Fall Home Maintenance Tips

What’s the best way to keep your home in tip-top condition? Preventing problems before they happen!

Don’t wait until problems arise to take action. Different seasons call for different maintenance tasks. Here are a few things you should do this fall to make sure your home is ready for the colder weather to come. 

Check the Fireplace

What better way to warm up during the chilly winters? Before you think about lighting up the fireplace, check to make sure that it’s safe by: making sure the damper opens and closes, looking inside the chimney to make sure it’s free of debris, and checking the roof to make sure there’s no damage to the flashing around the chimney. If there is, you may want to think about hiring a roofer to fix the problem before the snow falls.

Remove Hoses and Shut off Outdoor Faucets

Before the first big freeze hits, take care of all outdoor plumbing. Remove and drain hoses that you may have left on during the summer months and store them inside to prevent freezing. If you can, turn outdoor faucets off. If you can’t turn them off during the winter, you might want to try foam faucet insulators to protect the pipes.

Look for Drafts in Windows and Doors

Drafts near your home’s windows and doors can be terrible during the winter months, so it’s best to start the search now and fix the problem before it gets too cold. Take a look at Aspen’s handy guide to finding and fixing drafts!

Look at the Roof

Your roof is never more important than in the winter months when the snow falls. Make sure it’s going to protect you and your family. No need to climb up onto the roof for this, simply examining your roof form the ground (using binoculars if your roof is high) can be enough.

What are you looking for? Cracked, buckled, or missing shingles and rut spots on the flashing. If you have damaged or missing shingles they should be replaced as soon as possible! This is something that our team of specialists can help you with.

Some problems may be cosmetic and don’t require immediate attention, such as algae stains. Others, like moss or lichen, may be a sign of decay or underlying damage and require the attention before the problem worsens. A professional Pennsylvania or Maryland roofer can take a look at the problem and determine the best course of action.

Learn more about the signs that it’s time to replace your home’s roof here.

Now that you have an idea of how to prepare your home for the colder weather, go forth and prep! If your home’s exterior is in need of some maintenance before its snow-covered, contact Aspen Home Improvements in our PA or MD office to set up a FREE estimate!

Fall Savings: Buy 4 Windows, Get 1 Free!

Have you been thinking about updating your windows? It’s time to stop thinking and start doing before you miss out on Aspen’sfall savings! Right now, when you buy 4 windows you’ll get 1 window FREE!

There are many benefits to replacing your old, damaged windows. Not only do they improve the curb appeal of your home, but they provide you with a better home environment and even increase your financial savings. 

Benefits of Replacing Old Windows

Updated Style: New windows can completely transform a room! Many people don’t think about this when they redecorate the rooms in their home, but windows matching your home’s décor can add a whole new level of style. Not only will you notice, but your neighbors will too. Take a look at the variety of window styles we offer online, or come visit our Lancaster showroom!

Monthly Savings: Energy efficient windows can help homeowners save approximately 45% on heating and air conditioning costs when they switch green windows! Plus, you may qualify for energy efficient tax credits.

A Quieter Home: Replacing your windows is especially helpful for those living on busy roads. New windows can help reduce the transmission of sound coming into your home! Loud neighbors? We’ve all been there… you don’t need to move to get away; replacing your windows might be all you need!

Improve Your Comfort: We all know the struggle of having to sit in that one chair in your home that’s right next to the window in the winter. It’s FREEZING! With new windows, you can help keep that cold air from coming into your home. You might even enjoy sitting by the window watching the winter snow as it falls.

Stop putting off replacing your windows - this seasonal offer won’t be around for long! Learn more about Aspen Home Improvement’s windows and find the perfect match for your home! Schedule a free estimate with us today.

Installing Vinyl Siding? Don’t Forget the Trim!

When you’re installing new vinyl siding to your home the first, and most important, thing to think about is the trim.  The trim is important in the functionality and look of your home. It is what holds the siding to the exterior of your home, allows it to expand and contract with temperature changes, and, when you’re finished installing the siding, covers up all the ugly ends of the panels.

You can also choose different styles of trim to fit the architectural style that you’re going for with your home.

There are a few different types of trim you’re going to need:

• Rakes: Sloping parts of your roof moldings that form the overhang.
• Fascias: Boards or panels that run along the horizontal edges of your roof.
• Soffits: Panels underneath the fascia that sit parallel to the ground.
• J-Channel: Used to hold the ends of the siding where pieces meet windows, doors, or walls.
• Undersill: Holds siding underneath the edge of windows. 

