reliable_exteriors

Color Spotlight: Deep Ocean

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Under the waves of a rolling sea, winding around underwater caverns you’ll find the inspiration for James Hardie’s ColorPlus® Technology bold blue color, Deep Ocean. It’s moody and daring, and when the color clads your home’s exterior, it’s sure to steal focus.

And the rich, robust hue will stay vibrant longer than field-applied paint. ColorPlus Technology provides a baked-on, fade-resistant, consistent finish on your siding that will last longer with lower maintenance.

We love the combination of HardiePlank® lap siding in Deep Ocean and HardieTrim® boards in Arctic White. It feels subtly nautical-inspired for a classic-meets-modern appearance.

Here are a few Deep Ocean abodes that make us ready to dive deep into the home siding hue:

Minnesota Blues

This Minnesota suburban home is clad in HardiePlank lap siding, HardiePanel® vertical siding and HardieTrim batten boards, all in Deep Ocean, with Arctic White HardieTrim boards for a look that utters stylish and stunning.

Crisp Colonial

This remodeled American beauty is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Deep Ocean with HardieTrim boards in Arctic White. With a closer look, you’ll notice the entryway’s HardieSoffit® beaded porch panel and HardieTrim crown moulding details that add to a classic and cohesive look—tying together the bold blue and clean white.

Deep in the Midwest

This Midwest home showcases straight edge HardieShingle® siding, HardiePanel vertical siding and HardiePlank lap siding, all in Deep Ocean, paired with Arctic White HardieTrim boards. The natural stone foundation pairs well with the deep cobalt siding.

If you love the color blue, but seek a siding color that’s a hint softer, check out the soothing Boothbay Blue or Evening Blue. Finally, getting the blues is a good thing.

Earth-toned Exterior Colors

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 05:00:00 GMT

When it comes to home color trends, this year designers are looking the way of earth tones. Colors inspired by nature—tans, greens, browns and beige—make up the warm, rich and popular palette.

T he understated earthy hues add softness to a home’s exterior, making them feel homey-yet-elegant. The collection of colors is versatile, too, so any accent (be it a door, shutters or landscaping) can stand out against the earthy canvas.

And if you clad your home in James Hardie® siding and trim, you’ll be happy to know that whichever earthy shade you choose from the ColorPlus® Technology palette will stay vibrant longer compared to field applied paint. James Hardie’s ColorPlus Technology is specifically engineered to help resist damaging UV rays, so your color will stay vibrant longer with less maintenance.

Here’s a closer look at homes flaunting an earth-tones exterior, including cladding in James Hardie’s ColorPlus Technology Autumn Tan, Sandstone Beige, Heathered Moss and Woodstock Brown.

Beige Meets Brick

HardiePlank® lap siding in Autumn Tan clads this Midwest suburban home. The warm beige pairs well with the home’s neutral brick.

Mossy Main Hue

We love the look of this neighborhood bungalow sided in HardiePlank lap siding in Heathered Moss. The bold HardiePanel® vertical siding in vivid Evening Blue truly pops against the earthy main siding color choice.

Sandstone Standout

This quaint Cape Cod is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Sandstone Beige with HardieTrim® boards in crisp Arctic White. The natural wood outdoor furniture on the porch feels cozy and inviting. Porch swing, here we come.

Shades of Brown

The warm and rustic Woodstock Brown HardiePanel vertical siding on this home is easy on the eyes. The darker brown shutters pop against the lighter main shade.

Homes with American Character

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Walking past a home with American accents—think breeze-blowing flags, oversized porches, and a white picket fence—evokes a warm and welcoming vibe. These homes just seem to conjure up the feeling of summertime, the smell of a fired-up grill or the taste of iced-cold lemonade—all seeming to say, America.

We decided to take a closer look at their siding: the colors, the durability and the timeless and traditional style. Each is clad in James Hardie ColorPlus® products, made up of hues that are crisp, clean and classic, such as Evening Blue, Arctic White and Iron Gray.

James Hardie’s ColorPlus® Technology is engineered to help resist damaging UV rays, so your color will stay vibrant longer compared to paint on wood or wood based products.

Here’s a peek at a few James Hardie clad homes with true American character:

American Beauty

This suburban home with a red brick front is clad in HardiePlank® lap siding in Evening Blue. The straight edge HardieShingle® siding in Timber Bark clads the home’s gables. The darker blue shutters complement the rich blue lap siding hue and the American flag blowing the breeze makes this single family home feel downright patriotic.

