Spring cometh and with it, come siding and painting.

The weather here is just like spring, it reached 86 degrees today. Correspondingly, I have seen an increase in requests for siding repair and exterior painting. This is to repair the damage of winter or winters and summers past, the Texas sun is hard on paint and the rains can do a number of the siding as well.

Due to this increase in requests I though it a good idea to explain some of the ins and outs of siding repairs and painting.

First we will discuss siding.
During the late seventies, all the eighties and even early nineties, siding was mostly a product called Masonite. There have been a large number of class-action lawsuits against the manufactures as it rots anywhere it was cut or had a nail put in it. Now do not get me wrong, I have it on my house and it is just fine. I am lucky as I keep my well painted and it is mostly in dry areas. I have seen it so bad, we had to replace or overlay all the old siding with new siding or cover it with vinyl siding.

So if you have Masonite and need repairs what are your options.
1. Repair the areas affected with any product you can get hold of that has the same or a similar style and profile. Cover the damage with trim if possible, IE Hide it.
2. Replace or overlay the entire siding with a new siding product.

Repair is usually the cheapest and can be at best a temporary fix. Sometimes it is impossible to find the profile of your current product in the exact size and shape. This can lead to the patched look or a quilt pattern look. But lets not forget to address the actual cause of the siding/trim rot. Was it water from a sprinkler aimed improperly, was it water from the roof ? Can adding gutters help? Can adding proper drainage help? This questions are the same for replace or overlay.

Replace or overlay works like this, repair the damaged or missing siding with OSB board, then overlay that with optional foam insulation sheets. This allows you to get insulation where there is none or add to what you already have. Once the areas are repaired and the optional insulation is applied you can overlay them with the new siding product.

This begs the question, what do I replace it with that will not rot?
The simple answer is with a concrete fiber board from James-Hardie. It does not rot, holds paint like a dream and is easy to install. Comes in a wide variety of styles and profiles for siding and trim. The only complaint I have it that it does not have profiles for some of the more popular Masonite profiles and thus cannot always be used for a seamless repair of the Masonite sidings. Now is James-Hardie the only concrete fiber board? No, there are others but they invented it and therefore are the best at it.

Vinyl siding never needs painted, it can be cleaned with a garden hose, it is weather and rot proof. It can even be installed with insulation in it or under it, to add more R-value to help with the raising cost of electricity.

There are other siding products out there and you may find they work better with your type of home or installation. Louisiana-Pacific makes several products they claim are better than the concrete fiber board, but they are still too new to really have been time an weather tested.

Now we can talk about paint.
There are too many companies out there that make paint, so pick the one your father used and stick with them. Not all paint is created equal, but there are things to look for. Warranty, company name, BBB complaints and quality. Sears has a good name for paint and so does Sherwin-Williams. If the quality of the paint is good, it will last, right? Wrong, if the surface is not prepared properly to accept the paint; and he paint is not applied properly, then you will not get the years out of the paint warranty and it will fade, chip or peel.

The proper preparation includes these steps:
Pressure wash surface to be painted - This removes dirt, grim and any loose bits of paint.
Scrap the areas that the bits of paint came of off and prime them. (This step take time)
Replace any bad siding, wood or trim, caulk it in and prime it. (some products come pre-primed)
Tighten up any loose boards, trim etc.
Remove and re-caulk all areas where the caulking failed.
Make sure temperature and humidity are right, not to hot, not to cold, not to humid.
Now you can paint and the paint will hold and last. Never thin your paint.

Spraying VS Brush and roller.
Spraying gives a nice even coat and with modern latex paints and with the right sprayer, this works great.
Brush and Roller in the right hands give a nice even coat, and can have the added benefit of "working the paint onto the surface". (The repeated brushing back and forth or in different directions to "work the paint" onto the surface.) This way often uses more paint thus you get a thicker coat. It is better, it really depends on who does the job and what type of material you are painting. Two coats of sprayed on paint work just as one coat of brushed in most cases.

