Category Archives: News and Updates

Monroe Residence Project Spotlight: New Deck in Durham

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In our over 25 years as a home finishing specialist, we at Kingsford Siding, Windows, and Patio Rooms have grown from a small home improvement business to a fully staffed home improvement company. We’ve gained invaluable experience and skill and expanded our capabilities quite a lot, but the one thing we always want our clients to know is that even though we offer many services, we truly do specialize in each one of them. We’re not dabblers. We’re professionals in all that we offer. One of Kingsford’s specialties is decking, a capability we’ve provided for years. Building a deck gives us an opportunity to be creative and watch a project take shape, which we had the opportunity to do on a recent project for Ms. Monroe here in Durham. Learn more about the Monroe project below.

New Deck in Durham

For this project, we began by completely removing the existing deck, which was worn from age and not serving Ms. Monroe’s needs. Starting from a clean slate, we built her a brand new deck with treated wood. The deck itself was small, as it was mainly a platform to enter and exit the home. However, it did feature stairs on one side and a ramp for her pets to use easily on the other. We finished the deck with white vinyl railings around the deck and on the stairs and ramp. We made the choice for vinyl due to its ability to hold up long term and be low maintenance.

Kingsford’s Design Capabilities

One aspect of our business that sets us apart and helps on projects like these is our in-house design capabilities. Our designers are able to provide detailed 3D renderings for our clients to allow them to “see” what their deck will look like before building begins. This enables our clients to know what to expect from the project and for us to make any necessary adjustments in the beginning stages based on the client’s feedback. This collaboration always makes for better results.

See this Durham project’s result below.

Monroe Residence Project Spotlight: New Deck in Durham

Gibbons Residence Project Spotlight: Roof Replacement in Raleigh

Success with Raleigh Roof Replacement

We at Kingsford Siding, Windows, and Patio Rooms have been serving the Raleigh area for over 20 years, making it our mission to help Triangle-area residents love the look and feel of their home through our diverse home improvement services. One of our specialties is roof replacement, a project we use the very best in materials for and one that our highly experienced roofing installation team excels at. We take pride in our track record in the Raleigh area, helping hundreds of customers with roofing needs, whether the reasons are cosmetic or structurally necessary. Our aim is to work quickly but thoroughly, always getting the job done right the first time, and we owe it to our trained crew, our quality materials, and our commitment to local homeowners, who we consider to be like neighbors.

Because of this commitment, we work to provide all designers and leading manufacturers of shingles and materials so homeowners have a variety of options to select from for their roof. Choose from a wide range of asphalt shingles, metal, and even rubber roofing to complete the look of your home. For standard products, we provide a 25-year labor warranty, and we offer a lifetime labor and material warranty for luxury products, so we were confident when the Gibbons family came to us in need of roof replacement, we could give them a finished product they could count on that looked great.

Success with Raleigh Roof Replacement

The Gibbons contacted us because their roof was in poor shape due to weather and age. There was a considerable amount of warping and rotting, some you could see and some you couldn’t, that required removing. We knew we could help this Raleigh homeowner, giving the Gibbons home an attractive roof replacement job that was sure to last under a lifetime workmanship and lifetime manufacturer warranty. Once completed, we’d provided the following work on the home:

  • Removed existing shingles & felt paper stripped all the way down to OSB
  • Inspected & replaced warped or rotten OSB
  • Installed titanium underlayment to roof system
  • Installed starter shingles
  • Installed drip edge to perimeter of roof
  • Ridge vent with ridge cap along with hip cap
  • Installed designer carriage house shingles in stonegate grey shingles made by CertainTeed

The project went well, resulting in a beautiful finished result. We were happy to get the work done quickly with little inconvenience to the Gibbons family, and we’re sure the new roof will last for many years to come, which is always our goal for our Raleigh neighbors. If your home is in need of roof replacement, just give us a call or contact us online. We’re happy to help!

To view images of the final product, see below.

