The hurricane season is upon us – along with accompanying torrential rains and surprising hail storms that wreak damage on our homes.
For residents of Montgomery County, Maryland on August 18, 2011 the severe early evening weather brought pelting hailstones up to 1-3/4 inches!
Some of the areas in Maryland that felt the storm’s wrath are:
Wheaton 1″ – 1.5″ hail
Glenmont 1″ hail
Four Corners .75″ hail
Colesville .75″ hail
White Oak .88″ hail
Calverton 1.75″ hail
Fairland 1″ – 1.75″ hail
Climbing up ladders and walking on potentially unstable roofing is dangerous business- but you can safely read Hail Damage Information for Homeowners and watch the hail videos below – hopefully in the comfort of your warm, dry, dent-free home.
Wondering if your home’s roof or siding was damaged? If you want assurance that your home can make it through the upcoming stormy seasons without a leak after a hail storm contact Colonial Remodeling - the sooner the better – before the next downpour. Our professional roofing and house siding teams are available to analyze your home’s exterior with expert eyes. We’re local, we’re dependable, and have helped 1000′s of homeowner who have experienced hail damage. Free estimates.
Unfortunately, many homes in the Washington Metro area were built without door surrounds. A builder’s cost-cutter? Architectural statement? Regardless, if you feel your home’s exterior is missing something or can use a facelift it can be designed and built by Colonial Remodeling, the portico experts.
A portico, covered porch or entranceway can add so much to a home’s exterior:
Protection from the elements
Security with optional lighting
Curb Appeal for greater salability
Variety of styles – enhances architectural interest
Adds a welcoming focal point for family and guests
Generous entranceways can add Outdoor Living space with a sitting area
You can browse our entranceway and porch gallery for ideas on pillars, roofing, railings… but how Colonial Remodeling builds them is the plus that matters. We don’t shortcut. Here’s what you can expect from the experts:
A custom CAD drawing so you know exactly what your surround will look like before we start
We use only the strongest columns and pillars to support your roofing
Ultra-Strong Footers:we don’t shortcut on reinforcing porticos. If you have an existing cement slab we’re working with we will inspect it to ensure that it won’t separate from the wall after time with the new structure’s added weight. If a problem is indicated, we will provide the solution.
We use maintenance free composite trim warrantied for 25 years. Enjoy the beauty of your entranceway without adding to your home’s exterior upkeep.
If you want to add lighting we have an integrated electrical package that is professionally installed so you have trouble-free illumination.
If your front door needs to be replaced, Colonial Remodeling can install that new Energy Efficient entry door and/or storm door to complete your look.
When you’re dreaming of a beautiful, new door surround or even an entire front porch along the front of your house for lounging it’s time to Colonial Remodeling for a free consultation on portico remodeling that makes a huge, satisfying difference in your home’s looks and use.
In our continuing effort to remain the top James Hardie® Preferred Remodeler in our area, Colonial Remodeling participated in a training session this week on the latest techniques in JH exterior products installation – #1 in fiber cement siding. Our teams participated in a “field training exercise” that included the Colonial Residential Sales Associates and our three installation crews supervised by the James Hardie® Regional Installation Manager.
Colonial Remodeling performed an actual, complete HardiWrap™ and HardiPlank™ installation on a home under the expert guidance of James Hardie®. The sales team got hands-on training with the newest insulation and siding products and executed some of the tasks that our labor crews normally perform.
In addition to learning the latest from the JH Regional Pro it was great fun for the team members who don’t usually get to work in the field. Field Applicator Supervisor certificates were awarded to those who enrolled in the day’s activities. An extremely knowledgeable remodeling team is just another reason why you’ll choose Colonial Remodeling for your siding and trim project!
Better Protection from Storms with James Hardie Siding
Weather Prediction: Forecasters(1) are calling for an increase in named storms and elevated hurricane landfall risk this year – that means more tornado warnings, hailstorms, heavy thunderstorms and winds for us. Siding protects your house’s vertical surfaces against the weather along with extreme temperatures. With record heat and precipitation the last few years in the Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC area, your home’s defenses have definitely been tested and may be in need of replacing if your home doesn’t have superior siding.
That’s why more homeowner’s are turning to James Hardie® Fiber Cement Siding. It is warranted not to rot, warp or delaminate – for up to 50 years. In addition, James Hardie® Fiber Cement Siding is five times thicker than vinyl siding so it protects your home against hurricane-strength winds up to 150MPH and also hail damage. So the next time the weather acts up and you have James Hardie® siding you won’t have to worry about the effects on your home.
Don’t have James Hardie fiber cement siding?
Vinyl siding isn’t tightly nailed to your home but loosely hung. That means moisture can build up behind panels which can penetrate the walls of your home.
Wood siding reacts to rain, snow and humidity.
Aluminum siding is easily damaged and pockmarked by hailstorms.
Contact Colonial Remodeling and get a free estimate for replacement siding- and get your home the best protection it can get against the elements.
