Need a New Roof? Check Your Roofer’s Reputation First

With the weather turning colder, you may soon notice icicles forming along the rain gutters of your home. Icicles may look nice, but they’re not a good sign for your roof. If ice is building up along the edges of your roof, it can damage your shingles and rain gutters and lead to roof leaks and all sorts of problems for your home. It’s important to get rid of ice dams when you see them forming.

Getting rid of ice dams.

Don’t use a shovel or any other tool to hack away at the ice. You can damage your shingles and rain gutters further. The safest way to remove ice dams is to run warm water through your rain gutter system to melt the dam. You can also use a roof rake which is a special snow removal tool that won’t damage your shingles to clear away snow along the edge of your roof. It’s also important to take proactive measures to prevent them from forming in the future. Here are three things you can do to prevent ice dams this winter.

Install heat cables

Heated cables along the edge of your roof will prevent snowmelt from re-freezing along the edges of your roof and is a relatively inexpensive solution. The downside is that it lessens the appearance of your roof and it doesn’t address the root of the problem.

More attic insulation

Ice dams form when the temperature in the attic are warmer than the outside air so that it melts the snow which then refreezes towards the edges of the roof. Better attic insulation not only reduces your energy bills but it will insure that snow on your roof doesn’t melt until the temperature outside is warm enough that ice dams can’t form anyways.

A metal roof

Metal roofs are typically much better at shedding snow in the first place if your roof slope is great enough and you won’t have to worry about ice dams. If ice dams are a recurring problem for you, you can schedule a roof inspection with a Spokane roofing company to first check if there is any roof damage as a result and to discuss the best solution for your
particular circumstances.

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Source: realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/home-maintenance-checklist-december-2017/

Roof damage isn’t always apparent from the ground. Unless you know exactly what to look for, serious issues with your roof can go undiagnosed until water is dripping through your ceiling and costing you thousands of dollars in water damage to the interior of your home. Since winter is the time of year where roof issues are most likely to manifest themselves in the form of leaks, it’s a good idea to get things checked out and any needed repairs taken care of before winter hits. As you can tell from the downturn in temperature and the increase of rain in the Spokane area, time is already running out and roofers will soon be booked solid with roof leak work.

Start with a free inspection

There’s no reason not to have your roof inspected as most reputable roofers will do this for free. Just because there aren’t any missing shingles or sagging sections on your roof it doesn’t mean you don’t have roof damage. Slight warping of the shingles, small tears or tiny penetrations from wind-blown debris, and granule loss (granules are the rough, gravelly like coating that forms the top layer of the shingles) can all spell doom for your roof this winter even though your roof looks perfectly fine from a distance. A roofer knows what to look for and can provide you with a free estimate for any work that may need to be done.

Schedule repairs

If the inspection turns up nothing, you can rest assured that your roof is ready for winter. But if there are issues, you should have them taken care of immediately. Regular maintenance is always going to be cheaper than costly roof leaks, mold issues, and interior water damage in the long run. If it’s been awhile since your last roof inspection, schedule a free inspection with a Spokane roofing company today.

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Source: kdvr.com/2017/11/20/roofers-suggest-fixing-hail-damage-before-first-snowfall/

Dark staining on your roof is usually indicative of an algae problem. Algae thrives in damp and dark areas. Since dark staining looks very unappealing, homeowners are understandably concerned with eliminating those stains. There are a few ways to go about it.

Switch to an algae-resistant roof material

Algae staining is most common on asphalt shingles and wood shakes. Materials like metal, tile, and slate, aren’t going to allow algae to grow and stain your roof. You can speak with a Spokane roofing company about an alternate roof material that would work good for you. Unfortunately, these materials tend to be on the expensive side and since algae staining doesn’t affect your roof’s performance, many homeowners don’t want to replace their roof just to eliminate algae stains.

Use bleach

Mix one part bleach to four parts water and gently pour it across any affected areas of your roof. Bleach will kill any algae. Do not use a pressure washer to apply bleach mixture as the high pressure could actually damage your shingles. Also do not use more bleach than the one-to-four parts ratio or it can damage any landscaping that is beneath the edges of the roof after runoff. The problem with this method is that it won’t be a long term solution and algae stains can eventually return.

Install copper or zinc strips

Copper or zinc strips placed along the peaks of the roof above the affected area will introduce ions to the algae every time it rains. This will not only kill existing algae but prevent it from growing in the future. It’s a longer term solution but one not everyone will like because of the aesthetics of the metal strips.

Eliminate shade

If overhanging tree branches are causing sections of your roof to be shaded all hours of the day, simply cutting back those branches so sunlight hits those areas can prevent algae from growing there.