What type of paint should I use?
Flat or Satin?
Flat can be chalky or have a white film of powder on it over time and may not repel water as well as Satin. Satin is the best paint, as it is washable and will repel water better than a flat paint.

Saving Energy

I just got this months National Geographic magazine in the mail and wow was I blown away with this article titled "Saving Energy". I have blogged and written a couple of nice presentations about ways to save money, but this really hit home. I am on the right track with my presentations and the suggestions contained therein.
Click the title to read the National Geographic article on the web.

Here are some simple facts from the article:
A gallon of gas adds 19.6 lbs of CO2 to the atmosphere
A Kilowatt-hour of electricity adds an average of 1.5 lbs of CO2
100 cubic feet of natural gas adds 12 lbs of CO2

The average American household produces 150lbs of CO2 a day

We really can save the planet by simply using less or making the most out of what we have by using it more efficiently. If we will commit to changing our life style a little, spending a few dollars to upgrade or replace worn out appliances. Replacing old style light bulbs with CFL's etc. We can reduce our carbon foot print as families and then as a nation. All of the ideas and suggestions presented in the article and my presentations will pay for themselves in time. You spend some now, but you will get it back later as the savings pile up. The real payoff is the reduction you will make to your CO2 output per week, per month and per year.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single small foot step. May we all take small steps toward our goal, each one reducing our CO2 footprint and saving the money to pay for the next step.

Spring will soon be in the air and the trees will bloom.

When the trees in Texas bloom, so do the allergies. Your nose runs and your eyes water and you get the ladder out to clean the gutters. You maybe asking what one has to do with the other. The answer is the amount of leaf bud casings, flower debris, twigs and leafs that will soon fill up and clog your gutters after a spring storm. The pollen from the trees is bad enough, to add insult to injury the trees will shed twigs and all manner of debris onto your roof and this will wash into your gutters every time it rains.


To treat the allergies see your Doctor, to treat your gutters, call us. At Rainy Day Services we offer gutter repair, installation, cleaning and three ways to stop your gutters getting clogged with tree debris. Any of which can be retro-fitted onto your existing gutters, no need to replace your perfectly good gutters just to add leaf protection.


The three ways to stop debris getting into your gutter are:

• Leaf Screens (screens)
• Leaf Guards (solid cap)
• Rapidflow (gutter insert from Owens Corning)

If you have gutters you know how valuable they are at keeping you home and foundation dry. You also know the joys of cleaning them out and that there is no need to have to do that chore anymore with any one of the above products.

But why do I need gutters on my home? You may ask.

1. FOUNDATION PROTECTION – Limits the movement of active north Texas soils underneath the foundation by controlling the amount of water that enters at the foundation base.
2. MOISTURE CONTROL – Keeps crawl spaces and garages, dry and free from conditions that support mold and wood rot.
3. PROTECT BACK-FILL – Top soil around the foundation is the weakest link in the foundation moisture control, preventing soil erosion can prevent foundation shift.
4. SHIELD WINDOWS DOOR AND SIDING – Most durability issues arise from water intrusion though windows, doors and siding. With gutters you can direct water flow away from sensitive areas and protect your home.
5. PROTECT PLANTS AND SHRUBS – Standing water in flower beds can kill your plants and promote plant disease.
6. PROTECTS POOLS – Keeps unwanted debris from entering into the pool.
7. PREVENTS SPLASH BACK – Gutters help keep siding and masonry clean by preventing splash back of dirt and grass or other items that can stain or grow mold. It also keeps the rain water off the siding which can rot or crack.
8. DECORATIVE DETAIL – Gutters come is a wide variety of styles, colors and metals which can add pleasing detail while still being functional.
9. RAINWATER COLLECTION – Collecting rain water is the simplest “Green” way to water you lawn and is easy and inexpensive. Gutters help you to concentrate the water to rain barrels or other storage medium.

The number one reason people call us for a cutter installation, is their foundation company recommends it to help keep the foundation moisture level stable. Thus the doors stop sticking and the cracks do not reappear around doors and windows.

