Wheel Barrow Roofing London

Top Reasons Not to Skip Regular Roofing Maintenance!

With the roof so high up there on top of the house, it is easy for some homeowners to forget about necessary roofing maintenance when they fall prey to the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ concept.

It is easy to forget about roof cleaning and other important maintenance when the roof seems to be doing just fine.

Unfortunately, these are the circumstances that many roofers see leading to costly damage, most of which could have been prevented with good roofing maintenance.

Why Roofing Maintenance Shouldn't Be Ignored

Instead of ignoring their roofs, homeowners should consider these reasons why roofing maintenance, inspections, and occasional roof cleaning are so important to protect the longevity of this essential component of their homes:

Longer Roof Life - A roof that does not receive regular roofing maintenance like gutter cleaning, ventilation checks, and minor repairs made when necessary will age faster than one that does.
Fewer Repairs Needed - Homeowners who invest in periodic inspections, roof cleaning, and required roofing maintenance will experience fewer problems that require expensive repairs, as the conditions that cause them can be prevented before damage occurs.
Money Savings - In addition to saving money on unnecessary repairs, good roofing maintenance that prolongs the lifespan of the roof helps homeowners get their money’s worth out of their current installation. A well-maintained roof also provides more energy-efficient protection that saves money on utility bills.
Protects the Warranty - Hiring roofers to perform required maintenance can protect the homeowner’s warranty on their roof, as many roofing materials manufacturers consider the warranty voided when maintenance is overlooked.
Safety of Home and Family - With good roofing maintenance including regular inspections, homeowners can rest assured that the structural integrity of their roofs is intact and easily able to protect their homes, families, and possessions against the weather.
Higher Home Value - Periodic roof cleaning and required roofing maintenance keeps a roof and the entire home looking and functioning at its best while maintaining the value of the home.

As easy as it can be to forget about roofing maintenance or assume that it is not necessary because the roof seems to be fine, homeowners do a disservice to themselves by doing so.

To protect their installations and prolong the life of any roof, homeowners should arrange to have their roofer do an inspection every couple of years and while doing so, perform any necessary roofing maintenance or cleaning.

These basic steps can prevent damage that requires costly repairs and keep the roof on any house looking its best and resisting damage for years to come!

Can A Few Missing Shingles Cause Roof Leaks?

Shingle roofs installed by residential roofing services are designed to remain watertight through their layered, offset application that prevents water from seeping beneath them.

This installation arrangement also helps to keep the shingles lying flat, which adds to the water-tightness of these roofing systems.

Noting this, residential roofing contractors are frequently asked whether one or even a few missing shingles cause the roof to leak.

The answer is both yes and no.

Does One Broken or Missing Shingle Cause Problems?

One of the great qualities gained when having a residential roofing service install shingles of some type is the peace of mind knowing that shingles all act to provide multiple layers of protection to the same spot on the roof.

This suggests that in most cases, if a single shingle breaks or gets blown off the roof, this minor damage will not automatically result in a leak or any water damage, at least not initially.

There is still a layer of underneath shingles providing protection in place where the top shingle used to be.

What If A Missing Shingle Problem Is Ignored?

The problems usually start when a missing shingle or two are ignored for a while, without residential roofing repair being made to replace the missing one.

After some time, the nail heads on the now exposed under-layer of shingles will start to corrode or pop up due to being exposed to moisture and that invites additional troubles.

Loosening or corroding nail heads allow the now exposed layer of shingles to loosen, letting water underneath or through the nail holes, eventually resulting in a leak.

What About Several Missing Shingles In One Location?

Alternately, while a single missing shingle here and there may not cause extensive damage and take a while to start leaking, residential roofing contractors warn that when a few shingles are removed from the same area, the added protection of those different layers may be removed with them.

Multiple shingles missing from the same spots often leave the underlayment exposed and that will definitely lead to leaking sooner rather than later.

Missing Shingles? Call A Roof Repair Service Right Away!

What should homeowners who notice missing shingles do?

If there is one or a few shingles missing from various parts of the roof, arrange for residential roofing repair when it can be conveniently scheduled for both parties, as there is no real emergency as long as there is only a single shingle missing from each location and the under-layers are intact.

If there are multiple shingles missing from the same area, arranging for those residential roofing services as soon as possible and protecting the area of damage in the meantime is recommended.

In Summary

Missing shingles, whether one or many, should always be replaced by a residential roofing contractor.

Rest assured that one or two missing shingles are not likely to cause immediate leaking.

