Bryant and his crew are almost finished with their vinyl siding replacement. This home is getting Mastic Natural slate Board and Batten siding and Mastic Red Cedar Shakes
Charles installed Mastic Cape Cod Shakes where brick was removed on this property
Brad’s crew has been gutter replacements nd fixing sotrm damaged gutters
Brad and his crew have been installing new construction gutters and fixing residential seamless gutters.
Dave has been fixing leaks on low slope roofs and pipes coming through valleys
Dave removed a a leaking low slope roof, replaced the rotted wood, properly flashed it and installed new roles roofing. A valley was leaking because a pipe that was going through the valley was causing a leak.
Ricky replace bad soffit, missing soffit and fascia, and replace a gutter section
Ricky replaced bad an missing soffit this week
Nathan and his crew have been tearing off bad hardboard siding, replacing the tyvek, and replacing any rotten wood
Nathans’ crew has started tearing off and hardboard siding and replacing the bad tyvek to get it ready for new siding.
Josh installed missing shingles and replaced cracked siding while fixing leaking pipe boots.
Mitchell has been installing lots of garage doors- stamped carriage style and raised panel
Mitchell has installed lots of agar doors this week.
Jonney fixed a leaky window, installed tyvek were missing, replaced steel siding and re-install
Johnney fixed a leaking commercial window. He also installed tyvek where it was missing on a home, replaced 1 piece fo steel siding and re-installed all the old siding.
Joe and his crew finished a vinyl siding replacement which also included a rotten garage door header
Joe’s crew finished up a vinyl siding replaced. The garage door header was rotted, they replaced that and properly flashed it so no more leaks .
A roof layover, or shingling on top of your existing roof, is not the best option in general. It shortens the life of the new roof and it limits the warranty on the shingles given by the manufacturer, CertainTeed. When you put shingles on top of the older shingles, any hidden roof rot will remain hidden. It will not be fixed like it would be when the whole roof is replaced. Two layers of roof can cause problems with ventilation. Because of these issues, many roofing manufacturers cannot warranty their shingle material on layovers as long as they would on a tear-off.
Do I have storm damage / should I submit this to insurance?
Ultimately your insurance company decides if you have storm damage but it’s always a good idea to have a local roofing contractor come take a look before you call your insurance. Some roof repairs will be less than or close to your deductible and will not be worth filing a claim with your insurance.
What’s the difference between the Landmark and Landmark Pro Shingle?
There are two big differences between these shingles lines. The first is the Landmark has a 10 year warranty against algae and the Landmark Pro has a 15 year warranty against algae. If you have mature trees around your home; it might be a good idea to select the Landmark Pro as your shingle for your roof replacement. The second difference is physical weight. Landmark Pro is a slightly heavier shingle than the Landmark.
Are my shingles 50 year shingles?
All shingles are now labeled as limited lifetime shingles as opposed to 20 year, 30 year, or 50 year shingles. Most asphalt shingle roofs will last between 20 to 25 years.
Why are you switching my box vents to ridge vent?
Box vents are being replaced with ridge vent because ridge vent gives a more effective ventilation for the overall roof. The ridge vent gives a cleaner look for the overall appearance of the roof.
Is ridge vent included in my roof estimate?
Yes – almost every roof replacement estimate Carlson Exteriors provides will include ridge vent. Take a look at your roof estimate and if it states “shingle over ridge vent” that means ridge vent. If your home does not have enough ridge line, box vents will be used and will be listed on your estimate.
New ridge and ridge vent was installed on a house that had damaged ridge vent
Will you put starter in the rakes and eaves?
Carlson Exteriors puts starter in the rakes and eaves of all roof replacements per shingle manufacturer requirements.
Why are you using synthetic felt instead of real felt?
Synthetic felt is stronger and more durable than 15 lb or 30 lb asphalt saturated felt. It doesn’t tear as easily and will withstand all elements better if it’s exposed.
What if I have bad sheeting?
If you have buckled or rotted sheeting, it will need replaced during the roof replacement. It’s impossible to tell the exact amount of wood that will need to be replaced until the shingles have been removed.
How far up do you install ice and water barrier?
Per city code, ice and water barrier is required to be applied two feet inside living space. If you have larger overhangs, you will have more ice and water than if you have standard over hangs.
