Choosing A Roof Contractor For Your Roofing Job

Roof Repair - Aug 21,2011 - No Comment

Selecting a good roof contractor from the hordes of advertisement in trade journals and yellow pages is tough task by any means. It is safe to assume that not all facts touted in the advertisement are not as they seem. It is important to get recommendations and proof before you believe the claims made by roofing companies. At the same time it is true that there are a number of experienced and well-trained roofing contractors available in most areas due to roofing jobs being plenty in every area.

Here we list a few factors to take note of before hiring a roof contractor:

Trust but verify every claim made by roofing contractor. Get references from clients for whom the contractor has already done a job. Get specific references on names of any particular roofing contractor the clients had worked with. Most roofing companies have several roofers on their rolls. So, be absolutely sure you are getting relevant information on specific people.

To be sure that the company you are hiring is not a fly by night operator verify that they have a fixed abode, telephone number and required licenses to run a professional outfit. Check out the number of years they have been in business. All this gives you an idea that they are serious about their business and will stick out for a long time, so if you have any problems with your roofing jobs you can get it rectified.

Insurance cover for the roof contractor is a must. Ask to see the documents to see that they are fully covered for accidents on the job, any liabilities and compensation for the workers. See that all workers who will be working on your job are covered. This ensures that you are not liable for accidents suffered at your work site.

The roofing company’s safety record should be of the highest standards. The roof contractor and other workers should have adequate safety training which helps them to work safely and securely in dangerous work areas like steep slopes and steeples.

Most states have state licensing and registration requirements. They want the roof contractors to be bonded and licensed with the state boards or other relevant authorities. You can get details about this from your state board by making a phone call. This is a way to protect yourself so don’t neglect to check that the contractor has been vetted by the state authorities.

It is okay to get multiple quotes. Different contractors work with different set of parameters and slight differences in quotes are quiet acceptable. When there are wide differences then find out why it is so. Find out what those extra costs are for. Usually the more expensive contractors have more experience and work with quality products and there are very few problems once the job is done. But this is not always true. Get your doubts cleared by asking questions. Some roof contractors might answer your queries and may be eager for your job, but the busy roofing contractor might not enetertain any queries till he knows you are serious about your job.

Why Select Architectural Roofing Shingles?

Roof Shingles - Aug 15,2011 - No Comment

The business case for picking architectural roofing shingles for your home is strong indeed. With so many innovations and advantages, it isn’t surprising how architectural roofing shingles have grown extremely popular.

“Architectural roof shingles are a visual delight. Roofs with these shingles create a three dimensional look to a building that is striking and eye-catching. Architectural shingles can be designed to mimic many different kinds of natural roofing, such a cedar shake shingles or slate.

To enhance the illusion of being ‘natural’, these shingles are randomly ridged and thicker than regular synthetic shingles. The advantages of architectural shingles over their natural counterparts are often multiple, such as reduced weight (which decreases the load and stress on the roof frame) and better resistance to fire and water. These roofs do not require special modifications of the underlayment to withstand the load as natural slate may do.”

To read the rest of this article, visit the Roofing Shingles website.

Industrial Roofing – What Services Do Roof Contractors Provide?

Roof Repair - Aug 15,2011 - No Comment

Industrial roofing for commercial establishments is a costly, complex and complicated affair. Contrary to the do-it-yourself nature of some simple residential roofing projects, it is rare if not impossible for industrial roofing to be attempted by hobbyists and amateurs.

So as building owners are forced to seek professional assistance, the frustration and futility of finding a reliable, competent and affordable contractor kicks in. This short guide is to help you if you are in this place and seeking assistance with industrial roofing services.

Your needs may be simple, like installing a single or double skin roof. Other requirements may be more complex, like having a composite panel or standing seam roofing system installed. Others may require working on an existing roof through over-sheeting. And additional needs may include weather-proofing, insulation, sound-proofing or more that are specific to your particular industry or field.

Over-sheeting is one of the most common services requested of industrial roofing contractors. This is favored because the work can go on outside the building, covering an existing roof, without having to pause or halt work inside it. This means productivity of the factory or workshop is not hampered or affected, even as additional protection is provided by way of the oversheeting project.

Sometimes, however, it becomes mandatory to strip and re-sheet industrial roofing systems, a situation more often seen in legacy roofing systems made of asbestos which has health hazards more recently identified. Specialists in asbestos roofing replacement are in high demand for this reason.

Another popular industrial roofing service is cladding. This often leaves the existing roofing frame intact, with a new spacer bar system installed to act as a strut for the new industrial roofing cladding. Insulation can also be added to enhance the energy efficiency of the building.