Roof Repair Raleigh Roof Replacement Raleigh Roofing Contractor Raleigh Roof Repair Raleigh Roof Replacement Raleigh Installed designer carriage house shingles in stonegate grey shingles made by CertainTeed Roof Contractors Raleigh Roof Repair Raleigh Roof Replacement Raleigh

Bell Residence Project Spotlight: Vinyl Siding & More in Wake Forest

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Kingsford Siding, Windows, and Patio Rooms has been a family owned and operated business serving the Triangle area for over 20 years. Our goal is to help homeowners make their house a home they love through our various home improvement services. We offer a wide range of capabilities, including roofing, siding, screen rooms, decking, windows, and more. With the help of our talented design specialists, we provide consultation throughout each project we perform, giving homeowners the option of viewing their design choices using 3D renderings and drawn models to make sure they get the final product they’re envisioning. It’s our ability to be a diverse, one-stop home improvement company that made the Bells contact us. They were interested in making several large and small changes to their home in Wake Forest, so we got to work, installing vinyl siding, composite decking, and more.

Wake Forest Home Improvement Success

The Bells’ Wake Forest home needed several improvements, and they had several cosmetic changes in mind. The house had an issue with rotting wood on the exterior, and the decking required repair and upgrades. The porch and gutters were also in need of attention. Overall, our team successfully completed the following projects, improving the appearance and function of the home:

  • Replacing of rotten wood on the home’s exterior
  • Installing of foil faced insulation
  • Installing of vinyl siding to the home
  • Installing in the gables vinyl cedar look shakes
  • Replacing of handrails on the home with white vinyl
  • Installing of composite decking on all three decks
  • Installing of beaded porch ceiling to the front porch
  • New white vinyl columns
  • Installing of all new hidden vent and solid soffit to the home
  • Building of new platform
  • Installing aluminum screen room system with new outside deck on home
  • Installing of new gutters and downspouts
  • Installing of a no-leaf protection cover on all new gutters

Though we had several projects going, we were able to complete the Bell residence project quickly and efficiently, resulting in a home transformation the Bells were pleased with. For photos of the project, see below. For questions or to schedule a service with Kingsford, call us at (919) 688-5116 or contact us here on our site.

 

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Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Composite Decking Wake Forest Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Vinyl Siding Wake Forest Composite Decking Wake Forest Composite Decking Wake Forest  Vinyl Siding Wake Forest

6 FAQs About Roofing for Wilmington, NC

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Roofing is an interesting topic to discuss. The majority of us have one, but we rarely think about it. Most days, we forget it’s up there altogether. The problem with roofing is that we typically forget to focus on it until a problem occurs and forces us to. There is a range of roofing issues that will sit up there undetected, quietly minding their business, until they one day demand your attention in a big way. Our team at Kingsford Siding, Windows, and Patio Rooms get a lot of questions from homeowners about how best to approach their roofing needs, and we’re happy to help. Though many situations require case-by-case answers upon reviewing each roof’s unique challenges, here are six frequently asked questions and our answers according to our professional opinion. If you’ve got a roofing issue in Wilmington, NC, we just may have the advice you need!

Question: How do I know when my shingle roof needs replacement?

If your roof is more than 20 years old, that’s an easy indicator that it’s time to begin replacement. A roof at any age can develop an issue, though, so we recommend inspecting your roofing regularly, once or twice a year, to identify any issues. Don’t bother going up on the roof for this. The safer and more effective way is to stay on the ground and visually scan the roof using binoculars. If you see shingles that are cracking, lifting up, or are missing, it’s time for repair.

You should also go in your attic during this inspection. If you see any light coming in from the underside of the chimney and the stack vent, your flashing needs repair. You should look at the underside of the roof sheathing for any signs of water leakage at this time.

Question: Are there any roofing projects a homeowner can handle DIY-style?

The short answer is yes, there are some things you can do on your own. However, without seeing the issue firsthand, we can’t give a guarantee that this is a good option for a particular situation or homeowner. We’d never recommend a homeowner to do the majority of roofing work unless he or she had the proper training and was familiar with the particular roof. Otherwise, call a professional. Being up on a roof is dangerous for many reasons, and doing amateur work could cause a problematic result that may be expensive to correct.

Question: Some of my shingles are discolored and stained. What can I do?

The black discoloration is due to a type of algae that lives off minerals found in roof shingles. These algae like moisture, which explains why you may only see the discoloration on parts of your roof that doesn’t get as much sun. The algae won’t damage your roof, but it doesn’t look great either. You essentially have two options: clean or replace. To clean off the algae, you can try using a pump sprayer to wet down the roof with a mixture of bleach and water and then scrubbing with a long brush, though note that the bleach can run off into landscaping. This is a dangerous project, and we recommend you call in a professional for help. The other option is to replace the discolored shingles. There are algae-resistant shingles on the market if you’re interested in replacing the roofing as a whole.

