How to Prep Your Roof this Fall, Before Winter Comes

The roof cover, regardless the materials it is made from, needs regular maintenance: a check up in the fall will save you major repairs and expenses that you may deal with later, if you do not take care of it for several seasons in a row.

After the leaves fall from the trees, it is time to schedule the roof inspection. Take advantage of a sunny autumn day, climb on the roof and do some cleaning operations, Remove leaves, branches, moss, earth or other materials that can be brought by the wind. Skilled roofing Centennial inspectors urge you to pay special attention to valleys, and also to gutters and downspouts. Debris can clog them, preventing water from being evacuated safely; it will pool on the roof and infiltrate, affecting the resistance structure of the roof and reaching the living space

Then go to the next steps:

• Check the tiles for signs of mold, as well as for other damage. If you find cracked or broken materials or accessories, replace them. If you a metal roof, make sure the pain is intact, uniform and there are no traces of rust. Otherwise, the affected areas must be cleaned and repainted.

• Check that there is no vegetation growing on the roof, because it will favor moisture, not to mention that roots growing under the tiles will eventually lift them from their normal position, ruining their protective efficiency.

• Check the connections with other construction elements (skylights, chimneys, vents etc. and re-seal the areas as needed.

The Importance of Building Communication with Your Roofer

Good communication is essential for any type of collaboration, including roofing projects – the efficiency of the communication between you and the representative of your roofing company and your roofing team will ultimately determine the efficiency of the entire roofing process. Here is why maintaining a good relationship with everyone involved in your roofing project is essential:

-        More efficient problem solving – no construction project is free from problems and even minor projects might involve difficulties or emergencies. Having good communication with Highlands Ranch roofing companies will ensure that your concerns will be addressed instantly and that everyone working on your project will do their best to provide work of the best quality;

-        A lasting cooperation based on mutual trust – owning a roof involves lots of work – your roof will need to be inspected, cleaned, maintained and occasionally repaired as well, all of them processes that are best handled by professional Highlands Ranch roofing companies. Good communication with your roofer will make all these tasks easier by facilitating the discussion of any issues;

-        Peace of mind – developing a good relationship with your roofer will give you the peace of mind that whatever job you call your roofer for will be carried out professionally and that you can rely on the protection provided by your roof.

What Is the Length Of A Commercial Roof Installation?

The time needed for the installation of your new commercial roof cannot be rushed and is determined by many factors – here are some:

-        The size of your roof – size is among the most important variables for obvious reasons. The larger your roof, the longer it will take to complete the installation of your new roof;

-        The material that you choose for your roof – some materials can be installed faster than others. Metal roofs, for example, can be installed on top of the previous roof (provided that the old structure is strong enough to hold the weight of the new layer), thus shortening the time needed by the installation by the time that would have been necessary for the removal of the old roof;

-        The complexity of the roof – simple designs that do not have any complicated features, such as multiple slopes or roof windows are easier, therefore faster, to install than roofs that have complicated features;

-        The size of the team – the more people are working on your roof at the same time, the shorter it takes to complete your roofing project. Try to find well-established Centennial roofers. Hiring roofing crews that are used to working together, is the best way to make your installation project go as smoothly as possible.

How Important Are Roof Gutters

Your roof gutters are simple building accessories, but also ones that are crucial for the health of your roof and of your entire building. The half pipes attached to your roof and the downspouts that the gutters are connected to play the role of directing water away from your building – here is why that role is essential for your property:

-        Preventing roof damage – if the water resulting from rain or melted snow is not drained sufficiently quickly from your roof, the roof might become damaged by the prolonged exposure to excessive moisture, especially if you have a flat or low-sloping roof;

-        Preventing damage in your walls – without efficient gutters, the water shed by your roof might be absorbed by your walls, causing excessive moisture to accumulate inside your home, damaging the walls and increasing the risk of mold and mildew inside the house and on your building exterior, too;

-        Preventing damage in your building foundation – gutters collect the water from the roof and channels it into downspouts that transfer it into the ground, at a safe distance from your building. Without good gutters and downspouts, roofing Highlands Ranch gutter installation experts say the water that runs down on your roof might seep not only into your walls, but into your foundation, too, causing dampness in your basement and increasing the risk of structural damage in your building.

How Do You Know If Your Roof Received Hail Damage

Hail has different effects on a roof, depending on its size wind direction and speed, the age of the roof the materials it is made from, the roof`s slope etc.  In any case, hail damage is bad for any type of roof because it may cause problems that lead to water leaks and other issues.

Sometimes, damage is only cosmetic but other times it is functional and more severe than it looks.

Things that can make you suspect that your roof has have hail damage include bruises, cracks,  punctures, granulation loss (in the case of ceramic shingles), exposed or fractured fiberglass mat, weakened  self seal strip and more.

In some cases, damage can be indirect.  For example, a severe hailstorm can make tree branches fall on the roof, or clog gutters and downspouts, which will affect the performance of the roof.

Minor hail damage is often hard to be detected and requires the expertise of Centennial roofing specialists.  Make sure to contact a roofing company as soon as the hailstorm is gone, to inspect your roof and ensure that everything is OK, or, if it is not, to perform the necessary repairs immediately.

Should You Spend More Money Installing Roofing Materials That Will Last?

