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Home Value & The Roof

by Posted in Residential Roofing

Does a New Roof Add Value to Your Home?

When trying to get the best value out of your home, it is often the standard practice to carry out some form of repairs and other projects around your home to increase the value of your home. Some of such activities include power washing your driveway, landscaping, as well as repainting. However, while you handle the daily maintenance activities concerning your home, there are some that you must leave for the professionals, and your roofing maintenance is one such activity.

If you were to carry out roofing maintenance on your roof by yourself, you would overlook or miss some spots and signs of roofing issues that a trained professional won’t miss. In no time, you might face issues with your roof, which could have been avoided if a professional had carried out the assessment.

It is also the best opportunity to find out whether your roof should be upgraded and a new one installed. Installing a new roof is one of the best ways to ensure that the value of your building skyrockets.

Have you been wondering how much value a new roof will add to your home? Find out here!

Why Should You Install a New Roof?

Although you might look at your roof and feel like everything is fine, getting a new roof can go a long way to improving the appearance of your roof. Also, a roof replacement also helps you to get a great and long warranty. You can also upgrade your roofing technology and avoid all problems that come with older roofs.

  1. Improved Appearance

Don’t wait until your roof looks like it is going to fall off before you upgrade it. Instead, consider the appearance, such as colors, textures, material, and the like and how it will improve your home appearance as well as the landscaping and sliding.

  1. Better Roofing Technology

These days, energy efficiency is important when choosing roofing materials. Solar panels are now being implemented on roofs, which is why asphalt shingles have become very popular because they can reflect solar heat and avoid the penetration of heat into the building. So, changing your roof can improve its energy efficiency and save energy costs, which makes it attractive to the people who will purchase the home.

  1. Better Warranty 

Many warranties that come with older roofs don’t exceed 15 to 25 years. However, as technology is improving, there are no longer warranties. Thanks to new roofing technology and products such as asphalt, you can get longer warranties, which is also a major selling point. Longer warranties mean that there is a long time span for the resident to enjoy the peace before worrying about any problems that might arrive from the roof.

  1. Problem-Solving 

Installing a new roof is one way to solve any parent you might be facing with your roof. A new roof will make all those problems a thing of the past. If you already have severe problems affecting your roof, it might actually be more cost effective for you to replace the roof rather than carrying out multiple repairs that might not put things back in a good state.

Speak to a roofing expert to carry out observation on your roof and decide whether you should replace your roof or just repair it.

  1. Improved Property Value 

When you install a new roof, your home’s functional and aesthetic value increases by thousands of dollars, which makes it easier for you to sell them easily.

Here’s How Your Roof Affects Your Home’s Value

There are several factors connected to the improvement of your home property’s value, and understanding these factors will help you to know how to improve the value of your home. The first thing to understand is that your roof is the primary insulator of your home, which means that the energy efficiency of your home is connected to your roof. So, the nature of your roof can increase or reduce the amount of money you spend on utility bills.

Also, your roof offers your home protection from the elements, including wind, rain, snow, hail, as well as other natural damages. When your roof is up there and secure, you can rest assured that you, your family, and your properties are safe.

Another impact of a new roof on your home is its appearance. Your roof affects the way your house looks, and no matter how colorful your house is, an ugly roof will make the entire building look ugly.

Finally, when selling off your home, you need your roof to be in the best of state because people won’t be interested in buying the house if your roof is practically falling apart. Also, your home might need to undergo inspection, and the health of your roof can make or mar the value of your home when it goes under inspection.

When all these factors have been considered, you can get great returns on investments when you replace your roof as a new roof get you between 60 and 68% return on investment, provided the material used in making the roof is of standard quality.

You can be certain that a new roof improves the resale value of your home by approximately $12,000 as per the national average. So, you see, there is a lot for you to gain, meaning that you should consider roofing replacement, even if it might seem like a costly endeavor.

Roof Value: Short-Term vs. Long-Term 

Your roof has both short and long-term values, and you should study both roof values so that whenever you purchase a roof, you will enjoy both the short and long-term benefits of it.

The immediate advantage is that your home gets an immediate makeover and has a better aesthetic appearance and appeal in the eyes of people. This appeal makes you confident and proud of your home. You can feel happy to invite colleagues and friends over and show off your home.

