Why Is Roof Maintenance So Important?

It’s easy to forget about the roof sitting at the top of a house, at least until problems arise.

Rather than having to call roofers to make repairs after years of neglect, a better idea is for homeowners to provide proper care for their roofs from the start.

Roof maintenance is usually fairly simple and does not cost much.

In fact, proper roofing maintenance usually pays for itself over time as recovered repair bills.

Consider these reasons why good roof maintenance is so important before letting out of sight mean out of mind!

  1. Protects The Investment - Providing proper roof maintenance, including doing semi-annual inspections, ensures a roofing installation lasts as long as it should with as few problems as possible. It is a cost-effective solution to paying for unnecessary repairs or being forced to purchase a roofing replacement prematurely.
  2. Detects Undiscovered Problems - Most issues that progress to become serious roofing problems start off as minor concerns that most untrained eyes are oblivious to. During routine roofer inspections, roofers can detect smaller concerns that, with proper intervention, will not turn into larger, more costly ones. 
  3. Saves Money - Roofing maintenance costs much less than expensive roofing repairs or being forced to do a roofing replacement sooner than expected. 
  4. Keeps Up Appearances - A well-maintained roof ages more slowly and retains its good looks longer. In contrast, roofs that go without the required maintenance or regular inspections can lose their nice appearance sooner as various problems like UV damage, broken or missing shingles, mold, algae, and water damage become more visible from the outside. 
  5. More Environmentally Friendly - Homeowners who ignore roof maintenance frequently end up replacing their roofs sooner than they need to, resulting in more roofing materials ending up in landfills over time. Additionally, a well-maintained roof that keeps its good condition will perform better, playing a role in keeping home heating and cooling costs down.

Damage caused by a lack of roofing maintenance affects much more than just the roof itself; it affects the home’s curb appeal, the environment, and most importantly the homeowner’s wallet.

Instead of risking damage that can go unnoticed until it is too late or problems like overheated attics that can cause widespread shingle failure, owners need only to invest in regular roof maintenance provided by a professional roofer.

In doing so, they can rest assured their roofing investment dollars will go as long as they should and they will have a trouble-free roof for decades to come!

Pitched Roofs – Is Steep or Shallow Better in Texas?

Most homes in Texas are designed with a pitched roof which is one that consists of two or more angles that meet at a point at the top.

When designing the roofing structure, the degree of pitch can differ depending on the architecture of the home, local weather conditions, and more.

Deciding between a steep or shallow roofing pitch requires some understanding of pitch and the pros and cons of each. 

What is Roof Pitch?

Pitch is defined as the amount of rise built into the roof in comparison to the length of the space the roof is covering.

It is documented as a ratio, with a shallow pitch being 3:12 or 3 inches in rise for every 12 inches in length and a steep pitch being 5:12 or even 6:12.

The average pitch used for many roofs is 4:12, though there are instances where lower or higher pitches might be more favorable based on the typical weather conditions in a region. 

What Are The Pros and Cons of When A Steep Pitch Can Be Used?

Generally, roofers suggest that the steeper the roof pitch, the more desirable it is in regions with heavy rains or where large amounts of snow are expected in the wintertime.

Steep pitches promote snow melt with snow and water sliding off the roof more quickly.  

The downside of having a more steeply pitched roof is that they receive greater wind exposure, making them noisier and the roofing is more susceptible to wind damage.

The steep design also makes it more difficult for roofers to work up there, many times requiring scaffolding and other specialty equipment to do so. 

What About Pitch on Shallow Roofs?

On the opposite end of the scale, especially shallow roofs are quieter and less likely to sustain wind damage than steeper ones, but they can hold water and snow longer, making leaking more possible.

This can be a concern in many parts of Texas where heavy rains are common. 

What Is The Best Option For A Texas Home?

Most roofers recommend a pitch of at least 3:12 but less than 5:12 to achieve a good balance.

In these cases, the roof pitch should be steep enough to reduce the chance of water damage due to the heavy rains that are common, but not so steep that the strong winds that are also common can cause damage.

With this type of roofing architecture, whether a pitched roof is in gable, pyramid, or another pitched form, it should withstand weather conditions in Texas fairly well.

Top 6 Benefits of Getting A New Roof!

A new roof is a huge, and expensive investment in your home or building, so it is understandable that you would want to wait until it is absolutely necessary.

