Every day now brings us closer to Halloween and Thanksgiving which means one thing: summer isn’t coming back any time soon. Fall not only brings crispy air and crunchy leaves on the ground, but also a higher risk of getting sick. Exposure to cold temperatures can cause serious health problems.

If you are a homeowner in or around Chicago, it’s time to get serious. November is your last chance to take care of a few important issues. By now, you should’ve cleaned your gutters, fixed any damage to your roof and taken care of anything else that could escalate during the winter into a full-blown emergency.

Winter brings a lot of fun for kids and adults alike, the only difference is that adults have some serious responsibilities as soon as the snow hits the ground. While some winters bring a lot more white fluffy stuff than others, an average total snowfall in Chicago is 36.7 inches. As we’re fielding first quote requests for snow removal services (yes, some homeowner associations and even individual homeowners start planning early) we’re also getting the usual questions about homeowners’ responsibilities and liabilities.

The most common residential roofing material used in the United States is still asphalt shingles. Especially in the Chicago area and anywhere in Midwest asphalt shingles are ubiquitous because they are economical and easy to install.

Like every other profession, roofers have their own terminology. After all, roofs have a history almost as long as humans. Even cavemen used to have a roof of sorts. They would cover their structures with sod roofs and top them with dirt and plants.

When you think “Europe”, you think Old Towns and churches. When you think of an Old Town, you imagine a sea of real slate rooftops… as far as an eye can see. Is it possible to replicate this look somewhere in the Western Suburbs of Chicago? Better yet, should one attempt replicating it? What are the options, benefits, pros and cons of a slate roof in the Chicago area?