Roof installation in progress showing proper installation and placement of ice and water barrier, synthtic felt, and architectural shingles
Do you offer financing plans or payment plans?
Carlson Exteriors does not offer financing or payment plans. It is best to call your bank and talk loan options with them.
How do I see roof colors for my new roof?
There are few options to look at roof colors. We have sample shingle boards (1′ x1′ size) we can drop off at your home. You can compare how different roof colors look with your siding, brick or stone. We can give you addresses of roofs in certain colors for you to drive by and look at. You can give us addresses of roofs you like the color of and we can let you know what color that is. You can explore online through our website or Certainteed’s website. If you explore CertainTeed’s website be sure to enter your zip code so you can see colors available in your region.
Are light color roofs better for heating and cooling?
The difference between light and dark colors roofs are very minimal when it comes to heating and cooling. We recommend picking a roof color that coordinates with your home because there will be no noticeable difference in your utility bills.
What is included in my roof warranty?
CertainTeed 4 star warranty is a 50 year non pro-rated warranty that protects you agains shingle defects or premature aging (excessive granule loss, cracking, splitting, or curling shingles). Carlson Exteriors provides a 3 year labor warranty with every roof replacement. If you want to upgrade to the 5 star warranty with provides a 25 year warranty on workmanship or protects you against installer error.
Joe’s crew has been continuing to make great headway on a vinyl siding replacement project. They have needed to replace the framing around one of the doors. Joe also slipped in a few minor siding repairs while the rain was being spotty.
Josh has been targeting a big roof repair each day- most roof repairs this week have needed rotted wood replaced
Josh has been doing a lot of big roof repairs. Almost all of of them have needed sob replaced on them. He removes the shingles, cuts out the rotted wood, installs new wood, installs proper flashing, and instals new underlayment and best matching shingles.
Charles has been working on installing siding, soffit, and fascia on a covered patio addition. He’s also managed to slip in a few smaller siding repairs.
John J housewrapped many new construction homes and perfromed some smaller roofing repairs
David replaced plastic roof vents with aluminum ones, replaced chimney flashings, and blown off ridge
David replaced plastic roof vents with aluminum ones, replaced chimney flashings, and blown off ridge
Ricky has installed lots of shutters this week, performed some small siding repairs, and fixed a leak by installing a kickout flashing
Mitchell has installed white garage doors this week and installed chain openers on doors that weren’t previously ready
Braynt’s crew has started a new project this week where the cedar siding is getting switched to vinyl siding.
Nathan has repaired a decent amount of small siding damages and insatlled custom gable accents
Nathan has repaired a decent amount of small siding damages and insatlled custom gable accents
Johnney installed a storm door and installed tyvek on a home that was missing it
Johnney added a storm door to an entry door and then he installed tyvek on a home that was partially tyveked. He is also repairing steel siding while he is there.
Josh repaired a roof that had humps in the plywood
Josh repaired a roof that had a few humps in the roof. He removed the shingles, cut out the warped plywood, installed underlayment, and installed new shingles.
David has been replacing multiple rubber roofs on this historic home
Dave has been continuing to replace the rubber roofs on this beautiful home.
Joe replaced installed window benches on windows he has installed recently. His crew has also made great headway on a bloomignong vinyl siding replacement
Joe installed some window benches on windows he has previously installed. He and his crew have made great headway on a Bloomington home they have been replacing the vinyl siding on.
Ricky tore down rotted fascia boards, installed new and replaced the fascia
Ricky tore out rotted fascia board on these condos. He replaced the rotted wood with new then installed new soffit and fascia.
Mitchell replaced some dented panels and installed 3 new doors
Mitchell has replaced a few dented garage door panels and installed 3 new garage doors this week.
Jamel and Brad installed gutters on this hotel that we just finished replacing siding on
Brad and Jamel installed oversized gutters and leaf protection on the hotel we just replaced siding on.
Bryant’s crew is installing LP Smartside custom board and batten on this new home
Bryant’s crew has been installing custom LP Smartside siding on this new construction home.
Nathan Finished up residing a hotel in LP Smartside and replacing storm damaged fascia
Nathan finished installing LP Smartside on this Bloomington hotel.
Nathan is almost finished replacing the cedar siding on this local hotel with LP Smartside siding. He also fixed some loose soffit at an Apartment complex before it fell down.
