Weatherproofing Your Home

When people think about weatherproofing their home it’s usually in the fall before the weather breaks and temperatures drop. While this is necessary to help trap expensive heat inside your home throughout the winter, it’s important that your home be weatherproofed for summer too! Whether it’s winter or summer, it’s unlikely that you’ll want the temperature outside your home to match that of the inside – unless you’ve taken the precautions to weatherproof your home, external conditions will most likely have an effect internally. Taking the time to maintain your ventilation systems and other areas where you might find air leaks will help you trap the cool air in, keep hot air out, and save you money on cooling costs in the long run. After all, no one wants to be hot AND broke!

Weatherproofing your home does not require a big budget or a lot of time. We’ve compiled a few of our favorite ways you can take on this DIY project and get on the path to stable internal temperatures and a more affordable energy bill.

Honeycomb Cellular Shades

Installing cellular, or “honeycomb,” shades is a phenomenal way to keep extreme temperatures from penetrating through windows into your home. This type of shade will work for you year-round, keeping you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. As hot or cold air radiates from window panes & frames, it gets trapped in the cells of the shade. You’ll want to make sure not to install these too close to the window, however, as you might see ice buildup on window panes during winter months!

Door Draft-Stoppers

Adding draft-stoppers to entry doors will prevent outside air from seeping in underneath. You can pick up a draft stopper at almost any local hardware store at a low cost. If you’d like to be more resourceful, make one yourself!

Air Leaks Around Doors & Windows

Repairing areas that allow air to leak through is one of the greatest improvements you can make in weatherproofing your home. A simple trick to finding these problem areas is to run a lit candle around window & door frames. If you pass by an area where unwanted air is coming in, you’ll see the flame flicker. Now that you’ve sought out the areas causing issues, you’ll want to seal the leak with caulk or weather stripping.

Basement & Attic Insulation

While this is far from the cheapest method to weatherproofing your home, it will give you the best return on your investment. Uninsulated attics and basements will let warm air escape your home during colder months and let it back in during warmer months.

Ventilation

A ventilation system that isn’t working properly will not allow your home to shed the hot air it doesn’t need. Vents leading out of your attic should be clear of debris both inside and out. When checking these vents, you may want to take a look at the vents attached to your HVAC system as well. Blockages can trap heat in and prevent your cooling system from running effectively.

Programable Thermostat

Exterior temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day, and you won’t always be around to adjust the dial on your thermostat accordingly. Having your HVAC system set to maintain a stable temperature on its own will prevent you from over heating or cooling a house nobody is in! A standard programmable thermostat can be picked up for about $30, but there are many options with special features if you’re willing to spend a little more.

Taking these measures to properly weatherproof your home will almost always help reduce the cost of heating and cooling. If you’ve gone through each of these without seeing a change on your energy bill, there might be a larger problem at hand. A home with outdated windows or doors isn’t optimized to effectively regulate internal temperatures. You may need to consider replacement energy efficient windows & doors or have your roof inspected for issues.

Roofing: The Effects of Storm Damage & How to Fight Back

As a resident of Washtenaw County, you know Michigan summers can be unpredictable. While many homeowners anticipate the arrival of sunny days and backyard barbeques with family & friends, it’s easy to overlook the baggage this season can bring along: storm damage. Throughout summer, residents of the Ann Arbor Metro area are likely to see a variety of natural phenomena that can quickly plague weekend plans and wreak havoc on your home – especially your roofing. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), approximately 1,800 thunderstorms are occurring at any given time, resulting in about 16-million thunderstorms each year across the United States. This means extreme winds, torrential rains, and hail storms are all likely to happen at some point throughout our favorite season, leaving us with costly roof repairs. In fact, the NOAA says hail alone causes approximately $1 billion in building damage each year. How have you prepared for potential storm damage?

