Roofing Signs that Your Roof Needs Repair/Replacement

Transcription

1 By: Cherie Martel Roofing Signs that Your Roof Needs Repair/Replacement 1. Tell us a little bit about your company and its foundation. In 1963, Samuel T. Martel began a small family run roofing company, at the time he never dreamed that he would be able to create a legacy to pass on from generation to generation. Now, more than 50 years later working along side his two sons Samuel L. and Stuart he is seeing the fruits of the his Hard Labor, Dedication and Commitment to Excellence pay off! With general sales in the millions and referrals coming from across the state, S&D Enterprises, Inc. is a recognized leader in the Residential, Multi-Family and Commercial Roofing Industry throughout Illinois, Florida and Wisconsin. S & D Enterprises, Inc. has completed over 250,000 roofing projects with the highest quality including many Multi-Family Properties, the Lion House at Brookfield Zoo, Butler National Golf Club, Hospitals, Commercial Buildings, Sears Building and Residential! S & D Enterprises, Inc. has successfully installed thousands of acres of both steep and low slope roofing! 2. What are some of the services your company provides? Our roofing and re-roofing repair services offer the following, as well as, additional services: o Tear-offs o Shingles o Flat Roofing o Gutters o Soffit and Fascia o Siding o Carpentry Services o Specification Writing o Roof Inspection o Preventative Maintenance Programs

2 3. What are some visible signs that my roof needs repair? Water spots on your ceiling or walls Missing shingles Cracked or damaged shingles Missing or damaged flashing or boot covers to roof penetrations Water spots or wet roof decking (seen through the attic) Knowing you have a roof leak is usually obvious when you see the water spot on your ceiling. However, it can be much harder to pinpoint the cause of the leak. You may assume your shingles are at fault, but it could be missing flashing around a chimney, or some other entry point, that s allowing the water to get inside your attic. Once inside the attic, water can travel along rafters and other horizontal surfaces making it difficult to find the exact entry point. If shingles are missing, cracked or otherwise damaged, water can, over time, begin to leak into the home. A leak can start out small and slowly cause a lot of damage if a warning sign is ignored. Water entry can also be caused by an ice dam. Ice dams are formed by the continual thawing of snow over the warmer portions of the roof and refreezing over the cold eave. The ice dam can cause water to backup under shingles. If your roof doesn t have an ice & water underlayment installed under the shingles, you could be experiencing leaks. Water spot on ceiling Missing Shingles Cracked Shingles Missing or cracked boot on roof penetration Leaking Roof Sign of a potential ice dam Ice dam illustration wet deck as seen through attic 4. What are the potential dangers associated with neglecting a roof that needs repair? There are many potential dangers involved with not getting your roof inspected and serviced by an experienced professional at least once a year. Property Value Depreciation. Drywall Damage that could lead to even higher expenses for repairs. MOLD which costs thousands of dollars to eradicate. Plywood Decking Damage

3 5. How often should my roof receive maintenance? S & D recommends that you have an annual Preventive Maintenance Inspection of your roofing system. The gutters should be cleared of all debris at least once a year to maximize the roof system. 6. What are some new roofing materials that are durable? Asphalt shingles are the leading choice for residential roofing in the United States because they provide quality, durability, versatility and economy. Over 12.5 billion square feet of asphalt shingle products are manufactured annually enough to cover more than 5 million homes every year. Four out of five homes are roofed with asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles offer property owners the broadest array of colors, shapes, and textures available. With an enormous range of styles, asphalt shingles can match almost every type of architectural design and achieve virtually any desired effect and do it affordably. Benefits of asphalt shingles? Product Performance. Asphalt shingles perform well in extreme temperatures and in areas where wind, water, and ice are prevalent. Affordability. The efficient, high-volume production and relatively low application cost of asphalt shingles provide consumers with an overall value that s tough for other roofing materials to match, especially in terms of comparable life expectancy. Low Maintenance. Asphalt shingles, when properly chosen and applied, require little or no regular upkeep, and are easily repaired if damaged. Ease of Application. Asphalt shingles are considered to be the easiest of all standard roofing materials to apply. In addition, the flexibility and strength of asphalt shingles supports their application on a wide variety of roof designs. Fire and Wind Resistance. Asphalt shingles are manufactured to resist external fire and flammability standards, and carry Class A, B or C fire ratings, with Class A providing the greatest fire resistance. These fire ratings are defined by nationally recognized standards and tested by independent testing agencies. In addition, many asphalt shingles carrying a "wind resistance" label indicate that they have been manufactured and tested to demonstrate acceptable resistance in high-wind locations." 7. For someone who knows they need repairs, where do you suggest they begin? You will need to have a professional roofing contractor help diagnose your leak issue. The roofing professional can help determine the cause of the leak and help in finding a solution.