Johnney has been stopping leaks where all roof lines meet the siding wall
Johnney has been working on house that was originally installed incorrectly where the roof line meets the siding. Then a second layer of shingles was put on, then caulk was installed instead of fixing it properly. Not anymore! Johnney removed siding, and as much shingles as needed to correct the flashing. He then installed 2 layers of shingles (to match the rest of the roofline) and re-installed old siding.
Jamel has been installing lots of new construction gutters
camel’s Crew has been installing many new construction seamless gutters.
Josh replaced some missing 3-tab shingles on an older roof
Josh installed some missing shingles on an older roof. He has been helping Dave with the rubber roof install.
Jayrden replaced some missing shingles and installed a temporary patch to stop a leak before roof is replced
Jayden has also been installing shingles where they were blown off. He also installed synthetic felt where a roof is leaking to temporarily stop the roof leak until we replace the roof in the next couple weeks,
Dave installed a rubber roof and replaced a rotted roof section on an apartment complex
Dave installed a rubber roof and replaced a rotted roofing section on an apartment complex
Joe finished up replacing siding on a shed, has started replacing siding on the main home, and teaching a newer member how to use a siding brake
Joe finished up a shed siding replacement and started on the main home. He has also been teaching a newer employee how to fabricate custom metal pieces.
Ricky has been replacing many windows
Ricky replaced more windows this week! Looking good!
Mitchell installed windows into a garage, and installed 6 garage doors this week
Mitchell has installed windows into a windowless garage. He’s replaced a few dented panels and installed 6 garage doors this week.
Bryant’s crew has placed the final pices on thier new construction home, then repalced some cracked siding
Bryant installed the final pieces on a siding install for a new construction home. He replaced some cracked siding on an apartment complex. Now he starts a new project!
When homeowner replace the siding or are building new, they often find inspiration within a certain house style. This includes but isn’t limited to Craftsman Style, Modern Farmhouse, Modern/ Contemporary look, and Colonial. While the colors of the siding can help nail the look, the basic design of your home will be what places your home in a “defined category”. With that said, let’s focus on what you have the power to change to get you closer to your favorite style.
Craftsman Style
Craftsman style covers a wide array of sub styles. The term is used loosely but the following traits typically apply: tapered column, decorative gables, big overhangs, and details in the trim. If you want to make your home look more like a Craftsman home, give your columns a tapered look. Add decorative pieces like corbels, dentil, or brakes in along your trim work. Bring the attention to any gables you might have on your home through texture and color.
Modern Farmhouse
The Modern Farmhouse focuses on function, simplicity, and bringing the outdoors inside. White and black is the classic color choice for the Modern Farmhouse look. Bring rustic elements out as much as possible with a metal roof or wood in the garage doors, porch columns, or gable accents. If you find yourself replacing your siding and want the Modern Farmhouse look, look at wider siding panels. Most vinyls are available in 8″ only in white; which does work nicely with the Modern Farmhouse look. If you decide to go with a hardboard siding the widths have a bigger range and are available in almost any color your heart desires. Have lots of windows, the bigger the better. If you can’t have a big, sprawling porch make it as welcoming as possible. Carriage style garage doors in a wood look are also characteristic of a Modern Farmhouse look.
Modern or Contemporary Look
These looks are more about smoothness and flatness. If you are remodeling your house that usually means you can’t re-do the slope of your roof to be completely flat. You can replace your siding with big 4×8 sheets of siding to achieve an industrial look. These are available in most colors in LP Smartside or James Hardie Fiber cement. Replacing your windows with grid-less windows. Replace your garage door with a smooth door and have your windows vertically stacked to one side. Many homeowner like to bring in a wood siding section to contrast the industrial sections on the home.
Colonial
Colonial homes are symmetrical and focus the attention to the entrance of the home. If you are wanting your home to look Colonial inspired, consider adding crown molding to the outside of your home or above your windows. Add shutters, lots of shutters.
Bryant’s crew is getting close to wrapping up this new construction siding job. We should have finished photos this time next week.
Nathan’s crew is in the homestretch in finishing this LP SMartside siding replacement
Nathan’s crew has been removing cedar siding off this local hotel and installing LP Smartside in a custom color. They should be finished in around 1 week.
