Homeowner guides
Guides for houses in a freeze–thaw climate
The rules, seasons and building details that decide whether work on a southeast Wisconsin house lasts — with sources for anything that is a rule rather than an opinion.
Exterior
- When you can paint a house exterior in southeast WisconsinWhen exterior paint can go on in southeast Wisconsin: manufacturer temperature, dew point and 48-hour rules, freeze dates, wood moisture and job planning.
- Ice dams in southeast Wisconsin: what causes them and how to stop themWhat causes ice dams on southeast Wisconsin roofs, why gutters and heat cable don't cure them, what the ice-barrier code requires and what to do about a leak.
- Paint or replace siding: how to decide on a southeast Wisconsin homeHow to decide between repainting and replacing siding on a southeast Wisconsin home: substrate condition, rot, why paint failed, lead and asbestos, and cost.
Planning
- Roof, siding, windows, gutters and paint: what order to do exterior projectsRoof, windows, siding, gutters, paint: the order that protects new work, why flashing decides it, and how to phase exterior projects over several seasons.
- Hiring a contractor in Wisconsin: contracts, credentials and red flagsWhat Wisconsin law requires in a home improvement contract, the notices you should receive, how to check credentials, and how to compare estimates fairly.
Rules & permits
- Lead-safe renovation in Wisconsin: what homeowners should knowWisconsin's lead-safe renovation rule for pre-1978 homes: the work it covers, the company and renovator certifications, and how to check a contractor.
- Building permits for home projects in southeast WisconsinWhich home projects need a building permit in southeast Wisconsin, how re-roof and re-side rules differ by city, and who should pull the permit.
- After a storm: roof damage, storm chasers and your rights in WisconsinAfter hail or wind in southeast Wisconsin: document damage, protect the house, spot storm chasers and know your rights under Wisconsin's storm-contractor law.
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