We recommend installing the highest trim first (the rakes, fascias, and soffits) and working your way down. After all of the trim is installed, the siding can finally go up!

Just as you can choose trim to match the style of your home, choosing the right siding is key to getting the look you’re aiming for in your home. Aspen Home Improvements offers a vast variety of vinyl siding options to fit any style home.

Offering both Mastic Home Exteriors siding as well as Norandex Polar Wall Plus siding, you’re sure to find the right siding in the right color for your home!

If you’re looking into replacing your Lancaster home’s siding, learn more about our siding services. We can help you decide what’s right for your house!

5 Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your Roof

The roof is one of those things that most of us really don’t start to pay attention to until something goes wrong. Your home’s roof is one of the most important parts of your house; it protects you all year long, so now it’s time for you to protect it.

So what are some signs that it’s time for you to replace your roof? Let’s take a look:

1. Attic Leak

This should seem obvious, but if your attic has puddles after a rainstorm, it might be time for your roof to be replaced. This problem could arise due to a variety of issues such as: inadequate shingle underlayment, poorly installed flashing (the aluminum or steel pieces between joints), or deterioration. Wind is one likely culprit of a leaky roof, and ice damage is another (we all know how the Pennsylvania snow can be sometimes).

2. Blistering/Peeling Paint

When the paint inside or outside you home begins to blister or peel off, it may be because of a high amount of moisture in the house. The cause of this is the air not being able to ventilate correctly.

3. Stains, Mold, or Mildew on Ceilings and Walls

Let hope you’re able to catch stains on your walls and ceilings before mold starts to grow, but any of these things inside your home could be warnings that it’s time to replace your roof. Failing shingle underlayment may be causing water to manage to seep into your house.

4. Dark Spots

Dark dirty looking spots could just be dirt, but it could also mean mold, fungus, algae, or vegetation growth! This doesn’t necessarily mean your roof needs to be replaced, but it definitely should be taken care of. At Aspen Home Improvements, we offer roofing complete with Scotchgard™ Protector to help protect against algae on your shingles.

5. Missing, Cracked, or Curling Shingles

Your roof’s shingles are out in the sun all day long, and over time the sun can slowly dry them out. If you can touch your roof’s shingles and they fall apart, it’s time for a new roof. While a single broken shingle may just need a quick repair, multiple damaged shingles could require replacement.

If your home is experiencing any of these signs (or all, yikes!), contact us. There’s no better time to replace your roof than before the winter snow hits!

Be Prepared for Colder Weather

Fall is creeping up on us; the official start is September 23rd, which means cold winter weather is sure to follow! It’s time to prepare for the winter season and get our homes in shape to help us bare the colder temperatures.

Let us help you figure out what needs to be done with this quick checklist to prepare your home for winter:

• Keep your feet warm with cork or carpeting: No one likes waking up and walking on a cold hard floor in the winter. Try swapping out tile floors for cork. A sustainable and green flooring option, cork can help keep the floors warm and still look beautiful. Another option is carpeting, which can turn any room into a cozy space.

• Check your exterior for peeling paint: Peeling or blistering paint is an indication that your home’s current paint is no longer protecting the siding. To prevent deterioration, repaint your home’s exterior before winter arrives. If you need any repairs, we can help fix your home’s existing siding, and if your siding is at “the point of no return,” you might want to think about replacing it before snowfall arrives. Find out more about the siding we offer and our siding repair and replacement services around Central, PA.

• Service your heating system: It’s probably been a while since you’ve used your heater, so it’s a good idea to have it looked at before the winter arrives. You don’t want to be stuck in the cold waiting for a repairman to arrive, prevent this by preparing and getting it serviced ahead of time!

• Caulk your window: For under $5 you can help keep the heat from escaping your home on those cold winter nights. Along with keeping you warm, caulking can help keep water from getting into openings around the window frame, freezing, and causing cracking to occur. If you’d like even more energy efficiency from your windows, check out Aspen Home Improvement’s selection of Energy Star windows.

• Inspect your roof: Loose or missing shingles can cause a big problem with the changing temperatures and snowfall. Your roof is meant to protect your home, make sure it can do it’s job by maintaining it before winter comes. If you need help with your shingles, our Lancaster roofers are here. From repairs to roof replacements, contact us for a free roofing estimate.

Make sure you’re ready before winter hits; it’s coming up fast. And remember to get outside and enjoy the warm weather while you can!