Aesthetics of a Roof

In regards to surface area and prominence, a roof is one of the essential pieces of your home’s exterior beauty (Of course, a badly functioning roof can do numbers on interior beauty too, but that’s another issue). Well an old roof can actually be still useful or keeping water from visibly leaking, its age and state of disrepair can make a house seem prematurely aged and structurally suspect.

Shingle style and color can substantially add to a house’s beauty or seriously detract. High definition architectural shingles, slate and wood products are more eye-catching and weightier, but that may not be what suits a smaller or more delicate home. On the other hand, a three tab shingle may make otherwise bland house all the more blander.

Though not as reflective and therefore a cause of more heat in the attic (ventilation could solve this!), darker shingles tend to look better. The best way to describe it is that they visually “hold down” the house, giving it dimension and outline. A darker shingle will also allow the color, siding, windows and doors on the sides of the house — the stuff that is more customized, designed, and probably more important in terms of how you’ve made your house look — pop more in contrast to a darker color.

These are principles that we as professional roofers take into consideration when we consult with a homeowner concerning their roof. No case is the same, however, and we find careful and patient consideration always works out better for the homeowner.

Contractors v. Service Companies

What is a good service company? Moreover, what is a good contracting company? And what does this mean for you? Simple questions, honest answers here and now.

A GOOD is something which benefits. Whether by bettering the condition of your home, increasing awareness of what your home or business building can or will do, improving your standard of living by cutting costs, or ensuring the best quality, a good roofer benefits a homeowner. Quality is based on perspective, and you must recognize good where good is. Your home deserves quality repairs. Look into how your contractor labors, how he has mastered his trade, and how he puts care into his work. Industry-approved certifications (HAAG, for instance), solid warranties (at least five years), and thorough inspections are sure indicators of a contractor who truly considers his work a craft, his product a desired good.

SERVICE balances the wants of the customers with their actual need. To say that service is simply satisfying the customer does not go far enough! Yes, one must react quickly, professionally, and kindly to any questions, concerns, or problems a customer may have. Absolutely. However, true service reads beyond the customer into what they and their home truly need. That is, quality. It would be a disservice not to inform a homeowner about potential hazards, the estimated time it will take, or even admitting the unknown elements inherent in any project. If this does not immediately align with the customer’s desires, then the answer is communication. To communicate the facts of a project is to inform accurately the customer as to what their home needs. Put forward simply and professionally, true service is achieved. With this in place, and with a contractor who stands by his promises and warranties, the customer is always served well.

A COMPANY has process, a company has stability, a company has…insurance. Whether it’s their ability to answer a phone call, produce work in a prompt manner, gather materials quickly, or price fairly, a company can assure a smooth, processed, simple project for your home.

 

There it is, a GOOD SERVICE COMPANY in a blog.

Repairs? Of Course!

We keep getting calls about whether or not we do small repairs. Of course! One of the differences between the regular ol’ contractor and the professional roofer is their ability to stand by warranties and handle the everyday service of the repair business. For your flat roof system or for shingles, small repairs and finding hidden leaks is our specialty!

Make Good Choices: Which roofer and why.

What difference does it make? Roofers use the same materials bought at the same prices with the same tools. So what’s the difference?

 Source: RSI Group, 2008

Professional workmanship and proper attic ventilation adds years to your roof’s life. Installation is foremost. Placing underlayment and shingles properly and in compliance with manufacturer’s guidelines avoids buckling, shingle uplift, water penetration, and overall the premature failure of a roof. A solid warranty will back all installation issues. The second variable is the way your roof is ventilated. A roof that can breathe is a roof that can better withstand the thermal pressures of the extreme Texas climate.

Thinking Solar?

The idea of renewable energy is thrown around a lot. But, who knows where to begin? As a homeowner, you may have considered solar panels as an option recently, especially considering the generally well-known yet specifically unknown buzz concerning tax credit. Interestingly enough, though energy companies downplay the upcoming importance of solar or doubt it’s ease of installation, they are precisely the entities which are investing big.

Still, the process is complicated. Between finding out if your house is compatible, finding an installer, getting a design, figuring out the numbers in terms of money and energy saved, incorporating a system with your electric retail distributor and the transmission distributors, etc, etc, you need backup. Give us a call and we’ll help you get started.

The ability to do this stems from partnerships we’ve been forming with the various players in the solar game. Unfortunately, much of it becomes a game when the big energy companies get involved. However, find the right installer and the process is simplified enormously.

Solar is not the same as when it first came out. It is now exponentially more efficient, available, and more easily installed.

Why are roofers involved? We know roofs, and more specifically how to penetrate a roof safely and without allowing water to enter. Solar provides look to competent roofing companies to guide them and install for them in order to better inculcate a solar system with a well-functioning, waterproof roofing system.

For good references on design and the new technology and availability of solar, check out this link.

If you are interested in solar but haven’t the slightest handle on where to start, start here.

Uncovered Leak

Went on a roof in Oak Cliff (Dallas) yesterday which was covered with racoon droppings. A common sight when roofing in this area. Weren’t there for clean up though. We found a leak around a skylight and valley. This is a typical place for a leak since a valley’s ability to pool water and the difficulty of installing a skylight make it easy for water to penetrate the roofing system. Our diagnosis was that the initial installation was poor, and here are the pictures to prove it.

As you look, think, WHAT DO I SEE MY ROOFER OR CONTRACTOR PUT UNDER WHAT IS MOST IMMEDIATELY VISIBLE???? How can you tell good from bad?

So these are symptons of a roof that’s leaking, as you can see rusted nails and the wet underlayment. This damage was extensive though, so we must dig further.

