Where Do the Most Capable Roofing Professionals Learn Their Skills?

A lot of roofers know what they are doing and have made quite a name for themselves as a result. If you want to become a successful roofing Highlands Ranch professional, however, you’ll find that the road to success is not as easy as you might think. The best roofers have to go through years of theory and practice before they are ready to tackle real life roofing problems and install some of the most troublesome roofing systems.

 To start out, you have to consider what your assets are for starting out with such a career. If you like working outside, you’re good with power tools and you’re comfortable working in high places, then you’re already in a good place to get started. Additionally, if you’re active and physically fit, you also have an advantage over some of your competing peers. 

A roofing career has to start with learning the basics through an accredited apprenticeship program. You need to have a grade 9 education at the very least to enter most of these programs, and you’ll have to be prepared to spend years learning, practicing and training. Most programs require a complete period of 4 years before you can graduate, and additional on-the-job experience will also be a plus. Once you finish it’s a good idea to continue with a roofing internship job in order to gain hands on experience as well.

What You Should Do to Ensure Your Attic Contributes to Energy Efficiency?

Whether they want a new roof, or they’re just doing some renovation work, a lot of people tend to ignore the importance of the attic when it comes to energy efficiency. Because your attic might be responsible in large part for many of your energy efficiency problems, however, simply changing up a few things will help you get better results when it comes to reducing your monthly maintenance costs and utility bills: 

1.     Before you begin storing a lot of old stuff in your attic, start by emptying it completely and making sure that it has the right ventilation. Install vents and consider extending your HVAC system to include better ventilation for all the areas of your attic.

2.     Install proper insulation. Attic insulation is essential especially when you own a large house or you live in an area where the winter is pretty harsh. Attic insulation will contribute to energy efficiency by retaining much of the heat inside your home in the winter and keeping it out in the summer. You’ll find knowledgeable Highlands Ranch roofing companies will recommend the thickest layers of insulation sheets to be reserved for the attic.

3.     When storing items in your attic make sure you don’t block your walls from getting properly ventilated. That can lead to condensation and mold, which can affect much of your home, including the roof, while raising the temperature in the summer and making your AC work overtime.

The New Materials That Most Roofers Will Not Want to Use

Some roofing contractors tend to work with any material or product you can think of, while others will prefer to only use a select few products that they believe are best. However, there are some roofing products and materials that most roofers will try to avoid as much as possible – either because they require a steep learning curve, because they’re very expensive, or because they don’t provide good enough quality. 

Older materials that are no longer used as often typically include certain metals and paints that have been proven to have a hazardous effect or to be unreliable. Lead based paint is no longer used for health reasons, while aluminum roofing sheets are noisy, easy to dent and more expensive than other metal roofing materials. According to Centennial roofers that have been in business a long time, copper is also a roofing material that is no longer used as often as it was in the past due to the growing demand and price of copper.  

Although still used quite heavily in some areas, most wood shakes are not as popular these days as composite shingles and metal roofs. Wood is flammable and more easily affected by humidity, bad weather and pests. So you can expect roofers to promote alternative materials that solve these problems more effectively.

What Are the Most Common Safety Precautions That Roofers Follow and Recommend?

Roofing contractors will help you fix your roof or replace it in another one without hesitating and oftentimes in a very short time span. However, that doesn’t mean they’re rushing their work. Expert Highlands Ranch roofing company technicians have a system in place where they know each step of the process and they have the experience and knowledge necessary to deal with unexpected problems and safety concerns. 

The best roofers always put safety first. Whether they’re working on replacing a few shingles or installing a complex new roofing system, they will first ensure that they have the right equipment for climbing up and operating on your roof in perfect safety, whether they work on sloped or flat roofs.  

The main safety precautions roofers will follow and recommend include the use of a sturdy and stable ladder, the designation of a dry and supportive spot for placing the ladder and the use of a high quality harness that is fastened securely to a part of your roof or home that is most stable. Their roofing gear also include special roofing shoes that prevent them from slipping while walking on your roof, as well as gloves and clothing designed to prevent serious injuries in the event of a fall.

Is It Smarter to Replace or Repair a Shake Roof?

A lot of experts will tell you that it’s better to replace a shake roof rather than repair it. But is this always the case, or are there actually situations in which a quick fix will do the trick? Although shake roofs are not that common in some places because wood tends to be affected by pests and mold over time, the aesthetic benefits of wood shake roofing as well as its remarkable durability makes it one of the top choices for homeowners living in areas where a continental climate protects their roofs against most of the stressors that would affect wooden roofs. 

Because of these facts, having to repair or replace your shake roof will depend a great deal on where you live and how likely it will be that a quick repair might not hold against the pressure. Fast repairs are great, but if you’re living in a humid subtropical or tropical area, then the excess humidity and temperature will be more likely to affect your roof both directly, through heat, precipitation and a humid atmosphere.

It is always a good idea to call on your local R4 roofers for support and information. They will be able to inspect your roof and help you decide whether you just want a quick repair or whether the best choice might be a complete roof replacement. 

