The warm weather is back, but with it can come major rain storms and thunderstorms.  Are your gutters ready for the summer?

Over time leaves and debris can warp and damage your gutters.  They can clog drain pipes and cause overflow from your gutters to rain down in a waterfall in front of your house.  Beyond the annoyance of having your gutters create a waterfall at the entrance of your house, that water can cause damage to your foundation.

You have two options with bad gutters.  If your gutters are in good shape but suffer from major clogging, you can have those clogs removed.  To prevent clogs from coming back, install a gutter cover or guard that lets water in, but keeps debris out.

If your gutters are bent, warped, and broken it may be time to replace them.  Install new gutters with gutter guards or covers to ensure that your new gutters last for a long time, and are as low maintenance as possible.

Ameritech Home Improvements Services is here to help you every step of the way when it comes to replacing or covering gutters.  They offer free estimates, and will install your gutters professionally.  They even offer warrantees on your products.  Keep your home safe in the summer, and make sure your gutters are doing their job properly.  If they aren’t, Ameritech can help.

A bad roof can cause major costly problems if not dealt with properly.  Was the snow this past winter hard on your roof?  Are you having leaking issues in your ceiling?  Is your roof old and past its expiration date?  It might be time to consider putting a new roof on your home.

A bad roof can cause major costly damage to your home.  Water can seep in.  Wind can blow away old shingles.  Animals can chew through your roof and make a cozy home in your attic.  Roof maintenance is very important in home ownership.

Old siding can also cause leaks, and offers pests opportunities to invade your home.  New siding can add insulation to your home, is easy to clean, and comes with a warrantee to guarantee satisfaction.

If your roof or siding is due for replacing, the spring time is an excellent time to do it.  Maybe you just came in to a decent tax return or saved a bundle being cooped up in the house all winter?  A new roof and siding are sound investments for your property.

If you are ready to replace your roof or siding call Ameritech Home Improvement Services for a free consultation to see what roofing options are best for you.  Don’t wait!  When it’s time for a new roof or siding, it’s time for a call to Ameritech Hope Improvement Services!

After much too long a winter spring has finally sprung, and it is time to start enjoying the great outdoors again.  If you aren’t getting the most out of your yard or patio, maybe it is time to consider adding a brand new deck to your backyard.

Investing in a deck can add value to your home and maximize your own enjoyment of your home while you live there.  Sit and relax in the sun, or host a barbeque for all of your friends.  Comfortably enjoy your deck while you keep an eye on the kids playing in the backyard.  Why not give yourself an excuse to spend time enjoying your yard more?

Decks can be built in all shapes and sizes, and can be customized to your family’s needs.  Add a deck around your above-ground swimming pool to add relaxing space by the pool.  Add a gazebo on your deck for shaded and comfortable dining and relaxing.  The possibilities are endless!  If you can dream it, you can build it onto your home.

If you are considering adding a deck to your home, call Ameritech Home Improvement Services about their custom decking experts to see how they can help you build your dream deck.  Let Ameritech help you enjoy the coming spring and summer in style with a brand new custom deck today!

So you’ve decided to build a backyard shed or have hired someone to do so. The next step is to decide what type you want: wooden or metal.

Wooden sheds blend well with your surroundings and provide a pleasant smell (if it’s pine or cedar wood). They are also easy to add windows and shelving to and wood itself is a renewable resource. However, some cons to having a wooden shed are maintenance, termites, and splitting. The wood needs to be treated annually so that requires upkeep. Termites are always a risk when dealing with anything that is wood and if the maintenance isn’t done properly the wood can split and rot over time.

Metal sheds are easily built with nuts and bolts. The maintenance is low compared to a wooden shed and metal doors are more secure as well. Metal sheds are sold at a good price and are resistant to bugs and fires, which are realistic fears. However, cons to a having a metal shed are as follows: they can be dented easily by outside force and this includes condensation, metal rusts over time and it can be damaged by the wind as well.

As you can see there are good and bad aspects to either shed so it depends on the individuals of the family. To learn more about each type refer back to the online article. If you’re thinking about adding a backyard shed to your home contact a shed expert today to find out what types best suits you and how to go about installation.

Decks are great for all backyards because they enhance the beauty and give your family and guests a place to sit and relax in the warmer weather.  The most common type of deck is a wood one, however, there are alternative types that are also popular. It comes down to individual preference of style and price.

Natural wood is usually the most appealing to homeowners. There are so many different types including cedar, pine, redwood, cypress and more. Don’t you hate when your walking across something or sitting in your car and the surface is so hot due to the summer heat? Well, wood decks absorb and dissipate solar energy so that won’t happen! Sadly there are some downfalls to having a wood deck. Wood surfaces require maintenance and need sealants to prevent mildew and algae. Sealants need to be reapplied every few years.

