Author: Ace Construction & Remodeling

Dreaming of having more space or has life brought you more blessings than you have room for? What is it you are dreaming of in your home addition? Perhaps a larger family space for Friday night game night, or plenty of room for all of the family to celebrate holidays together?

Maybe your family has grown, especially the kids, and things like toys and baby equipment are no longer taking over. Instead, the kids are older and need some extra space for hanging out with their friends… or the kids are gone, and rather than downsizing, it is time to build a space for your hobbies and the things you enjoy.

A home addition may be a great choice for you and your family. As with any home improvement, it is best to weigh all of your options before making a decision. So, before you jump in too quickly, let’s discuss the pros and cons of a house addition.

Pros of Home Additions

Value – When done properly, house additions may increase your home’s market value, which could mean a higher listing price, if selling is in your future. You should always consider the cost of the renovation, including a permit, to be sure there will be a worthwhile ROI (return on investment) before jumping in.

Often building a home addition is less expensive (although not always) than selling your existing home and moving into a larger one. You will avoid real estate broker fees, state transfer taxes, and moving expenses.

But if you have been advised that your home will have greater selling potential with an increase in space and updating, it is certainly worth looking into a home addition. The less time on the market, the better. Always factor in your neighborhood, to be sure you don’t create such a high market value, that your home becomes over-priced for the neighborhood, when selling.

Location – So, you love your neighborhood, and the location of your home is perfect. You would rather not leave the area, but you have outgrown your current home. Location is everything and should be strongly considered.

Building a home addition enables you to keep your family in the same house and neighborhood. It also helps keep the family intact without the upheaval of moving, no need to change schools, and no leaving behind precious memories you have created in your home.

Space – Home additions can solve that dilemma, by creating a new space to improve your home and your lifestyle, without having to deal with listing your home, or moving. Imagine creating your dream home, without leaving your house.

Along with adding space, this is an opportunity to put your creative inspiration to work. You can customize an addition to fit your personal tastes and choose the exact materials and fixtures that you really want.

Cost Control– One nice aspect to a room addition is that you can control the cost of the project to fit your budget. By adding or subtracting features and conveniences one can raise or lower the cost. And the finishing touches and materials vary greatly allowing you to customize the project to your target price.

Cons of Home Additions

Disruptions – One obvious con of the house addition is simply the mess and inconvenience of the addition itself. Nothing worth having is ever easy, right? As with any renovation, there will be some inconvenience to deal with for the short term, while waiting to enjoy your home addition for the long term. It does need to be considered, though, because it is a reality. The dust and inconvenience of contractors running around your home can be frustrating but is well worth it to get that dream addition you have been waiting for. At Ace Construction & Remodeling Inc., we pride ourselves in keeping that dust and inconvenience to a minimum, so the process can be an exciting time. In the end, you will have more room to enjoy your home.

Depending on your addition plans, you may even temporarily loose the use of entire rooms. For example, if you are building a larger kitchen or redoing your entire kitchen it may render your existing kitchen unusable. And sometimes water or electricity will be shut off. The disruptions can be emotionally challenging for your family and cause additional stress for which you might not have been prepared.

Second Story -If you are planning on a second story home addition you should realize that it is likely you will need to vacate your home for the entire process. In addition, you may even need to put some of your furniture in storage to get it out of the way. This too can add to both the cost and the stress of completing a project.

Not Recovering Costs – Depending on your real estate marketing conditions you may not recover the cost of building the addition. The size and style of addition that you choose can have an impact, depending on many factors including the size and style of other homes in your neighborhood.

Also, the time frame for which you are choosing to sell can also impact your return on your investment. Selling shortly after an addition may be attractive to a buyer but may not always mean you recoup your costs. We suggest that in your planning stage, when trying to determine your budget and size of  home additions, that you get a market analysis completed. It will help you determine the likelihood of covering your costs.

Losing Space – Most of the time, building an addition takes up more space on your lot. Giving up a portion of your lawn and yard space may not seem important, but still should be considered. Unless you are building a second story addition, you will likely be giving up yard space.

Permits – Many home additions require getting permits and the process can be difficult and possibly delay your project. The permits required for building projects sometimes vary depending on where you live. While some people try to get around this process and complete projects without permits, we strongly recommend against this. It almost always causes problems later on. Most of the time a home remodeling company like Ace Construction & Remodeling, Inc. can handle the permitting process for you, or at least point you in the right direction.

