Gutters aren’t a big item most homeowners keep an eye on. If gutters are mostly doing their job, homeowners usually ignore them. So how to you know if your gutters need replaced or just repaired? Below are a few situations where your gutters should be replaced.
5″ White Leaf Protection on home in Normal IL
After a roof replacement – The best rule of thumb is to replace your gutters right after your roof has been replaced. When your old gutters are removed all the seals are broken. It’s hard to reseal old gutters once that’s been broken. If you keep up with the pattern of replacing your gutters everytime your roof has been replaced, you should not have any problems with your gutters.
Large Quantity of Rust Spots or Holes – Sometimes this can be repaired by sealant or a new section of gutters. But if rust or holes are consistent on every run of gutter, replacing your gutters will be better a choice to spend money on.
Sagging gutters are caused from improper pitch on gutters.
Sagging or Bowed Out Gutters – Sagging and bowing is caused by improperly pitched gutters. Water begins to pool and be held at sections of gutters; without being able to drain out the gutter sags at the weight of water over time. Once a couple sections are sagging, it’s best just to replace your gutters and make sure all runs have proper pitch to allow for drainage.
Flooded Basement – What a nightmare! And an expensive nightmare if you have a furnished basement. If your gutters are old and just aren’t making the cut your basement can flood. When your gutters aren’t channeling water away from your home’s perimeter, all that water seeps into your basement. Over time this can cause foundation damages too!
Wrong Size Gutters– This can be hard for the average homeowner to decipher, but any contractor should be able to stop by (at no charge) to verify if your home has the proper sized gutters. Most homes come with the standard 5” gutter; however, if your home has a really steep pitch the water flow can amplify and overwhelm the 5” gutter system. Click here to visit our other article on 5” vs 6” Gutters.
Big home projects are few and far between. Chances are you’ve never shopped for a new roof or replacement siding. Or if you have, it’s been a very long time since. It’s overwhelming because you know there are questions you should be asking but…. how do you know what those are?
Custom metal accents in gables sounds and looks pricier than it actually is.
White trim, Cream shakes with cream siding in Normal IL
The hardest thing as an employee of a construction company is seeing people in my community get taken advantage of by local contractors. I wish this wasn’t the case – but it happens. Snakes are in the grass everywhere. As much as we want to to perform work for everyone, we know we can’t win them all. So, even if you choose not to work with us, we still want you to pick a quality contractor.
That’s why we created a FREE guide to compare contractors. Yes, you heard me, F-R-E-E. This guide is filled with insider tips like this one:
Many people know to look up online to make sure their contractor has a physical address. You should also drive by that address to make sure it’s an office with office hours, and not the owner’s personal house.
Or this tip:
When hiring a roofing contractor make sure their roofing license actually belongs to them and not a contractor friend’s license they are borrowing.
The past year, Central Illinois was filled with some very intense hail storms. Many homeowners that receive insurance money to replace hail damage find themselves asking, “My skylight doesn’t look damaged and isn’t leaking, should I still replace it?”
The answer is always “Yes!”
Here’s why: Your roof is somewhat built to accept and resist impact, your skylight isn’t. More specifically your skylight seals are not. While the seals might not be leaking it doesn’t mean they have not been compromised and might in the near future.
Velux, a leading manufacturer in the window and skylight industry, issued a letter on the topic. This letter can be used to persuade your insurance company to release the funds for replacement skylights after a hailstorm.
Velux letter about replacing skylights after a hail storm
If you are curious about Velux Skylights and Sun Tunnels, Project Manager Nick Coyle talks about both in the below videos.
Mitchell Harston is this Month’s Employee of the Month! He’s kept his usually work ethic high and up beat all winter; not an easy task. Mitchell even learned how to install a new style of garage door this past month. Thanks for all you do.
When looking to purchase a new roof for their home, many homeowners debate laying new shingles over the existing shingles or just start fresh by tearing off the old shingles. Usually homeowners think about laying over to save some money – but is it worth the saved bucks?