4 8. How do I know if my roof needs placement or a few repairs? S&D Roofing offers you this handy checklist to determine if it's time for a new roof Roof more than 15 years old? Shingles torn, missing or loose? Shingles curled, cracked or blistered? Shingles loosing their protective coat of granules? Flashing (asphalt or metal sealant) damaged around vent pipes? Caulking around flashing dry cracked or missing? Any sign of roof leakage? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, please call S&D Roofing for a free professional roof inspection. If upon the roof inspection we find that your roof is in need of replacement or repair we will computer generate a detailed proposal there, on the spot, for your review. 9. Is there any more information you wish for our readers to have about roofing that I have not asked about? A. All roofing contractors are not alike, and NRCA recommends that you prequalify roofing contractors to get the job done right the first time. The following guidelines will help in your decision: Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax I.D. number, and where required, a business license. Insist on seeing copies of the contractor's liability insurance coverage and workers' compensation certificates. Make sure the coverages are in effect through the duration of the job. Look for a company with a proven track record that readily offers client references and a list of completed projects. Call these clients to find out whether they were satisfied. Check to see whether the contractor is properly licensed or bonded. Call your state's licensing board for your state's specific requirements (where applicable). Insist on a written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications, including approximate starting and completion dates and payment procedures. Check to see if the contractor is a member of any regional or national industry associations, such as NRCA. Call your local Better Business Bureau to check for any complaints that have been filed.

5 Have the contractor explain his project supervision and quality control procedures. Request the name of the person who will be in charge, how many workers will be required and the estimated time of completion. Carefully read and understand any roofing warranty offered and watch for provisions that would void it. Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, price is only one criterion for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism and quality workmanship also should weigh heavily on your decision B. Why Ventilate? Attic ventilation might seem like a minor consideration, but when properly installed, it can extend the life of your attic and roof structure -- saving hundreds of dollars in repair costs. During warmer months, ventilation helps keep attics cool. It helps prevent hot, moist summer air from warping the roof sheathing. It also stops shingles from deteriorating prematurely. What's more, fresh air in the attic makes a home much easier to cool, which can result in lower energy costs. In winter months, ventilation helps reduce moisture to keep attics dry. It stops ice from backing up under shingles, damaging insulation, and rotting the roof structure itself. It also helps prevent ice dams from forming. Ice dams occur in areas where snowfall and cold temperatures are common and pose a special problem because they prevent melt water from running off the roof. They can even cause leaks inside your home, resulting in drywall damage 10. What is the best way for people to reach you or your company? [email protected] Phone: S & D Enterprises, Inc. 957 Riverside Drive Elmhurst, Illinois In addition to hiring quality representatives, using superior products and guaranteeing excellent workmanship, S&D Roofing sets itself above the competition in many ways. For example, prospective customers receive free estimates including: full roof surveys with reports and recommendations for repair and renewal, detailed plans, and photographs or video of the roof to identify small defects. All S&D recommendations are backed by the National Roofers and Contractors Association Waterproofing manual. At S&D Roofing we feel these process steps are important for you to understand how we will install a quality roof system.

6 S&D Roofing communicates constantly with the client, so that you don't have to worry about the status of your job. You will know how to reach the supervisor of your job twenty-four hours a day by telephone and pager. The essentials for a healthy roofing system. It takes more than just shingles to create a high performance roof. It requires a system of products working together. Visit our Website!