When you need an emergency roof repair service, we don’t recommend that homeowners try to tarp or repair a roof on their own. It is work best handled by an expert repair company that has a lot of experience with it. However, there are times when professional cannot be found immediately and a property owner may need to take drastic action to preserve their property.
Tarping a roof is a project to be completed only when a professional roofing contractor is not available, and the situation needs immediate attention to prevent further damage. This type of emergency roof repair is a temporary fix for a major roof leak and should only be attempted in a safe environment with the right array of safety equipment being used. Make sure you have at least one additional person to help in the repair. Final repairs are best left to a roofing professional that has the equipment and expertise to do it safely and permanently.
Rooftops are dangerous when wet, especially with tarps. Tarps can even be slippery when they are dry, so extreme caution is advised at all times. Be careful.
Finding the exact spot that is causing the leak might be hard if an obvious damage spot is not clearly seen. Storm damage can range from large, highly visible damage or tears to almost undetectable penetrations. Even small types of damage can hurt the surface of your roof and lead to bigger problems over time. Leaks look like they start in one area, but water usually moves in ways that you don’t expect.
Start by checking the underside of the roof for water stains. Go up into the attic, if you have one, and see if you can spot where the water is coming from that is leaking into your property.
Find the problem area in question on the roof.
Make sure to install your material over the ridge. If the material is installed just shy of the ridge, it allows water to run freely right under the plastic and, again, inside your house.
For more tips and tricks on how to measure your roof, take a look at our guide!
You hear advice all the time when you’re looking for a roofing contractor in Arizona that you should never hire unlicensed roofing contractors to do your work.
What's the reason for this? Does it truly even matter? Some property owners think that if the roofing contractor does good work based on a referral from an acquaintance or family member and they had a good experience, then why should it matter if they don’t have a license.
And, as a bonus, they can probably save some money in the process.
If you have a dispute with a licensed contractor, you can call the company’s licensing agency for help in mediation. They also may be able to help recover any monetary losses you might have incurred.
But, if you have an issue with an unlicensed contractor that they refuse to resolve, you’ll have to make a decision about filing a civil lawsuit. That isn’t something that you’re likely to have much success with.
Legal expenses are high and, even if you should win, you might never be able to collect any funds because unlicensed contractors are notorious for going in and out of business.
Who knows how long they’ll be there to pay you, or they could just disappear completely leaving you holding the bag.
The reality is, an unlicensed contractor doesn’t have the same incentive to do quality work because it’s easier for them to get away with providing minimal service and poor work quality, due to the fact that your choices are limited with legal action.
So, let's say some unlicensed contractor doesn’t finish your roofing project and runs off with your money? Good luck trying to find them and trying to get any compensation or having the work finished!
Or does not honor their warranty after a rainstorm reveals a leak on their handy work.
Worker’s comp and liability insurance are expensive for a contractor. Because of this, unlicensed contractors many times will not carry these vitally important policies. Just as important for you as it is for them.
If a roofing contractor’s crew member gets injured while working on your roof, without worker’s comp insurance would mean you’ll likely be responsible for paying for their medical bills. Have you checked the cost of a week-long hospital stay lately?
Without liability insurance, if a contractor damages your home and refuses to fix it, you’re out of luck and you’ll have to pay for the damages yourself.
A “Bond” is a type of insurance that compensates you if the contractor doesn’t complete the job as you’ve requested or contracted them to do.
Unlicensed contractors usually won’t even offer a written and signed contract, much less be bonded with an adequate amount.
Therefore, if the finished roof project isn’t what you thought you were getting, that’s your tough luck! There’s no bond available for you to make a claim on.
To obtain a license, a contractor is tested on their knowledge and application of local building codes.
Here’s why this could be a big problem:
If you decide to sell your property and during the inspection process the home inspector points out that your roof isn’t built to code, you’ll be responsible for fixing that before the Buyer or the Lender will move forward to close on the purchase.
Fixing something like this in a short time frame could cost thousands of dollars that you had no idea you were going to be liable for.
Also, disclosing to an inspector that you hired an unlicensed roofing contractor to fix any past issues with your roof could greatly decrease the property’s value, if the inspector or the Buyer isn’t comfortable with assuming the liability for an unlicensed contractor’s work.
Obtaining a license means that a roofer meets minimum industry training standards and work experience. This is in place to protect consumers like you.
If a contractor is unlicensed, you don’t have any idea about their level of competency or experience. Low-quality roofing work and materials can backfire on you later in a big way.
