts we handle many of the important aspects of fall home maintenance. Check out the ways you can prepare your home for the upcoming season.

1: Baby Your Roof

Although many homeowners ignore their roofing system until it is severely damaged and water is leaking into their home, it is a better idea to routinely maintain your roof. Taking care of your roof, or babying it, will ensure your roof will last for many years to come. Schedule routine fall roof maintenance as soon as possible. Having your roof inspected and maintained before cold weather strikes will save you from costly damages, wasted energy and potential roofing problems down the road.

2: Blanket Your Home

As you pull out the blankets for your own bed, think about your home’s insulation. Inspect your current insulation for any damages. If you think your home is lacking insulation, contact our specialists to discuss the options available for insulating your home better. Also take the time to check for any drafts so you can seal them up before cold weather strikes.

3: Scrutinize the Siding

Siding is not only the first thing people will notice about your home, it is also a critical component in energy efficiency for your home. Inspect your siding for any damages that may have occurred over the summer season. And if your siding is damaged or is in need of replacement, give us a call. We will be happy to help you make your home more energy efficient through proper siding.

4: Strategize for Safety

If you don’t already have a safety plan in place for you and your family, strategize one now. A good home safety plan should include escape routes and pre-determined meeting places. Also be sure to check all your smoke detectors and replace old batteries. 

If you need assistance with preparing your home for fall, let us know. We will be happy to help you with fall home readiness.

Most homeowners will only have to replace their roofing once or twice in their lifetime.  Some roofers will take advantage of  homeowners’ inexperience and scam them out of money.  Storm chasers are an emerging trend in roofing scams. Here are some ways that a storm chaser will try to scam you and what you can do to prevent it form happening.

Storm Chasers

Storm Chasers are roofing scam artists that move to town to town following storms that can damage people’s roofing. They go to areas where insurances companies offer roof replacements for storm damage. Storm chasers will give away brochures, information packets and offer a free roof inspection. They’ll game the homeowner and insurance company once they get a check and only do the minimal amount of work and materials needed for job. They pocket the money they didn’t spend on the job and leave town. This leaves the homeowner with a weak roof that will need to be replaced in a couple years and the storm chasers can’t be found to pursue legal means of getting their money back and roof properly replaced.

The best way to avoid storm chasers is by doing your own research when looking for a roofing company. Always asks for references and to see past jobs that a roofer has done. Always ask for proof of insurance and a certified license from a roofer. Most storm chasers don’t have a roofing license or insurance.

How to Check your Roof for Storm Damage

Storms are one of the most common occurrences that can cause heavy damage to your roof. Powerful storms that can cause torrential rains, massive size hail and strong winds can devastate your home’s roof. The damage can be so severe that you might need a roof repair or even a roof replacement.

After a strong storm comes through make sure to check your home and roof for any storm damage. There are some tell tale signs that you home and roofing has sustained storm damage. Here’s some advice on how to check and inspect your roof and home for storm damage. You will definitely need to have your roof inspected and repaired by a professional roofer if you have any of these storm damage signs.

• Water leaking, water damage or water stains in your attic, ceiling or walls.
• Missing, broken or dented shingles
• Broken gutters
• Roofing debris on the ground
• Rusted flashing

A fallen tree that lands on your home can cause the most damage to your home and roof. Always contact a certified roofer or general contractor to look at the damage. Make sure you have multiple roofers or general contractors examine the damage and give you a quote to remove it and fix your roof to get the best pricing.

If you live in Cincinnati and your roof has sustained storm damage, call Cincinnati Gutter & Roofing.  We’re quality roofers and contractors that can help you with any of your roofing needs.

Everybody knows that a well-insulated attic can help keep your home warm during the winter, but many do not realize that it’s also critical in keeping your energy costs down in the summertime as well!  If you find that your electrical bill is way out of control during this time of year, you may want to inspect the condition of the insulation in your attic.

There are numerous benefits in keeping up with your attic insulation levels… not the least of which are a reduced electric bill and a more comfortable home.  If you are fed up with sitting in a hot home in the summer and a cold home in the winter, we are ready and available to help you get your home’s attic insulation back to peak performance!

If you find any trouble areas in your attic insulation, do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call Cincinnati Gutters & Roofing now at 513-563-9988 or check out our handy page on Attic Insulation for more info!

Cincinnati Roof Damage

Your home’s roof is exposed to the elements 24/7 and much like your beating heart it is the life behind your home that you often take for granted. Unfortunately, even the best of roofing systems can fail you after sustaining major damages. Cincinnati roof damage is a common problem that our expert roofers face, and with our years of experience in the field we have come to understand some of the main reasons roof damage occurs. There are four major ways roofs are damaged:

1. Low Quality Product. Often a roof suffers damages because a low quality product was installed. If your roof is comprised of shoddy materials, it will not be able to sustain through day to day wear and tear. Always ensure the roofing products you use are of the highest quality. At Cincinnati Gutters and Roof Protection, we have created strong relationships with vendors and are affiliated with all the top names in the business. This is not done for show, but because we truly believe the quality of product you use will dictate the longevity of your roof’s life.
2. Improper Installation. Even if you do select a fine product for your roofing system, it will all be for naught if the installation process is not performed correctly. It is very important to have a licensed expert install your roof so that you will get the longest life out of your roof. Cincinnati roof damage is often a result of poor installation. When you are considering a roof installation be sure to only select a roofing company that is highly reviewed, licensed and willing to offer you free estimates.
3. Inclement Weather. With our spring and winter storms, the greater Cincinnati area is no stranger to inclement weather. Hail, strong winds, flooding, tornadoes and extreme snowfall can all cause untold damage to your home’s roof. It is smart to have your roof inspected after inclement weather has passed through your area to ensure you find roof damages quickly. The sooner you assess your Cincinnati roof damage, the sooner you can find a solution to the problem.
4. Lack of Maintenance. This factor in roof damage is often overlooked. Routine roof maintenance may seem like an unnecessary hassle, but it is a crucial component in keeping your roof safe from damages. Some roof damages occur simply because of small problems that go unnoticed with a lack of proper maintenance. If you have not had routine roof maintenance performed on your home recently, contact one of our expert roofers today. Proper roof maintenance will help to increase the lifespan of your roof, saving you countless dollars down the road.

These are the top four reasons that roof damages occur, but for the most part they are avoidable and preventable. Remember that roof damage is not always noticeable from ground level and trained professionals offer you the most accurate assessment of your roof. Be sure you always have a trustworthy professional handle your Cincinnati roof damage in a timely fashion.