As you continue to enjoy and take care of your home, the short-term value of your home will last for a long time until it becomes long-term benefits. Longevity is one of the long-term benefits you get to enjoy. Once you install a roof that was made with original materials, you can rest assured that it will not only last longer, but your roof will remain beautiful for at least 20 years.

When you install new roofs, you can also rest assured of energy-saving costs, little to no problems, as well as monthly savings on your budget. If you plan to sell your house over the years, you also know that the roof will help you to sell your house at a good price and make good money off of it.

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Everything To Know About Energy Efficient Roofing

by Posted in Green Roofing, Roofing Materials

Do You Need an Energy-Efficient Roof In San Diego, CA? Find out here!

We have been seeing a rise in utility costs throughout the country, and it is becoming worrisome. Even carrying out the basic activities with electricity daily will cost you thousands of dollars every month and push your budget to the limit. In light of this reality, many San Diego homeowners have started seeking ways to improve energy efficiency (find roofer here), and it goes beyond just the home equipment and appliances. Did you know that you can use building materials with energy-efficiency to reduce your energy costs?

Yes, you can, and one of the best energy-efficient roofing materials for your San Diego home or  commercial building is an energy-efficient roof.

What Is A Energy Efficient Roof and How Is It Different From Other San Diego Roofs?

Let’s begin by understanding how an energy-efficient roof works. Some roofs in the San Diego area are designed from materials that allow them to absorb heat while some are not. Those with heat absorbing materials, such as asphalt shingles in dark colors, absorb more heat from the sun than the lighter versions of the same shingles. As a result, the home becomes warmer in summer due to the sun. When this happens, you have to spend more to keep your home cool, meaning more energy bills for your air conditioning.

The way to correct that is to install roofing shingles with great energy efficiency and won’t catch the heat from the sun and get it into the house. Instead, these energy-efficient roofing shingles will keep the heat away and maintain the coolness of the home.

Energy-efficient roofs are made from different materials, but the important thing is that the materials have lighter, colors that reflect and repel the rays from the sun from your house. As a result, you will use your AC system less frequently, and save energy bills.

Pros of Energy-Efficient Roofs

  1. Save Utility Bills

When you install an energy-efficient roof, the first advantage you enjoy is lower electricity bills, including the cooling bills in the summer. This is because you won’t have to run your AC too much to stay cool. Your roof will be dispelling every heat coming from the sun and preventing it from getting into your home.

With the installation of an energy-efficient roof, you will save between 7 and 15 percent of your energy bills, and you can channel the funds to something else.

  1. Cooler Summers

You can say goodbye to extreme summer heat if you install an energy-efficient roof. The reason you might be suffering the worst possible heat during the summer might be because your roof is absorbing the heat of the sun and sending it into your home, which would lead to a rise in temperature and subsequent discomfort.

But, once you install an energy-efficient roof, heat absorption will be a thing of the past and the temperature in your room will be cooler.

  1. Environmentally Friendliness

Energy-efficient roofs are also environmentally friendly in several ways. First, they have a long lifespan, meaning you don’t need to replace them as often, so there is less waste in landfills from roof replacement.

Also, when you are using your AC less, there is a reduced number of harmful greenhouse emissions and fewer cases of air pollution.

Most Common Energy Efficient Roofing Materials

  1. Asphalt Shingles

Some asphalt shingles have Energy Star ratings, and these are energy-efficient materials, not all asphalts. Asphalt shingles are quite affordable and have a great range of colors, making them aesthetically pleasing. They are fairly durable; however, they often need maintenance and replacements.

  1. Metal

Metal roofs are also energy efficient because they can reflect UV rays sufficiently well. They are made to have different colors and styles and can have tiles or panels. They are also quite durable. The downside is that they are prone to damage and can cost a lot of time and energy to replace.

  1. Slate

Although they are dark like asphalt, slate tile roofing can be energy efficient when it is sprayed with reflective coatings. Another positive side of slate is that it is quite durable. However, a disadvantage of this roofing material is that it weighs a lot, and will need extra structural support to avoid a building collapse when it is installed.

  1. Synthetic

There is also a synthetic option, which is the polyurethane tiles. The advantages to them is that they are very light, long-lasting, and environmentally-friendly. So, if you use synthetic materials, your house can retain warmth in the cold season and be cooler in summer, thanks to its energy efficiency.

