Review from Owner of Disalvo’s Station Restaurant December 16, 2011

THI Storm Repair did an outstanding job replacing the entire roof on my restaurant DiSalvo’s Station Restaurant, which is a nationally recognized historical landmark. The building was built in 1903 and has been the pride and joy of my family since 1989. This restaurant is my life and THI Storm Repair assisted me through the whole challenge of the unexpected hail and wind storm damage. As promised, from the initial inspection, to the appraising, production, inspection, and finished product, THI went over and above my exceptions.

Steve, the Production Manager, oversaw the entire process as if it were his own building. I would highly recommend their services in any construction project!

Joseph DiSalvo ‎ - Dec 11, 2011
Joey Disalvo Latrobe, PA

Mayor Of Southwest Greensburg, PA December 12, 2011

THI Storm Repair confirms the Mayor of Southwest Greensburg, Mr. Rossi and family are VERY SATISFIED with their new roof and siding. We would like to thank you for your trust and confidence. We look forward to working on any future projects and please keep passing along those referrals.

Mayor of Southwest Greensburg, PA

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Tis the Season November 29, 2011

Looking for something to get that home improvements person in your house and not sure what to buy?  We took a look at the holiday gift idea guide from www.askbuilder.com and saw some really cool things.  Check out the guide and surpise that special someone with something special this holiday season!

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How Can I Tell If My Roof Has Been Damaged? October 31, 2011

What to Look For:

First things first: are any shingles missing? Sounds obvious, but sometimes it’s difficult to see all of the faces or exposures of your roof. A single shingle may be difficult to spot missing if it’s covering a ridge vent, hidden behind the chimney or underneath a tree canopy.

Water damage is one of the most recognizable signs that all is not well up above. Wet chimney bricks, for example, are indicative of problems with flashing around the chimney. Check for water spots on ceilings, and where ceilings and walls join together. Inside corners, where gutters form an ‘L,’ are traditional trouble spots for ice damming during the winter, but can pose problems during heavy rains that back up in gutters and flow under shingles.

Next, look for observable damage to other parts of your roof system. Hail will cause denting or cracking, while wind will pull or rip away materials. Are gutters dented or pulling down and away from the fascia board? Has the chimney vent cap been severely dented or partially ripped off?

Sometimes it’s what isn’t there that matters, so think hard about what was on your roof pre-storm. Is your chimney or vent cap still securely fastened? Any other add-ons (satellite dishes, lightning rods, etc.) seem to have gone missing? You’d be surprised at the things people actually forget about (at least until they try to turn on their satellite TV)!

How Detailed Can I Get?

Now for the more detailed inspection, which is best left to the experts. If you suspect hail damage (perhaps your neighbor suffered serious damage to his or her roof, but you can’t seem to find any on your own house), one sure way to determine whether any occurred is to lift the shingles off the roof and inspect the underside for dimpling or penetration. Removing shingles from your home is serious business, and we do not recommend homeowners take on such a project themselves. Storm or roofing repair specialists will generally come out for a free inspection, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of a reputable repair firm’s expertise.

There are many signs of damage to your roof that are visible, and plenty more that are not. Learn to keep an eye open for trouble spots, and don’t be afraid to call experts for an evaluation when you suspect damage. It’s always better – and much less expensive – to be safe than sorry!

Have you ever had storm damage to your roof?

How Proper Maintenance Can Increase Home Resale Value October 31, 2011

Everyone knows that you have to spend money to make money, and it’s doubly true when it comes to your home’s resale value. Your home is probably the biggest investment you’ve ever made. Think of maintenance as another kind of homeowner’s insurance…it’s part of protecting – and growing – your investment.

Beyond resale value, there are important reasons to keep your house in tiptop shape. You likely spend the majority of your time at home…don’t you want your environment to be healthy? Additionally, repairing small problems as they occur is far less expensive and less of a hassle than replacing whole systems when they finally break.

Buyers don’t want a home where maintenance and repairs have started backing up,(click here) since it will cost them more money in the long run. It’s a fact: proactively maintaining your home is less expensive than ignoring the problem until it requires replacing. And when it comes time to sell your home, buyers want to know that you’ve kept up with the basics.

Are Your Home’s Systems in Good Repair?

Home inspectors look for certain key things in good repair. Is your furnace and air conditioning unit regularly cleaned and supplied with replacement filters? Routine HVAC maintenance can save bundles of cash by making the units work less to heat or cool, which means less wear and tear and a longer lifespan. Regular maintenance also helps you pinpoint small issues before they become large (and costly!) problems that can affect your home’s value.

Your hot water heater is another system that typically gets ignored until your find a large puddle of water underneath it. Periodically draining water out of the unit removes sediment, which extends its lifespan and allows for more efficient heating.

Siding, roofing and structural upkeep are also a must. Not only does all of this protect your home by slowing the wear and tear, but it keeps it looking beautiful (can you say curb appeal?)…this typically translates into more dollars for you at closing. Even if you aren’t planning to sell your home anytime soon, keeping things operating properly gives you peace of mind and more time to enjoy your lifestyle.

What Buyers Want to Know

It’s important not only to maintain your home, but also to thoroughly document everything. Buyers want to know when you installed that new roof, central air system or refrigerator. That’s why it’s important to keep good records – it’s a sure sign of a careful owner, and helps ease the minds of leery buyers. Records should include anything installed or replaced (such as roofing, siding, gutters or new fixtures), as well as any pest control services used and HVAC or other major household system maintenance performed.