Patriotic Porch

The front of this home feels like a relaxed summer day. The wide porch and the neutral siding hues all add to the calm-meets-welcoming feeling. This home is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Timber Bark and Khaki Brown, which goes well with the white columns and black roof.

Updated Bungalow

This renovated 1920’s bungalow feels modern, clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Iron Gray with Arctic White HardieTrim® boards. The pop of the red door matches the swaying flag’s stripes for a cohesive and clean look.

It’s the details that give home character. James Hardie® siding and trim deliver authentic character with uncompromising performance. Get true-blue durability and timeless style with James Hardie siding and trim.

Preview Exterior Siding Colors Before You Commit

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Don’t you wish you could preview your home’s exterior colors before making a final decision? We know, we do, too. That’s why James Hardie created a brand new color tool with the curated palette of ColorPlus® Technology colors in a variety of home architectural styles.

Now you can see your home clad in a deep blue, rich red, or stylish beige siding or trim before you commit to color that will likely clad your home for years. You can envision your dream palette on your home’s architectural style, explore the combinations of a main color and accent hues, even include in the color of the roof, windows and doors—all before the siding and trim even go up.

The tool considers the colors and styles available in your Midwest location, your home’s architectural style and your design taste, all in a few simple steps. You can style and save your siding selections and share with your family, friends and contractor.

Here’s a breakdown of the tool’s easy-to-use steps. Now you can start designing and envisioning your exterior siding and trim colors sans stress.

Select a main siding color.

This will be the most prominent color in your color palette, so be sure it’s a hue that speaks to you and your home’s style, whether it’s an expressive Evening Blue or a subtle Sail Cloth.

Choose your home’s architectural style.

From Colonial to craftsman to farmhouse, the tool offers a long list of home architectural styles, so you can find one that looks strikingly similar to your Midwestern abode. Once you select your style, you can see the main siding color with HardiePlank® lap siding, HardieShingle® siding, HardiePanel® vertical siding, or a mix of the options.

Pick accent colors.

Choose accent and trim colors that complement your main siding hue selection, with names like Spruced Up and First Snow; it’s actually fun to sift through the curated color combinations to find one that speaks most to you. Or if you have your own color combination in mind, custom create your own palette by using the custom palette tab.

Add additional details.

Once you’ve selected your main siding, accent and trim hues, you can also select your roof, window and door color from a wide array of color options. These final details add character and help to get a sense of the colors that complement and those that stand out in the palette you’ve selected. We’ve got to say, playing around with bright door colors gets us inspired to design with more unexpected combinations of colors.

Save and share.

Once you’ve created the look you love, you can save it and share it. There’s also a home palette summary laid out for you, with a comprehensive list of all of the colors you’ve selected from your main siding hue to the color of your door. If you’re ready to take a closer look at starting the siding project, you can even get a quote.

Discover your color personality.

For an added bonus, the tool provides you with your very own color personality based on your color tool selections. It’s exciting to see how your style sense—be it more traditional or trendy—informs your color personality.

The new James Hardie color tool can help you feel confident with your new exterior color palette—selecting your siding colors just became less fuss and more fun.

Before and After: Midwest Home Makeovers

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Re-siding a home can spark an exterior transformation. You may not think so, but new siding can look so good it makes you second-guess whether you’re pulling into the right driveway. There’s just something about fresh James Hardie® siding and trim that turns a drab-colored, worn-out looking house into a clean, updated, bright home. It’s enough to cause a double take.

Why is James Hardie siding the perfect way to enhance your home’s exterior? Here are a few reasons:

It provides…

Durability: Every James Hardie siding product is engineered to help withstand damage from pests, fire and Midwest weather (such as freezing temperatures, moisture, snowfall, ice, hail, wind and extreme temperature variations).

A warranty: James Hardie is so confident in its products that it offers a 30-year non-prorated limited warranty on its HardiePlank® lap siding and HardieShingle® siding and a 15-year non-prorated limited warranty on HardieTrim® boards.

Take a peek at these before-and-after images; they may just be enough to get you looking at siding swatches:

From Cream to Green

This Midwest suburban home went from light and traditional to bold and durable. The creamy siding was upgraded to HardiePlank lap siding and straight edge HardieShingle siding (in the gables) in Mountain Sage with HardieTrim boards in Arctic White. The bold, white trim choice accentuates the dark green and the natural wood garage door matches the front door for a robust and rustic look.

