Storm damage in Long Lake, Minnesota

Severe storm on August 8 in Long Lake, MN

The severe wind in the Long Lake area on Saturday night left many trees blown down and houses damaged. 

After a storm, affected neighborhoods are usually inundated with canvassers hired by contractors who go door to door and try to get homeowners to sign a contract for any necessary repairs.  Many people sign up on the spot, without first checking out the company and without realizing they’re committing to have the work done by that company.  Many of these contractors are not really local companies.  They often rent an office space temporarily and hire doorknockers from the area.

A more reliable way to find a quality local contractor would be to check out contractors that neighbors or friends have been satisfied with.  These contractors have probably worked in your area for years, not just during the last few storm seasons.  Checking with the Better Business Bureau and a referral service, like Angie’s List, would also be helpful in your search.

Dan Netko Exteriors has been in business for 30 years, providing storm damage repair, window replacement, and siding in the western and northern metro.  We are experienced at handling insurance claims from start to finish.

Shingles can be damaged by hail or high winds and windows and siding can be dented by hail or flying debris.

Have your home inspected by a contractor that has worked in your area for many years, has a high rating with the BBB, and is willing to give you names and addresses of satisfied customers nearby.

Storm damage in Orono, Minnesota

Severe storm on August 8 in Orono, MN

The severe wind in the Orono area on Saturday night left many trees blown down and houses damaged. 

After a storm, most affected neighborhoods are usually inundated with contractors who hire people to go door to door and try to get homeowners to sign a contract for any necessary repairs.  Many people sign up on the spot, without first checking out the company and without realizing they’re committing to have the work done by that company.  Many of these contractors are not really local companies.  They often rent an office space temporarily and hire doorknockers from the area.

Rather than signing up on the spot, one alternative is to check out local contractors that have worked in your area for years, not just during the last few storm seasons.  Checking with the Better Business Bureau and a referral service, like Angie’s List, would be a good start.

Dan Netko Exteriors has been in business for 30 years, providing storm damage repair, window replacement, and siding in the western and northern metro.  We are experienced at handling insurance claims from start to finish.

Shingles can be damaged by hail or high winds and windows and siding can be dented by hail or flying debris.

Have your home inspected by a contractor that has worked in your area for many years, has a high rating with the BBB, and is willing to give you names and addresses of satisfied customers nearby.

Step Flashing on Residential Roofing Projects in MN

Step Flashing on a 3 Tab Shingle in Minnesota

            Before 1990, most houses were shingled with 3 tab shingles.  Each row of shingles had a 5” exposure to the weather.  An individual shingle measured 12” x 36” but the top 7” of the shingle is covered up by the next row up, so only 5” x 36” is left exposed.   A separate step flashing is installed for each row of shingles where the shingles meet a sidewall.  The flashing is positioned on each shingle so that the shingle on the next row up just covers it up.  If the flashing is placed more than 2” too high it can leak.

Step Flashing on an Architectural Shingle in Minnesota

            If you switch from a 3 tab shingle to an architectural shingle the step flashing needs to be adjusted to accommodate the 5 ½” exposure per row of the architectural shingle.  If the flashings aren’t adjusted they will be out of sync with the new shingles and won’t be waterproof.  When the original step flashings were installed, they almost always nailed them to the wall underneath the siding, so they can’t be moved.  Short of removing the siding, there are a couple techniques that can be used to ensure proper flashing against a wall.  Unfortunately, many roofing crews do not understand that an adjustment of some kind needs to be made to accommodate the difference of exposure per row between the 3 tab and the architectural shingles.  Ask your contractor (before you hire him) how he handles this situation.

Dan Netko has been a windows, siding, roofing contractor in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota for 30 years.   With many years of hands on personal experience, Dan is knowledgeable in the details of all areas of remodeling.  Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering.  He started out in engineering and chose construction as an appealing avenue of self employment in which he uses many of his engineering skills. 763-784-0227, or 612-201-1449.  For more information, go to Dan Netko Exteriors.

