Blown Away? How We Check Your Roof After a Storm Heavy winds that whip through the Chicago area do more than leave branches and debris in the roads. Even homes that look fine in a storm's aftermath can be more compromised than homeowners realize. Minor wind damage can create major roof and structural [...]
From heavy snow to severe thunderstorms, Chicago's weather can wear down your roof over time. One year, your roof may look fine from the street, but after high winds, you notice missing or cracked shingles. Inside your home, you may see stains on the ceiling. That's when replacing your roof moves from a “someday [...]
How can you tell whether your home in the Chicago area has indoor moisture because of roof problems or unmanaged indoor humidity? The answer is that it's tricky. Symptoms for both of these problems can be similar. What's more, you may be unsure how to check out your roof or spot indoor humidity to [...]
Insulation plays a major role in how well your home handles Chicago’s hot summers and cold winters. In most traditional vented attics, the best practice is to insulate the attic floor so the living space stays comfortable while the roof system can still breathe. In some situations—such as a finished attic, cathedral ceiling, or [...]
Have you ever considered the way skylights could transform your home? Most homeowners envision large-scale renovations that involve opening up walls, installing wider exterior doors, or vaulting their ceilings when they want to make a space feel bigger and brighter. Of course, not everyone has the space in their budget or schedule to take [...]
How well do you know your roof? While the roof is the single most important protective feature of a home, very few homeowners actually know what makes their roofs tick. What's more, they may not know about some important rules regarding ventilation that are essential for protecting their homes from mold, moisture damage, and [...]
Does your home in the Chicago area need gutter guards? Just take a look around your yard for the answer. It's easy for things like leaves, pine needles, small branches, and nests from rodents and birds to get stuck in your gutters. Gutter guards protect your home and gutters by blocking debris. Unfortunately, if [...]
Did you know that up to 85% of a home's heat can escape through an improperly insulated attic? It's true, and what's even more important is that you can prevent much of that loss with proper attic insulation. Your home's attic sits between the roof deck and the ceiling of the floors below. No [...]
From the very cold and snowy winters to the warm, humid summers, your home's siding faces a constant battle to maintain its durability, aesthetics, and efficiency. Like all materials, there will be a time when it needs to be replaced. Knowing a few siding replacement indicators can help you know when it's time to [...]
When the skies turn gray, and hailstones start to bombard your neighborhood, the first casualty is often your roof. These icy projectiles, whether pea-sized or as large as a baseball, can plummet toward your home at speeds exceeding 100 mph. Hail that ranges from the size of a quarter to the size of a [...]
