When it comes to home improvements, there is no project more valuable than replacing your roof. Ensuring your roof is reliable and in good health is critical for both your home and family.
Copper roofs not only offer a timeless aesthetic, but a number of other benefits. Copper is more weather resistant, requires less maintenance, and dramatically increases resale value compared to traditional asphalt shingles.
One of the biggest home design trends we’ve seen this year is the rise of contemporary rustic chic. Repurposed exposed wooden beams, refined mahogany decks, and post-beam style timber frame homes have become increasingly popular among homeowners.
As we move further and further away from the warm summer months, there’s just no denying it: fall is here and winter is on its way.
The months ahead can be tough on your home’s surfaces and systems, especially in regions of the country like ours here in Westchester and Fairfield Counties.
Nearly every home building or remodeling project, no matter how large or complicated, starts in exactly the same way. It all begins with an idea; a spark of creative vision that says, “What if we…”
The next step is to align yourself with others who have the skills and talents needed to catch sight of your vision and begin crafting it into a reality.
In the case of this Greenwich remodeling project, our clients have no shortage of creative vision. Working in the fashion design industry, an appreciation for style and unique blends of color and texture come naturally.
Their moment, that spark of creative vision, came when they decided to completely remodel this Greenwich property and turn it into their “dream home.” It would no longer just be a house, but a completely customized place that perfectly reflected their personality and met their needs. And, not just their needs, but also the needs of their two young children. While many custom homes are built with an emphasis on the “wow factor,” this house needed to offer the practicality that daily life as parents calls for.
The property is not just a show piece, but a home.
Our client supplied the overarching vision, working closely with well-known architect and designer Robert Couturier. We at Gerety Building & Restoration were invited to help with not only the design work in an aesthetic sense, but also to analyze the plans from a practical construction perspective. This is an area of specialty for us. We’re happy to not only provide design and architectural services, but also to work closely with a professional that our clients are already collaborating with.
In this case, we worked hard to determine how best to make the developing sketches and plans come to life. This included a thorough structural analysis, and we also invited an engineer to come and ensure that this new construction would endure.
“Once the infrastructure is built, we can move forward with confidence that the finished product will provide lasting results and stand the test of time.” -Keith Gerety
This analysis, collaboration, and planning was one of the most involved aspects of the entire project, but it laid the foundation for a build that was successful in every sense.
We’ve all heard the term “curb appeal.” It refers to that feeling you get, whether positive or negative, as you pull up to a home, peer out the car window, and look around.
The curb appeal for this property is undeniably breathtaking.
What exactly did our exterior work involve?
The colors, materials, details, and architectural lines come together to create a simultaneously stunning and warm style. It’s inviting and friendly while still offering more than you can absorb without a second and third look.
No longer seen as a purely utilitarian room, today’s kitchen is often one of the most prized areas of the home. The potential for customization and letting your personality shine through is nearly limitless thanks to the unique combinations of colors, textures, and patterns that you can include in your design.
Remember how we said that one of our client’s goals was to create a blend of beauty and function throughout their home? This kitchen really exemplifies that. Yes, the gleaming countertops and bright, clean look are stunning, but this is also a place where snacks will be prepared for the kids, or friends can gather and chat while the meal finishes cooking.
One of the major highlights of the home is the great room. As we mentioned above, the homeowners wanted a place where they could easily entertain and enjoy time with visiting friends. Their other goal was to have a space where they could feature their artwork. This phenomenal room meets both these needs, and does so in style.
Tall ceilings, exquisite trim, endless natural light, and the central fireplace all work together to make this a functional, beautiful great room.
While this complete, top-to-bottom home remodel had many complexities and moving parts, acquiring the materials for the bathrooms was actually one of the most demanding aspects of the work we did.
To show you exactly why this was, let’s start in the master bath.
The gorgeous material you see above is marble. And, not just any marble, but hand-selected Italian marble chosen by a fabricator that we sent over to Italy. Once custom-fabricated and in place, it creates a smooth, classy interior that really is unlike any other.
One of the guest bathrooms has another very unique and beautiful material incorporated into the design.
Can you spot it?
If the rich flooring jumped out at you, you have a good eye. Although, you still get points for noticing any of the other eye-catching features. This guest bath has a lot of wonderful details to soak in, including:
The flooring in particular, however, is worth highlighting. It’s made from teak, a wood that you often hear in association with boating. Wood flooring in bathrooms is generally frowned upon, but because of teak’s dense, water-resistant nature, it gets along beautifully with wet environments.
Because this remodel involved the entire house, we wish we could take you on a complete walk-through. There’s something to see around every corner, from the children’s wing with its bedrooms, bathrooms and playrooms, right to the beautiful new turrets. Every inch was carefully planned to maximize style and function.
This project took 18 months to complete, from conceptualization to the finished product. We truly enjoyed this experience and appreciate being entrusted with such an incredible home transformation.
If we can help answer any questions you might have regarding home building, remodeling, and design, why not contact us at Gerety Building & Restoration? This is what we love to do, and we make sure our passion shines through every detail.
Fall is creeping up on us, and one of the most popular home improvement projects for this time of year is roofing. Homeowners want a roof that will protect them from the elements and all that winter has in store. Will your roof hold up this winter or is it time for a replacement? In this article we will discuss 9 signs that you need a new roof.
Before we get to the list it is important to note that the number one way to know if you need to replace your roof is to have it inspected. You could be experiencing none of the signs on this list, yet your roof may be approaching the end of its lifespan. A thorough inspection by a trained professional will provide additional evidence about the condition of your roof and a plan for how to maintain it (repair or replacement).