When in doubt, homeowners should call a reliable residential roofing repair service and discuss the issue with them.

If Your Roof Doesn’t Have Crickets – Does It Need Them?

There are many components to the systems installed by roofer companies to create a sound, leak-proof roofing installation.

From ridges to rafters and soffits to flashing, roofers advise that all of these parts make up a complete system that protects a home by preventing the passage of water under the main roofing materials and into the living space.

One lesser-known part of some roofing systems according to the roofer services that install them is a cricket, also known as a roof saddle, that protects certain areas of the roofing installation.

What Is A Roof Cricket?

In the simplest explanation, a roof cricket is a roof ridge designed by roofer companies to direct water away from chimneys and similar protrusions that extend up from the surface of the roof.

Humorously named after the lovable character Jiminy Cricket due to the similarity to the phrase “chimney cricket,” these saddle ridges provide important protection for chimneys that protrude through pitched roofs by covering the back side of the chimney, preventing water from collecting where the back of the chimney meets the roof.

What Does The Area Around Chimneys Commonly Leak?

Chimneys are common locations where roofer services see leaks and widespread water damage, as it is challenging to protect their high sides from the presence of water.

Even after it finishes raining, water can sit in the crease behind the chimney for days, prematurely aging the shingles and eventually resulting in water damage.

Even the best flashing and sealant installed by roofers can sometimes fail in these locations.

In the worst cases, it can lead to a chimney collapse or widespread water damage like rot and substantial leaks under the roof.

How Do Roof Crickets Help Prevent Leaks?

Roof crickets installed by a roofer service can prevent this damage and keep a chimney dry and leak-proof by covering the high side of the structure and directing water away from it and down the pitch of the roof.

Designed by roofer companies to look like a small dormer extending from the roof surface and meeting the back of the chimney, roof crickets are designed to have the same pitch as the roof itself so they look aesthetic while preventing the water rolling down the roof from collecting behind the chimney.

Water rolls down the roof pitch, then onto the cricket and down the additional pitch to slide around the back of the chimney and continue down the roof.

Ask Your Roofer If Your Roof Needs a Roof Cricket!

Roofers advise that roof crickets can be instrumental in protecting chimneys and roof installations, especially in regions that see frequent or heavy rains.

Any house with one or more chimneys that extend through the surface of a pitched roof should be protected with a cricket behind each structure.

Homeowners experiencing leaks around their chimneys or who wish to avoid them can hire an experienced roofer service to install helpful crickets that will protect their installations and chimneys from costly water damage!

Roofing Design for Withstanding Extreme Weather!

Different parts of the country experience different types of extreme weather.

In the south and midwest, that tends to include hurricanes and other storms bringing high winds and torrential rains.

Knowing this, residential roof design should always be done in such a way that the architecture, plus the materials installed by residential roofing services, offer the most protection.

What Affects The Durability of Roofs?

Factors that affect the durability of a roof in extreme weather include its pitch and slope, the height of the home, the type of system installed by residential roofing repair professionals, and the quality of the materials used.

Overall, steeper-pitched roofs are more durable against high winds and torrential rains, while low-slope roofs tend to see more damage in these conditions.

Also, the taller a house is, the more important it is to have a pitched roof.

Regarding roof systems and materials, metal roofing systems tend to fare better than shingles, but residential roofing installations using premium wind-resistant shingles are durable as well.

What About Roof Architecture?

In terms of roofing architecture itself, there are a number of designs that are recommended in areas where extreme weather like hurricanes and high winds occur and would like require some type of roofing repair, which include the following:

Gambrel Roofs - One of the more protective roofs against high winds, the weight of heavy snow loads, and heavy rains, gambrel roofs are popular for homes, barns, and other buildings.
Hip Roofs - Another exceptionally sturdy roof design, the popular hip roof incorporates four angles that meet at the top, two at the ridge, and two at the ends of the ridge.
Shed Roofs - Shed roofs are a great option for homes in areas that receive a large amount of rain, as their long slopes and pitched overhang divert water off the house and away from the foundation.
Gable Roofs - Tall, sloping gable roofs have a high pitch and a steep slope that make them especially suited to withstand heavy rainfall and snowfall.

Seek The Advice of Local Roofing Services

Whether building a new home or renovating the roof on an existing one, homeowners should speak to experienced contractors from local residential roofing services about how to best protect their homes from local weather extremes.

Between the right physical design and the best residential roofing installation for it, it is a worthwhile investment in home protection.

