People tend to put off fixing small roof leaks because they have a tight budget. Or perhaps it’s the thought that it can be managed with a strategically placed bucket. Either way, delaying a repair by a roof repair contractor will likely lead to a variety of additional issues, resulting in much higher repair costs.
Regardless of the size of a roof leak, significant damage and other problems can result over time. Move quickly to fix a leak with a professional roof repair contractor. By doing so, you’ll get repairs done when they are at their least expensive point. You’ll also be avoiding other issues that can be costly as well as hazardous.
The nature of roof leaks is that they will grow over time, saturating larger areas with increasing amounts of water. Delaying a repair by your roof repair contractor can start bubbling paint and/or staining ceilings and walls if the water is carrying roofing materials such as tar with it. Repeated saturation also starts breaking down drywall materials, turning them from a solid structure to a powdery substance.
Insulation materials lose their effectiveness when damp, with an immediate result being an increase of demand on heating/cooling systems and higher energy bills. Additional costs can be incurred if cold and wet conditions keep insulation from drying out, creating the ideal environment for mildew. The combination of compromised insulation and mildew growth will require replacement of the affected materials.• Electrical issues – Water leaking down the walls can potentially lead to electrical shock and/or short out electrical circuits.
In addition to breaking down drywall, framing and beams that are constantly exposed to moisture over the long term can start rotting as well, with the result being a steady decline in structural support. Once this process of degradation starts, it is difficult to stop and will ultimately necessitate the re-building of the home’s structural support system.
The damp environment created by a roof leak not addressed by a roof repair contractor can result in the rapid build-up of mold that releases mycotoxins in high enough quantities to cause a variety of respiratory ailments including asthma, bronchitis, and other allergic reactions. These types of mold spores are particularly dangerous to people with weak respiratory and immune systems.
When it comes to first impressions you only get one chance; that is why it’s called the first. Your homes first impression comes from its curb appeal and your roof installation can greatly affect it. This isn’t something most homeowners think about when it comes to home improvements and renovations.
The reality is that curb appeal can truly end up being the deal maker or breaker when it comes to selling your house. Without a doubt, one of your top priorities when it comes to improving your home should be the homes exterior, and your roof installation is an important part of that.
Besides your home’s landscaping, windows, siding, your roof installation is beyond important when it comes to curb appeal. Your home’s roof installation is one of the main aspects of your home seeing that is covers about fifty percent of the home visible surface. The roof installation often goes unnoticed by homeowners as it is not something that requires constant attention. With your home’s roof, often yearly maintenance is enough to keep the roof functioning structurally as well as looking good. Therefore it is often something that is overlooked with the overall curb appeal of your home. The time will come when your home needs a new roof installation to maintain curb appeal and maintain its structure.
An experienced roofing installation contractor is the best source of information when it comes to your new roof installation. Many homeowners are inclined to select a roofing material based on their limited knowledge in roofing, the color of the shingles or even the price. An experienced roofer takes all of this into consideration as well as more important criteria such as durability, climate, weather conditions, and exposure. With this information they find a roofing material that will not only withstand the test of time, add curb appeal but also give you the best value for your new roof. Roofing contractors also have the added advantage of experience with different roofing materials and styles. Roofers have the ability to look at the exterior of the home and recommend products that will enhance the existing exterior.
This is also true of homeowners that are looking into changing the exterior all together as well. There is more to roof installation than choosing between shingles, tile and foam roofing. Asphalt shingles come in a variety of styles just like tile roofing. Roofing professionals will perform a roof installation that enhances your homes curb appeal using appropriate materials that will stand the test of time taking into consideration natural elements that affect your roofs durability. More Information: Mikku and Sons Roofing offer a variety of roofing services throughout the greater Phoenix area, including roof installation of shingle roofs, tile roofing, flat and foam roofing and roof repairs.
To help keep your roof healthy, proper ventilation is key. Proper ventilation extends the life of your materials, and keeps them cooler in the heat of the summer and warmer in the cool of the winter. It will also keep moisture from forming in your attic, which can harbor all kinds of nasty pathogens, putting you and your family’s health at risk. Also, not properly venting your roof can be an expensive problem to solve after the fact, so make sure you ask your roof installation contractor about how your roof and attic will be vented during the installation process.
