For Reduced Energy Costs, Try a Reflective Roof Coating

A reflective roof coating is applied to roofs to help reflect more sunlight from the surface, thus reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the structure. Also known as cool roofing, these roof coatings are available in a number of colors, surfaces, and thicknesses and can make a huge difference when it comes to saving money on energy costs and usage. On top of that, they also aid in creating more comfortable indoor environments, and play a role in prolonging the life of roofs and roofing materials.
Cool roof coatings work to keep your home cool in two distinct ways. The first is by solar reflectance, or the coating’s ability to reflect sunlight away as soon as it hits your structure. Instead of absorbing the sunlight and heat like a traditional roof, a cool roof reflects the light and heat away from your home, keeping your home cooler in the process. The other way that cool roofing helps to keep your home cooler is through thermal emittance. These roof coatings are now made with special materials that increase your roof’s thermal emittance level, or your roof’s ability to radiate absorbed heat back into the atmosphere instead of down into your home. It’s this potent combination of high solar reflectance and thermal emittance that make these roof coatings so effective at keeping your home cool and your energy costs and usage down.

Trendy Slate Roofing

Roofs don’t often come to mind when homeowners think of trendy remodels. The aesthetic of roofs are all curb appeal because no one is going to stand inside your living room, warming themselves by the fireplace, and compliment you on how nice your roof looks. There are other beautiful features of your home’s interior that will have their attention once they are indoors. But don’t overlook this area of your curb appeal. It might have more value that you might imagine.
Slate tile roofing is the hottest thing in roofing today, as it has been for quite some time. Slate is one of those odd trends that isn’t really a trend but more an idea that has finally been realized, like hickory flooring. The pet rock feels like a trend. So do Lava Lamps. Slate roofs do not. However, there is no reason to debate the semantics. What’s great about this new deserved attention is that slate roofs can last fifty years or more. It is a comforting thing to install and never have to replace your roof again.

Expertly Crafted Doors from the MD Roofing Professionals

HomeTech has the privilege of being both a certified Maryland roofing company and a certified installer of top-of-the-line doors from Pro Via. Beautifully crafted and energy efficient, replacement doors from Pro Via will increase your curb appeal and resale value while decreasing your energy costs. Installing doors from Pro Via is the reason HomeTech is the Columbia roofing contractor that Maryland residents also turn for energy efficient replacement doors.
The doors that Pro Via produces and we install are designed to provide Maryland homes with further structural strength and security with superior energy efficiency. The less energy that escapes through your door, Maryland, the less money you will have to spend to produce energy. Plus, the front door of your home is the first thing that most visitors will notice, making it vital to their first impression of your home.

Metal Roof vs. Asphalt Shingle Roof: The Complete Guide

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ASPHALT SHINGLE AND METAL ROOF?
Asphalt shingle roofing is a dominant material for residences. However, metal roofing is surging in popularity as more aesthetic options become available. Now, there are metal shingles and panels that imitate materials like slate, tile, wood shake and even asphalt.
It’s important to navigate the pros and cons of each material before you decide which to use because this is a significant and long-term investment. Below we compare the two side-by-side in categories such as cost, durability and return on investment.

How to Use the Sun to Lower Your Energy Costs

Constantly rising energy costs are taking a toll on the wallets of all Maryland homeowners. Paying to heat and cool your home year ‘round is an expensive venture, and the structure of your home could be hemorrhaging your hard earned money. That is where HomeTech comes in. Our Maryland solar roofing service is designed to immediately and dramatically decrease the amount of energy that you need to pay for, all by harnessing the natural energy produced by the sun.

 As one of the leading solar roofing contractors in Frederick MD, and all of Maryland, HomeTech installs solar roofing for purposes beyond just saving you money, however. We also believe we have a responsibility for our environment, and that by installing solar roofing, Maryland, we are just doing our due diligence. We take great pride in providing solar roofing to homes all over Maryland, from Columbia to Silver Spring. Roofing is our passion, and solar roofing is just another reason that HomeTech is the roofing company in Maryland that home and business owners trust first.