Preventing Roof Damage Caused By Summer Storms

Like most homeowners, you do everything in your power to make sure your home is adequately equipped to protect your family from disaster. When it comes to preventing building damage caused by storms, one of the best places to start is with your home’s roof. The roof forms the first line of protection against wind & hail damage. So where do you start? Our team of roofing experts has developed some helpful tips to help your roof make it through the summer in one piece:

Get A Roof Inspection

Have a reliable roofing contractor come to your home to provide a thorough roof inspection. As we all know, water will find its way through the smallest leak or gap in your home’s exterior. These gaps can be difficult to spot, especially from the ground! A professional roofing expert will be able to spot subtle signs that your roof may be susceptible to storm damage. While small gaps or leaks may not be huge issues on their own, they can become much larger issues if the right storm passes through. Other issues your roof inspector should address include:

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• Damaged Shingles
• Worn connectors on roof decking that connects the roof with exterior walls
• Weak spots on the roof’s surface
• Proper bracing of gables
• Properly enforced sheathing (you’ll need to get in the attic for this!)

Maintain Overhanging Foliage

Take the time to inspect any overhanging limbs – more than likely these should be trimmed back. Most local storm damage repairs are the result of limbs falling onto the home. While large trees can give your home character, limbs protruding over the roof could have catastrophic repercussions if they were to come down during a storm.

Clean Out Your Gutters

Most homeowners don’t truly understand the importance of properly functioning gutters. While gutters can serve as a decoration piece, their true purpose is direct rain water off the roof and away from the home’s foundation. Clogged gutters can cause water to pool on top of the roof and eventually find its way beneath the shingles, causing severe structural roof damage. Standing water on the roof can also add a lot of extra weight that it’s not used to supporting, which will also cause issues over time.

Install The Proper Roofing Materials

Having the right type of shingles will greatly increase protection against severe roof damage caused by a storm. Studies have shown that impact-resistant asphalt roofing shingles can remain unharmed, even after 1.5” diameter hail. It’s also important to also ask your roofing contractor about secondary moisture barriers that protect against water damage to the roof that can affect sheathing.

Home Maintenance After A Storm

After a severe summer storm, it is always a good idea to set up a roof inspection with a local roofing contractor. Even if you don’t see any storm damage, a post-storm roof inspection will alert you of any minor home repairs that should be made before the next inevitable storm.

Wilderness Construction, Inc. is a trusted storm damage repair company offering roof inspections and evaluations in the Ann Arbor area. To schedule a roof inspection, contact us by phone, email, or through our website and one of our roofing experts will follow up with you shortly. If you’re concerned about the integrity of your home’s roof, we have the knowledge and experience to keep your family protected – we will even work with your insurance provider to help file storm damage insurance claim. It is never too late to invest safety.

Benefits of Adding a Sliding Glass Door to Your Home

One way to change the feel of a room without a full-scale renovation is to add a sliding glass door. Apart from adding an aesthetically pleasing element that allows easier access to the outside, a sliding glass door can provide you and your family a number of less obvious benefits as well!

More Natural Light

Sliding glass doors feature large panes of glass that run from the floor to the ceiling. This will allow much more natural sunlight into your home, which in turn can help you save on energy costs. With this extra light provided by the doorwall you may not even need to turn on any lights throughout the day. During winter months, multi-pane glass will keep the cold air from penetrating and allow the light to be used as a heat source, maximizing energy efficiency.

Fresh Air

Increased airflow and circulation will be another benefit you & your family will reap. Opening this door will allow large surges of air to flow through your home – much more than your standard window. This circulation will lead to improved air quality, smell, and feel. It can also increase your home’s energy efficiency by reducing the need to cool your home with air conditioning.

More Efficient Navigation

Adding this type of door will make it easier for you & your guests to come in and out of the house. The door’s large size will enhance traffic flow, which is great for people who host gatherings at their home.

Space Maximization & Enhanced Appearance

Sliding glass doors will not only create the illusion that a room is bigger than it actually is but can actually save space compared to a standard swinging door which requires a dead area for it to be open and closed. By replacing a solid wall with a sliding door that compliments the other elements of the room, you’ll create a more open space that adds elegance and charm to your home.

