The 5 Most Common Roofing Materials in Canada
Whether you are updating your existing roof or installing new, knowing the positives and negatives of each type of material is important nonetheless. With proper preparation and thought put into the type of material used, you can significantly increase the longevity of your roof and add value to your home.
Furthermore, installing a new type of roof is a perfect time to upgrade your home in terms of style and curb appeal. In regards to a Canadian climate, you should also make sure that the roofing material you use offers great performance characteristics in extreme weather conditions. This is why as a custom home builder in Edmonton, I will list the 5 most practical types of roofs used in Canada, along with the positives and negatives of each.
Most common types of roofs in Canada
The 8 Most Popular Types Of Siding For Your Home
Different Types of Siding For Your Home
1. Vinyl
Positives: Vinyl is probably the most inexpensive siding out there. It is durable and can be installed over existing cladding. Its quick to install, comes in almost any color, and can copy wood siding with a slightly higher material cost.
Negatives: The biggest negative of vinyl siding is that most houses in North America have it. If you want to differentiate your home from others, vinyl is not the choice for you. It can however, be subject to build up of dirt and debris on the exterior face of this material. Therefore, regular washing is required with this product.
2. Stucco
5 Maintenance Tips in the Spring
Making sure your house is ready for spring in North America is an important part of home ownership. Beyond the simple chores of vacuuming and washing the interior for example, most people don’t realize that most costly insurance claims and property damage can easily be prevented. Completing a few maintenance items around the property by having a simple checklist will drastically lower risks for future issues arising
Ask yourself, when was the last time the grade around the house was checked? How about the last time you cleaned the gutters?
Maintaining a healthy and safe home goes way beyond vacuuming and dusting. Make sure you look at other maintenance items to guarantee your home is safe from damage in the future.
How to Save Money in the Winter
5 ways to save money in the winter
As Christmas nears in Canada, most people know that cold weather is associated with a spike in energy costs. This means that you have to pay more to heat your home. Typically, the average energy bill increases 70% in January and February to keep your house warm.
To lower your utility bills and keep the high energy costs down, I have highlighted 5 economically ways to do just that.
1. Replace your furnace filter
Pre-owned vs. Custom Homes? Some Reasons to Build a New Home in Edmonton
Advantages of Building a New Custom Home in Edmonton
1. Energy Efficiency and Savings
Should I renovate my home with cash or with a contract?
As many individuals enjoy spending time and money making sure that their homes are an enjoyable place to live, everyone wants to save money wherever they can. For example, if a homeowner wants to renovate their bathrooms or update their kitchen, between multiple contractors, the lowest quote could happen to be a cash deal. It might sound like a great idea to proceed with the renovation, but unfortunately you are a agreeing to a nothing-written down contract where the contractor can’t be held responsible if things go sideways. Always be weary of a cash deal.
Why you should avoid a cash deal
Most commonly, a cash deal comes to play when someone offers to do the work for the least amount of money. They ask for cash, and nothing gets written down in the process. The business that does cash transactions will not claim the income and ultimately avoid paying taxes altogether. This process is illegal, and most likely the business won’t have the proper insurance and a legal business licence as well.
Even though that a cash deal may be the cheapest quote, a cash deal means that there is no paper trail if legal issues arise. There will be no receipts, no contract in place, and almost guaranteed no warranty on the work completed. With no proof of payment, there is no way to hold the home contractor accountable for the work that he promised would be completed on your home.
Is your Edmonton home ready for winter?
A simple 7 item checklist to make sure your home is ready for winter in Alberta.
1. Check your outdoor hose bibs
If you do not have frost free hose bibs, make sure the water is shut off to the fixture and the tap is left open. If you do have frost free hose bibs, make sure the hose is disconnected so no water is trapped inside preventing proper drainage.
2. Blow out your irrigation system
In many new builds and custom homes, the owner will install an irrigation system for their landscaping. Before winter sets in, you must make sure that the system is turned off at the appropriate valve and the system is drained by “blowing out” the water with an air compressor. Blowing out your irrigation system will guarantee no water is left inside the lines to prevent burst pipes.