Proper Summer Gutter Maintenance

Most homeowners may think that gutters won’t need much maintenance in hotter months of the year, but summer is a great time of year to take a look at your gutters to make sure everything is working well. If there’s an issue with your gutters, it would be a good idea to address them before the autumn arrives.

If you check that the gutters are clogged or have other issues, they could cause a number of problems for your home, including leaks, siding damage, insulation damage, and more.

At SMART CHOICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY located in Atlanta, we give you six tips to do a proper maintenance of your gutters in the summer:

1. Remove Debris:

The first thing you need to do when you’re checking your gutters is to make them visible, and this means that you need to remove debris from the area. Using gloves, scoop out debris such as sticks, needles, and leaves from your gutters. Make sure that the gutters are clear of any remnants of last fall.

2. Remove Nests:

Sometimes animals like the high perch afforded by a gutter. Usually by the summer months, nesting birds will have fledged, and you can check the old nest for signs of life and remove it from the gutter if it’s empty. Look for wasp nests as well, and if they’re inhabited, remove them by calling a pest control company.

3. Clean Off the Gutters:

Now that you’ve removed all of the debris from the gutters, you can almost see them clearly again. It’s time to use a scrub brush and a gentle abrasive or soap to clean out your gutters. Test your brush and your cleaning product on a test patch of the gutter before you commit. As you scrub off the mold, moss, and algae from the gutters, look for areas that seem particularly bad and go back to them when you’re looking at roofing drainage. Areas with a lot of mold, algae or moss could signal a drainage problem.

4. Look for Damage:

After you’ve finished cleaning your gutters, you may see areas that are rusted, holes that need to be filled, or places where the gutter is askew. Move sagging areas upward with pliers. Make a note of rusty areas or holes and ensure that you replace extremely rusty areas and fix gaps or leaks.

5. Repair Leaks:

After your gutters are clean, it’s time to check for leaks. Take a look inside and outside the gutters to find areas of buckling or places where there are visible holes. You can also run a bit of water through the gutters to find smaller leaks. If you find a leak, you can either call in a gutter professional or fix it yourself with a patch of metal flashing adhered with roofing cement or by applying gutter or silicone caulking around a clean, dry piece of gutter.

6. Check your Roof:

While you’re up on the ladder cleaning your gutters, it’s a good idea to check out your roof. From loose shingles that cause leaks to ponding water caused by clogged or inadequate gutters, your gutter system and your roofing work together. Make sure that you fix any areas of poor repair, and watch for gutter problems that could be causing issues on your roof.

At SMART CHOICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, we are Siding, Roofing and Flooring specialists and we can help you to renovate your home. 

Our qualified team have years of experience in all aspects of Siding, Roofing and Flooring in Atlanta and surround areas, contact us for a free quote and to see how we can help you!

For more information on our services in Atlanta, give us a call today for all inquiries (678) 628-9987 and visit us at www.atlchoice.com for a free estimate.

6 Summer Roofing tips

Summer has its own challenges to get through, including scorching temperatures, intense sunlight, and whipping winds that can wear even the most well-built and durable roofs. This means you should take the extra precautions to help protect your roof from these elements, particularly if it’s getting older.

At SMART CHOICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, located in Atlanta, we give you six tips that can help you keep cool your roof during this Summer:

1. Your attic is a focal point for keeping your house cool during the Summer months. It’s important to inspect things like moisture in the plywood in your attic, as moisture can lead to mold. 

2. Check to make sure those exhaust fans are working well and are vented properly.

3. Make sure those drains and gutters on the roof are clean and clear of debris. This will help prevent an overflow and damage during a storm.

4. Make sure you check the attic and the roof for small signs of damage, and note them. These small spots can turn into large repairs if not attended to and monitored. 

5. Make sure there are no missing, damaged, or loose tiles or shingles.

6. Check your attic for any signs of pests. This can turn into a major problem quickly. 

At SMART CHOICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, we are Siding, Roofing and Flooring specialists and we can help you to renovate your home. 

Our qualified team have years of experience in all aspects of Siding, Roofing and Flooring in Atlanta and surround areas, contact us for a free quote and to see how we can help you!

