For your roof to drain properly, you need 3 things; proper placement of drains, proper slope on your roof, and proper sized drains, which on a sloped roof would mean gutters. Also, consider the amount and intensity of rainfall you would normally encounter during storms.
What gutters and drains do is detour the water falling from your roof away from the exterior walls and foundation. If you have gutters, its critical that the materials they’re made of, how they’re installed and the maintenance you perform on them are needed to prevent damage to your roof. Blocked gutters or drains can cause water to back up below the membrane or pool on the surface in areas that could take a long time to dry out. You never want standing water on any roof surface.
For gutters, aluminum and steel are the most common material choices. They are durable and resist cracking, bending and corrosion. These are 3 of the most common cases of damage to a roof. Corrosion, cracking and bending of gutters are one of the most common causes of damage to roofs.
Proper maintenance and regular inspections of your downspouts and and gutters is crucial to keep water flowing away from your property. The downspouts that carry that water away tend to clog and back up and must be kept clear. Proper maintenance and regular checks of the downspouts and gutters is essential to keep water flowing smoothly away from your building.
One of the most common causes of roof damage is a clogged gutter. Most gutters are open-top, which tend to accumulate debris (leaves, sticks) along with nesting birds and rodents. When your gutter gets blocked, water stops flowing and spills over the edge in the wrong places. The pooling and spilling water can soak your roofing material and make it rot. Locations where the gutters or downspouts are blocked also make a great place for mold, mildew and algae to thrive and grow.
Proper installation of the roof drain and gutters is also extremely important. If they aren’t installed right, they will almost certainly fail. they have to be installed with the roof’s pitch and angles taken into account. You’ll have damage to your roof line, or the gutters will crack or pull away from your property if they aren’t installed properly.
If you have a commercial building, where and how many roof drains or gutters you place is critical. Drains should be located no more than 100 feet apart and no more than 50 feet from the roof’s perimeter.
Your city or state surely has building codes that need to be checked before you make any changes or additions to your building.
If you think your drainage apparatus isn’t working the way it should, you should call a professional roofing contractor to inspect it as soon as possible. they will be able to pinpoint any problems for you and should be knowledgeable about the type of drainage thats appropriate for your property and the areas applicable building codes.
No matter what type of property you own, the roof on it will usually have some sort of warranty. Actually, there are two types of warranties – the actual one and one that’s inferred or implied. Let’s learn more about roof warranties.
The materials manufacturer will issue a warranty guaranteeing that their product will perform to certain standards over a specific period of time. It could be 10, 15, 20 or even more years, depending on the type of material they’re made of. They are taking for granted that the installation was performed correctly and that routine maintenance is being done. Let’s say your roof is looking like it needs to be replaced and the materials were warrantied for 10 years. Also, lets say your roofing contractor did a good job following the installation instructions and installed your roof perfectly. If the materials fail during your 10 year warranty period, the manufacturer is guaranteeing that they will be replaced with no cost to you.
A roofing installation contractor should provide a warranty that their workmanship will be guaranteed over a specific period of time. The most common is 2 years. So, if your contractor makes a mistake in installing your roof, and it fails from their bad workmanship, the professional roofing contractor will honor their warranty and supply the materials and labor to fix the problem. Make sure you scrutinize this one very carefully, making sure both labor and materials are covered, not just one or the other.
This means that a product will do what its designed to do. An example would be a roof membrane keeping water out of your home. Another term for this warranty is merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. They usually come with some instructions (and warnings) from the manufacturer. An example would be if you or someone else that walked on the roofing membrane and caused it to leak or fail. If you don’t follow these instructions or warnings, you’ll have a problem getting the manufacturer to honor their warranty.
You’ll need to make sure you do whats necessary to maintain your roof once you’ve signed your warranty. With commercial roofing, property managers and building owners will hire facility managers and on-staff maintenance teams to make sure they comply with their maintenance requirements. Experienced professionals are aware of what they need to do (and avoid doing) to make sure they maintain their roof and hence, their warranty. Overall, improper maintenance will cause damage to your roof, so when you hire someone to do repairs, or any work on your roof, make sure they are competent and familiar with your roof system, along with the manufacturers specs and maintenance instructions.
When your roof has a problem and you think your warranty has been violated, property owners generally have 30 days to notify the manufacturer or roofing contractor. If you don’t, you’ll void the warranty. If you wait too long, the manufacturers and roofers won’t be legally required to fulfill their obligations (which includes repairing or replacing your roof). So, if you suspect something is amiss with your roof, get it inspected by a competent professional roofing contractor as soon as possible, so you can make your notifications in a timely manner.