Cost Overruns – Sometimes costs can increase more than anticipated if not planned for properly. Making last minute changes or change orders once the project has begun can be very costly – more than if you had planned it that way from the beginning. So, it’s best not to have these at all, but inevitably they do pop up. Therefore, it is best to plan for a small contingency in your budgeting from the beginning.

Other Things to Consider

Something to consider with any home addition, is the possible increase in your property taxes, due to the increased space and value. Always check with your city to see how that will affect you.  One option, which of course also varies in different areas of the country, to offset those increased property taxes, is to create as much energy efficiency in your new house addition as possible. Consider things like energy efficient windows, and energy efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, for possible tax breaks, and a break on your heating and cooling bills.  Also, depending on where your home is located, and what kind of home additions you are investing in, you may consider solar panels, and energy saving insulation. Your professional contractor can help you with those important decisions.

Is a Home Addition for You?

If you are interested in greater market value, unique selling features, or more room to enjoy, then yes, considering a house addition is a great idea.

Whatever you need, at Ace Construction & Remodeling, Inc., we are here to answer all of your home addition questions. There is a lot to consider, and we can help you in making those decisions, big or small, and covering all of the bases, so you know exactly what you are getting into. We have been through it and understand the process can be overwhelming and even intimidating at times. That is why we highly recommend calling professionals, like ourselves, rather than tackling a huge investment, like a house addition, on your own. Our beautiful results, and happy customers, speak for themselves. In the end, you will finally have that extra space you have been dreaming of and added value to your home.

Please call or email us, and we will be happy to discuss your future home additions, and offer you a quote for our services. We look forward to hearing from you and being a part of making your dream home a reality.

One way to protect your home from water damage is Roof Ice Dam Prevention. If you get an ice dam on your roof, there are certain steps you’ll need to take to get rid of this. An ice dam is a buildup of ice that is on the eaves of a sloped roof. This results from snow melting under a snow pack and then reaching the eave and freezing there. The melted water will backup behind the dam and possibly leak into your home. This can cause damage to multiple areas such as the insulation, walls, ceilings and more.

In this article, we’ll be looking at what you should do if you get an ice dam on your roof. Additionally, we’ll discuss some of the measures you can take to prevent this from happening in the first place.

If you’re interested in finding out more information, keep reading.

Tips for Roof Ice Dam Prevention

• Take Immediate ActionTo prevent ice dams, you need to control the heat loss from your home. If one has already formed on your roof, you need to take immediate action to sort out the problem. The first thing we suggest you do is remove all of the snow from the roof. This will eliminate the chance of the snow melting and forming a dam on the eaves of your building.Moving the snow as soon as you see it is one of the preventative measures you can take to avoid this issue altogether. You can use something called a roof rake along with a broom to get rid of any snow that is forming on the top of your home. Take caution when doing this. Its could damage some of the roofing materials that have been used on your roof. This could cause you a lot more issues than when you started.

• Evaluate the Snow LoadYour roof should have been designed to allow the structure to carry the expected snow load for your area. The preventative measures that you need to take in order to stop ice dams forming will mean that your roof has to carry more snow. You are going to need to look at your roof and decide whether it has the capacity to handle all of this snow. If it starts to cave at any point, this suggests there’s a structural issue with your roof that will need assessed as soon as possible.

• Maintain Roof VentilationOne of the biggest causes of ice dams is heat loss through the ceiling. This is what causes the snow on your roof to melt in the first place. It affords the opportunity for the snow to melt and form an ice dam on the eaves of your building.If you want to avoid this, then you should be taking precautions to keep uniform roof temperatures. Subsequently, this will minimize the risk of an ice dam forming. Something you can do is make sure your ceiling is airtight. As a result, this means warm air won’t escape from your home to the roof and melt the snow. Read more about the importance of roof ventilation.Once you have done this, you need to increase the insulation in the roof and the attic. Adding insulation will cut down on the amount of heat you’re losing through conduction. Find out more about attic insulation on our sister company’s blog.

