5 Ways to Increase the Curb Appeal of your Home

1. A freshly painted front door.   This is probably the easiest way to spruce up your home and make it feel new.  A freshly painted front door, especially if it is a new color, will give your home a new look.  Make sure if you’re selling your home soon it’s a color most will also like; standing out with a unique color may not be in everyone’s taste and you may have a harder time selling your home.
   
2. Landscape your Yard and keep it well maintained.  Keep your lawn cut and select plants that fit with your home.  There are many tools online to help you plan your design. (Click here for a Garden Planner from Better homes and Gardens).  You may also want to make a stone, stamped concrete or brick path to your front door or through your plants.  A lit path with plants will give your front entrance a welcoming look; if will show off your landscaping as well as your home.  A brick path or concrete path is always a good choice as well for your sidewalk or driveway. (Click here for some unique path ideas).
   
   
   
   
   
3. Take care of your homes structure.  A fresh tuck-point for your home, fixing broken bricks or repairing crumbling concrete or bricks can add to your home’s appeal and may help the structure as well from further damage.
   
   
   
4. Repair or replace your roof.  Not only is a roof repair practical for your home or business, but it will also give your building a fresh look.  It’s probably on the top of the list of things you may need to do if you’re going to sell your home soon.  A new roof is practical and can make a good selling point to potential buyers.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Repair or replace your gutter.  Your roof and your gutter system are important to divert water away from your home.  Faulty roofs or gutters can be the cause of leaks and other more serious issues such as foundation problems.  A new gutter system also can make your home look better.

5 Tips to Picking the right Gutter for Your Roof

Gutters are an important part of your roofing structure.  They help keep water away from your house, which can be quite destructive.  Here are 5 general tips in choosing the right gutter for your roof.

1)     Material Type.  Gutters come in many variations and are made of many materials.  Some of these include: copper, steel, zinc, and aluminum.  Aluminum is more popular with most consumers because it resists corrosion, comes in many colors and is generally cost effective.  When choosing what will be your homes defense against moisture, these are all important things to consider.

2)    Gutters that blend with your roof and structure.  Choose a gutter that matches your home structure.  Gutters come in a variety of styles, colors and materials; some of which can be painted if needed if you want the gutters to match with the home colors.  When considering the aesthetics of your new gutter system, you might also want to see if they are seamless or sectional.

 

3)      Gutters that provide “debris” protection built in.  Some gutters come with a built-in “gutter guard” which is meant to keep leaves, twigs etc. from clogging up your gutter system which can cause problems.  Some may help you keep debris out of your system so they can be clog free.

4)      Check the Warranty period.  Most manufactures offer some kind of warranty, based on your gutter system.   Chances are you won’t need it, but it’s good to know you have one if you do.

5)     Are your new gutters allowed in your area? Check with your city, county, or local homeowner’s association before installing your gutters to make sure the type you pick out is allowed.   Restrictions based on just about anything can cost you and can cause headaches for you.  If your new gutter system isn’t allowed, you may be forced to rip out your new system which can be expensive.

A gutter system can be functional, important and add to the curb-appeal of your home.  Rain and water damage can be a destructive force to your home.  Your gutter system can help protect your most valuable asset; your home.

For more information in the St. Louis area, please contact us at 314-255-8940.

Signs Your House May Need a New Roof

The St Louis area has seen its fair share of rain lately, which may be good for plants but not someone with potential roofing problems.  Tell-tale signs of a bad roof can occur during the rainy seasons.

 

The following are just a few common signs you may need roof repair or to completely replace your roof:

• Clear and obvious signs of water damage; “spots or streaking” that appear on your ceiling. 
• Visually check signs such as loose materials such as shingles or areas near your chimney.
• Signs of mold.  Mold loves water.  Roofs and gutters are meant to repel your water away from your structure.  A sign of mold may be mean its time to call a roofer.
• Shingle damage. This can be loose or cracked shingles (or loose or broken tiles).
• Gutter Damage – gutters should be cleaned on a regular basis (most yearly).  Water damage from faulty gutters can also cause your foundation harm among other things.

Whatever style roof you have (pitched roof or flat roof with asphalt or wood shingles, tiles, or a metal roof) it is a good idea to make sure the roof and the gutter system is in decent working order to spare your home of potential problems.   An annual gutter and roof inspection is a good idea even if these signs don’t seem to be an issue.  Not only does a new roof make for better curb appeal, it can help your building be functional as well.

 

While this may not be what someone with a bad roof wants to hear, fixing a leak before it gets worse may be your only option.  This may mean getting a new roof or fixing your existing one, which may be your only option and save you future repair or replacement work.  

Moes Masonry is more than just brickwork—we fix and build new roofs of all kinds:  flat roofs, pitched roofs and more; if you find yourself needing a new roof give us a call at 314-255-8940.