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Frequently Asked Questions

Detailed answers to common questions.

In the bustling heart of our community, NorthStar was born from a vision to redefine home exterior improvement. It began not just as a business venture, but as a heartfelt mission to elevate the standards of service and care in the home improvement industry. Our founder, a seasoned professional with deep roots in the sector, recognized the immense potential for change and improvement. This realization was the cornerstone of NorthStar.

Your roof, siding, windows, gutters, insulation, and interior finishes all affect one another — a gap in one puts stress on the others. NorthStar evaluates and installs them as a single building system so each part supports the rest.

For example, attic insulation and roof ventilation together control ice dams; gutters and siding together manage water; windows and insulation together control comfort and energy loss. Treating any one in isolation usually just moves the problem somewhere else.

It’s a whole-home evaluation where we assess how your roof, siding, windows, gutters, insulation, and interiors are performing together, then walk you through Options & Enhancements based on what we find.

Instead of quoting a single product in a vacuum, we show you how each part is performing and where a change to one improves the others — so your budget goes to what actually moves the needle for your home.

Ice dams form when heat escaping into your attic melts snow on the upper roof, which then refreezes at the cold eaves and backs water up under the shingles. The lasting fix is air sealing and insulation in the attic — not just heating cables on the roof.

Roof-edge heat cables and raking manage the symptom; sealing attic air leaks and bringing insulation up to spec, paired with proper ventilation, addresses the cause. This is a building-science problem, which is why we look at the roof and the attic together rather than only the shingles.

Spray foam does three jobs in one application — it’s an air barrier, a thermal barrier, and (with closed-cell foam) a vapor barrier — which is why it outperforms materials that only slow heat transfer.

Most traditional insulation slows heat but does little to stop air leakage, and air leakage is where a lot of Minnesota energy loss and moisture trouble actually happens. Sealing the air first is usually the highest-value move in the whole envelope.

Usually you need both, but air sealing often comes first — stopping the air leaks makes the insulation you add work the way it’s supposed to. Adding insulation over leaky spots is like putting on a sweater with the windows open.

A whole-home evaluation identifies where your envelope is leaking so the work targets the biggest returns rather than guessing.

That pattern usually points to air leakage and under-insulation in the attic and envelope — conditioned air escapes and outside temperatures drive in, so your system runs constantly and still can’t keep up.
It’s rarely a single cause

Looking at insulation, air sealing, windows, and ventilation together is how you find the real driver instead of chasing one symptom.

A deck is a platform; an outdoor living space is designed around how you’ll actually live outside — dining, gathering, relaxing — with the decking, railing, lighting, and flow planned together as one space that extends your home.

That’s how we approach every project: we start with how you want to use the space, then choose the materials (Trex, TimberTech, Westbury railing) that deliver it and hold up to Minnesota’s freeze-thaw seasons. The product serves the space, not the other way around.

TimberTech has been building PVC and composite decking longer than anyone in the category, so it comes with the longest proven track record — and right now it’s also the most reliably available premium PVC board, which means we can deliver your project on schedule.

TimberTech PVC has the longest track record in the category, and its premium lines are 100% PVC with no wood fibers. That makes it excellent in Minnesota freeze-thaw conditions, since there’s no wood to absorb water, and it never needs sanding, staining, or sealing.

We build with premium composite and PVC decking systems and match the board to how you’ll use the space and your budget. We lead with TimberTech because the longest track record plus dependable availability means we deliver a proven product, on time.

Explore Decking Options →

For most homeowners here, yes — composite and PVC resist the fading, staining, splintering, and rot that Minnesota’s freeze-thaw winters accelerate in wood, and they don’t need annual sanding or sealing.

Wood costs less up front but more over its life in upkeep and replacement. Composite and PVC trade a higher initial cost for decades of low maintenance.

Westbury is a powder-coated aluminum railing system — it won’t rust or rot, needs very little upkeep, comes in multiple styles and colors, and is built and installed to meet safety code.

Aluminum pairs well with composite and PVC decking because it matches their low-maintenance lifespan, so the whole outdoor system ages together.

Yes. We handle whole-community exterior work — roofing, siding, gutters, windows, and insulation across multiple buildings — with consistent materials, colors, and workmanship so the property stays visually uniform.

