Top 10 Roofing Tips That Will Save You $1000 s per Year

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1 1. Have it professionally inspected twice a year. By professionally inspecting your roof in the spring and in the fall, you will be able to catch little problems on your roof that can lead to bigger expenses. Preventative inspection and maintenance is a key to extending the life of your roof and avoiding those unexpected repair bills that can surface due to lack of proper maintenance. 2. Do maintenance work on it as needed- not waiting until it s too late. You might not realize it, but investing in roof cleaning services is not just about having a good looking house (though this is a nice side benefit). More importantly, it s about making the effort to keep up with a maintenance issue that, if ignored, can lead to bigger problems in the future. Those ugly black streaks that you ve probably noticed on your roof are a product of Gloeocapsa Magma, which is an extremely hardy kind of blue-green algae. Algae might seem innocent enough, but the truth is that if allowed to run wild it will eventually begin to compromise the integrity and overall health of your asphalt shingles. This process of shingle infestation begins when an algae spore or group of spores, traveling through the air, lands on and attaches itself to your roof. It then begins the process of consuming the limestone filler in your shingles granules, spreading and multiplying as it goes. This filler material is now used by shingle manufacturers because it lowers the costs to make their product. The limestone works as a source of food for the algae and gives it the ability to expand and eventually take over bigger and bigger sections of your roof s surface area. It might seem gross or unseemly but it s a fact that these roof stains are indicative that your shingles are literally being eaten away! If the algae growth goes unchecked for too long you ll eventually start losing roof granules, which are very important to the reflective properties of your roof. If these surface granules are lost it usually leads to heat build-up in the attic, which amounts to higher energy costs, especially on those steamy summer days when the AC is working overtime to try to keep up! Not only that, but the loss of shingle granules and the further erosion of your roof s surface could very easily shave many years off the life of your roof. With brand new roofs costing between $5,000 and $15,000 nowadays for average size homes, it s a wonder why some homeowners wouldn t do everything in their power to maximize their roof s lifespan. Look into a professional roof cleaning, inspection and maintenance service as needed, because you ll not only enjoy a better-looking house but you ll be helping to protect what is most likely your biggest financial investment: your home! 3. Make sure you have the right type of roofing material for your style of home. Depending upon when your home was built and what kind of weather conditions your home needs to withstand, there are a variety of options that are perfect for your roof. A reputable roofing company can do an inspection on your home and inform you if the materials used are the best for your type of home and the construction that was used for your roof. A common costly mistake is for homeowners to place a heavy weight roofing material on a frame constructed for light weight roofs. This can cost you a large amount of money if the roof were to collapse under its own weight! An ethical roofing

2 company will let you know if the materials you are using are right for your home. Another consideration for your choice of roofing materials is the style of your house. The esthetics and curb appeal of your home are important to maintaining the value of your home and the wrong style of roofing for your home can not only detract from curb appeal but can make it difficult to sell when you are ready. 4. Invest into new and improved solar technology. Nobody enjoys getting bills in the mail; especially high electricity and power bills. Because of this, more and more people are looking to install solar roof shingles on the top of their house. It is cost efficient, easy to installed, and new solar panels are very aesthetically pleasing. There are a number of things that make solar shingles appealing. Everything from the price of electricity, available sunshine, and incentives by local and state governments has made this idea worth looking into. While there are a number of variables that determine the price, it is up to you to take the time to research and find the best deals. Some people get confused over the price because solar roofing shingles at one point in time were quite expensive. However, the price for these shingles has drastically decreased since its initial price. The reduction in the cost of solar shingles makes these a worthwhile investment that will cut down your power bill monumentally. While the price for solar roof shingles is reasonable, there are a number of other enticing features about these shingles. They are made for a twenty year power output, supplying you with more power for far cheaper than you are paying right now. In addition, it does come with warranties in case something bad was to happen. You will notice that the price of the actual shingles themselves is higher than traditional shingles so it s important to look at the long run with these kinds of projects. You are going to save a lot of money down the road with your electric bill. If you do intend on purchasing and using solar shingles, it is vital you check with your local and state governments. To many people s amazement, you can actually benefit from the government as well for using solar roofing shingles. Many governments will offer incentives and perhaps even some tax credit. In addition, these kinds of shingles do not require you to go out and purchase additional support structures. Save your money and use it on something else, because it is strong enough as is to support up to 80 mile per hour winds. When first shopping for solar shingles, it may be difficult to purchase the more expensive shingles over the traditional non solar roofing materials. But if you truly want to save money, going with solar roof shingles is the way to go. 5. Make sure your attic has the right kind of efficient ventilation.