Let's Add This Up

Fortunately, sticking with some of the more popular roofing styles like gambrel and hip roofs can protect most homes from all types of extreme weather.

Talk to a reputable local residential roofing service about roof design and whether it should be improved to be more durable against weather extremes!

What Is The Difference Between 3-Tab and Architectural Shingles?

Homeowners hiring asphalt roofers to do a new installation have many types of shingles to choose from today.

While 3-tab shingles have been in use for many decades, asphalt roofer services also offer beautiful architectural shingles as well.

Choose the right shingle from an asphalt roofer company by knowing the difference between the two!

3-Tab Shingles

Standard 3-tab shingles have been a staple used by asphalt roofers for a long time.

They provide years of roofing protection at a reasonable price, which is why they have been so popular for so long.

Though they have declined in popularity since the advent of more attractive and durable architectural shingles, 3-tab shingles are still a good option for sheds and other buildings or for lower-cost home roofs in some areas.

Visually, 3-tab shingles offer a uniform, flat appearance with no dimension to them.

Performance-wise, they can typically withstand winds of up to 70 MPH, which is the lowest wind rating.

Architectural Shingles

Architectural shingles, also called dimensional shingles, are higher-quality shingles available from asphalt roofer services that have grown in popularity for their more attractive appearance and improved durability.

Made using thicker shaped layers of matting materials, architectural shingles have a thicker, 3-dimensional profile that makes them more durable and able to withstand higher winds.

These shingles are available in a wide variety of shapes and styles that mimic other materials like wood shingles, which are less durable, and slate shingles, which are heavier and much more expensive.

When expertly installed by a professional asphalt roofer company, architectural shingles can make any type of home look more appealing with a roof that is more characteristic of different eras and materials.

Benefits of Designer Shingles

While architectural shingles do cost considerably more than 3-tab shingles, the many benefits gained by using them according to asphalt roofers usually outweigh the cost.

Architectural shingles last longer, are more resilient to extreme weather, and can be found in a variety of premium styles designed for specific conditions like high winds, impact resistance, and improved UV resistance.

Developed as designer upgrades to the standard 3-tab shingles that have been in use for so long, most homeowners prefer the dimensional looks of architectural shingles over the flat uniformity of 3-tabs.

Let's Add This Up

As with any roofing material, it is important that homeowners choose a reputable asphalt roofer service to install their shingles, regardless of the type they choose, to ensure a perfect installation.

When choosing beautiful architectural shingles, always protect that investment by finding an asphalt roofer company trained to install that specific product that will warrant their workmanship!

Find A Great Fencing Contractor for a Great New Fence!

When putting up a new fence, finding the right fence contractor to do it is important.

To ensure a good installation and a fence that will not encounter problems as it ages, fencing contractors must be experienced in their trade and know the correct techniques for installing many different products.

These easy tips can help any home or business owner find a trusted fencing company within their community so they can rest assured that their installation will be a great one.

How Reputable and Reliable Are They? - The best place to find out whether a fence contractor is respected within the community and a reliable contractor to hire is online. Seek out their social media pages, website, and business directory pages and see what past customers are saying about them. Most people can get a good impression of the fencing company by investigating whether they have happy customers or lots of complaints.
Do They Deliver Quality Workmanship? - View example galleries on the fencing contractor’s website and those posted online by past customers. New potential customers can also ask for references from the fence contractor that they can drive by and look at in person, too.
Are They Well-Trained? - Inquire about training and skill levels as well as any special experience the installers have for the type of fence being considered. A great fence demands that fencing contractors use the proper techniques to install it.
How Is the Pricing? - It is always a good idea to compare pricing to see how competitive a fencing company is with others in the area. Do understand that fencing contractors offering superior work and premium materials will have higher prices than those using cheap materials and untrained workers. Be wary of gauging but know what the service is offering for the money to truly find the best deal and workmanship for the money.
Are They Compliant? - Always confirm that a fence contractor is appropriately insured and that they observe safety practices to prevent injury or property damage. Also, discuss local zoning laws with them and confirm whether they will obtain any necessary building permits or if the contractor requires the property owner to get the permit on their own.

Fencing contractors are a dime a dozen in some areas, but that does not mean they are all reliable and skilled.

Before hiring any fencing company, always do the research required to get these questions answered.

The time spent finding a fence contractor who has the skills, experience, and positive reputation necessary to do a good job provides more peace of mind that hiring them is the right choice!

How Fire Resistant Are Asphalt Shingles?

