Writing recently in the Boston Globe, correspondent Jennifer Fenn Lefferts looked at some of the hottest trends in home design and renovation. Interviewing architects and designers, Lefferts came up with a ?top ten? list of home improvements that appeal to a wide range of homeowners.

One of the most popular of the top ten preferences is for low-maintenance exteriors. Lefferts found that, when it comes to items like windows, siding, and decking, homeowners are turning to low-maintenance materials that will free up their after they are installed.

?The initial expense to install will offset the future cost to paint and repair,? architect David Sharff told Lefferts. Spending money on a paint job only to have to redo it in a few years can be exasperating and expensive, he said. ?There is a ?do it and have it be done? mentality? that is driving homeowners to choose more durable, low-maintenance vinyl or fiber cement siding.

Sharff used decks as an example. The cost per lineal foot for PVC or composite decking is in the range of $3.50 to $4.99 per lineal foot, he said, while a high-maintenance wood deck material such as fir, cedar, or mahogany could be less expensive, at $1.50 to $3 per lineal foot. Yet homeowners in droves are choosing composite decking materials because they know they will spend much less time and money maintaining their new outdoor living space.

Similar savings in time can be found in siding and windows that do not need to be scraped and painted every few years. In the case of siding, real estate and construction experts agree that a home with a wood exterior should be painted at least every seven years. If you spend $5,000 to paint a modest size home, that adds up to $20,000 if you stay in your home for 21 years. And that does not take into account the time and hassle involved in the scraping and painting process, or the prospect of seeing your wood siding fade, chip and peel in between painting projects.

The good news is that advances in materials technology have created a wide range of high performance materials for your home?s exterior. Everything from insulated vinyl siding and rugged fiber cement siding, to replacement windows that will last as long as you live in your home. All with virtually no maintenance required.

Interested in discovering how low-maintenance materials can make your home look great without saddling you with hours of work down the road? Call Brax Roofing at 301-469-4880 for ideas on installing new siding, replacement windows or decking that deliver superior performance while requiring less maintenance.

The pictures flooded social media as picture whipped out their phones and documented the unprecedented tennis ball size hail that pounded Dallas, Arlington, and most of North Texas. Car winded were smashed, roofs were damaged, and what looked like snow covered the street.

The hail was so large and so intense that it even clogged a storm drain causing it to back up across the street and stranding one woman in her car. In one collision center, rows of cars lined the lot, ready to be repaired. However, after several recent hailstorms, many of them will simply have to be totaled.

The morning commute was paralyzed, as many Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Arlington residents had no choice but to pull over and wait ? and hope their windshield holds up. As many as two dozen Medstar ambulances were put out of service, and several Arlington Police cars had their windshields smashed in. Even the Ft. Worth zoo was damaged by the hail, and lost five of its beautiful flamingos to the storm.

According to CBSDFW News, dozens of arriving planes at both Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Airport were prevented from landing after a ground stop, due to thunderstorms, was ordered. While the stoppage was brief delays continued for hours.

Highway officials say flooded Interstate 10 in southeast Texas will stay closed through the weekend. The Texas Department of Transportation on Thursday said I-10 near Beaumont remains closed in both directions, and is not expected to reopen until Monday afternoon.

NBC Dallas Ft. Worth posted a link with several shots of damage, as many residents scrambled to get their lives back in order.

And the storm didn?t just bring hail. High wind, rain, and thunderstorms accompanied the pelting of hail. Many counties, such as Dallas and Tarrant, were under severe thunderstorm warnings. While more rain and wind are still expected over the next few days, for North Texans, they are hoping the worst is over.

Ponding is the occurrence of water pooling on flat roofs after storms, snow melts, or heavy rains, but do you know about the types of damage that water is causing when left unrepaired?

Roof systems are simply not designed to hold water. Even flat roofs contain a slight slope to maintain positive drainage. Ponding water is typically a sign of a drainage problem that needs to be addressed, because when left unaddressed, ponding water on a roof can:

• Collect dirt, which may cause the growth of vegetation or telegraph mud cracking to the roof below.
• Act as a magnifying glass on the roof under the pond, which increases the damaging ultraviolet exposure of that area of the roof.
• Contribute to the photo-oxidation (i.e. premature deterioration) of the roof membrane, flashings and coatings.
• Challenge the adhesives used to make field-fabricated single-ply laps, thus compromising the integrity of the roof system.

Its important to note that the care and maintenance language of most warranties clearly describes how a building owner is required to maintain positive drainage, or not allow water to pond and sit on a roof for 48 hours under dry conditions.

Aside from keeping a warranty valid, maintaining positive drainage is a sound maintenance practice that should not be taken for granted.

In short, excessive ponding can attract insects, mold or vegetation; cause structural damage to the building up to and including a roof collapse; and, in many cases, void a warranty.

First do a┬aself-inspection that includes checking for obvious signs of clogged drains caused by tree branches or debris that can be easily removed. If that doesnt solve the problem, contact a qualified roofing technician who can quickly diagnose the problem and efficiently repair it before it grows into a bigger, more costly issue.

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Summer is upon us, and with that comes the risk of a severe storm wreaking havoc on your roof. It is some comfort that damage to youraroof would be covered by your homeowner?s insurance, but they do not always pay out as expected. Unfair reimbursement is on the rise, as insurance companies refuse to pay what is due. Here are a few useful tips that you can use to ensure you will be reimbursed fairly for damage to your roof.

Regular Roofing Inspections

Many disputes with insurance reimbursement deal with stormadamage. It is hard to establish when the damage actually occurred. Performing regular roofing maintenance and inspections can solve this potential issue. When you have a professional roofing company come to inspect your roof, you can have paper evidence, by way of a report or receipt that details any roof damage that has occurred. That way if a severe storm causes damage, it would be easy to establish a time line. It is also just good practice to check your roof for damage to prevent costly leaks.

Take Pictures

Take pictures of your roof when you have an annual inspection done. After you have noticed damage after a storm, take pictures and keep them in a safe place. This will help to also document the condition of your roof.

Ask For a Second Opinion

If you are not happy with the inspection that the first insurance adjuster has come up with, you are free to ask your insurance agent for a second adjuster to come out and look at your roof.