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.
Discovering that you have serious damage to your roof can be stressful. Going through the insurance claim quagmire can require lots of contacts with insurance adjusters, roofing contractors, and in some instances, maybe even your mortgage company.
There are several roof repair insurance claim filing tips that will help minimize the hassle.
Getting roof repairs covered by your insurance company can be a difficult and confusing process. It is best to work with a certified, licensed, and locally experienced roofing contractor.
By doing so, you can make sure your roof damage claim is submitted correctly to your insurance company.
This will also ensure that the roof repair is handled quickly, accurately, and with the least amount of hassle. To make sure you can handle the insurance claim process, Mikku and Sons Roofing recommends you follow these five tips as a guideline.
If you think your roof is damaged, you should call a reputable and licensed roofing contractor immediately. Have them come out and inspect your roof. Even if your roof looks good from the outside, there could be serious internal damage.
You’ll want an experienced roofing specialist to come out and investigate to be sure. Some insurance policies have conditions that tell you how long you can wait after the damage has occurred and still have your roof covered under your policy. After a severe storm, as soon as it’s safe, have your roof inspected.
An experienced roofer will know where to check for damage and should be thorough in documenting the damage and how extensive it might be.
They will take pictures of damaged areas and get you a written explanation of what needs to be fixed and the estimated cost to repair. In some cases, you might have roof damage that isn’t serious enough to justify an insurance claim and in this case, your preferred roofing company can work with you to plan how to handle the repairs.
In more serious cases, you’ll need to get your homeowner’s insurance company involved and will need to provide proof of damage, including measurements, the events that led up to the damage, and dates and times the damage occurred.
It is always a good idea to take pictures of your roof periodically, especially after any maintenance has been done. Make sure the images are clear and well labeled with the date and time.
If possible, take several photos from different angles to show the whole roof and its condition. By doing this, you can make a more convincing argument and you will have visual proof to justify that the damaged areas were not there before the storm and were a direct result of the storm itself.
If you have extensive roof damage, be sure to contact your insurance company right away. If you wait too long, you may not be able to submit the claim.
Always have the latest copy of your homeowner’s insurance policy to see what statute of limitations there are for reporting damage and what types of roof damage are covered. Some homeowner’s policies have clauses detailing the amount of damage that will be covered.
For example, if your roof is over ten years old, your insurance company may only cover a portion of the roof replacement cost, based on the depreciated value of your roof. If there’s ever any question of the precise roofing insurance coverage you have, contact your insurance provider.
When you submit your claim, an adjuster will be sent to inspect the damaged areas and determine what the insurance company will pay out to repair or replace your roof.
If your claim is covered under your homeowner’s policy, you will have a certain amount available to repair the damage.
You can pick the roofing contractor to complete any repairs needed or to replace your entire roof. When selecting a contractor, make sure you ask for references and only use licensed and insured contractors. It’s okay to shop around and get more than one estimate to fix your roof.
By doing this, you can be comfortable that you’re not overpaying, and you’ll have a lot more information to choose a qualified roofing contractor that you think will complete the job correctly. Not every roofing contractor will provide insurance claim assistance.
At Mikku and Sons Roofing, we’re roof replacement specialists who will work with you to make sure your claim is submitted promptly to your insurance company, and that you get the maximum reimbursement for your roof repair issues.
Most roofing contractors will provide a free roof inspection and roof repair estimate. However, keep an eye out for contingency contracts that may be disguised as inspection reports.
By being led to signing one of these contracts you are agreeing to give the job to that roofing company if your insurance claim is approved. Remember, when you’re getting estimates, you should not need to sign anything.
If you are pressured into signing something, it’s probably time to find a more trustworthy roof replacement company.
Checking with the Better Business Bureau and selecting only the roofing companies that have an A or better rating is a good way to parry your list of options to only those roofing professionals that have a reputation for doing quality work.
We only think of them when there’s a problem, and we only replace them when we have to. But, when we do maintain them regularly, we can extend their useful life. It doesn't matter if you have a tile, shingle, flat roof, or foam roof it must be maintained.
We also need to make sure that our roof receives the proper maintenance to increase its useful life.
Guaranteeing roof life starts with regular inspections. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends inspecting all roofs twice a year: once after the coldest temperatures, once after the hottest temperatures. It’s also always good to scrutinize your roof following any major weather occurrence.
Establishing a schedule for routine, professional roof inspections should be a priority for property owners. Inspections are cheap and can provide critical information that can prevent expensive repairs later.
