Louisville Roofing And Home Improvement

A Look at Current Roofing Choices

rayhay — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:35:48 +0000

Asphalt Shingles and Corrugated Sheets

Asphalt single roofing is far and away the most popular of all roofing materials used in the US. Asphalt shingles are now produced in a rainbow of colors and not just the traditional shades of gray.

Asphalt singles are easy to install, attaching to the roof with adhesive and roofing nails. You will have a broad choice of asphalt shingle styles and grades from which to make your choice, and the higher the number assigned to grade of shingle, the better its quality will be. Your budget will play a large part in your choice of asphalt shingle grades.

Fiberglass, fiber, and PVC are all used to make corrugated sheet roofing, which is almost always installed directly on an existing roof. Corrugated sheet roofing is ideal for home handymen who are up to handling n a DIY roofing installation project.

Wooden Shingles And Built-up Roofing

Using wooden shingles or shakes for a roof can give a home a very natural rustic appearance. While wooden shingles create a smooth, uniform texture on a roof, wooden shakes will provide a very rough, and even more rustic, look. There are some homeowners who pass on wooden roofs as fire hazards, but they do create a look which can’t be matched by any other roofing materials.

While built-up roofing is seldom used in residences, it is popular on commercial structures with flat or nearly flat surfaces. Built-up roofing is composed of layers of asphalt treated fiberglass, combined with asphalt tar.

Metal. Tile, and Slate Roofing

The popularity of metal roofing declined after the end of World War II, but it has seen a resurgence in the past twenty years. Metal roofing is easy to install, low-maintenance, and nonflammable. Some metal roofing is guaranteed for fifty years.

Metal roofing is available in aluminum, steel and stainless steel, tin, copper, and copper alloys. Aluminum is both lightweight and resistant to rust and corrosion, while steel is exceptionally hard but will succumb to rust unless treated for an extra cost. Copper is very expensive, and scratched or dents easily, so copper alloys are often used as roofing because of their harder surfaces.

Slate and tile roofing has been around longer than almost any other roofing material, and will still outlast most of them. But both tile and slate are very expensive, require specialized installation techniques. They are also too heavy tow be suitable for many kinds of construction, and the buildings on which they are used must be reinforced to safely tolerate their extra weight.

You can also find more info on tile roofing. Roofingbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about roof.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Keon

Unique Choices For Your Bathroom Remodel

rayhay — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:44:11 +0000

Centurion Home Improvement Handles all types of remodeling you can see more at our Louisville Remodeling site.
By Jane Worthington

Boring is out. It is time to liven up the look of your home and you need to start with the bathroom. The bathroom is an important place so it is important to make sure it looks great. Therefore, you should put serious work into its remodel. However, it you make a choice that is not quite right, it is not the end of your interior design career. You can learn from your mistake so that you can avoid it in the other rooms such as your living room and bedroom. Therefore, do not be afraid to go the creative route. It might turn out so well that it will be featured in the next home improvement magazine! Here are some possible design choices you might like to incorporate into your home!

1) Footed bath tubs. If you want a unique and sophisticated design element, then this type of tub is a fantastic choice. The standard in bathrooms today is the alcove or drop-in tub and shower combination. While this set-up is popular because of its economical use of space and relatively cheap price, it is not attractive at all. The bathtubs used in these types of combinations are not the most luxurious bathing apparatuses. It is much better to have a tub that looks good and is useful. A freestanding bathtub sitting on chrome clawfeet will not only look chic, it will feel luxurious whenever you step into it for a warm bubble bath.

2) Accessory closets. Forget those cheap looking medicine cabinets that fit over the sink or on an open wall. They look terrible and, if you have guests, they will inevitably open them up in order to discover all your medical problems. Try to invest in quality accessory, or jewelry, cabinets instead. These elegant items can match your bathroom vanity and hide all those medications as well as be a great place to store your nice jewelry.

3) An open shelving unit for towels and washcloths. Everyone has a linen cabinet. Do something different! The glass shelves are strong enough to support towels and decorative accessories, such as candles, but the open, clear appearance does not weigh down the room. It looks beautiful and elegant and it makes those towels much easier to grab.

A sophisticated and unique bathroom is not difficult to create. Footed or clawfoot tubs, accessory closets, and open shelving units are just three of many ideas you should consider when you are redecorating your bathroom. Good luck getting your room in the next magazine feature!

If you would like more information on footed bath tubs or clawfoot tubs, please visit the Simply Bathtubs website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Worthington

Click here to find more about bathroom Improvement.