One of the positive qualities of the asphalt shingles installed by roof contractors is that they are fire resistant to varying degrees.

This can be a critical feature for owners of homes and buildings in locations that are affected by wildfires, excessive heat, and also in congested neighborhoods where houses are close together.

Yet not all asphalt shingles are highly resistant to embers or flames and homeowners planning for roof services in the future must understand how fire ratings work to ensure they choose the right asphalt shingles to protect their homes.

What Is The Fire Resistance of Roofing Material?

Fire resistance refers to the ability of roofing materials to not catch directly on fire when affected by embers or fire.

All asphalt shingles installed by roof services are rated in their level of fire resistance.

A Class A rating is the most fire-resistant shingle, while those rated Class C are only somewhat fire-resistant.

Shingles with a Class B rating fall somewhere in between the two.

More Asphalt Shingles Available With an A-Rating

Today, many high-quality asphalt shingles like dimensional and architectural shingles are A-rated, meaning they provide a high level of protection to the roof deck of the building.

This rating, which is also given to metal, slate, and ceramic roofing, is met by shingles made with a high fiberglass content as this material is both lightweight and extremely fire resistant.

Flying embers are less likely to ignite these materials on an installation that receives regular roof maintenance, and they are also more resilient to high heat.

As such, Class A fire-resistant shingles are the preferred materials for homeowners to have installed by roof contractors if fire resistance is a concern.

They may also cost slightly more than lower-quality, non-premium shingles that have lower fire-resistance ratings.

What Are C-Rated Shingles Like?

At the bottom of the list are Class C-rated shingles, which provide only the minimum fire resistance and protection, making them somewhat riskier to use in fire-prone areas.

They are commonly some of the less expensive shingles that roof services can install.

As noted above, Class B-rated shingles are mid-range in their fire resistance and also their cost.

Assess Your Risk Dangers

Because some roofs can catch fire from just a few burning embers landing on them, roof contractors highly recommend that homeowners choose premium Class A-rated asphalt shingles whenever possible for the greatest protection.

Class A premium shingles made with fiberglass are affordable, durable protection against conditions that could destroy the entire structure if the roof catches on fire.

Contact a reputable roof service to talk more about fire resistance and choose the best shingle for any home!

What Are All the Materials Needed for a Roof Replacement?

Roof replacements may look easy, just pull off the old materials and nail on the new ones, but that is a very simplistic view of what is really involved.

In reality, roof replacement contractors go to great lengths to properly install many different materials, not just the ones that lay on top.

To fully understand the complexity of roofing, this list of all the different materials that roof replacement companies use in their installations should help homeowners understand why the job takes so long, and costs so much!

Wooden Decking - Decking is the main support for all the other roof replacement materials installed by contractors. It lays over the spaces between the rafters and trusses, covering the roof area and providing a flat surface on which the other materials can be securely installed.
Felt Underlayment - Underlayment is a water-resistant, yet breathable covering that protects the decking by preventing moisture from seeping through the external materials and down to the wood.
Ice Shields - Ice shields are waterproof barriers that get installed in valleys where water flows and ice can form, providing an additional layer of protection in these vulnerable areas on the roof.
Metal Drip Edges - To prevent water from rolling down a roof and then clinging to the roofing material and soaking into the decking underneath, roof replacement contractors install drip edges at the ends of the decking to prevent those droplets from hanging on so they instead release and fall off the roof.
Shingles or Panels - Available in countless types and styles, the external shingles or metal panels are the main protective roofing materials that cover up everything previously mentioned.
Ridge Caps - Ridge caps are shingles or metal pieces that protect the ridge vents and the upper edges of the roofing material by covering those areas while still leaving space for the vents.
Roof Vents - Installed in various places by roof replacement companies to ensure good attic ventilation and prevent heat damage to the external materials, vents are critical roofing components. Contractors will install gable vents, standard roof vents, and soffit vents as needed to regulate the roof and attic.
Flashing - Flashing is the pieces of metal that cover the seams in roof valleys to protect them from moisture and seal off those vulnerable areas.
Pipe Boots - When exhaust vents and other pipes extend through the decking and other materials, roof replacement companies protect those areas with rubber boots which are like flashing for exhaust and vent pipes.

Based on this long list of essential materials, it is easy to see how roof replacement involves much more than just putting on a new set of shingles.

Experienced roof replacement contractors use all these items to ensure a perfect, leak-free roofing system!