Alternative decking types are virgin vinyl, aluminum and others are made from recycled plastics and combinations of wood dust and fibers. These types are more expensive and rot-resistant. The cons are that they tend to be bouncy; to keep the deck stiff you will have to space the joists closer together. Also vinyl gets hot in the summer as well. Therefore, that’s when the price goes up due to extra labor. However, positive aspects of non-wood decks are that they don’t require multiple seals and vinyl looks the same many years down the road.

Overall there are good and bad aspects to having a wood deck, vinyl deck or any other style. If you’re not sure what you want refer back to the article online and contact a deck expert to get more of an idea.

Many Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fueled appliances to keep them warm as the weather reaches the colder seasons. All home heating system require regular maintenance in order for them to function properly and not cause damages. This article gives helpful hints on how to avoid any residential fires.

The number one aspect to prevent fires is to keep fireplaces and wood stoves clean at all times. This should be done by a licensed professional. Clear the area of all debris and never restrict air supply to the fireplace. Leave the doors to the fireplace open to allow the air supply to flow through. It’s also important to use fire-resistant materials on both the fireplace and wood stoves.

Keep fires to a smaller size so less smoke is created and never burn debris like trash in the fireplace or wood stove. Also, never leave a fire unattended! For the outside of your home make sure to keep the roof clear of leaves and other debris, cover the chimney with a screen spark arrester and always stack firewood thirty feet from your house. For the inside of your home install smoke alarms on all levels of your home and have proper venting systems for all heating systems. Read the rest of the article here to see what else you can do to prevent fires from happening.

When you think about improving your home you think about making it more beautiful and fixing any problems that occur or can occur. What you don’t think about is fraudulent contractors and other solicitations. These mishaps include con artists who either perform poor work or collect money and are never heard from again.

Here a just a few examples of these types of solicitors. Many door-to-door contractors for overall home improvement are unlicensed, uninsured and unqualified to do any work to your home. Heating, roofing and chimney contractors make false claims that lead to major repairs down the road. Landscapers and cleanup crews can be known to take a deposit and never return. Some are nice enough to show up once or twice but then go MIA. Read about more scams here.

However, not everyone is out to get you but it’s still important that you are always on the lookout. First and most important, never make a decision at your front door, this includes making a deposit right away. A real professional contractor won’t mind waiting for you to take the time to decide what to do. Always ask for identification and company information. Legitimate sellers will have both on hand right away, as well as their license and proof of registration. Read about more steps to take to avoid scams online.

Everyones backyard will benefit from a shed. It is an investment for your home and will keep all your tools organized. Keeping tools and supplies in a safe place enables a longer lifetime for them and keeps children away from any dangers they could cause.

Typically a shed that is made of wood or steel costs around $500 or less. Other types will most likely cost more. They come in various sizes, styles and designs and can even be customized to your liking. Having a shed in your backyard will improve the sell of your home when trying to move. There are so many things you can do with your shed. It can be used for organization, storage, you could make it a separate living area, a room for the kids to play in, the ideas are endless. If you’re thinking about adding a shed to your home or want to talk to a someone about it, contact a home improvement professional right away. Read the rest of the article on sheds here.

Just like all aspects of your home, your roof needs love and care as well. Deterioration like moss growth, broken shingles, broken gutters and more could mean it’s time to repair your roof so that you don’t put your home and family in danger. Small damages to your roof can lead to big ones, such as a leaky roof. Although you might not be happy with roof replacement costs, the more you push it off the higher the price will be when the inevitable comes, most likely after already doing small repairs.

Your safest bet is to hire a professional to look at your roof. A professional will know what to look for, where to step and how to avoid slipping and falling. They will have the knowledge and skills to look at your gutters, chimney and siding. Most places will offer a free estimate and include a warranty after the repair/replacement is done. Learn more about roofing tips in this article.

Summer is officially over and it is time to make sure your deck is ready for the autumn leaves and harsh winter that is around the corner. It’s critical to inspect and repair your deck before the seasons change; trust me, you’ll be thankful you did next summer. When the heat comes back you’ll be able to enjoy your time outside with no problems. This article gave some tips on how to do so.

The first thing to look for when repairing your deck is splintered or rotted parts and rough spots. Weatherproof fasteners won’t rust during weather changes and neither will stainless steel ones. Another tip: check where the deck and the house meet so that you don’t risk the deck falling through. During the summer leaves, sticks, food and other debris can fall in between the cracks of the deck so make sure to get rid of any items. In addition, these things and more can leave stains on the deck. Use a cleaner that contains oxalic acid which is meant for wood only. For example, a chlorine bleach will ruin the surface of your deck. After you have done this, rinse off any excess fluids with regular water . Next, apply a clear water repellent finish that contains an anti-fungal agent. This will ensure that stains will be kept to a minimum once the seasons change so that when summer rolls around your friends and family will be more then ready to hang outside.