HOA and multi-family projects have different needs than a single home: board approvals, resident communication, phasing, and budget predictability. We plan the work around those realities.

HOA and Multifamily Services →

We specify and document the exact products, colors, and profiles for the whole community up front, so every building — whether done this year or in a later phase — matches the ones already completed.

That documentation also protects the association over time: future repairs reference the same spec, so the property never ends up with mismatched roofs or siding.

Yes — we routinely help associations phase roofing or siding across multiple budget years, prioritizing the buildings in greatest need first while locking in the materials and colors so later phases stay consistent.

A whole-community evaluation gives the board a prioritized, documented plan to budget against rather than reacting building-by-building.

Yes. NorthStar Home Experts has a dedicated Restoration Division offering 24/7 emergency response for water and fire losses — water extraction, structural drying, mold remediation, fire and smoke cleanup, trauma and biohazard response, and full rebuild.

Most homeowners hate managing two contractors who point fingers at each other. We dry it, document it, and rebuild it — one team, one standard, one phone number — because the company that mitigates your loss is the same one that puts your home back better than before.

Call us now: (507) 718-1802. We provide 24/7 emergency response for active water losses — nights, weekends, and holidays. The faster we’re on site, the more of your home we can save.

If it’s safe to do so, stop the water at its source (drying can’t succeed until the source is corrected) and move valuables away from the water. Then call — our crew is stocked and on rotation to respond quickly across our service area.

Our Restoration Division is built for rapid emergency response to active losses, 24 hours a day. When you call, you reach our division directly — not a national call center — and our crew is on rotation with a stocked truck ready to roll.

Fast, competent mitigation shrinks the damage, the secondary problems like mold, and the overall claim. Slow response grows all three, which is why speed is the first thing we’re built for.

Water migrates into walls, subfloors, and cavities you can’t see, and if it isn’t dried to a verified standard it turns into mold and structural damage weeks later. Professional structural drying uses moisture mapping and monitored equipment to dry the home to the science, not the eye.

We work and document every loss to the IICRC S500 standard — moisture mapping, daily psychrometric and moisture readings, and a photo record from the first walkthrough to final dry — so we can verify the home is actually dry before any rebuilding begins. A typical home dries in a few days; readings are tracked daily to keep the loss on schedule.

Yes — thorough, adjuster-ready documentation is central to how we work. We produce line-item estimates in industry-standard software and a full moisture and photo record, which helps your claim move smoothly and your file close clean.

As with any insurance work, we document the loss and the work performed and communicate that to your carrier; coverage decisions belong to the carrier under your policy, while scope and workmanship belong to us. We are not a public adjuster and don’t negotiate or settle coverage on your behalf.

The division is led by Bobby Oxford, who brings four decades of restoration experience, and every file is run by a project manager who holds the IICRC’s highest restoration designations in water, fire & smoke, and textiles.

That master-level oversight means the scope matches the loss on the first visit — no missed water migration that resurfaces as mold, and drying plans that adjusters trust. Complex losses involving mold, smoke, or contents are assessed by someone certified across all three disciplines.

Yes. Beyond water, the division handles mold remediation (properly contained and documented), fire, smoke and odor cleanup including deodorization, and discreet, compassionate trauma and biohazard response.

Because the same company also does the rebuild, you’re never handed off to a second contractor once the emergency work is done — mitigation flows straight into restoring your home.

Yes — we partner with plumbers, insurance agents, and property managers who need a fast, reliable restoration company to send their clients to when a loss happens. When your client calls you first, we help you be the easy, confident answer.

Interested in referring work or partnering with our division? Call (507) 718-1802 and ask for the Restoration Division.

Because the shingles are only the visible layer — a roof that lasts depends on ventilation, underlayment, flashing, and the attic insulation below all working together. Replace only the shingles and you often leave the real problem in place.

This is why we look at the roof and the attic as one system, and why our roofing connects to the whole-home approach rather than being sold as an isolated product.

Yes — NorthStar Home Experts is a GAF Master Elite contractor, a certification held by roughly the top 2% of roofers in North America, and is licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

Master Elite status can’t be bought — it’s earned through experience, licensing, insurance, and a track record, and it lets us offer enhanced manufacturer warranties.