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Damage to your roof after a storm can range from very obvious, to practically invisible. If larges sections of shingles have blown away and your roof’s underlayer or deck is exposed in several places, you know that’s a problem. But roof damage can sometimes be harder to spot. A shingle here or there may have come loose. Tiny penetrations in the shingles from wind-blown debris can lead to roof leaks and impact damage such as from hail may not be visible from the ground. So what is the best course of action after a major storm as your roof is concerned?

If the damage is apparent

If it’s clear from the ground that your roof was damaged, you don’t need to wait for a roofer’s opinion to start the process of filing a claim with your insurance company. An insurance agent will stop by to take a look. This inspection by a representative of the insurance company shouldn’t take the place of an actual roof inspection by a qualified roofing contractor. In fact, part of the inspector’s job is to make recommendations for a proper roof inspection if it seems warranted.

If the damage isn’t apparent

Because roofing problems that go unnoticed can turn into such costly repairs down the road, you don’t want to risk skipping a roof inspection even if you don’t notice signs of damage from the ground. If a roof inspection turns up any problems, the roofer will give you an estimate for repairs which you can take to your insurance company.

What you shouldn’t do

Don’t let a door-to-door roofer passing through after the storm tell you that you need roof repair. These fly-by-night roofers are rarely licensed and insured and they often skip town with your money and the work undone. If you need an inspection from a reputable Spokane roofing company, after a storm, be patient and don’t settle for an amateur.

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Source: recordstar.com/business/20170909/residential-roofing-tips-are-important-following-recent-rains

Each year approximately 30,000 Americans die from household falls. A good portion of these result from homeowners trying to do roofing work on their own. Roofing work is inherently dangerous because of how far it is off the ground. So regardless of how handy you are, and regardless of how steady you feel on a ladder or on top of your roof, you take a major risk when you try to do roofing work so whether your roof needs replacing or just a patch to stop a leak, you should call a Spokane roofing company instead. Professional roofers have harnesses that will keep them from plummeting to the ground even if they do fall and their experience and training helps keep them safe as well. In addition to safety concerns, there are other good reasons to leave roofing work to professionals.

Warranties

Your roof is typically warrantied two ways: by a manufacturer’s warranty that covers any problems due to defects with the roofing materials themselves and the roofing company’s warranty that covers any problems due to improper installation of the roof. Between the two warranties, your roof is covered from any premature failure except in cases of extreme weather in which case your home insurance kicks in. If you try to save money by working on your roof yourself, you don’t have a warranty on the installation and your warranty that came with the shingles is most likely voided. Professional roofers are often certified by roofing manufacturers to signify that they have the proper training and equipment to install their materials correctly.

Roof quality

Roofing is more complicated than simply nailing shingles to the roof deck. In addition to the shingles or tiles, an effective roof system requires adequate ventilation and insulation, a waterproof underlayment, metal flashing, and a good rain gutter system. If all of these components of the roofing system aren’t working perfectly in conjunction with each other, the roof can develop problems. There are lots of DIY home improvement projects you can tackle to save money, but roofing shouldn’t be one of them.

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Roof ventilation is a part of the roof system that’s overlooked even though its essential to the health of the roof. Proper roof ventilation ensures that hot air is able to escape the attic space. Most homeowners are aware of the importance of keeping the attic cool in order to keep cooling costs down in the summer but there’s another reason to keep the attic cooler in the summer months and it has to do with the health of the roof.

Poor ventilation and your roof deck

The roof deck is the structural foundation of your roof. It’s what supports the weight of the roof shingles. Poor ventilation on the roof can cause your attic to have a build-up of moisture. Too much water in the air in your attic space can lead to mold and rot in the roof deck. When this occurs the structural integrity of the roof deck is compromised and it can lead to sections of your roof sagging. This in turn leads to sunken-in areas where rainwater can pool up causing further damage to your roof.

Poor ventilation and your shingles

Poor ventilation also results in too much heat trapped in the attic. While shingles are designed to withstand high temperatures, they will fail faster if they’re exposed to excessive heat. On the hottest days of summer, asphalt shingles which absorb heat can reach temperatures above 150 degrees. Add to that extreme temperatures in the attic beneath the shingles and they’re literally being baked as if in an oven. Over time this causing shingles to crack, curl, and warp and it causes them to lose the ceramic granules that protect them from the sun’s UV rays. This can lead to roof leaks and premature roof failure.

The next time you have a Spokane roofing company come out to inspect your roof, make sure they’re checking the
ventilation in addition to the actual shingles.