Attics need fresh air to breathe and stay healthy just like we do so it is important to keep your roof ventilated. You’re going to have two types of vents, which are intake and outlet. Intake vents are installed lower than the outlets so that a sort of vacuum is created by moving fresh air in through the intake vents and circulates it out at the higher outlet vents. This creates a constant air flow that keeps fresh air circulating throughout your attic, allowing it to breathe keeping your materials healthy.
It is possible to have too much ventilation, so determining how keep your roof ventilated properly is important. You need the exact amount of ventilation in order for your roof to be as energy efficient as possible. It is important to figure out where the vents should be placed and what size vents you’re going to need. The best way to accomplish this and get it done properly, you will need to hire a professional, licensed roofing contractor to configure the correct vents and locations according to the design of your roof.
Look for these signs that your attic may not be properly ventilated:
If you see any of these issues or signs, you should call a professional, licensed roofing company as soon as possible to inspect your attic and roof to give you a solution to the problem. Your family’s health and the lifespan of your roof could depend on it.
The roof on your home and business is a significant investment. You need to learn as much information as possible about any roofing contractors you hire to do installation or repair work on your roof. Although there are a lot of questions for your roofing contractor that you’ll need to ask about the project, this is a good list for every roofing company that interviews for your business.
First some common sense questions for your roofing contractor. You need to have their license number so you can do some research at the Registrar of Contractors website/office. They will have all complaints, if any, posted about the company that have been filed in the last 3 years. You can also find out if their license is in good standing, the amount of their bond, if their license has ever been suspended and when it expires. You can find the name of the owner and how long they’ve had this license. All key information that tells you you’re dealing with a real, reputable contractor.
Ask what type of experience and other information about the crew that will be working on your property. How many crew members will there be? How much experience do they have? Have they been working for the contractor for some time or are they new? Will the estimator be part of the crew and follow up with them after the sale is made and they begin the work?
Make sure you get a copy of their liability and workman’s comp insurance. They should be able to give you the name of their insurance agent, who can then send you a copy of their certificate of liability and insurance limits. Having properly insured workers on your property is of the utmost importance.
Make sure you find out what type of warranty you’re getting for the work they do. Get it in writing and ask to see a physical copy of the warranty. If they just give you something verbally tell them to keep on walking.
The materials they use should also have a warranty. Ask what type of warranty they have and, again, ask to see that warranty in writing.
Will the estimator or owner be inspecting the project after its finished? Make sure a final inspection is included in your project and that you have the right to be present for the inspection.
How long do they estimate the project will take and can you get some kind of hard estimate in writing? Make sure you have a solid start date and a good hard estimated completion date before they start their work.
What are the hours and days the crew will be working on the property? What time do they begin their work each day and what time do they call it a day. Do they just work on weekdays or will they be including any weekend work in the project?
Last, but not least, what happens when it rains? How do they cover the project and what type of delays should you expect if the weather doesn’t cooperate during the project. Especially if your work is being done during our volatile monsoon seasons, you’ll need to have some clarity on this so you know what to expect.
When Summer is here and the monsoon season approaches, Arizona residents need to be wary of the many roofing scammers that invade our communities. Finding a reputable roofing company can be hard enough without having to worry about being ripped off. Be diligent and wary of contractors that present themselves as professional roofers, but don’t have the proper insurance or credentials.
Here’s an example of a roofing scam that bilked 27 homeowners in Texas out of thousands of dollars: Texas roofing scam. In the case these individuals stole over $100,000 from unsuspecting homeowners by approaching them after storms. They took advantage of people desperate for repairs. They even sometimes brought their baby along to convince owners they were trustworthy and eager to work. A little research by the homeowners would have shown them that this company had an F rating with the Better Business Bureau and were ignoring many complaints registered with them instead of answering and solving them.
So, what are the best ways to watch out for roofing scams? First, make sure you do your homework on any contractor before hiring them and especially before giving them any kind of money for doing the work. Request that they present their contractor’s license and check their standing with the Registrar of Contractors. Ask how long they’ve been in business and verify their answer online. Check if they have a solid website that shows they’re legitimate. Look and see if they have a listing on any of the consumer sites like Yelp, HomeAdvisor and Angies’s List and check their testimonials and ratings there.
Also, make sure you check that they have the proper insurance in place. The worst thing you could do is contract with someone without proper insurance, then have them have an accident or damage your home, leaving you with extensive medical or repair bills without coverage. You can see a previous blog post we wrote on this subject here: Roofer’s Insurance.
