Attic insulation projects heat up in the fall.

It has been a wonderful fall here in Mn the temperatures have been holding steady in the mild range. Now is the time to Insulate your home or business.  We know this is a temporary situation. Mn is known for it’s cold harsh winters and we should not let a few days of warmth kid us about the future. 

One thing a homeowner can do to prepare for the long winter ahead is to ensure that their home or business has adequate insulation in the attic. It is well known that heat rises. Heat that originates typically in a basement or main level rises thru the floor boards and vents and eventually makes its escape thru the roof. Maintaining a decent level of insulation can slow the loss of heat thus reducing gas and electric bills during the winter months.

 

There are two basic methods for insulating an attic. One is rolled batting. Large rolls of fiberglass insulation that is fit into attic joists and stapled or anchored in some manner to avoid lifting.

Rolled insulation has it’s advantages. It can be purchased at just about any home improvement store. It is easy to handle with just some simple tools it can be cut and properly placed.  Depending on the size of space or area that needs to be covered you will probably need a truck of some sort to transport the rolls as they can become a pretty large amount. 

Disadvantages with rolled insulation, it is typically made of fiberglass. If you have ever worked with fiberglass you know it can get into many nooks and cranny’s it shouldn’t gloves, sweatshirts, eye protection are a must. Fiberglass is literally billions of shards of glass that forms air pockets that trap heat. Once it gets on your skin or in your clothes it can be very uncomfortable to work with.

Blown Insulation also has many advantages. Blown in insulation also can be purchased at just about any local home improvement center. You will need to rent a machine that blows the insulation thru a large tube. Typically a bag of insulation is loaded into a hopper and once the machine is turned on the insulation can be directed by a person handling the tube where it is needed most. The advantage here is that you can get more insulation into areas this way vs the rolled type. Thus ensuring a better job of insulating you home or building.

Disadvantages with blown insulation pretty much lie with having to rent and learn to operate a machine to blow the insulation. It also takes 2 people 1 to continuously feed the machine and one to handle the other end placing the insulation.

 

When deciding to tackle an insulation or re - insulating project at your home or business is to do it yourself or hire an outside contractor.

If you decide to  hire an residential or commercial insulation contractor consider J and B Roofing, Siding, Gutters and Insulation. Professional Licensed Home Remodel Contractors. They serve the entire Twin Cities Metro area.

J and B Roofing Siding Gutters Insulation

941 16th Ave N

South St Paul, MN, 55075

(651) 457-0391

www.jandbroofingmn.com

Roofing, Siding, Gutters, Insulation, Dumpster Rentals, Snow Removal, Siding Companies Saint Paul Mn, Roofing Companies MN

Is it time for more blown insulation in your attic

Blowing insulation into an attic space is a remarkably simple home energy retrofit project that can have truly enormous financial and energy saving payback. 

Insulation is one of the cheapest components of a home, yet has the largest potential for saving money over the course of the life of a building.

During the heating season, a thick blanket of attic insulation acts like a hat for a home. As we know, heat rises and tends to escape through the top of a home. Insulation slows the loss of heat to the outdoors.
During the summer season, an attic space can become a sweltering sauna. Good attic insulation limits the amount of heat that radiates into the living space of your home.

Typically, houses in warm-weather states should have an R-38 insulation in the attic, whereas houses in cold climates should have R-49. These insulation levels will keep heated air from migrating out in winter. In a cooling climate, a good blanket of attic insulation helps keep the house cooler and reduces the load on air-conditioning equipment.

Blowing attic insulation isn’t hard, but it’s dusty, sweaty work.  However the long-term payoff is impressive. You could see your energy bills go down by as much as 15 to 25 percent depending on your climate and existing levels of insulation. And you may also qualify for a tax credit on the cost of the insulation (check with the IRS or at energystar.gov).

At the present time, blown in fiberglass and blown in cellulose are pretty close in price per square foot at the wholesale level, +/- 15%. That means installed costs for cellulose and fiberglass blown in insulation will be similar too. (Keep in mind that could still be a few hundred dollars difference between fiberglass and cellulose. Cellulose was half what fiberglass was about 15 years ago.)

