Wood Decks vs. Composite Decks: What You Need to Know

You’re ready to install a new deck on your home. But which material is right for your project? Today’s deck builders use both wood and composite materials. Each of these offers a unique set of pros and cons surrounding cost, appearance, longevity, sustainability, and required maintenance. Below, you can learn more about each of these areas to make an educated decision on materials for your latest home project. The Costs of Composite vs. Wood Decks Cost is often the first factor that you’ll notice when you start to look into deck materials. In general, composite decks have a higher up-front price tag. However, it isn’t always as extreme as you might think. The cost of composite materials is fairly stable, while wood prices fluctuate often (especially in recent years). Hard or exotic woods are also priced higher than woods like pine, and may fall near or over the cost of composite boards. The longevity, which we’ll dive into in more detail below, is also important to keep in mind. Composite decks typically outlast wood decks

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Beyond The Studs: Exterior Home Trends

In this episode of Beyond the Studs, Legacy Exteriors owner, Josh Gauwitz, shares insight into the hottest exterior home trends, from popular colors, to textures and even some of the best material suppliers. Whether you’re planning to sell your home soon or looking to make a few upgrades for yourself, the following tips can help. What Exterior Colors are Currently Trending?  Recently, there’s been a shift from homeowners wanting a light and airy feel to a darker, statement look. This is especially true on the exterior of homes. “Dark grays and dark blues are extremely hot right now. If you go into newer subdivisions, you’re going to see those dark colors on homes, as well as if people are doing remodels.” Josh states that for people who are looking to sell their homes in the near future, dark siding could be more attractive to homebuyers. And if you want to ride the trend but protect your home from quickly becoming outdated in style, try dark blue. “Blue is a timeless color choice.” Even with dark

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Six Common Materials Window Contractors Offer

Windows play an important role in your home’s functionality, style, and weather protection. If you’re noticing more and more drafts entering your home from your windows, or if they’re giving you trouble every time you try to open them, it may be time to consider replacement. However, there are a few things to consider before you order a brand new set from a window contractor, with frame material being the top concern. Read on to learn more about all six window materials, as well as some advice on deciphering which type will be the best choice for your home. Wood If you live in an older home with original windows, you likely have wood frames. These frames are still a popular choice today, thanks to the natural beauty they provide. They insulate well in both warm and cool temperatures. And with diligent, proper care, they can outlast other window types. Pros: Wooden style meshes well with both new and old homes Can be stained or painted to match interior trim Offers excellent temperature and sound

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Tips for Finding the Right Commercial Roofing Contractor

Getting a new roof for your business may sound like a simple task. But whether or not the process runs smoothly often depends on the contractor you choose. Will they work with your property insurance to get you the best deal possible? Will they complete the job quickly and cleanly? Will there be issues down the line if you need them to return for warrantied service? By finding the right commercial roofing contractor, you can ensure each of these areas, and more, go well from day one. What to Look for in a Commercial Roofing Contractor Follow each of the following tips to ensure the roofing team you choose is skilled, safe, and trustworthy.  #1: Insurance and Registration Proper insurance and registration not only provide insight into the qualifications of a business, but they also protect you, the company, and potentially even your customers from the dangers of active roofing projects. Companies should hold both workers’ compensation and general liability insurance. #2: Experience and Expertise Commercial roof contractors should have many years of experience. They

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The Many Sides of Siding: Understanding Your Choices

In this episode of Beyond the Studs, Legacy Exteriors owner, Josh Gauwitz, dives into siding for residential homes, and the many choices that come along with it. The first question is do you need new siding, or siding repair? “When it comes to repairing vs. replacing siding, we first need to determine what the homeowner wants. If the first choice is repair, then we assess the damaged area(s) of the siding and make an honest recommendation as to whether or not it can be repaired,” says Josh.  When it comes to customer service, Josh believes in, “providing what is in the best interest for our customers, which means we don’t push for new siding if it’s not necessary. In fact, we have a repair department of service technicians that specialize in repairing siding, gutters, roofing and windows.” Understanding your siding choices … If you are considering new siding, there are a lot of options to choose from. Let’s dive into some of the details to help clarify what might be the best type of siding

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