All Neighbors in Avalon Region, NL
Top Neighbors: The magic behind the mirrors
You will never have to pay to be listed as a top neighbor. Period. That important detail clarified, let's discuss how we arrive at two "top neighbors" for a given region:
Localism is a bustling collection of hyper-local communities, and the top neighbors should reflect those members who are most active. When ranking users in a given region, several factors are considered. To get your foot in the proverbial door, you need to have posted at least one "Localism" article or photo for the region.
The very best way to quickly rise to #1 is to post high-quality local content. Keeping a steady strem of incoming posts and photos will massively tilt the scales in your favor.
What doesn't count toward the top neighbor ranking? ActiveRain points and community sponsorships. The top neighbor spots will always go to the most active members in a region. We want to create a level playing field that encourages the growth of communities — talent and dedication are required to win the day.
nice day, go up on the roof or (if you're afraid of heights) use binoculars to check for broken, curled or missing shingles and fix them as soon as possible. If there are a number of these seen you can be guaranteed that your shingles are in their last days and will soon need replacement. Be warned - the cost of new shingles on an average Newfoundland home is between $6,000.00 and $8,000.00 with a life expectancy of approximately 20 years - that translates to a cost of between $300.00 - $400.00 a year. If the roof looks really worn and tired, consider replacing it now; waiting another year might save you several hundred dollars in replacement cost today but should the roof leak during the year your repair cost due to water damage could amount to thousands of dollars. Even with roof insurance there is a deductible of $500.00 or more so do the math and repair the shingles before the winter.
Siding - Siding itself doesn't leak but when it joins windows and doors and concrete, water penetration can and does happen. But there is a quick and easy fix - for a $5.00 tub of caulking and a couple hours of your time you can again save thousands in future upgrades. Additionally check for water stains on the siding under roof eaves. If they are there you probably are having ice dams. For that to hopefully be fixed you need additional attic ventilation and to ensure that any piping or wiring or ductwork which might reach in to the attic is sealed tightly so as not to allow the warmer area from the house getting in to the attic. This might be a bit expensive but you'll recover the cost over a few years due to reduced heating cost.
Luckily most are minor and of little or no concern; but it's best to check them out. If they are less the 1/8 of an inch there is usually no problem. However, it's a wise move to check each year to see if they get bigger. If they do, you need to caulk them and perhaps even seek professional advice. Also, note any horizontal cracks or signs of movement as this is your warning that there are stress factors on the foundation - you'll need the advice of a structural engineer for any you may see.
