Uncategorized – Page 7

When you put on a new roof, you expect it to last at least 20-years. Having the right contractor for the job is critical in getting your money’s worth. A properly installed roof takes time and is not cheap — it’s truly an investment in your home. But if a contractor cuts corners either due to inexperience or to give you the cheapest price just to get the job, a new roof could fail. Here are some things to consider if you have recently put on a new roof and are experiencing problems.

Poor installation. Even if a contractor installs the best shingle available, if it’s not installed correctly, the roof can fail. Using a contractor who is experienced in installing a particular manufacturer’s product is important because they have experience with the products and know how things like the manufacturer’s roof deck protection, leak barriers, and ventilation all work together to help protect your home.
Inadequate ventilation. A properly balanced attic ventilation system* helps to keep your roof healthy. A combination of intake, which allows cool, fresh air to enter the attic and exhaust, which pushes hot, moist air out, is needed. During the hot summer months, improper ventilation can contribute to damaging heat and moisture build up in the attic. In the winter, improper ventilation can be a factor in the formation of ice dams. Make sure your contractor addresses ventilation in your home and inspects the attic space.
Skimping on materials. Don’t just choose the cheapest bid, as that can come at a price if a contractor skimps on items such as edge metal, sealants, or leak barriers. Ask contractors what materials they use. If a contractor is skimping on important items like sealants and leak barriers, paying a bit more upfront may be worth it.
Cutting corners on flashing. Some contractors think chimney flashings are installed more for design than function, so they may cut corners and just use caulk to seal. Caulk can break down over time and can cause water to enter the home through the flashing. Step flashing combined with counter flashing is a good way for your contractor to waterproof a chimney, skylight, or wall. It takes more labor to do the job right, so you need to understand that cutting corners just puts your home at risk — and could cost more in the long run.

If you have questions about your roof, feel free to contact us! We are happy to help, even if we did not install it.

As a general contractor, we often advertise ourselves as a one-stop shop of sorts for customers. This is because we can do everything from a full kitchen or bath remodel, exterior work like new roof or siding, decking and porticoes to full restoration services for after a fire or water loss. That doesn’t mean, however, that we’re a jack of all trades and master of none. You see, within our company, we have people who specialize in each individual field.

The benefit of being an established company with over 26-years of experience is that we are able to hire the most skilled individuals in each field. We have project managers that just work within storm damage insurance claims and project managers that only work on large losses. We have those who specialize in retail and those who work behind the scenes with the project managers on the coordination of each job trade.

Getting the Best Service…

By structuring our business this way, our team is able to fully master their trade. The complexities on a fire rebuild will be vastly different than that of a retail kitchen. It doesn’t make sense to have one person try to master both. It would be like having your general practitioner perform surgery in place of an actual surgeon just because he went to medical school.

When you work with a general contractor, be sure to bring up this point. Many companies have the same project managers writing retail estimates, working on hail claims, and also working on water losses. No one can do it all well and you are better off working with someone who specializes in the service you are looking to have done. This ensure you are truly getting the best possible service.

4 Reasons a New Roof Could Fail

Jack of All, Master of None