Better Views

When any type of large window is installed, you are adding the element of the outdoors to the room. Homeowners with beautiful gardens or backyards will be able to enjoy the view unfiltered year-round. You will also be better suited to keep an eye on any activities going on in your back yard – this is an added bonus for families with children who want to keep them safe while at play.

Overall, a sliding glass door will make your home more comfortable throughout the year and help to provide a more pleasant space to relax with family & friends without the time, cost, and energy of taking on a full renovation. You may even see a decrease in energy costs. If adding this element your home sounds like the best option for your family, get in touch with the experts at Wilderness Construction. Our team has been helping families in the Ann Arbor area evolve their homes to meet their needs for nearly 20 years – we’d be glad to help yours!

Benefits of Adding a Sunroom to Your Home

For homeowners looking to add space & value to their home, we often ask them to consider the addition of a sunroom. It is known that adding a sunroom onto your current living space is one of the most cost-effective improvement projects you can put your home through. Sunrooms can be used for a variety of activities and are a great way to increase the value of your home without the cost of a major structural addition. With their large openspace & visibility, this type of room can offer you and your family more than a garage or a traditional addition many of our clients assume they need. Furthermore, sunrooms offer much more versatility and require less upkeep than other additions.

What is a Sunroom?

Any room that is comprised mostly of glass or screens that protrudes from the primary building would be considered a sunroom, sun porch, or patio room. These are usually installed on a wood or concrete foundation and let in natural light to illuminate the room during the day.

4-Season vs. 3-Season Sunrooms

While most people consider adding sunrooms to their home, they are often unaware of the different types even though they have likely been in both. The primary difference between the two is that a 4season sunroom is a heated and cooled addition to the home. These additions typically look like a traditional room with more windows allowing sunlight to enter. Excess windows allow families to enjoy natural light and give that “outdoor” feeling without having the leave the AC. This structure will require a foundation to be dug and footers to be laid for it to be considered a 4-season sunroom, causing them to be a bit more expensive than their counterpart.

3-season rooms also feature excess windows but are not temperature controlled, making them relatively unusable during winter months. However, they are ideal for Spring and Fall and will allow your family to enjoy a Summer day “outdoors” without the intensity of direct sunlight. 3-season sunrooms can easily be converted from existing decks or porches, but can also be built from the ground up. This type of sunroom is a less expensive home improvement option and can take only a few days to complete if converting from an existing space.

Either space will add value to your home and increase your usable square footage. If you’re only wanting to use this room during the warmer months, a 3-season room may be your best option. For a homeowner looking to occupy this space year-round, an insulated 4-season sunroom featuring double-paned windows may better suit their needs.

Why Should I Add a Sunroom to My Home?

We’ve already touched on the financial and special benefits adding a sunroom can bring, but how about some of the other perks? Here are some of the top reasons Wilderness Construction would recommend the addition of this space:

Natural Sunlight

Because of the excess windows or screened openings featured in this type of room, it is inevitable that it will be filled with natural sunlight throughout the day. Increased exposure to the sun is known to enhance mood and energy through the release of endorphins, regulate your natural melatonin production leading to better sleep, and can beneficial to eye and dental health!

Versatility

Sunrooms can be used for a variety of reasons; outdoor sitting room, a family room, dining room, garden observatory, master bedroom, or a pool enclosure – the possibilities are only limited by the imagination and the room can be customized to meet your needs.

Energy Efficiency

During the early Spring & late Fall months, sunlight that enters these rooms can be contained by double-paned glass to keep the room warm. At Summer’s peak, keeping your sunroom’s windows open will allow you to enjoy cooling airflow while shielding you from direct sunlight. During this three season window, all types of sunrooms can be enjoyed with little to no heating or cooling costs. Beyond these lowered costs, floods of sunlight will prevent you from needing to light the room during the day, which will generate even more savings.

Protection

Homeowners can have a variety of reasons behind their decision to add a sunroom, but one of the most common is the protection it offers against the elements of nature while still giving the feeling of being outdoors. Sunrooms can keep bugs and pollen out, and block you from heavy winds and rain. This room also allows homeowners to keep comfortable patio furniture that will not be ruined be the elements of the outdoors.