Getting Your Roof Ready For The Louisville Winter

rayhay — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:46:59 +0000

Roofing Tips For the Winter Season (502) 298-8825
By Edie Pastis

Preparation for the changing seasons involves a lot of work. In Spring, that means packing away the long johns, breaking out the gardening tools, putting in extra gym hours to prep for swim season, and tackling the infamous spring cleaning. When Fall rolls around, the long johns resurface, we surrender to that comforting layer of “holiday weight” (what are bulky sweaters for?), we quietly cry over the loss of long, sunny days, and we moodily begin winter-proofing our cars and homes to ward off the snow-filled months to follow.

When winter approaches, the condition of our roofs is pretty easy to overlook in the hullabaloo of new tires, snow mats, antifreeze rationing, and new wardrobes comprised solely of fleece. But investing in a good roof plays a large part in protecting everything underneath that roof which we hold dear: our children, family heirlooms, pet sea monkeys, vintage Beatles albums etc. Here are some things to keep in mind about roof maintenance, whether you’re trying to protect grandma’s quilts or your favorite Fab Four vinyl.

Most roofs under 5-years-old should be in pretty good shape, but these simple tasks can sufficiently maintain a healthy roof for approaching winter:

keep the roof surface clear of debris
clean out the gutters regularly
check for leaks, rust and rot
trim overhanging tree branches or shrubbery
replace damaged shingles

While these preventative methods will ensure you the most mileage out of a good roof, if you’re building a new home or in need of serious roof repair, a roofing contractor is often the best bet. A roof that’s over 15-years-old and suffering from heavy leakage and other damage might require a brand new roof installation. While it can certainly save money to tackle the job yourself, a rookie mistake could subject you to further costs down the road, and then you couldn’t afford those cool, new ear-warmers that everyone’s rocking at work.

When purchasing new roofing for your house, you’ll want to do some cost analysis based on three main criteria: roofing material, the area size of the roof, and removal of the existing roof.

Some common roofing materials include:

copper
fiberglass
metal
rubber
galvanized steel

Once you’ve picked out your material, measured the area, and gotten an honest roofing cost assessment from a reputable contractor, you should have a pretty good handle on how much you’ll shell out to maintain your “home sweet home” until the day you and your pension can run away to Fiji…and banish unflattering, fleece vests for good.

My name is Edie Pastis, and I’m a copywriter for Signature Specialists.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edie_Pastis

If You Do The Roof Yourself Or Hire A Roofer, Understand These Things

rayhay — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:09:48 +0000

Visit Centurion Home Improvement for more roofing and home improvement resources.

Your roof adds beauty to your home and if it’s starting to look a little run down, well it’s not doing that anymore and it’s probably not providing the protection from weather that is also it’s job. If it’s not looking so good to you it’s probably time to call a professional roofer to evaluate.

This roof was intalled about six months ago. Notice how the tiles are starting to buckle and bubble up. This roof is headed for trouble. Not all roofers are the same, selection of a professional roofer is important.

In this newsletter we have not one, but two articles by our expert Phillip Koen. Phillip discusses things you need to understand, as a homeowner to make sure the roofer you choose (or if you do it yourself) is doing the job the right way. Centurion wants you to have the information that you need to get your roof done the right way.

Asphalt Roofing Shingles – Popular For a Reason
By Philip Keon

Advantages of Asphalt Roofing Shingles

There are four basic reasons. Asphalt roofing shingles are:

Widely available
Inexpensive
Lightweight
Easy to install

You will never need to look for a specialist in exotic roofing to install and do maintenance on your roof is you choose asphalt roofing shingles. Any roofer will have plenty of experience working with them, while roofing materials like slate demand special training in handling, cutting, and laying on the roof.

Asphalt roofing shingles, like all types of roofing materials, are available in different grades. The higher grades of shingle, of course, cost more than the lower ones, but the wise homeowner will pay the extra expense upfront and avoid having to pay to replace damaged shingles in the future. Class IV shingles can stand up to hailstorms with no problem.

Asphalt roofing shingles now come in a wide range of attractive colors and not just the familiar gray, and are constructed of a combination of fiberglass and an organically produced blend of paper and felt with an asphalt binder. Organic asphalt roofing shingles will cost more than older ones, but they weigh more and are less apt to tear away from the roof in sever weather. If your home needs re-roofing, going with organic asphalt roofing shingles could pay off handsomely should you ever decide to sell.