The number two reason is leaf protection, for the gutters they already have.

Some houses have gutters from the builder, but only on the front and back. Sometimes even this is just part of the front and part of the back. We can add only to the parts that do not have gutters and will customize your gutter system to fit your homes needs and budget.

We have 21 colors to choose from and we do copper. We do the standard OG gutters and 1/2 round gutters, we do square downspouts and round downspouts. There are even a number of very nice decorative elements available to make your gutters stand out from the crowd. Call us today for your free gutter estimate, designed by proven professionals. 866-596-2030

Want to add more light, without electricity??

Do you have an interior room that needs more light, but you do not want to use electricity to get that light? No where or way to add windows?

There are 2 alternatives open to you:
Sky light
or
Solar tube
Both are simply a special window on the roof that lets in light.

The Sky Light is a great addition to a large interior room but is needs an attic or vaulted ceiling, with the roof above to work. Sky lights are great for single story buildings or for adding light to a room upstairs. They can be a messy addition, and not always energy friendly. You may need to get a structural engineer involved to add a large sky light and or move the HVAC system in your attic to make room for it. Sky lights can be the standard bubble type or the flat type, they can open for fresh air or even have shades to block light as needed.

The Solar Tube is a great addition to a large interior room, however it does not need much attic space and can be run through a second story closet to light up a first floor room. The solar tube is a shiny metal tube (middle) with a small glass dome at the top and a diffuser (lens) a the bottom. The sun light enters through the dome, reflects on the shiny metal tube, and exits through the diffuser to add the warn glow of natural light to your room. There are add-on kits that can damper the light as needed, allow the venting of fresh air or even have a bulb to allow for light at night. They come in various sizes and depending on the area to be lighted you can have several without much mess. In fact they often only take a few hours to install and the dust and mess are a bare minimum.

Solar tube facts:

• It provides exceptional lighting. The light output is incredible, providing as much light as you would expect from a skylight many times its size.
  It is cost-effective. Tubular Daylighting Devices (AKA TDD) cost considerably less than other daylighting options, such as windows and skylights, including both product and installation costs.
• Installing it is fast, clean and easy. They require no structural reframing, tunneling, drywalling or painting. A professional can install the product in less than two hours.
• It can go almost anywhere. The compact and flexible design of TDDs allow them to be installed in just about any room, including rooms without direct roof access and smaller spaces where daylighting would usually not be an option.
• It is “Green.” TDDs allow you to switch off electric lights during the day, which provides savings on energy bills and also reduces environmental pollution.
• It is actually good for you. It has been shown in several prominent studies that increasing daily exposure to natural light can enhance mental and physical well-being, boost concentration and energy levels and a variety of other unexpected perks.

The best option is which ever one fits your needs and home the best. I have a sky light in the master bath and want to add the tube light in the living room. You may need one or the other, or as in my case both.

Some companies make both sky lights and solar tubes, we install both and have qualified installers for all major brands. We can replace your broken or cracked bubble sky light, or can change it to flat sky light. We can install the solar tube even if there is a 90 degree turn, and still get you that true natural light you need. We are a complete roofing and remodeling company.

Call today for your free estimate and start enjoying natural sun light in your home, like you never thought possible. Rainy Day Construction Services866-596-2030

Severe Storm Season is Fast Approaching

The large storm system that moved across North Texas last night is another reminder how powerful Mother Nature is. It's also pretty cool how advanced technology has become. My wife and I were watching the weather report at 9:40pm. We started hearing the tornado sirens and the news reporter said the storm was going to hit us in Allen at 9:48. He showed the rotating winds icon on the weather map and it looked like it was coming straight for us. We got our 3 little kids out of bed and carried them downstairs to the most interior part of our house. We closed all the nearby doors and sat and looked at each other. The wind started picking up and we could hear the rain beat against the windows. So that the children wouldn't be scared, we began singing church songs. After a while the storm died down and a little after 10:00 I went and looked out the windows and turned the news back on. They showed the storm had passed by us and was heading next to Wylie.

