Searched for Tag: Roof Maintenance

What Are The Aging Signs In Shingles?
by: Frank Istueta posted: August 15, 2011

What Are The Aging Signs In Shingles?

The shingles that protect your roof and keep your house dry will deteriorate over time. It is important to learn how to recognize the aging signs in shingles. Everyone hopes that his or her roof will last forever, but as with all things, roof shingles will age. All fabricated shingles tend to display the same symptoms as the years take their toll. Just knowing a few of these can tell you when it is time to consider getting a new roof.

One thing to remember is the fact that not all shingles will age at the same pace. Different shingles have different life spans and the best way to assess how long your shingles will last is to check with the manufacturer’s warranty and also to have your roofing specialist determine the best installation method to use.

For instance, if your warranty lasts for fifteen years, then you may want to begin checking for serious wear and tear around that time. However, to truly keep your roof in prime condition, you should have your roof properly inspected by a qualified roofer at least twice a year.

When shingles become old or begin to show signs of aging, you may notice that they begin to crack, curl or become loose; they may even break off. You should never ignore these signs or put them off. When you begin to see signs of aging in your shingles, you should contact a qualified roofing contractor and have the roof assessed.

As shingles age, they also tend to lose their ability to retain the granules on their surface. This is a combination of a hardening of the shingle itself and the weather and elements loosening the granules. The wind and rain push the granules down the slope of your roof and either fill your gutters or fall onto the ground around your home.

While shingle granules will almost always end up in your gutters or on the ground around your home, a few does not signal that the shingles are aging. When the amount seems large, it’s time for a closer look at the shingles themselves. Again, you should schedule an appointment with a qualified roofing contractor and have them provide you with an assessment of your roof, especially if you are experiencing any leaks or have recently noticed stains on the ceilings around your home.

Hail and high winds can also crack and break shingles. Even a newer roof needs to be inspected at least twice a year to assure that it has not lost its integrity. Storms can speed up the aging process for shingles. They will also do more extensive damage to older shingles.

You should always have an experienced and qualified roofing contractor handle your roofing needs, including replacing or repairing aging or damaged shingles. By having your roofing contractor repair shingles as they become damaged you will protect your investment by extending the life of your shingle roof and you will most certainly have peace of mind.

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How Proper Roof Maintenance Can Extend the Life of Your Roof
by: Frank Istueta posted: July 22, 2011

How Proper Roof Maintenance Can Extend the Life of Your Roof

Homeowners, now more than ever, are looking for ways to cut costs and save money. However, if they are taking an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to roof maintenance, they could miss an excellent opportunity to extend the life of the roof on their home and therefore save money. A proactive maintenance program, along with understanding different warranty policies, will help homeowners do their part to extend the life of their roof for as long as possible.
Proactive maintenance programs address each homeowner’s individual needs and typically include twice yearly inspections, documentation of roof conditions, maintenance, and repairs (if necessary). For example, leaks and water seepage typically do not occur until after the roofing system or insulation has worn down or there has been deck damage. Proper maintenance and service are needed to ensure the roofing system performs as expected and the earlier you catch the warning signs of a leak, the less costly any needed repairs will be.

In an attempt to save money, many homeowners wait until minor roof problems become very obvious and major roof problems before conducting maintenance/service. This type of reactive maintenance will, in fact, increase roof life-cycle costs. Spot repairs made during a proactive maintenance visit are far less costly than replacing membranes, insulation and decking if a leak occurs in the future. Proactive maintenance also helps identify potential problem-causing areas, thus decreasing life-cycle costs.

 

Along with extending the life of a roof system, homeowners and business owners are discovering there are many other benefits to proper roof maintenance by a roofing contractor. When minor roofing problems are repaired over time, there is less of a chance for larger and more costly issues down the line. Along with roof-related issues such as leaks and damage, a bad roof can equal stress and unnecessary costs.

Since every roof comes with different challenges — depending on the type of roofing system, roofing accessories, etc. – you will need a professional and licensed roofing contractor to assess your specific roofing needs and wants in order to design the most cost-effective solution. Whether you will need to repair a leaking roof or install a new one, the final result should be a high-quality roofing system that will last its lifetime or surpass it.

 

Again, the best tool that an owner has available to extend the life of their roof is a regularly scheduled maintenance program. Proper maintenance can guard against simple problems that left unattended could dramatically shorten the life expectancy of your roof. Potential problems can be identified and corrected through periodic inspections, preventing serious problems later. Regular roofing inspections that are performed properly will head off many problems and even extend the life of your roof.

