Category: Roofing

Roofing

Not sure what your roof looks like? Out of sight, out of mind? When it comes to roofing will make sure that your roof is safe and secure. It is, after all, important to the health of your entire home, yet many homeowners tend to not think of doing an annual exam on that very important piece of their home.

If you haven’t had your roof inspected lately, or even in the past year, is here to give peace of mind to roofing. Many things can compromise your roofing and exterior components that will make it even more vulnerable to the next storm that may hit. Be proactive, not reactive. We offer free exterior inspections to ensure that your exterior is free of any damage or aging components that could affect your interior as well

Roof Replacement or Roof Repair – What to Look for?

committed to roofing by understanding that the roof itself is one of the largest and most expensive elements of your home, and it goes far beyond what color of shingle looks the best. Our highly trained professionals take the time to educate you through the entire process and have the tools to show you personally what could be compromising those important things UNDER your roof.

Valleys – If your roof valleys are damaged, rain and other elements can flow thru your valleys causing damage. This needs to be inspected for further damage.

Granule Loss –  If you are noticing granules in your gutters this may be a sign your roof needs to be replaced. The granules are designed to protect your roof and if they are coming off, your roof is now compromised. free inspection will determine how much loss is there.

Shingle Staining – If you notice that there are dark areas on your roof this may represent algae growing on or under your shingles and this needs to be looked at soon and could represent other problems as well.

Residential Roofing Services

Your home is one of your largest investments. More than that, however, your home is where you spend your time. It is the focal point for your family, where you and all of your possessions live. Doesn’t it make sense to protect this investment with a quality roof? As the first line of defense against the elements, your roof protects more than just a house. It protects YOUR home, and everything in it.

Residential roof repair and replacement for any type of roofing material, including shingle, slate, and tile

Storm damage remediation that meets your insurance needs and licensed claims adjusters on site to help with your claim

Complete manufacturer warranties and limited labor warranties, depending on your product

A team of experts that can help you choose materials or give you advice on new construction

Cool Roofs

A cool roof is one that has been designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Nearly any type of building can benefit from a cool roof, but consider the climate and other factors before deciding to install one.

Just as wearing light-colored clothing can help keep you cool on a sunny day, cool roofs material that is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Standard or dark roofs can reach temperatures of 150°F or more in the summer sun. A cool roof under the same conditions could stay more than 50°F cooler and save energy and money by using less air conditioning.

A cool roof can benefit a building and its occupants by:

Reducing energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs

Improving indoor comfort for spaces that are not air conditioned, such as garages or covered patios

Decreasing roof temperature, which may extend roof service life.

Beyond the building itself, cool roofs can also benefit the environment, especially when many buildings in a community have them. Cool roofs can:

Reduce local air temperatures (sometimes referred to as the urban heat island effect)

Lower peak electricity demand, which can help prevent power outages

Reduce power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury, by reducing cooling energy use in buildings.

Types of Roofs and How They Can Be Made Cool

There are many types of roof systems available, but the surface exposed to the sun is the one that determines if a roof is cool or not. You can usually make a new or existing roof cool by selecting the appropriate surface.

Roofing Marketing Articles

One of the biggest challenges for any roofing business is generating qualified leads. In fact, it’s a constant battle of testing and throwing things against the wall to see what works. The roofing space, like other trades, is unique, in that its biggest challenge is not sales and marketing but the lack of skilled labor.

“A sales lead is a prospective consumer of a product or service, created when an individual or business shows interest and provides contact information. Businesses gain access to sales leads through advertising, trade shows, direct mailings and other marketing efforts.” Generating qualified leads is the backbone of most businesses. There are a lot of different ways for a roofing business to generate leads.

Types of Leads

There are two types of leads. Business to Business leads (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C). Generally speaking, B2B leads are going to be more expensive than B2C leads. Residential prospects are much less sophisticated than commercial roofing prospects. Think about it, how many times does a homeowner deal with roof repairs? Not much.

Canvassing

Canvassing is old school but it still works. There is nothing like a face-to-face meeting. The most effective time to canvass is right after a storm.

Here are some tips that will help you canvass.

