Three Tips for Prepping Your Skylights for Winter

Posted on by kangaroofing

Prepping skylights for winter

Having snow on the roof of your home typically is not a big issue. However, if you have skylights, you need to take some precautions and perform some winter preparation work. If skylights are not properly maintained, they could experience rotting, missing sealant, and damage flashing. Here are three tips to prep your skylights to minimize issues during the winter months.

Remove Debris

Debris left to collect along skylights may end up scratching the glass and damaging the framing. The debris can also hide problems that should be addressed immediately. Remove dirt, grime, leaves, broken branches, and other types of windblown materials from the skylights. Once the debris is removed from around or on the skylight, you will have a clear perspective of its condition.
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How to Prioritize Home Maintenance Projects

Posted on by kangaroofing

Prioritizing home maintenance project

Home maintenance projects range from small tasks to some projects that could last over the entire weekend. However, work and life can get hectic to where it becomes hard to decide on which project to do first. Prioritizing the home maintenance list helps to figure out the amount of time you’ll need to do the project and allows you to finish the work completely. Here are ways to create a priority list for your projects.

Inspections and Projects Focused on Safety

There are some projects that are essential to the safety and comfort of your home. If the projects are ignored, they could lead to more damage or discomfort.

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Four Tips for Fighting Ice Dams this Winter

Posted on by kangaroofing

Icicles hanging from roofs gutter

Winter weather is fast approaching now that winter is officially here. Besides shoveling the steps and de-icing the sidewalk, another important task to address is ice dams. Ice dams build along the edge of your roof, as the ice forms icicles that hang down. While these icicles may look pretty to families walking by, they can cause severe damage to your home.

How Do Ice Dams Form?

Ice dams do not have to form during sleet or freezing rain weather events. It happens when there is snow on the roof and the roof has different temperature zones. Along the higher parts of the roof, the temperature will be above 32° Fahrenheit while the lower portion of the roof along the edges will have a temperature below the freezing point of 32°.
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Is Your Chimney Prepped for the Long Winter?

Posted on by kangaroofing

Snow fallen on brick chimney

For winter, many homeowners will use their fireplace or wood-burning stove. They may light a nice warm fire to create a festive mood or use their fireplaces as a secondary heat source to lower their energy bills. Before putting in the tinder, you want to make sure that the chimney is in proper working order. Problems with the chimney could cause potential damage to your home.

Check Chimney’s Integrity

You will need a ladder to get up on the roof. You will want to search for cracks, loose joints, and other damage. Addressing these issues ensures that the chimney is usable and will not collapse. Also, fixing cracks and loose joints prevents the masonry from shifting that could block the […]

Is Your Home Winter Ready?

Posted on by kangaroofing

Snow falling on a home

Getting your home winter ready means more than just switching out the light blankets to heavier comforters on the bed and making sure to have plenty of salt and snow shovels to deal with the outdoor walkways. You also have to prep your home’s systems for winter. The five main aspects to focus on include the furnace, chimney, gutters, windows & doors, and alarm systems. By taking care of these items, you’ll ensure your home will be safe, warm, and leak-free for the entire winter season.

Furnace Inspection

Your furnace will run for long hours, day and night, during the colder winter months. In time, components may become worn out due to the daily wear and tear, become dirty, and be less efficient. Have the furnace inspected for issues and […]

Considerations to Make When Budgeting for Facility Maintenance

Posted on by kangaroofing

Two people repairing pipes in ceiling

Facility managers have to take into account their budgets when performing regular maintenance on the buildings and internal/external systems. You need to make sure there is enough to handle all maintenance, repairs, and upgrades for the facility without going over budget. Here are several considerations to make when budgeting for these maintenance tasks:

Create Maintenance Lists

Certain maintenance tasks have different requirements and schedules. You have reactive tasks, where the equipment or building element only needs to be addressed when requiring repairs, preventative maintenance which is checked periodically and repaired before the equipment needs a serious fix, and […]

Four Common Chimney Repairs to Watch Out For

Posted on by kangaroofing

Fireplace surrounded by wood and brick wall

While some fireplaces or wood-burning stoves are just for show, others are still used to help heat the home in the winter or to create the right mood in the room. Working fireplaces and wood-burning stoves rely on gas, wood, or pellets to operate as the fumes go up the chimney to be released outside. If there are any problems with the chimney, it could send the smoke and fumes back into the home and lower your air quality. Other issues could create a fire risk to the home. Here are four chimney repairs to look out for to prevent serious issues:

Flue Cracks

Most chimneys are made of brick. Inside the chimney is a duct called a flue that is typically made from […]

How Attic Insulation Affects Your Roof

Posted on by kangaroofing

Attic insulation

The roof provides your home with protection from the outdoor elements. Yet insulation helps your home by lowering energy costs, regulating indoor temperatures, and to further protect the roof. By insulating the attic, you can help to maximize the durability and performance of the entire roofing system. Learn more about the importance of attic insulation with this simple guide.

What Occurs Without Insulation and Ventilation?

When you forego insulating and ventilating the attic space, several different problems may occur. Without proper ventilation and installation, moisture and heat can become trapped in the attic. If any spores get into the space, mold, mildew, and fungi can grow in the warm, moist, and dark environment. […]

How to Increase the Longevity of Your Home’s Skylights

Posted on by kangaroofing

Sunroof with a yellow drape

To add additional natural light into a room, a homeowner may decide to add in a skylight or two. Skylights come in varying styles, such as tilted, fixed, or as an escape window. You may also opt for a tubular window when wanting to add natural light to a space that does not have direct access to the roof.

Once you have the skylight installed, you want to ensure that it’s maintained in the best way possible to prolong its life. The average life expectancy of a skylight ranges from 8 years to 15 years, however, this timeline could shorten if a person ignores any early warning signs, as this may lead to serious issues that could further damage your roof.

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How to Clean Your Gutters & Downspouts

Posted on by kangaroofing

Person cleaning gutters

Gutters and downspouts are essential systems in your home. They redirect water from the roof so the water does not run down the siding and along the foundation. However, gutters and downspouts can become clogged with leaves, debris, animal nests, small branches, and even windblown bags or plastic trash.

With these things clogging the gutter system, it leads to water overflowing the sides of the gutter or up from the downspout which increases the risk of flooding your foundation or basement. It also causes ice dams that could weigh down and dislodge the gutters in the winter.

Cleaning Your Gutter and Downspouts

It is a simple job to clean out the gutters. With proper preparation and safety measures, you can get them cleaned quickly over the weekend. Here are several steps to take for the task:

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