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Construction

Bay Window Replacement: Before & After

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Over the Top Roofing and Construction received a request from a satisfied customer for whom we had successfully completed work. This customer had a much-loved bay window that needed some adjustments. They were struggling to find a willing, capable company to provide a reasonable estimate for their bay window replacement.

Bay Window Exterior: Before

The customer had clearly expressed desire to keep or replace the bay window. Another contractor had met with this customer and told them that putting in a replacement bay window would be too expensive. The client contacted Over the Top Roofing and Construction seeking a reasonable solution regarding their bay window.

Then, we visited the client’s home to get a full description of the project and to assess the bay window. A significant draft leaked through their bay window into their home. Due to the window’s position near to their kitchen table, the draft was impacting their daily life.

Bay Window Interior: Before

Next, through measurements and assessment, we determined that the bay window needed complete replacement, including new interior and exterior trim. We provided a proposal for bay window replacement, with lower-cost alternatives to consider.

Our Solutions

We had the bay window constructed to exact measurements. Our carpenters hand-finished the interior trim in stain color to match. In addition, we custom-fabricated the exterior trim to meet the color scheme of the home’s exterior.

Bay Window Exterior: After

Over the Top Roofing and Construction delivered the bay window to the customer’s specifications, within their budget. The customer was satisfied because we were willing to listen to their needs and preferences. We provided an option that the customer wanted while working closely to ensure the entire project would stay within their budget.

Bay Window Interior: After

The customers were very happy with our work. They can now eat dinner together as a family, enjoying the bay window without getting cold. Over the Top Roofing and Construction was able to meet their specifications with high-quality work with custom trim at nearly $2k less than the other contractor’s estimate.

 

Five Ways to Prep Your House for Winter

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Winter is Wisconsin the most grueling time for a home. Insulation is put to the test to keep your family warm. Your chimney’s structural integrity works double-time. Precipitation and debris put your roof and gutters at risk. Not to mention that there is a higher risk for a fire and carbon monoxide leak. Read on to learn the five ways to prep your house for winter. 

#1 Inspect Your Insulation

Insulation keeps your warm air inside during the winters and cool air during the summers. And although insulation might not always be seen, it is in almost every area of the house. The attic, however, is the most important to keep insulated and prepared for winter. This is mainly because heat rises into the attic. If your house is not properly insulated, your family won’t be warm and your energy bills will skyrocket. Choosing the correct insulation for your attic and installing it yourself can be difficult and risky. Homeowners should contact a professional.

#2 Check Your Chimney

Checking your chimney is a good idea at any time, but it is imperative before a harsh winter. Debris and precipitation can eat away at the structural integrity of the chimney and create air leaks over time. A specialist should take care of these leaks, as well as the chimney damper. This way, rooftop accidents are avoided,  little to no heating and cooling will escape, and your energy bill will decrease. 

#3 Maintain Your Gutters

Much like your chimney, debris and weather can take a toll on your gutters. Fall leaves get stuck inside gutters, making them impassible for water and snow. 

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If this happens water can roll off and flow down your house, which can lead to exterior and foundation issues. This process during the winter puts your house at risk of ice dams. With enough damage over time, gutters will need to be replaced. 

#4 Prevent and Repair Roof Damage

Repairing roof damage can be an ongoing project if the right preventions are not taken. Branches and leaves can pile up and create damage over time. So, keep an eye on any trees, especially sick and dying ones, as they pose a threat to your house. Wetness and snow can make an already treacherous roof dangerous, so hire a professional if you notice any problems. 

#5 Review Your Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detectors 

Believe it or not, most fires and carbon monoxide poisonings happen during colder months. This is due to increased chimney and furnace use. Houses are sealed up tight and toxic gases in your heating agents become a serious hazard. Therefore, detectors must be checked once a month. You can easily do this to keep your family safe. For more DIY projects to prep your house for winter, check out MoneyTalks News.

Roofing & Construction 201

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Owning a home is not as glamorous as the media has it out to be. It requires a lot of time and effort. Researching a project in order to DIY is confusing, time-consuming and dangerous if not completed correctly. So, it is crucial that you hire a professional. To better understand what we do, here are some answers to some tough questions. Welcome to Roofing and Construction 201! 

What are Brick Veneers? 

Veneers are overlays of brick attached to the traditional wall structure and joint together with cement-like mortar. So, what looks like a solid brick house from the outside is truly just a traditionally built structure on the inside. 

