Jobs to Tick Off the List Before Fall

Now is a great time to get working on any home improvement jobs before the cooler weather sets in. Whether it’s taking preventative measures to make sure the ice and snow doesn’t do a number on your home or just routine repairs that you’be been putting off, these next few weeks will be the perfect time to give your house a spruce up.

Probably the most important home maintenance job for this time of year is to take a look at your gutters. Before we know it, tree debris will be falling and the leaves will be clogging up gutters and downspouts. If you’ve ever thought about installing gutter guards on your home, now is the time to do it. They will protect your gutters from the leaves and help you to avoid that cumbersome autumn clean-out.

One of my favorite ways to update a home is to install a new entry door. A lot of houses in our area still have wood doors, which are prime for serious heat leakage. Installing a new door made from fiberglass will help to retain warmth and give you a great, contemporary style. They even come in wood grain or solid color finishes to keep with the look and feel of your current exterior.

Now is also one of the best times to look at vinyl siding, which can dramatically improve the appearance of your home while reducing overall maintenance and upkeep. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one third of new homes in the U.S. are built with vinyl siding, and that number continues to rise every year. Why? Vinyl siding is durable, long lasting and comes in a variety of finishes to suit a homeowner's personal style. My favorite part is that it never has to be painted or stained, and there is no rotting or insect problems that can come with traditional wood cladding.

Finally, with winter on the way, it's time to take a look at your windows. When I visit a house, I will often use a thermal camera to see how much heat is being lost, and old wood sash windows are one of the main culprits. New vinyl windows are great in terms of energy efficiency and heat loss reduction, and at our house, we love the tilt in sashes for easy cleaning.

Being a homeowner requires a lot of maintenance, but the investment is worth it to keep you and your family comfortable all year round. It's also key to ensure you get the best possible price on your home if you ever decide to put it up for sale.

What is your favorite tip for giving your house a facelift? I'd love to hear from you. Happy Labor Day everyone!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

How Do You Know When It’s Time For A New Roof?

When is the last time you did a visual inspection of your roof? If it has been awhile, now is the time to do it. With autumn on our doorstep, the cooler temperatures and wild weather will be here before you know it. Since most roof problems pop up because of leaks from snow, rain, and ice, this time of year is really perfect to make sure your roof isn’t going to give you any unexpected, and expensive problems.

Go outside and take a good look at your roof. What do you see? Are the shingles starting to break off? Is the roof sagging or discolored? Are there dark spots on the outside or ceiling cracks and discoloration on the inside? These can all be signs of a deteriorating roof. But how long is a roof actually supposed to last, and is a new roof worth the investment? Here are some things to think about when it comes to roof replacement.

1. How old is your roof? Roofs generally last about 20 years, and the reason I say generally is because the life of the roof depends on how it was installed and if it has proper insulation and ventilation. If a roof is done correctly, it can often last longer than 20 years. If you don’t know, it’s worth finding out, especially if you recently purchased your house or are thinking about purchasing one.

2. Are your shingles curling, splitting or falling off? This could be due to age and general wear and tear. If this is happening, your roof will be much more susceptible to leaks, which can cause major problems both inside and out, especially as the snow begins to pile up.

3. Do you see moss or mold growing on your roof? This is a problem that could be fixed with a simple roof cleaning, or it could be a sign that you have rotting wood and damaging moisture trapped under the shingles. A simple inspection will tell you if it’s a quick cosmetic fix or something more complex that needs to be repaired.

Many remodelers will do a roof inspection for free, so if you’re unsure about how your roof is holding up, consult with an expert. I always tell the homeowners how long I think their roof will last based on the current condition and the external environment. The number one reason roofs don’t last is because contractors will often shingle over the old roof which can lead to poor ventilation and premature roof aging and rot. I see it all the time. If you’re dealing with a good roofer, they will explain all the options available to you, so don’t be afraid to ask questions to ensure you’re getting the answers and solutions that make sense for your home.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Fix Up Dangerous Concrete Steps and Paths The Easy Way

If you’ve ever had to replace concrete, you know what a pain it can be. From time to time,  steps and sidewalks crack and sink, leaving the homeowner with an unsightly and potentially dangerous home hazard. Years ago, we had no choice but to jackhammer the old concrete and then replace it with a new slab. But today, there are methods of revitalizing concrete that can save you time, money and a whole lot of headache.

Concrete raising is a method of replacement that works by drilling small holes into the existing slab and refilling it with a cementious material of grout-like consistency. The cement grout, or “slurry” as it’s called, gets pressure pumped in, filling air pockets or any gaps that have eroded or been damaged. By raising concrete with concrete, the result is as strong as the day the original concrete was first poured, and the best part is that you don’t have to replace the entire structure. 

A popular alternative to concrete raising is called mudjacking, which uses a similar technique but instead pumps a mixture of topsoil, mud, and water into existing holes and gaps. This method raises the concrete, but the mixture is not actually made of concrete which means that it will erode again after time. Think of it like patching your denim jeans with a scrap of cloth – it will do the job for a while, but soon your knee will be poking out again. 

The same goes for polyurethane raising. This new trend works by injecting chemical foam into gaps to raise the concrete. The problem with this method is that the foam expands after it gets injected, which makes it difficult to measure in terms of accuracy. Also, because this filler is so new, there isn’t any information on how it evolves over time, and what effect that chemical mix has on the environment as it ages in the ground. It’s also worth noting that the certification process for polyurethane jacking is a two-day course, which doesn’t exactly give you the peace of mind that the job is getting done properly with precision. 

In my experience, when it comes to concreting, replacing aging structures with the same original material is the best way to ensure that new and old adhere to one another and will last for decades.

So if you have a sound structure in need of a facelift, consider concrete raising before you demolish. Most residential jobs can be completed in a few hours, and the cost is between one-half and one-third of what you would pay to have the old concrete removed and replaced. A lot of homes in town were built in the 1950’s and with decades of environmental changes and ground shifts, gaps in steps and sidewalks can cause a nasty trip and a fall, especially for older homeowners. If you need a recommendation for concrete raisers in the area, feel free to get in touch.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.