Oakland County

How to Get Rid of Algae On Roofs in Rochester Hills, Michigan

Algae appears on a roof as a black mold-like stain or streak. You may find some of these stains on the roof of your Rochester Hills home as it's typical for algae to grow in climates like Michigan where we have warm and humid summers. The good news is that it doesn't do any damage to your roof. It does however look bad. So below are some tips for getting rid of algae and preventing more from growing on your roof. Wash with Bleach and Water Some people's first instinct is to pressure wash the roof, but this will only [...]

2022-09-28T15:49:28-04:00Categories: Roofing|Tags: , |

What Causes of Cracks in Michigan Driveways and Sidewalks

Cracks in concrete are a normal occurrence and can be found everywhere, even on beautiful Main Street in Royal Oak, MI. There are many different reasons as to why concrete cracks. Today we're going to go over these reasons with precautions that you can take to ensure you concrete doesn't crack prematurely. Too Much Water Concrete is a mixture of cement, aggregate and water. Not much water is needed in the equation, but some people add too much in order to make installation easier. However, when too much water is added to the mix, the strength of the concrete [...]

2022-09-28T15:51:30-04:00Categories: Concrete|Tags: , |

Shingle Roofs vs. Metal Roofs in Madison Heights, MI

As we've stated in the blog many times before, the roof is one of the most important parts of your home. It's responsible for shielding the home during rough weather conditions. So, when it comes to roofing, as a homeowner you need to be educated so that you can make informed choices. Today, we want to teach you the differences between the two most common roofing materials: composition shingles (asphalt shingles) and steel (metal roof) that roofers use. Asphalt Shingle Roofs This type of roof is the most popular because of the low cost and variety of styles. Asphalt shingles [...]

2022-09-29T10:34:17-04:00Categories: Roofing|Tags: , |

How to Clean Concrete in Oakland County, MI

When going through your maintenance list for the outside of your home, mowing in the lawn, trimming bushes, etc., you may want to think about cleaning your concrete driveways and sidewalks. It's not something that people tend to think about, but cleaning your concrete periodically can extend its life. Not only that, it can enhance the way your driveway looks which will affect the overall appearance of your home. Since not many people take the time to clean their sidewalks and driveways, you may not be sure how to. Here we'll give you some cleaning tips so that you [...]

2022-09-29T10:35:06-04:00Categories: Concrete|Tags: , |

How to Stain Concrete in Troy, MI

If you've been in your home for a while and are looking to change up the scenery without making big changes you could stain the concrete. This works on driveways, sidewalks and basement floors and is much easier than covering it up with tile or wood. The advantages of staining concrete is that it doesn't fade and can't be scratched or broken. Also it's much cheaper than putting in carpet, tile, or wood. The only drawbacks are that it is difficult to change the color once it's done. So, if you decide that staining your concrete is the way to [...]

2022-09-29T10:36:42-04:00Categories: Concrete|Tags: , |

Home Window Terminology in Royal Oak, MI

We like to use this blog to educate our customers in Michigan, and others, on their home so that they can make educated decisions and make their home last a lifetime. However, we realize that sometimes we may use some terms that can be confusing to someone who doesn't work in home improvement. So, to further educate our readers we're going to break down some confusing home window terminology. What is U-Factor? U-factor measures the rate of heat loss. So, when you're looking to buy energy efficient windows, the lower the u-factor the better you'll be able to keep your [...]

2022-09-29T10:38:46-04:00Categories: Windows|Tags: , |

Home Roof Maintenance in Bloomfield, Michigan

If you're settled into your Bloomfield home for the long run, you'll want to keep up a good maintenance schedule. This is especially true since most manufacturer's warranties require regular maintenance in keeping their warranties intact. Today, we'll go through how to maintain your roof through yearly inspections. Most roofing contracts offer free inspections if you'd like to go the professional route. If you choose to do it yourself, be very careful as several professional workers are injured when working on roofs. Take safety precautions and when possible have someone help you. Here are some things to check for. [...]

2022-09-29T10:40:11-04:00Categories: Roofing|Tags: , |

Sealing Concrete Driveways in Rochester, Michigan

Concrete goes through a lot of wear and tear as it is supposed to be able to withstand tons. This is why it's common for driveways to need to be replaced every 10 years. One thing you can do to make sure your driveway lasts is to seal it. Concrete driveways can be sealed immediately after installation and it's recommended to do this every 3 - 5 years as severe weather can break down the sealant. You can have a concrete professional seal your driveway for you. Of if you prefer to do it yourself, that's also an option as [...]

2022-09-29T10:41:03-04:00Categories: Concrete|Tags: , |

How to Find Roof Leaks in Metro Detroit

With the storms rolling through Metro Detroit, you may have been surprised to find water dripping into your home. Leaking roofs could lead to bigger problems, so finding the leak in the roof and repairing it is a high priority. However, spotting a leak isn't as easy as you might think. Water can enter the roof in one spot and run to another before it actually starts leaking into the ceiling. The hole can be many feet away from where the ceiling is actually dripping. So, to make this process easier for you, here are some steps you can [...]

2022-09-29T10:42:10-04:00Categories: Roofing|Tags: , , , |

Common Concrete Repairs in Royal Oak and Oakland County

Home maintenance is a necessity since, eventually, everything on and around a house deteriorates. Paint chips, roof shingles dislodge, wood rots. Even something solid like concrete eventually cracks or shifts. This is a common occurrence and we're constantly being asked to repair old driveways and sidewalks in Royal Oak and elsewhere. Since this is such a common occurrence, we want to inform you of the different problems that you could experience with concrete driveways, sidewalks, and stairs, with an overview of possible solutions. Cracked Concrete Small cracks are common and usually stem from everyday wear. The good news is that [...]

2022-09-29T10:42:47-04:00Categories: Concrete|Tags: , |