Many asphalt roofing shingle manufacturers back their products with warranties which last for decades. If you have a favorite manufacturer of specialty asphalt roofing shingles, like eagle or Elk, you can request that your roofing contractor to order those

Maintaining Your Asphalt Roofing Shingles

You shouldn’t expect, however, that your new asphalt Roofing shingles will last indefinitely without help from you, and you should take the time to inspect your roof every two years. That should be often enough to prevent minor problems from developing into major ones, as you discover any damaged or loose shingles. One of the big advantages of having asphalt roofing shingles is that they can be replaced very easily because of their wide availability.

Another factor overlooked by many homeowners concerned with properly caring for their asphalt roofing shingles is the ventilation in their attics or under-roof crawlspaces. There are times when the variance between your home’s exterior and interior temperature will be extreme, making your roof shingles much colder on one side than the other. Continued exposure to wide temperature variances will put severe stress on your shingles. What can you do?

Create an insulated buffer zone between the underside of the roof and your attic or crawlspace, and you will effectively eliminate the stress on your shingles. But before you do that, you need to remove any traces of water, damp, or mold from your attic or crawlspace!

You can also find more info on Roofing

Roofingbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about roof.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Keon

Newsletter Articles

Roofing By Centurion Home Improvement, Louisville KY 40201

The Good and the Bad of Roofing Nails

By Philip Keon

The nails with which most of us are familiar are called wire nails by carpentry experts. Wire nails are just dandy in their place, but that place is not on the top of a roof. The heads of wire nails are simply too small to let them create the level of pressure needed to secure roofing shingles against high winds or rain. Roofing nails, on the other hand, have been designed with short points and large, flat heads, giving them the extra holding properties to do their job well.

Roofing Nail Installation Problems

You will have to search long and hard to find a roofing company which still uses hand hammers to install their roofing nails. The roofer of today is almost certain to use a pneumatic roofing nailer powered attached to an air hose and powered by an air compressor to drive the roofing nails into your roofing material. The speed of this method will save you considerably in labor costs.

But there’s a tradeoff, because using a pneumatic roof nailer can mean that the roofing nails are not all driven with the same amount of force. Some of them may not grasp the roof’s wood as securely as others, and they also may not be completely straight as they are driven in. The problem with this is that you may end up with torn shingles and a leaking roof, which don’t occur when roofing nails are hammered in by hand, with the full attention of the roofer.

Roofing nails incorrectly secured are an open invitation to future repair work. Roofing nails not inserted to an adequate depth will eventually work loose, causing not only holes and potential leaks, but shingles which flap about in the breeze. If you can see any roofing nails working loose with a roof inspection, you should immediately pull them out and replace them. You should also check to determine if the roofing nails are protruding because the wood beneath them has become warped.

Fixing Problems Caused By Poor Roofing Nail Installation

If the protruding roofing nails have created a hole through which water is leaking, you’ll need much more than a quick fix. You’ll have to remove the protruding roofing nails and gently lift the shingle they were securing, taking care not to break it. Using asphalt cement mixed with loose rock, fill the hole and smooth it, carefully replacing the shingle. Dab a bit of the asphalt cement over the hole left by the original nail, and place a new roofing nail close to the location of the old one.

If the repairs your fiberglass roofing requires because of poorly installed roofing nails are too extensive for you to manage on your own, you can simply cover the holes in the roof and hire a professional roofing contractor. Do this by using pressure-treated wood to build a frame large enough to accommodate the hole, and place it over a sheet of plastic. Secure both the plastic sheet and the frame with roofing nails, and you’ll have enough protection to keep your roof dry as long as it’s not exposed to extremely severe weather.

You can also find more info on asphalt roofing shingles. Roofingbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about roof.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Keon

Concrete, Decorative Concrete — A Centurion Specialty

rayhay — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:08:00 +0000

One of Centurions Core Specialties is Decrative Concrete. Your Driveway, patio, or other surface can be fantastic!!! Here is a video showing the process from one of our suppliers:

Decorative Concrete
By James Belville

Decorative concrete can be considered as types of decorative patterns, textures, colored, stamped, overlays, concrete coatings, acid stain, countertops concrete flooring and resurfacing. Decorative concrete is just that, decorate, embed, color, texture or stain. Using Iron oxide colorants colors of reds, yellows and blacks. Chromium is used for greens and Ultramarine used for blues. These metals can be mix to create a master peace. Other color pigment are synthetic and come in concentrated liquid form.

