You have some shingles missing. Or the flashing around your chimney is damaged. Or water is leaking into your attic. You know you should get a contractor to look at your roof and write up an estimate, but you are hesitant because you?ve been burned by less-than-outstanding roofers in the past. You are also worried about the cost and what else the contractor might find wrong with your roof.

Homeowners shouldn?t put off roof repairs?the potential for more damage to your roof and your overall property increases the longer you wait.

The repair process starts with the estimate, which isn?t just a slip of paper but should be a dialogue between homeowner and the contractor. Asking the right questions not only provides you the best idea of how much the job will cost, but also establishes the parameters of the repair. With this information, you can feel comfortable knowing the job will be done correctly?or that you should get an estimate from another roofer.

Here are several questions you should ask any contractor giving you a roof repair estimate:

Have You Inspected the Whole Roof?

Although just part of your roof may be damaged, a quality contractor will look for other issues while atop your home. After all, missing shingles might be a sign of a greater problem, and a leak may be trickling in several feet away from the actual drip. Asking ?What else did you see?? should provide a basic assessment of the state of your roof.

How Long Will the Job Take?

Some repairs take longer than others. Unfortunately, some roofers take longer than others to complete the easiest of repairs, adding to your cost and inconvenience. Get a firm time frame from the contractor so you can plan around the repair and reduce any stress if the job takes longer than originally expected.

Are You Insured and Bonded?

A fully insured, licensed, and bonded contractor provides a layer of protection and added peace of mind to the repair. Any damage occurring to your home during the repair will be covered, of course, but perhaps more importantly, the liability for any injuries sustained by the contractor?s employees on your property will not fall to your homeowner?s insurance.

What If the Weather is Bad?

You need your repair completed soon, but unfortunately, the weather does not always cooperate. Be sure to ask if the roofer has a plan if bad weather postpones the job. A rainy day or two shouldn?t make you wait weeks before the contractor can finish the repair.

What About Unexpected Costs?

Unexpected roof costs understandably frighten homeowners?nobody wants to be quoted a price and be told, on the day of the repair, that the job will cost an extra grand. A quality roofer should provide a detailed and thorough estimate so that there are no surprises. If the contractor sees issues during the inspection that could increase the price, those costs should be clearly spelled out on the estimate. Don?t sign anything until you have a full understanding of every cost involved with the repair.

How Long Will the Repair Last?

Repairs could be temporary or serve you for the remaining lifetime of the roof. Knowing this information will better guide your decision on whether or not to make the repair and whom to hire for the job.

How Do You Stand by Your Repair?

If something goes wrong with the repair after the contractor leaves, what recourse will you have for the repair to be corrected? Asking a roofer how they stands by their work and what you can expect if a problem arises can prevent costly headaches later.

Should I Consider Replacing the Roof?

You might be apprehensive to ask this question because shadier contractors might jump on the chance for a more lucrative job by saying, ?Yes, you need a new roof!? (Some contractors may suggest this before even explaining your repair options.) However, if your roof is older and/or continually causing problems, you should be asking if a replacement roof is a smarter option. The best contractors will walk through the pros and cons of each choice and never pressure you into a decision you aren?t comfortable with.

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It only figures that when Spokane?s oldest and most prestigious business and social networking organization needed a new roof, it turned to Spokane?s oldest and most established roofing contractor, Spokane Roofing Company.

The historic Spokane Club has a few years on Spokane Roofing?the club was founded in 1890, while SRC has ?only? been around since 1907. The two companies have a longstanding relationship, in which Spokane Roofing provides regular inspection, maintenance, and repair services on an increasingly aging commercial roof.

SRC owner Jeff Sitton is not sure how long the previous roof had been atop the Spokane Club structure, but his crews removed four layers of old roofing material. In the process, they uncovered skylights that had remained hidden for decades.