In this way, brick veneers are a modernized take on solid brick structures. Veneer work has a quicker assembly time and is much less expensive than a solid brick wall. Moreover, cavities in their frames can be insulated for better energy performance to save you even more money. At the same time, they have the same look and low maintenance as a solid brick wall. 

 

What is Tuckpointing? 

Tuckpointing is another little-known masonry technique but is also fairly common. It is the term used to describe the process of clearing away old mortar and replacing it. Since the procedure cuts away at a building’s structure, it is important that a complete assessment is done beforehand. This determines where the mortar needs to be repaired. 

 

What is soffit? 

Soffit is the siding on the underside of a roof’s overhang. It is seen close to your home or while you are underneath it. Soffit takes on the same color scheme as the home’s siding and can be made out of aluminum, wood, and vinyl. Due to Wisconsin’s weather, it is best to opt for vinyl soffit. 

Having the correct soffit is crucial to your attic’s structural integrity. The correct soffit should offer venting between your roof and attic so moisture can escape and mold is avoided. At the same time, it should help release heat during the summer months and keep wasps and other animals away. 

 

What Part of the House is the Fascia? 

Although some people may think fascia is the same as soffit, it should be known that they are starkly different. Fascia is directly above soffit and below the gutters. It is the board on the front of a roof’s overhang. Like soffit, fascia is made out of wood, aluminum, or vinyl. It is important to maintain your home’s fascia so that gutters, roof tiles, and shingles stay in place.  

 

What is Flashing? 

Flashing is a thin sheet used to prevent water seepage into a building. Most flashing materials are made out of aluminum, copper, zinc alloy and stainless steel.  And although these materials are very durable they do weather away if not taken care of. Maintenance is especially important at structure joints such as chimneys, vent pipes, walls, windows, and door openings. With the proper upkeep, moisture and mold will stay away from the inside. 

 

In Conclusion…Roofing & Construction 201 Final Exam

We hope you have studied! This one is a doozy! 

Although owning a home requires more work than what it seems, it is worth it in the end. Taking care of a home is rewarding. It is what keeps you safe and warm from the elements. And you now know useful information to maintain all areas of the home’s structure.  So you will be fine! Anyways, you do not have to do it by yourself. We are here to help with your masonry, siding, roofing, and construction. We will help you pass Roofing & Construction 201. Contact us with any questions. 

Maintenance-Free Solutions to Update Your Wisconsin Home’s Exterior

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Preparing for the Wisconsin Winter and Eventual Resale

When Jim and Chara Harris contacted us looking for maintenance-free solutions to update their home’s exterior, they had done their homework. They found our stellar reviews on Angie’s List and wanted us to help them prepare their house for the fast-approaching winter.

Moreover, they explained the issues and concerns they had for their home and wanted to ensure that the house would be ready for resale in five to seven years. After a complete walk-through of the house’s perimeter, we discovered that the high winds common at their location in Elkhorn, Wisconsin were damaging their home. Additionally, there was some insect damage, rotten wood, and a few windows that needed to be updated.

Looking for Maintenance-Free Solutions

After the initial assessment, we determined that siding, soffit, window and trim updates would be the best combination to prepare the house for the winter and eventual resale. We discussed all of the options within their budget and came up with a plan.

Getting to Work On New Siding, Soffits, Trim and Windows

Within six weeks of deciding what our plan of attack would be, our construction team got to work on replacing their siding, soffit, trim, and windows. As the project progressed, the team did not find any other areas of concern. The Harrises were pleased that our initial assessment was spot on—which meant no unexpected costs to them. We completed our maintenance-free solutions to update their home within a week-and-a-half—right on schedule.

Their Home’s New Exterior Look

We pride ourselves on providing individualized services for specific needs. The best compliments we can receive are your referrals. Jimand Charra, who described our work as fantastic, added that “they’ve already had neighbors come up to them asking who completed their project.” This is music to our ears, and not altogether uncommon.

Contact Over the Top Roofing and Construction

Let us demonstrate to you our commitment to excellence. Please contact us online, or give us a call at 414-531-ROOF for your free project quote and comprehensive needs analysis.

See Jim and Charra’s project for yourself!

Have a bigger project you need to dive in to? Beyond roofing, we offer all types of repair, remodeling and construction services.