How to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

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how to keep your home cool in the summer

Summer is the season of sun, surf and sand, but it quickly loses its appeal when your home is just as hot as the outdoors. If you’ve got air conditioning, you can live in relative ease, but you may find that the prices for cooling your home will break your bank. If you’re looking to reduce your AC usage, there are a couple of other things you can do to help cool your home this summer.

If you’re not keen on DIY, don’t worry, you can give Authentic Restoration a call on (855) 849-6494. They’ll be able to give you professional advice and will help you get your indoor temperatures under control.

Keeping Your Home Cool in the Summer

Use light-colored roof tiles

Darker roof tiles, especially black ones, both attract and absorb heat quickly. This process will heat up your entire home during the summer, which means you’ll need more power going to your AC to keep the atmosphere at a pleasant temperature.

By replacing dark tiles with lighter-colored ones, the roof will reflect more sunlight during the day. During the hottest part of the day, the surface reflects light and heat, lowering the overall absorption rate for a cooler home.

Ensure you have proper insulation

Proper insulation is essential to maintaining an even temperature in your home. Insulation keeps warmth in during the winter months and protects your home from excess heat in the summer. If you have an attic, you can even double up on your insulation for better temperature control.

Not only is it possible to have a layer of insulation on your roof, but also between the attic joists and the main cavity. This extra layer will ensure that no heat from the attic drifts unwanted into your home, keeping the interior as cool as a cucumber.

It’s also a wise idea to check your insulation periodically, to make sure that it’s airtight and in adequate condition. Poor quality insulation won’t work as well, though, and should be replaced by newer materials whenever possible.

Check your attic for signs of damage

Insignificant patches of minor damage can escalate into massive problems if left unattended. These damaged spots might allow moisture into the floor of the attic. This infiltration, combined with summer heat, leads to warping and more severe problems in the long run. These areas also allow heat to penetrate what would otherwise be kept at bay, causing a warmer home when you need it the least.

Check where your exhaust fans lead

You may assume that your bathroom and kitchen fans are connected to the outside, but if your installation was done poorly, they might just vent directly into the attic. This can lead to mold and rot concerns that can damage the structural integrity of the roof. These vents may also be leaking cool air from the house into the attic, so make sure that you check your venting to make sure it’s installed properly.

The experts at Authentic Restoration highly recommend having your roof and attic checked on a regular basis to ensure that everything is in excellent condition and functioning as intended. Give us a call on (855) 849-6494 today to arrange an inspection.

Why You Should Avoid Storm Chasers

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storm chaser door knocking

If your neighborhood has been affected by strong storms and high winds recently, beware of contractors knocking on your door offering to fix your home’s roof! “Storm chasers” are shady or disreputable contractors soliciting business after a storm has passed through. How do you know the difference between a storm chaser and a legitimate, reliable roofing contractor? Check out some tips below and be sure to call the home repair and renovation experts at Authentic Restoration, (252) 904-3995, for all your home roof repairs and replacement needs. (more…)

How to Identify If a Roof System Has Problems

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problems with roofing systems

Some residential roofing problems are apparent even from the street, especially if your area has been hit by strong storms recently. High winds, thick rain, and hail and storm debris strip away shingles and flashing and might even cause a roof to sag and collapse. However, not all damage to a roofing system is quite that obvious! For more information about keeping your roof in good working order and for all your home’s roofing needs, call the home repair and renovation experts at Authentic Restoration, (252) 904-3995. (more…)

How a New Roof Affects Your Home’s Curb Appeal

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home curb appeal

Your home’s curb appeal is vital for several reasons. The improved curb appeal of any house can increase its overall value. However, a shabby, rundown appearance can make your property seem unwelcoming and impersonal. To find out more about how a new roof increases a home’s curb appeal, and for all the residential roof repairs and new roof installation work you need, call Authentic Restoration Roofing Rocky Mount at (252) 904-3995. (more…)

Do I Need to Obtain a Building Permit for a New Roof?

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building permit

Homeowners today are tackling more home improvement and repair projects on their own than ever before. This is because hardware stores rent tools and equipment, and online videos make it easy to fix virtually everything in a home. However, there are many reasons why it’s good to avoid DIY roofing repairs and replacement, and call the home renovation pros at Authentic Restoration, (252) 904-3995, for all the roofing work you need!  One reason to rely on the experts is the need for building permits and the risk of performing work with them. Be assured our Rocky Mount roofing contractors have plenty of experience. (more…)

What Is the Best Way To Clean My Gutters?

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Gutter cleaning is not very glamorous but is a necessary chore in the maintenance of any home. Aside from the unsightly appearance of clumps of soggy leaves in your gutter, blocked gutters can lead to a range of other problems including ice dams, water seepage, and broken guttering. So, you ask, “what is the best way to clean my gutters?”

The good news is that it’s a pretty simple job and shouldn’t take long. (more…)

Skylights & Sun Tunnels, The Need to Know

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Introducing natural light to our homes through windows and skylights improves not just the health of our living environment but also our moods and physical health. Natural daylight regulates our circadian rhythms, improving our sleeping and eating patterns and contributing to our general good health.

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Preventing Ice Dams Before They Happen

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If you regularly experience harsh winters, you may be familiar with ice dams. These are thick ridges of ice that build up along the edges of your roof or gutters, blocking any water from running off, and potentially leading to leaks and seepage through the shingles. (more…)

Do You Have Roof Wind Damage?

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wind damage

High winds can be damaging to your property. With the recent storms in Central Indiana, roof wind damage as a result of extreme weather conditions can and should be a concern of all homeowners. Aside from easy-to-spot damage such as fallen shingles and roof punctures from broken tree limbs, there may be other, less visible issues caused to your property after high winds. (more…)

Repairing a Leaky Roof Pipe Vent

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repairing roof pipe vent

Damp patches on your ceiling can be worrisome and could potentially be a significant cause for concern if the source of the problem is not identified promptly. One cause could be a leak in your roof pipe vent, which may be a simple fix. A roof pipe vent is any pipe that allows gases to escape from your home, particularly from the kitchen and bathrooms, essentially letting your house breath. (more…)