It was a big job, said Sitton. Not only did it involve a complete demolition and removal of old roofing, but along with IRS Environmental, we had to conduct asbestos abatement. It was one of those roofing projects where you do not know what you have until you get into it.

Challenges Faced Replacing Spokane Club Roof

Describing it as a major project hardly does justice to the scope of the challenges faced by Spokane Roofing at the Club. SRC had to:

• Obtain street obstruction permits in order to close off Main Avenue for 6 hours,
• Rent a crane to load old roof debris off the top of the building,
• Install new substrate and shingles on an architecturally unique structure,
• Install a new, flat roof around rooftop offices, chimneys, elevator shafts, vents and HVAC equipment.

This was a high-profile job for an organization that is really important in the community. It was rewarding for us because the Spokane Club hosts numerous events, has a great deal of community exposure, and they were happy with our work.

Applying the roof was not even necessarily the biggest part of the project. It required strategic planning, coordination of the various players involved, and some serious legwork to make it go. Big commercial roofing projects like this one can only be handled by a big company with successful experience. I am proud to say that we are one of the few commercial roofing companies in Spokane that can get that done. ? Jeff Sitton, Spokane Roofing Company

Commercial Roof Replacement Project Details

The entire commercial roof replacement project took four weeks to complete. Working from the top down, crews removed debris from each pitched section of the roof, bag by bag. These bags were lowered to the ground with the crane. Plywood substrate sheets had to be cut in half to get them into the service elevator. Eventually, the roofers applied IKO Cambridge architectural shingles over the substrate. The new, laminate roofing shingles are state of the art and designed to look like wood shakes.

On the much larger main flat-roofed section of the building, Spokane Roofing?s crews laid Insulfoam EPS roofing insulation, then GAF TPO single-ply membrane roofing. TPO has a longer life expectancy, better dimension and texture than polymer blend membranes.

It looks great, Sitton said. We used black shingles, which is the modern trend, and the shingles are consistent with the architecture of the building. The color really makes the building pop. We worked to ensure the folks at the Club would be happy. Picking a style and color are big decisions, because you are responsible for the look of the building for the next 30 years.

I?m happy to say that this was a successful project ? the Spokane Club was satisfied, and so were we.

Does Your Historic Building?s Roof Leak?

ASAP ROOFING is always looking for ways to make residential roofing more sustainable. Every year, catastrophic storms create enormous piles of damaged asphalt shingles that end up in our landfills. Denver, CO has always been on the forefront of environmentally friendly building practices.

The team at ASAP ROOFING has recognized that Boulder, CO has some of the most environmentally sound regulations in the nation. The city of Boulder has taken an innovative approach to sustainability. Called the ?Green Points Program?, the November 13, 2007 City Ordinance (Ordinance 7565) is simple: if you don?t earn enough green points, you don?t get a building permit.

Applied to professional home builders as well as amateur home repairmen, the ordinance requires sustainable building choices that conserve energy, water and natural resources to be made before building permits will be issued for any new home construction, home remodel, or addition larger than 500 feet.

By taking a progressive approach to preservation of the environment, the Boulder Green Points program makes use of the home energy rating system (HERS), and encourages all homeowners to consider an energy audit on their home.

But beyond simply an audit, the city of Boulder provides resources for those in the building business on energy conservation, green building materials, environmentally sound de-construction, and sustainable landscaping.

The City of Boulderaalso regularly updates its construction codes to advance green building standards and sustainable development practices, and reflect the additional concerns of safety and cost. Here is a summary of the latest changes:

Energy Efficiency Standards have been updated above the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Requirements vary according to size.

Building projects requiring a demolition permit and are classified as ?entire structure? demolition will need to complete a Deconstruction/Construction Waste Recycling Plan before a permit is issued. This requirement may also apply to remodels and scrape-offs.

Council adoptedaOrdinance No. 7621aamending the Green Building and Green Points Program. This ordinance added requirements related to energy efficiency thresholds for remodels and additions, demolition, boilers and windows.

