How do you know when it’s time to replace your gutters? Here are five signs you know it is time to call in professionals such as Trinity Exteriors Inc. to have them replaced.

1. There are missing sections or loose sections of gutter
2. There are nails popping out and missing causing gutters to appear floppy
3. After a storm you notice large puddles of water by your home
4. After a strong storm landscaping is washed away
5. You have evidence of water staining or mold on the facade of your property

If you have noticed the above mentioned signs to your property then there is a high probability your gutters are in need of replacing. It is time to contact a licensed, bonded and insured contractor such as Trinity Exteriors Inc. to get your gutters replaced. To request a consultation click on this link.

The good news is there are plenty of ways to avoid this situation. Armed with the right information on how to find a reliable roofer you can rest assured that the choice you make is a secure one. Here are some tips you can use to help find a reliable roofing contractor in Minnesota.

1. Groundwork- Good research is the perfect place to start. Family, friends, and acquaintances are often happy to tell you about their experiences. Angie’s List is another great place to check for reputable contractors. Trinity Exteriors Inc. is proud to be a Angie’s List 2011 Super Service Award winner. Another tool that is useful for looking for a reputable contractor is the Better Business Bureau. Ask potential contractors for references.

2. Look for signs of validity- No one wants to become victim of a scam. You want to check the companies that you are interested in for signs that their business is legitimate. Having a license, being insured and bonded, and being able to provide local references are all signs that lead you to believe a company is legitimate.

3. Experience Working With Insurance Carriers- If you carry insurance on your property your insurance carrier should cover the cost of any work needed to repair you property to a better than before condition. You want to hire a company that has experience in negotiating and working with major insurance providers to help make sure you are protected.  Trinity Exteriors Inc. routinely works hand in hand with all major insurance providers.
Trinity Exteriors Inc. would love to be your roofing contractor of choice here in the Twin Cities area. Contact us today for your roofing needs.

Power Washing Your Siding Tips:

Safety is very important when it comes to power washing the siding of your Edina home. Safety goggles are a must using a power washer. You also want to wear gloves when using the power washer and never stand on a ladder of any size. Wash everything down while standing on the ground as to not risk the chance of injury. If you are unable to reach higher places hire a local professional contractor to do the job for you.

A power washer is useful for cleaning mold and mildew off vinyl, wood, concrete, or asphalt. There are typically four different sizes of nozzles on a power washer. You want to experiment to see which nozzle is best suited to clean the job you are doing. If you are using too large of a water stream you can damage vinyl. You want to start with a low stream of flow and work your way up as to not damage your siding.

There are two types of power washers on the market today that can be used to clean your vinyl siding. One is fueled by natural gas, propane, things of that nature, and the other is an electric power washer. The fuel one provides you more mobility; however it creates a great deal of noise and emits fumes. The electric one is quieter and does not have the fumes that are emitted with fuel powered ones, but there is the issue of needing an outlet to operate it.

While cleaning your Edina home’s siding be sure to inspect the integrity of your siding. If your home is need of new siding contact a reputable contractor such as Trinity Exteriors Inc.

Picking a roofing contractor in the Bloomington and Twin Cities area can be a difficult decision. When choosing a contractor you want to investigate them thoroughly. Many times after a large storm you will see many out of town roofing and siding companies that are commonly known as storm chasers appear. These companies may not always be legit.  Keep in mind there are many out of town roofing companies that come to our area after a large storm who are reputable. However, if there are any issues with the work the out of town contractor does you may have a difficult time getting them back to your home to fix things once they return to their home location. Checking sources such as the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List will ensure you are hiring a qualified and reliable contractor. Trinity Exteriors Inc. is a 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award Winner.

If your home has experienced storm damage call Trinity Exteriors Inc. and allow us the opportunity to give your roof a qualified inspection.

What To Look For In A Roof Inspection:

Storm Damage:    You may recall the bad storm that hit the Twin Cities metro area May 10^th of last year.  A storm of that magnitude can do sever damage to the roof of your Edina home.  After a storm of this strength checking your roof for damage is a must.
Wind Damage:  Wind damage may have caused your roof to be missing or have broken tiles, be sure to look for this when inspecting your roof.

Ice Damn Damage: Lot of damage to shingles is caused by ice damns not being removed properly. Chiseling or hammering ice damns off your roof can cause damage to your shingles.

Damaged Gutters:  Strong winds, ice and snow can damage gutters.

Mold & Mildew:  Over time your roof may develop black streaks. You may be surprised to learn that those streaks are a result of mold and mildew.

Loose Flashing & Seals: As part of your roof inspection check for any loose flashing or seals.

Adding a roof inspection to your list of spring cleaning activities will allow you to address any small problems there may be before it turns into something larger. If a new roof is what is needed for your Minneapolis home you can trust Trinity Exteriors Inc. to do a superb job in meeting all your needs.

What is Angie’s List?