  1. Tile

Tile roofing comes in several types, such as clay, concrete, or ceramic. They are all loved for their aesthetic values because they have different colors and styles. These colors also contribute to their energy efficiency.

Concrete tiles are popular in hotter climates because of their ability to ensure that homes are always cool. However, when opting for a tile roof, you need to ensure that there’s additional support, because of the weight of the tile. Otherwise, the weight might be too much for the house to carry.

Ready to get an Energy Efficient Roof? 

Now that you have seen the options for energy-efficient roofs in the San Diego area, it is up to you to choose the one that best suits your home, location, as well as your budget. You also need to ensure that you can meet the maintenance requirement of the selected roof to avoid issues and ensure that it continues to save you energy for a long time.

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Roof Maintenance Guide

by Posted in Commercial Roofing, Industrial Roofing, Residential Roofing, Roof Maintenance

Best Roof Maintenance Tips for Increased Longevity

Do you know that your actions or inactions can increase or reduce the longevity of your roof? Routine roof inspection and maintenance are the key ways to ensure that your roof lasts longer and you save the cost of repairs. As experts, we advise that you carry out yearly routine maintenance, or even bi-annually to identify issues with the roof, carry out quick repairs, and prevent damage.

Here are some yearly roof maintenance tips for your roof

  1. Remove Trees from Above/Around the Roof

Trees are bad news for your roof. On one hand, when leaves pile up on your roof, they gat moist and can lead to rot on your roof. On the other hand, heavy tree branches can fall on your roof and cause damage to it.

If you find any tree limb growing over your roof, cut it off to avoid accidents later on, especially if you reside in a location that is prone to winds and storms.

  1. Remove Debris and Leaves from Gutters and Valleys 

Don’t allow debris and leaves to sit on your roof thinking they don’t matter because they do. These items can get into your roof’s valleys or get into the gutters and block them.

When leaves stay for long in valleys, they end up retaining water and can make your shingles rot.

  1. Clean Gutters and Downspouts Twice Yearly

It is the duty of the downspouts and gutters to lead water off your roof, but when they are clogged, the water will go back into the roof and sit there, which will weaken your roof over time.

Our expert opinion is that you clean your gutters twice every year, especially in Spring and Fall. Always check your gutters four times every year to avoid debris build-up.

If you find any loose areas or misalignments on your gutters, fix them immediately and ensure that they are in proper shape to continue serving your entire roof.

  1. Ensure that Vents, Protrusions, and Walls are sealed

One way through which water finds its way to destroy the structure of your roof is through openings in your walls, vents, and protrusions when they aren’t sealed. What starts as a small leak will often lead to great damage that you’ll have to spend a lot of funds for.

Seal all open spots on your roof once in two or three years to avoid problems and save you the stress of dealing with leaks in your roof, as well as water damage on the building.

  1. Wash Your Roof

As the year progresses, debris and algae will most likely make their home on your rooftop, and over the years your shingles could begin to rot due to long-term exposure to algae.

If you want to wash your roof, there are two ways to go about it:

You can make a solution using equal amounts of bleach and water, as well as a biodegradable alternative. You can also place strips of zinc or copper on your roof to avoid the growth of algae.

When you see stains, it is normal, so don’t be worried. But, take note of moist or warped spots and investigate them.

Sometimes, your roof’s warranty might specify how often you should clean your roof for the warranty to remain valid. Always ensure that you do that.

  1. Carry out a Professional Roof Inspection 

You’ll need to employ the help of a professional to inspect your roof at least once yearly to investigate some important spots on your roof that might need repairs, such as the shingles, attic, and nails. If you notice any signs of damage in these areas, they should be handled immediately.

Here’s what to look for:

  1. Shingles

Your shingles should be inspected from time to time, and especially after storms to search for bent, peeling, cracking, damaged or missing shingles and replace them immediately. It is important that you get roofing professionals to fix any damages on the shingles early to avoid worse damage over time.

  1. Attics and Ceilings

Your attic and ceilings often show the most obvious signs of leaks which show up as cracks on the roof or water stains.

You should also look out for mildew, mold, cracked beams or rotting, as well as peeling paint.

  1. Check for Hail or Wind Damage

It is important to look for signs of wind or hail damage on your roof. These signs can include dented gutters and pots where shingles and granules have been removed.

