What is a ‘Mansard’?
The mansard roof, also known as a French roof or curb roof, is a distinctive architectural feature with a unique design that has left a lasting impact on various structures worldwide. Its origins can be traced back to 17th-century France, where it was popularized and named after the renowned French architect, François Mansart (1598-1666). The […]
Should Old Siding be Removed Prior to Vinyl Siding?
As the realization of just how high home improvement costs have escalated over the past several years sets in, it is not unusual for a homeowner looking to do a vinyl siding project to approach us with the idea of leaving the previous siding on, instead of stripping it completely, in an effort to save […]
What is a ‘Brake’?
If you have ever seen a home that is vinyl sided (perhaps even the one you live in), you may have noticed that the trim is covered (“capped”) in aluminum. The contour of the aluminum as it fits around the trim is not magically made this way. In order to get to the point where […]
‘House Leak’ vs. ‘Groundwater Leak’
One of the things that I have found helpful in my professional career over the years is discovering what I am really good at and going ‘all in’ on those items and discovering what I am not so good at and learning to comfortably acquiesce to others whose acumen may be a bit more developed […]
Proper Decommissioning of the American Flag
There are certain things that I often wonder about which when I find out the answer to, I think to myself, “Well, that makes sense!” One of these such situations came about recently when I started to notice all of the new flags going up around municipalities and people’s homes in preparation for the 4th […]
What is ‘Homasote’?
Just as people in search of a facial tissue, often say they are looking for a “Kleenex”, within the home improvement industry there are a number of items whose name being referenced is the actual name of a leading company in the production of that particular product. One such example of this is ‘Homasote’. Most […]
What is a ‘Monitor’?
Many homes have really cool features to them. So many cool features in fact that even after almost 30 years of working in and around them, at times I forget what they are called 😀 Although I believe I hold my own, I am far from an expert in architecture and this is quite evident […]
Stopping the Paint from Peeling Along the Edge of a Freshly Painted Door
Recently, I received a call from a Client regarding a concern of theirs that a door we had painted kept having the paint along its edges lift up each time one of our techs had gone to correct it. This was a frustrating endeavor because each side involved had thought the door had dried thoroughly […]
Why is it a BAD Idea to Caulk the Gaps in Between Shingle Siding?
Recently I had a client message me with concerns of there being gaps in between the shingle siding on his family’s home, after we had conducted our prep and were well on our way through applying the finish coat. While he was SUPER complimentary on how hard the crew had worked on things, he was […]
How to Make Older Windows Easier to Open & Close
Old windows can be difficult to open and close, especially if they have not been maintained over the years as well as they perhaps could have been. One way to make sure they function as best as possible is by using beeswax. Beeswax is a natural, non-toxic substance that can be used to lubricate and […]