Angie’s List is a place where consumers can go to find a detailed review on many different service providers from roofers to dentists. Angie’s List has 1 million contractors and is growing. Reviews found on Angie’s List come from real reviewers, not anonymous users.

From everyone at Trinity Exteriors, Inc we would like to say thank you to all our loyal customers for making this award possible. If you are the market this spring to have your roof or siding replaced on your home in the Twin Cities and super service is what you are looking for then give us a call.

Other parts of the metro area which large hail was reported include Edina, Eden Prairie, Elk River, Golden Valley, Chaska and Chanhassen. There were reports of funnel clouds around Hopkins as well. The extreme winds blew the roof off a home in Wright County and numerous vehicles suffered body and window damage throughout the storm’s path. Luckily, no injuries were reported. Other areas adversely affected were Anoka, Ellendale, St. Francis, Waite Parke, St. Joseph and Bowlus.

Strong winds accompanied the hail storm with wind gusts as high as 70mph reported in northern and western Wisconsin and throughout central and southern Minnesota.

Hail and wind storms are a common occurrence this time of year around Wisconsin and Minnesota and can cause substantial damage to area homes and businesses. If you’ve been hit recently with large hail or see missing shingles on your roof it is probably time to have the exterior of your home checked by an expert. Contact Trinity Exteriors to request a free exterior home inspection.

Choose Roof Color By: Type of Home

A light grey roof may match well with a red brick Georgian home, but create a dreary and somber exterior with a stone German Colonial. A red roof works well on a white adobe Spanish-style home often found in the southwest, but may look out of place on a woodland ranch in Montana. Research your type of home and find what works best with its general design.

Choose Roof Color By: House Color

House color is perhaps the most important determinant when deciding on roof color. You can go with a high contrast roof that stands out against your siding and trim color or match the siding with the roof so that they blend together. If your house matches your local terrain, then you should try and blend in the roof as well. A white house with a black roof makes an effective contrast, while a brown roof will give your entire home a more traditional look. A yellow house with light green trim doesn’t need a yellow roof; a light grey will keep the focus on the house rather than the roof. Remember, your roof should complement your house color, not quarrel with it.

Choose Roof Color By: Climate

Also consider that darker colors absorb more heat, so if you live in a hot climate then a dark roof may keep the interior of your home warmer than a light colored roof. According to tests done by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a white roof on a sunny day (55 degrees outside) reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit, while black roof surpassed 140 degrees. Such considerations based purely on roof color can have a noticeable affect your cooling or heating bills.

Choose Roof Color By: Community

Some neighborhoods have Community Housing Associations that make the rules on house and roof color. If you are part of an association, then refer to the rules before making any decision. For neighborhoods that do not have such regulations, look around your community and see the types of house colors and roofing blends. Drive around your area and see the general styles; it will help narrow down the possibilities.

Additional Roof Color Resources:

• CertainTeed ColorView

With the Holiday Season approaching quickly, it seemed all too perfect to comment on this wild photo, found in a photo essay of 17 Living Roofs.

Gol, Norway

These folks can decorate their roof and Christmas Tree at the same time. I wonder if Mr. Claus would be intrigued, or afraid to land?

Happy Holidays..

Step 1) Find the square footage of your attic. If you have a garage, include this as well since proper garage ventilation confers similar benefits. For example, if your attic space is 50 feet x 40 feet, then you multiple the numbers together and get 2000 feet. 50 × 40 = 2000 square feet.

Step 2) Divide the final number by 150. This number is called the Total Net Free Ventilating Area (TFNVA) and refers to the fact that there should be proper ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic space. The number is a recommendation by the Federal Housing Administration, which recommends between a 1/150 to a 1/300 ratio depending on the age of the home. If you have an older home then a 1/300 ratio is suitable, since the home is probably less energy efficient and thus less airtight. The building codes of new homes over the past 20 years are much stricter, making them more airtight and therefore requiring additional ventilation.

Let’s use the maximum recommended TNFVA of 1/150 to get maximum ventilation: 2000 ÷ 150 = 13.33. This is the total square footage of attic venting needed in your home.

Step 3) Convert square feet into square inches: 13.33 × 144 (the number of square inches in a square foot or 12 × 12) = 1919.52 (you can round this up to 1920). This is the total square inches of venting you need. Since vents are measured in inches it is easier to do the final vent calculation if you use inches.

Step 4) Calculate the intake and exhaust venting percentage based on 60% intake vents (soffits and eaves) to 40% exhaust vents (near the roof ridge). You could make simpler calculation of 50/50, but most experts recommend a 60/40 split. So 1920 × .60 = 1152 square inches for intake vents and 1920 × .4 = 768 square inches for exhaust vents.

Step 5) Choose and install the right number and types of vents needed for proper attic ventilation. Different types of vents provide various rates of venting efficiency and also a different visual aesthetic to your home, so choose carefully.

Additional Attic Ventilation Resources:

• 7 Common Problems Caused By Poor Attic Ventilation
• Homeowner Guide: Inspecting Your Attic Before Winter
• A Guide to Installing Attic Ventilation