Thursday, June 26, 2014

Keeping You Covered

When talking about a home, often times we talk about the foundation, a critical piece to a stable and well built home. The foundation keeps everything up right, even against the shifting ground conditions that Pennsylvania experiences from heavy snow and rain. While the foundation is important, it isn’t the only part of your home that needs to be well built. Having a solid roof is just as important, if not more so. Having a well constructed and well maintained roof goes a long way towards not only protecting your home but everything inside it as well. A good roof not only keeps the elements out, it also helps to maintain the temperature in your home. When your roof is well cared for, it can help to lower your heating bills during the winter and drop the energy costs to keep your house cool during the summer.






















When the Wind Blows and the Rain Falls 

There are few things that can be more devastating than having a roof leak. As the water seeps in, it can damage not only belongings that you keeps stored in the attic, which for most people can be a lot of sentimental pieces but also seasonal belongings that aren’t needed year round. Not only can it ruin your belongings, but the water can sit and stagnate, leaving it prone to mold growth that can be detrimental to you and your family’s health, as well as that of your home. As the water continues to trickle and flow through the weak spots in your home, it can soak into the insulation and begin to ruin the ceilings. Ugly brown water rings are only part of the concern, as the water weakens the drywall it can begin to soften and eventually collapse. Because of these reasons, its beyond important to find the source of that leak and repair it quickly.

The Weight of Snow 

Rain is one thing, but if you live in Pennsylvania, you’re also familiar with snow. Snow can get heavy, and quickly, because it continues to lay and build. A weak spot in your roof can quickly become more than just an inconvenience when the heavy snows start to fall during the winter. As more snow builds, the weight from it can cause that weak spot to buckle and eventually cave in. Not only does this make your house unsafe, but it can also make it uninhabitable as there’s almost no way to keep the heat in during those long cold months. The only thing worse than having to get your roof repaired is trying to do so in the freezing cold. Roof repairs are not for the faint of heart handyman, trying to do so while everything is wet and possible frozen adds another level of difficulty that some just don’t have the skill or even the will to attempt.



The Right Roofing Contractor can Make all the Difference 

Whether you have a leak, missing shingles, or other damage to your roof, it’s important to get it fixed, and fast. Almost anyone can get up on the roof and tack down a few shingles, depending on the pitch of your roof and how big your home is, you might not want to attempt to do so yourself, however. While roofing companies in Pennsylvania are a dime a dozen, not all of them are created equal. When looking for a roofer to take care of these repairs, you need to find someone who will do the job right, the first time. So why not trust the roofer that has the experience to get the job done right.

Common Roofing Problems to Avoid


Diversified Roofing Company has been taking care of their customers in south eastern Pennsylvania for over 30 years. From asphalt shingles to slate, Diversified Roofing has the knowhow and the craftsmanship to make sure that your roof is well maintained and stands up against the elements. Specializing in hard to find leaks that create problems down the road, they can keep your roof looking beautiful and doing what it’s supposed to, keeping your home covered. They can also help keep the rest of your house weathertight as well, from superior siding to keeping your gutters flowing, Diversified Roofing gets the job done.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Keeping Your Home in Good Shape

With spring already here and summer fast approaching, rain and thunderstorms are a common occurrence, especially if you’re living in central Pennsylvania. When looking at your spring cleaning and summer home maintenance list, now is the perfect time to take a look at the outside of your house. How did your roof fair from the winter? The weight of snow can take it’s toll on roofs, especially with how hard this winter was for a lot of people. How about your gutters? With the extra weight of the snow and ice, gutters can pull away from the house and some have collapsed altogether. It’s important to make sure that these repairs are done properly, and for some, are beyond the general handyman skills required to keep your house in good shape.





