Also, regular roof inspections provide a checklist for routine maintenance work and enable owners to prepare budgets for the future. Roof inspections are the first step in a roof maintenance program that can help owners plan and schedule repairs instead of having to do expensive emergency repairs.
Few other property maintenance tasks provide a better return on investment than regular roof inspections.
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 check 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.
Leaks after heavy rain are one of the primary reasons roofs should be inspected. But a leak is only a sign of a problem that might have been building over time.
If you’re looking for a silver lining, a leak can actually be good news. Without evidence of a roof leak, a lingering problem of undetected water infiltration could continue to create hidden deterioration, such as rotting wood, mold, wet insulation, or corrosion.
It takes an experienced professional eye to conduct a thorough leak investigation and diagnosis because the entry point for water might be quite far away from the detection point. Leaks can be evidence of serious roof problems or minor issues.
Many roofs in excellent condition occasionally have issues due to minor flashing problems.
Few features are as important to roof performance as proper slope and drainage. Water standing on a roof increases the chance of leaks and water infiltration significantly. Making sure you have good drainage is a very important reason for regular roof inspections.
Leaves, trash, debris, and other objects can clog or obstruct roof drains, creating standing water. Regular cleaning of roofs can help remove such problems and allow water to drain properly, which reduces the chance of leaks. Also, water is heavy – weighing about 5 pounds per square foot per inch deep.
Poor drainage also causes deterioration of roofing materials, leading to a shorter life of the entire roof system.
If a leak occurs from standing water, insulation can get saturated over a wide area, which could require entire roof replacement.
Vegetation can grow on roofs when gutters and other low areas aren’t cleaned on a regular basis. Birds can land and nest on roofs.
They also deposit seeds, which will promote the growth of vegetation. Gutters are a particular source of problems because of the accumulation of dirt, seeds, and water. In addition, tree branches scraping on roofs during wind storms can cause serious damage.
Gutters should be cleaned regularly, and trees near your roof need to be trimmed to prevent contact with roof surfaces.
Many owners pay for repairs themselves that would be covered under a contractor or manufacturer’s roof warranty.
Leaks can be caused by a lot of things, only some of which are covered under a warranty. However, when a leak is found, you should have a qualified person perform an inspection to determine whether or not to file a warranty claim.
When a roof warranty claim is filed, the contractor or manufacturer will visit the property and make an assessment of whether the leak or repair is covered. The important thing for the property owner is keeping possession and ready access to the warranty paperwork, as well as timely filing of the claim.
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.
If you have water coming into your property, you have a leak and need roof leak repair. There are a lot of reasons that a roof might begin to let water into your home. By identifying what causes roof leaks most commonly, you might be able to help your roofer find a solution to your roof leak repair faster.
Also, we have provided a guide on quick ways to fix an emergency leak until you can find a professional to repair or replace your damage roof.
There lots of reasons a section of your shingles or tiles can go missing. High winds or sudden heavy rains can rip the shingles right off your roof, which will require roof leak repair. Also, missing shingles or tiles could mean that your roof has reached the end of its lifespan and you’re in need of a new roof. No matter the cause, having new shingles or tiles installed should be done right away to avoid major water damage inside.
You may not consider gutters to be a part of your roof system, but they play an important part when it comes to keeping roof leak repair to a minimum.They take rain water away from the roof and the foundation of your property, preventing water from backing up under shingles or ending up pooling next to your foundation. Your gutters can become clogged by debris, causing rainwater to back up, which means another roof leak repair.
Many property like to do their own roof leak repair to keep costs down. While DIY roof leak repair can save money, it might also result in the need for major roof leak repair. Walking on the roof can cause damage to the shingles and the underlying structure. If the roof is already damaged, one wrong step could cause a major roof leak repair problem that can be hard to find.
Flashing is metal installed around roof penetrations. They form a barrier to keep moisture from finding its way in between the shingles and the weaker areas of your roof. Over time, the metal can corrode away or the seal around it may crack, giving rain access to the attic and your living space. If the rest of the roof is in good shape, the old flashing can be replaced. A professional roofing contractor will just lift the surrounding shingles or tiles, pull the old sheet metal out and install new pieces. Once its sealed, the roof leak repair is complete and your roof should stop leaking.
Roof valleys are where two roof planes come together to create an inverted corner. They can add a dynamic roof line, but these areas are also weaker than other areas and they can collect water. If the leak is coming from a valley, you’ll see a line of water running where the seam occurs, and you’ll need another roof leak repair. New leak barriers could be needed. A new layer of shingles keeps the water moving down the roof and collected by the gutters.
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.