As for wind damage, you would find shingles that are lifted, curled, or even torn away, leaving your roof prone to potential water damage.

  1. Track Roof Records

When carrying out roof maintenance, it is important to keep track of your roof health and take records to be sure of how your roof is faring, what needs to be changed, and what needs to be repaired or replaced. Take note of whenever you replace shingles and gutters, or carry out roof cleaning and restoration.

  1. Look for Popped or Loose Nails at Vents

As temperature changes occur, your roof will contact and expand following the changes, and this often causes the nails to loosen or pop out of place. You could also find that the shingles have even been raised following the nail pop because there is nothing to hold them down.

You can seal your roof at 2 or 3 years intervals to avoid nail pops and loosening, as well as raised shingles.

What is the best time to inspect your roof?

We advise that you inspect your roof twice a year, or at least once. But, some circumstances might also require you to inspect your roof more often, such as storms to prevent problems and damages that can be costly.

  1. After Storms

Following a storm, it is necessary to check your roof because some serious storms can make major damages to your roof. Look out for the signs on time to avoid serious damage and get a professional to carry out a damage assessment.

  1. Signs of a Leak

A warped or damp spot on your roof is a sign of leakage, and when you see this, you must handle the situation immediately to prevent things from getting worse.

A local roofing company will carry out an assessment of the leakage to find out what has caused it, and then they will fix the problem.

  1. Standard Maintenance 

Spring or Fall are the best seasons to carry out your standard roofing maintenance because the extreme weather situations must have just passed and you can see signs of any damage that has occurred during the previous seasons.

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Metal Roofs Vs Shingle Roofs

by Posted in Metal Roofing, Roofing Materials

Comparing Metal Roofs and Shingle Roofs: Which is Better?

Take a quick study of the roofs in San Diego and you’ll find out that nearly every roof you’ll see on residential buildings is made from shingles; whether wood shake or asphalt shingles. It is hard to find homes with metal roofs, and there are several potential reasons for this situation.

Why are shingles favored over metal roofs in San Diego?

1. Cost and Durability

Perhaps, the price might be the first factor because metal roofs are costlier compared to shingled roofs. To make up for their expensive nature, they bring durability into the mix because they can last for up to 70 years. On the other hand, shingled roofs last between 40 and 50 years, and they are cheaper than metal roofs.

In a bid to make housing more affordable in San Diego, you would find that builders use shingles as the standard roof throughout the region, despite sacrificing some level of durability to gain cost-effectiveness.

2. Weather and Climate

You can also associate the popularity of shingled roofs in San Diego with the mild climate in the region. Metal roofs are favored in regions with extreme temperatures, but since San Diego hardly deals with extreme weather, and has very few occurrences of snowfall, there’s almost no need to invest in metal roofs, except for the homeowner’s peace of mind.

Metal roofs are very energy efficient and have global renown for protection from bad environmental and weather conditions, including blizzards and hurricanes and their, and they are highly sought-after in regions where these conditions are common. Again, going back to San Diego, you can easily tell why shingles are popularly used and accepted. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they are affordable as well.

3. Homeowners Association 

Another strong reason for the uniformity of shingle roofs in San Diego is the presence of Homeowners Associations. Most of the houses in San Diego were built based on the subdivision method under which there is a homeowners’ board or association that ensures and oversees the values of homes within a given region. The association also ensures that uniformity is maintained across the division, and they go on to dictate the color and type of roof to be installed by the homeowner.

So, once early builders have used shingles in their houses, it is almost impossible for one house to opt for different roofing material. If you have already installed shingle roofs, it won’t be possible to switch to metal roofs for as long as you remain in a subdivision that dictates the type and color of the roof to use.

Now you see why you would hardly find metal roofs in the metropolitan area of San Diego. You can expect that even in years to come when roofs will be replaced, shingles will still be the preferred material for that replacement.

Before you think that it is a terrible situation, remember that shingles also have a good lifespan, and there is an additional reason to love shingle roofs. Let’s discover it now.

4. Solar Technology

These days, solar technology is becoming popular, and we now have solar panels attached to shingles, which is another reason they are taking over from metal roofs because more people want to go solar and shingle roofs help them to do just that.

The recent solar products blend seamlessly with shingle roofs because you can now find architectural shingles with in-built solar power technology. Also, installing a solar panel on top of a shingle roof is seamless and will not cause any damage. As a matter of fact, there will be less roof leakage.

