Making improvements to your home not only makes it more comfortable, beautiful and energy efficient it can also increase the value of your property. But it has always been difficult to judge which remodeling projects offer the best return on your investment. While it is impractical to expect to recover 100% of the money you spend on increased home value, some projects do offer better “cost vs. value” results.

Determining this “cost vs. value” is just what Remodeling magazine had in mind when they commissioned a nationwide study to find out which home improvements represent the best investments. Here are the top ten projects as rated by the Remodeling study.
1. Replacing exterior siding with fiber cement siding pays back a whopping 78%, on average, of the $13,461 average cost. The most cost-effective change you can make to your home is to replace old siding with new, higher-end fiber cement siding from a quality manufacturer like James Hardie® the global leading in fiber cement
2. Replacing an entry door with a midlevel 20-gauge steel door is a relatively inexpensive upgrade at $1,238 on average, but pays back 73% and greatly improves curb appeal.
3. A midrange attic bedroom remodel with shower, insulating and finishing the walls and ceiling, adding four windows, extending the heating and air conditioning and improving wiring and lighting. The payback is 72.5% on the $50,148 average expenditure. A basement remodel is the next most cost-efficient way to add living space.
4. A midrange minor kitchen remodel paid back 72.1% of the average $19,588 investment. This includes new laminate countertops and new sink, faucets and appliances. The floor remains untouched and cabinets are kept in place but refaced with new hardware added.
5. A midrange garage door replacement is generally one of those renovations that you do because it’s needed. But it adds curb appeal and function, and it pays back 71.9%, on average, of the $1,512 average cost.
6. A high-end garage door replacement recoups almost as much, 71.1% of the $2,994 average cost.
7. A new wood deck earns back 70.1%, on average, of its $10,350 cost. That number may be higher in areas with a more moderate climate, like here in Northern Virginia.
8. New foam-backed vinyl siding replacement, while not as good an investment as fiber cement siding, still pays back 69.6% of its $14,274 average cost. The average project involves 1,250 square feet of siding, including trim.
9. New midrange replacement vinyl siding upgrades the look of the home and pays back 69.5% of the $11,729 average price.
10. Upscale vinyl replacement windows have a 69.1% payback on the $14,328 average cost of replacing 10 double-hung 3-by-5 windows. The new windows are low-emissivity glass, with an insulated frame, that also help lower monthly energy costs.
Hopefully this list will help inspire your own home improvement ideas, and help guide you to boost your home’s value. At Northern Virginia Roofing we are ready to assist you in your home remodeling project, including new siding (either fiber cement or vinyl), new doors and quality replacement windows.

Everybody knows that insulating your home’s attic is a great way to keep your home warmer during Virginia’s damp and cold winters. But did you also know that attic insulation works to keep your home cooler during the hot summer months? And that the right insulation could help you cut your monthly energy bills all year long?

When your furnace kicks on in the winter your home heats up and you feel nice and cozy – for a little while. But eventually the warmth goes away and your furnace has to start up again, costing you more money each time. Where does that warm air go?

Almost half of it escapes through your walls and ceilings. According to the National Society of Heating and Ventilation Engineers, about 44% of the energy generated to heat or cool your home is lost through walls and ceilings that are inadequately insulated.

A poorly insulated attic not only leads to higher energy costs, but it also can lead to constant temperature fluctuations that can be very uncomfortable for your family. Proper attic insulation saves you money year after year, over time helping to pay for itself in lower heating and cooling costs.

But if you think rolling out a sheet of pink fiberglass is going to do the job, think again. The “batt” style of insulation leaves too many gaps and does not significantly increase the R-value of your home enough to make a difference. Truly helpful insulation requires blown-in insulation that fills every gap and provides an effective layer between your home and the cold.

With the colder winter months creeping towards us, now is the time to properly insulate your home. Insulating in the Fall will ensure that your home will be ready for the chill-inducing winds and falling temperatures ahead. Your home deserves nothing less than Northern Virginia Roofing’s expert insulation service, give us a call and set up a FREE estimate today.

In the middle of the summer’ heat, thoughts of winter snow and cold are the last thing you want to worry about. But for your home’s roof there is no vacation from the daily duties of protecting you and your family from all that Mother Nature delivers.

You might think that warmer weather offers a break for your roof. After all, there are no blanketing snows or gutter-clogging ice with which to contend. But the hot weather brings its own challenges to your roof, the single largest building system on your home.

Rain
Your roof should be able to withstand a little rain, right? But heavy thunderstorms that are typical here in the Mid-Atlantic region can produce a deluge that can challenge even the strongest roofing system.

The problem usually does not occur on the roof deck itself, but with the gutter system. Unless your gutters and downspouts are large and sturdy enough to accommodate a large volume of water, and are kept clear of debris and leaves, they could be overwhelmed by a heavy downpour. Water spilling over a gutter’s edge or leaking through seams can quickly seep into your home, causing dampness that can lead to mold and mildew.

Sun
Blazing sun and heat can create as many problems as winter cold, particularly for asphalt-shingled roofs. Just as a heat wave can cause us all to wilt and droop, high temperatures and humidity can soften the asphalt component in shingles, making them more vulnerable to punctures and tears. Heat can also cause lower quality shingles to dry, curl and crack.

While top quality asphalt shingles bear up well under a wide range of temperatures, it is still a good idea to have your roof checked during the summer to make sure no damage has occurred.

Wood shingled roofs can also dry out in the sun. Be sure to maintain a wood roof properly with periodic oiling.

Wind
Strong wind gusts during thunderstorms can cause severe damage to your roof. Take time during calmer weather to have your roof inspected to make sure there are no loose shingles that could be lifted and carried away, exposing your roof to the elements.

Taking care of your roof is a year ‘round job. But proper maintenance and regular inspection can help your roof do a good job of protecting your home.

It was Lord Coke, an English nobleman, who famously said, “A man’s home is his castle.” Lord Coke’s meaning was that every homeowner had the right to enjoy the safety and comforts of royalty, even if he lived in a humble cottage.

So how is your castle looking these days? In need of sprucing up in places? Does it still provide the protection and security that it should? Is its value holding up in the current real estate market?

There are many reasons to maintain your “castle.” The most important is to provide a safe, comfortable place for your family. But your home is also your biggest financial investment. Without proper maintenance the value of that investment will shrink.

That’s why I sometimes say that our company is in the business of protection. The work we do protects families from the weather with tight, secure roofs, siding, doors and windows. We also protect the homeowner’s investment by helping to maintain – or even increase – the value of the property.

Take your home’s roof, for example. You probably don’t give it much thought at all, and you should not have to. A solidly built roof provides many years of service, keeping rain, sun, hail, snow and wind outside where they belong. It is only when something bad occurs – a leak, damage from a storm – that you look up and worry about your roof.

Yet even roofs get old and tired and require a little care and maintenance. If your home’s roof is more than 10 years old, do yourself a favor and call us at (703-820-3077) to come out and inspect it. Unlike some contractors, we’ll go to the effort of getting right up on the roof to conduct a thorough inspection of the shingles or tiles, flashing, vents, gutters – all the parts that make up the entire roofing system. Then we’ll provide you with a complete report on the actual condition of your roof.

There is no charge for this service. We just want to make sure our neighbors are safe and secure. If, in the future, your roof does require repairs or replacement, I hope you’ll remember that we provided this service and call on us to do the work.

John Francis

Northern Virginia Roofing Company

5606 Scoville Street, Falls Church, VA 22041

(703) 664-1010 • Fax (703) 578-0876