If you want an exact number, you can contact a professional contractor like J and B Roofing in Saint paul. J and B works with blown insulation for Residential and Commercial Buildings in the Twin Cities metro area.  

Long ago there were several insulation materials available: Rockwool, Vermiculite, Fiberglass, Cellulose, Mineral-Wool, all sorts of stuff. Over the years we’ve seen many come and go; they were found to be dangerous, ineffective or impractical. Today there are basically two choices: Fiberglass and Cellulose. The confusing thing is that Fiberglass is available in two forms: rolled batting or blown, and Cellulose is only available as a blown material. It’s not that difficult to figure out which one is best.

Fiberglass is available in two forms: as batting (rolled) or as a loose-fill (blown) material. Many homeowners typically feel they want rolled insulation, but once they do the research they find otherwise. Fiberglass insulation, whether rolled or blown, has several negative characteristics of significant concern. Please do your research before using fiberglass!

Downside of Rolled Insulation

The downfall of rolled material is that it must be placed between each ceiling joist, sometimes fitting tightly, sometimes loosely. Rolled material must go over, under and around the many obstacles in the attic such as plumbing, piping and electrical conduit; this application compromises the performance of the insulation by creating gaps, voids and other “leaks”. The blown insulation application seals and provides a much “tighter” blanket of insulation throughout the attic, this is referred to as a “monolithic fill”, which is a fancy way of saying that the blown material and application offers a continuous blanket of insulation that covers and seals over everything as a solid blanket.

Insulation has a tendency to settle thus reducing it’s effectiveness. If you are considering getting an home attic insulation evaluation contact a company like J and B Roofing a professional Licensed contractor.

J and B Roofing, Siding Gutters, Blown Insulation  

941 16th Ave N, 
South St Paul, Mn. 55075
651-457-0391

Roofers, Roofing, Blown Insulation, Siding, Gutters, Shingles, Storm Damage, Leaky Roofs Repaired, Roofing Contractors

Choosing the Right Siding Products

Are you thinking about re-siding your home or rental property? There are so many options on the market and so many price points to consider. If you are updating your street appeal to make your home more attractive for sale you may want to consider the ROI or return on investment cost vs what return is expected. Adding 20,000 worth of siding on a home that may only get you 5,000 out of an appraiser you may want to reconsider a less expensive brand or type of siding.

 Some choices for siding products, but not all available today are:

Residential Siding

Vinyl Siding:  Homeowners and builders like vinyl siding because it's long lasting, inexpensive, and virtually maintenance-free. Characteristics:
-- Never needs paint
-- Can be cleaned with soap and water
-- Comes in a wide variety of colors from pastels to deep tones
-- Styles include lap, shakes, scallops, and fish scales
-- Available with foam backing for energy efficiency
-- Lasts about 40 years
-- Cost: $1-$6 per square foot, uninstalled

Wood Siding:  The traditional favorite, wood has declined in popularity as cost has increased and homeowners look for lower maintenance materials. Characteristics:
-- Available as clapboard or lap siding, shakes, and shingles
-- Cedar and redwood are naturally decay-resistant
-- Flammable; look for factory-treated with flame retardant
-- Needs to be stained or painted every few years
-- Damaged boards are easy to replace
-- Cost: $1-$4 per square foot, cedar uninstalled; $5 per square foot, redwood uninstalled

Engineered Wood Siding: Engineered wood siding is the generic term for hardboard and plywood made into 4x8-foot sheets or lap panels. Characteristics:
-- Available in smooth or embossed textures
-- Cuts and handles like real wood
-- Needs repainting every 5 to 10 years
-- Exposed cuts or edges can weather or decay
-- Lasts 20 to 30 years
-- Cost: $1.50-$3 per square foot, uninstalled

Fiber-Cement Fiber Siding-cement siding (made of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber) looks like wood, but it's more durable and less expensive. Characteristics:
-- Available in planks from 5 1/4 inches to 12 inches wide
-- Smooth or wood textures available
-- Fire-resistant and termite-proof; won't rot or crack
-- Holds paint up to 15 years
-- Limited, transferable warranties up to 50 years
-- Cost: $2-$6 per square foot uninstalled, plus trim

Siding Projects

Of course there are many more types of siding but these are the most common lately. If you are trying to determine which type of siding product may be right for you contact a professional siding installation company. Jand B Roofing Siding Gutters in Saint Paul Mn. has been installing a variety of siding products for over 25 years. Now a 2^nd generation has taken the helm and offers the most cutting edge sidings and installation systems available on the market today.