Joe’s crew has started a new siding replacement. All the old siding has been removed and the house wrap has been installed to keep the home dry from any leaks.
Mitchell has been hanging openers, weatherstripping, and new garage doors
Mitchell has been installing garage door openers (that connect to a mobile app) on new construction homes. Many times when he is installing garage doors the drywall has not been installed yet. He has to leave the openers off and return what that is completed.
Johnney has fixed up a lot of small storm damaged siding repairs
Johnney has been doing a lot of little siding repairs such as install missing fascia that was blown off, loose or cracked siding panels, and replacing garage door metal casings.
Brad’s crew has been working on repairing and replacing gutters, installing new construction gutters, and sealing up aggressive gutter leaks.
Dave installed a metal roof on a home. He’s has tackled lots of roofs leaks. This home in particular had a roof leak from flashing being installed incorrectly. Dave removed the old shingles, installed correct flashing, ice and water shield, new shingles, and a new pice of cedar trim. The same home was having leaking at the bottom of the valley. Dave removed shingles there, installed ice and water barrier, and new shingles to match.
Josh replaced some missing shingles and fixed a roof that had a whole from a tree falling through it
Josh was sent to fix a roof that was damaged from a tree falling through the roof. It took a while for the tree limb to be removed, which caused the wood to rot. He replaced the rotted wood, added ice and water barrier, synthetic felt, and new shingles.
Ricky has replaced 9 windows
Ricky replaced 9 windows on 2 seperate home. Some of the windows replaced are surrounded by brick, vinyl siding, and other aluminum siding.
In-between new construction gutter installs, Brad’s crew replaced rotted fascia boards, installed new fascia metal, and ran new seamless gutters and downspouts.
Johnney has been doing multiple wind damaged soffit, fascia, and siding repairs. We recently had some high winds from a tornado watch and many homes have small repairs from the wind damage.
Bryant’s crew has been working on this new custom build with deep granite grey siding, white trim, moire black roof. They have about 1 week left on this home!
Nathan and his crew have continued to work on replacing tear siding on a local hotel with LP Smartside.
Charles is siding a new build with silver grey siding and white trim. He’s making some great headway..
Joe and his crew are working on replacing 8 windows on this home. Many of the old windows had small leaks that wound up rotting the wood around the window opening. Joe replaces the rotted wood, tyveks and seals each window properly.
Mitchell has replaced 5 doors in 3 days! WOW! In-between door install has has slipped in a few siding repairs.
Josh has been helping other crews with larger projects for most of the week. He has performed some pipe boot installs, missing shingle repairs, and installed a chimney cap.
John J house wrapped a new construction home and stopped some metal roof leaks
John J has been waterproofing new construction homes and sealing up metal roof leaks this week.
May is National Home Improvement Month. As you look around your home for roof repairs, siding replacements or a new garage door, here is a brief rundown on what your priorities should be.
Identify Functional Needs
It’s worth putting money towards functional needs over any aesthetic changes. If you have been living with any small leaks, consider getting those fixed sooner rather than later. Rotted wood can be hiding underneath a leaking window or leaking door. The photos below are from a window replacement where older windows had a small leak for years. Over time the small leak caused a decent amount of hidden rotted wood.
Minimize Maintenance
As a homeowner, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the list of things you need to maintain yearly on your home. For exteriors that likely includes, cleaning your gutters, power washing your siding, check all caulking, wash/inspect windows, etc. It is worth evaluating products or services to minimize your (the homeowners) involvement. If you hate cleaning gutters and feel like it’s a waste of time, get pricing for leaf procreation. If you don’t know what you are looking for when you inspect your roofing, siding, windows, or gutters- hire a contractor to come inspect and provide an estimate for any minor repairs you might need. If birds love to nest in your siding vents, get a bird guard that matches the color of your siding.
Improve Curb Appeal
If you have no functional needs and are happy with your involvement level in home maintenance, its time to talk curb appeal! This is where you add your style and personality with colors and textures. A few easy ways to update are to add Gable accents, bright colors, or a new garage door. Gable accents can be some decorative trim boards or a real cedar accent. You can add bright colors by new shutters or painting your entry door. Many people don’t realize that a garage door can make up almost 30% of your home’s front. It is your main entrance to your home (if you have a connected garage). Updating the garage door even though “it still works” may be well worth the money!
