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Homeowner guides from the Freedom Exteriors crew

Straight answers on the exterior questions we hear every week: shingle and siding colors, ice dams, insurance and materials. Written for Minnesota and Wisconsin homes, no sales pitch attached.

Freedom Exteriors homeowner guides

CertainTeed Shingle Colors: A Homeowner Guide

How Landmark blends read on a real roof, the colors we install most, and how to choose with confidence.

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Board and Batten Siding: Cost, Materials and Design

The vertical farmhouse look: installed costs, vinyl versus engineered wood versus fiber cement, and design that works.

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Vinyl Siding Colors: Choosing Well for a Northern Home

The palettes that hold up in northern light, dark siding fade facts, and pairing siding with your roof.

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Ice Dams Forming on the Roof Edge: How to Fix Them and What Insurance Covers

What causes ice dams, the attic fixes that actually work, and how insurance usually treats the damage.

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Metal Roofs and Insurance Discounts: What Homeowners Should Know

How Class 4 impact discounts work in hail country, the cosmetic exclusion to watch, and the honest cost math.

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Hail Damage Roof Insurance Claims: A Homeowner Guide

Spotting real hail damage, the claim timeline, RCV versus ACV, the filing deadline, and the storm chaser traps.

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CertainTeed Landmark Shingles: A Straight Review for Northern Homes

What the Landmark tiers actually change, realistic northern lifespan, warranty facts, and installed cost.

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Siding Cracking and Pulling Away From the House: What It Means

Why siding cracks and pulls away, when it is a repair, and when water behind the wall changes the answer.

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Gutters Overflowing and Water Pooling Near the Foundation

Why gutters overflow and water pools at the foundation, and the four fixes in the right order.

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Water Dripping From the Ceiling After Rain: What to Do

The first five things to do when the ceiling drips after rain, and where the leak really comes from.

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Drafty Windows Letting Cold Air In: What Fixes It

Where winter drafts come from, the seasonal fixes, and when energy efficient replacement pays.

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Best Time of Year to Replace a Roof in Minnesota

Why May to October wins, why September is the sweet spot, and what a winter roof involves.

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Should I Install Gutter Guards Before Fall Leaves?

Which homes benefit from guards before fall, which guards survive winter, and what to fix first.

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Prepare Your Home Exterior for a Minnesota Winter

A top down fall checklist for Minnesota homes and the attic step most people skip.

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Spring Roof Inspection After Winter Snow Load

The five things winter does to a roof and why an April inspection beats a June one.

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What Roofing, Siding, Windows and Gutters Cost in Minnesota in 2026

2026 ranges for roofs, repairs, siding, windows and gutters in Minnesota, and what moves each price.

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Serving Minnesota and Wisconsin

Local crews across nine metro markets

Freedom Exteriors is based in Mahtomedi, Minnesota and installs roofing, siding, windows and gutters across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. Explore local service details for your area.

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