Council adopted Ordinancesa7620,a7622anda7623ato increase energy efficiency in commercial construction and residential remodels and additions. This Council action also involved amending the ?Building Code? to adopt minor changes related to the expiration of permits, and adopting the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) with minor local amendments.

Council adopted two new ordinances as part of the proposed changesato the Green Points Program,aOrdinance No.a7565, which were added to the B.R.C. and became active on Feb. 1, 2008.a Along with the adoption of the Green Points ordinances, the following building codes were adopted byaOrdinanceaNo. 7566, locally amended on Oct. 30, 2007 and went into effect on Jan. 2, 2008.

Like the city of Boulder, sustainability and green building practices are at the forefront for ASAP ROOFING, and recognizing that that sustainability is also of paramount importance to its customers; ASAP ROOFING regularly researches the latest in green roofing materials, techniques and trends.

While the city of Denver and the city of Aurora have not yet adopted Ordinance 7565, you can take an important step in preserving the environment ? just contact an ASAP ROOFING specialist and they will be happy to discuss with you how to make your roof ?greener?.

For more information on ASAP ROOFING, and roofing the green way visit:

http://asaproofing.com/re-roofing-the-green-way/

http://asaproofing.com/re-roofing-the-green-way-part-two/

Written by Nick Dorotik

nick@asaproofing.com

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For more information about ASAP ROOFING, visit http://asaproofing.com/

References:

http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=208&Itemid=489

Advanced metal roofing technology that has sprung up over the last few decades includes reflective paints to increase energy efficiency, solar shingles that actually captures the sun?s energy and convert it into electrical energy, and metal roof components that interlock. Metal roofing on a home, in a way, can resemble a knight in armor ? metal roofing provides armor both to the home as well as its occupants.

Storms have historically and continually caught many off-guard. On the summer morning of August 29, 2005, the Gulf Coast was struck with a category 3 hurricane. Winds blew between 100 and 140 mph, stretching up to 400 miles across. The impact from these winds infiltrated levees and caused severe flooding in many areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This storm became known as ?Hurricane Katrina.?

A Metal Roof is Like a Personal Suit of Armor

Whether or not your home is off the Gulf Coast, in Florida, Cape Cod, or any coastal area in New England, it is important to have a roof that can protect your home. You may not live in an area prone to hurricanes, but who knows if it eventually will be? Your home needs a personal suit of armor. Metal roofing is hurricane rated up to 120 mph. One of the reasons this system is so resistant to wind is because the panels interlock. Metal roofing is very light weight, and with the roofs ability to interlock to itself on all four sides, this system will withstand numerous environmental situations, such as: hurricane winds, heavy snow, and rain.

Hurricane Katrina

Interlocking Roofing Panels

Though New England has not been hit with many hurricanes lately, who can predict when one will eventually have a significant impact in this area? Consider that anywhere with reasonably high winds or the possibility of any potential hurricane is present, you can benefit from a metal roof to protect your home from that potential impact. Know that if the roof suffers from a hurricane, your home will suffer too. This is not to be played off as something minor ? in the worst case, a hurricane could completely destroy your home. It is smart to learn from your own mistakes, but it is even wiser to learn from others. You do not need to learn after your home is already destroyed. Look at the damages faced by the hurricanes in Louisiana and Florida, for example. Most of the roofs that remained throughout those storms were the ones with aluminum metal roofing with panels that interlock ? these homes were protected by their own personal suit of armor.

Environmental Friendliness

Metal roofing is the most environmentally friendly roofing option for most homes. Choosing aluminum over asphalt makes you a part of the solution, not the problem. Did you know that over 95% of the base metal for aluminum metal roofing is actually from recycled aluminum? Roughly 20 billion pounds of asphalt is dumped into US landfills every year. Unlike asphalt, this material is very advanced metal roofing technology. Metal roofing material does not use oil as its base resource. One may ask that if asphalt shingles need to be stripped anyway for the installation of metal roofing, aren?t we still contributing to the landfills? Wrong. As a matter of fact, in many situations, metal roofing can be installed over existing asphalt shingles without stripping them.