We have severe monsoon storms every summer in Arizona. Imagine seeing your roof literally blown off in the middle of one of these storms because the unlicensed contractor that did the work either cut corners, didn’t really know what they were doing, or used subpar materials to get the work done and pad their profits!
Don’t settle for a simple handshake. Get your roof work completed by licensed, professional, experienced contractors. If they cut corners by not paying for licensing, insurance or bonding, they’re likely cutting corners on the work too.
The monsoon season will quickly be upon us. When you’re outside your house, you’ll feel like you’re inside an oven. But the rain eventually comes and helps to cool things down a little and give us some relief. However, those rains also turn into monsoon storms that can flood your property and damage your home. Monsoon storms usually include heavy rain and strong wind, both of which can damage your property and put you in critical need of a professional, experienced roof repair contractor. Here are some tips to get your roof ready for monsoon storms.
In these circumstances, your roof will probably take the worst beating. The intense summer heat can break down the shingles or tiles and the underlayment below them. Strong rain and wind can tear your tiles and shingles off your roof and damage other parts of your roof, leading to potentially expensive repairs. Preparing your roof for the storm season can help it survive with as little amount of damage as possible. However, once the damage has happened, you will need a licensed, experienced roofing company to inspect the damage.
Before the monsoon season gets started, call a recommended roofing company and have your roof completely inspected. The roofing contractor will look for signs of any loose or missing shingles or tiles, gaps or cracks around any flashings, also checking for deterioration in sealants or the underlayment. Any problems can make your roof susceptible to the strong rain and wind that come with the storms.
If your roofer finds any issues or signs of potential problems during the inspection, have the repairs taken care of before the monsoon season picks up. You will be making sure your roof is in the best shape possible to fight off tears and cracks that can lead to moisture leaks. Make sure any loose tiles or shingles are fastened or replaced. Update the seals around flashings and other roof elements. Make sure that your roof is strong and provides a strong barrier between your home and the coming violent storms.
Strong monsoon winds and rain won’t just beat on your roof. They’ll also pick up objects and toss them against your house. Big sticks and branches, small rocks and loose personal items can all become flying missiles in a strong monsoon storms. You can keep the risk low by keeping your yard clear of debris and personal items. Pick up all debris on a regular basis. You won’t be able to completely eliminate the risk since monsoons can pick up items from nearby properties and toss them against your property, but taking this simple precaution can reduce the potential damages.
The flexibility of shingle roofing is demonstrated here in our diverse Arizona weather. Most cities in Arizona have warm and dry weather. In the major metro areas of Phoenix and Tucson, summer months bring hot, sweltering days and winter brings crisp cool air. Other areas in North Central and Northern Arizona have a mountainous climate where the summers are mild and sunny and winters have snow and cold winds. In this article, we will be discussing the pros and cons of shingle roofs.
When it comes time to hire a roofing contractor, it’s not always an easy process. It’s certainly very easy to get on the internet and look at the various companies who claim all kinds of things, but how do you know the work you get will be quality and guaranteed? As a homeowner, a roofing contractor is one of the most important people you will need. Let’s face it, our roof keeps us dry and warm so we need to take care of it! Your property’s continued existence literally depends on your roof’s performance. This is why you need to hire the right roofing contractor.
Hiring a roofer doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Following some simple steps should ensure that you have a positive result. Your roof is one of the most important parts of your property, so take care of it! Remember, if your roof is damaged by weather or other disasters, a good roofing contractor will handle your insurance claims for you!
Don’t just rely on the internet or advertising; ask family and friends and find out about their experiences. If they were satisfied, it’s a pretty sure bet it’s a good company that you can trust to do the job right too.
Once you get a good report from your friends who have used the roofing contractor, be sure to ask questions, such as areas of special expertise and if they are licensed and insured. You should also check with the Better Business Bureau and look online for reviews. Ask them for some recent referrals of jobs they’ve completed and call up their past customers.
Ask them to come to your house so you can discuss the work you need done, as well as what it will entail and how much it will cost. Ask about the time needed to complete the job, as well. Don’t be afraid to ask some difficult questions and if they dodge or won’t answer them, move on to someone else.
After you’ve decided on the company or roofing contractor you would like to hire, draw up a contract! It’s VERY important to have it all in writing and make sure you both sign it and agree to the terms. The contract should include all the details about the job, materials, cost and time. Give the contractor a chance to review the contract and adjust it if necessary. The bottom line here is that you are both on the same page about the task at hand.
