800 Inspections » High Winds

What to charge for roof repair?

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:54:57 +0000

high winds blew 7′x6′ of shingles off. I can repair but what should I charge? Labor only.

Common Signals For Roof Repairs

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:55:49 +0000

Tim McLoughlin asked:

Your grass needs landscaping when it gets too tall. Your house needs paint when it looks dingy. Your windows need to be replaced if they show cracks. With some household repairs, when to tackle the task is obvious. Your roof, however, is a bit more subtle. How do you know when it’s time to reroof?

Inspections are key. It’s extremely important to inspect your roof at least twice a year, in order to prevent any unseen damage from becoming a disaster. Regular inspections will also help you to quickly recognize anything that seems different or odd about your roof. There are some basic things you can look out for that will tell you whether you have a happy, healthy roof, or whether you need to call in a roofing company for a roof repair.

Grab your binoculars, and find a good spot on your property where you have a clear, unobstructed view of the roof. Here’s what you’ll look out for:

Missing or broken shingles are an obvious sign of a problem. Empty spots could allow moisture to collect and puddle, eventually soaking through and becoming a leak. Don’t hesitate to have a roofing company come and check out potential leaks, as they’ll only get worse with time. Steep roofs tend to lose more shingles due to high winds.

Bare looking shingles (often darker looking than normal) are not good either. Grainy asphalt covers new shingles, but can be swept away by heavy winds and rain. If you notice quite a bit of the grainy asphalt in your rain gutters, something’s wrong and you may need some roofing repairs. Naked shingles are a source of another potential leak on your roof.

Shingles that appear to have curled or split are another sign that it may be time to reroof. If shingles are curling, they’re likely to be further damaged by heavy winds, leaving room for water to seep inside. Shingles can curl either upwards or downwards (causing a bump on their bottom edge) – either way, it’s a sign of trouble.

Any distortion in the shingles, such as a buckled vertical line, can indicate a problem. There are several causes of buckling, including using boards that are too thin when constructing the roof. Sagging centers or ridges can also be signals that it’s time to consider reroofing.

Pay special attention to any area where one surface meets another, such as near chimneys, vents, or wall joints. If you notice any cracks, dried out caulking or rusty metal, there’s a problem with the flashing. Again, this is a potential leak that may be cause for roofing repair.

Loose or exposed nails are not normal, and can also create space for leaks to sneak through.

There are also several important things to check for from inside the house:

If you notice any sagging between your rafters, it could mean that your roof decking will need replacing, along with other possible roof repairs.

Water damage is the most obvious sign that reroofing is in your future, and could indicate an existing leak or be a sign of inadequate roof ventilation. Check your attic after a rainy day to be sure there are no stains or wet spots from previously unseen leaks.

Depending on the climate you live in, the color of your roof, what direction your roof faces, and what kind of ventilation was built in, roofs can last anywhere from 10-25 years. Consistent roof inspections will help you know when it’s time to call a roofing company for roof repairs.

DIY Solar and Wind Power

The Enemies of a Roof

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:36:09 +0000

Enemies of a Roof

A roof system’s performance is affected by numerous factors. Knowing about the following will help you make informed roof system buying decisions:

Sun: Heat and ultraviolet rays cause roofing materials to deteriorate over time. Deterioration can occur faster on the sides facing west or south.

Rain: When water gets underneath shingles, shakes or other roofing materials, it can work its way to the roof deck and cause the roof structure to rot. Extra moisture encourages mildew and rot elsewhere in a house, including walls, ceilings, insulation and electrical systems.

Wind: High winds can lift shingles’ edges (or other roofing materials) and force water and debris underneath them. Extremely high winds can cause extensive damage.

Snow and ice: Melting snow often refreezes at a roof’s overhang where the surface is cooler, forming an ice dam. This blocks proper drainage into the gutter. Water backs up under the shingles (or other roofing materials) and seeps into the interior. During the early melt stages, gutters and downspouts can be the first to fill with ice and be damaged beyond repair or even torn off a house or building.

Condensation: Condensation can result from the buildup of relatively warm, moisture-laden air. Moisture in a poorly ventilated attic promotes decay of wood sheathing and rafters, possibly destroying a roof structure. Sufficient attic ventilation can be achieved by installing larger or additional vents and will help alleviate problems because the attic air temperature will be closer to the outside air temperature.