Industrial gutter systems are by far the most common problem for commercial establishments. When these are damaged or partly blocked because of poor maintenance, it can cause serious problems. Over time, they may affect the structural integrity of the building itself, making very expensive replacement jobs necessary.

Industrial roofing gutter cleaning services address this problem at an early stage and keep at bay the more costly repairs. Renewing existing gutter systems with modern lightweight systems and lining the pipes to prevent leak and seepage are simple and inexpensive options. Cleaning out clogged gutters will also minimize the risk of leaks and damage.

Other industrial roofing jobs also fall under the ambit of the industrial roof contractor. You can learn more about these projects and what to look for in an industrial roofing contractor in this article.

Emergency Roof Repair – A Guide

Roof Shingles - Aug 01,2011 - No Comment

When you need emergency roof repair done, it can be scary to identify the right person and then hope you can come up with the cash needed. A short guide to help with this disaster…

“If emergency roof repair is warranted, the task should be left in the hands of experienced emergency repair roofing contractors or skilled roofers in order to appropriately address your roofing problems. In addition, it is well recommended to wane down first the extreme weather outside until the situation is perfect to initiate an emergency roof repair rather than fixing the damage right away, as you might be doing more damage and harm to the roof than repairing it. Likewise, the tendency to be swept away by the strong winds, slippage, or even being struck by lightning is great.

The installation or setting-up an emergency roof repair tarp will be your temporary measure in reducing or minimizing excessive rain water damage to your home’s interior, as placing an emergency tarp can help reduce rebuilding costs and overall recovery.”

Enjoy the entire report at the Roofing Shingles Prices blog.

Roof Calculator – A Useful Online Tool For Roof Estimates

Roof Repair - Aug 01,2011 - No Comment

A quick and simple way to profit from a free online roof calculator is by employing it to generate roof estimates and compute roofing prices. No matter whether you’re installing an asphalt roof or one with clay tiles or a metal standing seam roof, you’ll first need to determine how much you may have to pay to have it built.

Free online tools like roof calculators are very useful for home owners and roofing professionals like contractors. A roof calculator can reliably estimate the cost of a roofing project when used correctly. You can input factors like roof materials, labor expenses involved in tearing down the current structure and getting rid of all the waste material, as well as the profit a roof contractor may expect to make. Using a roof calculator for budgeting purposes can be of great value to home owners looking to have a new roof fixed or a roof repair for leaks.

So Who Can Benefit From a Roof Calculator?

A roof calculator will come useful for home owners but also for many other roofing pros. People like house inspectors, insurance agents and adjustors, real estate salespersons and the kind use a roof calculator in their jobs. The tool lets them compute roof estimates quickly, and clients love them for the prompt response. Using a roof calculator is simple and fast. You just type in figures into the boxes, click a button, and the magic happens right under your eyes. That’s why roof calculators have caught on and there are many services that even give away a cellphone app that can be used anywhere.

Some savvy roofing contractors and services have created web based roof calculator tools that can be embedded on other websites of affiliates. This generates new leads for their roofing business through potential clients who use their calculators. For the owner of any roofing website, such a tool is helpful in engendering visitor loyalty and delighting their audience. This becomes a true win-win situation.

Roof Calculators Have Some Limitations

Roof calculators are indispensable tools for roofing professionals. But that doesn’t make them infallible or omnipotent. Many roof calculators are designed to cover most major types of roof materials. Prices that are calculated do vary slightly and have a small error rate. Generic and specialty roofing estimates will also differ a bit depending upon location and unique needs. A small degree of variation between what you compute using a roof calculator and the estimate presented to you by a roofing contractor is natural and to be expected.

There are many more ways to benefit from a roof calculator, and they are outlined in this short report that you can read here.

Tile Roofing Materials – How Good Are They?

Roof Shingles - Jul 15,2011 - No Comment

Tile roofing materials are popular in certain parts of the country. And though they are not as often seen as asphalt roofing shingles, there’s no good reason why – because they are really good.

This article shares some of the pros and cons of tile roofing material.

“Whatever may be the roofing material, some factors remain common for all – durability, reliability, and easy to maintain. These are some of the features that one would always seek. And, among all Tile roofing materials are a very good option.

When a person is looking for something that provides excellent durability, an ideal option is tile roofing. Tile roofing materials are available in many different types of options, including concrete, slate and clay. Tile roofing materials are very popular, owing to its immensely high longevity. Tile roofing materials can serve as long as several decades, without requiring any replacement.”

You can learn more about this on the Roofing Shingles Prices Guide.

