Do I Need A Roofer If I Am Missing a Few Shingles?

roof repair northern Virginia

Repairing the roof is important and requires technical skills that not all people possess. That is why it would be best to leave this project in the hands of a professional Virginia contractor. However, skilled and experience owners can often work too on small scale repairs. For example, replacing a few missing shingles is not so complicated.

You may notice missing shingles after a storm or other aggressive weather phenomena and they must be quickly replaced, to avoid water infiltrations and other problems that they may generate. The method you will use depends on the type of roofing material.

Typically, you must start with purchasing new shingles. Whether you already have a few unused shingles or you purchase new ones, you must make sure their color is not so different from those on the roof, otherwise they will ruin its aspect. Shingles installed on the roof are constantly exposed to the elements, so their color typically fades after a while, so they will look different from unused shingles, kept in a place where they are protected from weather. The best thing is to take out a shingle from the roof and compare it with the replacement shingles, to pick up the best match. Don`t forget about purchasing adhesive and nails too!

Once you have the right replacement shingles and tools you need, you must also use the proper safety precautions before climbing the roof and start working. This means wearing and using protective equipment.

The first step is to check the damaged area. Look for potential damage underneath and also check the surrounding shingles. Some of them may be curled or cracked, in which case you should remove and replace them too.

Use a pry-bar and loose any exposed nails and adhesive. Once the area is clean, start placing new shingles in the same position as those that are missing, then use proper adhesive and new nails to secure them. You can use the other shingles existing on the roof as a guide.

Once you finished replacing the missing shingles, you can take advantage of the fact that that you are on the roof and secure other loose shingles or accessories, to avoid them becoming problematic in the future. In most cases, all you need to do is sticking some adhesive underneath them and re-secure them. If you keep an eye on your roof regularly and replace missing shingles, or rescue loose or weathered shingles, you will increase the lifespan of your roof and reduce bigger and more expensive problems.

However, contacting a roof repair northern Virginia roofer to do the necessary repairs remains the best thing to do if you want to avoid accidents and mistakes. Performing DIY operations may cause unintentional damage that can void warranties and make you unable to use you insurance policy, so it is quite a big risk to take. Think carefully before starting such a project and make sure you know what you are doing. Most people who attempt to perform DIY roof repairs want to save the money they would pay for professional service, but in many cases they end up paying more for the damage they cause.

How to Prep Your Home for Roof Replacement

Replacing the roof on your home is a great investment into the comfort of your household, into the thermal efficiency and curb appeal of your building as well as into the resale value of your property, but it is also a process that entails lots of disruption and discomfort and needs careful planning and preparation. If you have done your roofing homework – you have scheduled the work, you have picked your roofing material and you have hired your contractor –, here are a few tips for you about how to prepare your home for the project.

Prepare the Access to Your Roof and the Area around the Building

Your Omaha roofing company contractors will need to be able to access your roof without any obstacles, so removing any objects from the area around the roof, including the path or the driveway leading up to it is essential. Don’t forget that the process of tearing off the old roof will generate a considerable amount of debris, so you will need to make sure that all the valuables are removed from the area around the building.

If you have lawn around the building, it is a good idea to mow it short to be able to find nails and other debris more easily and to prevent the injuries caused by accidentally stepping on small, sharp objects. If your building is surrounded with flower beds, you should protect them as much as possible covering them in tar or plastic foil.

Omaha roofing company

Communicate with Your Neighbors

You might think that your new roof is none of your neighbors’ business, but it helps to maintain a good relationship with them if you inform them about your upcoming project and you discuss your plans with them in short. Communication with your neighbors will make them more understanding and more helpful in case your project is accompanied by a lot of noise or if the completion takes longer than expected.

Clear the Attic

Some of the debris generated during the roof replacement will probably land in your attic, so it is very important to move as many of your precious items, such as heirlooms and  items used only periodically, to a safe place where they will not get damaged.