Moss and algae: Moss can grow on moist wood shingles and shakes. Once it grows, moss holds even more moisture to a roof system’s surface, causing rot. In addition, moss roots also can work their way into a wood deck and structure. Algae also grows in damp, shaded areas on wood or asphalt shingle roof systems. Besides creating a black-green stain, algae can retain moisture, causing rot and deterioration. Trees and bushes should be trimmed away from homes and buildings to eliminate damp, shaded areas, and gutters should be kept clean to ensure good drainage.

Trees and leaves: Tree branches touching a roof will scratch and gouge roofing materials when the branches are blown by the wind. Falling branches from overhanging trees can damage, or even puncture, shingles and other roofing materials. Leaves on a roof system’s surface retain moisture and cause rot, and leaves in the gutters block drainage.

Missing or torn shingles: The key to a roof system’s effectiveness is complete protection. When shingles are missing or torn off, a roof structure and home or building interior are vulnerable to water damage and rot. The problem is likely to spread-nearby shingles also are ripped easily or blown away. Missing or torn shingles should be replaced as soon as possible.

Shingle deterioration: When shingles are old and worn out, they curl, split and lose their waterproofing effectiveness. Weakened shingles easily are blown off, torn or lifted by wind gusts. The end result is structural rot and interior damage. A deteriorated roof system only gets worse with time-it should be replaced as soon as possible.

Flashing deterioration: Many apparent roof leaks really are flashing leaks. Without good, tight flashings around chimneys, vents, skylights and wall/roof junctions, water can enter a home or building and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and electrical systems. Flashings should be checked as part of a biannual roof inspection and gutter cleaning.

By: Charlie McCurry

About the Author:

S&K Roofing, Siding and Windows is Maryland’s leading company in roofing and maintenance-free home exteriors. Family-owned and operated since 1980, S&K Roofing, Siding and Windows provides high-quality exterior home workmanship and customer service that is among the best in the industry. We offer maintenance-free home exteriors including roofing, siding, windows, doors, gutters and downspouts, custom trim/wrap, and decks.

To learn more visit SKRoofing.com.

Woodworking Plans

More Affordable Homeowners Insurance: How Disaster-Proof Have You Made Your Dwelling?

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:55:13 +0000

You can make your house almost disaster proof thereby lowering your risk and, as a result, your home insurance premium. Apart from ensuring you have everything in place to prevent fire and burglary, the following are recommended for various areas…

a. If you reside in a locality that is very susceptible to high winds, you’ll make considerable savings by having storm shutters.

b. Using a heavier roofing material will reduce your risk factor thereby helping you save more on your home insurance premiums if you reside in a windy area.

c. If your area is prone to earthquakes, do your best to retrofit you home.

d. Make the exterior of your house fire-safe and you will reduce your home insurance rate. You’ll do well if you don’t have anything that’s inflammable close to your building. Although cutting bushes around your home looks mundane, you will get lower rates if you do keep them at a distance of at least ten feet from your structures. The likelihood of fire in a house is a very strong factor that influences your home insurance rate.

Locate the cheapest online homeowners insurance quote

e. Cutting off dry branches on trees on your property will lower the likelihood of a branch falling off and causing injury and/or damage.

f. You will also do well if you plant your trees at a safe distance from your structures for many reasons. A tree can help burglars and their branches can also fall off and damage part of your building. It could also reduce the lifespan of your roof depending on the material it is made of.

g. Having dead-bolt locks on all exterior door will lower your home insurance premium. It’s harder for burglars to break into homes that have such locks. The more protected your home is against burglary, the better the risk taken in insuring it.

h. Install special fire and security gadgets that alert fire stations, police stations or other monitoring centers. Apart from the peace of mind you’ll have in knowing your house is always been watched by committed personnel, you will enjoy more affordable home insurance rates. This can reduce your rate by more than 25% depending on your insurer.

If want more ways to make your home really disaster-proof, consult your agent.

Also discover the cost-effectiveness of each suggestion you receive|It’s also neccessary to check if the discount you’ll get justifies the cost of applying the advice. You will pay far less for home owners insurance if you work with these.

Homeowners’ – 6 Things You Must Work On If You Want To Lower Your Costs

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:46:08 +0000

Folks who understand how to comparison shop for online homeowners insurance quotes normally spot the best deals. If you don’t, you’ll soon learn how in this article. But before that, or while you do that, there are many other things to do if you want to pay a lot less. We’ll discuss a few of them…

1. Shatter-proof windows will get you some savings. If you live in place with high winds and hail storms get your windows upgraded to these and you’ll be eligible for a reasonable discount. I recommend that you discuss this with your agent even before you start the replacement as he or she might make inputs that will bring in more savings.