Most cases – no. Its worth tearing off your shingles for the following reasons:
Inspect Condition of Roof Decking
Without tearing the shingles off and actually seeing the roof deck, one can only speculate the condition of the OSB. Obviously, if sections of your roof are rather soft to walk on the wood is bad and will need replaced. However, you can have smaller sections of wood rot and not know it until the shingles are torn off.
Roof Warranty
Many shingle manufacturers have rather poor warranties for roofs that have been laid over. Best case scenario you will get a 10 year limited life warranty – it will be pro-rated. If the shingle fails within the first year after your roof lay over, you will have to pay some money out of pocket. The best thing about a Carlson Exteriors roof replacement is the roof warranty. Any roof we replace will get a 50 year, non prorated warranty that is transferrable one time. It actually increases with inflation so you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket! Woohoo!
Example Warranty Certificate of what every replacement roof customer of Carlson Exteriors receives
Overall Roof Appearance
If your old shingles have warping or curled up edges, the new shingles that you lay over will take on the look of the old shingles. The new shingles may look wrinkly or bumpy. The new roof will look terrible from day one.
Shortened Roof Life
If a new roof is laid over, it will have a shorter roof life. The shorter lifespan is due to a couple reasons. First, not nailing directly into the roof decking can lower your roof’s resistance to high winds. The nails might not be driven as deeply or as securely into the plywood as they should be. On the other hand, some nails may be overdriven thanks to the old shingles “cushion” . When nails are overdriven, it can pierce directly through the new shingle and not provide any security at all. Some home insurances provide better rates if your shingles are nailed directly into the OSB. Secondly, the moisture trapped between the two layers of shingles will increase the speed of asphalt deterioration. The second layer of shingles will increase heat and moisture retention, especially if your roof is not ventilated properly.
Too Much Weight
If you already have two layers of shingles on your home, city code prohibits another layover. This is because of the unnecessary weight each layer of shingles add to your home. If you are outside of city limits and are not required to obey city codes, be mindful of how much weight and stress you add to your home’s structure
Montana suede dark brown shakes and siding and black roof in Bloomington IL
LP Smartside siding in Pewter with White trim and Black roof
Carlson Exteriors always tears off the existing shingles for these reasons. The money that homeowners would “save” by not tearing off old shingles is not worth it. A layover roof can be deemed more expensive due to poorer roof warranty, possibility of more leaks, and the damage that could be done to home’s structure. In this case, the cons outweigh the pros.
This blog is part of a series. Search our site for “behind the scenes” to read other articles in the series.
Carlson Exteriors gets excited about Tremco’s product, Enviro Dri for many reasons. These range from monetary savings all the way to long term homeowner protection. Before we dive into the behind the scenes of Enviro Dri, many of you might be unfamiliar with it. I’d suggest clicking here and reading this page to get a quick understanding.
The first benefit thats always on everyone’s mind is savings. How can something new save you money? While installation costs might be exactly the same as standard house wrap, using Enviro Dri during a new construction build can allow you to save money in other parts of your build. You can have thinner walls but have the same insulation rating because Enviro Dri is more energy efficient. The lumber savings alone is enough for many builders to switch to Enviro Dri from house wrap.
House wrap can tear easily if left exposed to high winds. Enviro Dri is a liquid that applied to your sheathing; no part of Enviro Dri can be ripped or destroyed by high winds or any harsh elements. During the build of your new home, you can rest assured that your home is protected if it takes a little longer than expected to get your siding installed. If you aren’t building your home, knowing that you you have Enviro Dri protecting it gives you a little extra piece of mind if any piece of siding would blow off. If you had a piece blow off or break, any exposed house wrap may also rip leaving the OSB exposed. Enviro Dri eliminates this from ever being a problem.
EnviroDri is a water resistant membrane used as an energy efficient alternative to house wrap.
EnviroDri is a water resistant membrane used as an energy efficient alternative to house wrap.
