For this project in Highland Park, we were hired to remove shake and 3-tab shingles as well as install a new wooden deck.  To reduce the cost of the project we used high-quality plywood for the new wooden deck.  For the deck’s roof, we used the CertainTeed Landmark shingles. We installed a composite waterproof floor. We also used a TRIBUILT synthetic felt and for energy efficiency, we used a 3/8 fanfold insulation. 

A siding replacement is one way to revitalize your home’s exterior. We replaced the old siding with a new Camden pointe D4, vinyl siding with a 3/8 fanfold insulation that helped improve the energy efficiency of the property. We installed some 5-inch aluminum gutters and oversized 3x4 downspouts to prevent water runoff in rainy seasons. We also installed the GAF Cobra Snow Country continuous ridge vent to help prevent snow infiltration during winter. 

The roof is one of the most important elements of a home but sometimes it’s regularly overlooked when it comes to maintenance. For this project, we replaced an old roof with a new GAF Timberline HDZ roof, using the GAF peel and stick roofing. We also used the aluminum triple 4" soffit and fascia Norandex ABC Clay, to add some finishing touches to this amazing home. And to help the roof withstand harsh climatic conditions we applied a flat roof bitumen system. we also required to replace the old windows and installed few new wooden windows. 

To keep your home well-protected from various elements and looking amazing we collaborate with some of the best siding material manufacturers in the country. The first thing we did is remove the original siding. Afterward, we installed the new cedar siding. The whole process took us a few days.

On this project, we took down the current siding and the roof and replaced it with a GAF Timberline HD color charcoal to give the home a new look, which increased the home's current value on the market. We also installed a 3/8 insulation house wrap to make the home energy efficient. To prevent the yard from being damaged by rainwater during the rainy season we used seamless gutters and some oversized downspouts.

For this project we installed a Certainteed Landmark PRO shingles roofing system and got rid of the entire old roofing. We opted to go with the Landmark Pro shingles due to their great durability and quality. Since we used the Landmark Pro shingles we also decided to go with the Shadow Ridge as the hip and ridge accessory shingles for a perfect match. We used the Certainteed Winterguard due to its protective value during the subsequent stages of the roof replacement.

Roofing, Gutter installation, and Siding are the three important activities that should always be done with utmost care and professionalism. In this project, for the roof replacement, we used the GAF Timberline HD Driftwood, and for the gutters, we used some new aluminum SPECTRA Royal brown gutters, and finally, for the siding, we used the James Hardie with a 6-inch exposure. To wrap the windows we used the Hardie Board vented soffit and aluminum window wrap. For the garage door, we used a white ALSCO, Garage door trim. 

For this project we had to rebuild a project that was not in the best of conditions. For the windows we opted to go with JELD-WEN windows as they are energy efficient and budget friendly. In order to achieve our desired finish we used James Hardie plank corners and trim for both internal and external corners. For the porch’s roof we opted for a custom design of a flat roof that left the porch looking exquisite both from the inside and the outside.

There was a time decades ago when vinyl siding on a house was a 'con' and not a 'pro'. Past vinyl siding manufacturing techniques had an end result product that was not very durable – and also not very attractive.

The vinyl siding industry has made leaps and bounds in just the past 5-10 years alone. Modern production methods have resulted in a product that actually adds curb appeal and an added layer of protection to a home or garage. If they so desire a customer can have a vinyl siding installed that actually has patterns of wood grain, brick, or even a log cabin style.

This particular whole house siding product used sustainable, durable, and dent-resistant Quest siding from Ply Gem. Ply Gem is one of those said companies expanding their offerings to include lap siding as we see here, but also vertical siding for a different contrast as well as shake and shingle siding for a whole different appearance altogether.

These particular customers chose vinyl because of the cost-effectiveness when you consider the product life span as well as being virtually maintenance-free. The Quest style of mastic siding has a tornado-tough design to specifically stand up to intense winds. This is a very tall house with little wind resistance in the form of trees and neighbors, so having something specifically designed for gusty situations was a priority.

The way this type of siding is able to stand up to high winds is through a double-thick nail hem, a Patented T3-LOK® Panel Locking System, and an Exclusive Hang-Tough™ Technology. The end result is a product that can withstand winds up to 190 MPH.

