Over the past few months, we have concentrated on sharing information that will help you make decisions about potential remodeling projects in your home. Today we want to focus on answering some of the questions we receive from homeowners following a renovation. We hope you will find these answers helpful in deciding if you need to call your contractor with your concerns after they complete a remodeling project. These are in no particular order as far as how often we hear them. For the sake of consistency, we will start at the roof and work our way to the ground.
- Q: We just had a new asphalt shingle roof installed, and, after the first rain, we noticed a lot of sand or grit on the ground around the gutters. Are my shingles defective? – A: No, there is no material defect or installation error involved in this situation. The grit you may find soon after an asphalt shingle installation is merely excess texturing material that was knocked loose in the course of handling. There is nothing wrong with your shingles, and the roofers did not mishandle your installation.
- Q: I recently upgraded my old, 4” wide gutters to 5”, and noticed much more noise when it rains. I did not expect this. What causes this? A: Adding an inch (in some applications, even 2”) to the width of your gutter allows more surface area for the rain to contact. Additionally, newer gutters may be made of heavier gauge aluminum, which gives a different sound when struck by raindrops. Therefore, you may notice the sound initially, not because it is necessarily louder, but because it is “different”. You might also notice a different sound if you switch from aluminum to vinyl gutters (or vice versa), or even from seamed to seamless. This is just the nature of the beast. Again, it isn’t a manufacturing or installation defect, and there is really nothing that can be done to correct the situation. You will eventually become accustomed to the new tune your gutters play, and you will certainly be pleased with the results – fewer drips and leaks, less clogging, and reduced maintenance.
- Q: I have detected moisture on the inside or outside of my new windows. Is this normal? A: Moisture on the inside of your windows is the result of the humidity level in your home. You may not have noticed it before because your old windows were leaky, allowing moisture to escape. The cure for this is to reduce the humidity levels in your home by using a dehumidifier. Many newer heating systems even have built in systems to adjust the humidity. Not only will lowering the humidity level reduce condensation inside your home, it will also help you avoid more serious issues such as mold growth I damp areas. As for moisture on the outside of the glass, this is dew, just like you notice on windshields, lawns, and streets in the morning. On your windows, this occurs when the glass temperature is below the dew point of the air. This happens most often when cool nights follow warm days, and is nothing to be concerned about. One note, however: if you notice moisture between the panes of glass on your windows, you should call your contractor. This is caused by a seal failure (the material that joins the two sheets of glass has developed a leak), and should be addressed by a professional. Many manufacturers warranty against seal failure for a specific period. Check your warranty for details.
- Q: I have noticed a substantial heat buildup between my new entry and storm doors. What can I do? A: Your new entry and storm doors are probably extremely energy efficient compared to your old ones, meaning the weather-stripping around the doors seals tightly. If your entry is exposed to direct sunlight, this may cause heat to build up between the doors. The simple solution is to install the screen in your storm door, which will allow the excess heat to escape.
We hope this has answered some of your basic questions about your renovation. If you have other specific questions, please contact us, and we will do our best to provide an accurate response.
Rae the Renovator