Question: My roof was affected by a bad storm. How can I temporarily protect it?

The Wilmington, NC area sees a lot of turbulent storms, and many homeowners are affected in a big way every year. When you live in this area, it’s a smart idea to have some go-to emergency repair knowledge on hand. If you can do it safely, cover the damage with a woven plastic tarp, secure it in place with wood strips, and screw it to the sheathing. It won’t be attractive, but it will keep moisture out until you can get a professional repair done. Never try to do this in rain or heavy winds, though. A damaged roof is better than a damaged person. That’s what insurance is for.

Question: I live in an old, historic home and love the original roof. However, the roof will soon be in need of repair. Can I preserve the look of the original roof and maintain the historic integrity of the home?

Absolutely. While you can’t make it look exactly the same, you can come pretty close. There are many different types of roofing materials, and we can work with you to find one that closely resembles the original roofing and honors the aesthetic of the house.

Question: My roof has ridges and ripples. Why, and what can I do?

It’s likely that moisture vapor from inside the house is finding its way between the ends of the roof panels because they weren’t properly sealed with foam at installation. This causes expansion in parts of your roof. Not only is this unsightly, but it can also lead to rot. This will require several steps to fix, but the short answer is that it will definitely require an experienced professional to add foam, make the repairs, and check to ensure the problem is completely solved.

 

We hope that helps clear up your roof questions. If you’re a Wilmington, NC homeowner with a roofing issue, feel free to request a consultation with us on our website. For questions about roofing or any of our varied services, contact Kingsford by calling (919) 688-5116.

4 Pros to Vinyl Siding in Raleigh, NC

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Few home preferences divide people like vinyl siding. Most people tend to have a strong reaction to it: either they love it or hate it. In our experience, the majority of people who hate it believe wood is the only way and that vinyl siding comes with a lot of shortcomings. However, a lot of this thinking comes from an outdated impression of vinyl. Today’s vinyl is actually a fantastic option for most houses. Vinyl siding has changed quite a bit since it first showed up on homes, and it’s truly nothing like it used to be, which is why it’s used on around a third of new homes. There are many pros to taking this approach, but we’ve got four big incentives for Raleigh, NC homeowners to use vinyl siding.

Benefits of Vinyl Siding

Relatively, vinyl as a building material has had a fairly short timeline, but a lot has evolved. It was first used in the 1950s as a departure from aluminum siding. In the early days, though, it had some issues. Due to the original composition’s tendency to crack, warp, and fade, the material got a negative reputation. Today’s vinyl, however, has a different chemistry, and installation techniques have greatly improved over the years. Many homeowners actually prefer vinyl siding today, and it’s not a mystery to us why.

Here are four leading benefits of vinyl:

  • It’s Low Maintenance. While no material is going to be 100% maintenance free, vinyl is very easy to maintain. One pro is that it never needs to be repainted or stained. The color will last the lifetime of the vinyl. To keep vinyl looking its best, simply wash it periodically. This will remove any mold, mildew, dirt, or other film that has built on your home. A garden hose and a mixture of vinegar and water should do the trick, but for tougher, older stains, use a pressure washer.
  • It’s Affordable. Vinyl has always been a cost-effective option. A mid-grade vinyl currently costs around $1.60 per square foot to install. More premium versions of vinyl may compare with woods like cedar, but vinyl still comes out on top because it’s quicker to install and doesn’t need to be painted.
  • It Holds Up to Weather. Many people tend to think wood is the go-to for withstanding weather, but vinyl today can actually hold its own. There are versions of vinyl capable of sustaining tornado-force winds of up to 240 mph. Plenty of vinyl siding options come with a “won’t-blow-off” warranty, guaranteeing their reliability as long as they’re installed properly.
  • It Can Go Toe to Toe with Wood. Modern vinyl can actually perform as well, and better in some cases than wood. It can also be made with the same look and texture. Performance-wise, vinyl is actually less likely to trap moisture than wood. It can absorb sound, have superior impact-resistance, and resist wind and heat flow. Aesthetically, it can be made to look like milled lumber and even logs, and it can be cut in an array of designs, including a scalloped look.