Arrangements for Kids and Pets

Children and pets running around in the construction area can create dangerous situations and increase the risk of injuries as well, therefore it is a good idea to make arrangements for them. Try to send your kids away to stay with the grandparents or with a friend for the duration of the project and find a way to confine your pets as well.

Preparations Inside the House

Many re-roofing processes involve the use of heavy equipment that might cause vibrations in the walls, which might cause mirrors and picture to fall and other valuable items to fall and to break. Make sure to remove such items from the walls and place them in safety. Remove sensitive light fixtures from the walls on the level right underneath the roof to prevent damage.

 

How to Determine If You Need Roof Repair or Replacement – Taking the Right Steps

Determining what you have to do when your roof has suffered damage is a very important part of responsible roofing. Whether you have just installed a brand new roof on your home, or you’ve been planning to replace your old roof for a long time, making the right assessment can be crucial – both for your peace of mind and for your wallet’s sake.

  1. Assess the Roofing Damage

The first step to take when you’re trying to determine whether or not you need roof repair or replacement is to assess the damage your roof has sustained and determine whether any measure might be necessary in the first place. This can be somewhat tricky, since you won’t immediately know what is involved with this step – at least not until you physically climb up on a ladder or send a drone up to assess the situation.

In most cases, if your roof is leaking, and you don’t have much technical knowledge of how roofing systems are built or how to tackle the situation in a practical and timely fashion, then it’s best to call in Panama City roofing professionals right from the start, and have them perform a full roofing inspection. Otherwise, if the damage is more subtle, or if just a few roofing shingles fell down to the ground, then you might be able to assess the situation and determine the next step on your own.

Panama City roofing

  1. Should You Call a Roofer?

Sometimes the damage is minimal or extensive enough that you are able to determine whether or not you have to repair or replace your roof. If a hurricane hit your home, for instance, and there are huge gaps in your roof, or if a large part of it was damaged by water or fire, then you definitely have to replace it. On the other hand, if you just have a few missing shingles, you might be able to replace them yourself and repair your roof without help from local roofing experts.

Calling a local roofer is required when the damage is unclear, or when you can’t determine whether the surface damage is the full extent of the problem. Sometimes a leaky roof has more to do with gaps in the interior structure of the roof, rather than just a problem with the flashing or with some cracked shingles that you could normally replace quite easily.

Be careful, however, of storm chasers! Some roofing contractors actually chase around after storms and try to get employed by distraught homeowners who are desperate for some quick and affordable roofing support. Even if a deal offered by a local roofer seems to be great, always take it with a grain of salt and make sure you do some research to find out if that particular roofer is licensed, and if they have good feedback from the Better Business Bureau.

  1. Working Together with Your Local Roofing Expert

A local roofer is your best chance at getting to the bottom of the problem and making sure you make the right decision regarding your roof. Once you call in a roofer, they will evaluate your roof and present you with the details of what needs to be done, how long it will take and how much it will cost. Once all that is taken care of, it will be up to you to determine whether you want them to take up the project or not.

The Advantages of Spray Foam Commercial Installation

Spray foam is one of the most common and most efficient material used for fixing holes in walls, around doors and windows as well as for fastening and joining components and a versatile material with numerous other uses – here is a short description of the material and some of the most important advantages of spray foam commercial installation.

What Is, in fact, Spray Foam?

Spray foam is a chemical composed of two materials, polyol resin and isocyanate, each of which maintain their volume when they are on their own, but expand to 30-60 times their volume when they come into contact with each other and air. The material has various uses, the two most important fields that use the foam being packaging and construction, both making use of the capacity of the foam to turn into any shape and its high thermal insulation capacity.