Reflective Capability

A metal roof will keep your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The reason is that metal roofing has radiant heat reflection, meaning the heat from the sun will reflect off of the roof, keeping the home cooler. Because of this, the excessive use of air conditioning during hot summer days will be drastically reduced. How does this affect the environment? The production of electricity used for air conditioning causes smog and pollution.

With a metal roof, you will not be producing as much electricity. However, the dead airspace between the metal roofing and roof deck provides great insulation. The metal gets hot, but the heat will not transfer into the house. In addition, your house will be able to retain heat much better during the winter. Most commonly, metal roofing with shinier metallic surfaces or milder colors are better at reflecting the radiant heat. Though, keep in mind that aluminum metal roofing will have natural emissivity, regardless. Special reflective paints, originally developed for military applications, have made great strides in increasing the reflectivity of metal roofs and is probably the most advanced metal roof technology to impact the market in recent years.

Besides the very environmentally friendly benefits of this roofing, metal roofing generally interfaces very nicely with solar panels. All of these benefits from a metal roof can actually fit into ?cool roof? criteria, which means that in certain states, homeowners may be eligible for tax benefits. This said, here are a few frequently asked questions and misconceptions about metal roofing:

Isn?t metal roofing a new industry?

False. Although metal roofing seems to be gaining a lot of recent popularity, it has been widely used since the early 1800s. Even so, with many modern architects implementing metal roofing, homeowners figure their traditional home will not match with a metal roof. This, as well, is untrue. These products have become very advanced. Metal roofing comes in a variety of different styles and colors, such as the common ?shake? style that mimics a wood shingle. Find out which metal roofing product suits your criteria.

Can?t Most Contractors Install a Metal Roof?

Absolutely not. In fact, you should steer clear from any roofing contractor that claims to install metal roofs but does not specialize in the field. Installing metal roofs is not an easy task. The craftsmanship is very specialized and advanced. Metal roofing requires many installation and bending techniques that only a specialized and experienced metal roofer exhibits. A common problem in this field is that many people receive an array of quotes for a metal roof, from a multitude of contractors and conclude by choosing the lowest price bidder. This usually leads to continual difficulties and problems due to a faulty installation which can ruin the promise of a ?lifetime roof? with a plethora of repairs ? often eventually adding up to the price that the reputable metal roofing contractor originally quoted, or more. In some cases, contractors have unknowingly installed agricultural metal roofing on homes, which later have had to be re-roofed with an architectural product. Save yourself the trouble; work with a reputable metal roofing contractor.

Metal roofing is too expensive!

It can be expensive, yes. But, like many investments, it will pay off. Along with the many environmental benefits and reducing your electric bills, a metal roof will increase the value of the home, and actually make the homeowner eligible for many tax benefits. Along with ?cool roof? criteria in certain states, the wind and fire resistance of metal roofing, insurance companies will give discounts.

I live in a high wind area. Isn?t this a dangerous place for a metal roof?

As outlined earlier, the opposite is the case. There are many building codes that a roof must abide by in certain areas; hurricane regions in particular. Also, because the systems will generally interlock, metal roofing will be able to withstand high winds and prevent water from leaking in to the home. Remember, this roof is that of a suit of armor.

Metal roofing actually lasts long?

You will never have to re-roof again; because this industry has drastically advanced, metal roofing systems are expected to last up to 100 years. Because of the long term investment, the environmental benefits, and the incredibly specialized manufacturing and installation process, your roof will last you a lifetime.

Conclusion

Do yourself and Mother Nature a favor and get a metal roof. You will both protect the environment and protect yourself from the environment with this efficient shield of armor. Metal roofing has a come a long way, and you can make your home go a long way as well.