Roof Talk-101  10 Tips to Help Homeowners Choose the Right Roofing Contractor

The biggest obstacle homeowners or business owners face when looking to fix or replace their roof is choosing the right person to do the job. After a damaging storm, they need to quickly get back to normal and get the necessary roofing repairs completed. But that doesn’t mean they should just choose the first contractor who knocks on their door. Finding a contractor who is trustworthy, honest, and professional may sound difficult – but that’s where you come in. Contractors should share these 10 important tips with homeowners to show them that your company is reputable and can be trusted to protect their home and their wallet.

1. Get local referrals. There is less chance of potential issues or scams when you choose a contractor from your community. They are more familiar with local rules and code regulations and have a relationship with area crews and suppliers.
2. Look for manufacturer designations. Manufacturer designations are considered a badge of honor because the contractor must pass certain minimum requirements to be factory-certified (although, some manufacturers have more stringent requirements than others).
3. Research Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings. Some contractors blow in (no pun intended) right after a storm looking for work, so it’s important to look them up on the BBB website and make sure they have a good score. Stay away from contractors who do not exist on BBB.org.
4. Get an extensive warranty. Not all contractors can offer manufacturer warranties that include coverage of the contractor’s workmanship. If a contractor installs the roof incorrectly, it may take months or years for the damage to show up and insurance won’t pay for it. If the contractor won’t fix it (or worse, has gone out of business), your only recourse is to pay for their mistake yourself. 
5. Be concerned about safety. A contractor without a training or safety program may not be the best person for your job.
6. Check for proper licensing and insurance. The contractor should have insurance for all employees and subcontractors and be able to provide a copy of their insurance certificate for validation. Not having adequate insurance could potentially lead to litigation between a contractor and homeowner if a roofing employee sustains an injury at the home. Most states require licensing for contractors, but that does not stop unlicensed contractors from attempting to do the roofing work. In states where licenses are required, make sure your contractor provides you with a copy of their license and confirm their status online. 
7. Pay your deductible. Any contractor who claims that they can handle the repair without having the homeowner pay their insurance deductible is committing insurance fraud and endangering the homeowner. The insurance deductible is the responsibility of the insured, and the contractor should reflect that in the quote without inflating the estimate to cover all or part of the deductible.
8. Handle your own claim. A contractor who says they are “a claim specialist” or can “handle your insurance claim” may be breaking the law. In most states, it is illegal for contractors to act on behalf of the homeowner when negotiating an insurance claim. Any contractor who opens the door to potential legal action is not acting in your best interest.
9. Don’t give in to pressure. Watch out for a contractor who pressures you to sign a contract before the insurance company has estimated the damage. Some contractors say they can work with whatever your insurance company settles upon, but the homeowner needs to ensure it’s not just any amount, but the right amount. The contractor should thoroughly examine the home and check that their insurance adjuster didn’t miss any damages.
10. Know your material choices. A contractor who does not offer you different shingle options is not looking out for your best interest. The style and color of the shingles you install can affect the resale value of your home. 

ROOFGUARD-LLC has been installing commercial roofing systems for over 30 years. We have the solutions you are looking for if you desire a new commercial roof or need a re-roof. ROOFGUARD-LLC only uses the best products and installation practices to insure you have a worry free commercial roof. For more information visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguardtexas Facebook Page .

Roof Talk-101 Happy Thanksgiving From The RoofGuard Family To Yours

Roof Talk-101   Happy Thanksgiving From The RoofGuard Family To Yours...

   Guarding Your Assets From The Elements

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Roof Talk-101  Are You Capitalizing on Your Green Building Expertise?

Martin Grohman

While traveling in Denmark recently to attend the State of Green conference, I had the chance to meet with Lars Ostenfeld Reimann, group market director of Ramboll, an international engineering consultancy company. Lars works in buildings and design, which gives him the opportunity to work on some of the largest and highest-profile building projects in the world, such as Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi and the Bella Sky Hotel in Copenhagen. From working on projects like these and on many more conventional ones, he has developed an insightful perspective on how the increasing influence of green building and engineering has changed construction.

I found this to be the most telling chart from Lars’ presentation:

As you can see, the practice of bringing a building to life has changed significantly over time. Modern buildings are incorporating advanced technology, which makes them more energy efficient, resilient, and comfortable. Think of advanced HVAC systems that sense the weather, smart thermostats and lighting systems that know when you’re in the room, and renewable systems such as solar power and rainwater catchment that harness power from the roof. It’s much more about integrating engineering and technology, and that trend is continuing. In fact, Lars argues that Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems lead how buildings are designed and experts who know how to integrate technology into an efficient, resilient, and comfortable building are increasingly important and in demand.

