Home Repairs Tips

June 4, 2010

Filing A Claim For Hail Damage

Hail is a form of solid precipitation.  It is made up of irregular lumps of ice.  Individually, they are referred to as “hail stones”.   Hail is produced by severe thunderstorms .  It  forms in a very unstable air mass, when there is relatively cool dry air overlaying very warm and humid air. 

If your roof is damaged by hail, first take care of your own personal safety.  Second, file a claim with your insurance carrier as soon as possible.  You should also take action to avoid further damage to your home.  Cover holes in roofs with tarps or plywood to prevent water damage.  Move wet items to a dry area, and wash and dry all damaged items. 

Document the damage with photographs and video.  Keep receipts from all temporary fixes.  You may even need to get professionals to help with the clean up.  They can be found under “restoration” or “water damage”. 

You will want to review your insurance policy so that you are aware of your benefits.  You will also want to make a thorough list of all damaged items.    Include photographs, video and receipts in this documentation.  Don’t throw away damaged items, especially expensive ones.

Have a claims professional assess your damage before you schedule any repairs.  As soon as your damage has been assessed, go ahead and schedule repairs to prevent further damage to your home.  Use a local, bonded and insured contractor to do the repairs.  Make sure that you check the contractor’s references before hiring them to do the repairs. 

Blog Post Provided by:  Gwinnett County GA Hail Damage Roofers

June 4, 2010

6 Easy Steps for Installing Fascia Boards

You really don’t have to be a expert in carpentry nor is there a crash course in home repairs required to know how to install fascia boards. It just requires proper installation and some safety measures.

So let’s get into action, here we go:

Ø Keep the necessary tools ready to avoid any running around the house in search of things that you need. This way you will speed things up. Now, the necessary tools would include: fascia board, plane, table saw, crimper to help with metal sheets, power nailer or hammer, clamps, compound miter, saw, and Chalk Line.

Ø Start with the installation of the board and sheathing, the latter for both your roof and the fascia board. This ensures the roof fits well. You may even choose to add some sub fascias, which is made of lumber and aids in straightening the core fascia.

Ø Have a thorough knowledge about the roofs that you are working on, as this determines the main procedures to be followed. For instance, while working on hip roofs, you might want to fasten the fascia board to the rafter. Then again, in case of gabled roofs with gabled ends, you might want to put some markings in the board to make sure it makes a perfect fit for the rafters.

Ø While replacing or installing new fascia boards, it is advisable to twice nail the fascia boards to the soffits and joists, as this ensures better board stability

Ø It is imperative to make a wise choice on the depth of the fascia. In case of tiled roofs, the last thing you want is for it to collapse if it doesn’t hold on well could not bear the weight.

If in doubt seek professional help

Though there is endless number of search engines for the do-it-yourself enthusiasts to aid in the installation of fascia boards, you are better off seeking professional help even with an aorta of doubt.

Blog Post provided by:  North Atlanta GA Roofers