Time To Call A Roofing Company In Owasso

There are improvements around your Owasso home that you are excited about and look forward to doing or having done. Things like a kitchen update, a bathroom remodeling, or planting new flower gardens.

Then, there are those home improvements that aren’t as exciting. Like a new roof or roof repair, but this is one area of your home that needs attention, too. Neglecting the roof can lead to higher energy bills at the very least to more extensive damage.

To keep your Owasso home’s roof for many years, here are four things that Owasso roofing contractors want you to know:

1. Know When to Call a Professional. Roofing contractors will tell you that there are things you can do yourself without calling a professional. Such as performing a visual inspection of the roof a few times throughout the year.

You need to call an Owasso professional roofing contractor when you notice buckling, curling shingles or streaking stains. If there are parts of the roof that are missing granules, if you notice the flashings are rusted, or you see mold or moss growing, you need to call. If you notice any water stains in the attic, this is also an indication of potential problems.

2. Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance. Every year, at least once, twice is better, clean your Owasso home’s ventilation system of cobwebs and dust. Also, clean around and in the exhaust vents. Use a high-grade sealant to caulk around the pipes and vents that are coming out of the roof and any exposed metal should be painted to keep it from rusting. Clean out the gutter and crevices of the roof to remove debris like leaves and limbs.

3. Choose a Quality Shingle. If and when you have to have a new roof installed, choose a quality asphalt shingle that is guaranteed to last no less than 20 years. With the right Owasso roofing contractor installing them correctly, it will last you much longer than 20 years.

4. Enhance Your Home’s Appearance. The roofing material you choose for your Owasso home can and will enhance the curb appeal. The roof is one of the most value-added improvements you can do to your home with the average ROI as much as 56 percent.

Roofing Advice for Owasso Homes

Here is some advice for Owasso, Oklahoma homeowners in regards to your home’s roof:

Think Safety

If you believe or notice your Owasso home roof has a leak, be careful in your search for where it is coming from. Climbing around the roof during the rain or when it is covered with ice or snow is not the time to go on a leak hunt. There is not a quick or temporary fix. Any professional roofing contractor will tell you that the best thing to do is wait for the weather to ease up.

Be Cautious

Roof climbing and crawling is not comfortable nor is it safe. If you’re going to get on your Owasso home’s roof, wear rubber sole shoes and a safety harness. And don’t do this by yourself – have somebody there with you.

Spray Water on the Roof

Use your garden hose to find leaks. Spraying water over different areas from different locations will usually do it, but if the temps are near freezing – wait!

Clean Those Gutters

Clogged gutters are the most common cause for a roof leak on Owasso homes. Clogged gutters will create dams that backs the water up under the shingles, into the attic, and down the walls.

Devoid Any Dry Rot

Dry rot is created from not having enough ventilation in your Owasso home’s attic. The majority of roof repairs that are in the center of the roof is usually deteriorated plywood which is causing the roof to sag, the shingles to break, crack, and eventually, leaking starts.  Dry rot can be prevented by installing a ridge vent and soffit vents. This allows cool air through the bottom and then pushes hot air out.

Stop Ice Buildup

During an Owasso winter, ice builds up under the gutters, roof membrane, and shingles.  Then it backs up and when it gets to the where the wall is, the heat melts the ice and it begins to drip down the wall. Proper installation of a drop edge and ventilation will prevent this.

Chimney Flashing and Tile Roofing: Maintenance is a Must!

If your tile roof is starting to have some leaks around your chimney, it may warrant looking up on the roof or have a professional roofing contractor look for you. Too often do homeowners want to blame it on poor installation. If you have an older home, that probably isn’t the case. 

It could be that your tile roof simply needs to be cleaned. Or, perhaps the chimney flashing needs to be repaired or replaced. There is no way to know until it has been looked at.

What many roofing contractors find is that it is from rain, melted ice, or melted snow running over the channel flashing. Channel flashing is located under the side tiles. At the chimney’s corner, water will run off the chimney cricket almost at a horizontal direction to the side channel flashing and the vertical tiles.

As that water runs down, it collects debris such as leaves and trees and over time, it all builds up under the upper tiles, creating a dam next to the flashing that is raised up. The water will get pushed over the dammed flashing and find its way under the field tiles.

If the tar paper has any holes, the water will find its way there and cause the nails to start rusting, then rotting through the wood. The smallest of holes can start creating the biggest leaks in the roof decking. While it may be slow and unnoticed, the roof boards and the rafters begin to rot and the insulation starts soaking up water. Before you know it, it has made its way onto the ceiling and into your house.

You can fix it cheaply by smearing a tar substance product around the chimney and side tiles. Or, that can make the problem worse. Therefore, it is best to have a professional roofing contractor come look at your roof – most offer a free estimate.

Downspouts and Rain: It Can Be Artistic

Downspouts and rain gutters aren’t anything new. They have been around for what may seem like forever. They are how we control water that drains from the roof and gets it away from the house. When there aren’t any downspouts or gutters, rainwater or melted ice and snow can do a lot of damage to your home and landscaping.