Decorative Concrete Driveway (Video Clip) – YouTube

Pouring concrete in a cast or form like a decorative concrete countertops, should be vibrated to condense material, filling voids in the matrix increasing strength. After consolidating concrete into place surface is rodded (screeded) off evenly from form to form, then refined to a smooth surface using a wood or magnesium float to a uniform consistency. Color can be added into the concrete mix before consolidating into place or applied after blending in color hardener with a float. A stencil pattern can be applied to the concrete then worked in slightly before color or decorating begins. Decorative concrete countertops embedded with sea shells, brass, copper, turquoise, coins, aggregate or added colors or any combination will look great. Texture concrete counter tops using stamp patterns and texture mats, leaves, branches, flowers, foot prints of birds and animals, or floats and trowels using a circular motion.

Acid Stain reacts chemically with minerals in the concrete creating the color. Acid Stain is made from salts mixed with acid to penetrate the pours in the top 1/16 inch surface. Color is determined by mineral content throughout the concrete. Test the acid stain solution on the concrete, determine the strength needed to reach desired color. The acid stain is applied using acid resistant mop, roller, brush or sprayer. Once the stain is allowed to dry to the correct color, the acid is then neutroilized with ammonia and water stopping the reaction. After the surface is allowed to dry, polyurethane or wax is used to seal the surface.

Decorative Concrete can be almost anything with acrylic coatings. The advantages of using decorative acrylics, almost any look can be achieved, stamped, stained or textured, the different possibilities only end at the end of your imagination. Another advantage of using acrylic decorative concrete coatings, most of the time not all concrete will not need to be removed, minor cracks can be filled with epoxy and later grinded down smooth and not seen. Concrete that has heaved can be grown down, or built up using a high strength cement, silica sand and glue. With all the different available colors for decorative concrete, it’s easy to closely match house colors, not only to look beautiful, but add on a certain value to your home. Your concrete surface will look new for many years to come.

James Belville http://www.ConcreteSecrets.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Belville

Louisville Home Improvement Sun Room

rayhay — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:54:14 +0000

Louisville-Centruion-Home-Improvement-ScreenedPorchNiceView

Originally uploaded by CenturionHomeImprovement

A great new sun room makes life great. Coffee and friends or some solitary time. Centurion adds those extras that set your sun room apart from others.

Centurion wants to provide you with the best information on Home Improvements to help you make the best choice:

Opt For the Perfect Sunroom Style
By Andrew Caxton

Style and design are the most important factors, which make your sunrooms truly attractive. Sunroom styles that are widely accepted are of four types; Curved, Straight, Cathedral, and Conservatory. Sunroom designs must be prepared with strong and sturdy materials. The designs may differ because of the cause you would like to use the sunroom for.

Lighter shades should be applied in the sunroom for energy efficiency while designing it. To make your sunroom bright and lovely you should place aquatic and natural elements.

It is not possible that every sunroom has the same look as the other. Design and style of the sunroom makes them different from the other. Four primary sunroom styles have an important role in design making. One of them is straight style sunroom which is normally used as a patio enclosure. In the patio enclosure there are aluminum interiors and exteriors and their beams are wooden. There is a wide range of aluminum sunrooms available like block foundation sunroom with aluminum or wooden frames and glass or solid roof. The roof of the sunroom can also be covered with vinyl coating.

A Great Sun Room

The curved style sunroom has equal lines on it that give your sunroom a polished look. The wall in the curved style sunroom curves up to shape up the roof. This style is available in multi layered glass that can provide the durability and maximum energy efficiency. Another style of sunroom is the Cathedral style that has leaning or arched roofs with a center beam. These types of sunrooms usually have aluminum interiors and exteriors and thermally broken panes with interconnected sashes and insulated roofs.

You can select the windows from a wide range of sliding screened windows, which are double and single as well and have childproof handles and dual locking system for security measures. Two types of doors are available, can be French doors or sliding doors with multi locking system. Colors are also available in a broad variety you can select them according to the overall look of the house. Another style which is known as conservatory style sunroom has many glass portions on the roof that are connected together on a central beam. These joints help in allowing filtered light enter in the sunroom from all the angles. This style has also got the same characteristics like it is also energy efficient and has an insulated roof with thermally broken panes. All types of windows can be fixed including permanently fixed ones. You can place cresting and moldings as well.

The design of sunroom should be of good quality and very economical if you have budget constraints. Whatever your requirements are you can get all types of designs according to you desires. You just have to choose the right contractor and the right supplier. Get the material which is reliable and sturdy and can be easily placed. An important task a window should do is that allowing the maximum ventilation to your sunroom to make it airy and comfortable. If you think blanket can protect you from chilling in winter seasons then just place them on the roofs.