• Check Your Attic InsulationThe depth of the insulation in your attic needs to be 12 to 14 inches of fiberglass or cellulose. Having this amount of insulation will be in line with the regulations set out in the building code. If you currently have less than 8 inches, you need to add more insulation to your attic. This is especially true if you’ve had issues with ice dams in the past.Fiberglass is one of the best materials you can use for insulation. It fills in the gaps a lot tighter than some of the other materials on the market right now. It’s recommended that this is the product you buy if you’re going to add more insulation to your attic.

We hope you found this article helpful and know what to do if you get an ice dam on your roof. As well as this, you should know some of the preventative measures you can take to try and avoid this problem altogether.

It’s worth hiring a professional to help you with roof ice dam prevention and maintenance. We can complete this job for you so you can be sure it has been done properly. In addition, you’ll have less chance of seeing ice dams next winter. However, if this isn’t possible, you should think about renting a blowing machine to help you get the job done. 

Call us at 877-644-6030! If calling us isn’t an option right now, go ahead and complete our contact form or send us an email at joe@aceconstructiononline.com.

Summer storms are common across the country and can wind up damaging properties. As a homeowner, watch out for scammers approaching you in the summer after storm season has hit. These scammers will take advantage of any destruction that has occurred. Even if you have work that needs to be done, it is important to make sure you screen the right professionals.

When you’re trying to improve your property moving forward, it’s important to make the right decisions. This means you need to understand what to look out for, as well as the problems that can arise as well. One of the key areas of the property you might want to consider improving is the roof. Your roof is such an important part of the home for the future.

Renovation work that requires skill needs a professional touch. Therefore, you need to bring in the right roofing contractor, like Ace Construction & Remodeling, to help you with this. That means being aware of roofing scams and storms during the summer season.

Roofing Scams and Storms

• Choose Certified ProfessionalsOne of the most important decisions you need to make is to ensure you choose the right professionals. Make sure that any roofing contractor that contacts or approaches you has the ability to provide proof of their experience as a residential roofer. They should be certified, have a website and be able to provide proof of this.
• Ensure the Contractor Has a Physical BusinessA lot of people will use many different lines to try to convince unwitting victims to buy into their scam. Any legitimate roofing contractor is going to have a brick and mortar business that you can visit. Some might try to come at you with excuses like they are a brand new startup or they are moving offices. Don’t fall for it. Unless they have a physical business, the likelihood is that they are trying to scam you.
• They Should be a Member of the BBB (Better Business Bureau) When you’re vetting a business, one of the most important things to check out is whether it is a trustworthy and certified brand. Any roofing contractor you choose to use should be a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In addition, they should be able to provide evidence to corroborate this.
• Proof of InsuranceHaving proof of insurance is also really important when you hire people to work on the roof. They need to provide their own coverage for liability insurance and worker’s compensation. Make sure they have both of these things. If they don’t, it’s highly likely that you’re about to be on the receiving end of a roofing scam.
• Reviews are KeyWith the internet these days, there’s no doubt businesses are going to be able to provide reviews and references to show how great their services are. If you want to make sure you choose the right professional, ask them to provide you with positive reviews.
• Check You’re Not Being OverchargedAnother clear indicator that you might be on the receiving end of a scam is that you’re being overcharged. Make sure the down payment you’re being asked for is what it should be for the job that’s being done. Industry standard is 10-30% and this should let you gauge whether or not this is correct.

Do as much as you can to boost the way you improve your home and take these steps to be prepared. There are a lot of factors to think about when you’re looking at how to avoid roofing scams and roofing problems. This is something you need to consider right now.

 If you need additional information or have questions about roofing scams and storms, reach out to Ace Construction & Remodeling. We’ve been a professional roofing contractor since 1996!! Fill out our contact form, shoot us an email or give us a call.

There are telltale Signs Your Roof Needs Ventilation. Of all the areas of focus in our homes, our roofs often get the worst deal. This is very much a case of out of sight out of mind. Many assume we can just leave our roofing to get on with things while we focus on other, seemingly more pressing aspects of home care.

In reality, neglecting the aspects of roofing is about the worst thing any homeowner can do. It can lead to severe issues, extreme expenses and worlds of hassle. Those are all issues you can avoid if you take care of your roof and treat it with the respect you use for other areas.

