Give your home a fall facelift

Autumn is one of the best times to give your house a spruce up. It gives you a chance to do minor inspections, fix any damage prior to winter's arrival, and, if you're considering putting your house on the market, it gives you a head start for the fall selling season.

One of my favorite ways to update a home is to install a new entry door. A lot of houses in our area still have wood doors, which are prime for serious heat leakage. Installing a new door made from fiberglass will help to retain warmth and give you a great, contemporary style. They even come in wood grain or solid color finishes to keep with the look and feel of your current exterior.

Now is also one of the best times to look at vinyl siding, which can dramatically improve the appearance of your home while reducing overall maintenance and up keep. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one third of new homes in the U.S. are built with vinyl siding, and that number continues to rise every year. Why? Vinyl siding is durable, long lasting and comes in a variety of finishes to suit a homeowner's personal style. My favorite part is that it never has to be painted or stained, and there is no rotting or insect problems that can come with traditional wood cladding.

Finally, with winter on the way, it's time to take a look at your windows. When I visit a house, I will often use a thermal camera to see how much heat is being lost, and old wood sash windows are one of the main culprits. New vinyl windows are great in terms of energy efficiency and heat loss reduction, and at our house, we love the tilt in sashes for easy cleaning.

Being a home owner requires a lot of maintenance, but the investment is worth it to keep you and your family comfortable all year round. It's also key to ensure you get the best possible price on your home if you ever decide to put it up for sale.

What is your favorite tip for giving your house a facelift? I'd love to hear from you.

Insulation is key to reducing energy costs

With school starting and autumn right around the corner, it’s almost time to start thinking about the cold weather season ahead. I’m sure you’ll agree that last winter was brutal, so let’s get ahead of the game this year by doing one small thing to keep more heat in your home and give you a break on your electricity bills.

I’ve been in the attics of thousands of homes in this area and I can tell you that 75 percent of them aren’t properly insulated. This means that heat (and air conditioning in the summer) is escaping out of the house and that you are likely turning that thermostat up (or down) way more than you have to.

Insulation acts as a barrier against heat flow, helping to keep the warm air inside the house by slowing the flow and stopping the heat from getting outside. The problem is that most people, especially those who own older homes, do not have enough insulation to keep up with our increasingly cold winters.

How do you know if you have proper insulation? You’ll need to find out where you currently have (or don’t have) insulation, what type of insulation is currently installed, and what its “R-value” is. The R-value is the material's’ resistance to heat flow, so the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating properties. Once you have this information, you can determine how much additional insulation you need, which will be dependent on our Connecticut climate, your house size and what kind of heating you have. This analysis can either be done by a qualified contractor or you can do it yourself if you’re handy around the house.

The United States Environment Protection Agency says that with proper insulation, the average home in our area can save approximately 16 percent in total heating and cooling costs. For older homes, that number skyrockets to nearly 50 percent. So is it worth taking a look at insulation? If you like keeping more dollars in your wallet, I’d say yes.

How do you know when it’s time for a new roof?

Do me a favor – go outside and take a good look at your roof. What do you see? Are the shingles starting to break off? Is the roof sagging or discolored? Are there spots or leaks inside? These can all be signs of a deteriorating roof. But how long is a roof actually supposed to last, and is a new roof worth the investment? Here are some things to think about when it comes to roof replacement.

1. How old is your roof? Roofs generally last about 20 years, and the reason I say generally is because the life of the roof depends on how it was installed and if it has proper ventilation. If a roof is done correctly, it can often last longer than 20 years. If you don’t know, it’s worth finding out.
2. Are your shingles curling, splitting or falling off? This could be due to age and general wear and tear. If this is happening, your roof will be much more susceptible to leaks, which can cause major problems both inside and out. 
3. Do you see moss or mold growing on your roof? This is a problem that could be fixed with a simple power wash, or it could be a sign that you have rot and damaging moisture under the “hood”. A simple inspection will tell you if it’s a quick fix or something more complex.

Many remodelers will do a roof inspection for free, so if you’re unsure, consult with an expert. In my free consultations, I always tell the homeowners how long I think their roof will last based on the currently condition of the roof and the external environment. The number one reason roofs don’t last is because contractors will often shingle over the old roof and not ventilate it properly, so don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re getting an initial consult.