Andrew Caxton is a freelance writer for http://www.allsunrooms.com – Keep reading about conservatory rooms and DIY at his web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton

NewDeck — Centruion Home Improvement

rayhay — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:36:16 +0000

NewDeck and RetainingWall

Originally uploaded by CenturionHomeImprovement

This beautiful new deck adds beauty and comfort to the home. Centurion also built a retaining wall and built up the area to complete the job. Decks are one of our specialties.

Centurion Home Improvement

Louisville-Centruion-Home-Improvement-ConcreteOverlayComplete

rayhay — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:31:33 +0000

Originally uploaded by CenturionHomeImprovement This is beautiful! If you are looking for a new and different patio from all your neighbors,this is it! Very durable. No worry about cracking concrete on a standard patio. This product will also support vehicles and can be used for your driveway. Centurion Home Improvement

Ceilings

rayhay — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:52:42 +0000

Louisville-Centruion-Home-Improvement-ScreenedPorchInside2

Originally uploaded by CenturionHomeImprovement

Add this beautiful wood-finished tounge and groove ceiling to any room in your home.

This picture is from a sun room recently completed. A great new living area that adds value to the home and provides a great place to kick back or entertain. Centurion Home Improvement

Roofing And Home Improvement — Louisville, KY

rayhay — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:36:35 +0000

Centurion Home Improvement

3705 Penway
Louisville, KY 40201
502-298-8825

Our Videos

Emergency Storm Service
Siding and Trim Installation
Fences
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Decorative Concrete Overlay
Seamless Gutter & Down-pipe Installation
Roofing – Tear off – We Have The Best Roofers
Remodeling
Decks
Garage
Room Addition
Replacement Windows & Doors
Basement Repair & Remodeling

*Free Estimates *Fast Quality Work *Insured *Flexible Hours

Main Website

Customer Reviews

Water Damage Repair

We had water in our finished basement after a severe storm. Centurion located and repaired the breach and repaired the walls and floor. I cannot thank Centurion enough for the fast response to my call and the good work.

August 15, 2008 by Beth Griffin in Clarksville, IN

Interior Remodel

My entry room and stair well was wall papered and was getting some years on it. Centurion suggested removing the paper and painting to brighten up the area. We love it – it looks great and makes our Grandfather Clock stand out as it greets people coming through the door.

Centurion also replaced the fixtures in the downstairs bathroom likewise making it more pleasing. I have nothing but praise for Ray Haycraft and Centurian Home Improvements and I’m happy with the price too.

August 15, 2008 by Mike Griffin in Jeffersonville, IN

Good price

Centurion Home Improvements did a roof replacement on a rental property I own and I found their work excellent, the price great, and the job was finished fast. I highly recommend Centurion.

Coupons

Extra one year extended warranty on labor on all work we perform! An extra year is added to Centurion’s normal 2 to 5 year warranty. Decks and Room additions normal 2 year warranty. Siding standard 3 year warranty. Roof replacement standard 5 year warranty. This offer adds one year to these.

Expiration: 10-22-2008

Centurion Home Improvement
3705 Penway, Louisville, KY 40201

Free Initial Visit and Estimate Free Visit and Estimate on your repair, improvement job

Expiration: 11-28-2010

Centurion Home Improvement
3705 Penway, Louisville, KY 40201

Blog

Louisville Roofing And Guttering Resources

We’ve just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Centurion Home Improvement . Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here … more

0 comments Blog posted 03:45 AM August 18, 2008

How To Care For Your Roof And Gutters

In Louisville leaves will be falling soon and can clog your gutters. Likewise have you inspected your roof to be certain there is no fungus or mold growing, that there has been no storm damage over the summer. These steps can help your roof last years longer and avoid … more

0 comments Blog posted 03:14 AM August 18, 2008

Read All Blogs

Louisville Roofing And Home Improvement

A Look at Current Roofing Choices

Unique Choices For Your Bathroom Remodel

Getting Your Roof Ready For The Louisville Winter

If You Do The Roof Yourself Or Hire A Roofer, Understand These Things

Roofing By Centurion Home Improvement, Louisville KY 40201

Concrete, Decorative Concrete — A Centurion Specialty

Louisville Home Improvement Sun Room

NewDeck — Centruion Home Improvement

Louisville-Centruion-Home-Improvement-ConcreteOverlayComplete

Ceilings

Roofing And Home Improvement — Louisville, KY

Centurion Home Improvement

3705 Penway Louisville, KY 40201 502-298-8825

Water Damage Repair

Interior Remodel

Coupons

Louisville Roofing And Guttering Resources

How To Care For Your Roof And Gutters

3705 Penway
Louisville, KY 40201
502-298-8825