Common Winter Gutter Problems To Avoid

Common Winter Gutter Problems To Avoid

As rain showers give way to snowstorms, it is common for us as homeowners to begin overlooking our gutters. After all, there no longer seems to be any rain to redirect. However, these systems are still crucial in providing our homes with the proper amount of drainage and preventing costly water damage. These are some common winter gutter problems to avoid and how to mitigate their risk of occurring this season.

Clogged Piping

When snow and debris make their way down your gutter’s drainage pipes, they have the potential to freeze and completely clog the system. This prevents water from running through it, and your gutter could develop additional ice. Over time, the ice can continue to build—blocking off any avenue for water to drain and resulting in overflow. Remove any blockages before outdoor temperatures drop.

Downspout Damage

This same situation can cause your gutter’s downspout to burst. As snow and water freeze, they expand to fill the space containing them. As more and more ice collects in this area, the mass will continue to grow until the piping cannot hold it. This is when downspouts can start breaking open and become ineffective at directing water away from your home. To prevent this, inspect your downspouts regularly and clear away any blockages you see forming.

Ice Dams

Another common winter gutter problem to avoid is the development of ice dams. This is when snow from your roof melts and refreezes at the edge of your gutters. The ice often forms in large chunks that prevent water from entering the drainage canal. It becomes easier for overflow to occur and cause damage to your roof as well as your home’s foundation. Once again, preventing this issue ultimately involves keeping your gutters clear of debris.

Gutters do not only protect your home from rain. This is why, at Bear Mountain Custom Painting, we ensure that every home is properly prepared for the snow and ice on the way. Our home gutter installation contractors in Cumming, GA will work with you to repair or replace any sections that may cause you issues over the winter months.

How To Plan an Exterior Painting Project in Winter

How To Plan an Exterior Painting Project in Winter

As the temperatures start to drop and we start to spend more and more time indoors, it’s common for us to put a pause on our home renovation plans. But, believe it or not, winter is actually one of the best seasons for taking care of all your remodeling and repair needs. From installing a new set of windows to replacing your entry doors to even repainting, these tasks can all still be completed despite the cold. So, don’t let this time go to waste simply because it’s a little chilly outside. This is how to plan an exterior painting project in winter and get it done just in time for the holidays.

Establish the Scope of Work

The first step for any successful home project is to map out exactly what work you want done and to what scale it’ll need to be. For instance, you may choose to get your entire home repainted or just your patio or deck space. Depending on which you choose, you’ll have to customize the rest of your plan to accommodate these foundational needs. So, determining this from the start will be critical in the rest of your efforts moving forward. This step also gives you an opportunity to anticipate any potential setbacks in the process and what you can do to better streamline its success.

Set Your Project Budget

Once you have a clear picture of the work you want completed, it’s time to figure out if it can realistically fit into your budget. There are a lot of additional household expenses in the winter, such as heating and gifts for loved ones. Therefore, it’s important that you aren’t overspending on your painting efforts. If you’re unsure of how to begin pricing your project, consider reaching out to some local contractors for quotes. These initial price estimates will let you know just how much you can expect to pay on average for your particular job without locking you into an official contract.

Fortunately, it’s also common for contractors to offer special deals on projects that take place during the winter months. This is because business tends to be slower as we near the holidays and lowered prices is one method used to draw up business.

Determine a Timeline

Planning an exterior painting project in winter should also involve developing a timeline for when you want the work completed. This means setting a desired start and end date to the work as well as leaving wiggle-room for potential issues to arise. Your time frame may also need to be adjusted to accommodate your contractor’s schedule, and you might have to start sooner than anticipated to finish by the holidays. This is especially the case if your chosen business is closed on or near these dates, so always run your timeline by them prior to booking. Additionally, be patient when creating this portion of your plan as things will be prone to change during this hectic time of year.

Choose the Right Painters

As previously stated, certain house painters will provide you with specialized deals for winter projects. However, this doesn’t automatically make them qualified for the job. As you’re researching different painting companies in your area, make sure that they have experience working during the winter months and are familiar with the challenges it presents. Otherwise, you could end up with some results you didn’t expect. Quality companies will be very forthright with this information and will even encourage that you read their past client reviews for reference.

This search might require you to check out several different companies before you make your decision. But this is just fine as long as you’re being thorough. After all, if you’re going to put in the resources, you want to ensure that the job is getting done just the way you want it.

Purchase the Proper Painting Products

After finding the right professionals for your project, it’s time to acquire the proper materials. This involves choosing a color and picking up a paint product suited for winter conditions. If you haven’t yet decided on a color, it’s encouraged that you reach out to your hired professionals for advice on the matter. They can help you weigh your options and inform you of the pros and cons of using certain hues on the exterior of your home. These individuals can also help guide you through the process of choosing the right types of products for winter painting.

Unfortunately, using standard paint during winter causes the mixture to congeal and become difficult to spread. In fact, these paints will rarely dry properly in the cold and will flake off before the season is over. As such, it’s crucial that you’re using specialized winter paint, which is mixed with additional substances to help it bond to the home’s surface. In your research, pay extra attention to how the paint is rated. Most will be effective above 50 degrees, but you might need to find something else if you expect even colder weather.