Roof Leaks in Heavy Rain - What To Do About It

If your roof leaks during heavy rain…
It’s important to find the cause of the problem.
As soon as possible.
So the roof leak can be fixed before more damage occurs.
Today, we’re going to help you identify what may be causing your roof leak and look at possible remedies.
It’s important to understand.

Identifying Hail Damage to Your Roof

Are you aware that during a hail storm more than just your vehicles are potentially vulnerable to damage and future repairs? When hail hits, it can damage the roof or covering of your home as well as other personal property. Although hailstorms can be destructive, the amount of damage can vary greatly. Following are some factors that affect the type and degree of damage that may be impacted by a hailstorm, as well as a guide on how to identify hail damage to different types of shingles and roofing materials.

  • Wind – During a hailstorm, wind direction and wind speed can vary. Changes in wind conditions can affect the location and severity of hail impacts.
  • Size and density – The size of the hailstones can affect the degree of damage, if any, to your property. A hailstone can be as small as a pea, or as large as a softball. Most hailstones do not have smooth edges, which can impact the type of damage they cause.

Tips for Holiday Decorating Without Damaging the Roof

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but installing festive lights on a home can be a headache and potentially cause damage to your roof. Avoid the hassle and make decorating more enjoyable with these tips for contractors to share with their customers to avoid roof damage.
  1. Don’t let your shingles jingle. Never hang Christmas lights from your shingles. To properly put up lights, they need to be secured to something (that’s why it’s so easy to wrap them around trees). Making even the tiniest of holes in a shingle or roof component will let moisture or leaks in and potentially rot the roof. The best way to put up lights is with clips that hang from the gutter or eaves. Also, before you even climb up to work, untangle the strands and test them to make sure they all light up. Read more here.

Signs You Need New Windows

When was the last time you checked the condition of your windows? If your home has aluminum or wood framed windows, you may not even notice the problems they cause. Homes that are over 20 years old with the original windows are typically due for an upgrade, but there are some easy ways to check. How will you know when it is time to replace your windows? 
Well-designed windows play a variety of important roles and improve your home’s curb appeal, increase the amount of natural light in your home and improve energy efficiency. If your windows are run-down and damaged, they will not only be a security issue, but the overall comfort of your home becomes a problem. It’s crucial to identify whether your windows need to be replaced and there are many signs around your home that will clearly tell you that it’s time to start your window renovation plan. 
Click here for more!

EnergyTech Windows from Soft Lite and HomeTech

The windows of your home are key to its energy efficiency, and in many cases they are the leading cause of leaking energy. Aging windows that have become difficult to open and close or windowpanes that are cracked and leaking can lead to skyrocketing energy costs. So how do Maryland homeowners combat these problems? They call the expert roofing contractors Frederick MD and all of Maryland trust to install high quality replacement windows as well- HomeTech.
HomeTech partners with Soft Lite to install their EnergyTech replacement windows. Designed with an increased R-Value, these windows are one of the newest innovations in energy efficient living. When manufactured by Soft Lite and installed by the Germantown roofing professionals at HomeTech, replacement windows will immediately make a positive difference in your energy bills.
Read more on website.

How to Use the Sun to Lower Your Energy Costs

Constantly rising energy costs are taking a toll on the wallets of all Maryland homeowners. Paying to heat and cool your home year ‘round is an expensive venture, and the structure of your home could be hemorrhaging your hard earned money. That is where HomeTech comes in. Our Maryland solar roofing service is designed to immediately and dramatically decrease the amount of energy that you need to pay for, all by harnessing the natural energy produced by the sun.
As one of the leading solar roofing contractors in Frederick MD, and all of Maryland, HomeTech installs solar roofing for purposes beyond just saving you money, however. We also believe we have a responsibility for our environment, and that by installing solar roofing, Maryland, we are just doing our due diligence. We take great pride in providing solar roofing to homes all over Maryland, from Columbia to Silver Spring. Roofing is our passion, and solar roofing is just another reason that HomeTech is the roofing company in Maryland that home and business owners trust first.
Click here for more.

