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5 Gutter Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

August 15, 2018 by Over the Top Roof

When most Milwaukee homeowners think of home maintenance, they think of re-roofing a home or perhaps giving their house a beautiful new coat of paint. Yet so many of us neglect one of the most important aspects of our home—the gutters. Failure to keep up with regular gutter maintenance can result in a whole mess of problems that can add up quite fast.

Don’t wait for clogged gutters to ruin your day. Instead, make sure you keep your gutters working well by following these five tips for gutter maintenance.

gutter clogged with debris

1. Keep Your Ladder Steady at All Times

When it comes to gutter maintenance tips, this is easily the most important piece of advice we can offer: Always make sure your ladder is secure.

Before you begin your ascent, ensure that the base of the ladder is steady. This keeps the ladder from swaying, so you can climb safely.

Most ladders have hooks on the top rung which connect straight to your gutters. If your ladder doesn’t have hooks, bungee cords work just as well.

2. Correct Your Gutter’s Slope

Ideally, your gutters should have a slight decline every 1/4 inch or so leading directly to the pipe. Should you see any standing water in your gutters, there’s a high likelihood that the slope needs adjusting.

To do so, measure the span of your gutters and multiply by 1/16. The resulting number is your ideal drop. Now, remove any fasteners or rivets, and then adjust as necessary until any standing water flows freely.

3. Use a Garden Hose to Check for Leaks

Once you’re finished with your initial debris removal, you’ll want to take a garden hose and let water trickle through your gutters. This will help you see if you missed any spots. It can also help you determine if any hidden debris is damming up the water.

4. Sealing Leaks Is Easier Than You May Think

Should you discover any unfortunate leaks in your gutters, don’t worry—they’re quite easy to seal up.

All you need is a bit of caulk, which can be found at any local hardware store. Simply place the caulk over the hole and allow it to dry. Some caulks can take up to a full 24 hours to dry, so make sure there isn’t any rain in the forecast.

5. Don’t Forget to Check the Drainpipes

Your gutter’s drainpipes are an essential (yet often neglected) part of the gutter system. Obstructions in the drainpipes can cause your entire system to back up and overflow.

A plumber’s auger is all you need to clear any debris clogging your drainpipe. Snake the auger up to the pipe until you can easily pull any debris out of it. You’ll know you’ve cleared the blockage when water can easily flow away from your home.

Use These Gutter Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Gutters Clean and Functioning

If you’re still unsure about how to properly maintain your gutters, or you just want a clean, superior job, be sure to get in touch today for a free estimate.

Our courteous and professional staff will help ensure that your gutters remain leak-free and clean, so you can better enjoy your home. Services available throughout Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls.

Driveway Maintenance: 4 Simple Steps That Will Dramatically Extend Your Driveway’s Life

July 29, 2018 by Over the Top Roof

How many homeowners reading this post would say that they take good care of their homes?

If you clean the gutters, get your roof checked out after every long winter, and spend time mowing and fertilizing your lawn, you may think that you’re doing every home maintenance task a homeowner should do.

And sure, you may have home maintenance covered, but what about driveway maintenance?

someone apply sealer to a driveway

Four Tips for Maintaining Your Driveway

Driveways are often treated as an afterthought by homeowners, despite their importance and constant use. Think about it: You use your driveway almost every day, and you don’t spend time maintaining it!

A driveway that’s full of cracks and weeds doesn’t just look bad—it could end up damaging your car or hurting someone.

An overturned, jagged paving stone could do a lot of damage to a tire or an unsuspecting person. That’s why it’s important to keep your driveway as well maintained as your home.

If you’re new to driveway maintenance, here are four, simple tips for properly maintaining your driveway.

1. Remove Stains ASAP

A good driveway sealer should help protect against some spills, but over time stains can do a number on concrete and asphalt.

As the years pass, oil, gas, and grease can degrade your driveway materials. Remember: The longer you keep the stain, the harder it’ll be to take out. Imagine trying to drive on a driveway that’s slick with years of old oil and grease.

Consider investing in a good power washer so you can clean stains fast.