Popular Uses For Sunrooms

• Greenroom
• Covered Patio
• Dining Area
• Game Room
• Craft/Hobby Room
• Bar/Entertainment Room
• Dining Area
• Exercise Room
• Den/Study

As you can see, sunrooms offer many traits that will benefit your health, happiness, and bank account. If you’re unsure about what type of sunroom might be right for your family, give the experts at Wilderness Construction a call! We are here to give you more insight on what your home improvement project will look like, and help advise on what might be the best option for you based on your needs.

How To Choose The Right Roofing Replacement Company In Ann Arbor?

How To Choose The Right Roofing Replacement Company In Ann Arbor?

With the concerns of the unpredictable summer in Michigan, storms and other natural phenomena that can wreak havoc on your roofing and affect your family’s comfort and safety, finding the right roofing replacement company in Ann Arbor can be a brilliant idea.

Nothing feels better that the assurance that the roof above you is firm and hardy to take you and your family through the toughest of seasons. It is unfortunate that roofing is one of the aspects many families ignore most and they remember its essence when it starts leaking or wearing out. I hope this is not you!

Roofing is not a cheap investment and you therefore need to contract the right roofing company to achieve the perfect crown that takes you a long way. The job doesn’t end here. For you to get the most out of your roofing, you need someone to keep a regular check on your roof for professional maintenance.

When that time comes and a roofing replacement is all you need, how do you go about it? With hundreds of roofing replacement companies in Ann Arbor, it can be a real hassle for you to find the most ideal contractors for your need. Wilderness construction is the roofing replacement company you are looking for.

Tips On How To Choose The Right Roofing Replacement Company

As a homeowner needing a new crown, there’re many things going around your mind. When you start experiencing leaking roof, sagging roof, missing shingles and peeling granules you definitely know that your old roof has reached its end of efficacy and a new roof is all your house needs. But what about financing?

One of the key worries of every homeowner who wants to have the entire roof replaced is how to come up with the large amount of money needed for the project. There are various financing options like credit card, personal loans, borrowing against equity of your home and more but most of these options will just exploit you and leave you with some financial constrains that might be hard to recover.  Wilderness Construction has some great news for you.

When you make Wilderness Construction company your local roofing partners, you don’t need to worry about financing your roofing replacement, repair and maintenance. Having served Ann Arbor and its neighborhood for over 20 years now, we have establish perfect roofing financing strategies to make those moments less taxing for our esteemed customers.

As a resident of Michigan region, we care about what matters to you most and we want you to enjoy better sleep even when storms are ranging. We offer roofing replacement financing solutions that work for your budget. To us, we value every customer regardless of how small or big the project is. We listen to you and work towards making your dreams a reality and offer excellent rates for our professional services.

Invest Where Quality Is Assured

You know that roofing can be pricey and you can’t afford to invest in a shoddy roof that calls for frequent repairs and maintenance. A perfect roof doesn’t only give you the comfort and peace of mind but it also adds value to your home. With great roofing, you won’t struggle when that time of re-selling your home comes. Therefore, look for a popular and reputable roofing company that guarantees you perfect quality, durability and longevity.

At Wilderness Construction, we pride ourselves at proving perfect roofing solutions for everyone. Our highly dedicated team of skilled roofing technicians uses strong, fine quality materials. We invest in adding skills to our crafts to ensure that we are the leading experts when it comes to installing the modern roofing using high-tech techniques, tools and equipment. Our experts come on site equipped with everything needed to get the job done.

Timely Delivery

Some things just can’t wait! What do you do when it starts leaking at wee hours of the night and you can’t wait to see your household stuff damaged by the rains? Partner with roofing replacement agents who guarantee timely service delivery. Wilderness Construction is the reputable roofing company that assures 24/7 service delivery. Our customer service line is open and someone is waiting on board to listen to you. Call us and our time will arrive on site sooner than you expect.