Finally, ask for references from satisfied past customers and call them to verify that they were happy with the roofing contractor’s service, communication and timely completion of the job.
When you’re doing your due diligence and research the right roofing company for your job, make sure you make the roofer’s insurance a part of your questioning. Hiring a company with inadequate insurance could make the difference between a positive experience and a disaster.
They need to be affordable and fit your budget. Be sure to question the background of the roofing contractor you’re hiring by asking about their credentials. Make sure they have current licenses. Research their experience and make sure you get references from past customers. And don’t forget to check their standing with the Better Business Bureau. It is equally vital to make sure they carry adequate general liability and workman’s compensation insurance before you hire them.
General liability insurance covers the roofing contractor if there’s a claim that includes property damage, bodily injury or harm, and any personal injury that happens as a result of some action by the roofer. If an accident or something happens on the project that causes a lawsuit, the insurance would be available to cover the roofing company, and you as the homeowner or business owner, if a claim needs to be paid. As the owner that hired the roofing company, you don’t want to be involved in a lawsuit and paying for something that wasn’t your fault just because you own the property. This is important for you as the owner because you don’t want to be responsible for something happening on your property that is not your fault.
Workman’s Comp insurance compensates with money and medical benefits if any employee or subcontractor of the company you hire is injured while performing their duties on your project. If the roofer you hire, or any of their workers, were to get injured, they would file a claim for workman’s comp to replace their wages instead of suing the roofer or you, the homeowner or business owner.
When you’re hiring any type of contractor, to fix or replace your roof or any other type of service, its critical that they have adequate amounts of both these types of insurance.
When you’re trying to decide which material is best for your new roof, there are several factors to consider. Here in Arizona we have extreme heat in the summer months and beautiful, cool days in the winter. If you can take the summer heat, Arizona is a great place to live the rest of the year. However, with the extreme temperature changes form season to season, you need to make some intelligent choices about the materials you use to build a home.
Choosing the right material, whether you’re building a new house or replacing the roof on your existing home, will be a major factor in how your home looks and how long your roof lasts over time. If you live in a homeowners association, you may not have a choice. The two choices used the most here in Arizona are asphalt shingles and tile.
To hold up against the elements, asphalt shingles are made of one of two materials. They have either an organic or a fiberglass base and are coated with minerals and an asphalt saturation.
They come in a wide variety of colors and styles giving you options for the look you want. They’re very durable and make it easier for someone to be up on your roof without causing damage. They’re also considerably less expensive than tile.
There are a couple of drawbacks, however. First, they can discolor over time so that fresh, new look you have when they’re first installed may fade. Secondly, they make it a little more difficult to heat and cool your property, as the materials used on the top of your roof don’t breathe very well. If they’re properly maintained and inspected over time, they should last between 20 and 40 years, depending on the type of shingle used.
The most widely used option for roofing in our state, due to the extremely dry climate, is concrete or clay tile. They’re more expensive than asphalt shingles, but they have a longer lifespan – as much as 50 years – they’re easier on your utility bills as they’re more energy efficient, they give a much more “southwest” regional look to your property and they’re more heat resistant and fireproof.
They do have a couple of downsides, however. Concrete and clay tiles are much heavier than asphalt shingles, requiring an entirely different type of support system for your roof, adding to the cost. Also, they can become somewhat fragile, which can make them more likely to break or crack, especially if someone has to go up on the roof for some reason. They also have more costly periodic maintenance requirements than shingles.
As you can see, there are pros and cons to each type. Tile roof homes are usually appraised at higher values than shingles, and they both have their maintenance costs. But, in the end they’re both quality products that will last a long time with proper maintenance and protect your home well from the extreme elements we have here in Arizona. What it really comes down to is your personal preference of how you want your home to look and your budget, but either way is a great choice.
Arizona’s extreme weather conditions can be harsh on your roof. It is important to know what to expect regarding the lifespan of a new roof given these conditions. Many Arizona residents are hear for the warm winter weather, heading back to their summer homes once the temperatures rise. Their roofs are left behind amidst the big swings in temperatures, sometimes high winds, and rain from monsoon storms.
There isn’t a lot of rainfall, compared to other parts of the country, so you may think your roof here isn’t stressed as much as it might be somewhere else. Expanding and contracting materials tend to wear out quickly in fluctuating hot and cool temperatures. Monsoons then bring rain, high winds and blowing sand, which can damage a new roof in a hurry.
