Keep Your Rain Gutters Clean Now and Avoid Problems Later

You probably don’t think much about your rain gutters and just how essential and important they are to your home’s overall protection. We are going to share some reasons why you should give your rain gutters some thought and why you need to keep them cleaned out.

Exterior Damage to Your Home

Without rain gutters, the water from the rain and the snow will simply pour off to your home’s foundation leaving it at risk for erosion or leaks. Gutters keep that water from backing up under the shingles which can cause damage like a leaking roof. Rain gutters help to avert this backup – unless they are clogged with debris, leaves, etc. This is why it is important to clean your gutters out regularly, or have it done.

Potential Clogs Revealed

It is usually apparent when your rain gutter has a clog by way of a big puddle located close to your home’s base.  Getting a regular check-up is still recommended so that any possible clogs can be caught before they begin that puddle.  Once that puddle begins and goes unnoticed, it can start seeping in your home’s foundation and before you know it, there is that moldy smell in the basement or creeping into the house.

Are Repairs Needed?

When you have your rain gutters cleaned regularly, you can check to see if there are any repairs needed. During the winters in this area, there can be a lot of snow and that puts a lot of weight on your rain gutters, making them bend or break. Get those things fixed as they are found to prevent more costly repairs to your home’s foundation or roof.

Bugs and Pests Go Away

When excess water is left sitting in rain gutters, it attracts bugs and pests like mosquitoes and termites. Bugs and pests thrive in water and when rain gutters are neglected, it makes a perfect breeding ground.

5 Questions to Ask a Rain Gutter Contractor

Some of the most commonly asked questions a homeowner will ask any contractor are:

• “How long have you been in business?”
• “Do you belong to the BBB?”
• “Do you have recent references?”

While these are good questions, when it comes to hiring a rain gutter contractor, or a roofing contractor that installs gutters, there are five more questions you need to ask:

What are the size of gutters you install?

The majority of homes will have five-inch gutters, but a six-inch size gutter is more effective, especially for a home with expansive and steep roofs or has multiple levels.  The six-inch gutter will handle forty-percent more water, and you may want to ask about seven-inch gutters. 

When you install the gutters, what do you use to make sure they are level?

A level is a tool that tells a contractor if something is, well, level. It may surprise you to find out how many contractors that install gutters do not us a level. Without your gutters being level and properly pitched, you can be pretty sure you’ll have problems later on. If you’re talking to a sales person, they often have no idea what actually happens on the job.

Is your company bonded and insured?

For any contractor business, liability and worker’s comp insurance are must-haves, but they are expensive. Contractors in the gutter and roofing industry pay some of the highest insurance rates, too, but that isn’t your concern. You never want to hire any contractor that does not have current liability and workers comp insurance. This can make you liable should any of their employees get injured while working on your property.

How close do you place the gutter hangers?

Gutters that are properly installed will have hangers that are hidden. These are brackets that will hold your gutters in position. They can increase the price of a gutter job, and unless it is by city zoning, there is no law on how many hangers or how close they should be for a gutter contractor. So, a contractor is often tempted to use as few as possible and save on the job. What this means to you is a weak install job that can break with too much weight from rain, snow or water. The average is 24″ apart.

What improvements are there for my gutters?

Gutter installation is a low-margin business, so for most contractors, they make it up in volume. What that means to you, they are in there and done fast and moving on to the next house. When you are getting quotes, ask each contractor what they would recommend to improve your home’s gutter design and then see what they offer. This can tell you a lot about the contractor’s attention to detail, their experience, and even the quality of work they offer.

How Important are Gutters on Your House?

Gutters on a house aren’t just a decorative thing to have. They actually serve an important purpose. Rain is a natural element and it can cause damage to your home when not controlled by gutters. Here we are going to talk about the benefits of having gutters installed and keeping them maintained.

The Benefits

• They keep the soil stabilized around the foundation, minimizing problems
• Prevents flooding happening under your home and into your basement
•  Prevents erosion and preserves your landscaping
• Prevents water damage to the siding  
• Prevents water staining to the brick or stone masonry on your home
• Lessens the cracking and settling of the driveway, patio, and sidewalk around your home
• Preserves the exterior doors to your home

Properly Installed Gutters

Not only are gutters important to your home’s stability, but they must be properly installed to do their job. Each roof edge that is sloped should have rain gutters and they need to be fastened securely to avoid problems. If they hold water instead of sending the water to the downspouts, it can backup under the shingles.

The downspouts should be placed so that they go out and away from the foundation at least three feet. In some cases, the contractor will install a section of flexible black plastic hose/pipe material to the end of a downspout so that the water can be directed away.