The Money Saving Advantages of Installing New Siding MD

Are the exterior walls of your home still covered by high maintenance wooden siding or paint? Are you tired of the constant steps needed to maintain the appearance of these traditional means of siding? Then it is time to wrap your home in low maintenance, energy efficient vinyl or fiber cement siding, which means it is time to give HomeTech a call. We are the Frederick MD roofing contractors that home and business owners count on for all of their siding needs as well.
When properly manufactured by CertainTeed or Mastic and expertly installed by HomeTech, your new siding will deliver significant advantages for your Maryland home
Read more here.

Expertly Crafted Doors from the MD Roofing Professionals

HomeTech has the privilege of being both a certified Maryland roofing company and a certified installer of top-of-the-line doors from Pro Via. Beautifully crafted and energy efficient, replacement doors from Pro Via will increase your curb appeal and resale value while decreasing your energy costs. Installing doors from Pro Via is the reason HomeTech is the Columbia roofing contractor that Maryland residents also turn for energy efficient replacement doors.

The doors that Pro Via produces and we install are designed to provide Maryland homes with further structural strength and security with superior energy efficiency. The less energy that escapes through your door, Maryland, the less money you will have to spend to produce energy. Plus, the front door of your home is the first thing that most visitors will notice, making it vital to their first impression of your home.
Click here for more!

Read This Before You Redo Your Roof

Four out of five homeowners opt for asphalt shingles—here’s the lowdown on choosing the right ones for your own roof.

Shingles That Compliment House Trim

From keeping your house weather tight to capping its curb appeal, there’s a lot riding on your roof. It has to withstand decades of blazing sun, pounding rains, gusting winds, and in many cases, snow and ice, as it protects you from the elements—all while looking good from the street.
When it comes to maintaining your home, a new roof is one of the biggest-ticket purchases you have to make. While that can be intimidating, experts agree that getting the job done right boils down to a two-part process. First, explore colors and styles by driving around your neighborhood to see how homes similar to yours look with different shingle colors and shapes. Most manufacturers have options in all the basic color families: browns and reds, blues and greens, grays and blacks, and golds and beiges. Then, as with any remodeling job, work with a top-notch contractor. The major shingle manufacturers’ websites list approved installers by ZIP code, often highlighting those who’ve passed best-practice training. The quality of the work is key. Asphalt shingles are pretty bulletproof these days, so failures can usually be traced back to poor installation.

Reasons Why You Should Use Solar Power

Take Advantage of the Solar Power Benefits

People often ask themselves 'Why is solar energy good?' and, as a result, fail to realise the importance of solar technology. Solar power has evidently become the trend in renewable energy. Homeowners around the UK installed solar panels on their roof, managing accordingly to reap all the solar energy advantages.
Apart from the obvious financial benefits, there are other pertinent reasons why you should convert to using solar power instead of fossil fuels. What other reasons should you consider when going solar? Here are seven compelling reasons.

Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Front Entry Door

How do you know that it is time to replace your front door?  It seems now a days that people don’t use their front door as much as they use to.  With garage entries and side doors, most of us don’t even think about our front doors.  The problem is most of us now a days understand that we need to replace our old single-pane, non-energy efficient windows, but most of us don’t consider our doors.  If your home has a foyer or staircase leading directly to your front door, your heating and cooling are being wasted more than the average home without a foyer.
  1. Does your daily workout consist of simply trying to open and close the front door?
If your door is difficult to open and close, it may be time to replace it.  When you feel your door sticking in the winter and easy to open and close in the summer, that’s a sure sign of energy rushing out your door.  If the hinges are sinking, that’s another issue.  But if its sticking into the door jam, your door probably has exposed areas either down the sides or top or bottom where you can see light.  Seeing light from the inside or outside without the door being open is a problem.  If you take a lighter a couple inches around those edges, pay attention to what the flame does.  It will try to move right outside the door.  This indicates leaking air.