From Light and White to Lively Blue

Check out the after status of this Midwest two-flat—it pops. The home is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Boothbay Blue with straight HardieShingle siding in Sail Cloth. The homeowners upgraded the front door and porch railing to create a pristine and protected stunner.

Craftsman Style Homes Clad in James Hardie® Siding

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Craftsman homes feel chock-full of character: the simplicity of the architecture, the natural materials, the stone details, the open porches and overhanging gables. They just have a cozy, warm look that make you want to call the structure, home.

The style boomed after the elaborate style of the Victorian era. The simple and honest craftsman home stepped onto the scene and showcased the handiwork and craftsmanship that make the home style unique.

After years of wear, your craftsman could use a siding refresh to keep it looking beautiful and protected. Thankfully, James Hardie® siding is Engineered for Climate®, with performance attributes that take your region’s climate into account. The HardieZone® System breaks down North America with climate-specific product formulations, and there’s one zone specifically for the Midwest – the HZ5® product zone.

HZ5 siding is winter ready, able to resist shrinking, swelling and cracking even after years of wet or freezing conditions.

When planning your exterior refresh, you have options with James Hardie products. A variety of siding selections highlights your architecture. The classic horizontal boards like HardiePlank® lap siding may be the first siding image that comes to mind, but you can opt for HardiePanel® vertical siding, staggered edge or straight edge HardieShingle® siding, and even different siding widths and textures (like smooth, Cedarmill© or stucco).

Here’s a roundup of Craftsman style homes clad in James Hardie® siding and trim that we simply cannot get enough of—feast your eyes on these character-filled quarters.

Staggered Shingles and Stone

Shingle siding feels right at home on this Craftsman. The homeowners opted for staggered edge HardieShingle siding in Pearl Gray. The light gray siding hue matches the craftsman stone details for a cohesive and clean look.

Cozy and Creamy

This cream-colored Craftsman is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Cobble Stone with HardieTrim® boards just a hint darker in Sandstone Beige. The two light neutral colors blend nicely with the red brick foundation, and the outdoor and indoor lighting add to the inviting ambiance.

Contemporary Craftsman

This Craftsman style home has a modern feel, with new HardiePlank lap siding in Evening Blue and HardieTrim boards in Arctic White. The standout brick chimney nods to the classic Craftsman look and the porch is the perfect vantage point to take in the honest handiwork displayed in the details.

Clad your Home in a Bold Neutral

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Neutral siding colors rule the suburbs—they’re safe and sophisticated at the same time. When selecting your home’s exterior hue, it’s important to look around and play off your surroundings. Are other homes on the block neutral? Is your home’s architecture more classic in style? It’s important to connect your siding and trim selections with the look of your Midwest home and neighborhood.

The color of fresh linen, desert sand or a beached seashell—Sail Cloth can look slightly different from home to home, but always seems to evoke a clean, soothing vibe.

When you choose James Hardie’s ColorPlus® Technology , you can feel secure knowing your siding color will stay vibrant longer with less maintenance. ColorPlus Technology helps resist damaging UV rays that can eventually dull the finish over time.

Here are a few homes clad in James Hardie’s Sail Cloth, along with style tips when designing with this color:

Classically Creamy Siding

This home is clad in HardiePlank® lap siding in Sail Cloth with HardieTrim® boards in Arctic White. We like that the color of the shutters matches the darker roof, all with an inviting neutral backdrop.

Style tip: For a classic look, go neutral with your siding color and boost curb appeal with classic black shutters.

Subtle Sail Cloth Trim

This beauty boasts HardiePlank lap siding in Mountain Sage and HardiePanel® vertical siding in Autumn Tan with HardieTrim boards in Sail Cloth. Even with the use of multiple color choices and siding styles, this home comes across interesting, not overwhelming.

Style tip: Add interest to a home by using a variety of siding styles, such as lap siding and vertical panels. The multiple textures pump up the exterior’s individuality.

Sail Cloth Close-up

This home is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Sail Cloth with HardieTrim boards in Arctic White.

Style tip: To make a more neutral siding hue—such as Sail Cloth—standout, opt for the bold Arctic White trim.

Want to explore other neutral options? Check out Autumn Tan, Navajo Beige and Cobble Stone. There’s a sophisticated neutral in the James Hardie ColorPlus palette perfect for playing off your home’s surroundings and standing out in the process.

Red Brick Meets James Hardie® Siding

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 05:00:00 GMT

When it comes to bricks, red brick is the most common variety in the Midwest. According to market research, about 57 percent of Midwest homeowners have red brick details on their homes.