2. Regularly Clean and Seal

If you want to know the golden rule for driveway maintenance, it’s three words: clean and seal.

Keeping your driveway cleaned and sealed is the best way to keep it maintained and looking fantastic. And when we say “regularly seal,” we aren’t talking about monthly maintenance. In general, a concrete driveway should be resealed about every two years.

If you notice your finish starting to wear, don’t hesitate to reseal a little early. Milwaukee winters can do a number on your driveway, so you may notice the finish starting to go faster than usual.

3. Use Deicing Solutions Sparingly

We know that half of you reading this would never willingly part with your deicing chemicals. But here’s something you should know: The harsh chemicals in de-icing agents can slowly degrade your driveway sealing and concrete. And if they’re used heavily over time, they’ll eventually start to affect your driveway.

Yes, the winters in Milwaukee can be brutal, and sometimes you need that extra boost to make your driveway usable. But if you want to keep your driveway in good condition, you’ll only use that deicer when it’s truly needed.

4. Skip the Metal Shovels

You will need a big, heavy shovel to handle our cold winters, but the shovel doesn’t have to be made out of metal. The sharp corners of metal shovels can easily chip away at concrete and asphalt. Eventually, you’ll start to notice chips, cracks, and dents in your driveway.

Invest in a plastic shovel or use a snowblower in the winter. Your driveway will thank you for it!

Does Your Driveway Need More Help?

If your driveway is past the point where good driveway maintenance can help, we can help you. Our Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls masonry services include driveways and garage slabs.

Step Aside and Let the Experts Take Care of Your Chimney Repair Needs

June 13, 2018 by Over the Top Roof

From 2012 to 2014, the average number of structural residential fires due to chimneys and chimney connectors was 22,300. That’s a lot of costly damage and personal injury that could have been avoided with a little chimney TLC.

Anyone who lives in a cold climate knows how integral their chimney is to their quality of life. As you relax in front of a beautiful fire in your cozy living room, the last thing on your mind is fire safety. The fact is, however, that chimney safety is fire safety.

Many homeowners cut corners where they can to save costs, but when it comes to the wellbeing of your family, it’s not worth it. That’s why you need a professional doing your chimney repair.

Worker repairing a chimney stack

Here are some of the different fine points you’ll want your chimney repair person to know.

Mortar Joints

Mortar is the combination of cement and sand that holds the bricks in your chimney together. Needless to say, these are an essential part of the integrity of your chimney.

While most homeowners know that regular chimney cleanings are important, they don’t realize that some mansonry upkeep is also necessary. The harsh Milwaukee climate is likely to damage the mortar joints of your chimney. That could potentially lead to a chimney collapse.

Repairing mortar joints is no easy task. First, you need to ground out the old mortar. Then, fill in the new mortar, but remember that it dries quickly, so you’ll have to make the mortar in small batches.

Considering how important mortar joints are, it’s best to call in a fully insured and bonded chimney professional.

Signs of Rust

Moisture is an enemy of almost every structural element, but it’s nearly unavoidable. That means you’ll have to be proactive about your maintenance or deal with the later fallout.

When you regularly inspect your chimney, make sure to look for rust. Even if you spot the smallest amount, it’s time to call a professional chimney sweeper.

Moisture is dangerous because of the extreme climate fluctuations around your chimney. When it’s hot and in use, it creates condensation. When your chimney cools down, that condensation will freeze.

That push and pull from liquid to frozen can easily create dangerous cracks in multiple areas of your chimney, but a chimney expert can pinpoint the issue and prevent any future disasters.

A Safe Investment

While a DIY job is good for most household needs, the chimney is an especially complicated and precarious part of your home.

Not only do you risk a fire from an improperly completed chimney repair job, but harmful toxins can make the air in your home unsafe. A professional chimney sweeper is aware of all these dangers and is professionally bound to avoid them.

The Chimney Repair Experts

At Over the Top Roofing and Construction, we help Milwaukee residents maintain the safety and stability of their chimneys, as well as other structural residential needs. Our company is fully insured and bonded, we hold many contractor certifications, and we received Angie’s List Super Service Award every year since 2009.

