If you have owned a home in Minnesota in the last few years you have probably seen your share of water related damage. It could be that your window sills and jams are rotted, or maybe ice dams have opened up holes in your roof. Whatever the problem make sure to check with your insurance company before getting too involved in the replacement or repair of the damaged areas. In addition please always do your homework when dealing with any contractors. I have had too many customers come to me after they have hired a storm damage repair firm, that just happened to be in the neighborhood, with horror stories such as contractors not showing up all the way to taking a check and never calling again. Do yourself' a favor and do your homework, check for proper insurance and licensees, and always check references. It would be great if bad things never happened to good people, but we need to be realistic it's the only way to keep yourself from becoming a victim.
Now with all of that said, it's not all doom and gloom for those people with water damage. This is actually a great time to look at some of the new maintenance free products on the market. These products can make your life a lot less stressful and save you money on your utilities. Products such as vinyl windows and doors are now being utilized by a large number of home owners in order to save on the initial investment and protect against mold and rot. Another trend in remodeling right now is installing metal roofing instead of asphalt shingles. While the original installation is twice the price you can save quite a bit over time by not replacing your roof after every hail storm. Not to mention, most metal roofing products carry at least a 50 year manufacturer warranty. While it's not exactly fun to deal with these types of repairs, some times it takes a little push in the right direction to open our eyes to all the options available.
Mike Langmade
Worry Free Construction