Usually, on commercial and public buildings, you’ll see their downspouts and gutters have an architectural stone sculpture, usually depicted by some animal head, especially on historical buildings. Downspouts have been made from a variety of materials including chains, clay, copper, steel pipes, stone, and even wood.

You can also find decorative pieces to place at the end of the downspout to fit into your garden and landscaping. Some homeowners have set up containers to collect that water and reuse it to water their gardens and yards. The water coming off the roof isn’t clean by any means, so you wouldn’t want to use it for bathing or consuming.  But for outdoor use, it is perfectly fine.

If you don’t have a gutter system in place, it would be to your advantage to get some quotes from a professional roofing contractor for installing one. If you have one in place, it is money well spent to have it examined by a contractor, as well.

Keep Your Skylights Clean to Get the Most From Them

There isn’t much to maintain skylights, for the most part. The exterior frame is usually aluminum and will last for years without ever needing any maintenance or upkeep. But the area where the light comes in is usually acrylic, glass, or polycarbonate. These are durable surfaces that last for years and years, but they do need cleaning occasionally.

Do Skylights Need Cleaning?

Skylights on residential structures are either laminated or tempered glass panels which can be cleaned using a mild soap and water. You should never clean them with anything that is abrasive or use a razor blade, which could scratch the glass and/or coating.

Acrylic Skylight

Acrylic or plastic skylights need more specific care when cleaning them. Use only mild detergent and water. Never use any window cleaner or anything that has an alcohol or petroleum base in the product.

Maintaining Your Skylight

Residential skylights are almost maintenance-free.  If you have an older skylight, it may have a clear paraffin-based sealer that wasn’t painted. You may choose to have yours painted, and it is recommended that you have a professional do this for you.  A professional will know what to look for in the way of damage or rot.

If you have vented skylights with hinges and a support mechanism, never let anything obstruct them from opening and closing.

A Worn Looking Roof Doesn’t Mean Time For Replacing It

You were out mowing or raking leaves, looked up at your roof and noticed it was looking tired and worn out.  Then the dread of getting a new roof washed over you.  Well, good news! Simply because it is looking somewhat unsightly, doesn’t mean you need to replace it - maybe.

It may need only a thorough cleaning! From time to time, you power wash your home and the surrounding deck and walkways to get a fresh look. Well, the same could be possible for your roof, too. Too often, homeowners replace the roof on their home without even thinking about just cleaning it.

A good cleaning doesn’t just give your home a good look, but it will save you thousands while adding years to your roof. It is an option to consider before you get that new roof. A new roof may be necessary if you have missing shingles or your roof is 25 years old or older. Or, if you see flipped up tabs or brittle shingles, a roof replacement may be necessary.

By having your roof washed, you can achieve the following:

1. A polished look

Having your roof thoroughly cleaned will remove those black stains that are also known as magma. It also removes that algae and moss that builds up over time. A professional roof cleaner will use a biodegradable chemical that will clean your roof and have a minimal residual effect.

2. Protection for Your Roof

Your roof protects you and your family, but what protects it? Having a professional out to reapply the biodegradable chemical cleaner once a year is a great protector for your roof. It will prevent small problems from becoming large problems which will extend the life of your roof.

3. Cheaper to Keep Her

As they say in divorce court – it’s cheaper to keep her. Same can be said about cleaning your roof. It is cheaper to clean it than to replace it.

4. Warranty Effectiveness

A regular cleaning is usually recommended by roofing material manufacturers. Think of it in the same manner how you get a tune-up on your car every 100,000 miles.

The Big Debate: Hand Nail or Nail Gun – Which is Best for Roofing?

The manufacturers of roofing materials claim that either way is good when installing a new roof. They have performed thorough testing which validated that either method works with their roofing materials. Where the debate comes into play, is when you ask roofing contractors. You will get different opinions because some are pro hand gun and others are pro nail gun.

For hundreds of years, when shake roofs were first produced, hand nailing was the primary method. Then in the 1950s, nail guns came on to the scene, and for the next few decades, roofing contractors around the country adopted the tool. Now, more than 60 years later, many roofing contractors have gone back to hand nailing.

So Why the Debate?

For an asphalt shingle to be installed properly, the roofer needs to drive the nails into the shingle that is perpendicular to the roof pitch, making sure the nail head is flush to the roof decking. For proper installation, the nail should be down a certain depth but not break through the shingle’s top layers and yet, set solidly into the wood decking.

Hand Nailing

The experienced roofing contractor can set the nails with hand nailing the right angle, in the right spots, to the right depth. They will know if the nail hit the wood decking. The more skilled a roofer is, the quicker they get at this process. However, it is more labor intensive and takes longer.

Nail Gun

The problems of using a nail gun installation are higher, starting with the fact that the roofer isn’t able to feel the nail hitting the wood decking. If the nail gun is held at the wrong angle, the nails are driven in at odd angles and may break the shingle’s top layers. The nail gun compressor has to be set at careful adjustments to ensure the nail is inserted completely and flush to the surface.

Depending on the type of wood, roofing material, and the weather, roofers often have to change those adjustments. When an inexperienced roofer is using a nail gun, or an experienced roofer is hurried, the shingles may be installed incorrectly. Using a nail gun does make the job quicker, which reduces labor costs.