Stemming the Tide 

 Roof leaks are more than just an inconvenience. As the water begins to flow in your house, it can quickly become an issue for the rest of your house. Water can not only damage the things that are stored in your attic, but can drain down into the rest of your house. Mold can grow within the insolation of your walls leading to costly and time consuming repairs. The water can also saturate your dry wall, causing it to become weak. As the dry wall weakens it can buckle and collapse leading to damage throughout your home. Water also can soak into light fixtures, causing a shortage which can lead to fires. All told, having a roof leak can be a devastating issue if it’s not corrected quickly.

Cutting the Cost 

One of the biggest expenses for homeowners is the energy cost of keeping your home comfortable. Pennsylvania is a beautiful state that goes through a wide range of temperatures as the seasons change. The cost of heating oil in the winter can be staggering, much the same as the cost of cooling during the summer. Thermal pane windows can help to cut this cost, but they can get expensive quickly. One of the easiest ways to make sure you’re costs stay low is to keep your roofing and siding in good shape. Both the roof and the siding help to insulate your home, helping keep the heat in during the winter and keeping it cool in the summer. The better the retention, the less often you have to run the heater or crack up the air conditioner. If this winters heating bill was hard on your wallet, it might be time to check on the roofing and siding.

In the Gutter 

Many people underestimate the importance of a good gutter, until it no longer functions properly. With heavy rains, a gutter helps to divert the rainwater away from your house. While this is a great way of diverting the deluge from dumping down on your head as you step out the door, there’s more to it than that. Without a gutter, rain can quickly accumulate around the base of your house. Not only can it destroy your flower beds and other shrubbery but it pools up around your house and can seep into your basement. Basement floods not only ruin everything you have stored down within but can also cause mold to grow. Not only is this mold growth unsightly, it can harm your families health and drastically lower your property value if it’s not treated quickly.





















A Helping Hand for the Handyman 

Not everyone has the skill set required to be able to fix these issues in the home. Whether you get vertigo from being on the roof, or unsure how to hang a gutter properly, it can be quite a tricky and frustrating situation when these repairs need to get done. While you have access to the internet and all the DIY guides ever written, sometimes it’s just better to let a professional handle it. If you live in central Pennsylvania, Diversified Roofing has the solutions you need to all of these all too common housing problems. With over 30 years experience, their friendly and professional crew can help you find that hard to spot leak, repair or replace your gutters and hang siding with a snap. If you find yourself with a staggering list of repairs that you’re not quite sure how to go about, call the professionals and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a dedicated level of craftsmanship that will help your home weather the storms to come.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Get Your Gutters Right: Proper Gutter Maintenance Tips

We all know the saying “April showers bring May flowers”. April is now closer than ever, and if we’re going with the saying, that means a lot of rain may be ahead for this spring. One of the most important facets to keeping your home in great shape is the gutter maintenance. Gutters are the key to proper rainwater (and even melting snow) drainage. They allow the water to move to where it should be instead of sitting on your roof and making a mess of your yard. Let’s explore some tips for keeping your gutters in tiptop shape this spring!

Clean and Seal 

One of the first, and most important, steps to keeping up with your gutters is to get the goop out. Leaves, sticks, and other debris often gather in the gutters. These tend to turn into a goopy mess, which needs to be cleaned out regularly. This goop limits the amount of water that can properly pass through the gutters and move to the drainage areas. Cleaning the composted leaves and sticks out of gutters is key, especially in preparation for spring. Think of all of the debris that has accumulated in your gutters over the winter! Once you clean all of the goop out of your gutters, you can use it in your garden. Composted leaves make excellent mulch that’ll help prepare your garden or flowerbeds for planting come warmer weather.


Now that you’ve gotten rid of all those goopy leaves, it’s time to seal up the leaks. You want to make sure there are not leaky spots in your gutters in preparation for a rainy season. Leaky spots can lead to improper runoff and allow water to get underneath the gutters, causing rotted boards. The best thing to do is scrape away old caulking material to make room for a fresh patch. Make sure to do this step carefully to avoid making any of the holes worse. Once you have a clean surface to work with, you can fill the leaky spots with a silicone based caulk to ensure your seal is waterproof. This step is essential to avoid unwanted, and often unseen, damage to the wooden structure of your home. Water damage can be difficult and expensive to repair. If you stay ahead of the game by spending time sealing up any leaks, you’ll save money in the long run!


