Franca Services Home Improvement Contractor MA

Taking the snowy conditions commonly experienced in New England is essential when you are considering a bay window replacement in MA. Your contractor needs to ensure that the slope of the window’s protrusion is properly angled to prevent ice dams from forming. As you may know, an ice dam can occur even behind freeze boards, and when ice and snow sits there for weeks and months at a time, you home suffers repercussions. Common consequences include peeling paint, shingle damage, and water leaks within the home’s interior.

We encounter a number of situations where a customer is so pleased with the progression and amazing results of their project that they decide to get an estimate on additional work before we wrap things up. This was the case with this Hudson, MA client, whose home was undergoing a complete installation of Crane Premium Pointe 360 vinyl siding, as well as a beautiful application of Versetta Stone Veneer on the chimney. The customer had been sketching ideas for a small landing deck at the back door of the dwelling, but wasn’t quite satisfied that the concept was exactly what they wanted. As you can see in the photo, their current wooden steps were simplistic and featured no safety railing whatsoever, and they significantly affected the overall aesthetic appeal of the home.

There is much more to a roof replacement than properly situating and securing shingles – ventilation considerations must also be taken into account, or your home could suffer from ice dams, which causes homeowners millions of dollars of damages annually. You’ve probably noticed that the snow that builds up on your eaves seems to remain longer than the buildup closer to the ridgeline, but do you know why? It’s simply because the heat loss from inside the home warms the roof above it, leaving eaves to fend for themselves until temperatures rise. How can we help alleviate this issue?

Many antiquated homes, like the 120-year old Victorian seen here, feature shingle-style wood siding, which requires frequent repainting and a lot of maintenance year after year. This Marlborough Ma homeowner had tired of this constant battle, and contacted us because of our solid reputation as a Hardiplank siding contractor in MA. Much of the wood and framing beneath the siding had rotted out over the years, and he knew that he needed a major frame and siding overhaul. To satisfy the customer’s desire for the natural grain texture of wood without the hassle of upkeep and repairs, we suggested fiber cement siding from James Hardie, which offers Color Plus Technology, is fire-resistant, virtually maintenance free, and comes with a generous 25 year warranty.

If your home currently has any exterior steps that are made of concrete or brick, you might be familiar with the constant battles they present you with year after year. Over time, it is inevitable that the New England elements will ultimately take their toll and cause the steps to crack, sag, and become downright unsightly without frequent maintenance and costly repairs. Ice and snow have a tendency to break down the mortar joints, allowing bricks to crack and become unstable. Facing this situation can become a thing of the past by contacting us at Franca Services and allowing us to introduce you to the GAF Composite Decking Board product line.

Trying to maintain a consistent look around certain exterior sections of your home may seem impossible, especially around cement steps or other protrusions from the side of the structure. However, James Hardie Siding products are quite versatile there are many innovative products within the line that allow us to trim out almost any area of your home. This particular customer desired the resilience and low maintenance of fiber cement siding, but also wanted to maintain the realistic wood look of his current clapboard siding. When he expressed his concerns about the cement stairs next to his dwelling, we were quick to offer a solution.

Not all James Hardie installers in MA would be able to handle this next project, as it is a prime example of the challenges often encountered when working on antiquated homes. This Marlborough MA customer presented us with such a challenge when he wanted to replace the old wood shingles on his 120 year old Victorian home with new fiber cement siding.

This Sudbury MA customer wanted to enjoy the low maintenance and durable qualities of fiber cement siding, but he also desired to simultaneously create a unique look for his residence that would stand out from other homes in the neighborhood. We introduced the customer to the vast selection of colors and styles now available in the James Hardie Siding product line. Because he had a two story home, we suggested that perhaps choosing a complementary color to distinguish each level of the home would be an ideal solution. He quickly identified two siding styles and colors that he wanted us to install on his home.

As you can see in the “before” photos, this client’s exterior penetrations were bare, which certainly could create such a problem in the future. After consulting with the client, we discovered that his initial Hardiplank installer neglected several important aspects during the job, including not installing a water table. To get this home in the condition it deserved, we created a block using James Hardie Smooth Lap Siding Trim with a 4-inch exposure in a color matching the rest of the structure’s trim. To ensure the highest level of water protection, we used the appropriate flashing and caulking methods, as dictated by the product’s strict installation requirements.

When you realize the numerous benefits of installing Hardiplank Siding and wisely decide on an install, you may wonder how to handle the gables or other small architectural variances present on your structure. In actuality, these sections are an excellent place to take advantage of the innovative James HardieShingle Siding to create a unique charm that complements the overall appearance of the finished product. Here are two projects Franca Services tackled recently that exhibit how you can enjoy these sophisticated looks with the same amount of work as traditional siding.