Home improvement projects can liven up your home and some can even give you more living space.

Many times, however, these projects consume so much time and require so much effort that most homeowners put them off for as long as possible. That is why we are here to help. There are a number of home improvement projects that you can do quickly on a weekend to spice up your home.

One of the easiest ways to improve the look of your home is by spray painting furniture or hardware. Spray painting door knobs and other fixtures can instantly update the look of your home.

You can also update the look of plain interior doors. If you cannot afford to purchase new doors, you can use paint and trim to give your doors a more unique, modern look.

One last, very simple home improvement projects involves a simple pressure washer. If you do not own a pressure washer, you can rent one very cheaply. Over time, your home’s siding, sidewalks, patio, and deck can become caked in dirt, pollen, and other debris. A pressure washer will allow you to remove this debris, giving your home a cleaner, newer look.

Curb appeal is very important when looking to sell your home.

Curb appeal also gives you a more pleasant ownership experience while you own your home. While adding a fresh coat of paint to your siding or having a new roof installed are great ways to boost curb appeal, you can also liven up your home through landscaping. Here are a few ways that landscaping can add curb appeal to your home.

It should go without saying that your yard should look alive. What we mean is it should look well-watered and colorful, not yellow or almost dead.

Make sure your yard is balanced. It should be organized and should include some symmetry. Disorganization makes your yard look messy and will turn off buyers.

Create layers in your landscaping by adding flowers and other foliage. For example, add flowers and small green plants in front of the shrubs that line your home. This will add depth and a pop of color to an otherwise boring landscape.

Lastly, do not overdo it. Landscaping that is too extravagant may leave buyers wondering how they could possibly tend to all of the plants. Keep it clean, bright, and as simple as possible.

Keeping Gutters and Drains Clean in the Fall

There is no doubt that regular roof maintenance is important both for commercial roofs and residential roofs. Commercial roofs, however, present especially important tasks. Since these roofs are flat and not pitched like residential roofs, a lack of maintenance can result in catastrophe. One of the most important times a commercial roof needs maintenance is during the fall. Here are a few things you can do this fall to keep your commercial roof functioning properly.

Fall leaves and fall rain can create a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and fungi should it be left unattended. This can cause damage to the roof and damage to the health of those inside the building. Additionally, it can block drains, leading to standing water on your roof. Even shallow standing water can add significant weight to your roof, causing leaks and even roof failure. Standing water can also freeze during the wintertime, expanding any small cracks the water may have intruded.

A maintenance crew should be able to head up to the roof and spot debris, especially around drains. Once they spot the debris, it should be removed. A professional inspection can help spot damage to the roof caused by debris, and a course of action can be taken to repair the damage.

Common Roofing Problems to Look For

When your roof is damaged, you may feel like you are in a unique situation that you hope can be resolved.

However, most types of roof damage are actually fairly common. This is very good news, as you can be confident that a roofer has solved these problems in the past and will be able to again. With that said, here are a few common roofing problems to look for.

Poor installation is, unfortunately, a common problem. Many roofers without real experience pop up looking for work and make installation mistakes that an experienced professional would not make. Have a roofer come take a look to see if your roof was properly installed.

Leaks are one of the most common types of damage. They may just seem like a nuisance at first, but they can lead to serious damage like dry rot. As soon as you spot a leak, you should have the damage assessed and repaired.

Ponding water is fairly common on flat roofs. This can be a sign of an issue under the surface or can be due to a clogged drainage system.

Poor ventilation is something many homeowners experience, and this can lead to ice dams, moisture problems, and high energy bills.

The list of common roofing problems is a long one and includes many others not listed here. If you have experienced roof damage, chances are a roofer has seen it in the past and knows how to fix it.

Do I Need Valley Metal on My Roof?

Your roof has valleys. Valleys are formed when two sloped areas of a roof are joined together.

These perform extremely important functions on steep-sloped roofs, namely to channel water down the roof and into the gutter. Most roofs have a metal sheet installed in the valley, but is this necessary?

The metal typically installed in the roof valley is galvanized sheet metal. This metal resists corrosion and is lightweight, making it an ideal choice of material. This is called an open valley. A closed valley is when roofing materials, such as shingles, as installed in the valley to channel water. Closed valleys look better than open valleys and can be cheaper as well. However, water can get underneath the shingles on closed valleys if installation was improper. So, which is best?

In all reality, you do not need valley roof metal. Both closed valleys and open valleys work well to channel water. You should consider both options when having a new roof installed. Talk with a roofer to find out what they recommend and what they usually do on the roofs they install.

If you have any further questions regarding this page, you can contact us at 918-404-5996.

Outdoor Creations Roofing is located at 1924 W Albany St, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.