(1) According to Colorado State University (CSU) and AccuWeather findings for 2011 hurricane season (June 1-November 30 2011)
You’re considering new James Hardie® HardiePlank® siding. You know it will do wonders for your home but you don’t want to make a mistake with design that you’ll regret. Colonial Remodeling’s experts will guide you through the process but for the homeowner who wants their house to stand our from the rest, here are a few basic things to consider when planning:
1. When combining materials run materials horizontally. Think in layers vs. vertical strips. Don’t give your home a wallpapered appearance. A house is built from the bottom up, not side to side.
2. Spread your budget around and don’t forget the whole house. Nothing looks worse than a half-done remodeling design. When re-siding, it’s important to continue the design to the sides and back. Don’t reduce the value of your home by “front-siding” your improvements. When working with windows, don’t forget the trim.
3. Keep it simple. A good design relies on how it looks as a part of the streetscape and works with the regional architectural tastes. Distinguish your home but don’t make it appear overdone compared to the rest of the neighborhood.
4. Use Color and Texture to add interest and value to your home. James Hardie® has a wide palette of tasteful combinations to choose from not to mention a full line of products to combine with your siding, like HardieShingle® – a durable alternative to cedar shakes that adds texture to your home.
5. Make sure your shutters “work”. Shutters, even if you don’t use them should be 1/2 the width of your window. Adding skinny shutters just for appearance can ruin the “sense” of your structure.
6. Easy maintenance. A beautiful home is one that looks well-cared for. James Hardie’s ColorPlus® Technology has eliminated the need to paint so your home has a consistent, new look for years. This goes for their HardieTrim®, too! New technology created the industry’s first one-inch thick fiber-cement trim board that’s lighter in weight, yet is easy to cut and install.
Want to know more? Talk to Colonial Remodeling about all the possibilities of making your home’s residing with James Hardie fiber cement siding transform your house into a showhouse!
Colonial Remodeling is always looking for new and exciting ways to give your home that special “Curb Appeal”. We are now specializing in stone veneer because just about everyone loves the look of stone. What exactly is stone veneer?
If you’re wondering if it will look unrealistic, you’ll need to see it in person to believe it. In fact, Versetta Stone looks exactly like the rocks that they are imitating and come in a variety of natural shade combinations that will combine perfectly with any existing brick or siding colors.
Lightweight and durable: these two qualities are achieved by the way Corning-Owens manufactures the stones. Because these stones are manufactured under controlled conditions, they will be extremely long lasting – and backed by a 50 year warranty. They need no maintenance and are a NAHB Research Center Green Approved product.
The fact that these products are lightweight gives them a unique advantage over natural stone products. Artificial stone products do not require foundations beneath them for support. The new Owens Corning™ Versetta Stone™ panelized stone veneer attaches in a way similar to siding so it’s quicker and easier to install. It comes with accessories that perfectly finish off the “stone” around lights, ledges, and doorways for a custom appearance.
So if your house’s exterior seems to be missing something, talk to the remodeling specialists at Colonial Remodeling for ideas and we’ll show you how we can transform your exterior with the new products available.
You want to update the look of your house with new siding? There are so many stylish color combinations to choose from when you browse the James Hardie® Fiber Cement offerings. This is your house: think of how different colors effect your mood or evoke memories. Make sure your colors compliment your landscape and don’t look out of place with your architecture, your interior, or neighborhood. Do you relate to the forest, grass, garden, mountains, sky, water, land, sun, air? Your chosen color combinations will tell others how you feel about “home”.
Let’s take a look at the most popular James Hardie® ColorPlus® color combinations. Typically, a home includes no more than two siding colors and two trim colors.
For homes with two siding colors and one trim color:
Dryland Canyon
Main Body: Sandstone Beige
Second Body: Khaki Brown
Trim: Arctic White
River Rocks
Main Body: Cobblestone
Second Body: Monterey Taupe
Trim: Arctic White
Golden Sunset
Main Body: Navajo Beige
Second Body: Autumn Tan
Trim: Arctic White
White Mountain
Main Body: Arctic White
Second Body: Cobblestone
Trim: Monterey Taupe
Sandy Beach
Main Body: Autumn Tan
Second Body: Boothbay Blue
Trim: Navajo Beige
Back Woods
Main Body: Heathered Moss
Second Body: Khaki Brown
Trim: Navajo Beige
Mineral Quarry
Main Body: Monterey Taupe
Second Body: Timber Bark
Trim: Cobblestone
Autumn Oak
Main Body: Khaki Brown
Second Body: Countrylane Red
Trim: Navajo Beige
Tallgrass Prairie
Main Body: Boothbay Blue
Second Body: Autumn Tan
Trim: Navajo Beige
Blooming Rosebush
Main Body: Countrylane Red
Second Body: Monterey Taupe
Trim: Cobblestone
Colonial Remodeling is your #1 James Hardie installer in the Washington DC, No. Virginia and Maryland area. Want to know more? Be sure to contact us for additional information and for expert installation of your favorite combination of the best fiber cement siding on the market on your home.
Have you had Colonial Remodeling check your roof for hail, blizzard, or storm damage lately? Damaging storms may have taken a toll and your roof may need replacing. But how do you choose a new roof?