 

 Contact J and B Roofing for a free estimate  and consultation regarding all the options that are available to you for your re-siding or siding repair project

J and B Roofing Siding Gutters

941 16th Ave N.
South St. Paul, MN 55075

Tel: (651) 457-0391

Roofing, Siding, Gutters, Attic Insulation, Vinyl Siding, Leafguard Gutters, Owens Corning Roofing, Shingles Attic Insulation, Soffit and Facia   

Local Roofing Companies survive by word of mouth advertising

Storm and Hail Damage, Flat Roof Specialists

Local Roofing Companies survive by word of mouth advertising. That is, people and businesses that have something positive or negative to tell their friends and neighbors about a recent experience with a given business can help a business succeed or keep bad companies from harming others.

In this post we are featuring some of our recent customers whom we have given a chance to voice their experiences and let the reviews speak for  themselves. At, J and B Roofing we typically deal with residential and commercial roofing needs of  customers in the West Saint Paul, North Saint Paul, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, Stillwater areas. However we do service the exterior products needs of the entire Twin Cities Metro area if called upon. Our family owned business is in it's 2nd. generation and proudly providing roofing, siding and gutter services to many families and businesses in the area.

We like to think of our company as the company you can trust with any type of roofing siding or gutter needs. We accept jobs others shy away from, steep roofs, flat roofs, multiple gabled roofs u name we are willing to put our professional reputation on the line.

Professional Siding Companies

Testimonials: 

"Great job. Hilda is great to work with and walked me through my claim. When they were done the only sign left that they had been here was a perfect new roof"! 

Glen E. Eagan, Mn.

______________________________________________________

"I've heard about so many people having negative experiences with roofing companies, and I'm so happy not to be among them! I appreciate local companies like J and B Roofing who are actively involved in giving back to the community. And although home repairs are never fun, working with someone like Hilda made the experience much more pleasant. He did an excellent job of explaining, coordinating, and executing the projects. I greatly appreciate the top-notch level of customer service that he provided. Kudos to J and B Roofing"!

I'm happy to refer friends and family your way.
Lori C. Woodbury Mn

If you have recently suffered storm damage or if your home or business is in need of new roofing siding or gutters contact, J and B Roofing Today!

Jand B Roofing, Siding, Gutters
Saint Paul, Mn. 
(651) 457-0391

Roofers Saint Paul Mn, Roofers Eagan Mn, Roofers Woodbury Mn, Roofing, Siding, Gutters, Shingle Replacement, 

I Need A New Roof, Now What?

I Need A New Roof, Now What?

One question any home owner should be asking themselves if they have a roof that is getting up there in age is “how do I know if I need a new roof”? 

Curled shingles need to be replaced

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home, for obvious reasons. Without it you would be left with four walls and a foundation – not enough to provide much comfort or protection from the elements. Like everything though, a roof will wear out over time.
As a homeowner you need to be aware of the state of your roof and whether it needs repairs or replacement, especially if you have any plans on staying in your home. 
You can look for signs of damage yourself. Homeowners can examine their roofs in both the spring and the fall. Mark a time on your calendar for spring and fall and perform visual checks as necessary.

Interior Roof Check

One way how to tell if you need a new roof is to climb up into your attic. The interior check is fairly easy to do as long as you have access to the attic and a good flashlight. Invest in a good light because you want to be able to see fine details.
Once you get up there, look around for four particular signs of roof troubles:

Interior roofing signals

• Light shining in from outside – This is the easiest problem to discover, even without a flashlight. Any light shining in through your roof from outside is a problem. A roofing repair that should be addressed immediately.
• Sagging Areas – If there is a sag in your roof this will be one of the easier ways to tell if you need a new roof. Sagging is a definite indication of structural issues.
• Dark Spots or Trails – Dark areas and trails are an indication that moisture is penetrating your roof somewhere and probably creating mold.
• Leaks or Water Damage – If you actually see a leak or obvious water damage it is time to call in a roofing repair company.

