What Can You Learn from a Residential Roof Inspection

There is no secret that the roof is an element of crucial importance for a building, keeping its residents safe and comfortable. There is also no secret that roof problems must be repaired quickly, but before this, they must be identified.

This is what a residential roof inspection does: it helps you learn about current issues of your roof and you get professional advice on how to address them properly.

Roofing specialists recommend two inspections per year - in spring and fall -, as well as check-ups after severe weather phenomena.  However, the frequency of the inspections also depends on the age of your roof; for example, a new roof does not require to be inspected that often.

When you call roofing Centennial inspection pros to make a roof inspection, they will look for various things, including:

·        A sign of water infiltrations - Water damage is the worst thing that may happen to a roof and can have several different causes.

·        Mold – Mold formation is an indicator for moisture and ventilation issues

·        Deterioration of the cover materials – broken or missing shingles, vegetation growth etc.

·        Clogged gutters and downspouts– This problem can make water infiltrate in the walls or the basement, instead of being evacuated away from home.

Durable Roofing Materials

The opinion that the type of roofing materials is a determining factor in the calculation of the resistance structure is partially true, because there are factors with a great influence, which must be taken into account: static load (snow layer) and dynamic load (wind) acting on the roof.

The most durable roofing materials

Ceramic tiles are extremely durable, and represent a classic roofing material with a beautiful aspect that will highlight different building styles. The disadvantage is that we are talking about a heavy material that may require some extra work to reinforce the resistance structure. The building must be able to withstand the added weight.

Metal tiles will resist for a very long time (5 decades and even more!), they are easier than ceramic tiles and available in colors and designs that will integrate successfully in any architectural style. New metal roof systems also come with adequate insulation, so you will not have to worry about adding it separately.

Slate roofing is often used to protect luxury homes. It is an expensive material, very heavy, but probably the most durable (100-year warranty), and the natural appearance and the variety of types and models make this natural stone an unparalleled option for a roof.

Consult with local Centennial roofing company consultants for the most up to date information on roofing materials that will perform well for your Colorado home or business.

Choosing a Reputable Centennial CO Roofer

If it is the first time you must find a good roofer to do some repairs or even a roof replacement on your Centennial, CO home, you have to know a few tips on finding a qualified, reliable contractor.

You will find dozens of them in the Yellow Pages, and even more online. How can you identify one that you can trust?

Before asking yourself this, you should contact a few companies and ask for written estimates. These estimates are free and you allow you to compare prices, payment options and identify the best offers. If a roofer asks you to pay upfront the entire price, remove it from your list and move on to other roofing companies. 10-15 % upfront payment would be acceptable, but not more than this.

Verify the roofer`s local address. It has to be a real office, with a real address, not a PO box. Also, do yourself a favor and ask for proof that the roofer is licensed and insured. Membership in reputable roofing associations is another pro, as it indicated the level of professionalism of a roofer. For example, GAF-certified Centennial roofing companies are considered the best of the best, because they are highly qualified, experienced and go through a screening process each year, to prove they work by the required standards.

How to Recognize and Avoid a Roofing Scam

Unfortunately, roofing scams find new victims all the time – in most of the cases people desperate enough to trust anyone who promise them to fix their broken roof. It is not uncommon that these con-artists use a variety of tricks to convince people to trust them and pay them. Useless to say that they will receive low-quality services – and sometimes not even that; there are scammers who take the money and then disappear.

Here are a few types of so called roofers that you must never make business with!

Disaster chasers

Scammers prey on people`s fears. When a natural disaster strikes (e.g. a hurricane) and they see their home damaged like they have never seen it before, they are very vulnerable - and scammers know it! They will set alarms in people`s head and will actually convince some of them. This type of scam roofers typically travel door-to-door and offer repairs in exchange of better prices than those asked by reputable home improvement companies.

Roofers that invent imaginary roof damage

Inventing roof damage is another con technique that works because most people do not know much about identifying roof damage. The homeowner is convinced to file an insurance claim after a damaging storm, the insurance company cuts the check for the roofer and the homeowner gets a new low quality roof, even if the old roof was still in very good shape.

To avoid a roofing scam, always look for R4 honest Centennial roofing professionals for quality and reputable services.

Benefits of Roof Ventilation

The comfort and safety of a home is largely determined by the quality of the roof. In order for the roof to be durable and efficient in ensuring adequate protection against the elements, it is necessary to be built it in accordance with high engineering standards. One of the most important elements is the ventilation of the space under the roof.

Unfortunately, this aspect is not always addressed properly. There are cases when homeowners choose high quality roofing materials, invest a lot on money in roofing upgrades or repairs, and in order to make some savings and without considering the advice of Centennial roofers, they refuse to install a ventilation system, or choose a simplified and inefficient system. This is because, despite the real importance of proper ventilation of the roof, its necessity is not obvious for those who are not roofing specialists.

The efficient ventilation of the roof is achieved when we ensure a balanced distribution of the surface of the ventilation holes, in a proportion of 50% for air intake and 50% for air evacuation.

Usually, the lack of ventilation of the roof leads to the appearance of condensation and the problems associated with the microbiological attack on its wooden structure. Condensation is the most dangerous enemy of a roof. Its accumulation leads to wood decay, the appearance of moisture and mildew, it affects the thermal properties of the insulation, the painted surfaces and increases the operating costs by lowering the return on investment.

