The U.S. is home to several types of termites with varying ranges and habits, so chances are your area has termites just waiting to invade your house. Other than keeping chemical termite treatments up to date, what can you do to avoid them?

Some common sense rules apply, such as not keeping any untreated wood near your house (you should keep brush piles and firewood at least 20 feet away). But you should also focus on keeping your house well-maintained, since neglect and damage can often make the situation more desirable to termites.

Discover three roof problems that can encourage termites and damage your roof’s integrity that you should avoid.

If you need a new roof and have grown tired of the appearance of asphalt shingles or just want to learn about more roof types that work well for Illinois homeowners, then you should learn all about cedar shake roofs. These roofs have an attractive, rustic appearance; provide great home insulation; and have an average life expectancy of 30 years or longer. 

Read on to learn more about cedar shake roofs to determine if this roof type is right for you and your home. 

Wood Shake Roof Facts

Wood shakes are thick, hand-split wood panels that are typically cut from premium-grade wood. Wood shakes are similar in size and shape, yet not all the exact same size or shape. These slight variances in shape and size are desirable and what provide a shake roof its unique appearance. In addition, wood shakes protrude from the roof surface slightly instead of lying completely flat to provide a multi-dimensional roof appearance. 

There are three main types of wood shakes: tapersawn, medium-split and resawn, and heavy-split and resawn shakes. While tapersawn shakes have relatively smooth surface, medium-split and resawn shakes have textured surfaces, while heavy-split and resawn shakes are heavily textured and heavier in weight than other wood shake types. 

The right wood shake type for you depends on your personal roof appearance preference, the weight load your roof frame can support, and your budget.

When you’re researching the best installation, design, and materials for your new roof, you can’t stop at surface level knowledge. In fact, many roofing contractors, even experts, can disagree about which roofing techniques are likely to be the best and most cost-effective, and you may need to dig deeper to discover what’s best for your roof.

Here are a few controversies you may discover as you research your next roofing project.

1. Drip Edge Flashing Installation

Drip edge flashing, although inexperienced roofers may not install it at all, can cause disagreements between and even confusion among experienced roofers. Should the drip edge be installed over the ice and water shield (also known as ice-barrier membrane), or beneath it?

Your roof, siding, and even windows can all make a big difference in your home’s energy efficiency and the quality of its building envelope. You may be concerned about this mainly for the purpose of saving money on your energy bill, or you may want to increase home value or environmental friendliness.

Either way, here’s what you need to know about how to get the most out of outdoor remodeling materials for energy efficiency.

Insulation Value

No matter which part of your house you’re replacing or remodeling, its insulation value (measured in R-values) can add to or detract from your home’s energy efficiency. For instance, the siding can hold heated and cooled air inside your home, and a roof with insulating qualities can reduce heat transfer into and out of your attic during extremes of hot and cold weather.

You have probably heard that cleaning your roof off regularly is critical to keeping your roof as healthy as possible for as long as possible. But dead leaves are not all that heavy, so why should they be a problem for your roof? Keep reading to learn four reasons why clearing your roof is so important.

1. Debris Can Hide Damage

If you have a pile of leaves on your roof, you may not be able to see the damage from a recent storm. Damage could occur during the same storm that dropped the leaves on your roof. For example, part of a tree branch may have fallen and bounced off, or hailstones may have caused roof shingles to crack or curl up before the debris collected in that spot.

Keeping your roof clear of debris will help you keep a closer eye on its surface and identify any visible damage when you perform your post-storm inspection.

Should you add a skylight to your home or business? This roof feature can add a great deal to any room, but it does have some downsides that owners should consider before making their decision. To help you choose the right overhead complement for your space, keep in mind these pros and cons of installing a skylight.

Pros of Skylight Additions

Skylights add a wonderful visual appeal to the property and even help solve some decor issues the space may have. Because skylights add natural lighting, a skylight opens up any space and makes it appear larger, taller, and airier.

Skylights also serve as excellent statement features in a room that lacks direction or focus. They naturally draw people to the space. And if you have a beautiful view outside, a large and open skylight could be a fun and surprising way to enhance it — boosting your own mood and enjoyment of your home. 

As you evaluate a potential new home, you’ll want to spend plenty of time ensuring that all the main home systems are adequate for your needs and fully functional. Inspections can help with this, but some of the work you’ll have to do yourself.

Here’s a to-do list to help you evaluate the roof when you’re thinking of buying a new home.

1. Get Maintenance Records

Any records for maintenance, repairs, and replacements that took place during the previous ownership are invaluable information for a new owner. If the roof isn’t brand-new, you’ll need to know when it was last repaired or maintained so you can schedule regular maintenance to keep it in great shape. This also lets you see what kinds of problems the roof had in the past.

Another reason you’ll want to look at maintenance records is to make sure the previous owner hasn’t simply been neglecting the roof. Check dates on maintenance records to make sure the seller has been scheduling regular maintenance with a reputable contractor at recommended intervals.

Winter storms can involve wind, snow, and ice. Hail can even be a possibility, especially as warmer temperatures move in toward the end of the season. One way to minimize damages from storms is to catch any problems early so that a quick repair can be scheduled before the damages worsen.

Here are three types of damage from winter storms you should look out for and how to fix them.

Wind Damage

Storms sometimes come in with a roar, tearing shingles off roofs or damaging other components. Issues can be worse when high winds are combined with temperatures below freezing, since roof components can be more brittle in the bitter cold.

While your roof might not be the first thing you think of when you start planning for the winter months, neglecting it can lead to leaks, damage, and costly repairs. Prepare your roof for the cold weather ahead to ensure you’ll stay warm and dry until spring comes around again.

Check Shingles, Flashing, and Sealant

To keep your family safe and warm this winter, make sure your roof isn’t already damaged. Check your roof for missing shingles that need to be replaced. Shingles that are curling or showing visible signs of wear with the granules missing also need replacements to minimize the risk of leaks.

The shingles are not the only important part of your roof. Underlayment, flashing, and ventilation for your new roof are all critical parts of a roof, which is why you shouldn’t try to DIY roofing projects.

Here are some ventilation mistakes that an experienced contractor can help you avoid.

1. Not Checking Old Ventilation Patterns

When you have a new roof installed, you can’t just assume that the old ventilation system is good enough. Your old ventilation may have worked for the old roof but may not be sufficient or up to code when you install a new roof. And the old system may not offer enough ventilation to optimize roof efficiency and help you create a cool roof.