Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Roof Maintenance Advice for Homeowners

When you have a new roof put on, you're going to be familiar with the warranty and how long you can expect to have that roof last. Of course, many people don't get the luxury of moving into a home that has a new roof. You either nurse the one you have, or you put a new one on when you can. That being said, every homeowner should know certain tips regarding roof maintenance to help ensure their roof lasts as long as it should.

Not every home has a roof that is easy to inspect visually, especially from the ground. It is important, however, to make sure that you either have it done for you regularly, or you visually inspect your roof on your own. The spring is a great time to do this when everything starts growing again, and the sun comes out. You can see if the winter has caused your roof any damage that needs to be quickly repaired.

As you check your roof during the springtime, you also want to get those gutters cleaned out. Many times a home's exterior takes a beating during the wintertime, and while you might not think about it, you're not always out there observing or able to do something about it thanks to the weather. Those gutters are going to be filled with debris, but hopefully not too bad.



Do you know what flashing is? This is the term for the material that is around your vents and in other certain areas. If the flashing is damaged, you can easily have water leaking into your home. Now you can also see why it's important to know what's really wrong with a leaky roof. If it were just the flashing and not the roofing itself, you wouldn't need to be worrying thinking you need a new roof. You would just need to repair or replace the flashing.

Are there trees near your home? If so, you need to watch to make sure they don't have limbs hanging over your house. These limbs can break off during storms, and they can drop debris onto your roof. As they grow, the more of a risk they are to your roof. Cut the limbs back so that you don't have this problem.

If something happens to your roof that causes damage, parts of a shingle and other roofing debris might fall to the ground. Given that, you can be on the lookout for anything around the edges of your home that would tell you that something has happened to your roof. This is a step you can take while on the ground!

While you're doing all of this, remember it's not a good idea to go around walking on your roof. This is both for your safety's sake and for the sake of the roof. So, your best bet is to actually schedule an experienced roofing company to come out there and regularly check your roof for periodic maintenance.

Should You Choose a New Roof or a Re-Roof?

Deciding whether to make repairs or to replace your roof entirely can be a challenge. Some professional roofers will tell you that it depends on the extent of the damage. If the only thing that's wrong with your roof is a few missing shingles, you're better off re-roofing. However, extensive damage after a large storm may be cause for you to replace your roof entirely. The option that's cheaper may also depend on the material your roof is made out of, rather than the physical extent of the damage.

The Benefits Of A New Roof

Getting a new roof is often cheaper then a repair if your business, or home, has a metal roof. Remember that there is a lot of labor involved when a contractor has to partially replace the roof as it ages and falls apart. One damaged shingle could mean ten more to come. If the problem with your roof is damage due to aging, you'll end up paying less for the contractor's labor if you just get the whole roof replaced once and for all.

The Cons Of A New Roof 

When the damage isn't extensive after a natural disaster, a new roof might be a waste of money. Especially if the event that damaged your roof only happens every ten years or so. It's unlikely that your roof will be damaged further after the storm if you have it re-roofed in the areas where the shingles have fallen off. Wait until your roof ages until you have it completely replaced.



The Benefits Of Re-Roofing 

Re-roofing is an excellent way to save money on obscure repairs that only happen once in a while. If a shingle only falls off every ten years or so because it got knocked off by a tree branch, it's probably best to call a contractor to do some re-roofing. This type of occurrence doesn't call for a new roof. It only happens once in a while.

You may also want to have your tree cut back so that it does not damage your roof further. When vegetation's doing the damage, focusing on landscaping may also be the solution to saving your roof. Of course, you'll have to fix the damage that's already been done by replacing the shingles with re-roofing. This will completely cut out the need for a new roof in the near future.

The Cons Of Re-Roofing 

Again, getting a new roof is sometimes better because there's a higher chance you'll only have to pay for labor once. A new roof can last a hundred years if no severe storm disturbs it. Re-Roofing can also be challenging if the manufacturer who made your shingles isn't producing the style anymore.

New Roof vs. Re-Roofing: Who Wins?

The choice you go with should depend on a lot of factors. It may be time to talk with a contractor. He'll be happy to discuss the best option for your situation if it means he might get your business. Talk to him with the benefits and cons discussed here in mind.