A few extra points to consider asking about are clean-up procedures, how compensation is to be handled, liability, and safety concerns. Finally, you should also see to it that a lien waiver is established if there’s a third party involved so if the roofing contractor has failed to pay a vendor, you will not be responsible.
Some maintenance do’s and don’t’s and basic rules for taking care of a flat roof are common sense. You would be surprised what some flat roof owners do to jeopardize their roof. The worst thing you can do is neglect it. Small issues can turn into big problems quickly.
You should clean your roof during and after the fall season, especially if you have trees that can drop debris. Here in Arizona, you should always inspect your roof after monsoon storms. Strong winds can throw debris up on your roof, even from other properties. You may not even know there is damage causing debris up there if you don’t take a look. Always keep your flat roof clear of organic debris that could cause punctures or residual damage.
Make sure any equipment that must be attached to roof is properly attached without causing punctures to the roof materials. If possible, mount equipment on top of a platform to limit damages to the roof materials. If your material uses fasteners, make sure they are tight and secure.
Check draining systems and clean out any debris. Make sure you have adequate draining for your roof, if you notice a lot of ponding water you may need better drainage, clean them, or possibly have an area that needs something to stop ponding water. Some spots that have ponding water need leveling to help the water flow to the drain system. Ponding water can cause a flat roof to deteriorate quickly, so once its detected, remove it as quickly as possible and make sure the drain systems keep it from re-occurring.
Flat roofs will have issues with pressure from too much weight, such as too much heavy equipment for the way the structure of the roof was built, snow and ice weight, water weight or even random things on the roof that shouldn’t be there. You should have some sort of documentation from the builders and designers that specifies the amount of weight your flat roof can withstand. If there is an area that is not supported well and too much weight exists there, the roof can eventually collapse, causing all kinds of damage and even jeopardize your families well being.
If you haven’t had it inspected for some time, or have put off repairs that need to be done for some time, do not wait. Call a professional flat roof contractor to inspect your roof and give you advice on the best way to maintain or repair it. The number one reason flat roofs have to be replaced is due to neglecting the roof’s need for repairs and maintenance.
Exposure can cause damage to the material or other damage to the roof decking. Some roofing materials can become damaged with other products that aren’t made for the specific type of roof you may have.
Got a roof that needs some restoration love, but trying to figure out how much it’s going to cost before you make a decision? Most roofing contractors offer free estimates. So you can easily compare prices between companies before committing to hiring a contractor.
We would advise getting at least 3 free repair estimates to get a feel for what the average cost of your roof repair should be. If you’re looking for a ballpark range, the cost to restore a roof in Arizona can range from $350 to $2,000+ depending on 3 Items.
Your roofing material strongly alters the restore cost. For example, concrete tile rates about 3 times as much as heavyweight asphalt shingles. And clay tiles are slightly more expensive than concrete tiles, which comes from the Tile Roofing Institute. So, if you have tile, you shouldn’t be surprised if the estimated cost seems a little higher than you’re expecting. While it may cost more to repair, tile roofing lasts longer and is more fire resistant than asphalt shingles.
To make things a little more complicated, the tile on your roof imay not be available in the marketplace. During the economic downturn, many tile manufacturers shut their doors – and with them their proprietary molds. The molds impact the direction tile connects with each other and actually lay on the roof. This may require doing a larger part of tile in order to have a logical start and stop point.
Answers to these questions (and others) will determine the needed supplies and amount of time required to do the repairs.
This is why we strongly recommend getting at least 3 free bids. You need to get a feel for :
For example the same roof repair in California would most likely be more expensive than a repair in Phoenix. The average roof repair cost in Los Angeles County, CA, ranges from $300 to $1,800. If you had a roof repair that costed $1,800 in California, same repair may only cost $1,500 in
When you get estimates, don’t just jump at the cheapest one, because how long they’ve been in business matters. Some say the best way to selected a roofing contractor is to find at a 10 -year-old yellow pages volume. If they’re listed in that volume and they’re still in business, they should be on your short list of contractors to use. Then, carefully check each bid to see if you’re getting apples to apples services. One contractor may skimp out on important work to give you a lower bid.
Once you get a few repair approximations, you might feel like replacing your old roof is perhaps more cost effective in the long run. Once you’ve chosen your roofing company, have that conversation with them and determine what the best and most cost effective option will be.