Have Hail Damage? Get a Quick Response from HomeTech!

Although hailstorms do not occur with great frequency in the Maryland area, when they do strike it can cause serious and widespread damage. Your home is vulnerable to hail damage in many different areas, including roofing, siding, windows, and doors. Hail stones striking a your roof can cause immediate damage in the form of broken, cracked or loosened shingles or tiles. But hail can also cause unseen damage to other parts of your Maryland home that can have long-term consequences.

Even if your roof appears to be undamaged, a hailstorm can result in hidden damage. You need the trained eye of the professionals from HomeTech to conduct an on-site inspection of your roof to determine whether or not the underlayment and supporting structure was damaged. Only a trained Maryland hail damage specialist can uncover hidden problems in every aspect of the exterior of your home. We will inspect your entire home, including climbing on the roof and checking it up close.  After our inspection  we will provide you with a detailed report and work with your insurance company.
Click here for more on our website!

Storm and Water Flood Restoration Services

The possibility of Flood damages are all around us, however we seldom think about it in our daily lives. From an old building and pipes, to a water heater with age, or a random tropical storm or hurricane. If this did happen to you, who are you going to turn to? Your insurance company; that makes money off of your home not having any damages and will try to cut corners in restoring your home with the hard earned money you pay for in premiums every year. Your first call should be in the hands of the experts of Home Tech Services. We are a licensed and bonded general contractor that specializes in home improvement and calamity damages. We follow the strictest guidelines that all major insurance agencies put out for contractors as well as local county and city home construction guidelines. All this without the extra headaches of trying to replace other valuables in your home. Call us and let us give you a helping hand in making your home, home again.

Fire Restoration Services

 The uncontrollable nature of fire can literally spark up from anywhere. Either from a faulty gas leak, to dry weather conditions, or arson. It’s an unfortunate event, however it is not the end of the world. Home Tech Restoration may be the key to restoring what was lost, back to your home as you remembered it. Call us now, for fast and quality craftsmanship with over 120 years of total combined experience, let Home Tech Services Restore your home as good as new!

Have Storm Damage, Maryland? Call HomeTech!

High winds, driving rain, and heavy snow are all dangers to the structural integrity of your home or business. Among the structures that are most vulnerable to storm damage is the roof of your home or business. Any flying debris that strikes your roof will cause damage, even if it is not visible to you. In addition, on the off chance to we have a heavy snowstorm, the gutters of your Maryland roofing system could be knocked out of place. When that snow melts, a lot of that water will be directed right into your home.
Maryland has a history of unpredictable weather so if a freak storm hits and you find yourself in a home that is exposed to the elements do not wait to call a professional Maryland contractor like HomeTech. It could mean the difference between affordable roof repairs and an expensive roof replacement MD.
In addition to damage to your Maryland roofing system, storms can also cause damage to your siding, windows, and doors. HomeTech is an expert in the inspection and repair of all types of storm damage, to each exterior aspect of your home.  During our inspections we actually get up on your roof to inspect the situation.  You can’t truly see damage from the ground. We have been promptly responding and quickly repairing storm damagesince our inception in 2000, and hundreds of homes have HomeTech to thank for mere repairs rather than full replacements of roofing, siding, windows, and doors.
So when disaster strikes and your Maryland home falls victim to storm damage, make sure to call a fully licensed contractor like HomeTech. Don’t fall victim to what we in the industry call “Storm Chasers,” unlicensed contractors that will respond quickly, do poor work, never get up on your roof and leave you with an empty wallet and more costly repairs to pay for.
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