Have you ever wanted a cooler roof that would help your house and the environment? Eco-Star tiles may be the way to go.
In the City of Denver, the certification of “green roof” certification, which is Eco-star. A green box with a Big white E and a white star next to it.
Eco-Star roofs are mostly made up of recycled tiles and shingles, that either were scraped off a roof, or not used on one. The impact of not making newer shingles or tiles is a huge benefit to the environment.
There are multiple roofs that can be used to help the environment without compromising on quality, durability, or longevity. The list includes asphalt shingles, clay tiles, metal roofs, and Synthetic Shake.
Eco roofs will have a longer life span than other materials that are out there. Because of the durability, they can withstand and reduce the frequency of roof replacements and maintenance for it overall, saving money and resources over time.
Consider where you live when you would like to install an Eco roof. Here in Colorado, it has up to 300 days of sunlight, and being positioned closer to the sun. Eco roofs may be a good place to start.
Benefits with eco-friendly roofing is the reflection of the sun. If you have a dark toned roof, it will absorb a lot of sunlight, not letting it have a chance to reflect the sunlight so much. Making it much hotter on top of your house. During the summer, roofs can be hotter than the ground with a difference between 20 degrees. In our climate of Colorado, we are closer to the sun, and it makes it harsher because of direct light towards your roof.
Overall, do your research to see if you would like an eco-roof on your house. Decide which material you would like that is energy efficient. Eco-star roofs can save money in the long run, because it will keep your house cool during the hotter months and warm in the cold months.
Roofing can be a dangerous business and there are many ways to prepare yourselves for each job you do as a roofer.
1.Follow the OSHA rules. OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A federal agency of the department of Labor. OSHA is a Private Workers Federal division, that covers most private businesses in the United States. Especially in Colorado. It is important you follow rules because it is for your safety. For more information, please visit their website. (link on the bottom)
2.Check your surrounding areas before you start the job. There could be anything on the roof you may not know about, holes, rocks, loose items and other debris.
3.Using the proper roofing equipment is important for working on a roof. Make sure you are properly dressed. Long pants and short sleeves are a minimum. You want to make sure you’re fully covered and don’t have baggy pants that can get in the way. Wear proper footwear like gym shoes with a good grip, not vans with a super flat bottom. Hard hats, glasses, and gloves are important things to wear to avoid getting hurt from unknown hazards. Preparing yourself for any type of potential hazard that could happen.
4. Bring a ladder that is appropriate, to get to the lowest platform of the roof. Check the ladder is tied off and secure for yourself and others.
5. A safety harness is very important. If you fall or slip, the harness will catch you, potentially saving your life. All harnesses should be tied to an anchor point.
6. Lastly, decide whether the weather is good enough to be out to work, because wet roofs can cause slipping hazards making it even more dangerous to be on top of the roof. Extreme temperatures over 90 degrees, will not be able to be worked on. Roofs absorb and reflect light, making it much hotter than normal. If someone were to work on a roof in hot weather, they would scuff the asphalt from foot traffic. Meaning, moving the gravel/asphalt form the shingles. To avoid this, by not working in hot temperatures. Working in hot temperatures could cause problems like being dehydrated, getting bad sunburn or heat exhaustion. Please be aware of your symptoms if this happens.
Overall, please follow the rules that keep you safe. No job is worth losing your life because you decided not to follow rules. Have fun roofing and for more information please visit our social media sites.
Many times, our clients’ roofs have been damaged, and they get them done by different contractors. The homeowner notices that the roof is being installed incorrectly. They brought us in to see what was done incorrectly. After we have inspected the job, all we can do then is recommend a roof consultation.
As a homeowner have you ever watched a bad roofing project in progress, and you’re not sure of what to do?
Follow these steps to help contact and find a way to get an Independent Roof Inspector.
Benefits of Independent Roof Inspectors
Roof Inspectors are experts who can provide a homeowner with peace of mind that the roof condition is okay. They can do this by checking the roof after a storm or serious damage to the house.
Independent Roof Inspectors go to the site and reevaluate what the contactors have done on the site. The Inspectors will check thoroughly what is being done correctly or not.
What to Do When You Hire an Independent Inspector
Here are some things to Follow while you make your decision.
An Independent Roof Inspector will have an unbiased report of what has been done to the roof.
Keep the report and go over it carefully. This report can be used in court. You can also use the report to come back to any roofing company or be referred to one, and get it done correctly.
Do exactly what is specified in the report. Figure out any additional cost for the new roof or deduct in money for the failed project that could be used for the new project to do it right.