Your home is not a roulette table where you spin the wheel and hope everything turns out okay…it’s a complex system that requires constant attention to keep it in primo shape, just like your car. You wouldn’t go 20,000 miles without an oil change in your car, and you absolutely shouldn’t go any length of time without performing upkeep on your biggest investment.

When you purchased your home, did the home inspector find any issues?

Storm Damage: How to Avoid Post-Storm Scams October 31, 2011

Unfortunately, unscrupulous business practices have always been a part of life, and it’s up to us to recognize them and help each other avoid them wherever possible. It seems as though scams pop up when we’re at our most vulnerable…for example, after an accident, storm or other disaster.

Despite the importance and growth of the storm repair industry, a few bad apples can spoil the whole bunch. After a damaging storm rolls through your neighborhood, you may become a prime target. As I mentioned back in May, there are plenty of stories out there about scammers and swindlers going door-to-door and promising work in exchange for upfront payment, despite no home repair experience or intention to carry out any repairs – never mind quality repairs.

There are several things you can do to avoid becoming the victim of a post-storm scam 

1. Storm damage is almost always an insurance matter.

If a storm repair company doesn’t want to work closely with your insurance company, then they should automatically be a no-go for you. A reputable firm will meet with you and the insurance adjuster to review damage and plan out repairs. When storm repair folks going door-to-door expect you to pay cash upfront – and inform you that you’ll get reimbursed by the insurance company later – be very wary.  While many contractors may want some money down (one-third is common), don’t ever pay for everything in advance and always get a written contract that details the scope of work, any warranties, payment amounts and the work schedule.

2. References are a must…and always shop local

Steer clear of storm repair firms that won’t (or can’t) provide local references. Local references are key, since so many storm repair scams involve out-of-state people who descend on ravaged neighborhoods immediately after a storm to get a piece of the action. These shady folks are usually long gone before the poor quality of their work becomes evident. In fact, one scam that has popped up in recent years involves local firms subcontracting their work to out-of-towners. In some cases, an out-of-town contractor will “rent” a local business in order to capitalize on their name and existing reputation.

References should be a blend of recent work and older jobs so you can get a good feel not only for the quality of their work but also their work history. Another great place to check references is the Better Business Bureau, whose website is a great way to quickly check for any contractor problems. Some states have set up departments to call in order to verify that contractors are registered and on file.

3. Cheapest isn’t always best

It’s nice to save money, but not at the expense of quality workmanship. Contractors that claim to have a source of cheap materials (“we have leftover siding from a previous job, and we can give you an excellent price”) just scream scam! A good contractor estimates the materials they will need for a job, with some small margins of error. There shouldn’t be any leftover materials. The same goes for contractors willing to work at bargain basement prices…it begs the question why? With home repairs, live by the rule: you get what you pay for.

After your home has suffered damage, contractors are supposed to alleviate any additional worry and heartache. No one wants to be forced to deal with fraud in the wake of storm damage, so take steps to protect yourself as you set about restoring your home to its pre-storm condition.

How do you go about finding local contractors when your home needs work?

What Hail and Other Extreme Weather Events Can Do to Your Home October 27, 2011

What Hail and Other Extreme Weather Events Can Do to Your Home

Hail is scary, there’s no doubt about it. When the pounding rain begins to turn into a crescendo of house-beating pellets, it sounds as though your home might just cave in on itself! Eventually the hailstorm passes, and you go outside. Picking up a chunk of ice, you survey your home to find….nothing. Nothing?!? It sounded as though Mother Nature was having a party on your roof…how could there be no damage?

Chances are there is damage. The signs of extreme weather damage just aren’t always visible to the untrained eye. While you are probably familiar with some of what hail and other extreme weather events can do to your home (ripping off the roof, toppling trees), many things can happen of which you may not be aware.

Here are three things you should watch:

1. Carbon Monoxide Buildup

All houses have venting systems to deal with the carbon monoxide produced by your furnace, cooking range, and water heater. While they sometimes vent through the side of the house, they frequently go up…through the roof. Since carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly, damaged or blocked vent pipes are a very real hazard. After a severe storm, always check your vents. Make sure that siding hasn’t partially fallen and blocked them, or other debris isn’t covering or plugging the vents on the roof. Periodically, inspect the pipe in the attic and make sure it hasn’t been disconnected at the roofline by high winds or other forces. And this goes without saying: use carbon monoxide and smoke detectors throughout your home.
2. Air Conditioning Condenser

That loud metal box tucked up against the house, with hoses running through the walls and a big metal cage on top? That’s your central air system’s condenser and compressor – and dents & dings from falling branches, knocked-over lawn furniture, or hail can make a huge performance difference. The more heavily dented or flattened the condenser fins are, the higher the cost will be to cool your home. These dents also lower the unit’s capacity to cool and make the cooling process less efficient. Inspect your condenser unit routinely, especially after storms. Also be sure to check the overall compressor case for denting, a sign that there has been damage. Make sure that fan blades in the unit can rotate freely.

3. Siding

With every storm that passes through, the sides of your house take a pounding. Frame houses with wood or vinyl siding typically suffer the brunt of siding damage; masonry structures such as brick – while not immune to damage – are generally much more resistant. Depending on size, of course, hail can make your siding look like Swiss cheese…or look like nothing at all has happened. If you can’t spot obvious damage but have some suspicions, here’s a trick: try inspecting the siding at night with a flashlight. Sometimes the light difference allows you to see damage that isn’t readily apparent in bright daylight.

Pay close attention to what your homeowner’s insurance actually covers. When Mother Nature’s rooftop bash ends, it’s important to inspect everything carefully to avoid unpleasant or dangerous surprises!

What’s the worst damage you’ve ever seen from extreme weather?