For more information on our services in Atlanta, give us a call today for all inquiries (678) 628-9987 and visit us at www.atlchoice.com for a free estimate.

How to keep your Hardwood Floor clean and safe during the Summer

Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular and practical forms of house improvements today. Hardwood floor adds luxury, style and great aesthetic appeal, also provides an air of class and elegance to your home. However, proper care and maintenance are needed especially during summer months for preserving the beauty of your wooden floors and to ensure it lasts longer.

The key problem is that moisture and humidity, which tend to increase during the summer months, are natural enemies of hardwood flooring. In some cases, the added moisture may cause small gaps to develop between boards or along walls. Even the most carefully installed wood floors tend to expand and sometimes cup or even buckle due to high moisture content and high relative humidity in the air.

At SMART CHOICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY located in Atlanta, we give you some tips to maintain Hardwood Flooring clean, safe and dry during the Summer:

1. Avoid using a dust mop to clean the floor, as a dust mop can push debris and soil between the boards. A backpack vacuum should be used instead.

2. The worst enemies of your hardwood floor are grit, sand and dirt. These three act like sandpaper grinding, scraping and dulling the shiny surface until it becomes ugly. Use small mats near outside doors to prevent the dirt getting further into your house.

3. Clean the floors using a recommended wood cleaning product and never use a damp mop on a wood floor.

4. Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment, not a vacuum beater bar which can damage the wood.

5. Attach glue felt pads to the legs of furniture and chairs to avoid scraping the floor when objects are moved. Periodically examine the pads for wear and replace when needed. Avoid rolling chairs with casters on the finished surface as they may scratch the finish.

6. Buff the floors regularly; buffing can add a shine and the weight of the machine may actually help keep the floor flat and even.

7. Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays which helps in reducing oxidation and aging of wood.

8. Never use wax, detergents or any other oil-based soap on the floor. These may damage the finish of the floor making it slippery and difficult to maintain later on.

At SMART CHOICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, we are Siding, Roofing and Flooring specialists and we can help you to renovate your home. 

Our qualified team have years of experience in all aspects of Siding, Roofing and Flooring in Atlanta and surround areas, contact us for a free quote and to see how we can help you!

For more information on our services in Atlanta, give us a call today for all inquiries (678) 628-9987 and visit us at www.atlchoice.com for a free estimate.

The proper type of Siding for your Home

The exterior of your home faces a constant barrage of threats from the hot sun, strong winds, precipitation and the winter cold. As such, your house siding must be strong and durable. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful even decades into its life. 

If you are thinking of new siding, you need to keep in mind that your choice will likely be a major upgrade in your home's appearance but it's not an easy decision to make. There are lots of siding options, and each presents a mixed bag of cost, reliability, ongoing maintenance and environmental responsibility.

At SMART CHOICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY located in Atlanta, we give you some information that you need to know about options for new siding:

1. Vinyl:

Vinyl siding is tough and comes in a boatload of colors and textures. Because the color is throughout the material, nicks and scratches don't show up. Sophisticated manufacturing techniques create products that do a surprisingly fine job of mimicking wood grain lap siding, wood shingles and even stone. Vinyl siding is lightweight and, in many instances, can be installed directly over existing materials.

2. Fiber Cement:

Fiber cement has earned a reputation for stability and low maintenance. It's made from a mix of wood pulp, cement, clay and sand, and it can be molded to mimic wood clapboard, shingles, stucco and masonry. It readily accepts paint, and most manufacturers offer an array of factory-applied finishes.

3. Stucco:

Stucco is an extremely durable siding material that pairs well with other siding materials and adds a bit of architectural panache to a retrofit job. Today's stucco mixtures include epoxy, which prevents chipping and cracking, but installation isn't a DIY job, you'll need to look for an experienced stucco installer. Well-maintained stucco will last a lifetime.

At SMART CHOICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, we are Siding, Roofing and Flooring specialists and we can help you to renovate your home. 

Our qualified team have years of experience in all aspects of Siding, Roofing and Flooring in Atlanta and surround areas, contact us for a free quote and to see how we can help you!

For more information on our services in Atlanta, give us a call today for all inquiries (678) 628-9987 and visit us at www.atlchoice.com for a free estimate.