Posts Tagged ‘roofing contractor’

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Financing Home Improvements and Repairs

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

When financing your home improvements you have several options, from friends to credit card to bank loans. In this economy it is not as easy as it used to be to get loans, but it is still possible.

- Contractor secured financing : Select contractors ( Sunset Home Repair for instance ) have agreements with financing companies that allow them to offer financing to their customers. This financing can range from fixed loans with monthly payments to same as cash financing for 6 months to a year. With contractor secured financing be careful and make sure to review the terms and look for any hidden charges. Some financing companies give kickbacks to contractors and hide fees in the small print. I know contracts can be long and the wording can be tricky but it is worth it to sit down at the kitchen table and read every word. If you don’t understand any section or something doesn’t sound right, call the financing company and have them explain it. For more details call Sunset Home Repair at 757-235-3320 or go to http://www.SunsetHomeRepair.com .

- Credit Card : Be careful when using a credit card because if you can’t pay it off quickly the interest will pile up so quick it will become impossible to pay off.

- Friends and family : I hate to even put this option in here but for some people it is a possibility. If you do go this route print up a legal agreement and sign it to give the lender some piece of mind. Also offer up any kind of collateral you can, this will also give piece of mind and maybe keep you a bit more honest. If you know your cousin is going to pawn your Babe Ruth rookie card you may be more inclined to pay your monthly payment on time.

- Sell something : I know some people would rather be homeless than sell their motorcycle and that’s good, because if half your roof falls in and the city condemns your house, you will be homeless.The fact is that most things go down in value every year and your house goes up in value. So if you have to sell something, that is going to be worth less money next year, to make sure your house will be worth more money next year you have made a smart choice.

- Refinance : If you have equity in your house you can refinance and pull some cash out. If interest rates are lower than the rate you currently have this can be a viable option.

- Bank line of credit : You can apply for a revolving line of credit at your bank. This will work like a credit card but at a lower interest rate. Although better than a credit card, if you can’t pay it off quickly the interest rates will pile up like with a credit card.

- Home equity loan : If you have enough equity in your home you can get a fixed loan from your bank secured by that equity. A fixed loan is good because you know how much you will pay every month and for how many months.

- Unsecured loan : If you have good enough credit you may be able to get a fixed loan from your bank although you don’t have enough equity in your home. These loans will most likely come with higher interest rates equalling higher monthly payments.

- Tile 1 loan : This is a Government insured loan and requires no equity in the home. Your home will be used as collateral and you will pay interest and closing costs. This type of loan can’t be used for luxury additions to your home and has a limit of $25,000.

- Borrow from you 401K : Some employers may allow you to borrow from your 401 K plan. There may be penalties and if you leave your job you will have to pay the balance in full. I would not recommend that you play with your retirement but if it is your only option you may consider it.

The methods described above are not the only options available. If you continue to think about and maybe even get creative you will be able to figure out a way to pay for repairs to your home. The most important thing is getting the work done before more damage occurs.

Whichever path you choose to take, just make sure you have enough money to pay the required amount at the end of each month. If you understand the terms and do your math correctly there should be no surprises and you will be able to have the work completed that will protect your home.

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Hampton Roads Re-roof, Roof-over or Roof repair? You decide!

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

In this down economy everybody is trying to save money, right? We have seen more and more people decide to repair their roofs instead of replacing their roof or getting a roof-over. This is a hard decision to make unless you just don’t have the money for a new roof, then the decision is easy because may be your only option.( see blog on financing your home improvements )

Roof repairs- How is it done you wonder? You may be surprised when you see the price of a roof repair from a reputable company. It can sometimes cost as much as 10% of a new roof. There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that time must be spent matching the color of your existing roof and then the materials must be picked up at a roofing supplier. When you get a new roof, you pick a color from a color pallet and the shingles are ordered by phone and delivered directly to the roof top. Second is that with a repair the roof must be carefully taken apart so not to damage the shingles that are not being replaced then the new shingles must be carefully tied into the existing shingles, once again without damaging the existing roof. With a new roof, the shingles are torn from the roof at lightning speed with a shovel designed for just that purpose and the new shingles are installed on a clean, newly papered roof with lightning fast nail guns. Third is that the trash from a repair must  be loaded into a pickup truck and disposed of at a later time. With a new roof all the trash is tossed into a dumpster or dump truck and hauled off never to be seen again.

The positive side of your roof repair investment.Although it can be expensive, it can also be well worth it if your leak is stopped and you can put off getting a new roof for 4 or 5 years, that is, if the repair lasts that long. Never let anybody just squirt a bunch of caulk on your roof and call that a repair. It may stop the leak for a couple of months, but with old shingles caulk always comes loose, especially in changing weather (i.e. hot roof with cold rain or warm days with cold nights). If your roof is leaking it is most likely because it was installed improperly to start with or the shingles have seen better days and caulk won’t fix those problems.