Keep Track of the Weather

Most importantly, make sure you’re tracking the weather in the days prior to and during your painting project. While exterior paint will dry much quicker due to the dryness in the air, you don’t want your efforts to be thwarted by a sudden storm or below-freezing day. Therefore, you’ll want to keep an eye out for sudden dips or spikes in temperature and adjust your timeline accordingly. As a general rule, you’ll want to do the work towards the middle of the day and skip any days that are stormy or fall below 40 degrees.

On the plus side, since many contracting businesses will have less work during the winter, it’ll be easier to change your workdays to accommodate the weather. Just be sure you’re openly communicating these decisions with your professionals.

If you’re looking to paint the exterior of your home during this upcoming winter season, feel free to give Bear Mountain Custom Painting a call. Our exterior home painting experts in Cumming, GA have experience with painting in these colder conditions and, as such, know how to get you the best results this time of year. We can also assist you with choosing the perfect color for your home’s needs and we’ll answer any questions you have about our winter scheduling.
How To Plan an Exterior Painting Project in Winter

Reasons To Replace Your Windows in the Winter

Reasons To Replace Your Windows in the Winter

It’s no secret that having quality windows is crucial during the winter months. In fact, between the energy you save and the comfort you maintain, it’s one of the most beneficial upgrades you can make during this time of year. However, when we think of having our windows replaced, we very rarely consider doing so past the first major chill—leading us to wait longer than we have to. These are a few reasons to replace your windows in the winter and why this process is so effective.

Issues Are More Noticeable

To begin, waiting until the winter months to replace your windows can actually help you identify what’s wrong with them in the first place. In warmer seasons, the home’s interior and exterior temperatures are still close enough that drafts often go unnoticed. Humidity during these seasons also reduces some overall energy loss. But in the winter, the air is much drier and thinner, making it uncomfortably obvious when your windows aren’t up to the task.

Better Deals on Installation

The fall and winter seasons are when contractor work loses demand. As such, most installation professionals will refer to this time as the off-season and start offering deals to drum up additional business. By choosing to replace your windows in the winter, you’re automatically making yourself eligible for discounts that can save hundreds of dollars during the project.

Increased Scheduling Flexibility

Another important reason to replace your windows in the winter is the amount of flexibility you have when scheduling installation appointments. Since window installers tend to have more available time slots this time of year, you’ll have more power over when you can get the work done. Whether you want the project completed as soon as possible or would rather wait for a warmer day, the choice is entirely yours.

Immediate Energy Savings

But, best of all, getting new windows during the winter allows you to experience just how much of a difference they make. You’ll be able to see firsthand how much energy you’re saving and, likewise, how much money you get to keep in your pocket. New windows will also reduce the amount of wear and tear your heating system experiences and will help to prolong its lifespan.

If you’re looking to increase your home’s energy efficiency for the long winter to come, reach out to Bear Mountain Custom Painting. Our window and door replacement services in Cumming, GA are fast, efficient, and guaranteed to get you the quality results you need.

Best Paint Colors for Home Office Productivity

Best Paint Colors for Home Office Productivity

For those who perform their work duties out of the house, their home office is an essential component of a fruitful day. After all, these rooms are designed to increase focus, concentration, and, as a result, overall productivity. However, if this space isn’t properly optimized as a working environment, you risk failing to keep up with your work. Believe it or not, even using the wrong type of color can have a devastating effect on your ability to work. These are the best paint colors for home office productivity and what they can do for your mind.

Light Grays

Light gray colors are among the most popular for home office spaces as they calm the mind and keep it from wandering. It’s a great color for those who want to eliminate distractions from their environment and simply focus on their work. Best of all, if base grays are too flat and cool for you, you can combine your chosen shade with other subtle colors to get a slightly different effect. Beige-gray, for example, offers the same soothing effect that gray does with a slightly warmer atmosphere to promote comfort.

Warm Whites

Though many think of white as a boring color to put on the walls, it’s also one of the best paint colors for home office productivity. This is because it creates a blank slate that makes a room appear clean and organized. For some, these traits help clear the mind and make individuals feel as though they’re in control of their environment. However, for others, this color can be overwhelming simply due to the number of possibilities it presents. So, you should always experiment with whites first to determine how they’ll affect you.

Soft Pinks

Soft pinks and reddish hues are useful when promoting a productive environment as well. This is because warmer colors are often better at triggering our brain’s creativity and making us comfortable—which also helps with improving focus and concentration. Therefore, if you need a bit of inspiration, these colors are the way to go.

Bright Yellows

If you find that you simply need some extra energy to power through your daily tasks, you might want to go with yellow instead. Bright yellow hues are reflective and tend to generate more light within a room. This, in turn, quickens the production of energy within your body and keeps you from slowing down throughout the day. With these boosts, it becomes much easier to stay focused throughout several consecutive projects.

For more advice on what colors work best for a home office setting, reach out to Bear Mountain Custom Painting. Our experienced home interior painting experts are well-versed in the effects certain colors can have on our moods. As such, they’re the perfect resource to utilize as you determine the most effective colors for your office.

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