Chicago commercial roofing contractors

The Advantages of Using Spray Foam for Commercial Construction 

The great physical and chemical features of the foam’s two components open up a wide range of usage options and ensure resistance and durability. According to Chicago commercial roofing contractors, here are the most important benefits:

  • Instant insulation anywhere around the building – whether it is a small hole or gap in the wall that needs to be filled or the entire attic area needs to be insulated quickly, spray foam is great for preventing any air exchange and water penetration;
  • Filling unseen crevices – when spray foam is applied on a surface, it seals not only visible cracks and holes, but very small, unnoticeable ones as well, providing complete protection;
  • Suitable for being used on a wide range of materials – whether the crack or hole is on a component made from wood, clay, metal, concrete or stone, the foam offers excellent adherence without damaging the area of application;
  • Efficient for interior as well as exterior uses – spray foam can be used for filling cavities inside the home as well as on exterior surfaces, even on roofs. The spray can be applied not only from small aerosol cans, to treat smaller areas, but from larger cans to spray entire walls or even an entire roof,
  • Protection against condensation, mold and mildew – spray foam is a great material to use in areas prone to condensation, such as the attic or the areas around skylights;
  • Sound protection – spray foam makes an excellent sound barrier, making it the perfect solution for buildings close to busy roads or for buildings in which the activities carried out generate noises that need to be kept inside;
  • Increased energy efficiency when applied to large areas – spray foam reduces air movement when it is applied on small spots, but its excellent thermal insulation qualities are truly revealed when the material is used for insulation complete walls or attic areas. Spray foam provides efficient protection against heat as well as against cold, so much so, that some building owners have reported achieving a reduction of 40-50% in energy consumption after having their roofs sprayed with the foam;
  • Quick and easy usage – whatever the purpose of the application, whether it is gap filling or complete insulation, one of the most important advantages of spray foam commercial installation is that spray foam can be applied quickly and easily and it also dries very fast.

A Small Guide for Understanding EDPM Roofing (Ethylene-Propylene-Dien-Monomer)

For understanding EPDM roofing, we must first know some things about this synthetic membrane designed for flat roofs, mostly specific to commercial and industrial buildings, but noot exclusively, as it is also suitable for extensive roofing systems and / or photovoltaic systems. Flat roof sealing systems are widely made of EPDM rubber membranes and various accessories that fit all types of roofs and environments, delivering unsurpassed performance in terms of durability.

EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Dien-Monomer) is a 100% synthetic single-ply membrane vulcanized in sheets of different thicknesses, chemically stable and with unlimited UV resistance. It does not contain plasticizers.

It is important, for better understanding of EPDM roofing and its performance, to know that since 50 years ago, when the first such membrane was used, billions of square meters have been installed all over the world for all kind of applications, ranging from roofs and terraces to pools. The membranes installed five decades ago are reviewed annually by manufacturers, revealing that their mechanical performance still does not require replacement. No other waterproofing membrane managed to approach or match longevity requirements, which is why the use of EPDM installed by commercial roofing companies Denver pros has increased over the years.

The extraordinary elongation of over 300% is another feature that gives the EPDM membrane the advantage of taking over the mechanical stress as no other material can do. Its particular flexibility makes it capable of absorbing the dimensional modifications of the support it is applied on, modifications resulting from uneven drainage or constructive flaws.

EPDM roofing systems can be installed in any climate, considering that their flexibility is not affected up to -40ºC. The EPDM membrane is made of synthetic rubber composed of isobutyl and isoprene, with excellent resistance to external factors, chemical agents and UV radiation. EPDM maintains its physical and chemical properties between – 45 ° C and 130 ° C, remaining unaffected to an induction of 250 ° C.

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Other benefits

  • The mechanical strength of EPDM membranes is superior to other membranes and foils, due to their exceptional flexibility
  • They present higher chemical resistance than PVC / PE foil or bitumen
  • Fire resistance is another pro; although just for a limited period of time, the EPDM membrane is resistant even to open flame
  • This material has a high moldability, which means that it can be cut and glued by cold vulcanization, in any desired shape
  • Repairs can be quickly remedied, and maintenance can be performed with ease
  • EPDM membranes have a long lifespan: the 20-year warranty and the fact that the first functional projects are almost 50 years old make the EPDM membrane a long-term investment.