Water Damage
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Secure and Wash 

Since your gutters have been clean and leaks have been sealed, don’t forget about checking up on the security of your gutters! With strong winds and heavy rain, the gutters can detach from the rest of your house. It’s a good idea to check on the security of the spikes that hold your gutters in place. If you are missing a few spikes here and there, you can buy relatively inexpensive replacements at your local hardware store. Another security check to perform is taking a look at the rivets on your downspout. A heavy flow of water could have caused these rivets to pop loose. It’s important to repair any weak spots in a downspout as soon as possible to avoid it falling apart when you most need it. All you’ll need to repair your downspout for an easy fix is a drill and a pop rivet tool.



Finally your gutters are clean, waterproofed, and your downspout is in great shape! Now it’s time to wrap up your project by washing your gutters. This is the last step in making sure your gutters are ready to go come those spring showers. Making use of a power washer is the best and most effective way to get those gutters as clean as possible. You can rent power washers at most hardware stores, or even invest in one for your future gutter projects. Just be sure that most of the gunk is cleaned out of the downspout as well before you being to power wash; you don’t want to run into a clog!

If you find a lot of areas of rust on your gutters or think cleaning and repairing your gutters will be too much work, our team at Diversified Roofing is here to help. Rusty gutters mean it’s time to think about investing in a new setup. Investing in new aluminum or copper gutters can save you money in the long run. They don’t rust and tend to wear better through the years. If you still have questions about proper gutter care, let us help you with your next gutter project!

Friday, March 7, 2014

Raising the (quality of your) Roof

Whether you’re having your home’s roof restored or replaced, or you’re building a new home and are in the process of having the roof put in, choosing the right type of roofing may be the most important decision you make in this process. The roof, after all, is the lynchpin of your home’s first and most important function: to shield and safeguard you and your family against the elements. Your roof will be expected to brave the weather day in and day out, and hold fast against animals and water while keeping your home’s internal temperature regulated. That is a tall order, and only the right type of roofing will do the job correctly.

6 Reasons Your Roof Needs Replacing
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Shingle All the Way 

Asphalt composition singles are some of the most popular roof types available today. They are typically low-cost, while maintaining an adequate amount of durability. When you take into consideration how easy they are to install, this is a recipe for a type of roof that most consumers see as a value buy: not great in any particular category, but overall you’re getting great value for your purchase. These shingles are typically either fiberglass; the fiberglass shingle is a glass fiber mat coated by asphalt and a filler for waterproofing. The fiberglass shingles tend to be more fire-resistant, which is of course preferable for your own personal safety.

Compared to the modern asphalt composition shingles, wood shingles are comparatively quite traditional, and offer their own benefits. Specifically, some of the most beautiful roofs are made with wood shingles. They are remarkably beautiful and quite durable, with a lifespan between three to five decades – longer than many modern shingles! However, wood shingles are also concomitantly quite expensive to buy and install. Wood shingles, in other words, are largely an aesthetic choice.



















Dial T for Tile 

Metal roofing, on the other hand, is considerably more durable than other types of roofing, and can be made from a variety of different metals: galvanized or stainless steel, aluminum, copper, corrugated iron, and more. As often as this is seen in underdeveloped countries, commercial properties and structures where cost-efficiency, longevity, ease of installation, and durability also have a use for this roofing in the developed world.

Of course, if metal isn’t your style – and for most homes, it certainly isn’t – then slate may be more to your liking. Slate tile roofing is of some of the highest quality and greatest longevity used today, but the high cost of this type of roofing, when combined with difficult installation and the fragility of the tile itself, means that it may not be what you’re looking for, depending on your home’s needs. However, being a natural stone product, it can provide a beautiful look to your home, one that is unique in your neighborhood.