I'm thankful my family was safe last night. And I'm glad our TV reception didn't go out (we just switched from Direct TV to AT&T U-Verse).

I'm also glad we had the ability to see the storm approach and had plenty of warning to prior to the event so we could take action.

These storm systems are nothing new - they happen every year. But I would encourage us all to not get lazy about heeding the warnings. Property can be replaced if damaged, but the important things like family and our health/ safety cannot. So, as we enter this stormy season keep your eye on the weather, keep your family close by, and take action when action is needed. And by the way, if you did sustain damage last night or want to be proactive and have your roof checked out - call a professional.

Announcing Flooring Show Rooms.

We are proud to announce we have teamed up with Dal-Tile and ProSource to provide a complete flooring solution to our customers. We now have several professional showcase centers to provide you the best service and selection of porcelain tile, ceramic tile, natural stone, wood, engineered wood, laminate, carpet, custom area rugs, vinyl and granite countertops.

Dal-Tile for Tile & Stone
PLANO Location
1300 E. PLANO PKWY#APLANO, TX 75074
(Plano Pkwy & Ave K)
M-F 7:30AM-4:30PM
(972) 578-1600

McKINNEY Location
2010 REDBUD BLVD #200MCKINNEY, TX 75069
(Redbud & 380)
M-F 7:30AM-4:30PM
(214) 726-0143

DALLAS Location
2320 LBJ FRWAY #100DALLAS, TX 75234
(635 & I-35)
M-F 9AM-5:30PM Sat 9-2
(972) 484-0334


ProSource for all Types of Flooring & Granite Countertops
ALLEN
25 Prestige Circle
Allen, TX 75002
(Just north Bethany & Greenville)
M,W,F 8AM-5PM
T, Thurs 8AM-7PM
(972) 521-5115x304(Thomas Darnell)

CARROLLTON
3361 Boyington
Carrollton, TX 75006
(Keller Springs & Midway)
M,W,F 8AM-5PM
T, Thurs 8AM-7PM
(972) 250-4040x202 (Marian Hodges)

You do not need an appointment at any of the showcase centers. However it would be a better shopping experience, if they know you are coming and so you can have a professional products specialist there ready to answer all your questions. Just let them know you are working with Rainy Day Construction Services when you call and when you arrive. If you would like a Rainy Day sales representative to be there, or to help you set an appointment, just call our office at 866-596-2030 and we will be glad to assist you in anyway we can.

Once you have picked out your new flooring we can have of professional installers, install your new floor. We are licensed, insured and BBB rated excellent. Our installers are trained in the best installation pratices of each flooring type, so your floor will last and retain its beauty.

Thanks again for choosing Rainy Day Construction Services. We look forward to working with you.

It is getting close to that time of year...Foundation Vent Covers

Do you hate having to remove the foundation vent covers off your house each spring and install them again each winter?

If you have a Pier and Beam home you will have foundation vents, most are designed to have a cover placed over them in the winter. This prevents the cold air from blowing under your house and making the floors cold or let in drafts. I have noticed that some people do not cover theirs and wonder way the floors are so cold or the heating bill is so high. Others would like to cover theirs but cannot find the covers or the bolt is missing to thread the cover on with.

In either case this new product will solve all your foundation vent issues. It is an automatic vent that needs not power to open and close. It uses a Bi metal coil, that opens and closes the vent without electricity. When the temperature reaches 70 Degrees F, the vent is opened fully to provide fresh air intake. When temperature drops to 40 Degrees F, the vent closes to conserve energy and protect pipes. It has a bug screen to keep out wasp, etc and a large attractive screen to keep out rodents. See picture below.



It installs into the wood, metal or brick skirting around the Pier and Beam foundation.

This little 8x16 inch beauty ends the need to install or remove the foundation vent covers and the hassle of remembering where you stored them. Have them installed today and check that twice yearly chore off your list.