EPDM membrane has a few direct competitors:

  • insulated concrete with special waterproofing layers
  • PVC foil
  • polyethylene film
  • bituminous membrane (only for roofs)
  • natural insulators such as clay (only for ponds and water basins)

Finally, understanding EPDM roofing also entails knowing other applications of such a membrane. Here are the most important ones:

  • artificial decorative ponds
  • reservoirs
  • irrigation tanks
  • retention basins (wet detention basins or stormwater management ponds)
  • wastewater collectors
  • manure tanks
  • fire water tanks
  • artificial snow tanks
  • construction waterproofing.

How to Find the Easiest and Safest Ways to Fix Your Roof

When you’re more than 20 feet above the ground and trying to force a shingle off your roof, it becomes apparent that you need to find the safest ways to fix your roof. Although back in the day most homeowners would just use a sturdy wooden ladder and get their hands dirty with a flat bar and a strong hammer, roofing experts can usually point out dozens of safety concerns associated with that approach.

If you don’t want to injure yourself, and you want to finish the work as quickly and as confidently as possible, consider listening to the safety tips and  recommendations that your local Livermore roofing contractor will recommend.

roof repair safety

What You Might Need

If the pitch of your roof is not too steep, then a ladder and some basic safety gear, such as special boots and gloves, will be all you need. The idea, however, is to make sure that you are able to walk safely on the roof and use the safest ways to fix your roof without feeling like you might fall off.

For steeper roofing structures, where it becomes more difficult to walk around, most experts will recommend the use of sturdy wooden planks supported by roofing brackets. These are not as expensive as you might think, and they can be an extremely helpful addition to prevent you from falling. Moreover, for the steepest roofs, or just to make yourself feel safer, you can also consider a sturdy harness. The harness used together with a few roofing brackets will provide you with the safest means to get around your roof without even worrying about a slippery roofing surface causing you to slip.

Of course, trying to fix your roof when it’s still wet and slippery is definitely not recommended. Also, you will have to learn to use these tools properly before you consider going up there. From the angle of your ladder to the way you adjust your harness and brackets, every detail counts when it comes to staying safe.

Using Your Safety Tools Responsibly

Learning how to use your extension ladder is one of the most essential parts of repairing your roof responsibly. The extension ladder has to be placed at an angle of 4 to 1. This means, for every 4 meters you go up, you lean the ladder 1 meter closer to the house than its base. The actual angle is irrelevant as long as you stay close to this simple ratio.

Also, make sure that the extension ladder is capable of extending at least 3 feet above the edge of the roof. While aluminum ladders are considered best, fiberglass ladders can also be helpful, especially if you want additional protection against being electrocuted.

When you’re on the roof, it’s important to use a harness that is secured to a rope capable of holding at least 700kg without breaking. This will ensure that you are safe, even if you end up actually falling and the rope is yanked violently in the process. The rope should be tied securely to a structurally sound part of the home, or to a sturdy tree.

When it comes to finding the safest ways to fix your roof, you really can’t go wrong with the tips shown above, most of them being highly recommended by the most dependable and professional Livermore roofing contractors in the business.

The Best Siding Options for Homes in Illinois

The siding that you use on your home plays an important role in making your home the safe and comfortable place that you want it to be – it is an important component that can make or break the overall appearance of your home and it is also essential for protecting your home against the elements. The double role fulfilled by home siding means that when you choose your panels, you need to pick not only products that enhance the curb appeal of your home, but also siding that is able to withstand the climate that dominates your area and to protect your building against the harmful effects of moisture and the costly effects of improper thermal protection as well. In the case of siding chosen for Illinois homes, the most important weather-related aspects to take into consideration are high humidity, strong winds, frequent storms and extreme temperatures, so here are the siding materials that can hold up to all these vicissitudes.

Vinyl

This common, lightweight and affordable material is very durable and very versatile as well. The siding panels made from vinyl can stand up to heavy rain, to extreme heat, to freezing temperatures and to winds and storms as well. Being a synthetic material, vinyl is not sensitive to pest infestations, it does not absorb moisture and it does not catch fire either. Vinyl panels are very easy to install and require very little maintenance.