Maintenance

Once gutters are installed, the work isn’t done. They need to be cleaned from time to time to remove any debris, leaves, or limbs that have blown in or fell in them. When gutters are left uncleaned, you may experience one or all of the following:

• Water dams up and rots the eaves
• Water will begin to leak in your house and damage the ceiling, flooring or walls
• Mosquitoes and other insects will breed in the water
• The leaves can be a fire hazard
• The gutters will begin to rot, then leak

Are Gutter Guards Necessary?

Are gutter guards really necessary? Isn’t the idea of gutters to catch debris, leaves and stuff?  Well, the answers to those questions are: Yes. No.

The purpose of gutters is to keep the rain from your home’s foundation and away from the ceiling and walls. The purpose of gutter guards is to keep them from getting clogged up with debris, leaves, limbs, and more. Because when the gutters are clogged up, the rain just backs up under the shingles and down to the foundation, washing it out and eroding the soil.

It is the general opinion by experts that gutter guards aren’t foolproof in keeping everything out of your gutters. You will still need to clean, or have your gutters cleaned, once or twice a year. But they do reduce how frequent you need to clean your gutters.

Purchasing gutter guards isn’t just a matter of buying them and having them installed. There are different types of gutter guards and they each work differently. There are several ways that gutter guards are classified and here are 6 of the basic types:

1. Bottle brush

2. Foam type

3. Mesh

4. Non-gutter cover

5. Nylon

6. Reverse curve

Bottle brush gutter guards are somewhat like the pokey bristles on statues that keep birds off of them. The bristles face upward so that they aren’t hindering the flow of water through the gutters to the downspout.

Foam type gutter guards are made of plastic and fit directly on the gutter to block all the debris and leaves out of the gutters.

Mesh gutter guards are sheets with holes. They are attached to the roof and cover the gutters. The smaller holes are most recommended because they let the rain into flow through and won’t clog up.

Non-gutter covers essentially replace your gutters with thin louvers which divert rain coming off the roof and out, away from the house.

Nylon gutter guards are recommended for homes where there is a lot of ice and snow.  These fit into the gutters, but do not attach to the shingles.

Reverse curve guards are designed to send the water downward in the gutter by way of a small slit and direct the leaves onto the ground.

4 Reasons Why Your Neighbors Are Getting Metal Roofs

Are you looking around the neighborhood and wondering why everyone is going with a metal roof? Well we are going to let you know 4 reasons why:

They Are Green

No, we don’t mean that by the color but by the fact they are eco-friendly. As the awareness of how things are impacting our environment, more and more people are looking for ways to make their homes “greener” and metal roofs are one of the best ways. The majority of the metal used on roofs is recycled material and it can also be recycled itself once it has lived its life expectancy, which is much, much longer than traditional asphalt shingled roofs.  Metal is extremely lightweight so it has fewer emissions released while being produced and transported. And last but not least, because of its reflexivity to high solar, metal roofing is also very energy efficient.

Long Lifespan

The lifespan of a metal roof is fifty years or longer. Tour a downtown area of an old, established city and you’ll see that most historic buildings have metal roofs that were installed when the building was new and is still in good shape today. Your traditional roof will last fifteen to twenty years max.

They are Durable

The reason a metal roof will last forever is because metal is characteristically water-resistant and when additional coatings are applied, rain and snow both roll off easily. In parts of the country where snowfall is traditionally heavy, this is particularly important so that you don’t have to worry about the snow sitting for weeks to months on your rooftop. The only maintenance a homeowner will have with a metal roof is clearing debris and cleaning the gutters, both of which can hold water and cause the roof corrosion.

A Cost-Effective Option

The initial expense of having a metal roofing install will be as much as 2 to 3 times higher than an asphalt or wood roof. Where you’ll save is over the life of the roof because it won’t have to be replaced as soon.  

What Does Flashing do for my Roof?

One of the main things that protect your home and all that is inside is the roof. Without a roof, your family, your possessions, your whole home would be subject to the elements that Mother Nature brings to us. One of the most important parts to your roof is the flashing.

It isn’t something that you may notice every day. It is installed and just lays there, doing its job. That is if it was installed correctly. When it hasn’t been installed correctly, water will find its way under the shingles, into your attic and in time, in your home.

Flashing is a protective seal that has one job: Prevent water from intruding under the shingles or around the chimney, dormers, skylights and vents. Flashing is one of the first preventions to moisture damage happening to the surface of your roof and in your home.

The Importance of Flashing

Anywhere on your roof where there are edges, joints or valleys, flashing is needed to cover and smooth any gaps, grooves, intersections or projections where water may intrude. This can be water from rain or melting ice or snow.

When flashing is installed improperly, your roof can experience premature aging and deterioration at the joints. It is important to make sure all your flashing is installed properly and if you see any signs of it coming loose, call a professional to repair or replace it immediately.