Ridge Vents in Minnesota

Ridge vents vs Turtle (attic) vents in MN

             In recent years the shingle over ridge vent has become all the rage.  I think this is overrated.  The only situation where a ridge vent is necessary is where there is a cathedral ceiling, with the ceiling at the same pitch as the roof.   Since there is no common attic space, a ridge vent is necessary to vent between each rafter.  When reroofing, it’s less expensive to add a few more attic vents than to put a ridge vent on the whole ridge.  A ridge vent is also vulnerable to damage by being stepped.  That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.

Dan Netko has been a windows, siding, roofing contractor in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota for 30 years.   With many years of hands on personal experience, Dan is knowledgeable in the details of all areas of remodeling.  Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering.  He started out in engineering and chose construction as an appealing avenue of self employment in which he uses many of his engineering skills. 763-784-0227, or 612-201-1449.  For more information, go to Dan Netko Exteriors.

Replacing Chimney Flashing in Minnesota

Chimney Flashing Replacement in MN

            After 30 or 40 years, the galvanized steel flashing around a brick chimney will start rusting away and should be replaced.  If the chimney needs to be torn down to the roofline, the mason should replace the flashing as originally installed.  If no teardown is needed and the bricks are sound, the most permanent and waterproof method involves cutting off the old flashing, adding galvanized step flashing at each row of shingles, and installing a riglet counterflashing to cover the tops of the step flashing.  A ¾” deep groove is cut intot the bricks to receive the bent edge of the riglet.  A bead of flexible caulking seals between the top of the riglet and the brick.

Dan Netko has been a windows, siding, roofing contractor in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota for 30 years.   With many years of hands on personal experience, Dan is knowledgeable in the details of all areas of remodeling.  Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering.  He started out in engineering and chose construction as an appealing avenue of self employment in which he uses many of his engineering skills. 763-784-0227, or 612-201-1449.  For more information, go to Dan Netko Exteriors.

Rebuilding Brick Chimneys in Minnesota

The Most Common Problem with Chimneys in MN

             Most residential fireplace chimneys in the upper midwest built in the 60’s and 70’s were built with used Chicago bricks.  These bricks were salvaged from the demolition of tall brick buildings in Chicago and other cities.  Most of these bricks came from the core of very thick walls and were not made to withstand water absorption.

            When the snow on top of the chimney melts during a sunny day, the bricks on the top 2 or 3 feet absorb the water and at night it freezes.  Over time the surface of the bricks flake off or crumble.  The solution is to tear down the top 2 or 3 feet and rebuild using matching bricks that are not porous and therefore won’t absorb water. 

            The cement cap on the top of the chimney often cracks because it was too thin, and the concrete was mixed incorrectly.  The cap should be at least 4” thick and sloped toward the edges for good drainage.  The concrete used should be 2 bags of premixed concrete mix to 1 bag of premixed sand mix with a little extra Portland cement and poly fibers added.  As a final touch, use silicone caulking between the flue tile and the concrete cap after the cap has dried.  Also, a concrete sealer can be used on the cap after it has dried.

Dan Netko has been a windows, siding, roofing contractor in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota for 30 years.   With many years of hands on personal experience, Dan is knowledgeable in the details of all areas of remodeling.  Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering.  He started out in engineering and chose construction as an appealing avenue of self employment in which he uses many of his engineering skills. 763-784-0227, or 612-201-1449.  For more information, go to Dan Netko Exteriors.

 

Minimum Attic Ventilation in Minnesota

Attic Ventilation in MN

             Attic ventilation is very important.  In the summer it will cool down the attic space, making it easier to keep the house comfortable with minimal usage of an air conditioner.  The minimum number of both attic vents and soffit vents is the square footage of the attic floor divided by 150.  A 2000 sq ft attic should have at least 13 attic vents and 13 soffit vents.  If the shingles are white that should be adequate for summer cooling.  If the shingles are a dark color I would recommend more.

Ventilation in the Wintertime

            It is also necessary to ventilate the attic for winter conditions.   If the air in the attic warms up above freezing, any snow sitting on the roof will start to melt, run down to the overhang where it’s below 32 degrees, and refreeze.  This condition will cause ice dams and icicles.

            If there are enough attic vents, ventilation chutes and soffit vents, it will keep the air in the attic below freezing and the snow won’t melt and therefore no ice dam can form.  Ventilation chutes allow the air that comes in the soffit vents to pass unobstructed up into the attic.  There should be a chute every 4 or 5 rafters.  When in doubt, add more.

