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.

Are You Ready to Hang Holiday Lights Yet?

We realize you’re just getting ready for Halloween, but that is the start of the holiday season and before you know it, it will be time to hang those holiday lights on the house! Before you grab your hammer, ladder, nails, and climb up on the roof, we have a few suggestions for you.

Safety is Number One: Don’t start the holidays off in the hospital! Be sure the ladder is placed on level ground, securing it with cords or a rope to your home and the ground. This will keep it from shifting and leaning back or over. Also, before you climb that ladder with the lights, test them out on the ground to make sure they light up, and there aren’t any frayed cords.

Do Not Use Hammer and Nails: Using nails can put holes in the fascia, roof, or siding, which can
cause leaks and water damage. There are plenty of products on the market today where you can clip your lights to the eaves or gutters.

Plug Them In: Once all the lights are in place, turn them on. If they trip a breaker, you may need to remove some lights or redistribute them to other outlets to spread the amps they are pulling.

Remember: If you aren’t comfortable with heights, hire a professional!

Your Hair can Curl, but Your Roof Shouldn’t!

A roof with curling shingles is a sign that something isn’t right. When the shingles curl up and are left that way, it is a prime opportunity for rain, snow, and wind to get under them and seep down to the decking, then on into the attic. As soon as you notice any curling shingles, call a roofing contractor immediately and have your roof inspected.

What Causes Curling Shingles?

Most of the time, it is old age. There isn’t anything that will last forever, except maybe love and taxes. But when it comes to roofing, the shingles start to get dried out and the nails used to hold them get loose and start coming out. If only one, two or three shingles are curling and damaged, a simple repair job may be sufficient.

For a fairly new roof that has curling shingles, it may be from improper installation. You should contact the contractor that installed the roof and request an inspection and repair. Sadly, if you used an unknown contractor, you could be out of luck and will need to find a different contractor. This is why it is important to use a certified, licensed, reliable contractor and check their references.

Poor ventilation is another common problem found with curling shingles. Before you have a new roof installed, have the contractor check your attic to make sure it has adequate ventilation. When there aren’t enough of the right vents in the attic, it can cause hot air to build up which will rise to the top.

During the cold weather, warm air in your attic (because it can’t vent out) will cause the ice and snow to melt on the roof. That water will then run down until it hits ice or snow that is still formed, creating a dam. It then sits there and begins to seep under the shingles, and the adhesive is loosened.

Up on the Roof Top, Click, Click, Click

Most homeowners schedule their roofing jobs in the spring or summer months. In this part of the country, spring is the busiest time because of the weather we have. There are also some homeowners that prefer to schedule their roofing jobs in the fall months, but what about getting a roof installed during the winter?

While it isn’t the best time to install a roof, it is possible, even in the extremely cold temperatures we experience here. Sometimes, there is no choice because of a list of possible reasons. The roofing industry doesn’t have any set guidelines when it comes to installing roofs in a certain temperature range, even if it is asphalt shingles. Manufacturers do, however, have recommendations so that the best job is done to get the best results possible.

Take asphalt shingles for example. As the temperature gets colder, they are more prone to break and creak. As long as the roofing contractor and homeowner can find a warm place to store the pallets of shingles prior to installation, possible problems are minimized.

Another concern homeowners have is if the self-sealing strips will adhere properly in colder weather. Talk to your contractor about the process of hand-tabbing the shingles as they install them. This is where they apply adhesive on the underside of the shingles. This process will help keep the shingle in place during the cold, windy months and when the weather warms up, the sun will seal them.

Fall is Just Around the Corner, Here are 4 Tips to Get Your Roof Ready!

Summer is coming to an end soon – can you believe it?! The kids only have a few more weeks of freedom and sleeping in; then that old routine will get started back up. What that means to you as a homeowner is that the rainy season of fall will soon return, too.

Fall is a beautiful, magical season, but it is also often a cold, wet season. So, as you’re getting the
back-to-school shopping started, it is also time to get your home ready, starting with the roof. Here are four things you can do before that cold, wet weather hits to prep your home:

Gutter Cleaning

All summer long, debris and leaves have collected in your gutters, and if they are left to sit there,
they create a block to the downspouts. When the downspouts are blocked, rain water will simply overflow the gutters and back up under the shingles, down the siding, and puddle up at the foundation.

As the gutters take on that added weight, it can cause them to break loose, too. A routine of cleaning your gutters can prevent these types of things from happening. If you haven’t had them installed already, check into having gutter guards installed.

Clear the Roof of Debris

While you’re up there cleaning the gutters, clear the roof of any debris, leaves, and limbs, too. Paying special attention to the peaks where the roof meets. When stuff is allowed to sit there, it will hold moisture and in time, start to mold and rot the roof.

If you see any moss on the roof, clean it off with a cleaning agent that is safe for the environment and a broom, then rinse with clear water.

Damage and Deterioration

Once you have cleaned the roof, you’ll be able to look for any cracked or missing shingles or shingles that are have curled or starting to fray. If needed, use binoculars and check for those things from the ground.

Check the flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vent stacks, too. Many leaks reported to contractors begin in these areas. By repairing them as you find them, you can save yourself a lot of expenses and headaches later.

Insulation and Ventilation

A roof protects you from the elements and to do that properly, it needs adequate airflow and ventilation. Hot air gets caught up in the attic, and it is moist. So without that airflow and
ventilation, that hot, moist air will build condensation. That will start to mildew and grow mold.

So, while cleaning and inspecting your roof, make sure that your attic is well insulated and that the vents are intact and working. This will also help your energy bills too!

Asphalt or Tile Roof - Which is the Best for Your Home?

When it comes time to replace your home’s roof, there are many options to choose from these days. The first thing you’ll need to decide on is which of the two popular types of roofing material do you want - asphalt shingles or concrete tiles. Both of these materials have their advantages and their disadvantages. Take the time to study both and then take careful consideration which ones are better suited for your home.

Less Expensive

The basic asphalt shingles are less expensive, thus their popularity. The initial cost of asphalt is a little bit higher than the concrete tile, but overall, they are very common, popular and get the job done.

Less Heat

For areas that are in a hot climate, concrete tiles are popular because they don’t hold heat as much as the asphalt shingles do, which in turn, lowers your cooling bill.

Easier Installation and Repair

The easier and safer installation is another reason more people choose asphalt shingles. This makes the installation faster, too. Concrete tiles become brittle quicker, and they require more care while installing, which slows down the process of installation.

More Wind Resistant

Concrete tile is better at withstanding higher winds than asphalt shingles because they are
heavier. While there is not any roofing material that can be 100% guaranteed to withstand anything and everything that Mother Nature brings to us, asphalt shingles aren’t as secured and are more likely to be blown away by a heavy wind.

There are pros and cons to asphalt shingles and concrete tile roofing, but at the end of the day, it is the homeowner that needs to decide which is better for their home and their budget.