Now onto the list.
The most obvious sign that you need a roof replacement is water leaking into the house, which means that there are holes and gaps in the roof that need to be repaired.
Finding shingles on the ground is a sign that your shingles are starting to fail and are being lifted off by wind and other weather elements.
Even if you don’t find shingles on the ground, check your roof to see if all shingles are intact or if there appear to be missing shingles.
Deteriorated shingles may come off in pieces, not as a whole. Also, a roof at the end of its life cycle will start to lose more granules and these will end up in the gutters.
Shingles should lay flat. If you are noticing curling or bending it is time for a new roof.
An asphalt shingle roof can last 20-40 years, and wood shingles or shake roofs can last 30 years. This article has average lifespans of other roofing materials.
However, we mention lifespan with caution because it’s actually quite rare for roofs to last to these ages. Lifespan also has to do with the quality of materials used, the installation, and the weather for your area, so a realistic lifespan is usually shorter than these listed times. Never assume that your roof is okay simply because of these lifespan numbers.
Check the attic. If you can see daylight coming through then it might be time for a roof repair or replacement. While up in the attic, also check to make sure there isn’t moisture in the insulation, or signs of moisture damage such as mold and mildew.
Moss can hold moisture and damage your roof during the winter. On the other hand, mold and rot are signs that moisture damage has already occurred. Beyond aesthetics, anything growing on your roof could be a sign that you need a replacement.
If all shingles appear to be in place, a closer inspection could reveal problems such as cracked shingles or bald spots where the shingle granules have worn off.
The signs listed above indicate that your roof is deteriorating. It may be possible to repair the current roof, or a complete replacement may be in order. Rely on the advice of your roofer. Once again, you also may need a repair or a replacement even though you aren’t noticing these problems. Only a trained professional can diagnose the problems and suggest solutions.
If you are in the market for a new roof, there are a number of materials to choose from. One of the most popular is asphalt shingles, with some brands now offering lifetime warranties and even warranties that can be transferred to the next owner. Another popular option is wood, which includes wood shingles and wood shake. Visit this article on our blog to learn more about wood shake roof design. Other roofing material options include clay, concrete, stone and metal.
Gerety Building & Restoration offers a range of roofing services, including specializing in beautiful wood shake roofs. Learn more about our roofing services here.
When it comes to roofs, there are many materials to choose from. The most popular option is asphalt shingles, which come in a variety of colors and designs. Other options include metal roofs such as copper or steel, and stone roofs such as concrete or stone tiles. A final option that has been growing in popularity over the years is wood shake roofs. These beautiful and stylish wood shake roofs will be the topic of discussion today.
To start out, it’s important to know that there are two types of wood roofs – wood shake and wood shingle. Although both come from trees – usually cedar but sometimes also pine, redwood or cypress – they differ in the way they are manufactured and the final look.
Wood shingles are machined sawed, which makes them uniform in thickness and taper. They look like plain, straight, uniform boards when placed on a roof.
On the other hand, wood shake is hand split from a larger piece of wood. It is designed so the butt end (the end that shows on the roof) is thicker than the base. It also does not have the uniformity of wood shingles. Wood shake pieces will vary in size and shape, and they are also highly textured on the surface. This gives it rustic charm.
The picture below shows a roof constructed with wood shake. Notice the variation in size, shape and texture that add to the beauty of the roof.
Wood shake roofs often utilize copper in the design for features such as valleys, flashing, leaders and gutters. These are crucial elements of any roof because they assist in proper drainage and moving water away from the roof.
Copper is chosen because of its durability – these copper features will last a long time before needing repair or replacement. It also blends nicely with the color of the wood and is bacteria-resistant.
In the picture above you can see two of these features:
Other copper features of a wood shake roof include the copper gutter and the copper leader. These concepts are demonstrated in the picture below. The gutter is copper piece that is attached horizontally to the edge of the roof. The leader is the pipe that leads down from the gutter to the ground. Both are essential for facilitating the correct flow of water away from the roof and home.
The most obvious benefit of the wood shake roof is its beauty! It is natural looking, blends in with the environment and gives a weathered, rustic look that homeowners love. However, there are a few other benefits of wood shake roofs. This includes:
Wood shake roofs look beautiful up close and from a distance. They are the ultimate roofing choice for homeowners who want to optimize functionality with a beautiful aesthetic that adds to the home’s curb appeal.
Gerety Building & Restoration specializes in the installation of wood shake roofs – in fact, all of the pictures in this article are past projects of ours. To learn more about our services, visit our roofing page, or give us a call at (914) 248-1300 to discuss your next project.
Roof is one of the most important aspect of any building. No matter how big or small of a repair your roof needs, you are always better off doing it right away then putting it off.
Learn more about our roofing services here.
If your roof is leaking, sagging, has dark spots and trails, or is missing some shingles, it might be time for a roof repair or possibly a complete new roof installation. We recently completed the installation of a new extra thick tapersawn wood shake roof for a client in Stamford CT. Below are some pictures of the final result.
Our builders and roofing contractors have been serving Westchester and Fairfield Counties for over 35 years. Call us today with your questions.
Gerety Building and Restoration was tasked with the job of restoring a historic pound ridge home. We recently installed a new wood shake roof, and copper gutters, making the historic property already look as good as a new build. Below are some pictures of the roof installation and copper gutters project so far.
Visit our roofing portfolio for more project photos.