Enviro Dri is a more hardy of a moisture barrier. It can also be used under all products (brick, stone, stucco, etc). It will stand up to surface active contaminants that are frequently found in wood, stone, fiber cement siding. Over time these contaminants can break down house wrap’s barrier. There are no mechanical fasteners used in Enviro Dri’s application. Since it’s a liquid that’s applied, there are no nails or staples keeping it attached. Normally these areas could leave you exposed to a water infiltration. With house wrap your home will have many seams that could fail. These taped seams could fail from not being taped correctly to not withstanding the settling of your home over time. There are NO seams in Enviro Dri. As an added measure, everywhere the OSB sheets join up, our installers add a mesh strip to flex with the OSB (if needed).
EnviroDri is a water resistant membrane used as an energy efficient alternative to house wrap.
EnviroDri is a water resistant membrane used as an energy efficient alternative to house wrap.
This blog is part of a series. Search our site for “behind the scenes” to read other articles in the series.
Shur FloX is a hassle-free leaf protection. It’s an all aluminum protection system so you don’t have to worry about it warping or deteriorating over time. Tiny holes that pierce the leaf protection allow water or any small debris (that won’t clog) to run down the gutter and out the spout. The ridges promote air flow – allowing dry debris to blow right off.
Shur FloX leaf protection has ridges so no leaves get stuck and cannot blow off
Did you know that so many leaf protection systems actually void your roof warranty? Shur FloX really shines because it doesn’t tamper with your shingles. This is why Carlson Exteriors chooses to use Shur Flox and no other brand. Most gutter guard brands will advertise the wonders of their product and will not mention how their product impacts other products already on your home. Asking how a leaf protection will affect your roof warranty is not a question homeowners think to ask – nor should it be! That’s why you’ve hired an expert to help you.
Having a gutter leaf guard that needs to be secured under your shingle will void any roof warranty.
If you look at the images below, you will see that Shur FloX only attaches to the gutter and will not interfere with your shingles.
Shur FloX only attaches to the gutter – not the roof.
Shur FloX does not interfere with the shingles and will not void roof warranty
Joe Schenk is March Employee of the Month! He’s no stranger to employee of the month, because he consistently works hard while producing quality work. He rarely misses a day of work and is the first one out to start his day! Most recently, Joe was on the crew to set up for the Bloomington Normal Home Show; he was a powerhouse in getting that set up.
This blog is part of a series. Search our site for “behind the scenes” to read other articles in the series.
CertainTeed is a nationwide known brand; and for good reason. They make great shingles and offer plenty of colors. But the reason Carlson Exteriors loves using CertainTeed is for the roofing warranty they provide to the homeowner.
This warranty is registered in homeowner’s names. The original is mailed to homeowners, a copy is mailed to Carlson Exteriors, and CertainTeed keeps a virtual copy. Unlike most warranties, CertainTeed’s has no loop holes and no fine print. To read more in detail about our Unconditional Roofs – Click here.
White long panel garage doors with mission window inserts in Bloomington IL
LP Smartside siding in Pewter with White trim and Black roof
Weathered wood roof, Bronze trim, Mastic Misty shadow dark shakes and Mastic Misty Shadow dark siding in BLoomington IL
I was able to interview CertainTeed’s Territory Manager, Bob Eaton, to get his insider opinion.
I’ve worked for CertainTeed for 15 years now. I truly enjoy seeing my customers and I believe that will never change. I believe providing a true 50 years Peace of Mind Full replacement warranty for all homeowners is essential. I’m the point person for all claims and when a shingle does fail, I want to make sure the homeowners gets taken care of in all aspects. The only way to do that is to have the SureStart Plus Warranty on their home.
If you look at the chart below, the SureStart Plus warranty Bob is talking about, actually increases with inflation. The middle column is the usual warranty that most shingles come with. With the typical Limited Warranty, even in the first year the homeowner is still paying a decent chunk out of pocket. EVERY roof Carlson Exteriors installs, gets a SureStart Plus Warranty.
Example Warranty Certificate of what every replacement roof customer of Carlson Exteriors receives
Now back to Bob:
I can’t ever remember CertainTeed not doing the right thing for the consumer. CertainTeed has always supported me in the field and that is critical to my success and to homeowner’s happiness.
Carlson Exteriors is a great partner. I truly enjoy working with everyone. You’re extremely organized from top to bottom. From my stand point, you do it right the first time.