Roof-over- Roof-overs have gotten a bad name in the past because so many have been installed improperly. If you do not take the time to start the first 3 rows of shingles properly the rest of the roof will not lay properly and 10 years down the road you will have leaks and shingles will start blowing off prematurely.

Re-roof-The absolute best way to go, when possible. When you pull all the shingles off and put all new shingles on you can’t go wrong, right? Unless your roofing contractor doesn’t weave your valleys or change your pipe collars or install proper ventilation so your shingles will actually last as long as the manufacturers warranty. Another thing to look out for are companies that use sub-contractors. Sub-contractors make the same amount of money whether they do your roof in 1 day or 5 days, so if there is a shortcut they can take, you can believe they will.

Regardless of what you decide you know in our area, Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Portsmouth VA, we often get thunderstorms with heavy rains and high winds in the summertime. If a roof is not installed properly, it will leak, no question.

We are exterior repair and replacement contractors in Hampton Roads, VA and specialize in  roofing, siding, windows, doors,decks and trim. We serve the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk. For a free estimate give us a call (757) 235-3320 or visit our website at www.sunsethomerepair.com .

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It’s Spring! (neighbor) Love is in the air!

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

 

“Everyone pushes a falling fence” is a Chinese proverb.  Although probably not originally tailored to fit with today’s modern society in western culture this proverb still holds true to some degree. 
 
It’s spring and it is almost summer.  Some of us have been planting our flowers, tending to the landscaping, maybe a fresh coat of paint on the house or simply garage-saleing those things we no longer want.  But, have we looked at our fence this year?  Or, in the absence of a pre-existing physical property boundary, have we possibly considered the benefits to a new fence?  Fencing may not be the first thing on our mind when it comes to spring or summer projects but it is probably one of the first things noticed by those that drive or walk by our house. 
 
Fencing says a lot about who we are and how we live, believe it or not.  So, back to our quote: “everyone pushes a falling fence”.   To apply this to our modern day living, a fence that looks dated or in disrepair is paid for, not only with our own property value, but through our neighbor’s property values as well.  And we all know how much more pleasant our day-to-day existence can be with friendly and happy neighbors.  Remember that last time you needed to borrow an edger to finish up some landscaping?  Good luck with a neighbor that hates that fence you refuse to replace.   
 
 ”Love your neighbor as yourself; but don’t take down the fence.”
 
Speaking of neighbors, brings me to another quote by Carl Sandburg: ”Love your neighbor as yourself; but don’t take down the fence”.   Fences serve a purpose outside esthetics; they keep children out (or in), they deter house burglary due to another barrier to a thief, they keep our doggies safe inside our yard and other dogs out, keep wildlife out (to a degree) to protect our gardens, and they give property lines a clear demarcation (since the neighbors now may not always be the same neighbors later).  Remember another important quote, “good fences make good neighbors”. 
 
Fencing wins where underground pet fencing fails.  That underground fence you just installed to keep little Scooby Doo inside the yard may, in fact, keep little Scooby in the yard.  But is it going to keep other neighborhood dogs or cats out of your yard?  The answer is obviously a resounding “no”. 
 
The fence that makes good neighbors needs a gate to make good friends.
Now, what type of fence to get.  If you are replacing your old fence or just installing a new one, the type of fence you get should compliment your house and not take away from it.  And, good or bad, there is a great selection of styles, sizes and materials.  You may want that wrought iron picket but your house’s style may not agree.  If your house is Victorian then look for a complimentary fence that says “Victorian” – maybe something small and white, preferably wood.  See if you can borrow a sample or just drive around your neighborhood and see what looks great.  Where I grew up lot sizes varied from 1/2 acre to 1 acre and for backyards a 6′ stockade was most appropriate in the backyards with no fence in the front.  Later living in a brownstone in Jersey City where most houses were touching and narrow, a wrought iron picket was more appropriate. As another example, houses closer to the beach vary in fence styles from wood, ranch style to white laminate. 
 
A couple of things to remember about fencing.  If you do purchase a stockade style fence whereby there is a good, smooth side and an alternate side with horizontal slats, it is most appropriate if you keep the good, smooth side facing the neighbors.  Not only will this keep your neighbors happy it will make it more difficult for theives that want to climb your fence for access to your yard.  Laminate fencing can be sprayed clean and it outlasts wood.  Fencing can be self-installed but remember to get the right tools and plan ahead because a fence out of line is not fun to fix - sometimes a fencing company may be easier.  Check with local codes if you are unsure about the legality of fencing – some jurisdictions have codes on height, appearance and other important considerations. 
Guest blogger- John J. Connors

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