One of the things Highlands Ranch roofing company experts will always tell you is that you shouldn’t cut the costs when it comes to quality. If you’re planning to install a new roof, it’s very important to make sure that the roofing materials being used are actually good enough quality to last for a long time. Even though the amount you pay will be slightly greater than you might expect, this consideration is essential, if you want your roof to not only last longer, but also to require fewer repairs as time goes by. 

Roofing materials that last longer can include slate, concrete and metal shingles, as well as metal flashing and the use of coating – especially in the case of flat roofing systems used for commercial buildings. There are ways to increase the durability of roofs both in the case of residential and commercial re-roofing projects, and you’ll find that in many cases it will involve the use of superior quality materials. 

Now, slate and concrete can cost more and be harder to install; however, in the case of some types of metal roofs, the labor and material costs will not be that steep. So, even though the rule of thumb is that you might have to pay more for higher end materials, this isn’t always the case. Even if it is, your roofer will likely tell you that a slate roof, for instance, will last for a lifetime – and they’re not kidding. Under these circumstances, it’s more than advantageous to consider spending more money installing roofing materials that are chosen to last.

Consider Strengthening Your Roof with a Few Minor Repairs

Rather than having to spend a lot of money buying a new roof, it’s always a good idea to reinforce your old one. If you don’t currently have the money to replace your roof, and the old installation is still in good order, then you might want to consider a few simple, preventive repairs and maintenance tasks that can help you prevent future damage: 

·       Start by installing a few simple upgrades. According to roofing Centennial maintenance pros, proper roof coating and newly improved or repaired elements for your ventilation system, as well as an upgraded flashing can help a lot.

·       Have any small storm damaged areas like broken or dented shingles replaced or repaired as soon as possible.

·       Check for leaks and fix them before they turn into a real problem. Leaks are one of the major reasons why roofs have to be replaced early, as they can lead to water damage affecting the decking and underlayment, which might lead to the roof’s internal structure being repaired when you replace your roof – not a very cheap fix, to say the least.

·       You can also consider fixing or even replacing your gutter system entirely. The gutter system’s proper functioning is directly related to the health of your roof, so it’s best to always keep it in check.

Tips About What to Include into a Re-Roofing Checklist

Re-roofing work is a huge project that feels overwhelming to many homeowners. To make the process a bit easier, here is a how to elaborate a short checklist for the project phases:

-        Documentation and permits – in most states, re-roofing is considered to be work that affects the building’s structure and as such, it can be done only after having obtained a building permit for it. There are two ways to put together the documentation and to apply for a permit: the application is either handed in by the homeowner or by the roofer who will handle the re-roofing;

-        The areas that will need to be involved – many homeowners think that the re-roofing will involve only the roof covering. They are wrong – re-roofing is a work that involves the chimneys, the soffit, the fascia, the ventilation, the structural components that support the roof and the insulation as well. Before you start the process, develop a detailed roadmap with knowledgeable roofing contractors in Centennial CO for each step, each roof area involved;

-        Include incidentals into your checklist, too – the removal of waste and the complete clean-up of the work area should also be included into your checklist, they are very important project phases.

Paying Attention to the Most Significant Summer Roof and Gutter Maintenance Tips

Right after the volatile period of spring passes, with all the storms and rainfall that can easily cause problems for your roof and gutters, taking care of gutter maintenance should be pretty high on your list. Gutter maintenance is usually required on a regular basis, and not just when your gutters are nearing the end of their normal lifespan, when you might want to consider replacing your gutter system instead of fixing it. 

Fortunately, the lifespan of your gutters can be extended as long as you follow a few simple maintenance tips: 

·       First of all, you have to make sure that your gutters are clean and not clogged. You can use a hose to check if the water drains properly, and you can remove large debris by simply pulling them off. Smaller dirt and debris can usually be handled through pressure washing.

·       Check to see if there are any saggy or damaged areas of your gutters and gutter guards that might not be able to support driving rainwater down from your home.

·       Use the hose method to also check for leaks. If there are any, you should be able to see water dripping down through them. Just make sure not to use too much water at a time.

·       Replace your gutter spikes with gutter screws as an added enhancement to prevent saggy or loose gutters in the future, For results you can count on, gutter and roofing Centennial exterior contractors are most qualified to inspect and repair your roofing/gutter system.

Class A Fire Materials – The Importance of Protecting Your Home and Business

If you work in a restaurant or you have fire extinguishers at your job, then you probably already know about the various classifications for fire extinguishers that you learned about on your first day at the job. The classifications run from Class A to Class K, and entail everything from regular flammable materials such as wood, paper and cloth, to highly combustible animal fats and oils that are classified Class K. 

Being aware of these classifications will help you decide on the ideal fire extinguisher to use in specific situations, and knowing about the differences between Class A, Class B and all the other classifications for various materials can sometimes even save your life. 

Class A involves mainly ordinary combustible materials that burn at a steady rate, but are not highly volatile. You’ve probably already seen the way that cloth, paper, rubber or wood burns, and you know that the burning rate isn’t too serious, if it’s contained immediately. However, if you don’t know how to use a class A fire extinguisher, then the fire can spread surprisingly fast, causing a lot of material damage and possibly even health problems due to exposure to fumes and open flames. 

So, if you work in an office or you run the risk of being exposed to fires that might occur in a regular home, make sure you know how to operate a Class A extinguisher safely.

It is important that you consider the importance of fire protective roofing and exterior products as well. R4 Roofing & Exteriors can meet with you to help you choose the best materials for your roof and exterior.