Be prepared for anything

Set clear objectives: Appointment, contact information, or sale

Have a proven script ready

Follow up

Roofing Guidelines for Commercial and Residential Projects

If you are planning to do a roofing project, the information below will be helpful as you work through your project.  If you need additional information or have other questions about your specific project

Residential:

Repair of less than 10×10 (100 sq. ft.) is okay and no permit needed.

The City of Longmont has a “1 square” rule as of 2012. If more than 100 square feet of roofing requires repair or   replacement,  then the entire roof must be replaced not just the affected roof area or plane. See Amendment 16.06.440 section R908.

Re-installation of existing materials – Any existing flashings, edgings, outlets, vents, or similar devices that are a part of the assembly shall be replaced where rusted, damaged, or deteriorated.  Aggregate surfacing materials shall not be reinstalled.  (R908.5)

Materials and methods of application used for re-covering or replacing an existing roof covering shall comply with Chapter 9.  (R908.1)

Roof Coverings and assemblies shall be applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of the IRC Chapter 9 and the manufacturer’s installation instructions.  (905.1 and R908.1)

It is the Roofing Contractors responsibility to meet all requirements of the manufacturer’s installation instructions.  (904.1)

The homeowner may pull a roof permit without obtaining a contractor’s license; provided the house is the primary residence, and no contractor will perform the work.

Ladders and mid-roof inspections are not required unless flat roof.

Drip edge is required both eaves and rakes.

Over-lay is not allowed over existing roof.

All roofing must have a sustained wind warranty of 110 mph and no 3-tab unless it’s laminated. Nearly all manufacturer’s 3-Tab shingles will not meet this code. The only exception is for detached non-habitable structures.

For asphalt shingle roofs with multiple layers of roofing, all existing layers of roofing must be removed.

Asphalt shingles shall be classified for 110 mph sustained wind.

Roof ventilation is required unless a closed cavity roof system with condensation control is used in compliance with IRC table R806.5 climate zone 5 (R20) or IBC table 1203.3 climate zone 5 (R20). Ventilate the roof as per IRC code section 806.2 or per shingle MFG.  Take the footprint of the attic space and divide that area by 300 (1 square foot per 300 square feet rule), then divide that number by 2 (required ventilators half up high, half down low). Now multiply that number by 144 (to get to square inches).  Divide this last number by the square inches that each ventilator is going to provide and that will give you the number of ventilators required up high.  Lower ventilators are generally not within the scope of work for a re-roof unless required by manufacturers specifications.

Roof slopes between 1”12 and 2”12, above non-habitable space, shall be permissible to apply a bituminous membrane (ice and water guard) then asphalt shingles.

The City of Longmont does not require Ice & Water Shield or comparable unless required by the manufacturer or on an application with a slope less than 2:12. Manufacturer’s installation instructions and code must be followed; where in conflict the more restrictive applies.

Can inspect without homeowner as long as no dogs in yard and access granted. Have permit card taped to front door or window.

WHAT IS RESIDENTIAL ROOFING?

The most common residential roofing material used in the United States, asphalt shingles are popular because they are economical and easy to install. These shingles can be reinforced with fiberglass or organic materials (cellulose) without changing the appearance of the shingle.

​THE TOP ROOFING MATERIALS:

​Asphalt Shingles

​​PRO’S AND CON’S:

​​​Pros: Asphalt comes in a variety of colors, is widely available and is one of the least expensive materials.

Cons: Asphalt has a shorter life span than other roofing materials, doesn’t provide the insulation other materials offer, and the quality varies.

​Cost and Life Span: Prices range from $70 to $120 a square and, if maintained properly, shingles will last 20 to 25 years.

​Clay and Concrete Tiles

​​PRO’S AND CON’S:

​​Pros: Clay and concrete tiles are long-lasting and non-combustible, and concrete tiles are energy efficient.

​Cons: Clay and concrete tiles are expensive, heavy and usually require additional framing.

​Cost and Life Span: Prices start around $300 to $500 a square and, if maintained properly, tiles will last around 40 to 50 years.

Metal Roofing

​PRO’S AND CON’S:

​​Pros: Metal roofing is durable, lasts longer than asphalt or wood, and offers high solar reflectance.