These are all very basic ways to tell if you need a new roof .

Exterior Roof Check

Another way of checking to see if you need a new roof is to actually take a trip up onto your roof. Yup that means getting out a ladder and climbing up there. We should note here we do not encourage homeowners to just crawl up and risk injury some problems can be seen right from the ground. Keep in mind that even an eight-foot drop can cause serious injuries, so make sure your ladder is secure and that you are very, very careful while looking around. Also, avoid walking on your roof if it is made out of easily damaged materials such as tile.

• Look for Damage – Major damage to roofing materials should be fairly obvious. Shingles will split, crack and warp if they get too old, while tile will break if it has been damaged by hail.
• Look for Moisture Problems – Mold and other moisture related problems could wreak just as much damage outside as in. A bad shingle can allow moisture to sit instead of shedding it down the roof.

  

  Exterior roofing issues

• Shingle Granules – As your shingles age they will shed more and more granules. If they are getting too old you will likely find excessive amounts of granules in your gutters.
• Look for Wear – Roofing materials around chimneys and vents can wear over time, so keep an eye out for any issues here.
• Check Your Drainage – Your gutters and downspouts are an important component of your home and should be cleaned a few times a year. Check to make sure they are securely attached and that water is flowing where it should be.

Typically an asphalt shingle roof that is architectural grade with last at least 30 years. An architectural shingle looks different than a standard asphalt shingle which looks completely flat when looking from the ground. An architectural shingle has “depth” and most would agree looks much better. These shingles are more expensive and rightly so given how much better they look and the extended roof life they deliver.
If you use a quality shingle like owns corning you can get 25-30 years in a climate like Mn.

If you are thinking you need a new roof and your unprepared to do an inspection call a professional roofing company like J and B Roofing. Jand B roofing enjoys an A+ rating with the BBB. We don't recommend changes unless we feel they are necessary. No job is too large or too small for J and B. We take pride in accepting jobs other roofing companies turn down.

J and B Roofing
Saint Paul Mn
(651) 457-0391

Steep Roofing Specialists, St Paul Mn, Roofers, Roofing, Shingle Replacement, Roofing Companies, Minneapolis Roofing Companies,  Apple Valley Roofing Contractors

Residential Siding Options, Vertical Siding Vs. Horizontal Siding. What works for you

Home Siding Options: Vertical Siding Vs. Horizontal Siding

Horizontal Siding

Horizontal Siding

Horizontal siding is the style of siding that is placed on most homes. Many homeowners prefer to have horizontal siding because it creates a more traditional look. Depending on the type of siding, the horizontal siding can be applied as strips or shingles. It does not involve any extra steps like vertical siding. When installing horizontal siding, the writers at

CertainTeed, www.certainteed.com, note the more even the wall looks, the better the outcome will look.
 
Vertical Siding

Vertical Siding

Vertical siding is most commonly found on non-residential structures such as office buildings, barns and tool sheds. Even though it is not commonly found on homes, it does not mean that homeowners cannot choose to install vertical siding.
When installing vertical siding, it takes a few extra steps, such as adding furring strips horizontally to create a level surface for nailing when applying vertical siding onto brick, stucco or block.
 
Which Type of Siding is Right for You?
When choosing between vertical siding and horizontal siding, homeowners should look through catalogs and websites for examples of each type of siding on buildings. If that's not helpful enough, they could go around their town looking for examples and taking photographs. By looking at different examples, homeowners will learn which style best works with their personal preferences and their home's style. If homeowners are interested in vertical siding, they should check with an appraiser to see if that would hurt the value of their home or affect its selling ability.

Call Jand B Roofing in Mn. for a free estimate on siding work, and to discuss the type of the siding that will work best for your home.

Jand B Roofing Mn
Roofing Siding Gutters
651-457-0391

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