A Quick Look at Impact Testing for Asphalt Shingles

According to asphalt shingle roof contractors, asphalt shingles are one of the most popular types of roofing installed today due to their durability and affordability.

When designing products to be installed by asphalt shingle roof services, roofing materials manufacturers put their products through multiple quality tests, one of them being an impact test.

Impact testing ensures that the shingles installed by asphalt roof services will withstand impacts up to the rating of that product.

For homeowners in parts of Texas that are prone to hailstorms, impact resistance is a very desirable quality.

How Is Impact Testing Done on Shingles?

There are two main tests used to determine the impact resistance of specific products installed by asphalt shingle roof contractors.

Those are the Underwriters Lab (UL) standard 2218 Impact Resistance test and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IIBHS) Impact Resistance Test.

What is Involved With the UL 2218 Impact Resistance Test?

The UL 2218 test, also called the steel ball test, is done by dropping various-sized steel balls from a distance of between 12 and 20 feet onto the roofing material to see how it is affected.

The test is run by dropping the balls onto a fully installed test roof on various parts of the roof, then deconstructing the roof afterward to examine it.

Specifically, the backs of the shingles are inspected to look for any cracks and tears caused by the impacts of the steel balls.

Products are then rated according to their impact resistance and made available to asphalt roof services to install for their customers.

What Is Involved With The IIBHS Impact Resistance Test?

The IIIBS test is done under similar conditions on a test roofing deck but using a slightly different method.

According to asphalt shingle roof services, this test involves shooting various sizes of man-made hailstones of various hardness at the test deck, then analyzing the impacts afterward.

This test evaluates not just the cracks and tears that can occur due to impacts, but also details like granule loss and surface dents.

Based on the results of those tests, a variety of grades on the different measurements is given.

What Do the End Results Mean?

While both tests assess impact resistance in similar ways and assign impact-resistance ratings to the products used by asphalt shingle roof contractors, they are also somewhat different in their end results.

The criteria for which each test passes or fails a product is different.

While the IIIBS test is more in-depth and stringent and offers a variety of grades, it is also more complex to determine which is the best product.

On the other hand, the UL 2218 test looks at only one factor and gives a clear pass/fail rating.

In Summary

When purchasing shingles from asphalt roof services, consumers should be aware of these two methods and how they are interpreted in the impact-resistance ratings of different shingles.

Some Important Information About Asphalt Shingle Roofing!

Asphalt roofing has been around in various forms since the late 1800s, as it has always performed as an inexpensive yet highly durable material.

Though it was used differently back then, mostly as asphalt dust coated roll roofing, some inventive people created asphalt shingle roofing around 1950 and the industry has never looked back.

In this more convenient and easily applied form, asphalt shingle roofing quickly took off to become the most commonly used roofing material everywhere.

Over time, the products used by asphalt roofing contractors have only improved in quality, durability, and lifespan, which is why asphalt shingles retain the crown as being America’s favorite roofing material.

What Are The Benefits of Asphalt Shingle Roofing?

What is so great about asphalt roofing shingles? Here are just a few of the many benefits of choosing asphalt shingle roofing for any house or building with an inclined roof:

Supreme Weather Resistance - For the money spent, asphalt roofing shingles offer great weather resistance in a variety of climates when properly installed using the right insulation techniques.
Fire, Wind, and Impact Resistance - Premium asphalt roofing shingles to protect against specific risks like fire, high winds, and hail are available.
Easy and Fast To Apply - Asphalt roofing contractors can install a shingle roof in a fraction of the time of many other more complicated roofing systems.
Many Styles and Colors - Architectural and dimensional asphalt roofing shingles come in many different shapes, colors, and thicknesses to add style to any type of home architecture.
Low Maintenance Requirements - Asphalt roofing generally requires minimal maintenance, consisting of occasional cleaning and routine inspections to ensure it is performing as it should.
Long Lasting - Some asphalt shingle roofing is designed to last up to 50 years, which is almost as long as some metal roofs.
Cost-Effective - With so many benefits, so many styles, and such a long life potential when properly installed by professional asphalt roofing contractors, asphalt shingle roofing is one of the most cost-effective roofs out there. It is a lower-priced installation in comparison to many other types, but still offers so many advantages!

Offering so many positives, asphalt roofing shingles are the go-to roofing material that many people continue to choose for their homes and buildings for good reasons.

Asphalt shingle roofing products get better and better, making it the most affordable, long-lasting, and trouble-free roof for the money as long as it is properly installed and cared for!

Talk about the options with a local asphalt roofing contractor today!