​To talk a little bit more in-depth about what we do on a regular basis, let's look at some scenarios that property owners might have.
 
The first one is a problematic skylight in the ceiling of a room or space.
 
Over time, the flashing can come loose and admit moisture or even pests. Ice dams can create skylight problems as well. Excessive moisture can compromise the footprint of the skylight and require professional work to repair the surrounding area of the building.
 
Roof Pen Testing
 
In this scenario, the property owner has a leak that can't be easily pinpointed, or assessed at its point of origin.
 
What we often do is apply a type of roof penetration test with a power washer. That requires simulating heavy rainfall and helps in figuring out where water is coming in. Then we put together a treatment plan for your property.
 
Roof Coating
 
In the third scenario, somebody has a roof that's just generally weak or vulnerable across the board. They may have a traditional structure that doesn't have modern sealing or coating in place.
 
The coating is a comprehensive solution to make sure that there is an adequate barrier for moisture and precipitation and also support for the underlying insulation that prevents cool or hot air loss.
 
So these are three things that we do in local buildings, and there's a lot more that we consult on with local property owners. In other words, these are some of the things you might be considering as you look at your roofing areas and try to figure out why there's a problem and what to do about it.
 
In general, as we said, coating is a more comprehensive solution – for every part of your building that has vulnerability.
 
Basically, it's important to find a good firm that is licensed, insured and bonded, so that you know you'll get the work done the right way and protect your building.
 
Otherwise, you can run into some unpleasant surprises along the way.
 
Some states have homeowner and contractor conflict resolution boards in place, and some don't, so check the rules in your local area.
 
Let Boyd Construction help you to keep your property in safe and livable condition, preventing some of the threats that devalue a property before its time. We are active all over local neighborhoods, consulting, installing and generally, doing what we do best!

​If you’ve read this blog before you know that at Boyd Construction, we offer a range of services in home improvement.
 
But how does that relate to the most common piece of our services to our customers, the property owners who call us to help maintain their homes and investment properties?
 
Well, first of all, there's the question of how people perform interventions in terms of property maintenance. In other words, it’s worth looking at how they figure out that something is wrong, and how they go about fixing it.
 
One big question is whether a problem is cosmetic in nature, or whether it interferes with the functionality of the property.
 
Roof Work
 
In the roof world, this equation is a little bit more strictly delineated.
 
A roof may come with a warranty, or a real estate transaction will show how much of a lifetime the roof has left. Then, on a certain timeline, the roof has to be replaced.
 
In the interim, it can be repaired, for example, with replacement shingles or some other type of repair.
 
Brick And Other Surfaces
 
When you're talking about maintaining other parts of your property, the question can be a little more ambiguous…
 
Most brick work is cosmetic in nature – the brick hasn't decayed to the point that it makes the building weaker. Instead, it just looks bad. There are certain interventions with brick and foundations that are functional, but a lot of times, the brick will just need to be pointed and re-mortared or even painted.
 
We have the ability to do these jobs, as well as power washing equipment and service to get surfaces clean before painting or other aesthetic fixes.
 
Dealing with Gutters
 
In the gutter world, early intervention is a must. Most of these projects are not cosmetic – they're functional. Property owners usually only figure it out after water has been diverted!
 
So that's a different type of work where we recommend preemptive inspection and service. Gutter work should be done early, to prevent bigger problems down the road.
 
Being able to distinguish between different types of fixes, and apply a good triage philosophy, will save you thousands of dollars as a property owner! We want to help with that. When our customers have good partnerships and guidance, they don’t feel “nickel and dimed” into oblivion. They feel confident about their homes!
 
Take a look at the website for more about Boyd Construction and what we do in the Washington, D.C. area.