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Gutter Talk
by: Frank Istueta posted: November 4, 2010

Our company has been putting roofs on homes and commercial buildings for more than 25 years. One of the most important parts of a roofing project is one that is often overlooked by the customer — the gutters.

A properly designed, professionally installed gutter system is a critical component of an overall roof system, especially here in Miami and South Florida. Why? Because it rains here. A lot.

Gutters perform the critical task of redirecting collected rainwater that cascades off a roof. Without a gutter to collect the runoff, water would flow to places where you simply do not want it to go. Like into your attic, down into your home’s walls, and into your foundation.

Not all gutters are the same. Some homeowners make the mistake of “skimping” on their gutters in an attempt to save a few dollars. Believe me, any money you save will have to be paid many times over when your “bargain” gutters fail to do their job.

A well-constructed gutter system has several key characteristics:

Seamless gutters that won’t allow water to seep through

  • Troughs that are wide and deep enough to accommodate the expected runoff volume
  • Sturdy hangers that prevent loaded gutters from separating from the structure, creating gaps
  • One piece end caps to prevent water from escaping
  • Downspouts that are wide enough to handle a heavy flow of water, and that direct the water a safe distance from the side of the home

While these “rules” seem to be common sense, too many “gutter specialists” fail to follow them. The result is a gutter system that works perfectly in dry weather, but fails when you need it most.

So when we talk about gutters when discussing your new roof, don’t think we are just trying to tack on additional work. We understand how important the gutter system is to the “success” of your roof.

Want to know more about gutters? Have a question about your roof? Give us a call at 305-400-0020, or visit our web site at www.istuetaroofing.com.

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Maintain Your Roof to Prolong Its Life
by: Frank Istueta posted: September 29, 2010

Roof maintenance is an important part of overall home maintenance costs. Roofing systems must be maintained to ensure continued protection from the elements, especially important in weather-intense South Florida.

Preventative maintenance greatly reduces the likelihood of leaks, damage and premature roof failures. Maintenance starts with regular inspection to look for damage and signs of impending failure.

  • From the ground, walk around and inspect your roof for cracked, curled or missing tiles or shingles, as well as any bare spots that indicate excessive loss of the protective mineral granules from asphalt shingles.
  • In your attic, take a flashlight and look at the underside of the roof deck and rafters for any stains or wet spots indicating water leaks.
  • Re-caulk flashings .
  • Remove debris from gutters regularly and keep them free and clear.
  • Trim back any overhanging tree branches.
  • Look for loose or damaged shingles or tiles; or rust spots on a metal roof.
  • Check the mortar on chimneys for cracking or spalling.

Restoration involves the major repair of the roofing system, including the repair of all penetrations and re-surfacing of the roof to restore it to serviceable condition. The opportunity to perform restoration work normally exists two or three years prior to the end of a roof’s life cycle and before significant damage can occur. As many as 10 years can be added to the useful life of the roof through restoration and typically the cost of restoration is one-half the cost of re-roofing.

Millions of dollars a year are spent on replacing roofs that may have years of life left in them. Owners today need to recognize the importance of their investment and protect the home and its contents from damage, both in terms of the roofs cost and its replacement value.

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Steps to Take When Your Roof Leaks or is Damaged
by: Frank Istueta posted: September 29, 2010

Heavy rainfall, strong winds or lightening strikes can cause damage to your home’s roof. If such damage occurs, swift action can help prevent a small problem from becoming a major catastrophe.

Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself, especially not while the storm is still raging. Make a call to a qualified roofing contractor who has the equipment, skills and experience to deal with the problem quickly and efficiently. Be prepared to describe the damage over the phone so the roofer can make a determination on whether emergency repairs are necessary or if they can wait until the storm abates.

Emergency actions may include securing tarps over the damaged section of roof to prevent further inflow of water, shoring up damaged chimneys to prevent loose bricks from falling to the ground, and securing any damaged utility lines with the help of utility repair crews.

In the light of day and/or drier conditions the roofing contractor can make a more complete assessment of the damage. It may be that a damaged section of roof can be isolated and repaired, without having to replace the entire roof. The roofer will do his best to match materials in order to make the repaired section look like the rest of the roof.

In the event that damage is more extensive, temporary repairs may be put in place while the roofing contractor prepares a plan for roof replacement. Look for a Miami or south Florida roofing contractor who has experience working with insurance companies to help speed the process.

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