Tag: home

6 Signs You Need Foundation Repair in Baton Rouge Area

Rachael

Your home’s foundation probably isn’t something you think about on a daily basis. Out of sight, out of mind- and a foundation is about as “out of sight” as you can get. Its job is to silently support your home and keep everything level as it should be.

However, nothing lasts forever- and that includes your foundation. It’s important to keep your home in good shape for as long as possible, and part of that process is knowing the signs of disrepair around the house. Here are 6 signs that you should start thinking about calling a local company for foundation repair services. This information is presented by our company for foundation repair in Baton Rouge.

1.    Sagging Floors

A dip here and there on the floor, especially during the winter, is normal. There may even be a few creaky or low spots when you move in. However, what’s not normal is a dip in the floor that appears suddenly, worsens over time, or feels weaker than the rest of the floor when you step on it.

Floors may sag due to foundation problems. If the walls of the foundation are being pressed inwards by an external force, such as soil expansion, then the floors won’t have as much support and may develop dips or sags. Waiting too long to fix these issues can result in further damage to the floor joists and then foundation in general.

2.    Cracks in the Wall

Perhaps the biggest sign of foundation problems is cracks developing in your walls. Over time, your foundation can sink or weaken, especially in the middle. When this happens, the walls lose their support and start to weaken as well, leading to cracks.

Cracks in your basement walls can be caused by soil expansion as well. Especially in areas that have large amounts of clay, spring rains cause the soil to expand and press inwards on the foundation walls, breaking them down and forming cracks. If they are smaller than ⅛ of an inch, or small enough that you can’t slip a dime into them, you may not need to worry about them just yet. However, any bigger than that and you’ll need to start thinking about calling a Baton Rouge foundation repair company.

3.    Water Damage

Cracks in your foundation are, unfortunately, a way for all sorts of things to make their way into your home. This includes water! Water damage is particularly likely if you have cracks in a basement foundation, since these allow groundwater to seep in from the soil around it. Heavy rains in the spring can contribute to this problem, flooding a basement in no time. Now you have two problems to deal with: cleaning up the water damage and fixing the foundation.

If you suffer water damage in the basement, don’t panic. You may need to contact a flood cleanup company along with the foundation repair company, or one company may do both. Either way, get it addressed as quickly as possible … Read more ...

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What is scarifying?

Rachael

Having a garden is of course wonderful. In the summer you can dine, sunbathe or have a drink in it and in the winter, with a bit of luck, you can have a snowball fight in it. Of course, a large garden requires a lot of maintenance. Some people have their whole garden tiled so that the maintenance is as low as possible. However, if you want to have a lot of greenery in your garden and plant a lawn, for example, keeping it nice and pretty is a lot more effort. Where beautiful plants, trees or flowers grow, you will of course always have problems with moss and weeds. To keep your lawn beautiful, it is important to scarify it. Below you can read why this is so important and what it entails exactly.

What is scarifying?

Verticutting is a technique used to remove moss or dead organic material. It is important to remove this because it causes your lawn to suffocate. So in this method, you actually cut the grass vertically to free up more space and that is scarifying. Grass naturally needs elements such as water, light, air and other nutrients to grow. Because of the thatch layer that comes over the grass due to moss and weeds, the blades of grass do not have access to these elements, so they cannot grow. Also, every plant, including grass blades, needs iron sulphate to grow. This is because iron allows plants to extract energy from sunlight without difficulty. This solar energy is used to convert water into sugars and oxygen.

When should you scarify?

You should scarify your lawn at a time when the grass is growing fast. This is done both in the spring and in the fall. It is good to know that grass does not grow when the soil temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius. Here it is important not to look at the outside temperature, because it is certainly not the same as the soil temperature.  Often the best period to scarify your lawn is early March. In addition, it is important to look at the weather on the day you are going to scarify. It is important for both you and the grass that the sun does not shine too hard. A few drops of rain are also not a problem. It is often advisable to scarify your lawn once a year or once every two years. This depends on the thickness of the thatch layer; you want it to stay under 2 centimeters.… Read more ...

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What Are the Leading Causes of a Sagging Roof?

Rachael

Do you remember when you last looked at your roofs? Unfortunately, you are not alone. Most of the time, homeowners don’t even get time to do so. 

Sagging is a situation where the roof shows signs of distress. Some roofs may even start showing signs of sagging a few days after building. If left alone, roof sagging can lead to roof damage or, worse still, roof collapse.

Once you notice roof sagging in your house, call a professional like roofers Ridgeland-based for appropriate remedies. Understanding some causes can assist you in preventing roof sagging. Here are common causes of sagging roofs:

Too Much Weight

Once the roofing structure cannot support the roofing material, your roof risks sagging or even collapsing. All the roofing material should be strong enough to offer support. Otherwise, you’ll notice the roof sagging, especially during winter when snow overloads your rooftop.

Water Drainage

Water infiltrating into some parts of the roof may cause wood rot, damaged insulation, and molding. All this kind of water damage is a recipe for a sagging roof. During rains, water penetrates through the roof. As time goes by, the same water forms an avenue for the growth of mildew and molds. Later, the molds weaken the roof, leading to roof sagging.  

Any single leak can bring down the whole roof if this is ignored. The strength of the top determines the vulnerability to water damage. While it may cost extra, water-resistant roofing materials are the most reliable option.

