Roofing 101, Part 3: Starter Strip Shingles

In our Roofing 101 series, we’re focusing on each of the seven layers that go into a durable, dependable roofing system. Each product, or layer, has a specific purpose and it’s important to be aware of all of them when considering a roof contractor in the Dane County area. That said, thus far in the series, we’ve covered: Part 1: The Importance of Leak Barriers Part 2: Roof Deck Protection In Part 3 of the series, we’re shifting our attention to starter strip shingles, which help guard your roofing against shingle blow-offs. Before we begin, it’s important to note that if you are looking at an asphalt replacement roof you’ll want to go with a dependable brand that’s known for excellent durability and style. We recommend the GAF brand, and they’re America’s #1 asphalt roofing company. In this article we’ll be looking at the different starter strip products made by GAF, and even if your roofing company doesn’t use these particular GAF products, it’s important to ensure they’re using something of comparable quality and durability,

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Roofing 101, Part 2: Roof Deck Protection

In Part 1 of our Roofing 101 series, we focused on the first layer of defense your roof provides — the leak barrier.   In Part 2 of the series, we shift our attention to roof deck protection, an underlayment that assists in shielding your roof deck from moisture infiltration. In case you’re not familiar, an underlayment sits just above the leak barrier, and underneath the rest of the components of your roof. Underlayments can be made of different materials, including asphalt saturated felt and more modern, synthetic materials.  The significance of roof deck protection is the fact that it covers your roof deck and its sole purpose is to act as a secondary moisture barrier — going a long way in preventing wind-driven rain from breaching your roof and causing damage to your home. That said, the roof deck protection product your roofing contractor uses is a critical component to the roof replacement process. At Legacy Exteriors, our asphalt roofing brand of choice is GAF. Their products are fantastic, and they are also America’s #1

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Home Winter Weather Prep: Inside and Out, Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, we focused on proven prep strategies to get the inside of your home ready for the Wisconsin winter. Now, in Part 2, we turn our attention to prepping the outside of your home before the winter weather sets in. The following nine tips can go a long way in protecting your home, and avoiding costly expenses, so let’s get started … 1. Be Sure to Drain Lawn Irrigation Systems If you have a lawn irrigation system, it’s important to make sure it’s drained before freezing weather sets in. Unlike the piping that leads into your home, irrigation systems aren’t buried deeply, which means they have a tendency to freeze once the temperature drops. Freezing can lead to bursting pipes, and it’s best to avoid both. Even if you are only using a standard hose, it’s a good idea to drain it completely so it doesn’t incur damage, or freeze the pipe attachment on the outside of your home. If you’re not clear on how to drain your lawn irrigation

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Home Winter Weather Prep: Inside and Out, Part 1

In this two-part series, we’re sharing some proven prep strategies to get your home ready for the Wisconsin winter. In Part 1, we’re focusing on preparing the inside of your home, and in Part 2, we’ll shift our attention to exterior home prep. To begin, it’s important to note that even if you haven’t been experiencing any issues with your home, it’s important to take these simple steps seriously, as they can help you avoid costly issues down the road. And now is the time to handle these winter weather prep tips — while it’s still nice outside. Let’s dive into 7 things you can do right now — inside your home — to prepare it for winter … 1. Furnace Tune Up Whether your furnace is new or older, having it serviced regularly is a great way to keep it running smoothly. It also helps prevent fire and smoke damage. We recommend hiring a local company to perform the tune up. We also recommend calling at least two servicers, as pricing and service availability

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Roofing 101, Part 1: The Importance of Leak Barriers

In a nutshell, a leak barrier is a product that works to prevent leaks caused by ice dams and wind-driven rain. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms on the edge of a roof — preventing snow from draining from the roof when it melts. Wind-driven rain is rain that blows horizontally, which can find its way in-between shingles. As you might imagine, it’s best to avoid both of these issues, and this is where leak barriers come into play. WHERE SHOULD LEAK BARRIERS BE INSTALLED? Here is a list of the most at-risk points of a roof that can benefit from leak barriers: Rakes Eaves Around the chimney Valleys, which are the places where two angles of a roofline meet Anywhere fasteners are implemented The perimeter edges of roofing Any low slopes on the roof, because run-off can be more slow in these areas In some cases, it might be good to consider placing leak barriers on your entire roof — depending on things like climate and overall roof slope; since

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