Flashing on a skylight

Roofing in Dallas is not just about protection from the heat. Driving rains will go up and under a shingle if it can. Here, since flashing was wrongly placed on top of shingles, rain could drive quickly under the shingle and therefore under the flashing, rendering the metal useless.

That wasn’t the FULL PROBLEM, however, as a valley also had an issue. You will see below two different materials under the shingles. Felt goes under shingles to help them set. It does NOT protect against water or hold moisture well. So, something else – Ice and Water Shield – is needed on valleys. You will see that here too – it has more of a shine and is a more substantial material. Here, unfortunately, ice and water shield was only installed OVER felt. This ruins the purpose for this reason: felt will soak up water and thus let in infiltrate under the ice and water shield. Ice and water shield is a product which adheres firmly to the Wood Decking, but can’t here. On the contrary, the felt is allowing water to  bypass the shield and thus cause a leak. There were about three layers of felt under the Ice and Water, and each layer was soaked. Finding a roofer in Dallas who can install these products properly is key!!!

So that was the two problems. We had to re-do all the underlayments, and replace the shingles which had suffered from persistent moisture from underneath. After the decking has leaked out the rest of its moisture, the resident shouldn’t have a problem with that area anymore.

Preparing for your home’s “Roof Replacement”

If you’re getting a new roof put on your house, the beginning is most likely going to be the messiest. Tearing off all those old shingles, underlayments, perhaps even some older roof beneath, and if you are replacing decking is a horrible mess.

The amount of debris, its age, and the difficulty of hauling it down to the ground make a tear-off extremely difficult to contain in terms of cleanliness. If you are about to have your roof replaced, be aware that debris and dust will be abundant. Have your roofer cover any AC units, treasured lawn furniture or landscaping, and make sure they are careful about what they leave behind. Keep in mind to that the attic may be subject to debris and dust, especially if the decking will be coming off!

The Roof as Income Saver

Most people do not think about their at all. Some think about it when it rains. Almost nobody thinks about it as an asset. Most people’s roofs are not yet an asset. I believe it can be. In fact, I know it can be. The following is some hard numbers to help you see that with proper installation and ventilation, your roof can pay for itself!

You need three things to turn your roof from a depreciating fixture to a profitable investment.

1. Class “4″ Shingles. Under government guidelines, a Class 4 Impact Resistant shingle can earn you up to a 27% discount on annual premiums. You will save year after year after year for having a shingle which can withstand hail.

2. Attic Ventilation. Properly Balanced attic ventilation is the key to energy efficiency. Proper ventilation moves heat away from penetrating your ceiling insulation. Proper ventilation provides a cooler environment for your air conditioning system to work, thereby increasing the mechanical efficiency of the equipment and protecting the temperature of the conditioned air in the duct work. Basically, your AC unit and your roof won’t cook, and you protect your home from built up condensation, wood rot and mold growth.

3. Annual Roof Maintenance. You change the oil in your car and get your teeth cleaned regularly, but your roof withstands fare worse conditions than those things on a 24/7 basis. Get a check up ONCE a year! Just once. Debris cleanings and small repairs can save you tons.

If you use this system–following these three steps when you replace your roof–it will pay you back. Take this system in comparison to a standard roof replacement.

EXAMPLE: a 48 square roof. About 3,000 sq. ft. Home. Look at the numbers on this sample document: Dr. Roof Healthcare. The Zero $ Roof Date represents the year at which your top quality roof has paid for itself in comparison to a standard existing system.

There is a lot of numbers here. If it’s easier, give a professional roofer a call and ask about how a roof becomes an asset, not a drain, on your home.

Common Roof Repairs

Leaking: Sometimes leaks are obvious and need to be dealt with immediately. But sometimes leaks are in your attic or walls and go unnoticed, which can cause huge problems for your home. In addition to looking for visible leaks, you’ll want to have your home inspected by a professional roofing contractor who can detect ALL leaks.

Loose, Bending or Curling Shingles: One of the major causes of leaks is shingle problems. You can detect some shingle problems just by looking at your roof – take a few moments to carefully for bending or curling. See if there are any shingles missing completely. Some shingle problems may require a professional roof inspector to detect.

Loose Flashing Or Gutters: The metal parts that seal the connections around your chimney, vent pipes, or anything sticking out of your roof is called “flashing.” If the flashing is loose, it’s an open invitation for water to seep in and wreak havoc on your home. Give your flashing a quick visual inspection, then have us come out for a professional inspection.

Dark Streaks – Algae & Moss: If you see dark streaks on your roof (like on the picture to left) chances are good you’ve got an algae or moss problem. Either way, it’s not a good thing. If untreated, water can become trapped and degrade your roof and cause extensive damage. If you detect any streaking, contact us for a professional roof inspection immediately.

Dark Patches – Rot: Dark patches an your roof may indicate rot underneath. If untreated, this rot can spread and cause major problems throughout your home, and even encourage the growth of mold and mildew in your attic – which poses a serious health threat. A professional roof inspection can detect rot that’s not even visible yet.

Some Greener Roofing Practices

On the following link from GAF-Elk manufacturer, http://www.gaf.com/Roofing/Commercial-Roofing/Green-Roof-Central/Green-Roof-Central.asp, you will find several methods of making the roofing process a bit greener.

Arrington Roofing is qualified for these green practices, and use them on a regular basis. Make no mistakes, some of the high quality materials which are manufactured with green practice or save energy are more costly, but the option is there for those who so desire.

There are greener options for residential and commercial. The former generally means sloped roofs using proper ventilation or shingles made from post-consumer products. The latter generally refers to flat roofs with such products as TPO.

Check the site out.

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