With the scientific advances in the building products industry over the past hundred years, James Hardie Building Products has engineered a fiber cement siding that combines beautiful design with high performance. James Hardie® siding and trim help withstand damage from moisture and rot, resist damage from termites, and generally require less upkeep than wood siding.

This siding performs under extreme hot or cold conditions— it is noncombustible and can slow down the progress of flames, as well as help withstand a Midwest blizzard. And it looks great, too, especially when paired with red brick details.

Here are some home examples featuring James Hardie’s ColorPlus® Technology colors that complement red brick:

Updated Farmhouse

This beautiful Minneapolis home is clad in HardiePlank® lap siding in Woodstock Brown with HardieTrim® boards in Arctic White. The gables are clad in staggered edge HardieShingle® siding in Countrylane Red to complement the red brick.

Subtle in the Suburbs

This Chicago suburban home is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Navajo Beige. This classically comfortable hue looks subtle next to the red brick.

Blue meets Brick

These homeowners chose HardiePlank lap siding in bold Evening Blue to pair with the red brick on their exterior. The Arctic White HardieTrim boards around the windows make the blue, red and white a well-working trio.

James Hardie’s curated color collection options each complement one another, making it simple to choose a siding and trim color that look great together, whether you have red brick details on your exterior or not. You no longer have to feel overwhelmed sifting through piles of color swatches – check out James Hardie’s ColorPlus color palette.

Standout Pergolas Meet Standout Siding

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 05:00:00 GMT

As Midwesterners, we wait for the sunshine to rear its head in spring. And when it does, we can’t get enough of it. That is until the burn sets in, then we look for a little protection. Pergolas offer some sunshade, all with the ability to soak up the spring’s warmer days.

Whether you’re grilling in your backyard, hosting a dinner party or simply breathing in the fresh air, there’s really nothing like having an outdoor space to call your own, especially with a pergola pretty enough to make your neighbors’ jealous.

As you sit back and bask in the glory of your pergola, having beautiful home siding and trim only adds to your view. And James Hardie has plenty of siding and trim colors that can highlight your home’s natural surroundings.

Let’s take a closer look at homes with pergolas and views of James Hardie®

siding and trim—it’s the perfect way to spread the sunshine.

Shade in the Suburbs

This neighborhood gem’s brown-stained wood pergola creates a backyard oasis for this single-family home. The Artisan® lap siding in Timber Bark with HardieTrim® boards in Arctic White make for a clean and modern backdrop while enjoying the outdoor area. The shade of the pergola offers the perfect spot for a lounger, or family style table.

Dramatic at Dusk

This sophisticated pergola draws focus to the home’s French doors leading out to the epic backyard. The bold cool-white columns add an elegant touch, and balance the warmer look of the stone flooring. The Artisan lap siding in Boothbay Blue seems to tie the entire look together, playing off the colors in the natural stone.

Cape Cod Home Siding Styles and Hues

Thu, 26 May 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Whether they’re in New England or the heart of the Midwest, Cape Cods were initially built as traditional English style homes that could withstand against the local stormy weather.

The colonial Cape Cod designs were simple in style—a story and a half, pitched roof, weatherworn shingles, a central chimney, and gables. Nowadays, Cape Cods typically have a more modern sensibility—dormered roof, larger in size, and sometimes sporting screened-in porches.

Even hundreds of years later, we’re still worried about protecting homes against the weather, some things don’t change. Lucky for you, James Hardie® siding is Engineered for Climate®, with performance attributes that take your exact region’s climate into account. The HardieZone® System breaks down North America with climate-specific product formulations, and there’s one zone specifically for the Midwest – the HZ5® product zone.

HZ5 siding is winter ready (even for the sometimes-Arctic Midwest), able to resist shrinking, swelling and cracking even after years of wet or freezing conditions.

We’ve corralled our favorite Midwest clad Cape Cods—stylish and climate-specific.

Balanced and Blue

Unlike the Victorian homes popular in the earlier part of the 20th century, Cape Cod homes are distinguished by their symmetrical designs. This modern Cape Cod is screaming symmetry. The HardiePlank® lap siding in Boothbay Blue gives this home a traditional look despite its contemporary form.

Colonial Cape

The simple entryway, with little to no details, is standard for most Cape Cod homes. The large, modern Cape Cod, with a clean and humble entryway is clad in HardiePlank lap siding and straight edge HardieShingle® siding in Navajo Beige. The shingle siding on the home’s left side adds a touch of interest.