With all of the options for vinyl siding in the Raleigh, NC area today, there’s no reason for it not to be a solid contender for your home. For questions, please contact us at Kingsford by calling (919) 688-5116, or request a consultation with us on our website.

 

Patio Room & Sunroom Builders in Raleigh & Durham, NC

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There’s no feeling like sitting in the warm sun in a comfortable chair on a Saturday morning with a cup of steaming tea or coffee and watching the wind blow through the trees. Here at Kingsford Siding, Windows, and Patio Rooms, we want to make that a lasting and accessible feeling for every member of your family with a high-quality patio room.

Whether you call it a patio room, sunroom, sun parlor, Florida room, or sun porch, they all have one thing in common: the warmth and comfort of natural sunlight. Natural light has a myriad of benefits, from creating a flattering glow to uplifting your mood, and a patio room gives you access to those benefits without having to brave the weather. Kingsford wants to build you a room to share with your family and make memories in. We want to help you create your own stay-cation.

Our patio rooms have their own heating and cooling systems so they can be enjoyed year round, and they come in a variety of styles, sizes, and designs to fit seamlessly with your home. These rooms are generally built off the side or rear of your home in order to give you the best look and longest time in the sun. You can even upgrade your experience with glass roofing to complement your windows to really flood every inch of your patio room with pleasing light.

Did you know that sitting in your new patio room could contribute to better health, mood, and overall wellbeing? Now you do. Let Kingsford help show you what you and your family could be missing!

Tilt-In Double Hung Windows Installation in Raleigh, Durham & Surrounding Areas

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When you’re shopping for new windows for your home, the number of options can seem overwhelming. From bay to encasement to sliding, each window type has its own pros and cons. At Kingsford, we’re here to tell you about double-hung windows and why we think they’re fantastic for almost any space or need.

Double-hung windows are one of the most popular and common types of windows for a variety of reasons. These windows feature two sashes on one frame—on both the top and bottom of the frame. They open and move up and down, and you have the ability to tilt them in as well.

We are big fans of double-hung windows because of all of the advantages that come with them. They’re easy to clean and don’t require you to climb any ladders for everyday housework. You also have the ability to clean the exterior of the window from the inside, which means the façade of your house will never look dingy due to dirty windows again. These windows are also energy efficient and can reduce the need for heating and cooling, which, in turn, reduces your HVAC bills.

Our double-hung windows come in a variety of sizes, styles, colors, designs, and glazing options, so you can customize them to truly fit and flow with your space. For improved airflow without the nuisance of bugs or debris, we can also install full or half screens based on your preference.

New windows can do wonders for a space. They can let in more natural light, they can improve upon and complement the flow of any room, and they can allow you to enjoy the weather from the comfort of your couch. It’s time to get rid of those old, dingy windows that stick or fall. Upgrade your comfort with Kingsford.

Gutter Cleaning

While it may not seem like it, cleaning your gutters is an integral part of keeping your home in tip-top shape. Clean gutters allow rainwater to flow away from your house into designated channels. However, when your gutters are full of leaves and debris, they can become weighed down and inefficient.

The experts at Kingsford Siding, Windows, and Patio Rooms recommend a thorough cleaning of your gutters semi-annually: one cleaning in the Fall after all of the trees have lost their leaves and then a second cleaning again in the Spring after pollen season has died down.

Cleaning your gutters yourself can be a cumbersome, if not dangerous, task if you don’t have the right equipment and techniques. That’s where the experts at Kingsford come in: we will come and professionally clean your gutters and downspouts of all debris. We start with our hands and buckets for the larger debris, and then we move on to a hose or leaf blower for smaller pieces. As a bonus, we’ll clean up any debris left behind, so you don’t have to. While cleaning, we will also check the integrity of your gutters and tighten any loose hangers or nails.

If you’re looking for an even easier alternative, Kingsford offers protective gutter covers that come with a lifetime warranty. Once we install your gutter covers, you will never have to worry about gutter cleaning again. Our Leaf Off covers are made of high-quality, durable materials that get the job done and protect your gutters from decaying leaves and debris for the long haul.

Whatever your choice, gutter maintenance is important to the upkeep and maintenance of your home, and the experts at Kingsford are here to help.