Summer Travel and Exploration: Great Ideas to Get Away in July

Traveling can be very fun if you know where you’re going. However, it’s not always easy to travel to a new place that you never went to before, and it can be even more challenging when your itinerary is limited by your work schedule. 

For a quick getaway this summer it’s a good idea to stick to traveling within the United States. Fortunately, our beautiful country is pretty big, so there are a lot of great places you can consider exploring this summer: 

·       The coastlines of Florida and California are some of the best to visit when you want to see the ocean and also enjoy the best in quality hotels and resorts.

·       New York City remains an essential travel destination regardless of the still ongoing issues with COVID-19. You’ll have a great time seeing the main landmarks in New York and exploring some of the richest cultural places in the country.

·       Colorado is probably the best place to visit this summer. With some great mountain resorts, national parks and welcoming as well as quickly expanding cities and towns, Colorado is a place that will make you feel at home while giving you access to the best natural locations in the region.

From all of us here at R4 Roofing and Exteriors, your go to Centennial roofing company, however you choose to spend your summer, make it a safe and healthy experience! Enjoy the journey!

What Can You Actually Do with an Old Composite Roof?

Old composite roofing systems are usually considered to be roofs that were built more than 20 years ago that show clear signs of aging. If your roof falls under this category, you might have to be more cautious about how you handle it, especially if you live in an area that’s constantly plagued with storms, fast temperature drops or other problems caused by nature. 

Composite asphalt shingle roofs are typically a lot stronger and tougher than your average asphalt shingle roofing system. The material and the coatings that are included are chosen to offer superior protection from the elements, reduce the likelihood of damage and ensure that the repair process is not as difficult. 

The main problem with a composite roof is that you won’t always be able to tell when it has to be replaced. Depending on the specific roofing products and materials included, the lifespan of a composite roof can be anything from 20 to 35-40 years. As a result, in most cases you will be forced to call in a professional roofer to perform a roof inspection and tell you if the roof can still be repaired.

A detailed inspection and an estimate given by a dependable and experienced Highlands Ranch roofing contractor will normally be able to tell you if it’s even a financially viable choice to try to have your old roof repaired, or if it’s better to just scrap it and replace it completely.

In Search for the Best Roof for Home Re-Sale in Colorado

Although Colorado is a great place for real estate, it’s still very important to have the edge over your competitors when you’re trying to sell your home. As a result, roofing projects have to be handled with great care. Aside from making sure that the workmanship is good enough, you also have to pay careful attention at the type of roof you’re installing and whether or not it will give your home a better resale value. 

If your roof is already a few decades old, and it needs frequent repairs, there’s a risk that buyers won’t even make an offer. However, with a new roof, Colorado prospects will become very interested and might even spend more on your house than what the regular resale value would be. 

To choose the best type of roof to use for your replacement project, consider the climate of Colorado and the general trends that are most popular there today. Affordable composite shingle, and stone coated steel roofs are in high demand. That means that, if you choose to hire reputable and skilled roofing contractors in Centennial CO, you have the chance at a near perfect installation project for one of these popular roofing systems, and you’re likely to land a great deal when it finally comes time to have your realtor list your home on the MLS.

Are Metal Roofing Systems Actually Energy Efficient or Not?

You probably heard a lot about metal roofing systems. Many experts claim that they are very efficient and resilient. Some metal roofing contractors in Highlands Ranch CO will tell you that a well-designed metal roof is capable of lasting for almost an entire century, while others will also point to the fact that most metals are fireproof and great when used for protecting the home against bad weather. 

But are metal roofs actually energy efficient? Most sustainable construction experts will say that, yes, metal roofing systems actually help to save energy. An energy efficient roof is actually a roof that helps you to save power and pay less for electricity. Such a roof would significantly alter the use of power even when the weather is overly warm or cold and you’re forced to use your HVAC to alter the temperature. 

Because of metal roofs’ unique qualities and ability to act as effective heat insulators and reflectors of UV radiation, they can be used very efficiently as cool roofing materials. In turn, in the winter owning a metal roof can also be a great advantage, since the roof will radiate the heat your HVAC generates back into the home, rather than allowing it to escape into the outside environment. The result is faster heating and the heat staying inside your house for a much longer period of time.

Should You Really Get Your Roof Inspected Each and Every Year?

Although it seems like an exaggeration to get your roof inspected once or maybe even twice each year, most experts will tell you that you can never be too careful regarding the structural integrity of your roof. Let’s remember that there are areas where storms happen almost on a daily basis, and that level of precipitation can easily take its toll on even the most rugged and resilient roofs. The rain tends to weather the roof over time, and the excess rainwater can easily get through to damage a large portion of the internal structure and the attic. 

Getting your roof inspected by professional Centennial roofing companies can prevent all that from happening. Your roof will withstand the test of time more easily, and any problems – even those that are generally hard to spot – will be discovered and dealt with at once. Moreover, by having your roof inspected, you can plan ahead with any repairs that could temporarily be delayed, saving money over time, rather than being forced to get a loan to pay for emergency roof repair, only to have to later pay it off with a lot of interest. 

Roof inspections are cheap, and there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t get one as long as you can. Most experts will recommend two roof inspections per year: one in the autumn, in preparation for winter, and the other in the spring, after the freeze passes.