Finally the appearance of this siding was a selling point for the homeowners. The gray color is subtle, but really 'pops' with the white corner posts and window/door trim. This is a color choice that really makes a deck and other external features really stand out, and it is a perfect candidate for a contrasting red or green steel front door replacement down the line.

This specific siding style has 18 standard and another 12 premium color choices to choose from. There are also many different siding functions to choose from such as foam-backed to provide better insulation properties, thicker products for more durability, and designs specifically for conditions such as added protection against UV light, low humidity, rapid temperature changes, etc.

It's tough to pinpoint the most popular renovation customers prefer on the interior of their homes. Finished basements obviously offer a great return on investment that a homeowner can enjoy now and when it comes time to list and kitchens are known as the focal point of the home so any budget invested into them is worthwhile.

When it comes to the exterior of the home though, the consensus most popular type of project is decking. There's no better way to expand your living square footage than by having a deck built so you can enjoy the outdoors.

This project in Mundelein shows that you don't need a huge, sprawling, multi-level feature to benefit from a new deck. This has enough space for a barbecue grill or seating and still adds to curb appeal on the overall aesthetics of the property. The wood deck even brings life back to this siding and trim which isn't particularly flashy on its own.

Another way that this particular size of a deck is beneficial is that it requires less maintenance. This could easily be restained in an hour compared to a whole weekend project of a 400+ square foot deck. In an era when many homeowners are making the shift to composite decking due to its longevity and almost zero maintenance, this Mundelein project shows that there is still a lot of value to be had when building with wood. If the customers do decide to change their siding down the line, the deck can be stained darker to match as well.

This project also included building a balcony off of the side door. It does't have access to the ground via stairs, but sometimes that is preferable either for safety or to just let the dogs enjoy some fresh air without having to worry about them running off after a squirrel.

For years the leader for the project with the best return on investment in the annual Cost vs. Value report was an entry door replacement (particularly steel). Recently, manufactured stone veneer and a garage door replacement have taken over the top spot on the mantle with a 90% or higher cost recoup, but that doesn't mean a new entry door still isn't a worthwhile investment.

On this particular project an entry door replacement changed the entire attitude of the front of the house. This homeowner opted for a wood door instead of steel and it was the perfect choice as the dark tones provide a great contrast to the lighter siding.

The wider door frame with the full-length vertical mirrored window is what gives this door replacement the ultimate aesthetic boost. That glass is shatter resistant so it is safe, and since it's mirrored people can't look into the home. At the same time light shines through the opaque glass on the interior and it's always beneficial to have more sources of natural light inside the home.

These are the types of remodeling that aren't necessarily grand in scale, but make a huge difference in terms of curb appeal as well as safety. Manufacturers are getting more and more creative with their front door styles so this is a project that should be making its way back up the Cost vs Value report in the coming years.

A roof replacement isn't necessarily one of those 'sexy' exterior projects like installing a deck or replacing siding but often times it's a necessary project. Your roof – just like a water heater or furnace – has a definitive life span whether that be 15, 25, or 30+ years. Eventually, a replacement is going to be needed.

Unfortunately, our climate here in the Midwest isn't exactly conducive to a long roof life span. The old joke is that we experience all four seasons and that's just in one day November 2022 was a perfect example as it was 70 degrees on a Thursday and snowing by the weekend.

The good news is that there are precautions we take to get the most out of your roof based on the elements we deal with. In this Buffalo Grove roof replacement for example an ice and water barrier was installed directly overtop the sheathing at the base of the roof and in the valleys where snow most often builds up.

Protection in All Climates

The ice and water barrier is like the synthetic felt underlayment, but is made of a polymer-modified bitumen that is multiple times more durable than the felt. Ice and water barrier also has an adhesive backing which bonds to the plywood sheathing – and causes a lot of curse words when trying to be installed on hot days because this stuff sticks instantly.

Speaking of heat, we don't just have cold in the Midwest, there are a fair share of 90+ degree days in the Summer which is why we used cobra vent. A roof not only gets pelted by sun, wind, and rain on the exterior surface, it can have a lot of heat building up on the underside and needs to be able to breathe. Cobra vents are also installed as an exit point for exhaust fans.