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Source: portlandtribune.com/pt-adv-insiders/360879-240973-3-important-summer-roofing-tips

Roofers recommend that homeowners have their roofs inspected at least once a year by a professional but the majority of homeowners never have their roof inspected until it’s developed major problems like significant storm damage or a leak. Here are some facts about roof inspections.

A roof inspection can prevent costly damage

Severe roof damage usually starts out as minor roof damage with the exception of major storms that can damage a perfectly healthy roof in a single day. Asphalt shingles expand and contract in fluctuating temperatures causing roofing nails to come lose. Shingles can become brittle and crack or warp. Small roof leaks aren’t usually caught by homeowners because the water isn’t dripping through the ceiling at that point but the leak is causing a little damage to the roof every time it rains.

Even minor storms can cause problems

Don’t assume that only a major storm can damage your room. If it gets windy enough, wind-blown debris can cause a penetration in the roof that might lead to a leak. An annual roof inspection keeps you a step ahead of roof damage and prolongs the life of your roof.

Roof inspections are often free

If you need a Spokane roofing company, don’t let the idea of cost stop you. Most roofers will perform the inspection for free in exchange for a chance at your business if any repairs are needed.

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Source: communityimpact.com/houston/tomball-magnolia/features/2017/06/01/real-estate-ask-a-roofer/

When Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors first announced his company’s entrance into the solar shingle industry, he hinted that Tesla shingles would cost less than traditional roofs once energy savings were taken into account. Now that they can be pre-ordered in the US and there are more specifics regarding costs and estimated energy savings, we can determine whether Musk’s claims were accurate.

Tesla solar shingles cost

Calculating the cost of a Tesla solar shingle roof is tricky because there are a number of factors that can cause the total to vary widely. The biggest factor is which direction the home faces and how much of the roof is exposed to enough sunlight each day to justify having photovoltaic cells there. Part of the brilliance of Tesla’s strategy is that unlike traditional solar roofing solutions where the section with solar panels looks drastically different from the rest of the roof, a Tesla solar roof is completely uniform. That’s because the shingles come in two varieties: one that contains the cells than convert the sun’s rays into electricity and ones that don’t but look exactly the same. The company has released the cost of a Tesla roof at $21.85 per square foot but that is only assuming a roof that is 35% solar shingles and 65% ordinary glass shingles.

According to Musk the average home would have 40% solar shingles so it’s unclear why they didn’t release the higher estimated cost based on the average. Furthermore, some homes might have as much as 70% solar shingles.

Further complicating the cost is calculating the estimated energy savings over the course of 30 years (the life expectancy of a Tesla roof) and subtracting that from the initial cost.

Comparing costs

According to Tesla’s estimates, after accounting for energy savings, a Tesla roof will actually net you a profit over the course of five years. The cost for their non-solar glass shingles comes in at about $11 per square foot while their solar shingles cost about $42 per square foot. So while the initial cost is significantly higher than even the most expensive traditional roofing materials, the costs are offset over time.

If you’re looking for a more energy efficient material at a more affordable initial price point, however, you may want to speak with a Spokane roofing contractor about metal or tile.

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Source: electrek.co/2017/05/10/tesla-solar-roof-tiles-price-warranty/

The majority of states have legislation that requires roofers to obtain a license through the state in order to do roofing work. This kind of legislation protects homeowners from fraudulent “roofers” who might go door-to-door after a storm offering to do roofing work only to move onto the next town with people’s money having not done any actual roofing work. Texas is one state that notably doesn’t have any kind of regulations on roofing businesses—notable because it’s the only Gulf state (a region known for particularly severe weather such as hurricanes and hail) that doesn’t have this kind of legislation. When homeowners in Texas experience roof damage, they just have to hope the roofer they hire is a reputable company.

However, Texas is now considering a voluntary roofing certification program, which, though it’s not as good as a mandatory certification program, is still a step in the right direction.

How it works

Though there is no legally-binding regulations that will be placed on roofing businesses, there will be a voluntary program that would enable roofers who wish to participate to get on a list of reputable roofers. When homeowners are looking for a roofing company, they can search only for roofers on that list. In order to make the list, roofing companies would be required to register with the state and also prove that they have insurance. Under this program, anyone would still have the ability to call themselves a roofer but homeowners would have the means to differentiate between these kinds of roofers and those that are more reputable.

Washington is one of the states that do require roofing businesses to be licensed. This means if you’re looking for a Spokane roofing company, you can ask to see a roofer’s license and proof of insurance before agreeing to work.

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Source: dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/03/27/roofing-legislation-calls-for-voluntary-certification-system/


Tags: roofing tips, roof damage, roof repair, roofing contractor, Spokane roofing company