If you’re looking for chimney experts to handle the job, give us a call!

5 Reasons Why Attic Insulation Should be Left to the Experts

May 25, 2018 by Over the Top Roof

If you’re interested in replacing or installing insulation in your home’s attic, it may be tempting to save some money by completing the task yourself. But attempting to install insulation on your own could cause some major issues—and even some deadly hazards.

Curious to learn more about why it’s such a good idea to call insulation pros? Keep reading! We have everything you need to know right here.

someone measuring the insulation in their attic

1. It’s the Law

Did you know that there are certain laws in place regarding how a person may dispose of and handle insulation? These laws and local regulations are in place for your own protection.

For example, old insulation in your home may contain asbestos. And, if you disturb this material by removing it, you are exposed to this very harmful material. For this reason, many places will have specific regulations to prevent this type of handling.

By hiring professionals to remove and install your attic insulation, you will ensure that all materials are handled in accordance with the appropriate regulations and safety procedures.

2. To Ensure It’s Done Right

Simply put, there is a lot that can go wrong during attic insulation installation. Insulation professionals, however, will see these issues coming from a mile away and will know how to properly deal with them.

Other advantages that professionals bring to the job are they:

Own the very specific tools necessary to properly do the job.
Know the correct kind of insulation to use.
Know how to properly seal areas like vents and lights.

3. Materials Used May Be Hazardous

We’ve already touched on the dangers of asbestos, but did you know that fiberglass insulation also poses many health hazards? This type of insulation can cause skin irritation, respiratory irritation, and may even be cancerous.

Professionals will have access to the proper equipment to deal with any hazardous materials that may be present during your insulation removal and installation.

4. Pests Love to Live in Attic Insulation

Don’t think your home has a rodent or pest issue? You could be wrong!

Many homeowners don’t realize that they have an infestation until they complete a project like replacing attic insulation. Disturbing these materials disturbs the pests, and that’s when homeowners realize they have a problem.

Instead of having to call the pros once this problem arises, you can help minimize issues by having experts on the scene from the very start. This can help you avoid a big mess if pests are present.

5. Inspections Are Necessary

Before the area you would like to insulate is ready to go, it must be inspected for mildew, mold, and the aforementioned pests in order to get the green light. And, unless you’re an expert at inspecting for these elements, you’ll need help.

Call the pros to make sure you’re free and clear.

Let the Experts Help You!

As you can see, for safety reasons, ease, and peace of mind, it’s always a better idea to hire insulation professionals for your attic insulation needs. Getting caught in a surprise rat infestation or violating safety regulations are not worth trying to DIY.

Have any questions or comments about this article or our insulation services in general? Feel free to contact us! We’re always here to help.

How to Hire a Roofing Contractor for Your Vacation Home

May 11, 2018 by Over the Top Roof

Arriving at your Milwaukee vacation home to discover that the roof is leaking can put a real damper on your well-deserved break. It’s even worse when you’ve rented it out and your guests arrive to sodden floors and wrecked furniture.

If you’re not sure if you need a roofing contractor for your property right now, consider this:

Most roofs should last between 20 and 30 years. High winds, torrential rain, and hail can shorten this lifespan.
If your roof is nearing its expiration date, try to get it replaced during the dry season. Wisconsin’s blustery winter weather means delays and difficulty that will cost more.

Here’s how to hire a roofing contractor to give you an honest appraisal and solve your rainy-day dilemmas.

Think Local

The biggest obstacle when you need to replace the roof on your vacation home is the fact that you are not there to oversee the work. And it’s almost impossible to make use of a contractor that you know from your hometown.

Fortunately, it is easy to find a reputable local roofing contractor to see to the task at hand.

Get in touch with any other vacation property owners in the area and ask them for referrals. A local realtor may be able to assist with advice, or you may have friends in the area who can recommend someone.

Also, contact your insurance company. They will have a list of trusted contractors in the Milwaukee area. If your insurance is paying for the roof, they should arrange for an adjuster to meet the contractor on site to discuss costs beforehand.

Reviews and Credentials

If you are going to be managing the process yourself, you’ll need to do a little more work beforehand. The internet is a wonderful source of reviews and ratings for artisans and contractors, so do some research online.