This blog is part of a series. Search our site for “behind the scenes” to read other articles in the series.
Mastic brochure
Mastic deep granite grey siding and shakes, white trim and CertainTeed moire black roofing in Edwards IL
PlyGem (Mother company of Mastic) has been the industry leader in vinyl siding for quite some time. Being a lead manufacturer usually means that the “small-company feel” gets lost. However, that is not the case with Mastic. They are personal and prompt – customer service, training, and warranty issues. This is the main reason Mastic is Carlson Exteriors’ preferred brand of vinyl siding. They are extremely personal and efficient when working with contractors customers. The few warranty claims we have had with Mastic, get remedied quickly and our homeowners aways walk away very happy.
What I think Collin means by this, is that Mastic is more than a siding factory. They care about the customer experience from start to finish. Mastic wants it to be enjoyable picking out colors and styles; that’s why they’ve invested so much into technology to help you see their products on your own house. Mastic wants the install to go without any hiccups; that’s why spend so much time training Mastic employees and contractors. Mastic knows their products are made to last and be durable; that’s why they never stop testing their products against the elements. Mastic wants you to love them even after you’ve bought from them; that’s why they resolve any siding problems very quickly with the least amount of cooks in the kitchen.
I had an opportunity to chat with Collin Clougherty about his Mastic Career:
I started working for Mastic when I was 14, mowing the yard at the plant in Princeville, IL. My father was a Corporate buyer for them and they always treated him very well. I get excited about Mastic’s evolution of products and colors! The day I started, we had 3 profiles and 6 colors. Today, we have 6 profiles and 35 colors.
Mastic was Collin’s first job and has been Collin’s only job! He’s watched and helped them grow and is still looking towards Mastic’s future. Below is Newport Bay and Natural Slate, which are two of Mastic’s newest color releases.
Newport Bay Blue can become very vibrant when placed next to white and grey
Deep granite shakes and Board and Batten siding with Natural Slate siding, white trim and black roof in Savoy IL
Back to Collin:
Mastic is not just a specialist that makes vinyl siding. We also make our own Metal, Rainware, I.M and Stone. This allows consumers to color coordinate and everything is covered under one manufacturer’s warranty.
Our specialty is being an ally to contractors and their customers. We offer sales tools that include color and design programs to assist the consumer in product and color selection (even using their own home) along with comprehensive installation/training programs that certify the contractor with the latest installation techniques.
Mastic happily takes a photo of your home, uploads it in their software, and lets you pick and chose what siding or shake products you want and where you want them. Here are some pictures that Mastic did for one of our customers last year.
Mastic Software takes your home and transforms it so you can see different siding products on your home.
Mastic Software takes your home and transforms it so you can see different siding products on your home.
These documents also come with a breakdown of exact Mastic Product and color that was used on your home
This sheet breaks down the Mastic siding and shake products that were used on this home.
We are set apart by product, people, and warranty.
Product: We offer a good-better-best in many styles in over 35 design colors. We make our ownMetal, Rainware, and I.M products with color coordination across all product platforms. All covered by one manufacturer’s warranty.
People: Easy access to our company. We don’t subcontract out to 3rd party customer service. Our people are trained and will come out to contractors to help with advertising and marketing, etc. We have local sales representatives.
Warranty: All Claims are not created equal. We still allow our reps to inspect warranty claims. No 3rd party inspections. All warranty calls are handled by PlyGem
Mastic sends out a Semi-truck decked out with a showroom of all their products to many county fairs and home shows across the nation. Every year, you can find Carlson Exteriors by the Mastic Semi Truck at the McLean County Art Fair.
I’ve been working very closely with Carlson Exteriors for over 7 years now. I’m trusted to go out and discuss warranty issues with Carlson’s customers. We keep Carlson Exteriors up to date on new products and programs. We also have visits from our marketing group to train Carlson’s sales people.
If you are one of our customers and happened to have a warranty issue with your Mastic vinyl siding, you’ll get to meet Collin! He’s our biggest advocate when it comes to getting your siding fixed up.