​Cons: Metal roofing is relatively expensive.

Cost and Life Span: Prices usually start around $100 to $300 a square, but some styles can cost $600 to $800 a square. Metal roofing can last 40 to 75 years.

Slate

PRO’S AND CON’S:

Pros: Slate is very durable, fire-resistant and a sustainable roof that can be recycled.

Cons: Slate is expensive, heavy, and requires extra framing and professional installation. The quality can vary with imported slate.

Cost and Life Span: Prices start at about $600 a square and up. Slate can last more than 50 years and sometimes 100 years or more.

Wood Shingles and Shake

PRO’S AND CON’S:

Pros: Wood shingles offer a rustic look and are a natural product usually made from cedar, redwood and southern pine.

Cons: Fire codes in some areas prohibit use. Wood shingles can be a concern in wet climates, and can mold, split or rot.

Cost and Life Span: Prices start at around $100 to $150 a square and will last around 25 to 30 years.

Synthetic Roofing Products

PRO’S AND CON’S:

Pros: Synthetic roofing is often not as fragile, heavy or expensive as natural products.

Cons: Some of these products can absorb water and the quality varies. Newer products aren’t as time-tested as traditional materials.

Cost and Life Span: Prices start at about $300 a square, and are warrantied for up to 50 years.​

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMERCIAL ROOFING AND RESIDENTIAL ROOFING

It may seem like a roof is a roof. However, there is a difference between a residential roof and a commercial roof. Damage to either type of roof can be expensive and result in the loss of the value of property due to natural disasters. Both also require the use of quality materials and proper installation by professional roofing businesses in the industry. They will understand that residential and commercial roofs are not created equally. It is imperative to understand that these differences are the key to finding a high quality roofing system for each structure.

Roofing Materials

Roofing materials for residential and commercial roofs tend to vary depending on the type of the roof, weather conditions and cost. Typically a commercial roof has a flat slope and residential roofs tend to be steeper. It takes a qualified and professional roofing company to meet the demands for both and offer sound advice about the materials that work best for each kind of roof. Those with excellent reputations in providing quality roofing materials with skilled roofing technicians, for installation purposes, are in high demand.

Roofing Materials Utilized for Commercial and Residential Roofs

• Asphalt, Slate, Tile and Ceramic Shingles
• Wood Shakes
• Metal Roofing
• Solar Shingles
• Built-Up Roof

Roofing Design

Commercial and residential roofs vary in design. A commercial roof tends to have a low slop, or is entirely flat and much larger than a typical residential roof. Flat roofs tend to require more maintenance and involve repairs of larger spaces that are installed in sections. The typical design of a commercial roof has a few factors to consider such as the weight of equipment that is housed on the roof and the need to cover a larger area. Residential homes tend to have less worry where their design is concerned and tend to be easier to maintain, repair and replace.

Major Roofing Differences

Residential roofing tends to be fairly easy to install and create. While some homes may want solar shingles installed, the only obstacle tends to be a chimney. Commercial roofs require skilled roofing services that are familiar with building around smoke stacks, air flow systems, and external piping. Experienced and competent roofing companies are able to meet the demands for commercial and residential roofing requirements.

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A RESIDENTIAL ROOF?

Residential Roofing Products
Residential Roofing Products include those products necessary to provide a quality roofing system typically for a consumer’s home, garage or other residential applications. Residential roofing products are usually designed for steep slope application. Products can include roofing shingles, underlayments and accessory products.

Roofing Shingles
CertainTeed manufactures high-quality asphalt roofing shingles in a wide variety of styles and colors for residential applications. Asphalt roofing shingles are the most commonly used residential roofing products in the market. There are three major categories of roofing shingles including strip roofing shingles, dimensional roofing shingles and premium roofing shingles.

Strip shingles are the most basic of residential roofing products available in the market. They are single layered roofing shingles that are generally designed to look like slate. Dimensional roofing shingles typically are heavier weight than strip roofing shingles. They are manufactured as dual-layered products or multi-layered in the case of CertainTeed’s tri-laminate technology. Premium roofing shingles are typically laminated and provide enhanced aesthetics and an increased design element.

