Get Prepped for Autumn with These Trusty At-Home Hacks

With autumn coming fast, now is a great time to tackle the at-home projects that you may have ignored while enjoying the summer sun. Here are a bunch of my favorite fall hacks to get your property ready for the change in temperature.

After dozens of summer barbecues, your grill might be looking a bit worse for wear. Cleaning a grill can be a messy and tedious job, but did you know that you can get rid of almost all those baked on food particles with a simple coffee soak? That’s right, just brew up a few pots of the cheap stuff and put it into a large, shallow, plastic tub. Drop your grill grates into the tub of joe for an hour and then rinse clean for a good as new finish.

With all the humidity we experienced over the summer, you may have noticed black, streaky stains on your roof. While it may be just cosmetic today, leaving mold and mildew to grow can lift your shingles, allowing for melting ice and snow to get in and cause leaks. Hire a pro to give your roof a good cleaning to ensure any unsightly stains don’t grow into a bigger, much more expensive problem.

Remove any window air conditioning units and inspect all windows for damage or potential air leakage. It’s better to get leaky windows repaired now than wait you have to combat the deep freeze by cranking up the thermostat.

Get your fireplace ready for use with a professional inspection and clean. Stock up on firewood before the cold, wet weather begins and make sure you store it safely in a dry place away from your house. Remember, woodpiles are a breeding ground for termites, you would love nothing more than to feast on your home.

Fix up your flowerbeds by clearing out any dead or dying plants and give the soil a good aeration. Then spread a thick layer of mulch over the beds to help keep the temperature even through the winter freeze. If you’re planting bulbs, I like to use evergreen branches to keep the ground a bit warmer and give the bulbs some protection from the snow. If you enjoy vegetables, keep some poly spun garden fabric handy to lay over your boxes after the fall harvest.

Lock in a reliable plowing professional. Most people wait until the first snow and then panic because they can’t get out of their driveway and can’t find anyone to do the job in a pinch. Start calling around now to get quotes and book in a professional who is reliable and can get the job done quickly.

What are your favorite ways to get ready for the colder weather? I’d love to share your ideas. Send me a message on Facebook.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

How Do You Know When It’s Time For A New Roof?

When is the last time you did a visual inspection of your roof? If it has been awhile, now is the time to do it. With autumn on our doorstep, the cooler temperatures and wild weather will be here before you know it. Since most roof problems pop up because of leaks from snow, rain, and ice, this time of year is really perfect to make sure your roof isn’t going to give you any unexpected, and expensive problems.

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 dark spots on the outside or ceiling cracks and discoloration on the 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 insulation and 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, especially if you recently purchased your house or are thinking about purchasing one.

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, especially as the snow begins to pile up.

3. Do you see moss or mold growing on your roof? This is a problem that could be fixed with a simple roof cleaning, or it could be a sign that you have rotting wood and damaging moisture trapped under the shingles. A simple inspection will tell you if it’s a quick cosmetic fix or something more complex that needs to be repaired.

Many remodelers will do a roof inspection for free, so if you’re unsure about how your roof is holding up, consult with an expert. I always tell the homeowners how long I think their roof will last based on the current condition and the external environment. The number one reason roofs don’t last is because contractors will often shingle over the old roof which can lead to poor ventilation and premature roof aging and rot. I see it all the time. If you’re dealing with a good roofer, they will explain all the options available to you, so don’t be afraid to ask questions to ensure you’re getting the answers and solutions that make sense for your home.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Get Rid of Roof Algae Before It Gets Rid of Your Roof

With the humidity and recent rain we’ve had, I see awful black stains forming on roofs all over town, and many homeowners are asking me what to do about it.

Roof stains aren’t pretty, but the real problem is much more than just cosmetic. The stuff that’s landed isn’t dirt or debris - it’s living, breathing algae. If left on your roof for long periods of time, it can eat at your shingles causing corrosion and eventual wood rot. As this fungus is happily munching away at your home, it’s also lowering the roof’s lifespan, tearing up your warranty, and putting a strain on your property value. With so much potential for long-term problems, I’d recommend taking a close look at your roof and getting a clean up scheduled right away. 

We’ve had our fair share of heat and humidity this summer, which makes for perfect algae breeding ground. When you think of algae, you probably think of the slimy stuff that floats in ponds or lakes and you’d be right.  The wind, birds, and other animals carry the spores from water to land, and when a spore hits a roof, you might as well have dropped it into heaven. Spores are alive and they feed off the limestone in our asphalt shingles. As long as they have something to eat and the environment stays warms and wet, they will continue to grow. This is why many roofs only see mold action on certain sides, specifically the north side which often sees the sun last and for the least amount of time.

So why does algae grow in patterns? It doesn’t, but if you see strips of growth on certain parts of your roof and not a trace in others, it’s because algae is effectively allergic to copper, zinc and galvanized metal, which is generally found in the flashing underneath the roof. 

So besides installing metal flashing here there and everywhere, what else can you do to get rid of algae?

Household bleach is a no-no. It might seem like an easy and effective easy to get rid of the problems, but the sodium content can do irreversible damage to your shingles and kill the plants that sit under the roofline. The same goes for sodium hydroxide, otherwise known as lye.

Not to worry, there are plenty of non-toxic cleaners out there that will get rid of the algae without damaging your roof. Some can take up to a year to dissolve very serious mold and mildew, but the good thing about them is that they are non-toxic and can prevent mold from coming back in the future.

I clean multiple roofs every week, so a word to the wise. Be very careful if you decide to take on this project yourself as the cleaning solutions are very slippery and can easily cause a nasty fall. If you’re not comfortable with heights or aren’t as dexterous as you used to be, call a pro to handle the job. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.