Of course, there’s more than one way to care for a roof. For one, you’ll want to invest in regular maintenance to keep things on track. In some instances, homeowners even find that roof ventilation is necessary for keeping their roof happy and their bills down.

Here at Ace Construction we know all about roof ventilation. We offer both Air Vent Shingle Vent and Lomanco L0-OmniRoll to ensure we can meet all your roofing needs. The question is, how exactly can you know the signs your roof needs ventilation?

Some Signs Your Roof Needs Ventilation

Trouble with Temperature – Poor temperature control is one of the main signs a roof could benefit from ventilation. During winter, a roof that isn’t ventilated could lead to excessive amounts of escaped heat. Subsequently, this will increase you energy bills to no end. Conversely, during the summer months this can lead to excessive heat and all the problems which come with it.

If your home temperature is always at the extreme end of the scale, then lack of ventilation is probably the answer. No matter the type of ventilation you choose, or the weather, this can help give your attic the breath of fresh air it needs.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that the proper insulation for your attic also affects the temperature factors into this equation. Find out more in the post from our “sister” company Mac Supply.

Mold in your house or attic is another sure sign your roofing could use ventilation. Mold, especially in your roof, can lead to severe damage on attic rafters and joints. Additionally, we need to mention that it can put your health at risk. Unsurprisingly, a lack of ventilation can cause moisture to build. This is a guaranteed cause for mold.

Bear in mind that inspecting mold yourself could leave you at risk. If you have any cause to suspect a break out in your attic, contact an attic expert who can assess the damage and install ventilation to prevent further problems.

Sneaky Leaks – No one likes a leaking attic. What you might not realize this is yet another sign to invest in roof ventilation. That’s because leaks like these are often caused by interior moisture. Without adequate ventilation, any moisture will condense and begin clinging to rafters. This in turn will create internal leaks. As a result, this can lead to problems for obvious reasons. If you have a roof leak which you can’t identify, your lack of ventilation is probably the problem.

If you’ve ever wondered about the signs your roof needs ventilation or asked yourself does it need ventilated, the answer is yes. The good news is ventilation installation is right around the corner. We can install roof ventilation to eliminate the issues referenced above!

All you need to do is contact us at 765-644-6030, 765-282-6030 or 877-644-6030 today! If it’s more convenient, we welcome your request for us to inspect your home’s roof by completing our contact form or email us at joe@aceconstructiononline.com.

Inconvenient and Costly for Property Owners

Whether your business or your home has a flat roof, the problems they cause can be frustrating. A flat roof is cost-effective to build. Therefore, it’s often chosen for new construction that has a tight budget. It can also be a purposeful choice for people who want to use the roof for something such as a roof terrace.

A flat roof is not completely flat. It has a slight slope to allow water to run off. However, it can still present problems that a more sloped roof might not have. When you have flat roof issues, there are various materials that can be used to fix them. This can help you to overcome many of the typical problems with a flat roof.

• Common Flat Roof IssuesFlat roofs can present a range of problems especially if they are not properly maintained. Rainwater outlets becoming blocked is one of the issues that can occur with many properties. As a result, this leads to improper drainage.  To compound the problem, this can cause water damage to both the exterior and interior of the property.When water doesn’t drain properly, you can end up with pools of water on your roof. You might see moss, lichen and other vegetation. Additionally,  you can see cracks or stretching at the joints and corners. Having flat roofs regularly inspected is important. The good news is you can make some improvements to help prevent damage.
• Materials Used to Fix Flat RoofsInstalling a covering for your roof helps to protect it and extend its longevity. At Ace Construction, we have a few different materials we typically use to improve your flat roof. These materials will help prevent some common problems that occur with flat roofs. We tend to use EPDM and TPO membranes with most of the flat roofs that we work with.  EPDM is a rubber roofing material; TPO is thermoplastic.
  • EPDM membranes are very durable and will last a long time. They are a very cost-effective option and they’re easy to install.
  • ATPO membrane is another durable solution. It’s easily welded with heat and offers great protection.

We also have some other solutions that we might use. On pitches 3/12 or more, we can use ice and water shield and then install shingles to fix issues with a flat roof.

Why Choose Ace Construction for Flat Roof Issues

Ace Construction has many years of experience and strong skills in repairing flat roofing for businesses. We also have plenty of experience with residential properties. Therefore, we can help both business and home owners if you’re having problems with your flat roof. We always find the right solution to help weatherproof your roof and extend its lifespan.