5 Common Types Of Roofing Materials You Should Know About

Are you searching for the best types of roofing materials? Or do you want to know the common types of roofing materials on the market? If you have these questions, then know that choosing the right roofing material for your home is very important.  The roof will last for a long time, and it will not cost you a lot of money to maintain it.

The following are the most common types of roofing materials that you need to know:

1. Asphalt Shingles Or Composite

Composite shingles are also called asphalt shingles, and they are the most popular types of roofing materials on the market today. They are three-tab shingles, which are made of fiberglass, and it is topped with mineral granules and asphalt. This is a good choice for home roofing and the composite shingles usually come with a 20 to 30-year warranty. All the roofing companies know how to properly install the composite shingles, and you can easily replace a shingle when you lose one.

2. Rolled Roofing

Rolled roofing materials are mostly used to roof outbuildings and those structures that don’t need to be beautiful. They are also used to roof low-slope residential roofs. This type of roofing materials come in rolls of 100 square feet, and each roll is about 3 feet wide. They can be installed quickly, and they are good for roofing a building like a workshop or a shed. Rolled roofing materials are good for those buildings where beauty is not that important. They are the best for covering a roof with low or no slope.

3. Metal Roofing

Metal roofs are no longer used only in warehouses, but they can also be used in high-end mansions. They are fire-resistant, and they cannot be eaten by termites. They also provide good resale value. The only disadvantage of the metal roofing materials is that they are very expensive and you will need to hire experienced installers to install the roofing for you. But they are considered a sustainable roofing material.

4. Green Roof

This is an unorthodox type of roofing material, but the living or green roofing materials are good, and they hold much promise. They can allow you to grow plants in your home, provide insulation to the house, put oxygen back in the air and it can absorb water. How can this roof achieve this? It does so by layering the roof with a membrane that is waterproof and that provides adequate drainage.

5. Slate Shingles

This type of roof is for someone who wants to remodel his or her home. Slate is a real stone. The good thing about slate is that it cleaves off in thin sheets, and this makes it easier to quarry. Slate can only be installed by professional installers of slate, and these professionals are usually hard to find.



You now know the most common type of roofing materials. You can now choose the right roofing material for your home using the information above. But you have to make sure that you can afford the roofing material and look for an expert to install it for you.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Choosing The Best Local Roofer in San Diego

When it comes to home repair in San Diego, California, one of the most important yet least often done is roof repair and replacement. Certainly, when there's actual damage to the roof, people will try to get a hold of a good roofing company and get it repaired. By and large, people never think about the long-term wear and tear that being exposed to the elements can do.



This is why you need to hire a roofer to occasionally come out and inspect the property. They'll be able to give you a good idea of whether or not your roof needs repair or replacement. They'll also be able to help you figure out how much it will cost, and what, precisely, you need to have done to the roof. It's a great idea, and any homeowner should hire a roofer to inspect the roof on a regular basis.

However, hiring a local roofer can be difficult. There are a huge number of roofing companies, and not all of them are on the up and up. Some of them are outright scam artists. Even ones that aren't outright scam artists are sometimes completely worthless as workers. You don't want to hire a company that can't do the job for which they're hired. You don't want to pay someone money only to have them make your roof worse. You want to hire a competent company who will make certain that your roof is treated well, and the work is done right.

How can you go about making sure you choose the right local roofer? Do you just have to hire a company and hope? Do you have to throw good money after bad, trying to repair anything that a bad company breaks or doesn't fix correctly?

Not at all! You do have options if you want to do some research before you hire a local roofer. The best option is to head to the internet. Go to either Google or Bing, and type in the name of your city and "local roofers". You'll get a huge number of websites, some of them from the various roofing companies in the area, and some of them from customers. The customer websites are incredibly important because that's where you'll find customer reviews. You'll be able to read the experiences of previous customers, people who hired the roofing company, and they'll tell you all about what happened. By reading these reviews, you'll be better able to make an educated decision. You'll be able to find out what roofing service in your area has quality workers, and does quality work for a reasonable price.

Choosing a local roofer can be difficult. It's made more difficult by the fact that roofing work is often expensive no matter what you do. You can't afford to have bad roofing work done. So if you want to choose the right local roofer, you need to do your research before you hire. As long as you do, however, you'll be satisfied with the results.