There are so many choices in roofing colors and patterns – where do you start going about selecting a roof that will complement your home’s colors and architecture?
First decide on the type of roof. Here are some suggestions from reliable roofing manufacturers we proudly install:
Fiberglass Shingles
Certainteed: Certainteed offersfiber glass-based construction with grades and warranties from 20-50 years: Durable, beautiful color-blended lines of shingles in many shapes, colors and dimensions. The widest array of colors to suit any trim, stucco or siding color. Manufactured with self-sealing adhesive strips and a wide nailing zone, larger than competitors for ease of installation so your roofing job is complete in no time.
Cedar Shakes
Anbrook Industries Cedar Shakes: A natural wood roofing that has the highest insulation value of any of the wood substitutes. It’s a renewable resource and takes no energy to grow. They can withstand 130 mph hurricane force winds. Less damage and fewer repairs mean less impact on the environment. There are different levels of fireproofing – just like with all roofing materials. Cedar is natural – it doesn’t leach harmful chemicals – they just biodegrade.
Tile, Slate Roofing
Ludowici synthetic slate and shakes and clay roof tiles: for an Olde World or Rustic look that is beautifully unique with textures and colors reminiscent of hand-hewn stone, tree bark, and many other materials that look perfect with a grand European type architecture. (Think English Country House with cobblestone-look tiles)
Once you have chosen your style get samples (as large as possible sheets or panels, don’t make this big decision based on tiny color samples from brochures). At different times of the day in different lighting, place it up next to the colors of your actual brick, stone, or siding of your house to make sure they go well together. Take a look at your property and see if it blends well there – compare to decking colors, railings, lighting posts, walkways. Take cues from your landscaping colors.
When you’ve found a few final roofing samples that you like, check with us to see where they’ve been installed in our area. You may want a colorful accent roof that draws attention – like a Spanish Tile. You may want a roof that blends inconspicuously with the bark on surrounding trees. We will give you addresses where we have installed roofing so you can see “the big picture”. You will be surprised what different roofs look like on a an entire house.
Once you have chosen your roof – let us know and we will order the materials based on high-tech measuring methods. Colonial Remodeling has installed 1000′s of roofs and will install yours expertly once we’ve scheduled you in (and with quality points you may not get with another company) . We remove all old roofing debris and cover your valuable landscape so it doesn’t get damaged. We thoroughly clean the surrounding area of nails, chips, trash. How it’s installed is most important: We make sure it can properly breathe with proper ventilation so ice won’t form under the roofing. We install the newest in weatherproofing so you are best protected against the next harsh weather.
The next storm? No worries, your handsome new roof will give you peace of mind that your home has its best defense from the elements with innovative, superior roofing materials.
Did you know that Colonial Remodeling’s website was chosen over all remodelers in the U.S. to be the first for James Hardie’s new mini-website link? It’s because we understand James Hardie® fiber cement products many superior features and components and install them the right way!
Why does Colonial specialize in James Hardie®?
#1 return on investment
extremely low maintenance
doesn’t sacrifice the beauty and character of wood finishing
does not rot, crack or warp
resists storm damage
available in a variety of pre-finished colors (15 yr. paint warranty)
fire resistant
limited, transferable warranty for up to 50 years
Colonial Remodeling is #1 for James Hardie® Siding and Trim and is proud to be a James Hardie® Preferred Remodeler.
When Colonial took part in the Curb Appeal show “Total Rehaul” on HGTV - that’s what the owner’s chose and we installed. See if it didn’t make a radical difference!
If you’re thinking of overhauling your tired, old siding make sure you contact Colonial Remodeling. We can show you to way to showhouse style installed the right way by experts from Colonial Remodeling – serving No. Virginia and Maryland – contact us today!
Been seeing a lot of Colonial Remodeling signs in your neighborhood? You’re probably in a neighborhood that was in one of our devastating hail or wind storm paths this year…
Colonial Remodeling is still busy on 100′s of homes this season repairing roofing, siding & trim, and windows and walls, etc. from the Spring hail storm’s damage. Because of the huge demand this year from weather-related incidents, Colonial has developed a high-tech storm-damage system of estimating, working with your insurance adjuster, and repairing your home good as new (or better) than before.
If you’ve had home damage from the Summer wind storm last week – we can be of assistance also! Just contact us to start getting your damage repaired – most times you just pay your insurance deductible – so it’s really worth it to protect your investment (& your beautiful home) by hiring a professional who is experienced in this type of work-and local (beware of storm-chasers).
We are running like a finely-tuned contractor machine this year with all these storms to keep up with demand – all done with Colonial Remodeling’s Quality Checkpoints (ask us about them!).
We Stand Behind Our Work to Guarantee Your Complete Satisfaction
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Since 1996, Colonial Remodeling's team of designers, craftsmen, and project managers have been remodeling and improving residential homes & commercial buildings with superior standards. We serve the No. Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC & Westmoreland County, PA Area .Colonial is a family-run and owned contracting business whose primary goal is producing highest-quality remodels with satisfied customers!
VA Class "A" LIC 2705-081772A
MHIC 82360
DC GC 70108025
PA HIC 079493
5305-B Lee Highway