How To NOT Damage Your Gutters When Working In & Around Them

I am an admitted Obsessive Compulsive. Although there are varying degrees of ‘OCD’ (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), outside of the normal items that you may see related to this way of life with a quick Google search, there are certain things that attract my eye like a magnet which may not normally bother anyone else. As […]
What Is A Cupola?

Falling under the category of features on your home that people often call one thing when they actually mean another would be the ‘cupola’. Perhaps my biggest pet peeve with these types of items is when someone refers to a ‘downspout’ on their home as a ‘gutter’. In the same realm, I see the term […]
The Widow’s Walk

It was DEFINITELY NOT intended to be creepy. And I have no idea what makes my mind go to the dark side of things when I hear them being spoken of. But ever since I heard the term ‘Widow’s Walk’ years ago, my thoughts always have traveled to this vision of a ghostly figure of […]
How Do I Keep Birds From Hanging Around My Home?

Many years ago, I was approached by a Client with a bit of a dilemma. They had a number of birds that seemed to like to hang around their property. While they may have been pleasant to look at and sweet to hear their voices, the stuff that they left behind was not as pleasant […]
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 ‘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 […]
‘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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
What is a Pork Chop?

When it comes to home renovation, one potentially confusing term that you may come across when discussing the exterior trim on your home is a “pork chop.” What exactly is a pork chop as it relates to the trim on the outside of a home? In short, a pork chop refers to a type of […]