Old Age

Like any other thing, roofing material has a limited lifespan. Most roofs will start showing signs of weakness after serving for some time. However, this depends on roof maintenance and repair—the older the roofing structure, the higher chance of deterioration. 

Experts can easily foretell the likelihood of roof sagging following regular roof inspection and maintenance. If you know that your roof has existed for decades, don’t hesitate until it collapses but instead make the necessary arrangements for roof replacement. An expert will determine the right time for a replacement if they find it fit.

Final Thought 

Understanding the cause of your roof sagging can put you in a better position to salvage the situation. It’s vital to know the extent to which your roof is damaged so that you choose a suitable solution. For example, sagging due to old age is better solved through replacement, while sagging due to excess weight may only need a few repairs. … Read more ...

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5 Reasons You Need A New Roof In Worcester

Rachael

There are many things that a homeowner must do to keep their house in excellent condition. One of them is keeping their roofs inspected annually. However, since the roof is on top of the house and out of sight, it’s easy to forget about it. Unfortunately, negligence is the reason why so many homeowners end up needing an entire roof installed.

Failing to get regular inspections and fixing problems when they are small can add up to more significant issues. For example, small cracks and missing shingles that would have only cost a few hundred dollars when they surfaced may turn into thousands of dollars. This is because the cracks and missing shingles may have damaged the roof decking and caused leaks. The homeowner will need to replace the roof, remediate the mold, and fix the drywall.

Damage isn’t the only time a roof will need to be replaced, however. Here are some of the common reasons that a homeowner will need a new roof installed by roofing contractors Worcester, MA.

Microorganisms Have Destroyed Your Old Roof

A homeowner in Worcester may need a new roof because the roof has moss, lichen, or algae growing on it. Moss is green-colored, while lichen is usually white crust-like patches. Algae is black, and it looks like a stain spreading over the roof. However, all of these are living microorganisms. These growths are typically present when there is a moisture problem with the roof. They extend all over the roof, causing damage that eventually leads to premature roof replacement.

Damages from microorganisms not only destroy shingles but can also destroy the roof decking and allow moisture into the home. Not only will homeowners have to pay up to $12,000 to solve the roof problem, but they may have to pay a couple of thousand dollars for mold remediation if mold is present. They will also have to pay up to an additional thousand dollars to fix the ceiling. Thus, these seemingly harmless growths on the roof can lead to some very costly problems. And worst of all, since these growths usually indicate a homeowner’s neglect, home insurance policies won’t likely cover the damages.

Current Shingles Are Missing or Severely Damaged

Microorganisms can lead to premature roof replacement, but sometimes the shingles on the house can be damaged due to changes in the weather. Severe dry spells can cause the shingles to start to crack and fall off the house. Once this happens, it leaves the decking open to moisture. Thus, these extremities in the weather cause a host of problems with the roof, leading to replacement. The most significant cause of cracked or missing shingles is black algae. This black-colored organism eats away at the shingles, particularly asphalt shingles removing the UV protection layer from them. Therefore, when the sun shines on the home, this dries out the shingles, making them brittle. Aging can also cause the shingles to become brittle and start to crack.

There Are Many Stains Showing Inside Your

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Tips for Selecting a Custom Home Building Contractor

Rachael

No one builds a custom home alone, even if you’re the most experienced contractor. You need help from subcontractors, and you need someone to manage them all and make sure the job gets done on time and within budget. That’s where a custom home building contractor comes in. But not just any contractor will do. It would help if you found a good fit for your project and personality. Here are several tips for selecting the right one.

Get Recommendations from Friends, Family, And Colleagues

The best way to start your search is by asking around for referrals. Chances are, someone you know has hired a contractor for a custom building or renovation project. Ask them to tell you about the experience; what type of project it was? How does this contractor work? Did the project go smoothly, or were there hiccups along the way?

Check Their References and Credentials

Once you’ve got a shortlist of local contractors, give them a call and ask for references from clients they’ve worked with in the past. These should be homeowners who have had similar projects like yours, such as building an entire house from scratch or renovating a bathroom.

When you’re talking to references, ask about the contractor’s communication style, how well they worked with the client and other contractors on-site, and whether they completed the project on time and budget.

Ask For References from Subcontractors

Once the main contractor has been hired, they should help you find additional tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, carpenters) licensed and insured. Some contractors may ask you which subs they should hire; others may do their research and select reputable businesses that offer quality work at a fair price.

Either way, it’s important to ask for references from subcontractors, too. Once they’ve been hired, the contractor should regularly keep in touch with subs, ensure they have all the necessary materials and tools, and answer any questions they may have.

Get A Contract in Writing

This one is a no-brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning. Always get a contract in writing before work begins on your custom build or renovation project. The contract should outline the expectations of both the contractor and the homeowner, the payment schedule, and any offer warranties. It’s also important to have a clear understanding of who is responsible for what (e.g., the homeowner is usually responsible for supplying water and power to the job site, while the contractor is typically in charge of waste removal).

Make Sure the Contractor Is Insured and Licensed

Custom home building contractors must be licensed with the government in most places. You can check if a custom home building company is licensed on various contractors licensing websites. All contractors working on your project should also have insurance in case of an accident.

Ask About Their Experience with Your Type of Project

Not all contractors are created equal – some may have more experience with smaller projects, while others may specialize in larger or more complex builds than yours. … Read more ...

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