2. Make the exterior of your home fire-safe and you’ll reduce your home insurance rate. Do you have things that could easily aid combustion near your house? They’ll make you get higher rates. Although cutting bushes around your home looks simple, you’ll get lower premiums if you do keep them at a distance of at least 10 feet from your structures. Fire-safety is a major factor that is used to calculate how much or little you pay in premiums.

Enjoy cheap home insurance rates

3. Your premium will be cheaper if you do routine maintenance of your home. Do you have dead limbs on trees on your property? They are capable of raising a liability claim.

Do every thing possible to quickly take care of anything that could cause injury to someone on your property. Such a good maintenance culture would reduce your rate.

4. Do NOT leave ladders in places where anyone can easily pick them. Doing this would be making a burglar’s operation much easier. Don’t as well leave pieces of tools lying around. Thieves will have an easier time breaking into a home that offers them such opportunities. Keeping these things in a safe place will save you a lot of heartaches along with lower rates.

5. Do you have a fire extinguisher or fire extinguishers in your home (depending on the number of fire sources you have in your house)? If you don’t have in any other place, ensure that your kitchen has one. It’s important that the fire extinguisher be good enough for the point it is meant to protect.

Put them within easy reach and make sure they are in good working condition. Doing this will help you lower your premiums.

6. Make out some time to visit not less than 5 insurance quotes sites that return quotes on home insurance policies. It will take you not more than 25 minutes.

While you visit each quotes site, make sure you input the same details. Doing otherwise will give you misleading quotes. When you’ve obtained your home insurance quotes, compare them to see which serves your interest best both in price and value.

Cheapest Homeowner Insurance – Seven Recommendations

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:06:29 +0000

There are many ways to more affordable but adequate coverage. But at the same time, a number of options folks adopt in order to cut cost actually result in less than sufficient coverage. This is, nevertheless, not the case with the tips I’ll share with you in this write-up as you’ll realize considerable savings while you maintain enough coverage….

A home that has a smoker or smokers will get higher rates. With over 23,000 residential fires being as a result of smoking you will agree that it’s really an important factor. Do all within your power to ensure nobody smokes in your home and you’ll attract more affordable rates. For people who smoke, note that you’re eligible for a downward review in your rate once you’ve quit smoking for over twelve months. If your insurer refuses to lower your premiums after you’ve stopped, go to another insurer.

2. You’ll lower your homeowners insurance premium by up to 15% if you change to modern heating, electrical and plumbing systems. Even though you may enjoy the old-fashioned fire place, you do know that it is really not as fire-safe as a modern heating system. Your home is safer if you opt for modern standards. Make good use of them as they will not only lower your homeowner insurance spend but add to the worth of your structure in a number of cases.

3. Many policyholders don’t know half the discounts that are available to them with their insurer.. Information is the first step to getting what you’re eligible for. Sit your agent down and ask that they tell you about all discounts that your insurer offers and how to qualify. That an insurer doesn’t advertise certain discounts doesn’t mean they do not have them.

4. The material you use in the construction of your home has a big effect on your home insurance premium. Buy a frame home if you want better resistance to earthquakes or buy a brick home if you want better resistance to high winds. This implies that people who reside in the East will save if they opt for a frame home. On the other hand, people who reside in the West will enjoy lower rates if by buying a frame home because of the earthquakes there. Expect to save at least 5% if you choose a building with the right material.

5. You don’t really have to insure your home against all kinds of peril. There are perils that are very unlikely in certain places. Knowing the climate trend of a state you can determine the kinds of perils that can happen.

It’s truly good financial advice to buy coverage for any loss that has a reasonable chance of happening. At the same time, you may just be wasting your hard-earned cash if you buy coverage for a peril that has never occurred in your state’s history. You’ll only buy necessary coverage if you secure yourself against true potential losses and damages. You’ll lower your premium by doing this if you purchased too much at first.

6. If your area has a Neighborhood watch, that should fetch you a discount. Many insurance providers offer discounts for this. Therefore, if you have one in your area, let your agent know about it. And, if you do not have one in your community, you can start one. Everyone in your community will stand to gain as this will lower their home owner insurance rates.

7. As you take these other steps to lower your home premium, here’s what to do to start enjoying lower rates now: Visit reputable insurance quotes sites and request for quotes.

Visit at least five of such sites for the best results. It’s free, quick and easy. Make sure you give your correct details as you complete the forms presented. The last step is to simply pick the quote that represents the best price/value from the quotes returned.