Another popular style of roof is the clay tile roof. This is more widely used in the southwestern United States and other hot, dry parts of the world, as it is naturally protected from the damage that the sun’s rays might cause. Furthermore, compared to wood tiles, it is protected against the rot and insect damage that often plagues other kinds of roofing. On the other hand, clay tiles are quite expensive and heavy, and while you may be able to afford the tile, your home may not have the strength to support a whole roof of clay tiles!

Cost/Benefit 

Ultimately, what you’re looking for is a roof that can last for decades in your particular environment. The kind of weather you can expect to face is a big part of your decision-making process here; some types of roof deal better with regular rain or extremely hot weather than others, and if you don’t want to have to replace your roof sooner rather than later, then it behooves you to plan for the environmental conditions that your roof will have to deal with. The same goes for local flora and fauna; if termites are an issue in your area, for example, then a wood roof may be a bad idea!

Then, of course, you also have to take into consideration how expensive the roof type is. After all, if you can’t afford it, you can’t get it! Decisions like these are often all about making a compromise between cost and benefit. Fortunately, you won’t have to make that choice alone!

Monday, March 3, 2014

A New Year and a New Roof

Spring is nearly here, and with that season comes a time of change – change in behavior and lifestyle, change in weather, and change for your home! That’s right: spring means making some changes around the old household. For many families, that means spring cleaning: that mythical time when floors are spotless, junk is carted off to charities, and the cupboards are cleared of all the canned soups and jars of olives that nobody has eaten for the last eight years.

Yet spring is often a time for more than mere spring-cleaning. The season brings with it some massive changes in weather, along with an increase in precipitation and fluctuations in temperature. These changes, and the naturally volatile nature of the season, can put quite a bit of stress on your roof – a roof that has already had to endure winter, fall, and summer of yesteryear. As such, the exterior of your home can end up experiencing some serious wear-and-tear, especially your roof, which receives the brunt of the weather’s treatment most of the time.

The State of the Roof 

 

Before calling in the professionals, you may want to take the time to evaluate your roof for yourself and see if it requires any work to be done in preparation for the coming year. A roof doesn’t necessarily need maintenance, or even replacement, every year, but without this kind of care and attention, serious damage could be done to your home were your roof to be of unsound quality, after all. It only takes one mistake. So get out that ladder, lean it against your home, and shimmy on up!

The first thing to keep an eye out for is curling shingles. These are pretty easy to spot; if the edges are starting to curl or even bubble, then high winds can potentially break the shingle off, leaving that section of your roof vulnerable. As spring is known to have some powerful gusts on occasion, it is quite likely that any curling shingles will be ripped away this season. If any shingles are already missing, then your roof is definitely indeed of repair or even replacement!

Deteriorating shingles are a little harder to spot. Look at your gutters and at the bottom of the downspouts to see if there is a substantial amount of granules from your shingles; if so, that means those shingles are just about worn out. More experienced eyes can tell a shingle is experiencing significant granule loss just by looking at them, of course.

If you notice these kinds of problems plaguing your roof, then it is time to call in a professional.

Spring is the Time to Act! 

Don
by BuzzFeed.
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Fortunately, spring is the best time to get a good rate from roofing contractors. Spring is a slow time for contractors, which means you will have the pick of the litter as far as your contractor goes – and they’ll have plenty of time to attend to your roofing needs, rather than juggling man different projects. When fall and winter roll around, contractors are much more busy, and trying to get a roofing professional out to your home can be difficult.

Additionally, the materials used to repair your roof are considerably easier to use in spring temperatures. Shingles, plywood, adhesives, and other materials commonly used in roofing are no good in weather that is either too cold or too hot, which is why spring – that season of mild weather in between squalls and storms – is the best time to get quality roofing done.




















