A crucial element of any home-selling process is the home inspection. If you’re looking to sell your house in the near future, the following steps should help you get it ready for the big day.

Start preparing for an inspection outside, walking around your house a few times and taking notes of any problems you might find, concentrating on these tasks:

1. Remove or cut back landscaping so that there’s a foot-wide air gap between the house and the rest of the world. In strong winds, branches hanging too near to the side or top of your home can whip about, causing damage. Cut back any branches that look like they might be too close, taking care when climbing ladders.

2. Bring your roofing shingles or tiles and underlayment materials up to shape. Make sure that flashing around the chimney is intact, and that its flue is in good working order. Clear out gutters and check that they’re attached firmly. Adjust them if necessary so that they move water away from the foundation.

3. Repair caulk seams on exterior doors, trim, and windows. Missing or damaged patches of caulking let in rainwater and nuisance animals, which can quickly damage a home’s framework and contents.

After you’ve finished with the exterior, head inside and focus on these key areas:

4. Eliminate mold and mildew, both of which can damage wooden structural supports. To get rid of mold and mildew for good, target the source, which is often a leaky roof or torn section of siding.

5. Fix leaky plumbing. Not only do leaking pipes raise your water bill, they can damage beams and framework in hard-to-reach places such as behind walls or partitions.

6. Bring your electrical systems up to code and  install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Once both of these tasks are completed, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing that not only your family but also the family moving in after you are adequately protected from fire and electrocution.

7. Check that all heating, cooling, and ventilation systems are working properly. Make the inspector’s job easier by removing clutter from around air vents and machinery so that they’re easy to access.

8. Gather up invoices for things like a repaired asphalt driveway or a replaced roof as well as new or replaced items like a dishwasher or faucet. Getting paperwork together before an inspector comes will reduce everyone’s stress levels.

After all of these steps are completed, clean the house from top to bottom. Many homes need minor repairs or have some small defects, so don’t freak out if your inspection comes back with a few negative items on it. If you need expert assistance in bringing your property up to snuff, the home improvement pros at AROCON will gladly meet – and exceed! – your expectations.

Winter is a time of extremes. Keep your home and family safe this year by watching out for ice dams, a common problem during colder months.

What Are Ice Dams?

Ice dams tend to occur when one or more parts of your roof are warmer than the eaves. If this happens, snow sitting on top of your roof melts due to heat in the attic or crawlspace and then flows down to the eaves, where it refreezes and creeps up under the shingles or roofing tiles. Once beneath the upper layer of roofing material, the ice can tear through even the most sturdy underlayment. Ice dams tend to occur in roof valleys, where different sections of roof come together, since wind-blown snow gets trapped in these areas. Ice dams are every homeowner’s nightmare, so avoid them at all cost.

How Do I Prevent Ice Dams?

1. Install heated wires along the lower edges, or eaves, of your roof to prevent ice dams from forming there.

2. Have ridge vents added. These vents are added to the top of your roof to let the cold air coming in through the soffit vents get back out again. The inclusion of ridge vents in newly installed roofs is now mandatory in many municipalities.

3. Remove built-up snow. Use a snow-rake or a long-handled broom with soft bristles. Avoid using a sharp tool to do this job, since puncturing roofing materials can cause additional problems. If you must climb a ladder to complete this task, use extreme caution and make sure a second person is on hand in case of emergencies.

4. Find and repair any and all leaks in your roof. Leaks create a concentrated spot through which heat can penetrate the many layers of a modern roof.

5. Make sure that the batt insulation stuffed between the exposed rafters in your attic or crawlspace is of proper thickness and evenly distributed. Also consider installing rafter air channels to maintain an air-space between roof deck and insulation. Avoid stacking boxes or other items in such a way that they might restrict airflow throughout the attic. If your home’s furnace is in the attic, make sure its ductwork is properly insulated.

6. Keep your home’s thermal envelope tight and leak-free. Hot air escaping from conditioned rooms will collect near leaks or other uninsulated spots at the top of your house. Improve your thermal envelope by building a cover out of rigid polystyrene insulation that seals off the hatch leading into your attic or crawlspace.

If you notice cold or damp walls as well as rusty or discolored patches of mold growing on the drywall or ceiling in your home, especially in winter, you might have a leak caused by ice dams. For professional help in getting your attic or crawlspace ready for winter, and keeping ice dams at bay, contact our experts at AROCON Roofing & Construction!

No matter what season you’re in, it’s important to make sure your house is protected from water leakage so you don’t let water rain on your parade, literally.

Owens Corning offers their WeatherLock® Flex Flexible Self-Sealing Ice & Water Barrier, which provides excellent roof deck protection against water infiltration and is an essential part of the Owens Corning Total Protection Roofing System.