Flat Roof Maintenance Tips

Flat roofs need to be periodically examined in terms of aspect and aging status, evaluating their lifespan or the need for repairs. Maintenance can be provided on request by the company that installed the roof, or, if we speak of normal operating conditions and ensuring regular maintenance, these things are in the charge of the roof owner.

All insulated surfaces against infiltration have a warranty period, during which the manufacturer of the materials guarantees for non-degradable products that have been subjected to laboratory tests and fulfill the purpose for which they were manufactured; the installer of these materials has the best interest to create a result that will last at least as long as stated in the warranty. However, in order to extend the service life and prevent possible roof degradation, we recommend that you follow some simple rules that come in your best interest:

·        Have flat roofing contractors Centennial CO pros complete annual check-ups of your roof`s surface and drainage system. Check for any vulnerability or problem and make sure it is fixed quickly.

·        Do not perform any work on the roof that could cause mechanical, thermal or chemical damage to the waterproofing membrane.

·        In winter, avoid direct circulation on the roof to clear snow; because of the low temperature, the membrane becomes more rigid and may be damaged more easily.

·        Do not store on the roof objects that are way too heavy for its structure, or equipment that produces strong vibrations.

Advantages of Hiring a Licensed Roofer

If you plan a roofing project, it is essential to find a good roofer to perform the job.  Considering that some roofing projects can be very expensive, some homeowners go for the lowest bid – which can be a big mistake. We do not encourage you to pay lots of money to a certain roofing company; we merely want to say that you should always try to find the best balance between price and quality of the services you get.

A cheap roofer can be just an amateur that has no accreditation to perform roofing operations. In the case that something goes wrong, there will be nobody to stand behind the work, not to mention that choosing to work with an amateur can void your warranty and you will get no coverage at all.

Hiring a licensed roofing Centennial contractor is a responsible thing to do. Even I you will still have to do some research to choose among several licensed roofers, the license itself is a proof of professionalism, because it is obtained only after a contractor undergoes stringent testing to prove that its skills match the industry standards.

Hiring a qualified roofing contractor also keeps you protected in case of a dispute, because there are dispute resolution programs supported in each state ensuring that you will get the right compensation. Besides, a licensed roofer also carries insurance and offers warranties.

Winter Roofing Maintenance Tips

Roofs can be subjected to an extremely difficult test during the cold season and any vulnerability left unresolved can cause problems for both homeowners and people passing under eves.

The snow accumulated in large quantities on the roof can damage its structure, while the ice formed in the gutters and downspouts can create other problems, including water infiltration which, in the long term, can have undesirable consequences.

The roof must be constantly cleaned of snow. Waiting until the snow stops to do this is not always a good idea, because it can snow for days, while the snow layer on the roof becomes thicker and heavier. Some of it can even turn into ice that can block and damage the pluvial system.

In order to keep these inconveniences at a distance, in addition to cleaning the snow, you should take into account that the gutters and downspouts also need to be maintained with a certain periodicity during the winter, dictated by the amount of precipitation and temperature variations.

They must be cleaned of snow before it turns into ice. Even so, because of variations in temperature between day and night, but also because of inadequate thermal insulation, the appearance of ice dams and icicles is perfectly possible. Moreover, because of the configuration of the building and its height, cleaning the roof and the pluvial system can often be quite difficult. In this case, it is good to either consult R4 Roofing & Exteriors specialists or install a de-icing system.

Should You Opt for Stone Coated Steel Shingles? What Are the Benefits?

Stone coated steel shingles are naturally more expensive than regular steel or concrete shingles – which are already considered to be quite resilient and long lasting. However, according to most experts, this deadly combination is well worth the slight increase in cost for a number of good reasons: 

·       Steel is able to withstand heavy impacts from hail and strong winds, and the added coating of stone makes it almost indestructible. When it comes to watching out for broken and damaged shingles you typically won’t have anything to worry about while using this mix of roofing materials.

·       Stone also offers excellent protection against the elements. While steel might be prone to rust, the stone coating will prevent that from being a problem and act as an impervious protective layer that is reinforced by the structural hardness of the steel it houses.

·       Stone can last for a very long time, and the steel it protects will also increase its lifespan as a result of being shielded from rainwater and oxidation. If you want to make sure your roof will last for an extremely long time without needing almost any maintenance at all, then a stone coated steel shingle roof might be your best choice by far.

Get expert advice regarding stone coated steel shingles from a reputable Centennial roofing company.

The Most Impressive Advantages of Opting for Impact Resistance Shingles

It’s not always easy to choose the right types of shingles for your roof. If you live in tornado country or some other place where storms are more frequent, then aside from most of the regular choices for your roofing shingles, according to professional Centennial roofing companies, you might also want to consider installing impact resistance shingles, which can withstand high speed winds and heavy impacts.  

Here are just a few of the advantages that these roofing shingles might have to offer: 

·       Impact resistant shingles are great when you’re facing a major storm. They can withstand high wind speeds, and they won’t be easily damaged by water, lightning or even tree branches and other debris that might have been blown by the wind onto your roof.

·       Another clear advantage of impact resistant roofing shingles is that they can withstand the destructive force of a violent hail storm. Even larger pieces of hail will bounce right off, so you won’t have to worry that you might end up with bent or broken shingles once the storm is over.

·       Many impact resistant shingles also have other impressive advantages, such as improved fire resistance, higher durability than other shingles and increased effectiveness against temperature and weather fluctuations.