It’s interesting to think about “expertise“ as a construction cost, but that’s basically how it shakes out. Design and management expertise has value and so does green building expertise.

ROOFGUARD-LLC has been installing commercial roofing systems for over 30 years. We have the solutions you are looking for if you desire a new commercial roof or need a re-roof. ROOFGUARD-LLC only uses the best products and installation practices to insure you have a worry free commercial roof. For more information visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguard Facebook Page .

Roof Talk-101  Fall Roof Maintenance Check

Lisa Barth

Here are the checks a business or homeowner should perform on a home twice a year. Use this list to help with the maintenance of your roof which will save you money and help your roof last:

Gutters: Gutters are one of the most important parts of a home, and blocked gutters are a big source of leaks. If gutters are clogged with leaves, shingle granules, branches, and other debris, then water can’t funnel off the roof and away from the house. That can cause severe damage to the roof, walls, and gutters, and can be quite pricey to fix.

Shingles: An inspection will uncover any shingle tabs that have come loose or have broken, curled, or warped. Another possibility is that a branch could’ve fallen on the roof and caused damage. These simple repairs will help avoid costly water issues down the road.

Vents: Neoprene or rubber can crack with age, while critters can cause damage to any vented area on the roof. Resealing will fix these vent problems and help keep animals and water out.

Flashings: Chimneys have three potential issues: flashing, siding, and the cap that can contribute to leaks. An inspection will ensure the area is properly flashed and sealed. Flashing on skylights can easily get water trapped behind them as well.

Attic: Many times it’s the attic that is the source of the problem rather than the roof. Issues such as improper ventilation, plumbing, air conditioning, fans, or animal or bug infestation can cause mold, algae, or moisture condensation in the attic space.

With the potential for a strong El Niño, proper inspection and maintenance of your roof will go along way in preventing damaging roof leak when winter hits hard.

ROOFGUARD-LLC has been installing commercial roofing systems for over 30 years. We have the solutions you are looking for if you desire a new commercial roof or need a re-roof. ROOFGUARD-LLC only uses the best products and installation practices to insure you have a worry free commercial roof. For more information visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguard Facebook Page .

Roof Talk 101  Benefits of Proper Attic 

by Liz Barth, GAF

Properly installing a roof involves much more than putting on the shingles. Whether it’s in warm or cold climates, proper attic ventilation plays a key role in helping to make the roof system last longer and prevent many expensive issues from occurring inside and out of a building. Contractors should explain to homeowners why proper attic ventilation is so important with the benefits below. It serves two key functions:

•  Allows cool, fresh air to enter the attic at the eave or soffit areas of the roof
• Exhausts hot, moist air from the attic by way of the ridge or other exhaust vents. This hot, moist air can cause a whole host of issues.

In cold climates, ventilation helps maintain a “cold” roof system by mixing cool outside air with attic air to allow for less snow melting on the roof, therefore avoiding damaging ice damming. In warm climates, proper attic ventilation helps expel hot air, which can contributes to moisture problems.

Here are some benefits of proper ventilation:

• It helps reduce damaging moisture. Excessive moisture can build up in the attic, potentially damaging the structure and degrading the roof system. It can also lead to mold.
• It can help save energy. Heat build-up in that attic comes at a cost—a home’s air conditioning has to work harder to cool down the house, especially the living space below the attic.
• It helps prevent damage to the roof shingles. High attic heat can bake the shingle and cause them to prematurely age. In fact, most major shingle manufacturers strongly recommend proper attic ventilation on asphalt shingle installations.

Unfortunately, most homes in North America are improperly ventilated, which can result in mold, wasted energy, ice dams, premature roof system degradation, rotting decks, peeling paint, and ceiling stains.

The best way to keep a roof system working well and to help avoid the issues mentioned above is to install proper attic ventilation. Proper attic ventilation creates a balanced system using ridge vents or other exhaust vent in conjunction with intake vents installed at the eave, soffit, or fascia area of the roof. Intake ventilation is critical in ensuring the exhaust vents function properly. Without intake ventilation, most ridge or other exhaust vents can be rendered virtually useless.

ROOFGUARD-LLC has been installing commercial roofing systems for over 30 years. We have the solutions you are looking for if you desire a new commercial roof or need a re-roof. ROOFGUARD-LLC only uses the best products and installation practices to insure you have a worry free commercial roof. For more information visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguard Facebook Page .

