If April Showers Bring May Flowers What Does June's Hail bring for July?

June's Colossal Hail Brings July's Roofs That Fail! 

    June 6th began what most Coloradans would say was a freak of nature! Colorado was covered in torrential rains that were followed by massive hail storms and even the rare sightings of tornadoes. In some areas there were reports of golf ball to baseball sized hail! The hail fell so heavily it piled up like snow. We can definitely call that winter in June. The storms severity caused flooding, erosions, closed streets, stranded vehicles, and did major damage to homes.

   

If you live in or around the Colorado Springs area it is very likely that your home received some sort of damage. You may not even be aware of the extent that your property has been affected. Hail damage on a home can cause present & future problems that are not necessary. Most hail damage isn't visible from the ground and requires a close inspection to determine the results. If you suspect any damage it is recommended that you have a professional take a closer look. If you live in the affected area it is also likely that you have been approached by one or more restoration companies. All Things New Roofing and Restoration stands out above the rest:

1. We asses, estimate and repair ALL damage! Not just the roof; we service the interior and the exterior. From the roof to the gutters to the  windows to any damage done to the inside of your home.
2. We are locally owned and operated. We are here to stay
3. We are committed and available to you through out the entire process, day and night. We will provide quality control and continual site inspections by a project manager.
4. We will be the liaison between you and your home insurance agency. We have expertise and experience in insurance adjusting and residential claims processing of damaged homes.
5. We maintain a BBB Rating of A+
6. We cover our work with a 5 year written warranty on all labor along with the roof material manufacturer's warranty of 30 years.

LET US HELP YOU GET YOUR HOME BACK!

Call us Today for a FREE 

No Obligation Roof Inspection
(719) 325-6949

"Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them?"-Rose Kennedy

Keeping Out the Cold

Autumn is undoubtedly my favorite season. The colors, the smells, crackling of the fireplace, the anticipation and preparation for the holidays... I can go on and on. During these amazingly beautiful days nothing is worse then sitting in the warmth of your comfy home when you feel a draft creep through your door...

  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy heating accounts for the biggest chunk of a  typical utility bill! So in addition to checking, and if necessary, fixing your weather stripping I present to you a project to help solve this unpleasant problem. 

While trying to find a quick and cost effective fix to the uncomfortable drafts in my own home I came across these awesome DIY draft blockers on the Family Fun website! Not only are they practical but they're charming and add a creative touch to any room. Upon researching this project I came to the conclusion that there are various ways to construct these frugal little guys. I want to share with you my personal favorites. I chose these because they are fun and seem to have the simplest directions with the most accessible materials.

Materials

• HEAT-SAVING SNAKE
• 1 pair striped women's tights
• Uncooked rice (takes about a full 5-pound bag), uncooked beans, flax seed, recycled newspaper, or unused cat litter
• Needle and thread
• Fabric glue
• Felt
• Googly eyes
• Scissors
• 
  

• DOGGY IN THE
• WINDOW
• 1 pair women's tights
• Uncooked rice, uncooked beans, flax seed, recycled newspaper, or unused cat litter
• Needle and thread
• Fabric glue
• Felt
• Googly eyes
• Scissors
• Paper clips
• Button
• Old belt or bracelet
•  

Instructions

1. HEAT-SAVING SNAKE: Cut off one leg from a pair of striped women's tights and fill it with rice (ours took a full 5-pound bag). An easy, spillproof method is to use a plastic cup with the bottom cut out for a funnel.
2.  Pinch the open end of the leg into itself to form a tapered snake tail and stitch it closed.
3. Glue on googly eyes. Lastly, sew on a felt tongue, using the same technique described for attaching the dog's ears (see step 7 for Doggy in the Window, below).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. DOGGY IN THE WINDOW: Cut one leg from a pair of women's tights and fill it with rice. Leave enough room to tie the open end into a tight knot.
5.  For a tail, apply fabric glue across the base of a felt triangle (ours was about 2 1/2 inches wide and 7 inches tall) and sandwich it around the knot.
6.  Apply more glue to the sides and then fold the felt in half. Secure the tail with paper clips until the glue dries.
7.  Glue on googly eyes. Attach felt ears by draping each one over the head, as shown, and then sewing the base in place. This way, when you flop the ear down, the stitching won't show.
8. For the finishing touches, sew on felt feet and a button nose (we used a triangular shank button). Then use your hands to shape the nose and body. Don't forget a collar: an old belt trimmed to fit, or even a bracelet.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   I did find that quite a few people opted to use fabric, instead of women's tights, 

   and sew there own tube to customize the size to their homes doors and windows. This  maybe better for you especially if you have extra fabric lying around or want your 

   draft blocker to match your homes decor.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”

   - William Arthur Ward

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Hope this helps,
   Monica McCaslin 
   All Things New Roofing & Restoration
   (719)325-6949

Get your mind in the gutter...

Gutters are used to direct water from your roof. 

Water left standing on your roof can lead to damage and leaks into your home’s interior. Having a good working gutter system will help prolong the life and structure of your home by keeping water and other damaging debris away from areas that they may harm.

Gutter Cleaning Can Be Performed In 3 Ways

1. Hand Scoop Method

2. Leaf Blower Method

3. Pressure Cleaning Method

Hand Scoop Method

Gain access to the gutter using the appropriate sized ladder. Don't lean the ladder against a downspout or gutter, which can easily bend or break.

Remove debris with hand, large spoon or garden trowel scooping into:

a) garbage bag

b) a bucket 

c) throw debris to ground below. 

Choose the best debris collection method based on your roof and surrounding area.