You also have a higher chance of approval when you use a solar shingle over a solar panel in a district with Homeowners’ Associations.

On the other hand, when dealing with metal roofing systems, solar panels can be installed but there is a high risk of leaks, which can damage the metal.

If you’re not sure which roof better suits your budget and housing needs, reach out for a free roof estimate today! If you’re about to start a roof replacement, consult an expert to guide you so that you choose a roof that not only suits your needs but will also be easiest and more affordable to repair or adjust in the future.

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Industrial Roofing Project Mistakes To Avoid 

by Posted in Industrial Roofing

What To Look Out For To Prevent Mistakes & Failure For Industrial Roofing

Just as you care about your business, you should care and pay attention to your commercial roof because it protects the rest of your company as well as your customers from the elements.

If you don’t pay attention to your roof and something goes wrong, your business could be negatively affected and you could also lose valuable properties in the process, not forget how much you’ll have to pull out of your business suddenly to replace the roof. In the end, it would be a loss from all angles.

To avoid such an unfortunate situation, this post will be educating you about the avoidable mistakes people make when handling industrial roofing projects. With this knowledge, you can handle any problem you face before it escalates and worsens, thereby costing you time, money, and other intangible losses.

Failing to carry out regular maintenance

As much as you might have a lot going on with your business, you’ll need to find a way to remember your roofing inspections, which you can either carry out quarterly or bi-yearly.

If you forget to schedule a roofing inspection once or twice, you might feel like there’s wrong with it. However, the tinniest of delays might be all that’s needed to expose you and your building to serious problems.

This is because a minor problem that should have been discovered 6 months ago can turn into a very serious problem in another 6 months. As a result, please ensure that you maintain your schedule for your roofing inspection and periodic maintenance to ensure that nothing skips your attention and turns into a major problem.

Postponing roof replacement

If the time has come for you to replace your entire commercial roof, probably because you left an issue unaddressed or the room has outlived its usefulness, you need to take action immediately.

If you postpone the replacement of your commercial roof, the issue plaguing it can also go on to affect the integrity of your building. You also stand the risk of exposing your company to sparks, ignitions, and fire explosions when water gets in touch with electrical appliances in your company or damages some major electrical appliances.

No matter how you look at it, delaying your roof replacement will not do your business any good. Instead, it will lead to avoidable but massive losses.

Using the wrong roofing contractors

The choice of a roofing contractor or company isn’t one that you make in a hurry. Many people make the mistake of choosing the first commercial roofing contractor they come across without doing due diligence by investigating the experiences, certification, and previous works of these contractors. In such a situation, you might place your roofing job in the wrong hands, waste a lot of money, and be left with a problematic roof.

So, how do you choose the right roofing contractor?

The first thing to do is to ensure that the credentials and license of the roofing company are genuine. The company should also be registered under a trusted builders’ association.

You also need to ensure that the roofing company has insurance registered under its name to ensure that whatever accidents or losses will be insured. This is very important because a number of accidents can happen during a roofing job and you don’t want to have to be responsible in the instance of such accidents. Read through the insurance policy and ensure that it covers workers’ compensation and general liability.

Working with the wrong roofing materials

While it is expected that a reputable roofing company or contractor will ensure to get the recommended roofing materials for your business, it is also important to be aware of some roofing materials or double-check to ensure that the material is of the best quality and is best suited for the roofing project you’re undertaking.

Working with a professional will go a long way to ensure that your roofing will be done with the most efficient and qualitative materials that best suit your needs.

Doing it yourself 

Undoubtedly, DIY is helpful and even encouraged for some personal activities and those around your home. However, that isn’t the case when it comes to roofing maintenance and repairs.

If you’re not a trained and licensed roofer, it is dangerous to attempt to handle your industrial roof by yourself. You will also spend a lot more money buying and renting materials that a professional will already have.

When you handle your industrial roofing alone, you are also breaking rules and endangering your business. So, no matter how handy you are with building tools, allow a professional roofing company to handle the job.

When an amateur handles a job that a professional ought to do, there could be some mistakes and oversight that could cause minor or major mishaps. In the worst-case scenario, your roof might even collapse.

If a collapsed roof injures your customers, employees, or even neighbors, you might find yourself in court in no time.