Warm and Traditional

This Midwest neighborhood home is clad in creamy HardiePlank lap siding. The black shutters and red brick foundation make the home feel classic yet stylish.

Add Drama to your Exterior with Dark Hues

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Looking for a siding color that’ll evoke mood instantly? Go dramatic with your color choice—opt for a dark hue. Designing home exteriors with a darker palette (even shades of black) is a new national and Midwest trend. Here in the Midwest, gray-toned homes with white trim are the most popular look.

To boost the drama, adding a bright white trim makes your home’s dark main color even more noticeable. Darker siding choices can provide a more modern look to your home and may make it look a little larger, too.

Here are some darker-cladded homes with a pop of a crisp white trim:

Iron Gray Updated Farmhouse

The Midwest homeowners of this dark gray beauty opted for the modern choices of Artisan® siding in Iron Gray and HardieTrim® boards in crisp Arctic White look sharp. The bold white roof color, with a pop of an orangey-red door adds simple and successful character.

Evening Blue in the Burbs

This suburban home is clad in HardiePlank® lap siding in Evening Blue, a gray-toned blue that looks modern, welcoming and clean. The Arctic White HardieTrim boards add a hint of freshness.

Timber Bark Beauty

This home is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in Timber Bark with Arctic White HardieTrim boards. The modern outdoor space is ideal for dining and lounging, and looks warm and inviting next to the grayish-brown hue of the siding.

Urban Red Farmhouse

This large home stands out on the block in HardiePlank lap siding in bold Countrylane Red with crisp Arctic White HardieTrim boards. The darker color makes the home seem larger and the bright trim livens up the red hue.

If dark and dramatic isn’t your ideal exterior color choice, there are many colors in the James Hardie® ColorPlus® Technology palette. It’s the no-drama way to simply choose a main siding color, the trim, and any accents.

Shutters That Complement Your Siding

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Outfitting your windows with shutters—or painting the ones you have—could add personality to your home’s exterior in a snap.

Shutters used to serve the main purpose of shutting out the weather, but these days many home shutters are purely decorative. Pumping up their look is a simple, design-savvy way to add an accent color to your home’s exterior.

Even if your shutters are aesthetic-only, designers recommend that they should still measure a usable dimension, meaning they should look as though they can cover the entire window when closed. Once the size is right, it’s on to locating your ideal color. Take a look at your siding colors, and then decide whether a bright color or a more subtle tone would finish off the look of your home best.

Here are a few homes with standout shutters, and siding options that complement the new window accents.

Bold Red

This two-story, Midwest suburban standout is clad in HardiePlank® lap siding in Iron Gray with brick accents, and HardieTrim® boards in Arctic White. For additional character, the homeowners added the bright red shutters and matching double doors.

Tropical Green

This beauty boasts lime green shutters with its Sail Cloth HardieShingle® siding and HardiePanel® vertical siding. It’s a simple and subtle way to add volumes of personality to an exterior.

Classic Black

This classic Colonial home is clad in Artisan® lap siding in Arctic White. The common, black shutters add to a polished and finished look.

Adding accents to a neutral-cladded home—with a pop of shutters, doors, curtains or landscape— is a simple, successful way to boost your curb appeal big time.

Exterior Updating: Don’t forget the garage door

Sat, 30 Jan 2016 06:00:00 GMT

When siding your home, it’s sometimes easy to overlook a giant piece of the exterior equation—the garage door.

You want to do justice to the look of your Midwest home, whether it’s a Colonial, craftsman or Tudor. Some homeowners choose a garage door color that blends with their home siding choice. Others choose a garage door color that will pop.

Whatever your preference may be, here’s a look at a few Midwest homes with different garage door design styles.

The siding and trim colors featured below all have the benefit of ColorPlus® Technology, a baked-on color option that resists fading from damaging UV rays. These colors are are engineered for excellent adhesion to resist peeling, cracking, chipping—all while complementing the hue of the garage.

Bold white garage door: This garage color matches the home’s Arctic White HardieTrim® boards. The crisp white choice seems to pop, while still complementing the rest of the home’s exterior design choices.

Maroon meld: This Countrylane Red HardiePlank® lap siding matches the red double garage doors perfectly, which adds to a flawless flow.

Two-toned Tudor: Along with the grayish brick, this updated Tudor is sided in two creamy siding colors, one slightly lighter than the other. The homeowner decided to use the same colors to paint and accent the garage doors.

