The Home Improvement Thread. Successes and Failures

[walrus]

Venting the roof may or may not be an issue. I wouldn't get too excited about it either way. Hot roofs are more common today, if you need a vent to stop ice dams you need more insulation not more venting

[burd]

Thanks burd


(fun story. I was trying to lookup stock of bird food at Menards and accidentally typed "burd food". Menards had some suggestions but I didn't think you'd like them.)

Odd. They have a long line of paint thinners, and it is a Wisco company.

Oh, you mean they did not recognize my name? Odder yet.

[dxmnkd316]

Thanks burd


(fun story. I was trying to lookup stock of bird food at Menards and accidentally typed "burd food". Menards had some suggestions but I didn't think you'd like them.)

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Yeah I got improved/additional venting done which was great.

I also had mine done 3 weeks before a huge hail storm a few years ago so every local outfit wasn’t super backed up

[burd]

Roofing is pretty easy, but there are factors that will separate the wheat from the chaff. Your local codes probably specify what products must be used in ice dam areas, but ask them in the bidding stage. If you have a lot of valleys, ask what they put down there and how they shingle them. Naturally, some crews are better at 12/12 pitch roofs than others. If your fascia is being replaced, I assume you have metal fascia. Some roofers butcher fascia, as simple as it is to install. Of course, ask for references and contact some of them.

If you don't have soffit vents, ask what they will do to vent your roof, though I expect they will just duplicate what is there now. It may be that you would benefit from venting changes or additions. Some roofers justifiably assume you're not going to closely inspect their work and will tend to be a little sloppy. In a storm situation, they probably have jobs stacked up and waiting and will be tempted to rush through it.

I'd use a reputable local roofer. It's nice to give the work to those crews who serve your area day in and day out. Be prepared to wait, though.

But, since you are a gopher fan, go with the crew driving that old chevy pickup with Arkansas plates and a bunch of empty Busch cans rattling around in the bed.

[dxmnkd316]

Much obliged

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

I used j robert roofing. Also looked at kretzman.

i think sela can do good work, if you get an a crew. Issue is if you don’t

[dxmnkd316]

Living where I do, I’m surrounded by high end contractors. All told me to avoid sela when I redid my roof a few years ago. They do lot of volume but if you get a “b” crew I’ve heard it’s not great. My realtor said same thing so I researched and used a smaller local company.

interesting I've heard they do great work from several people.

Who did you end up going with?

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

We?re probably going with Sela. We?d like to get a new deck as well. Hoping we can get a good deal with the deck and roof as a combo. I know they can?t pay the deductible, but I?m sure they?d be happy to work with us on the deck.

Living where I do, I’m surrounded by high end contractors. All told me to avoid sela when I redid my roof a few years ago. They do lot of volume but if you get a “b” crew I’ve heard it’s not great. My realtor said same thing so I researched and used a smaller local company.

[dxmnkd316]

We're probably going with Sela. We'd like to get a new deck as well (not covered, just small and ****ty). Hoping we can get a good deal with the deck and insurance roof/gutters as a combo. I know they don't pay the deductible, but I'm sure they'd work with us on the cost of the deck if it included a roof

[dxmnkd316]

Wisconsin roofer horde headed your way.

And if you think our hockey fans are goons . . .

They were SWARMING today. Worse yet, my phone has been ringing every 20-30 minutes for about four days straight. I wish I were exaggerating

[burd]

**** yes

full replacement on the roof, new fascia
all new gutters and downspouts
A new window screen

Wisconsin roofer horde headed your way.

And if you think our hockey fans are goons . . .

[dxmnkd316]

**** yes

full replacement on the roof, new fascia
all new gutters and downspouts
A new window screen

[Swansong]

a friend/contractor is heading over today to take a look at my sagging deck (I'm gonna get a lot of mileage out of that pun) and a handful of other things like:

• Rebuild the door/frame to my garage
• replace screen door from house to deck so it can latch and I'm not concerned about my cats pushing it open and escaping
• painting inside...

[French Rage]

We've got a critter in the walls.

I'm hoping it's not the flying squirrel fren...

Getting our attic and crawl space cleaned next week because we have some rats there. Also new insulation because the house previously had blown insulation and it's like 80-90% gone. Also getting ducts replaced while we're at it because they look like the original ones from the 50s and a couple branches added on were added on very poorly, so might as well get it all done correctly now. While work was done before we bough it on the main floor, it looks like above and below weren't touched for decades. We just got solar panels so the AC is essentially free, but it also doesn't make sense to have it fighting against basically no insulation and ducts with leaks. Will probably also get an attic fan at some point since there's really no hot air outlet from what I can tell.