Of course, independent contractors can be frustrating to work with at times; that’s why your best bet for timely, efficient, high quality roofing is with a roofing service like Diversified Roofing of Diversified Exteriors, Inc. The advantage here is that our time isn’t tied up by other projects and competing contracts; we only take on clients when we can get the job done and done right, as the quality of our craftsmanship is of paramount importance to us.

That doesn’t change that spring is the best time to get your roofing done! Your roof has been through a lot, and if you want it to continue to protect your home, the mild weather of spring – after all the damage done to your roof over the winter – is the perfect time to see your roof maintained, repaired, improved, and even replaced. With a solid roof over your head, you’ll have nothing to worry about for decades to come!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Ways to Use Your Entertainment Deck

It’s all well and good to have your deck converted into an entertainment deck, but all too often, once you’ve had substantial renovations made to your home, you find that you’re not using it nearly as much as you thought you would! That can end up making you feel like a bit of a fool – all that money, time, and effort wasted! – but don’t be too hasty; sometimes all it takes is a little imagination and creative planning (along with some Internet research), and you may find that your new changes to your home have more uses than you ever dreamt possible.

Entertainment decks are the best example of how some folks simply have a lack of imagination when it comes to making use of their renovated or resurfaced decks. They’re entertainment decks, after all – entertain yourself and others on them! Here are some ideas to do exactly that:

1. Barbecue

Barbecuing is probably the number one reason most people get or resurface a deck. Sure, you can get a grill – propane, coal, it doesn’t matter, the grill is the thing! – but if you have to put it in the grass, it will inevitably get stuck in the mud, and bugs and other undesirables could get into it. Not to mention how dirty it will get sitting in the open like that!

On a deck, your grill remains clean and clear, and you can easily lock it up for the night when you’re done. You can serve the barbecue on the deck too, if the weather is right; eating food straight from the grill, rather than waiting for it to hit the serving tray (at which point it will spend a few minutes cooling, congealing, and generally losing its fresh flavor and heat!). With a table and some nice chairs, it can be a great dining experience, the kind you used to only be able to get at a nice restaurant. Fresh food and fresh air will always agree with you.

2. Deck Party 

The next most obvious reason to have an entertainment deck is to have a deck party. A deck party is, obviously, a party that pretty much just happens on the deck – the refreshments and music are out there. If the party is large enough, it may spill onto the lawn or into the house, but the idea is for the action to be centered on the deck. It’s cleaner and more comfortable there, but with the added advantage over the house of having sunlight and fresh air.

A deck party allows for louder music – or none at all, if you’re so inclined. A strange paradox, that, but consider that when you’re on the deck you have the sounds of your neighborhood, of nearby flora and fauna, and of the wind, all added to the sound of the party itself. Even without music, there’s enough ambient noise to complement the party.

So You
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3. Kids’ Birthday Party 

A birthday party for a child is a great occasion to use the entertainment deck. With all of his or her friends there, the potential for a mess is very, very real – and entirely likely. Rather than trying to fight against this the whole time, you can enjoy the party like a parent should, because whatever mess is made on the deck is easily washed off with water and possibly a bit of soap – no harm, no foul.

You needn’t worry that furniture or carpeting will be ruined by falling food, or that something valuable will be broken by some children running about. The entertainment deck is made of some hardy, treated wood, and can’t be stained by mere birthday cake or soda, nor can it be ripped to shreds by kids, unlike certain pieces of furniture about the house.

4. Reading & Relaxation 

Finally, an entertainment deck is a great place to entertain… yourself! Reading, writing, relaxing, napping, bird-watching, listening to the radio, watching TV, browsing the web – you can do it all on your entertainment deck.




















As you can see, there are tons of ways to entertain yourself and others on the entertainment deck. In fact, there are as many opportunities as there are occasions – and then some. The key is remembering your deck when you’re least likely to – you’d be surprised how useful it really is!