Rain and Winds are not Your Roof’s Best Friend

You think you’re settling in for a late fall or early winter storm that’s been brewing all afternoon. Just as it begins to blow in, you notice a damp spot on the ceiling. Just above the big screen television where you were planning to spend the evening. You didn’t notice anything there two days ago when there was the light shower, though? So why is it happening right now?

It isn’t unusual for homeowners to notice these leaks when storms blow through. Even if it had been raining daily, it takes a rain that is blowing in just right to get up under the flashing or shingles before you’ll notice a leak. Rain that comes in with strong wind, usually horizontally, will create an intrusion with the water that it didn’t a few days ago.

Leaks caused by rain that is driven harder by wind are most common around the chimney, flashings, siding, skylights and where the walls and windows meet. They are also found around the corner boards and any dormers your home may have.

Before winter comes in, it is strongly recommended to have a professional roofer inspect your roof. They will find any possible places that may have loose or missing shingles, curled or missing flashing. The problems they find need to be fixed immediately to avoid any possible roof damage this winter.

Old Man Winter Is On His Way – Get Your Roof Ready Now!

School is about to start and right behind that is the holiday season and cold, wet weather. 

Before we know it, the dog days of summer will be gone and old man winter will be arriving. So

what does all this mean?

It is time to get your roof ready for that cold ice, rain and snow that will be piling up soon. Here

are some of the most important things you do before that first cold snap arrive:

GUTTERS

All summer long, debris and leaves have collected in the gutters and in time, that will clog up the

downspouts and the rain can’t drain off like its intended. So the gutters get overflowed and start

back up under the shingles and behind the siding.  Not to mention the weight of the wet leaves

can pull the gutters loose from the house. 

Clear The Roof Top

Get the leaves and limbs off the roof while you’re cleaning the gutters. When allowed to sit there

and the ice, rain and snow are sit on them, it can start to rot and cause moisture build up and

mold is soon to follow.

DAMAGE AND DETERIORATION CHECK

After you have the roof cleaned off, check the shingles for damage or any missing ones and

have them repaired or replaced. Make sure the flashing around the chimney, skylights and vent

stacks is in place good.

INSULATION AND VENTILATION IN THE ATTIC

Make sure your attic is well insulated and that all the ventilation is in place and good working

order. This will save on your energy bills not to mention avoid any possible damage that winter weather can bring.

Commercial Roofs Need Winter Preparation Too

We’ve covered getting your home’s roof ready for winter but today we’re going to talk about getting your commercial building roof ready for winter. Commercial buildings should have regular professional inspections 2 to 3 times a year to stay on top of any potential problems.

But just in case that inspector missed something, or something has happened since the last one, getting the roof inspected before winter is recommended. Correcting any possible problems and winterizing the roof now shouldn’t be underestimated. If there is any problem or weak areas, once the ice, rain and snow start, the real problems begin.

Cold Temps Increase Risks

A premature roof problem’s biggest risk is neglect. Neglecting to look for and make repairs as needed. These defects are with the flashing, sealant that protects penetration from the ice, rain and snow. Once there is a leak and the membrane splits, the seams will separate and then there are blisters, deterioration and ridges to look for and get addressed as soon as possible.

Protection with Roof Coating

As single-ply membranes get old, they become brittle and are prone to leaks. Simply patching that membrane is risky, but inexpensive for most businesses to do. If your roof membrane has been repaired, have it coated with a sealant before winter.

Make A Snow Plan For The Roof

When the roof has excessive snow on it, collapsing is always a risk. Create a plan for snow removal before the snow hits and adds as much as 20 pounds of weight per cf. And if it is wet snow, it can add as much as 60 pounds per cf. A prevention plan now can save you headaches and money later.

Things to Consider About Getting a Slate Roof Installed on Your Home

Considering a slate roof for your home? Here are the top six features of a slate roof that will you decide if slate is right for your home's roof.

Many homeowners have questions when it comes to picking a material to put on their roof. Slate is a unique roofing material that is often overlooked because customers are unfamiliar with its value and capabilities. Before choosing a slate roof, make sure you have all your questions and concerns answered by a professional roofing contractor. Below are a few of some of the most frequently asked questions regarding slate roofing. You can watch the full interview here.

What are the style and color options of slate roofing?

There are numerous slate roofing styles that range from textural and graduated installations to mixed colors and patterns. Two of the most common styles found in the US are the standard pattern style and the random width style. To view all various styles and examples search slate roofing. Not only can slate vary in style, but also in texture, which can range from very smooth and uniform to very rough and rustic. The color of slate ranges from muted to vibrant colors.  Greys and blacks are the most common colors but there are also greens, purples and reds.

What is the lifespan of slate roofing?