Dan Netko has been a windows, siding, roofing contractor in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota for 30 years.   With many years of hands on personal experience, Dan is knowledgeable in the details of all areas of remodeling.  Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering.  He started out in engineering and chose construction as an appealing avenue of self employment in which he uses many of his engineering skills. 763-784-0227, or 612-201-1449.  For more information, go to Dan Netko Exteriors.

Ice & Water Shield “Ain’t What it’s Cracked Up to Be” in MN

Ice & Water Shield in Minnesota

            Ice & water shield is not the panacea it’s purported to be for preventing leaks due to ice dams.  Many people have come to believe that it will prevent ice dams.  That just “ain’t so.”  In fact, I would say, based on listening to ice dam leak complaints from people who have it on there roof, that there is about a 50% chance it will prevent leaking from ice dams.

            In order to solve the problem of leaks from ice dams, you have to eliminate the ice dams – duh!  Ice & water shield is a total waste of money on 95% or more of houses.  Most houses have an attic that can be ventilated.  When the attic is vented adequately, there will be no ice dams, period.  End of story.

Now, for the rest of the story…

            On a house where there is no way to ventilate the space between the ceiling and the roof deck, ice & water shield will provide the cheapest solution to leaks from water backing up in back of an ice dam.  However, you will need three, count ‘em, 3 layers of ice & water shield to be sure that the standing water does not leak through.

            Isn’t it a shame that the building inspectors never have enforced long standing ventilation codes, making it possible for the ice & water manufacturers to put pressure on the government bureaucracy to create codes to require that all houses have to have ice & water shield? And you know what?  They still don’t enforce the ventilation codes, and this unnecessary and expensive product only works maybe 50% of the time.  That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Dan Netko has been a windows, siding, roofing contractor in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota for 30 years.   With many years of hands on personal experience, Dan is knowledgeable in the details of all areas of remodeling.  Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering.  He started out in engineering and chose construction as an appealing avenue of self employment in which he uses many of his engineering skills. 763-784-0227, or 612-201-1449.  For more information, go to Dan Netko Exteriors.

 

 

Egress Windows in Bedrooms in Minnesota

Egress Windows in Bedrooms in MN

     At least one window in a bedroom needs to be an egress window.  The egress requirement is based on a fireman being able to climb through the window.

    If your windows don’t meet current egress requirements and you are replacing the windows, you need not enlarge the rough opening in the wall to allow an egress size window.  According to 2007 MN State Building Code, Chapter 1309 Section R310.1.5, the new window must be “the manufacturer’s largest standard size window that will fit within the existing window frame or existing rough opening.”

 

Dan Netko has been a windows, siding, roofing contractor in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota for 30 years.   With many years of hands on personal experience, Dan is knowledgeable in the details of all areas of remodeling.  Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering.  He started out in engineering and chose construction as an appealing avenue of self employment in which he uses many of his engineering skills. 763-784-0227, or 612-201-1449.  For more information on windows, go to Dan Netko Exteriors.

Prevent or minimize condensation on windows in Minnesota

Prevent or minimize condensation on windows in MN

     All double pane windows that have an aluminum or stainless steel spacer between the panes of glass tend to have a condensation problem in the winter.  Moisture in the air will condense on a cold surface like a window.  The metallic spacer around the perimeter of the glass conducts heat to the outside.  This causes the inside pane of glass to get cold enough to condense moisture from the air. 

     If  the windows are old and need replacing, you could get windows that have nonmetallic spacers.  If not, there are things you can do to minimize the condensation problem.  Remove the screens in the winter.  That will allow air movement against the window which will help evaporate the condensation as it forms.  Keep curtains open and if necessary direct a small fan at the window or install a ceiling fan in the room.  Any air movement will help minimize condensation.  Finally, if all else fails, you might have to lower the humidity in the house.  See my blog on controlling humidity inside the house. 

     Dan Netko has been a windows, siding, roofing contractor in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota for 30 years.   With many years of hands on personal experience, Dan is knowledgeable in the details of all areas of remodeling.  Dan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering.  He started out in engineering and chose construction as an appealing avenue of self employment in which he uses many of his engineering skills. 763-784-0227, or 612-201-1449.  For more information on windows, go to Dan Netko Exteriors.