What you may not realize, however, is that putting off a new roofing installation could be costing money, not saving it.

Once an installation reaches its life expectancy the possibility of problems increases considerably.

Professional roofers suggest looking at some of the less obvious benefits of getting a new roof before yours becomes a fixer-upper!

1. Increased Energy Efficiency

One of the biggest benefits that replacing a 20+ year-old roof with a new installation usually brings is a reduction in utility bills.

The reason for this is due to how older materials tend to lose their ability to prevent UV sun rays from penetrating through them, making it harder to keep the home or building cooler.

2. Healthy Air Quality

Roof age and quality directly affect indoor air quality, as older installations may permit moisture collection and mold growth inside the attic.

Small moisture leaks and less UV resistance can contribute to having a moist attic, the source of mold that can circulate throughout the home or building.

New materials eliminate these concerns. Additionally, reputable roofers doing new installations will check ventilation levels for this very reason.

Plus, improved ventilation not only keeps the attic space dry, it also improves heating and cooling efficiency even more.

3. Newer Roofing Technology

Considering most roofs nearing their replacement age are at least, if not more than two decades old, there have been many new, more advanced roofing products introduced onto the market.

With newer technology available in wind resistance, hail resistance, UV protection, environmental-friendliness, and fashionable styles, replacing old roofs with new products can be beneficial in all of these ways.

4. Increased Value

Regardless of whether installing it on a home, a building, or even a commercial building, a new roof instantly increases the value of that property as a whole.

This is great when selling, as it helps sellers get the highest price, or simply maintain the highest value of the real estate in general.

5. Better Curb Appeal

Another benefit that comes with new roofing that increases the value of the property and provides all of the previously-mentioned advantages is it just looks nicer.

A new roof looks like an instant makeover for any home or building, immediately improving its appearance and style.

A clean, maintained look with a new, functional roof also adds to property value.

6. Insurance and Warranty Benefits

With a new roofing installation, you also get brand new roofers and materials warranties, and more insurance coverage.

Since insurance policies typically cover less and less damage as a roof installation reaches its life expectancy, when damage is more likely to happen, you could end up with a big repair bill when something does happen.

A new installation is more fully protected by insurance companies, roofing services, and materials manufacturers.

Is It Time For Your New Roof?

Your roof may still have a few years of service left in it, but with all these other benefits, replacing it sooner, rather than later is an economical choice.

New roofing looks better, performs better, and provides many other benefits.

Plan your new installation with a professional roofer and access all these advantages today!

Choosing Right Commercial Roofing Contractor

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The maintenance work needed for commercial roofing requires is a more complex service compared to regular houses.

Commercial roofing issues need to be dealt with a higher level or repair and maintenance approach.

Obviously, for this level of roofing repair needs, you can't rely on contractors who solely specialize in residential roofing repairs.

You must look for a commercial roof company that has a proven track record.

What If You Lease Your Commercial Building?

As a business owner, the main reason why you need to make sure that your commercial property is safe is to assure your tenants that you're a responsible landlord and because there are some local house board and government regulations that need to be met.

There will be applicable penalties for commercial roofers who fail to follow the guidelines so make sure nothing slips off the cracks when it comes to the structural credibility of your commercial property 

Qualities Found in an Excellent Commercial Roofing Company

  • Can Handle Size of the Job - Some commercial roof companies would seek larger jobs that are beyond their capacity so make sure when looking for one, ask for their previous projects first and if they had success completing large scale commercial roofing systems.
  • Proven Track Record - Again, you must remember that not all roofing contractors are created equal. Some focus on residential while others specialize in commercial. Make sure that the company has adequate experience in completing commercial roofing problems to ensure that they understand what they are doing and that they will not compromise the quality of work. 
  • Legitimate and Verified - Stay away from companies that do not follow local government regulations because they will give you headaches in the long run. No matter how affordable or how sincere these companies in helping you, there are setbacks when working with them. To make sure a commercial roofing company is registered and has a license to operate, ask for the license number. 

Now You've Found The Right Commercial Roofing Contractor

If the commercial roofing contractor possesses all qualities mentioned above, then rest assured that you're in good hands.

Make sure to arrange a meeting with the manager or a representative to discuss your needs and to verify their abilities if they are capable of doing the project for you.

Remember not to settle with the information you can find online, but make it a point to verify if the facts advertised are true.