Slate is essentially a rock, a homogeneous metamorphic rock that is derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. Therefore, this roofing material is millions of years old. Slate is incredibly durable and can last several hundred years, often with little to no maintenance. It is safe to say that you will get at least 75 to 100 years or more out of your slate roof. However, it’s important that you do not put anything on your slate roof such as sealant or paint because this can cause the roof to age prematurely.


What are the benefits of slate versus shingle roofing?

Slate is something we like to call a ‘forever roof’ since homeowners will only need to put only one on in their lifetime, but a shingle roof may need to be replaced two or three times. Another benefit of slate roofing is its ability to increase the resale value of your home due to its natural beauty and durability. Slate is recognized as an elegant roofing material and will enhance the architectural style of your home and maintain the same appearance over the years. Other benefits of slate roofing include its natural ability to be fire resistant and mold resistant and slate’s low water absorption makes it very resistant to frost damage and breakage due to freezing.

What should you do to prepare your roof for slate?

Slate is an extremely heavy product and can add an additional 500 pounds to your roof. If your home is not engineered for slate, you will need to have a structural engineer inspect your roof. This will ensure that your roof is prepared to hold the weight of the slate roofing. What is the price difference of slate versus shingle roofing?

Slate is an expensive product and you can count on it being two or three times more expensive than a standard architectural shingle roof. The price can range from 15 to 16 dollars a square foot installed. The price of a slate roof will also vary depending on the size of the home and the roof pitch.

Can you repair a slate roof?

You can repair your slate roof at any time. It is important to have a licensed roofing contractor examine your slate roof to find the damaged pieces, and the repair is as simple as sliding out the damaged slate and replacing it with a new piece. Having a professional inspect your roof once a year will also help you keep your slate in the best condition possible.

How Not To Get Taken By a Commercial Roofer Again

A few years ago you hired a roofing contractor after a hail storm to make repairs on your commercial building. Unfortunately, it was not a good experience and now you’re in need of another roofing job but you’re afraid you’ll get burned again.

The roof is one of the most expensive things you can have done to your home, so it isn’t any surprise that you want to get your money’s worth.

Here are a few tips to follow when choosing the next roofing contractor for your commercial building:

Specialty

You probably realize now that commercial building roofs aren’t done by all roofing contractors. The majority of roofing contractors are residential only because commercial roofs are little more intense. As you call around to roofing contractors, ask for references for commercial jobs.

Certification

Manufacturers of roofing materials award their top contractors. Ask the contractors you’re considering what certifications and award they have been given.  If they don’t have a big name award or certification, you should keep looking.

Knowledge

A new roofing contractor in town most likely won’t have the experience and knowledge of weather and roof types where you are. The roofer from New York City isn’t going to be familiar with things in Oklahoma City. Ask the roofing contractors you’re considering if the roofing system they’ve quoted meets standards of FM Global.

Service

Your needs and requests should come first with any roofing contractor. If they are pushing a certain roofing system too hard, back away.

Matching Broke Tiles on a Tile Roof

On homes with tile roofing, finding a perfect match to replace broken tiles can be difficult. Perhaps the
manufacture discontinues a color or product line and going with anything different can totally take away from the beauty that the tile roof once offered.

So what do you do when you notice a broken tile on your roof? First things first is get the paperwork that came with the roofing, if you are so lucky as to have that available. Sometimes the tiles themselves may have the product information underneath. Then start checking with different roofers, you may find one that has scraps of that tile in their possession. If they don't have stock, they often have sources to find that tile.

If these efforts don't work out, the next best thing is to find the closest match possible from a professional roofing contractor like Dun-Rite Roofing. We can place the newest tile on a part of the roof that doesn't show and move a good tile to replace the broken tile.

Ting, Ting, Ting ….. What Is That Noise?

Were you kept awake last night by a Ting Ting Ting sound from the outer walls of your bedroom? Sounds like it is coming from the downspout off the gutters? Perhaps it lulled you to sleep but then at 2am it sounded more like a snare drum. Inside your head. All night, getting louder and louder.

So what is that noise? It is common the first winter after you've had new gutters installed to hear this noise. Dun-Rite Roofing has had customers call after this experience and the usual culprit is from a tiny amount of water going through the downspout instead of a free flow of water.

What causes this? When downspouts are made of a rectangular shaped material with custom made elbows, the free flow of water is sometimes stopped at the elbow. Thus the results of what sounds like a snare drum banging are custom made.

An easy and quick fix to this problem is moving the downspout a little by loosening the straps that are holding it in place. This will allow the downspout to be moved left or right approximately half of an inch then re-attach the strap. This can usually be done by the homeowner, but if don't have the tools to loosen the strap, a call to Dun-Rite Roofing and we can.