5 Commercial Roofing Mistakes That Lead to Water Penetration

by Liza Barth

Did you know that 98% of all roof repairs occur in penetrations or perimeters, meaning anything that protrudes through the roof or breaks the membrane? Some examples include curbs, drains, plumbing stacks, vent stacks, elevator shafts, antennae bases, electrical and copper lines, skylights, and penthouses. These areas present challenging repairs, and if they’re not done correctly could result in a leak. Here are some examples of what not to do on a roofing job.

1. Don’t use non-compatible roofing materials (i.e., plastic cement on single-ply membranes).
2. Don’t overspray with coating or you could have an insurance liability claim on your hands.
3. Don’t cover electrical cords/conduits. These areas will need to be accessed at some point.
4. Don’t clog drains. Keep them clear so they don’t lead to ponding on the roof.
5. Don’t just poke a hole in the roof and put goop around it. Besides the fact that it doesn’t look very nice, it won’t be watertight.

There are many solutions for tough penetrations, but whichever one you choose, be sure to use a high-quality sealant to ensure correct waterproofing. Here are three methods a contractor can use to waterproof a challenging penetration:

• For an MB or BUR roof system, seal using the three-coursing approach, which includes placing one layer of sealant, one layer of fabric, and one layer of sealant. The final step is to sugar-in matching granules with the SBS or BUR surface. The advantages of this approach are that it’s easy to use, no mixing is needed, and there is less waste, as the pouches are reusable.

• For a metal roof or MB or BUR roof system, use TOPCOAT® FlexSeal™ Elastomeric Sealant. It is a similar approach to three coursing but uses a different sealant. It is compatible on metal, concrete, wood, SBS, APP, EPDM, and BUR substrates for gutters, detail areas, edge metal, and termination bars.

• For a BUR or MB roof system, use an M-Curb™ Pitch Pocket System, which is made from solid urethane and designed to seal difficult penetrations on asphaltic roofs that can’t be flashed. This option requires no fabric or granules, as the material is pourable and bonds with the asphalt roof. Installation is fast and easy, and these curbs are very versatile, as they can be made in custom shapes to fit a variety of rooftop places.

ROOFGUARD-LLC has been installing commercial roofing systems for over 30 years. We have the solutions you are looking for if you desire a new commercial roof or need a re-roof. ROOFGUARD-LLC only uses the best products and installation practices to insure you have a worry free commercial roof. For more information visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguard Facebook Page .

Roof Talk-101  10 Things to Do at Key Leak Areas

by Liza Barth

It’s important to make sure a roof is protected at critical areas to avoid coverage problems and not all roofing manufacturer warranties are the same. In order for the homeowner—and the roof—to get the most out of a warranty, it’s important that the contractor ensures a home is well protected from leaks. The right materials can make the difference. Here are 10 things a contractor should do to ensure warranty coverage for a homeowner:

1. Install waterproof leak barriers at critical areas that are prone to leaks including valleys, side walls, penetrations, chimneys, dormers, and eaves.
2. Use edge metal at rakes and eaves to help protect from water infiltration at the roof’s edges. This is especially critical in high wind areas and colder climates.
3. Install premanufactured flashing at all pipe penetrations to help prevent water entry.
4. Install roof deck protection, also known as underlayment, to ensure shingles will lie flat and to protect against wind-driven rain that can blow under the shingles.
5. Install proper attic ventilation to help manage the attic temperature and prevent moisture from being trapped in the attic space. Shingle roofs last longer when attics are properly ventilated.
6. Install hip and ridge cap shingles to help protect those areas since they get more wind pressure than other parts of the roof. The finished look of hip & ridge cap shingles can also help increase curb appeal.
7. Check skylight conditions. Old skylights should be replaced to better match the new roof’s age; also, new skylights will probably have better energy ratings.
8. Install a single roofing system. When installing components from different manufacturers, mismatches in warranty coverage can occur. A complete system with shingles, leak barriers, hip and ridge cap shingles, roof deck protection, starter strips, and attic ventilation from the same manufacturer will allow all these components to be covered by one warranty and help to avoid finger-pointing in the event of an issue.
9. Take advantage of problem-prevention inspections by factory-certified roof inspectors, when available. These inspectors are technical experts who also provide feedback on the installation.
10. Install systems that have transferable warranties. This is a valuable feature to have if you ever sell your property in the future.

ROOFGUARD-LLC has been installing commercial roofing systems for over 30 years. We have the solutions you are looking for if you desire a new commercial roof or need a re-roof. ROOFGUARD-LLC only uses the best products and installation practices to insure you have a worry free commercial roof. For more information visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguard Facebook Page .