Underlayments
Underlayments are designed for use on residential roof decks as a water-resistant layer beneath roofing shingles. Waterproofing shingle underlayments prevent leaks from ice dams and wind-driven rain in vulnerable areas.

Accessory Products

Hip and Ridge
Accessory shingles are used to finish the hips and ridges of a residential roof and carry the same warranty as the shingles they are applied over. There are a number of options designed to complement the appearance of shingles while providing the same level of protection and durability.

Proper Attic Ventilation
Proper attic ventilation systems allow a continuous flow of outside air through the attic which creates cooler attics in the summer and drier attics in the winter. It consists of a balanced system between air intake (at your eaves or soffits) and air exhaust (at or near your roof ridge). 

Starter Shingles
Starter shingles save application time. They are designed to work specifically with different styles of shingles for consistent appearance and performance.

Advantages of Metal Roofing for Residential Use

Metal Roofing Materials

A huge variety of metal roofing materials with different characteristics of weight, color, durability, and cost is currently on the market. Roofing materials are selected during the design of structures. Mostly, the selection of roofing materials is influenced by the geographic and climate conditions of the area. All the metal roofing materials should be considered from the types of residential metal roofing that are available. A roof in a locality that experiences extensive snow would require a particular slope angle for the discarding of snow. If the snow is not removed, the structure of the roof may be damaged due to pitting corrosion. Thus, the roofing materials selected accordingly will facilitate snow removal. Similarly, if the roofing materials are affixed simply with a few nails, high speed winds may be harmful. Metal roofs that are located near industrial sites or the sea may be seriously affected by corrosion. The colors of metal roofs have an influence on the heat absorption and the energy costs. To ensure human safety, some states have regulations concerning the use of roofing materials. All of these aspects should be taken into account while selecting roofing materials. Roofing materials are permanent structures with long life, and therefore need to be carefully selected.

Residential Roofing Tips to Extend Your Roof’s Lifespan

A little bit of maintenance goes a long way when it comes to residential roofing. Use these residential roofing tips to take care of your roof and help protect your investment:

• Clean your gutters frequently
• Have regular roof inspections
• Prune overhanging tree branches
• Repair storm damage immediately
• Replace damaged or worn shingles right away

1. Clean Your Gutters Frequently

Gutters can easily become clogged with leaves and other debris. Alone, that’s fine – but when it rains, those clogs can cause water to back up. Backed-up water in your gutters can damage your shingles and the actual roof beneath them. Most experts recommend cleaning out your gutters at least twice each year. If you maintain your gutters in the spring and fall, they’ll be ready when the water starts pouring through (either from spring rains or melting snow).

2. Have Regular Roof Inspections

You can conduct a small visual inspection from the ground or climb up on your roof to get a birds-eye view, but nothing beats a residential roof inspection conducted by a professional. You want a roofing company that provides a 45-point inspection, which means they check everything, and that documents and photographs any damage on the roof – that way, you’ll know exactly what needs to be fixed.

3. Prune Overhanging Tree Branches

Overhanging tree branches can bang up against your roof during high winds or storms, or they can brush against your shingles repeatedly and degrade their integrity. In some cases, overhanging tree branches can create ideal conditions for algae or mold to grow, which can eventually cause leaks if left untreated. If you see branches or other debris on your roof, remove it immediately to protect your roof’s surface.

4. Repair Storm Damage Immediately

If left untreated, even minor damage can cause major problems. A tiny leak from a lifted, broken or missing shingle can let water into the roof deck, where it’ll cause the wood to swell – or worse, trickle down into your home and cause major water damage. Sometimes storm damage has a domino effect where one thing leads to another. If you suspect a storm, rain, hail or high winds have damaged your roof, schedule a roof inspection immediately. Making small fixes now can save you thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs later.

Replace Damaged or Worn Shingles Right Away

Shingles are there to provide a layer of protection to your roof, and by extension, your entire house. You need to replace damaged or worn shingles immediately, particularly if they’re:

• Curling up at the edges
• Cracked
• Missing granules (your shingles will look like they have “bald spots”)
• Covered in dark streaks, which can be algae growth
• Hosting moss or mold