Metal Siding

Another very popular option, metal siding panels are durable, affordable and they come in many great colors, some even made to replicate the hues and veins of natural wood. The most common metals used for making siding panels are steel and aluminum, both warranted for 50+ years without requiring extensive care and maintenance. Metal siding is the preferred choice of many homeowners also because it is lightweight and it can be installed in DIY fashion.

Fiber-Cement Siding

Fiber-cement is a mixture of cement, clay, sand and wood fibers – all strong, durable materials that make an even more durable combination when they get used in siding panels. Fiber-cement is also resistant to moisture, to changing temperatures, to pest attacks and to fire as well, what’s more, the manufacturing procedure that shapes the siding panels from liquid material makes it possible to create textures that resemble wood, stucco or masonry. Fiber-cement siding panels can be easily repainted whenever you feel like changing the overall color theme of your home.

When it comes to installation, you must know that fiber-cement sheets are quite heavy and the process of mounting them requires special tools as well, so cement siding cannot be installed in DIY fashion and hiring a professional for the job will increase the overall costs of your siding.

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Final Thoughts

All the above types of siding are suitable for Illinois homes, but if you still don’t know which one to choose, you can turn to a local Barrington roofing contractor for consultation. The roofer will listen to your expectations and your possibilities, he will inspect the building on which the siding will be installed to determine how strong it is and he will outline the best options for you.

Siding Types to Consider for Your Colorado Home

residential home with both stone and board siding on the facade.

Siding is an important and multifunctional component on any house – it plays an aesthetic role by conferring a harmonious appearance to the entire home and it also has an important protective role, stopping moisture from getting behind it, into the walls and into the home, preventing the attacks of rodents and insects and preserving the thermal comfort of the home interior. The siding chosen for Colorado homes needs to fulfill a third role as well: it needs to be able to protect the home against the impact of the harsh climate, against harsh winds, the extreme temperatures, the hails and the storms. According to Denver roofing companies in the know, here are some of the materials that are the most suitable for homes in the Centennial State.

Vinyl

The most popular and most affordable siding material is available in a very wide range of colors, textures and shapes and it is very resistant as well. Vinyl is not susceptible to rot, to insects, winds and debris do not affect it, it can withstand wide temperature variations and it stands strong in strong winds, in heavy rain and snow as well. The material is almost maintenance-free – it is recommended to perform a detailed inspection of the siding panels once a year, but other than that, you don’t need to do anything else with them. There is only one thing that you must know before you choose vinyl for your new siding: vinyl siding comes in large panels, so if one of the panels gets damaged, you need to replace the entire panel, you cannot just fix the damaged part.

Fiber Cement

Another durable and attractive solution, fiber cement siding works great in urban areas, among the mountains and on the planes as well. These panels are also available in many colors and textures, they are durable, lasting up to 50 years and they require very little maintenance to provide your home great, overall protection against fire, the elements and rodents.

Wood Siding

A more expensive and more sensitive solution that offers unparalleled beauty. Wood siding is suitable for homeowners who can handle the permanent upkeep needs of the siding on their home – the panels need to be regularly caulked, sanded, coated for protection, stained and painted to preserve their beauty, but if you can invest the time and the energy, your siding will give your home the curb appeal and the protection that only wood can provide. Another benefit of wood siding panels is that they come in smaller pieces, so if you find a damaged panel that you cannot repair, you can easily remove it and replace it without losing structural stability or disrupting the design.

Steel Siding

An inexpensive and durable solution that has recently become popular, steel siding panels offer all the benefits of the metal, such as durability, resistance to fire, to water and to insects and they are very easy to install as well, but they can easily become dented, so they might not be the best choice for areas that get a lot of hail, with large hail stones.

 

What is the Purpose of a Roof?

A roof is a basic covering that is built on top of houses and structures and even things such as vehicles. For homes and structures particularly, a roof plays out various requirements, which are all tied into giving security. Diverse components and parts of the roof protects the structure’s inside and outside.