Would you know what to do if a tree fell on your roof in the middle of one of our violent monsoon storms? You depend on your roof to protect everything inside your home, but what if high winds ripped it apart in the middle of the night? Who would you call and what would you do?
Once the roof has been damaged, its going to probably allow some water to get through to the underlayment and possibly into your home. The first thing you need is some sort of protective cover or tarp to keep the damaged area from continuing to be exposed to the elements, and hopefully, to keep any more water damage from happening. Most of the time, unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until the the weather subsides to get a company out to cover the damaged area until repairs can be completed.
Mother Nature can definitely wreak havoc on roofing systems. Winds over 50 mph, which can be quite common during our monsoon storms, can tear shingles off the roof and move loose tiles, which exposes the underlayment and substrate of your roof. This is where the real damage occurs. The limbs of trees close to your home can whip in the wind with branches raking tiles or shingles off your roof. Limbs can literally be knocked off trees and poke holes in your roof when falling on it. It’s also possible for lightning to strike your home, blowing a hole right through your roof.
Roofing contractors have to protect their employees, first and foremost. Don’t expect an emergency roofing company to run out in the middle of a violent storm to immediately solve your problem. They will usually wait until the storm subsides, then handle as many of their emergency calls as their schedule will allow. There’s not much any roofing company can do in the middle of a storm with high winds and lightning. If the emergency repair is caused by a fire, the roofing company has to assess the structural integrity of the property before placing their crews on the roof, to make sure it can support the crew and equipment needed to do the job.
The first rule is – don’t panic. The damage to the roof has already happened and there’s nothing you can do about it except try to protect your valuables inside until the damaged area can be covered somehow. Contact a professional roofing contractor and your insurance provider as quickly as possible. Once the damaged area has been secured, take your time to choose the right roofing company for the job and to consider your repair options.
First, be careful of storm chasers. These are fly-by-night companies that swoop in after storms to pressure homeowners into getting their roofs fixed ASAP. They’re probably not licensed or insured and won’t be around if you have problems with their repairs down the road. Second, never try to go up and try to fix or assess damage yourself, especially during a storm. There’s no sense in making the problem a hundred times worse by adding a trip to the emergency room.
Tile roofs are beautiful. They’re durable, long lasting and offer southwest style to any home. But they develop problems just like any other type of roof. Like most roof problems, the sooner a problem is discovered, the better. You’ll spend way less money fixing immediately than having to deal with bigger problems that may develop down the road. In light of this, we’d like to point out a few common problems with tile roofs, so you can contact a reliable roofing contractor to fix your problem as soon as you spot it.
If you use quality materials, keep debris clear, inspect regularly and only use professional, licensed contractors to work on it, your tile roof will provide many years of protection and beauty to your home or business.
One of the biggest problems is using poor quality materials to install on your roof. Make sure you purchase tiles for your roof that are ASTM certified. The market for roofing materials has been strong and there’s been a flood low quality tiles pushed to consumers because of this. If you use non-ASTM certified tiles, your roof’s lifespan will be significantly reduced and you’ll have much more frequent need for repairs. Saving money in the installation will only cost you much more down the road.
Even if you use top quality tiles, if you use inexperienced , unlicensed or amateur contractors to install them, you’ll be sorry later. Make sure you’re hiring a reliable, professional, properly licensed and insured company like this one to do the job. This goes for any repairs you need, also. Don’t hire a handyman or someone that will do a cheap job for you to make any repairs on your roof. Make sure , again, that they’re a professional roofing contractor.
Material build-up on the tiles. The material tiles are made of is porous and susceptible to moisture and organic debris. If you have any trees that are constantly drooping leaves, branches, twigs or other debris on your roof, make sure you are diligent about removing it from your roof on a consistent basis. If you don’t, the tiles will begin to wear out and crack, or the debris will work its way under the tiles and destroy the integrity of the underlayment.
Storms and weather. Here in Arizona, we can have violent, sudden storms, especially during the monsoon season. High winds can knock tiles loose or cause them to slide, exposing the underlayment below. If you have trees near your roof, branches can sway in the wind and wreak havoc on your tiles. Make sure you check your roof after storms and have a professional roofing contractor inspect your roofs integrity at least once a year before the storm season starts.
Walking on the roof. Tiles are made from cast concrete or clay and can be broken if walked upon. Clay tiles can be especially sensitive to weight. Don’t walk on your roof unless there’s no way to avoid it. If you need to have a section of your roof checked that is hard to see from the ground, hire a professional roofer to inspect the area for you, to avoid risk and damage to the roof.
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.
