Wednesday, November 27, 2019

How to Repair Damaged Window Screen

Even the sturdiest window screen may eventually get damaged due to extreme temperature and daily wear-and-tear. To avoid further damage, make sure you repair it right away using these tips:

Patching a hole on the screen
To patch metal screening, cut a square or rectangle about 1 inch bigger all around than hole. Pull out the wires on all four sides to make a wire fringe about 1/2 inch deep around the patch. Bend the fringe wires down sharply at a right angle; use a wood block to make a clean bend on each side of the patch. When the fringe wires are evenly bent, set the patch over the hole in the screen, and press to insert the bent fringe wires through the screening around the hole. The patch should be flat against the screen, covering the hole completely. Fold fringe wires down flat toward the patch’s center on the other side of the screen. Then stitch around the entire patch with a needle and nylon thread or with fine wire. Source: Home.HowStuffWorks

Replacing the whole screen
For especially large holes and damaged screens, you don’t want to mess around with trying to put patches on. Just replace the whole screen, assuming the frame is in good shape. Start by measuring the frame carefully so you know which width of screen material you should buy, and take note of the material used to make the frame. If it’s metal, you’ll need to buy a screen in a matching metal to prevent reactions, or consider using nylon. Wooden frames will take any kind of screen, but metal screens can stain. Source: Networx

Re-attach the molding
Nail the molding back into place with small nails or brads, and countersink. Trim excess screening with a utility knife. Fill nail holes with paintable wood filler, and paint. Source: MarthaStewart

Let us help you deal with home repairs so you don’t have to spend as much time and effort doing it on your own! Call us today to book an appointment!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114



from Kerrisdale RD https://ift.tt/2OPR67Q

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

3 Ways to Protect Your Home from Extreme Weather

Fall is almost over, and the cold season will soon kick in! Why not prepare your home for the extreme temperatures as early as now? Here are three things you can do to keep your home safe and damage-free these upcoming months:

Clear the gutters
Fall can be one of the most pleasant weather seasons, but that doesn’t mean you can rest on your leaf piles. You know to rake your lawn, but you also have to clear your gutters of them. This’ll help keep water from freezing inside and splitting them when temps dip below freezing. Adding mesh or leaf guards can also solve the problem. While you’re up there, make sure your gutters are pitched at the right angle—between 1/16 and ⅛ inch per foot—to direct water to the downspout, and away from your home’s roof or foundation. Source: MentalFloss

Have an easy access to your main water shut off
If a bunch of junk is blocking easy access to your main water shut valve off, rearrange your basement or garage so that it will be easily accessible in the event of a plumbing emergency. Then, make sure your shut off valve is in good working order. Cranking it all the way to the right should shut off all water to the house. If it’s rusted open or only closes partially, replace the valve immediately.

Go a step further, and make sure everyone in your house knows where the shut off valve is located and how to use it to turn off the water. Source: TheSpruce

Keep the attic well-ventilated
In addition to clogged gutters, a warm attic can contribute to ice dam damage by causing snow to melt in the middle of your roof and drain toward the gutters where it may refreeze. To keep your attic sufficiently cool, make sure it’s properly ventilated and seal any cracks or holes in your ceiling and around fixtures so that household heat doesn’t seep into the attic. It’s also a good idea to insulate the attic floor to keep heat inside your home and outside of the attic. Source: AHS

Let us check your roof and gutters before the snow starts falling. Call us!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114



from Kerrisdale RD https://ift.tt/2OtDeQs

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Prepare Your Home for Fall Using These Tips

Can you smell the pumpkin spice in the air? Autumn is here, and we’re all for it! Before you start redecorating your home, tackle the following important tasks first so you can spend the rest of the cold season snuggled on your sofa while drinking a hot cup of your favourite drink.

Clear the chimney
Chimneys are an especially important cleaning task to check off your to-do list, as a dirty chimney is a potential fire hazard. Schedule a professional chimney sweep to clear out any debris, rodents or built-up creosote. Source: SheKnows

Examine the heating system
Do a survey of your home’s heating vents to make sure they’re not blocked or covered by furniture, carpeting, or curtains. Dust vents and clean all filters. Make an appointment for an annual heating system check-up. Source: RD

Inspect the gutters
No one loves this job, but we all need to do it annually. A few hours of work can prevent big problems later on.

While you’re up on that ladder, visually inspect your roof for damaged shingles, flashing or vents. Source: Zillow

Switch to heavier curtains
New curtains don’t just give your room an instant update; they can also help keep your home warmer during the cooler months! Just be sure to keep them open on sunny days. Source: PopSugar

Add exterior lights
Fall and winter means less daylight. So if you don’t have lights outside of your home and driveway yet, installing some is a great way to keep your home just a little safer. Lights around the perimter of your driveway can mean fewer accidents. And lights along your pathway can mean fewer falls. Also, because outdoor lights are typically left on for long periods of time, buying LED and energy saver bulbs will, as you may have inferred, save energy.  Source: Weather

Keep outdoor faucets inside
The faucets you use outside in the summer to wash your car, soak your garden and hose down your kids are susceptible to freezing. If proper care is not taken to shut-off and drain these lines before winter, it can lead to pipes and faucets bursting or cracking and can create a huge, potentially expensive, disaster. Source: GlobalNews

Don’t have the right tools to safely check your chimney, roof, and gutters? We’ve got you covered! Call us today to get a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114



from Kerrisdale RD https://ift.tt/2QhMz01

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

3 Types of Skylights

Installing skylights is a stylish and efficient way to let natural light into your home. There are different styles you can choose from depending on where you plan to put it. Here are your options:

Fixed
Fixed skylights, as the name implies, are ones that do not open. Generally rectangular or square, they are glazed with flat or gently curved panes of tempered glass, or with acrylic or polycarbonate plastic in flat, bubble-shaped, or other molded profiles. Plastic skylights are usually more economical than glass ones and put less weight on your roof, but plastic can scratch and dull over time, and plastic-glazed skylights afford fewer options with regard to energy efficiency and UV (ultraviolet) protection.

Glass skylights come equipped, at a minimum, with tempered glass in a double layer with an air space between them. Better glass skylights will include a low-E (low-emissivity) coating that modifies heat gain and provides protection from ultraviolet rays for furniture and floors. The best glass skylights are filled with argon gas between the panes to improve their insulating ability—their R-value—even more. Source: Hunker

Tubular
Tubular skylights are the newest types of skylight on the market. Also called “light tubes” or “sun pipes,” they are diminutive, domed skylights paired with a reflective metal tube; the combination can make a dramatic difference in the level of light. Typically installed in small rooms, hallways and closets, they are normally 10″, 14″, or 21” in diameter. Tubular skylights often come with special features such as a dimmer switch to control the amount of daylight that is admitted or an integrated ventilation fan. Source: Networx

Ventilating
A ventilating skylight may be opened to allow air to pass through. These skylights are ideal for bathrooms and kitchens, where they help to relieve excess moisture and keep the flow of air steady. Ventilating skylights may be controlled by a remote, by a hand crank, or by an automatic sensor which tracks inside temperature. Source: WiseGeek

We can help you install a skylight that suits your budget and needs. Call us today!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114



from Kerrisdale RD https://ift.tt/33mSiWk