Brown blend: The homeowners of this Midwest updated farmhouse went with Khaki Brown HardiePlank lap siding and a creamy trim choice. The garage door color blends nicely with the siding color, for a choice that seems to meld into the background.

Natural-wood standout: These two garage doors tastefully standout in natural wood, matching the front door. The stone and HardieShingle® siding in Gray Slate complement one another and the home’s exterior design.

Your Midwest home can be designed simply without being simplistic. Whatever your taste, James Hardie® products can accommodate and help you to capture a timeless look that doesn’t take too much time to maintain. Just remember, whatever design choice you choose, don’t forget the garage door in the process.

Roofing Upkeep and Inspection: How it’s Done by the Pros

Fri, 23 Oct 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Semi-annual roof inspections are essential to keeping your roof in shape. After all, there are some things that only a professional can spot and solve. Hiring a contractor can also help you avoid unpleasant surprises. They can check for post-winter damage or clear off debris for all the leaf shedding that will happen in fall.

Here are some parts of your roofing in Orland Park, IL that can benefit from professional services:

Gutters

Clogged gutters can be the primary source of leaks. Leaves, twigs, shingle granules, and other debris can prevent your gutters from funneling rainwater off the roof and away from the home. This may damage the roof, siding, and gutters, and may become too costly to repair. A pro can clear out the blockage and recommend a lasting solution, such as installing a gutter protection system.

Shingles

Professional inspection will uncover any loose, broken, curled or warped shingle tabs. These may require simple repairs or signal a bigger problem. Either way, spotting these problems early on will help you avoid costlier repairs down the road. Reliable Exteriors, Inc. provides roof inspections that will help us spot the real problem. This way, we can recommend the proper solution.

Vents

Neoprene or rubber can eventually crack. Moreover, rodents and other critters can cause damage to vented areas on your roof. As your professional Aurora, IL roofer, we can fix these problems to keep both animals and water out.

Attics

Most times, it’s the attic that causes the problem and not really the roof. An expert can remedy issues such as improper ventilation, air conditioning, or animal infestation that can otherwise cause mold or moisture condensation in the space.

Reliable Exteriors Inc. is the company to turn to for all your roofing needs, from routine inspection to emergency repairs. We are also prepared to install fresh siding and even a new skylight while tending to your roofing needs. Talk to us about how we can help you on your home improvement project! Call us at (708) 813-9000 to schedule a free, in-home estimate.

3 Things You Need To Consider Before Going For Cool Roofs

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 05:00:00 GMT

Every person has a responsibility to safeguard the environment. One of the best ways to do that is by implementing changes in each home. Most homes consume much energy; by making it more energy-efficient, you reduce the strain on the environment while saving money.

A cool roof will save you money and make your home more comfortable. Nevertheless, you should keep a few things in mind before going for a more energy-efficient roof.

Initial Cost

Cool roofs are a big investment, so this should factor into your decision. While the initial costs of getting a cool roof are high, it can have a low total cost of ownership. We’re a GAF certified roofing company in Naperville, IL, and we can install GAF’s Timberline® Cool Series Shingles. These shingles can save you up to 15% in your total cooling costs. These savings can end up paying for your roof.

In addition, utility companies can provide incentives and rebates for using a cool roof. Finally, according to the Cool Roof Rating Council, cool roofs can have a longer service life as these have a more stable temperature compared with regular roofs. This means you’ll enjoy the benefits of your cool roof over a long period, bringing down its total life cycle cost.

Aesthetic Appeal

Cool roofs tend to come in lighter colors because these increase solar reflectivity. Keep in mind your home’s current look and style, as well as how well your new cool roof will look in your neighborhood. GAF designed its Timberline Cool Series Shingles to fit with most color schemes and architectural styles. These shingles come in Antique Slate, Barkwood, and Weathered Wood.

Your Home’s Situation

You should also consider your current situation and usual weather. If you have an old and inefficient HVAC system, consider having a newer and more efficient system that will have a larger impact on your comfort and savings. You also have to take into account how hot it usually gets in your area. As the experienced roofing contractor in Aurora, IL, we’ll check on your home, and help you decide if a cool roof is the right choice.

Reliable Exteriors, Inc. has been the top choice of homeowners in Naperville and the surrounding areas since 1998. We’re a certified green roofer, because we believe in making an effort to protect our environment. We’ve earned certifications from the leading manufacturers, so you can be sure of a perfect installation when you work with us. Give us a call to learn more about our products and services, or to get a free in-house estimate.