3 An attic should be so designed that fresh air should continuously move through it. This is important to ensure that the mold does not grow and allows the home to emanate a fresh smell. Ventilation is essential for removing hot air, which eases the load on the air conditioner and lowering utility bills. The second benefit to efficient ventilation of your attic is the reduction of moisture and humidity buildup. Mold loves to live in dark, damp places such as attics. Removing the food that allows mold to grow, (moisture) you reduce the chances of molds and mildew infesting your attic and home. The importance of venting your attic cannot be overlooked. In hot dry climates, stagnant air can dry out your trusses, increase your energy costs for air conditioning and make your house uncomfortable. In cold weather conditions, under venting means moisture build-up or even ice in the attic insulation, rotted roof decking, mildew, even structural damage. There are many styles of ventilation options to consider for your style of home. Some older homes may have outdated, blocked or inefficient roof vents thus increasing your utility bills unnecessarily. Updating to more current and energy efficient models of roof vents can easily save you thousands of dollars! The movement of attic air can be achieved in various ways, with the heat-activated roof vent being one. After the temperature in the attic rises to a certain degree, the roof vents are activated and air out the attic. The only disadvantage of this system is that it needs power lines to be switched on in the attic, thereby inflating electricity bills too. Dormer vents have been the vents of choice for many years providing movement of air out of your attic. Soffit vents are also common method of providing an entry point for exterior (cooler) air into the roof space. These are rectangular rigid-louver vents with a screen, usually fiberglass, to keep bugs out. Turbine vents, also called a whirlybird fan is a traditionally used device used to draw hot air from the attic. It operates in a simple manner; the top part is a metal globe with angled fins that catch the wind and spin the globe on its base. The spinning action draws the air from the soffit, through the attic, and exhausts it to the atmosphere. Ridge vents Ridge vents are commonly used nowadays to vent the attic space in both new construction and on roof replacement jobs. They re mounted along the home s roof ridge and blend in nicely since they re covered with matching shingles. Power roof vent The power roof vent draws the air out in a similar spinning fashion to the turbine vent, but doesn t depend on the speed of the wind to power it. This vent is triggered on and off by a thermostat mounted inside the attic and is powered by the home s electrical flow. Solar powered roof-mount attic vent - Solar power roof vents function along the same lines as the regular electric models and circulates as much air as possible. Some people say solar vents state that these vents do not function properly on cloudy days, but the internal temperature of the attic will also be cooler on those days, thus reducing the workload of the fans. Cost is another consideration of solar power roof vents, as

4 they are costlier than regular electric roof vents. But you can offset these high prices by the energy savings made from these vents. These roof vents are highly energy-efficient, environment-friendly and do not need any electrical wiring. This puts them in the green-building practices arena since they use a renewable power source. While buying roof vents, you should be aware of the square foot area of your home in order to select the unit of appropriate size. The general solar power roof vents travel about 800 cubic feet per minute and every location will have its own unique requirements depending on the climate. Your local solar dealer or roofing contractor can advise you on selecting the appropriate model for your home. Despite the higher initial cost, solar power roof vents can help in saving the money and energy over a period of time. But always follow the manufacturer s directions for installations and opt for a correctly-sized model for your home. 6. Make sure your roof has enough insulation and the correct kind. Roof insulation is an absolute must for all houses. Proper roof insulation can reduce heating costs by approximately 13 percent; saving you money and greenhouse gas emissions. A well insulated roof can also substantially contribute to keeping your house cooler during the hotter months. Even though your walls, floors, and ceilings should all be equally padded, don t forget that your roof is also responsible for maintaining temperature control. Like wearing a stocking cap on a cold winter s day, the top of your house is what holds in the heat. And since heat always rises, it is critical that you have adequate roof insulation in order to keep your energy from escaping. One of the fastest ways to reduce your heating and cooling costs is to make sure your attic is properly insulated. Homes that had insulation installed many years ago may not be as energy efficient as a new home. Another area of roofs that are often costly to the home owner is: vaulted or cathedral ceilings. Since the design of these roof styles do not have the traditional attic space as peaked or flat roof, there is usually little to no insulation underneath the roof. This can cause heat to build up in the ceiling during hot summer months and can allow warm inside air to escape easily during the winter months. Good news! New advances in roofing materials now provide home owners with these style roofs an option. You can now get a technologically advanced type of insulation to go under your roofing materials on your vaulted or cathedral ceilings. For most people, a simple look into your attic will give you a visual on how your insulation is holding up. Is it pulled away from the corners of your roof? Do you see patches in the insulation between the beams? Is your insulation level with your beams or has it settled below the top of them? If your heating and or air conditioning bill is higher than it should be, consider having a professional roofing contractor come out to advise on upgrading your insulation. There are many styles to choose from including fiberglass fill and newer options that fit environmentally friendly green standards.