The type of material you use for your new roof depends on several factors including how you want your home to look and the budget you have to work with. A professional consultation with one of the professionals at Mikku and Sons Roofing and Repair can help in determining the right Phoenix roof installation for you. Here’s a list of the most common materials and how long they should last if you properly maintain them:
Something to keep in mind: it isn’t always the material on top that can cause problems. As mentioned above, with a tile roof, the underlayment that’s placed beneath the tiles for an extra layer of protection can dry out and will probably have to be replaced every 12 to 15 years. So, its important that you do inspections at certain intervals in the life of your roof and perform common maintenance tasks to insure you get the most possible years from your roof’s
materials.
The best way to make sure your roof lasts is to get it inspected on a regular basis. If you have gutters, make sure you’re cleaning and clearing them out monthly to get rid of any debris and ensure proper water flow from them. Keep an eye out for loose shingles or tiles, especially after monsoon storms, that could cause water to get under the top material. If you have tall trees, make sure you keep the branches trimmed and away from the roof so that they don’t drop leaves and other organic material on it. Tree branches can also scrape the top of your roof during strong winds and knock off shingles or tiles.
If you have a flat roof, check it after storms to make sure debris isn’t impeding the flow of water off of it and leaving standing pools that can erode the materials on top. Finally, inspect your roof yourself every 3 months and then have a professional roofing company inspect it annually to catch any problems you may have missed early. Your roof is one of the most vital and expensive components of your home. Follow these suggestions and it should last a good, long time.
Your roof is made up of big, heavy materials that work together in creating a barrier to the elements for your home. When you have a problem with it, it’s difficult to decide whether to replace or repair your roof with a new one. Here at Mikku and Sons Roofing, we’re experts in all things roofing. You need to make an intelligent decision. We can provide you with all the information you need to make that decision an informed and cost-effective one.
Eventually, every roof needs to be replaced. You need to know when the time is right because you don’t want to blow a lot of your hard-earned money on a big project that could be postponed. Consider these things:
If most of the roof is in good condition, it would make sense to fix the trouble spots and problem areas to save big bucks. Obviously, spot repairs are way less costly than full-blown replacements.
In case of wind damage, get in contact with your homeowner’s insurance agent because they may cover repairs. If it’s minor work, like replacing shingles, it can be completed for relatively little cost.
It’s easier to repair an older roof when you’re keeping up with regular maintenance and inspections. By doing the necessary repairs through the years, you will save money in the long run. Check yearly for dark spots or stains on your ceilings that could indicate damage, or paint that might be peeling on the underside of any overhangs. Have a professional roofing company, like Mikku and Sons Roofing, to come out and thoroughly check your roof to make sure there isn’t any cracking in the caulk, any buckled shingles, any rusty areas on the flashing, or, if you have a tile roof, any brittle or deteriorating underlayment.
If your roof only has partial damage to one side, it would make sense to only partially re-roof – which would save you a lot of money. However, If you think your roof needs complete replacing, here are a couple things to consider:
Do-it-yourself projects are currently very popular, but you should know when you need a phoenix roofer. Learn when it’s time to bring in the experts for the benefit of your home and your finances. A professional roofing company will help your roof look and perform at its very best, but they can’t make that happen unless you let them know when you need help.
Routine maintenance is an extremely important part of properly maintaining your roof. It will prevent avoidable problems down the road. No matter how simple the maintenance task might seem, you should leave the job to a professional who has the training, knowledge and experience necessary to do the job adequately. Your roof is your home’s strongest and most important line of protection. It only makes sense to do everything possible to protect it.
Getting Ready for a Move? If you’re planning on putting your home on the market in the near future, you can definitely increase its market value and curb appeal by tearing off your current worn out roof and replacing it with a new one. By investing in the repairs upfront, you can sell your property for more than you probably thought. Even if you’re planning on staying for some time, a new roof is a great way to improve your home’s exterior look for the better.
Visually inspect your roof several times a year, but a professional can do a much more thorough job. If you see any streaking, stains, buckling, curling or missing tiles or shingles, make sure to let your roofing contractor know as early as possible. Even if you don’t go up on your roof, you probably have problems with the materials if you ever see water stains in your attic, ceilings or walls on the interior of your home.
