ROOFING & HOME IMPROVEMENT BLOG
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Siding
We find that homeowners sometimes are unaware of whether they have code upgrade coverage or if they will need it when we begin working through the process of filing a hail damage insurance claim. So, when it comes back that their roof needs to be replaced according to the latest building codes and they don’t have code upgrade coverage, it comes as an unfortunate, and often expensive, surprise. Read More.
New siding is exciting! It is a way to completely change the look of your home and amp up your curb appeal. We want to help you make the best choice for your home.
There are a few things you should consider before you chose your perfect siding color.
The Climate
Selecting the right siding color can be a natural way to help keep your house cooler and more comfortable. For example, if you have a darker roof paired with a darker siding color house, your house could actually be absorbing 70 - 90% of the radiant energy from the Sun. This could explain why houses are often light-colored. But in many cases, the exterior walls of the house are lighter while the roof is still dark, therefore reducing the amount of energy savings possible. If you are looking to remodel or replace your roof and/or exterior, take a good look at your house and see if any improvements could be made. The long-term benefits could very well outweigh the upfront costs.
According to the Arizona Solar Center, a good way to maintain interior temperatures is by preventing hot or cold air from entering the home in the first place. Southern homes tend to have lighter colors due to the heat and sun. As for Pennsylvania, our northern homes stick to more neutral colors. A bright yellow home might be a bit too much for your eyes during the snowy season. Try to pick a color that will work with every season and that won’t be too overpowering at any point.
Popular colors of Pennsylvania homes include gray, blue, green, brown, and beige.
Style of Your Home
Some home styles commonly stick to one exterior color, while other styles allow for multiple colors.
A few common home styles and color themes:
Cape Cod - You can have fun with accents like window shutters
Craftsman - Allows for a lot of natural colors with trim, brick, and stone
Contemporary - Usually sticks to one or two colors
Mediterranean - Not very common in PA, sticks to lighter colors
Prairie - Sticks to one color, but has lots of windows and organic patterns
Ranch - Often has one color, with a complimentary trim color
Cottage - Tends to have brighter exterior colors
Your Neighborhood
Pay attention to the homes in your neighborhood. Are there any colors you like? You may want your home to stand out in the neighborhood, but don’t make it an eyesore! Try to keep your color in the ballpark of the other homes. Some neighborhoods have rules about home color, so make sure to check before you change the color of your home.
Testing Your Paint Color
Whatever color you choose, make sure it looks good in every light. You may hate how light the color of your house is when the sun hits it. Take a look at your color swatches throughout the day, for several days.
Complimentary Colors
Complimentary colors can add some extra attention to your home. Trim, doors, windows and railings are often painted complimentary colors.
Color of Your Roof
The color of your roof plays a huge role in your exterior color choice. A more neutral colored roof can match an array of colors, while a darker roof is often softened with a lighter siding color. How much you want your roof to stand out is up to you.
Your Landscaping Style
Your landscape plays a role in your siding color choice as well. The bright yellow house mentioned earlier might not look the best with huge evergreen trees. A large brown house might fit that landscape better. If you have a very colorful landscape think about a color that will compliment it.
Size of Your Home
Swatches are small and your home is big! A color might look lighter or darker when applied to a home. Keep this in mind when you pick your color. Darker colors might be too intense on a larger scale. Lighter colors might not be intense enough. If you have the ability to create a bigger paint test area, you should certainly do it.
Need More Info? Have Questions?
At Greenawalt Roofing, we recommend and install CertainTeed siding products. The company offers vertical siding, horizontal siding, shake and shingle siding for the look of shake without the maintenance and even insulated siding with the look of natural wood that can help reduce your heating and cooling bills.
We know that choosing a siding style and color can be challenging so we are happy to assist you in selecting the right look for your home. CertainTeed also offers online design tools that allow you to see what different colors and styles look like on different homes.
If you have any questions, or you are ready for new siding, give us a call at 717-898-6000.
Lancaster County and the surrounding areas can see some pretty wild weather, and when the storms blow through the area they often leave behind some damage to homes and property. It’s important that you know how to identify this type of damage so you can properly address it to get it fixed. These are some of the telltale signs that you might need a storm damage contractor.
Roof Storm Damage
The most likely place that you will find storm damage is on your roof, where there is a huge surface area specifically designed to protect against the weather and keep your home and your family safe inside. If you (like the majority of homeowners in the U.S.) have asphalt shingles on your home, they can suffer damage after heavy rains, hailstorms, or high winds and tornadoes. The most common signs of damage to your roofing shingles include:
Missing shingles
Areas where shingles have lost excessive amount of the protective granules that prevent UV damage
Cracked or broken shingles
Rusted or dented flashing around roof protrusions such as skylights or vents
The easiest way to spot hail damage is to look for dark spots, called “bruises”, where the granules have been knocked off. You can also look for signs of shingle damage in your yard, such as pieces of asphalt shingles on the ground or granules in the gutters and on walkways surrounding the house.
Home Exterior Damage
If you have siding, paint, or a similar home exterior material, you might also notice damage to this area following a storm. The sides of your home, like the roof, are susceptible to damage from hail or high winds and also from flying debris. Check your entire home exterior for dents and dings, cracked or split siding, holes, chipped areas, or discoloration after a storm; if you see any of these things, get them checked and repaired quickly.
The Dangers of Storm Damage
Whether it’s damaged roofing or siding, it’s important to discover it early and get it fixed quickly. Leaving damage for extended periods of time can lead to water leaks, mold and mildew growth, and damage to the underlying structure of the roof or walls of your home.
If you think your home may have been damaged by wind or hail, schedule this free appointment to allow one of our storm team members to inspect your property for damages.
Your roof plays a big role in maintaining the overall integrity of your home, keeping you protected from the elements and helping control your heating and cooling costs. But, like everything else in the world, a roof doesn’t last forever.
A typical roof with asphalt shingles will last anywhere from 15 to 20 years, but most homeowners will squeeze out a few extra before making the investment in a replacement.
So, when is the best time to replace your roof? Well, before you’re in dire need. Being able to plan for a replacement allows you to shop around, budget and eliminate having to make a rash decision out of necessity. So, if you’re at the point of squeezing out those extra years, you might want to think about putting a roof replacement plan together.
In terms of what time of year is the best time to replace your roof, we say April through October. But, we work on roofing projects all year because emergencies often happen.
Why do we say April through October? Well, traditional asphalt shingles need to undergo a thermal sealing process. In Pennsylvania, temperatures and the sun angle in these months makes this process happen much quicker. Also, shingles can become brittle and break in colder temperatures, so the warmer temps make installation go more smoothly.
Can you replace a roof in the winter? Absolutely. But we prefer not to replace roofs in weather below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. As mentioned above, the asphalt shingles need to go through a thermal sealing process, and colder weather makes this take much longer. But, sometimes working in temps below 40 degrees is unavoidable. Most shingle manufacturers call for a specialized adhesive to be applied to each shingle in temps below 40, which is something we certainly abide by.
You should be inspecting your home at least once a year to see if any issues are arising. If you notice missing or damaged shingles, mold or mildew growing, or you’ve noticed spots on your walls or ceiling inside your home, you could have a problem roof.
Your home is one of your largest investments and its roof should protect that investment. At Greenawalt Roofing Company, we ensure that protection by using only the highest-quality asphalt shingles and underlayment. Contact Greenawalt Roofing Company today at 717-898-6000 for your FREE estimate.