And remember: The best roofing contractors are members of The National Roofing Contractors Association. It’s easy to check if the roofing contractor you’re considering is a member on this web page.

Ask Some Questions

When you have located a few contractors that look aboveboard, get them on the phone and interview them.

Apart from the basic questions to ask any roofing contractor, there are a few extra things you should check. These are:

Ask if you can call previous customers for references.
Do they install leak barriers and drip edges on every roof?
What is the cleanup procedure for each job?
Will they provide a written contract for the job?
What are the payment terms?
Will they provide a detailed timeline for the job?

If you’re satisfied with their answers, ask them to visit your property and provide a written estimate, as well as a completion date for the project.

As you research contractors, remember:

Be sure to get at least three estimates from different contractors before you hire someone.
Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when reviewing the estimates.
Take aspects such as warranty, materials and any ongoing maintenance plans into consideration.

Most importantly, choose a contractor who has a reputation for sticking to their project schedule. You don’t want to walk into a construction zone when you arrive for your vacation.

How to Hire a Roofing Contractor You Can Trust

If you are still concerned about how to hire a roofing contractor for your Milwaukee vacation home, there is an easy solution: contact us! You can check out our page of frequently asked questions, or call us to discuss your needs and get a free estimate.

We’re happy to add you to our list of satisfied customers!

What Makes Seamless Gutters the Sensible Choice for Your Home

April 16, 2018 by Over the Top Roof

Rain gutters are often an unappreciated feature of modern houses. You probably only take notice of them when it’s time to clean them in preparation for the rainy season. But they perform a vital function in protecting your home from water damage.

Do you want to wake up one day to discover that your basement has been flooded? Or worse, your house shows signs of foundation damage because water has eroded into the soil?

House with New Seamless Aluminum Rain Gutters.

You have two choices when it comes to rain gutters: seamless gutters and sectional. Read on to find out why seamless is the obvious choice for your home instead of outdated sectional gutters.

A Tight Seal

Seams are created when gutter sections are put together. These seams are weak points in the defense against water leaks.

In contrast, seamless gutters are a continuous solid length of gutter along any stretch of the roof. These aren’t entirely seamless (because gutters that continue around corners will need seams), but, for the most part, you’ll minimize the weak areas for possible leaks.

You might wonder what’s the big deal with small leaks here and there. What you need to understand is that the damage leaks can do is cumulative. And while you can easily take care of water stains on walls, you risk permanent damage to the siding. Siding replacement on average costs $7,222 for 1,500 square feet for standard vinyl siding.

For total protection versus water leaks, the only solution is to go with seamless.

Less Maintenance

Another disadvantage of the joints in the sectional gutter system is that they tend to trap debris. Leaves, twigs, and even small pests and birds can get caught in the seams.

When this debris accumulates, clogging is inevitable. Then, when water settles in your gutters because of the clogging, it can overflow or freeze during winter. The extra weight from the built-up debris can also cause a strain on the gutters, causing whole sections to fall off. Branches and other sharp objects can cause dents and punctures too.

Long story short: You’re going to deal with more frequent problems when you have sectional gutters. Expect to spend more time and money for gutter repairs.

To avoid all this hassle, choose seamless gutters.

More Aesthetically Pleasing

A house isn’t just a place to live in, it’s also an investment. And one of the ways to improve its curb appeal is to install a seamless gutter system.

Sectional gutters have an uneven look because of all the joints and fasteners. Without seams on the gutters, your house will look more sleek, uniform, and tidy.

You can also choose from a wide variety of materials and colors for seamless. For the material, the options are aluminum, steel, copper, and hybrid alloys of these metals. You can have these painted to match the exterior of your house or you can install gutters with a baked-on enamel finish that doesn’t require painting.

Because seamless requires installation by a professional, you can be assured that the dimensions and measurements will be a perfect fit.

Choosing Seamless Gutters Makes Perfect Sense

Seamless gutters may cost a bit more initially, but they will save you money in the long run. They can last for years, require little maintenance, and can improve the curb appeal of your house.