Roof Repair Estimates – & How They Help You Cut Costs

Roof Repair - Jul 15,2011 - No Comment

So that leaky old roof finally needs to be replaced and you’re looking for roof repair estimates. This is a time many home owners fear and worry about, putting off the decision until it’s inevitable. No surprise there, because roof repair estimates are a challenge, and can become frustrating, uncertain and stressful.

Just think about it. You’ve got to make sure that the roofing materials you select are the best you can afford and necessary for the particular roof repair. At the same time, the expenses must be managed to stay within your budget. Getting roof repair estimates from a qualified pro is helpful in setting the ball rolling. But just having an estimate isn’t enough. To make the most of that analysis, you must learn more about the components of a roof repair estimate in order to analyze and understand the information provided by a roofing contractor.

How To Get Valuable Roof Repair Estimates

The kind of roof repair that you need done and the roof contractor whom you contact about a quote will have an effect upon the roof repair estimates you get. If the estimates range widely in pricing and nature, don’t be surprised. By their very nature, there is a certain variety and difference in the way roof repair estimates are made that makes it natural to have them fit within a rather loose range.

The roof repair estimates you finally receive may be simple and direct, which means you won’t need any special education or skills to understand. But if you’re contracting out more complicated jobs, then the chances are good that your estimate will be a complex report that’s made up of figures and facts, terms and lingo… and unless you are prepared, you won’t have a clue what they mean!

Assume that you’re planning roof repairs that include sealing off a hole in your roof as well as replacing some damaged shingles. In such a case, your roof repair estimate may be a straightforward proposition that you can accept or turn down instantly. But if you are seeking an estimate for a complete roof replacement, then many other factors are involved which makes the roof estimate that the contractor prepares for you a different kind of list. It will be more complicated, have more line items, and require more knowledge to understand.

Whenever you are asking different contractors for roof repair estimates, ensure that you are receiving quotes for similar jobs. A written statement listing out the various tasks involved and the start and finish dates is helpful when holding your final discussions before hiring a contractor. As roofing materials account for a large part of the cost, deciding specifically what will be used is an important part of the estimate. By having all of this in writing, you can avoid future wrangling and argument over what’s included and what’s not.

There’s more to learn about roof repair estimates in order to avoid getting caught in pitfalls and traps. You can learn about them in this short report here.

Solar Panel Roof Shingles – Your Green Roofing System

Roof Shingles - Jun 20,2011 - No Comment

Solar panel roof shingles are the answer to all your prayers for clean and green energy without any ugly looking solar panels on your roof. Manufacturers have been trying for ways to integrate the roof systems with solar panels and have come up with solar shingles. These are not only aesthetically appealing but also produce useful solar energy that can be used to power your various appliances and heat for your home needs.

With this latest innovation homeowners no longer have to install huge solar panels on their roofs in order to tap into the green energy provided by the Sun. Instead the photovoltaic cells that are embedded in their roofing shingles will do all the work of the solar panels. Once, the initial cost of installation of the solar panel roof shingles is over you will be in position to make use of essentially green energy that is produced free of cost. Also, there are no noticeable panels jutting up on your roof.

These solar shingles have been available for quite some time. But, it was not easy to install them. They had to lay it in a certain way and then the wiring had to be integrated with the electrical system in the home. All this involved a lot of work and only the very committed green energy enthusiasts would opt for it.

Today a lot of research and development has gone into the making of solar panel roof shingles. They are lot easier to install and look more appealing too. The solar roofing shingles are also a lot more durable making them an attractive option to install instead of regular roofing systems.

Earlier versions of solar panels roof shingles were very prominent because of their thickness and size. They had to be placed in groups and their thickness and texture were different to regular shingles. When installed they would stand out. Today, thinner versions made of steel are available. Also, a lot more attention to aesthetics has been paid by the makers. So, you get a choice of several colors and shades. This will help your solar shingles to be placed along with normal shingles and it will blend right in with the surrounding roofing system.

Manufacturers have learnt from their earlier mistakes. To make the solar panel roof shingles more acceptable they have designed the solar shingles to look and feel like regular panels. They have also made the nailing pattern similar to the regular versions. This means that any roof layer can install it. You don’t need any expert to lay the special solar shingles. This reduces the cost of installation of the solar roof shingles dramatically.

Yet, another change in design means the wiring of the roof solar shingles runs through the roofing material itself and there are no unsightly wires sticking out of the roofing. Whatever connections need to be done can be made in the attic. This allows for clean finish and look. Nothing mars the aesthetic appeal of your roof.

The solar panel roof shingles are not as efficient in producing electricity as regular solar panels but, as technology improves, this efficiency is only getting better. The benefits provided by the installed solar panels are that they give sufficient electricity to run electric bulbs and other appliances. You save a percentage of your electricity bills and as days goes by this situation will only improve.