WeatherLock® Flex has a modified asphalt and flexible poly surface combination that allows it to adhere to irregular shapes and angles even in cold-weather applications. Its slip-resistant surface will ensure first-rate traction and safe installation to prevent your home from unwanted leakages. Not only will you have quality roof protection from water flow, but WeatherLock® Flex can also withstand UV exposure for up to 30 days without any edge curling or performance deterioration.

So, don’t let your new roof get damaged by rain, ice, and the elements; Owens Corning’s WeatherLock® Flex Flexible Self-Sealing Ice & Water Barrier offers both high protection and high performance that will keep your roof in top condition all year round.

There are millions of roofs in America, and thousands of contractors who service them. Most of these contractors are upstanding individuals who do their work honestly, quickly, and well. A few contractors, however, are just out to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting homeowners. If your house is located somewhere mother nature often wreaks havoc, or if your roof is visibly damaged, here are some common roofing contractor scams to watch out for.

1. The disappearing down payment. Frequently, a shady contractor will claim he needs money up-front to buy materials before any items are delivered or any of his tools are stored on-site. Be careful not to sign over insurance or settlement checks to roofing contractors at the beginning of the project. Trustworthy contractors will generally invest some of their own money into your project at the beginning without asking for a large up-front sum.

2. The storm chaser. He’ll ring your doorbell in the aftermath of a destructive storm, when you’re still in shock and haven’t had the time to calmly assess the full extent of damage to your property. Roofing scammers have been known to offer free roof inspections, then simulate wind and hail damage by tearing off shingles or using a ball-peen hammer to make round holes on your roof.

3. The high-pressure salesman. He’ll keep telling you that you have to “buy now to get the best price!” As with any big purchase, consider researching the average cost of a new roof or roofing repairs by getting quotes from several different contractors. If the salesman mentions needing money up front, refuses to leave when you ask him to, or demands that both homeowners be there to make a decision on the spot, he’s likely not to be trusted. Call the police if he won’t leave your house when you tell him to.

4. The surprisingly low-cost estimate. If a contractor promises an offer too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Shady roofing contractors are infamous for not mentioning expensive materials up front, and then inflating their true price when it’s time to pay.

It’s OK to move slowly with roofing contractors, especially when large-scale repairs or lots of money are involved. Before signing a contract, make sure it specifies when work will start and finish.

Feel free to ask to see a physical copy of a roofing contractor’s proof of insurance and licensing paperwork, as well as references that you can speak to. You can even take the time to drive by the office of anyone you plan on hiring – to make sure that they actually have an office and aren’t flying by night.

With a bit of diligence and research, you’ll be able to avoid any contractor scams in your quest to repair or replace your roof!

So the snow has cleared for the time being, but there’s still plenty of evidence that Winter Storm Jonas was here. For example, the mound of snow that may still be piled on top of your roof.

Keeping your roof clear of snow is crucial to mitigating the risk of ice dams forming. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of the roof and keeps melted snow from draining off the side of the house. This can lead to that melted snow leaking back into the house and damaging the walls and insulation.

So, how do you clean off your roof in the winter months? Here are some guidelines to follow:

The Rule of Thumb:

How do you know it’s time to clear the snow off your roof? Generally, you should be clearing your roof about every 6 inches of snowfall. This will help ward off issues like cave-ins and ice dams before they have time to develop.

The Technique:

The simplest, most efficient ways of clearing snow are roof-raking and shoveling. Roof-raking is best for clearing snow off of one-story houses or for clearing the overhangs of taller houses. Where a roof-rake may not be feasible to use (for example if the roof is too high or if the snow has hardened too much), the shovel is your next best friend.

Shoveling is best for when there is a larger volume of snow and heavy lifting needs to get done or when the snow has hardened and become icy. This is also the best method when you want your roof completely cleared of any and all snow.

Of course, when doing any kind of work on your roof, use extreme caution and move slowly. If you are raking your roof from below, stand an adequate distance away from the overhang to avoid having snow or ice fall on you.

The Supplies:

If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, these are good items to have on hand in case you need to clear snow off your roof or any other part of your property. Good tools can make all the difference when you DIY your winter cleanup.

1. A snow rake may be the first step you take in clearing your roof after snowfall. You may also need to buy an extension pole for taller roofs or overhangs.
2. A snow shovel is something you should always have on hand, to clear your driveway and walkways. Even if your area doesn’t get a lot of snow, you never know when it may come in handy.
3. Thick waterproof gloves will keep your hands warm and dry as you work.
4. Workboots with large grooves in the bottom will keep you from slipping on ice or snow as you work. These will be an investment, but sturdy waterproof boots are important to have on hand for various work and weather situations.

The Back-Up:

When in doubt, call a professional. Don’t risk your safety if you’re not totally sure how to get the task done. A professional removal company can clear your roof safely and efficiently. If you decide to call in a professional, AROCON can help you keep your roof in top shape, any time of the year.