Roofing is a complex system beyond what your eyes can see. If you mess on one aspect, the entire roof becomes cluttered. To avoid unnecessary costs and frequent repairs, partner with professional roofing contractors who will first diagnose the root issue and advice on what needs to be repaired and what needs replacement. When our experts arrive on site, they only replace the key components on your roof and repair what does not necessarily require replacement and this is a great way to cut the cost for your roofing project.

Find a trustworthy company

You don’t need a roofing company that you can’t trust their quotation, right? Yes, you need genuine experts who have your best interest at heart. Avoid partnering with a company whose main intention is to exploit you and cause you to pay what is not required. Instead, go where honesty speaks for itself. Consider a roofing company that gives sincere assessments and works towards investing in a plan that works for your budget without compromising on quality delivery.

Check Their Warranty

When roofing replacement is done, you need a roofing partner who guarantees you continued support and offer a reasonable warranty. Wilderness Construction guarantees you anti-leakage guarantee as well as iron-clad warranty. We offer 24/7 emergency services and our customer service is ever open to handle your concerns and queries and offer prompt responses.

We Are Fully Authorized Dealers In Ann Arbor

Wilderness Construction is a fully licensed, certified and insured roofing replacement company in Ann Arbor. We offer free on-site assessments, inspections and estimates and we are true to our word. We deliver what we promise and we guarantee minimal disruption at your home or business. Our trusted technicians can work on your site even in your absence and ensure the privacy and safety of your property. We are simply reliable and versatile and we help with all insurance claims to make things easy for you.

Need help?

If you are worried about the state of your roof today, don’t keep it to yourself any more. We can help. Talk to Wilderness Construction now or visit our website for more information about what we do.

Hire Roofers in Ann Arbor For Your Spring Cleaning!

Are you a planner, or a procrastinator?

Do you think about home renovation projects months in advance, or only fix things when there’s a problem?

Are you prepared to hire a contractor if you need work done?

We’ve always been told to do spring cleaning, ever since we were kids with a list of chores. Why should home renovation projects be any different?

If you add roofing projects to your list of spring-cleaning items for your home, you could save money in the long run by catching potential problems before they get worse. Our expert roofers in Ann Arbor are here to help you with any spring roofing projects you might need, and recommend you start thinking about those projects now! Planning ahead will ensure you don’t go over budget, or put off your projects longer.

Pros of doing your roofing projects in the spring include:

• Good weather for repairs! Barring the occasional rainy day, the sun isn’t beating down as hot as it does in the summer, and there’s enough daytime light for you to work. 
• Summers in Michigan are notoriously unpredictable! Getting your work done in the spring will make sure you have a sturdy roof to get you through those summer thunderstorms.
• Spring is a great time to repair and replace shingles. Loose shingles from winter weather need to be replaced to avoid further damage, and mold and mildew damage! 

Want To Learn More?

To find out more about all the services our expert roofers in Ann Arbor can help you with, visit our website, or give us a call to come visit our showroom today! We provide many roofing services including repairs, replacements, shingle work, and gutter replacement. Call us today to learn more!

10 Most Common Roof Problems

Do you know if your roof is in good shape?

Does it take you a few minutes to remember the last time you had your roof inspected by a licensed contractor?

Are you aware that even the most common problems can cause you to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on roof repairs?

If you can’t remember the last time your roof was looked at, it’s time for you to call the expert roofers in Ann Arbor and get it checked! Small, common problems can lead to bigger, more expensive problems over time.

There are ten really common issues that can lead to needing a total roof replacement, including:

• Poor or faulty initial installation
• Leaks and moisture
• Improperly installed flashing
• Critters
• Ponding water
• Punctures and penetration
• Trees
• Ventilation problems
• Shrinkage and blistering
• Improper or lack of maintenance

To ensure that you have a quality, sturdy roof to keep your family dry and comfortable, you need to get it checked by the experts! Didn’t get your roof installed by Wilderness Construction? No problem! We’re the trusted roofers in Ann Arbor and we’re here to answer any questions you might have and put your mind at ease.

To find out how to get a free, no-obligation inspection, please call us today or visit our website to set up an appointment with a member of our team!