The fundamental motivation behind any roof is to give security to people inside a structure from the outside components. This reason is vital among all the other aspects as the roof gives shield against something as essential and as blazing as daylight. It also provides protection from different changes in weather, for example, rain, snow, hail and high breezes. Without a roof, occupants inside a structure would have naked subjection to all these weather changes and would thus, likewise endure the physical infirmities that outcome it. Belonging, for example, furniture, machines, floor coverings, fine art and apparel would be ruined immediately when water or snow attacks the structure. Likewise, the fundamental insides of the structure would be harmed by the weather it is the ground surface, or doors and walls.

The outside of a structure is additionally served by the presence of specific components of a roof. Roof flashing is intended to shield outside walls from water harm. Flashing is essentially a bit of sheet metal that keeps water from infiltrating joints and causing harm. You can spot flashing by taking a gander at the region around vent pipes that stick up through the roof or around fireplaces (if you have one). In the event that the roof has vertical dividers, flashing likewise gives protection in the crossing points between the roof and the dividers. Additionally, the canals and downspouts on the edge of the roof give a way to divert the water that channels off the roof and occupy it from the outside dividers and base of the structure.

As the main line of resistance for a structure, acting like an enormous umbrella in getting and diverting all the conceivably destructive weather that a structure would some way or another get, a roof itself typically manages harm. High breezes can harm or evacuate the roof’s shingles. Proceeded with introduction to water can harm the valleys on the roof. Openings and roof spills are dependably a noteworthy concern. Along these lines, a roof ought to be checked no less than twice every year especially after real windstorms to detect any harm early.

Lately global warming and advocacy groups have asked engineers and planners to

examine the execution of the roof. In view of historical typologies and contemporary points of reference. Europe is driving this change. Thus, the roof is one of the most important element of the house that is to be built with precision.

Best Felt Paper to put on the Roof

Roofing also known as roofing felt underlayment, roofing tar paper, or roll roofing, this is a layer of protection installed between the roof deck and the roofing shingles. Felt paper is an essential piece of your roof establishment. Not exclusively does it ensure your home amid the establishment procedure; however, it likewise gives the move down security on account of a shingle disappointment or establishment imperfection. With regards to felt paper (otherwise called underlayment) there are two kinds you have to focus on. To begin with is the ice and water shield, which ensures the edges and defenseless spots on the roof from ice dams. The second is the “ordinary” underlayment or felt paper that spreads everything else.

Synthetic underlayments are currently an ordinary thing and numerous contractual workers are utilizing this better option over the old natural felt paper. For starters, it doesn’t wrinkle up when it gets wet like natural felt does. A decent, thick natural felt paper like can get some quite weighty wrinkles in the event that it gets rained on. They can even pass through the shingles you lay over best, influencing your roof to look uneven.

Synthetic underlayment, when introduced right, will lay nice and leveled regardless, until the point when the new roof gets installed. This can be particularly convenient in the stormy season. On the off chance that installers do keep running into this wrinkling issue they will generally remove the wrinkles to keep this transmitting from happening. Shockingly that implies in the event that you ever require your back up protection it will flop calamitously.

Ice and water shield is a thick, sticky-back sort of felt paper that will cling to the roof deck underneath it and frame a little gasket around each nail jabbing through it. This implies any water that gets under the shingles will go where it should that is off your roof rather than in your home. Since the effect can be destroying when this occurs, we don’t prescribe anything not as much as a brilliant ice shield like CertainTeed and WinterGuard, which is the main ice shield I am aware of that offers a guarantee. This would obviously however be required only in cold regions.

When you join Winter Guard and Diamond Deck (higher quality synthetic felt paper) underlayments on your roof, they will provide protection better than anything else. Winterguard ice and water shield will keep all the vulnerable spots without any leaks, and the synthetic will lay nice and leveled over whatever is left of the roof, giving a prevalent second layer of protection. This stuff is good to the point that it will in reality stay a year with no shingles covering it at any stretch.