Google and do your research for good Roof Inspectors. You want to get the job done right and hopefully the first time.
Many roofing companies say they have their own roofing inspectors. You DON’T want to use those people. Those are more biased companies that would rather have their company do the work, maybe even take cut shortcuts. Picking separate ones will benefit you, and making sure it’s inspected right.
If you have any questions, call us at Excel Roofing. We are happy to help you with any roof inspection questions or guide you through where to go next. Or if your Roof Inspection leads you here, contact us to replace it the correct way!
Watch our Video for more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_8ATG9Mebg&t=68s
Hail season in Colorado is here. It starts in late April and goes on until September or sometimes October. Hail can be damaging to your roof and other parts of the exterior of your home. Normally if the hail stones that fall are .5” or larger this is when you can expect your property to take a beating. In this blog post, we will discuss the necessary steps you should take if your house gets hit with hail, including when to file an insurance claim, how to identify hail damage, choosing the right contractor, mitigating leaks, and the benefits of impact-resistant shingles.
When to file an insurance claim:
After a hailstorm, it is crucial to assess the damage to your property before you contact your insurance company. Most people don’t love being on the roof, if this is you call Excel Roofing to have an expert assess the damage. One of our Project Managers will take a look at the possible damage and give you an honest assessment on if you have enough damage to file an insurance claim. Insurance policies have specific time limits for filing claims after a hail event, so it is essential to act promptly to ensure coverage.
How to tell if your roof has been damaged by hail:
Determining if your roof has sustained hail damage requires a thorough inspection done by someone with trained eyes. Some signs to look for include:
Bruised shingles
Dents or divots in shingles
Missing granules in circular form
Cracked or split shingles
Choosing the correct contractor:
Use a local contractor with an established track record. A company’s track record is the best indicator of how they are going to perform.
Make sure you get a written bid specifying the materials and costs of the job. This should include all your expectations of the work to be performed.
Read the fine print and do not sign a contract with a cancellation fee. The only reason a cancellation fee is included is to hold you hostage in case you want out of the deal.
Your contactor needs to have liability and workman’s comp insurance. This will protect you if they damage your property or if one of the workers gets hurt.
Make sure your contractor pulls a building permit and has the work inspected.
Most importantly, never pay a contractor any money until the job is finished. Don’t pay for material up front. If things go wrong with the job, you will have all the money to pay someone to fix it. This is the best protection a consumer can have.
If your roof develops a leak after a hailstorm, taking immediate action is crucial to minimize further damage.
Place a bucket under the leak to collect the water and help prevent it from damaging your interior.
If you see a bubble in your drywall, poke it with a pencil to drain the water out to prevent it from collapsing.
Contact a professional roofing contractor to assess and repair the damage promptly.
Deductibles are changing, so file a claim now:
Insurance deductibles for hail damage can vary, but it’s worth noting that in recent years many policies have transitioned to a percentage-based deductible, typically around 1% of the insured value of your home. This change means that the deductible amount will increase as the value of your home does. If you’ve been hit by a hailstorm and have significant damage, it is wise to file a claim sooner rather than later to take advantage of the current deductible structure.
Impact Resistant Shingles:
To better protect your home from hail damage in the future, Excel Roofing strongly considers installing impact resistant shingles. These are specially designed shingles that are made to withstand hail impact and are often rated for their resistance to specific sizes of hailstones. Impact resistant shingles can reduce the risk of damage during severe weather events, providing greater peace of mind and lowering your insurance premiums.
Every type of shingle goes through a testing process to receive a rating. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a non-profit independent testing organization that provides the knowledge and expertise to help consumers make informed decisions on the best products.
UL developed a test called the UL 2218 Impact Rating to rate the strength of roofing materials. The test uses steel balls ranging from 1.25 inches to 2 inches in diameter that are dropped from various heights.
To meet the acceptance criteria of UL 2218, the roofing material, back surface, and interior layers must show no evidence or tearing, fracturing, cracking, splitting, rupture, or other evidence of opening of the roof covering layer. Based on how the roofing material performs, it will be classified as Class 1, 2, 3, or 4.
Class 4 is earned if the sample does not crack when hit twice in the same place by a 2-inch diameter steel ball. Products that receive a Class 4 rating are the most resistant to hail damage.
