Last week in “Ask Vern”, we discussed whether new windows are the best answer for fixing a drafty home. It’s a question we get often as the winter weather sets in. No one likes a draft. It doesn’t matter how many fleece blankets you pile on or how high you set the...
“Hey Vern, We live in a ranch home built sometime in the 1950s-60s. It’s not old but we have problems keeping it warm in the winter. Especially the bedrooms. My wife and kids are always turning the thermostat up to 75 at night. I’ve heard good windows help in homes...
“Hey Vern! I’m so glad I found you! I just moved from Texas to Reading and...it’s snowing!!! While I’m super excited to live near my family, this is also my first home where winter weather is a concern. I read your article about ice dams, but what about snow weight?...
Icicles: A Winter Scene or Ice Dams In Progress? Do your gutters look like a gingerbread house? Those icicles are a pretty addition to a snowy day... if they aren’t on your roof. Why do I say that? Icicles are an early sign of ice dams forming on the eaves of your...
I’ll admit: I love browsing home design sites. Whether it’s saving seasonal decor inspiration or keeping up with kitchen trends, looking at websites is the “right brain” balance to the management work I do at Martin Roofing and Siding. But sometimes I see a DIY...
“Hey Vern! I have an older home with wood clapboard siding. The paint is peeling- I know it’s not going to be a simple fix. Pieces are starting to come loose from the house. I don’t live in a historic district so I’ve been thinking of switching to vinyl. But I don’t...
What’s the best part of kicking off the holidays? Well, if you ask Katrina...it’s the turkey. And, as a parent? I love it too, if not for different reasons. Having a family-owned business like ours means we don’t spend as much time together in leisure as we’d like....
Don’t Let Hail Damage Become A Major Home Renovation. Did you know that 8% of properties in Pennsylvania experience hail damage every year? In fact when it comes to hail damage, us Schuylkill county homeowners are in the top 5 areas in the nation. Catching hail damage...
“Have you ever thought about updating the outside of your home?” My friend Kristen looked at me like I had just said something impossible. In fact, if I wasn’t in the home building business...she would’ve probably thought I was joking. “As in...new siding?” “No, not...
What does siding look like at 32 years old? It looks like it's ready for an update! Bob and Karen's siding was showing signs of wear and tear: color deterioration, pull away, and unevenness from the many storms it weathered. They knew they needed to replace their...
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