If you choose to use the garbage bag method I prefer filling several small plastic bags rather than a few large ones... This will help minimize fall hazards due to the lesser weight of the filled smaller bag.

The safest way to get gutter debris down a ladder is simply to drop it to the ground after each hand scoop. This will make a mess of the area below but, in my experience, is the safest method.

Leaf Blower Method

You also can use a leaf blower to clean gutters; however remember that you'll be high up & often in uncomfortable positions. Carrying a good-sized machine is not only awkward but may blind you with dust. Although this is a quicker method it is not the safest or the cleanest. 

Pressure Cleaning Method

If you are already pressure washing the roof, use the 'Pressure Washing' method because you'll need to be continuously spraying out gutter as roof moss and other organic material fills gutters. You literally just high pressure spray the gutter clean while standing on the roof. This method requires the use of a fall arrest system, i.e.. (Rope, lanyard, rope grap, carabiners and harness).

It's important to realize pressure washers can make a HUGE mess... Especially when spraying out a clogged gutter system!

Unclogging Downspouts

Clogged downspouts can also present a problem. Check that the downspouts aren't clogged: lightly tap on the downspout with your hand until you hear a noticeable higher frequency. This is how to locate the clogs. An empty or hollow downspout, will have a lower pitch than a clogged downspout. Use water to unclog your downspouts by placing a garden hose in the opening. Be gentle; downspouts aren't designed to withstand the same pressure as a house drain. If it does not clear with the hose use a small plumbers snake or an unbent clothes hanger. Again be gentle. If you are unable to reach the clog and have located it  you can lightly tap until debris loosens and flushes out bottom of downspout. Remember, if you've filled the downspout with water from above, when the debris loosens it will flush...

...Whoooosh!

 If this all seems a little overwhelming to you 

or if you feel unsafe you can ALWAYS call 

All Things New Roofing & Restoration 

@ (719)325-6949 

for a quote.

I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home....  ~Nancie J. Carmody

Dont let your house "Fall" apart

Buying a house is huge accomplishment and an expensive investment, but you must maintain it to keep its worth. Upkeep can become tedious and time consuming if left unattended for long periods of time. However if you have an ongoing maintenance plan you will not only avoid the long overwhelming jobs, but also prevent a lot of unnecessary damage to your home. In today's blog we will provide you with a Fall Home Maintenance list to help get you started. Keep in mind that every home is different and may not need all of the listed to do's.

Fall Maintenance Checklist

Outdoor Maintenance

• Call us for your FREE/no obligation roof inspection to ensure that there is no damage done to your roof. All Things New Roofing & Restoration (719)325-6949
• Check the weather-stripping around your doors and replace if necessary.
• Clean gutters & downspouts. Check for proper slopes 
• Wash/clean all windows. Replace window screens and insulation if necessary.
• Clear all debris from roof. Cut back any trees or shrubs that may be touching the roof or exterior of your home. This should be done regularly during the growing season as well.
• Once your lawn and garden stops growing run all of your gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel tank is empty. By doing this, you are preventing flammable liquid from being stored in your garage and protecting the equipment from damage.
• Clean and cover all of your patio furniture. Pack your patio furniture cushions and pillows plus your decorative items into your deck box or your garden shed.
• Pressure wash your deck, patio and/or outdoor recreation area.

In the blogs to come we will break down some of the Outdoor Maintenance with tips and pointers to help you accomplish each objective with ease.

Indoor Maintenance

• Test smoke and fire alarms, replacing batteries and cleaning dust from the covers.
• Check and/or replace your fire extinguishers.
• Clean and vacuum heating ducts, grills and registers.  You may also want to clean any ceiling fans that were used during warmer months.
• Clean/vacuum refrigerator coils and area behind refrigerator.
• Check your fireplace damper for soot buildup, and have a certified chimney sweep inspect/clean the flues of your chimney.  Make sure to remove bird nests from chimney flues, as any type of blockage or buildup can pose a fire hazard.
• Have a heating professional check your heating system.  Furnace and air filters need to be replaced frequently to allow heating and cooling systems to operate properly.  If you plan to use humidifiers or space heaters, you’ll also want to clean and inspect them for safety. Also check and maintain your hot water heater.  
• Check all window and door locks for proper operation.  All exterior doors should have deadbolt locks.
• Check for adequate caulking around doors and windows to reduce heat loss.  This will also help reduce potential water damage to windows and door frames.  Make sure that there is adequate caulking around your bathroom fixtures to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring.  Check for cracked or missing caulk around the base of your toilet, bathtub and bathroom cabinets. Properly sealing gaps between your bathroom fixtures and flooring material can prevent potential damage.
• Fix any leaky faucets and unclog any drains as needed.
• Perform seasonal pest control to protect your home from critters that want to come into the warmth.

At All Things New Roofing & Restoration we want you to get the most out of your home and we are going to do our best to not only help you but teach you. 

"If you give a man a fish he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life."                                                               -Chinese Proverb

Hello Colorado!

 Established in 2003, All Things New Roofing & Restoration has been meeting the remodeling needs of many home owners. We have over 30 years of experience in residential restoration and construction. One area of expertise that we have focused on is in the field of insurance adjusting and  residential claims processing for damaged homes. Being located in Colorado Springs, we assist homeowners with the expected wear and tear that comes with the territory in the Pikes Peak Region. Hail, wind, ice & snow make for a brutal beating on our homes. Roofs, siding, gutters & windows usually get the brunt of it. However there is an upside and that is these are often covered by your insurance! We will work with you & your insurance from the initial assessment to the completed renovation.