Our roofing systems are designed to last up to 50 years. Actual lifespan depends on the shingle line, ventilation, installation quality, and how the whole roofing system is maintained over time.

A roof isn’t just shingles — proper ventilation and attic performance are what let a roofing system reach its full lifespan, which is why we install and evaluate it as a system.

Repairs make sense for isolated, recent issues on an otherwise sound roof; a full replacement is usually the better call when there’s widespread wear, aging across the whole roof, or repeated problems. The only way to know for certain is an on-roof inspection.

Common signs worth an inspection: missing, curling, or cracked shingles, granule loss, leaks or water stains, damaged flashing, and a roof at or past its expected age. We assess the whole roofing system — including ventilation and the attic — before recommending repair or replacement.

We install asphalt shingle, steel, and rubber (EPDM) roofing systems, matched to the home’s design, slope, and how each part of the roof needs to perform.

As a GAF Master Elite contractor — roughly the top 2% of roofers in North America — we build complete roofing systems, not just a shingle layer.

Many residential roof replacements are completed in a day or two, though the timeline depends on the size and complexity of the roof, the materials, and weather.

We give you a clear timeline for your specific home before we start, and our production team keeps you informed from installation day through final inspection

Because we’re a GAF Master Elite contractor, we can offer enhanced manufacturer warranties that most roofers can’t — covering both materials and workmanship — alongside our own workmanship guarantee.

Exact coverage depends on the roofing system and options you choose; we walk you through the specific warranty for your project so you know precisely what’s protected.

The only reliable way to know is a professional inspection — hail and wind damage is often not visible from the ground, and we never assume damage exists before we’ve been on the roof.

If a recent storm has you concerned, a free inspection documents the actual condition of your roof so you have facts, not guesses, before deciding anything.

Yes — as your contractor, we document the condition of your roof thoroughly and collaborate directly with your insurance carrier throughout the process to keep it as smooth as possible.

Coverage decisions belong to your insurance company; our role is to be the roofing and construction expert who documents accurately and does the work right.

Call to find out. We track storm activity across our region and can talk through what we’re seeing in your specific area over the phone. Call (507) 718-1802.

We keep specific storm dates and maps off the public site, but we’re happy to discuss your neighborhood directly when you call.

Seamless gutters have fewer joints than sectional gutters, which means fewer potential places for leaks and failures over time. Instead of assembling many short sections, they’re formed in long continuous runs custom-fit to the home.

Corners, end caps, and outlets still require connections, but eliminating unnecessary seams creates a cleaner, more reliable drainage system. Benefits include fewer leak points, custom fabrication, a cleaner finished appearance, fewer joints to maintain, consistent drainage across long runs, and integration with properly sized downspouts. We look beyond simply hanging a gutter — pitch, hanger spacing, downspout placement, roof drainage, fascia condition, and where the water ultimately goes all affect how well the system performs.

Gutters are your home’s primary roof-water management system — they collect water coming off the roof and direct it away from siding, windows, fascia, foundations, and landscaping. Without effective drainage, thousands of gallons can be deposited around a home over time.

A properly designed gutter and downspout system helps protect roofing edges, fascia and soffit, siding, windows and doors, exterior finishes, foundations, landscaping, walkways, and lower-level and basement areas. The roof sheds the water, the gutters collect it, and the downspouts move it away — which is why we consider gutters part of the home’s connected exterior system, not an accessory added after the roof.

Gutter guards can be a worthwhile investment in Minnesota, especially for homes surrounded by mature trees or properties with recurring clogs — but not every home automatically needs them.

Minnesota gutters deal with leaves, pine needles, seeds, debris, heavy rain, snow, ice, and freeze-thaw. When debris restricts flow, gutters overflow and stop moving water away from the home. A well-chosen guard system can reduce debris buildup, cut routine cleaning, help maintain drainage in heavy rain, reduce clogged downspouts, protect hard-to-access gutters, and ease maintenance on multi-story homes and HOA/multi-family properties. Guards don’t make gutters maintenance-free, though — the roof, valleys, downspouts, surrounding trees, and Minnesota snow and ice all still matter. We evaluate the property first. The real question isn’t “Do I need gutter guards?” — it’s “What gutter and water-management system makes sense for my home?”