Dallas Roofer or DIY?

I was reading a few stories the other day where something in the person’s day goes horribly wrong. The reason behind the misadventure and disaster is sometimes caused by unfortunate luck, but most of the time, it’s because of a miscalculation, poor judgment or stupidity. Because I work in the roofing industry, I began to search for stories about accidents on the roof. I wasn’t surprised to find that there were quite a few results. I thought I would write about what I read and how to help you all avoid those situations.

A gentleman from Canada decided to fix his roof leak instead of hiring someone in order to save some money. As he climbed onto the roof, the ladder fell. Somehow, as it was falling, it broke three windows and ripped the siding off his house.

This may have been avoided by tying off the ladder onto something stable, but overlooking minor details like that usually ends up costing more money than the savings from doing the project yourself. Like this next guy from California…

He, too, decided to fix some leaks of his own. He worked from home and enjoyed little projects around the house. At the end of a long day on the roof, he stepped inside to rest in his home office. As he sat at his desk, he saw that pesky leak at it again (this time onto his drenched laptop). $2500 worth of damage to save $500.

The problem with this situation is that there are too many possible causes of the leak. While he was sure the leak began in the area above where the water was leaking into his home, it could have actually started feet away. In fact, it might not have even been a roof leak at all! If he would have called a roofing specialist to give him a free estimate, he might have found out that it was a busted pipe.

Other stories I read include:

A woman sitting on the edge of her roof, only to fall off along with the gutter; a man trimming his trees who ended up with a branch through his roof; and animals in the attic keeping a family awake night after night.

All of these scenarios could have been avoided with either better planning or hiring a professional. That’s not to say these people weren’t capable, but their mistakes cost them more in the long run. When you find a professional to perform the work, you’re getting more than just quality results… you’re getting a promise. You can’t guarantee or warranty your own work, but a contractor can. Just be sure to weigh the risks and rewards before you decide to take a chance on causing more damage to your home.

JSurface

Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade

It wasn’t originally known as Mardi Gras, but this mid-winter celebration of the Roman god of fertility, Lupercus, spread throughout Europe and into the Americas. Since early Christians realized that it was better to incorporate pagan beliefs into their religion than to completely abolish them, celebrations such as Mardi Gras live on.

This fantastic holiday adorned with bright colors and beads was originally brought to the Americas by the French. During Spanish rule, the celebration was briefly outlawed, but by 1827, street masking was once again legalized!

Enough with the history lesson! Let’s talk about what’s relevant now.

This year’s Mardi Gras party in Oak Cliff brought hundreds of spectators and tens of krewes down W. Davis St. The crowds were wild with “bead-lust”, and fortunately for them, there were plenty of beads to go around. Some krewes were so anxious to satisfy the crowd’s demand for the plastic jewelry that they left the giant crowd at the end of the parade empty handed.

There were floats by all kinds of organizations around Oak Cliff. Our friends at The Well, Dallas Zoo, Arrington Roofing (of course), the hippie tribe from Winnetka Heights and Krewe La Rive Gauche, to name just a few, were all there for the grand finale parade.

Overall, this year’s Oak Cliff Mardi Gras parade was a great success! Make sure you come to next year’s carnival and catch some beads from Arrington Roofing!

Check out our entire photo gallery on Facebook!

Dallas Roofer in Las Vegas

Most independent contractors probably know of  Success Group International. Those who are roofers are likely to know their sub-organization, Roofers’ Success International, but those who don’t are missing out on a fun time in Las Vegas this week!

Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World, is the destination for roofers across the U.S. this week who belong to RSI. During this week’s conference, business owners (and sometimes their employees) will share success stories, learn the best defensive and offensive tactics in today’s market, network and even enjoy the great entertainment the city has to offer.

Although the RSI conventions have a lot of educational benefits, what makes the biggest difference is the energy brought home by the members. Everyone leaves these gatherings ready to take on the world; it reminds you of why you got into roofing in the first place. This boost in morale and optimism is key in maintaining forward momentum. This ultimately leads to many minor changes (and maybe a major change) in policy to increase our customer service, productivity and overall efficiency.

However, all of that talk about “synergy” and “bottom line” can get a little overwhelming, but that’s not a problem when you’re surrounded by an abundance of fun! Whether you prefer musicals, magic shows, plays, comedy or blackjack, there’s something for everyone in Vegas.

It looks like this week will be all work and all play for America’s roofers. We’re expecting big things in the weeks to come! Give us a call to see how we’re modifying our business to better serve Dallas.