5 7. Lower your electric bill with energy efficient skylights or skylight covers. Skylights are a great way to reduce the use of electricity for lighting your home, however, in hot summer months, older skylights can add to the cost of cooling your home. New, energy efficient skylights allow you to have natural light into your home while keeping your cooling costs down. Advances in materials used for skylights have reduced heat loss for greater efficiency and cost savings. A temporary option is to use a skylight cover. A skylight cover will block up to 80% of the heat generated into your home from your skylight while still letting some light through your skylight. It isn t permanent though. A skylight cover can be easily removed during the cooler weather months allowing the solar heat to come in when you need it. For some people, the better option is to upgrade to the energy efficient skylights. They are professionally installed and you do not have to climb onto the roof yourself to remove any covers. 8. When having your roof replaced, choose a light colored roof. A dark roof can absorb 70 to 90 percent of the sun s energy, whereas a light colored roof will reflect heat away from your home. So if you re replacing your roof, use a lightcolored material. You could also consider putting a reflective coating on your existing roof. Roofing materials come in many beautiful, practical and even decorator styles so you are not just limited to the white asphalt roof. Consult with your roof contractor to see the variety of styles and options available for your new roof. 9. Home insurance Money-Saving Tips. Additions and upgrades add up! Additions and energy efficient upgrades to your home that will protect it from damage can offer valuable savings on your insurance. Fire resistant roofing materials or new and improved water resistant materials for your roof, weather and storm shutters, upgrades in piping, and updated electrical systems are examples of possible money-savers. Ask your insurance company what discounts are available for your home improvements. 10. Correct any roof design flaws. Roof problems are not always due to deterioration, weather or lack of maintenance, but rather to the inadequacies of the initial design. Costly roofing flaws may require an entire roof replacement but are thankfully rare. When existing design problems are identified and addressed during a roof inspection, serious problems may be prevented if they are corrected in a timely manner. Faulty design issues may include drainage problems; an inadequate slope; weak construction materials that cause splitting and expansion and contraction difficulties which damage the membrane. Contractors have the ability to identify some of these design issues and offer solutions that may be short of an entire replacement. To prevent de-

6 sign flaws, be sure you are using a qualified contractor when building or have a credible inspector handy when purchasing a new home. BONUS: Stop Ignoring That Minor Roof Leak! The rains have stopped, and you notice a small amount of water damage on your living room ceiling. Your husband says Honey, it can wait a bit we don t get that much rain anyway. Something tells you that, as usual, he believes that he knows more about home repair than he really does. Your gut instinct tells you that you need to do something now, despite all of his confidence about waiting till spring. Well, you gut is right. While you may very well not have any more rain this year if you live in a warmer climate, if your roof is compromised in such a way that water is able to come in, you will certainly have more problems if you wait. There are essentially two types of leaks: those that leak from the roof when it rains and those that leak from other areas of your home that are not roof related. While the majority of leaks are caused by roof related problems, this is not always the case. Water damage can be caused by faulty mortar between your bricks, a leaky pipe, old plumbing, roots that grow into and back up the sewer drainage system, condensation as well as a host of other reasons. Rain type leaks indicate that the integrity of the roof has been compromised. Occasionally a branch or an animal will penetrate the roof material, but more often roof leaks occur in valleys, around chimneys or other pipes that protrude through your roof system. Anywhere you see flashing is a good place to start looking for the most obvious signs. Another common type of roof leak occurs when the wood behind your gutters (called the fascia board rots out and your gutters, filled with debris overflow and send water in through the rafters. If you have water coming in your house and you are reading this article, you should probably not try to repair the roof yourself. Roofing is dangerous for the average homeowner. How do you pick someone to repair the leak? First, take a look at where your water damage is. There are basically two choices. Hire a roofer or a general contractor. If you plan to work with a roofer, be sure that their business includes extensive work on repairs, not just on installing new roofs. Most roofers can easily learn how to remove and install roofing. Diagnosing leaks and making repairs is a whole different story. It takes skill, experience and a good deal of intellectual skill to good at repair work. Always check the references of your roofing contractor to ensure your peace of mind that you are choosing an ethical and professional company to work with. The other option is to hire a general contractor (GC) for leaks that are not related to the roof. If you hire the roofer and the problem is not roof related, an ethical roofer can refer you to a General Contractor that can help find and repair the leak and water damage, especially if the damage has traveled all the way to the interior of your home. A good roofer should water test repairs to insure that they fixed the problem before the hand you a bill. Don t be alarmed if they want to make a hole in the ceiling to help locate

7 the source of the leak. Lastly, water follows the path of least resistance, so do not worry if the roofer says what was repaired is not directly over where the water came in. Conclusion: You can easily save thousands of dollars each year by investing into smart options for the roof on your home. Your home is one of the largest investments you ll make it pays for itself well when maintaining the roof that protects that investment!