Restoration – Page 9

We always hear skepticism from customers when we schedule their roof replacement in the winter months. There are so many myths surrounding winter roofing, the hesitation comes with good reason but it is important to sort fact from fiction. The truth is there are two main factors to consider when trying to decide if you should replace you roof now or hold off until spring

Is it logistically possible?

The first are the logistical concerns that come along with freezing temperatures and unpredictable weather. Roofing requires certain tools and some, like compressors and nail guns, can be affected by the cold. When compressing and releasing the air in your system, humidity will turn into water. If the temperature is freezing, the water may freeze in the airlines and reduce the airflow that the installer receives on the roof. Nails needs to be installed flush with the shingle, not overdriven or under driven. When the airline is obstructed by ice, nails may not be pushed as deep as they should, which introduces a risk for under driven nails.

The human risk

Morale in roofing is very important, as it is in many other trades—when people hate their job, they cut corners. Especially if those corners can make them go home faster! Starting the day shoveling and ice-breaking on the roof doesn’t help the morale of the crew. Roofing is also very physically demanding and because of the need to use your fingers precisely and bend your toes, a contractor can only wear small gloves and boots. For most roofers, it is uncomfortable below freezing and impossible below 20°F and probably not smart to proceed.

The verdict?

Trust your contractor. We’ve been doing this for over 26-years and we know the capabilities of our crews and equipment. Furthermore, we warrant our work for 10-years, so we would never put on a shoddy roof. If your contractor is properly certified, has customer references, a strong warranty and you trust them enough to install your roof, you should also trust their judgment. If you have doubts, feel free to contact us for a second opinion.

Over Labor Day weekend, while most were at cook-outs or enjoying the beach, we were assisting a homeowner after her house fire. We are committed to our 1-hour guaranteed response time and that does not bend for convenience. It goes above just plastering a slogan on our vehicles or website. It is about honoring our word. It is about the needs of the homeowner.

When we arrived at this town house fire on Labor Day weekend, the customer was standing alone outside her burned down house as the fire department was pulling away. She was wearing only the tattered clothes she escaped in and she did not even have a phone to call her family. This is exactly the type of situation that sparked our victim assistance program and creating a 1-hour response time. We saw countless homeowner’s left vulnerable and unsure of what to do after their major property loss.

When our victim assistance director arrived, he was able to give that homeowner comfortable clothes, hot coffee and his phone to call her family. Had he not responded so quickly, what would she have done? Time and time again we hear about so called, “emergency response” companies who do not show up until the next business day at best and a week later at worst. This not only allows damage to worsen but it leaves the homeowner completely helpless.

Even more importantly, our victim assistance director was able to offer her guidance on what to do next. He is not only a retired firefighter but he is also well versed in the insurance restoration business. He helped her call her insurance company and waited with her until her sister showed up. He also helped her figure out temporary housing and gave her a bag full of toiletries so she wouldn’t have to worry about one more thing.

After serving our communities for the past decade on major property losses, the worst part of any fire was seeing homeowners left so vulnerable like this one. Emergency services have to be about more than just boarding up a property or water mitigation. They have to also include services for the homeowner like temporary shelter, toiletries and guidance. As a local business, we have a greater level of compassion for our customers. We operate our business with customer service as the focus rather than profit margins.It is this compassion that lead to 1-800-BoardUp and our victim assistance program. Emergencies do not take holidays off and people will always need help, which is why we will always honor our 1-hour response time.

Can you really roof in the winter?

Why Victim Assistance is Vital