Get In Touch

Our roofing team can fix your flat roof issues, save you money and protect your property. Reach out to Ace Construction today to find out how we can help you and to get a quote. Give us a call at 877-644-6030, email us at joe@aceconstructiononline.com or complete our contact form.

There are many Metal Roof Choices such as copper, aluminum, zinc & more. However, conventional wisdom dictates that a traditional shingle roof is the go to type of roof when dressing up your home.

While asphalt shingles are cheap, there are some notable differences between metal roofing and asphalt shingles. While an asphalt shingle roof will last around 20 years, a metal roof lasts between 40 and 80 years. It also will prove to be a better return on your home investment. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning metal roofs can be environmentally-friendly. Another benefit is they have an increased performance, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Metal Roof Choices: Take Your Pick

Don’t Know Where to Begin? Here are Some Different Types from Which to Choose.

• Copper: Used for centuries around the world, copper is an extremely long-lasting metal. It can last around 200 years. It’s a very soft material making it a “quiet” roofing material. Extreme weather like rain or hail won’t thunder down on the property. While copper can expand and contract with changes in temperature, this can be controlled with the correct panel or shingle.
• Aluminum: If you live in a coastal area, aluminum is your best choice. Aluminum is highly resistant to salt corrosion in comparison to other metal roofs. Aluminum is a very active metal. It will change according to the atmospheric conditions. As a result, that makes it a very protective material. As the outer layer of aluminum reacts with oxygen, this creates aluminum oxide. Consequently, this can protect the inner layers from future corrosion.

• Zinc: If you’re looking for a green metal to go with your environmentally-friendly outlook, zinc is undoubtedly the best. It has a lower melting point than other roofing metals. This means that the processing of zinc as a building material requires a lot less energy in comparison to steel or copper. Zinc is 100% recyclable. If you ever decide to make a change, this won’t impact the planet. Zinc is easily manipulated; it can be transformed into any shape. Arguably, the main downside to zinc is the “chalking” effect which can be to the detriment of the aesthetics. However, this can be controlled by appropriate cleaning methods.
• Steel (One of the Old Favorites):  As steel is one of the most common building materials, this is part and parcel of the vast majority of residential buildings. Steel is comprised of three different types: galvanized, galvalume, and weathering. Overall, steel is very flexible in its uses and cost-effective. There’s a reason why steel is used on a vast scale. Steel is highly recyclable and can work well in all weathers.
  • Galvanized: This is the most common form of roofing material and is created by using a layer of zinc. This protects the inner layer of steel from corroding. As such, this will extend the life of any panel of steel and minimize the corrosion process over time.
  • Galvalume: Galvalume steel is similar to galvanized steel. It uses aluminum as well as zinc to help protect the roofing against corrosion in specific environments. This has an advantage over galvanized steel and makes for a better appearance by providing a smoother spangle. In terms of maintenance and surface protection, galvalume is better than galvanized. It can still suffer from scratches or cut edges.
  • Weathering (The Strongest of the Steels): Originally, it was used in industries like bridge construction. The inner layer of steel is protected. The outer layer is designed to rust on purpose which can affect your decision-making process. As such, it’s not always used as a structural solution in terms of steel roofing. If you have a house that demands an accent roof, this could be your best option. That being said, it’s a very different material than it was years ago. It can be used to mimic copper or zinc, as well as other expensive metal roofs. This is all down to the painting systems, and as such, it’s an ideal choice for restoring a property.
• Tin (Rarest Metal Roofing): Like copper or zinc, tin is an element. When aluminum became the standard for containers instead of tin, it was seldom used as a building material afterward. These days, tin is referred to by roofers as galvanized steel. While it’s not used these days, it’s a material that you can request for a roof but it’s a rare choice.

Each type of metal has its own advantage. It usually comes down to the cost but keep each factor in mind. Copper is generally the most appealing from an aesthetic perspective. Zinc is environmentally friendly, is the most used steel roof and is the least expensive material.

Each one has its use and it’s your choice as to the best one to fit your needs. If you have any questions about metal roof choices, give us a call, shoot us an email or fill out our contact form by visiting our contact page. We’ve been in the roofing business since 1996.