Excel Roofing suggests Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration Storm or Flex. These shingles come in a variety of colors. Duration Storm uses an extra backing called a scrim to achieve its rating, and Duration Flex is made with a blend of SBS polymer modified asphalt. This rubber-like material allows the shingle to be more pliable and flexible, making the shingles hail resistant. Both of these asphalt shingles are Class 4 and qualify for an insurance discount with the provided certificate. Talk to your insurance agent about the discounts they might offer. Excel Roofing always provides the Class 4 Roof Certificate if the roof qualifies.
Every year Excel Roofing gives back to the communities we serve. One of the ways that we do this is by donating roofs to families in need. In past years, Excel Roofing has donated roofs to Homes for Our Troops, Habitat for Humanity, families with disabilities, and families experiencing financial hardship.
This year Excel Roofing was contacted by Marcos Roa about his roof dilemma. Marcos and Lupe Roa are immigrants from Monterrey, Mexico and have lived in Colorado for the past 25 years. Part of Marcos and Lupe’s American dream was to purchase a home. In 2004 they proudly purchased a manufactured home. However, they did not know that this home was not designed for Colorado’s harsh climate.
Because the manufactured home was not properly ventilated, ice dams formed and damaged the roof. The bigger problem is the moisture that is trapped in the unventilated vaulted roof cavities. The moisture is caused by the OSB decking to rot and sections of the roof collapsed when they were walked on. Marcos knew he had a problem and called a roofer to get a quote to have his roof replaced. The quote was $24,000 for the roof and new decking. The first problem with this is the roofer who quoted the new roof did not address the underlying problem of inadequate ventilation. This would have caused the same problem to happen again. The biggest problem is that Marcos and Lupe do not have $24,000 to buy a new roof.
Marcos contacted J Bretz, the owner of Excel Roofing, to see if Excel could help. J Bretz contacted Owens Corning, the roof shingle manufacturer, for help as well. Because of the generosity of Owens Corning, they donated 24 squares of Owens Corning Duration Estate Gray dimensional shingles. The material was delivered by ABC Roofing Supply from Grand Junction, CO. One of Excel Roofing’s best roofing crews, Manuel Contras removed the old roof, replaced the bad plywood, installed ventilation, and the new roof.
Excel Roofing, and our business partners Owens Corning, ABC Roof Supply, and Manuel Contras are proud to have supplied the materials and labor to help this less fortunate family.
Winter is here and Spring is around the corner and with its arrival comes greater chances of heavy, wet snow. While a blanket of snow may look picturesque, it can cause serious damage to your home or bodily harm.
Why is heavy, wet snow dangerous for roofs?
The weight of heavy, wet snow is the biggest concern for roofs. As the snow accumulates on your roof, the weight can build up quickly. In the Spring when the snow is wet and heavy, it can put a lot of stress on your roof structure. This can cause the roof line to sag or even collapse. which is a serious safety hazard and will cause costly repairs.
In addition, heavy, wet snow can cause damage to your gutters, shingles, and other roofing materials. When snow melts, it can seep into cracks and crevices, causing water damage to your roof and even making its way into your home. This is what we refer to in roofing as ice dams. Ice damming occurs when snow on the roof melts and refreezes at the edge of the roof. This can cause water to back up and seep into the home through the roof or soffits, leading to water damage. For more about preventing ice dams check out our Ice Dams blog: https://www.excelroofing.com/ice-dams-how-to-prevent-ice-dams-protect-your-roof/
Safety
Heavy, wet snow is not only dangerous for your homes’ health, but also your personal health. Every year people die or are severely injured from snow falling off roofs. Metal roofs are particularly dangerous. Heavy, wet snow easily slides off metal roofs due to no friction between the roof and the snow. Snow guards are highly recommended by Excel Roofing for metal roofs in areas that receive a lot of snow.
What can you do to prevent heavy, wet snow damage to your roof?
Clearing snow off your roof can help reduce the risk of damage. You can use a snow rake to remove snow from your roof or hire Excel Roofing to do the job for you. Excel Roofing does not recommend getting on your roof with snow or ice present.
Snow guards are most common for tile, metal, and composite roofs but can be installed on steep asphalt roofs. The guards are installed to create friction and keep the snow on your roof until is safely melts. Heat cable is installed on all roof types. The heat cable will melt the snow and ice where it builds up which reduces strain on the roof structure.
Regular roof maintenance, such as cleaning gutters and checking for damage, can prevent ice dams from forming and mitigate future damage. This is especially important if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow. Keep an eye out for any signs of sagging or cracking and act immediately if you notice any problems. Click HERE for a free roof inspection.
By taking these steps, you can help keep your roof in top condition and protect your home from heavy, wet snow damage. Call Excel Roofing for any roofing questions and concerns. 303.761.6400
