Keep your home safe and sound by taking good care of the roof this holiday season. Few things ruin a holiday season as quickly as snowmelt dripping into your attic or mold sprouting from damp, icy walls. Start preparing your roof for winter by following the 5 steps outlined here:

1. Have a trained and trustworthy professional check out your home’s roofing materials for cracks, holes, peeling, gaps, or other signs of damage. For extra peace of mind, get your roof professionally inspected once a year. Avoid roofing scams by choosing a contractor with a verified physical address, a solid track-record, and good online reviews.

2. Clean out and repair gutters and downspouts, making sure they are firmly attached to the building. Gutters and downspouts move melting snow and ice away from sensitive roofing underlayment materials. A few hours spent digging out old leaves and flushing your downspouts with a garden hose can save you a mountain of worries later on.

3. Make sure the attic or crawlspace is properly ventilated and insulated. Gaps in insulation can lead to ice dams, which tend to occur when warm air pools in uninsulated areas. This warm air melts the snow or ice above it, which then rapidly refreezes, often creeping up under roofing materials like shingles and tiles. While inside the attic or crawlspace, check for signs of water intrusion. Discolored insulation and moldy wooden beams are clear indications that there is a leak nearby. Fix any leaks you might find using the appropriate materials.

4. Remove any patches of moss or piles of debris that built up over previous months. These unwanted intruders could lead to ice dams by preventing melting snow from draining away to the gutters. Also check for damage to the rubber sheeting, asphalt shingles, or layered tiles that protect your business from rain and snow. If more than 25% of all roofing materials are damaged, chances are the building needs a new roof.

5. Once the snow starts falling, remove excess amounts using a snow-rake or a broom that has a long handle. Before getting started, make sure the tool you plan to use doesn’t have sharp edges that might damage roofing materials. Also consider stocking up on calcium or magnesium pellets, which can melt snow without causing harm to asphalt shingles.

Familiarize yourself with your home’s roof-related insurance policy before doing any kind of work on the roof. Please use extreme caution and have a second person on hand in case of emergencies – whenever you mount a ladder. With a bit of care and foresight, your small home can weather any storm. Turn to the experts at AROCON for all your professional and personal roofing needs.

Along with a proper foundation, a solid roof is one of the best investments a homeowner can make. The peace of mind gained from knowing that family and friends will stay dry and warm through the frigid months makes for a happy host and joyful festivities.

1. Start readying your roof for the next winter snowstorm by walking around your house and looking for major problem areas visible from ground level. If trees grow near your home, remove any branches that hang over or very close to the roof.

2. Check the roof inside and out, being careful not to fall. Please hire a contractor if you’re not comfortable walking around on the roof, and consider having a second person within easy hailing range during rooftop excursions. Sweep off all types of debris, making sure to keep gutters and wherever else water is meant to flow free of obstructions and blockages.

3. Flush out your downspouts so that melting snows have somewhere to go. Standing water can freeze, causing ice dams to form, which in turn can do significant damage. Look at the roof from inside the attic or crawlspace for evidence of water intrusion, warping, and other such issues, then call in a professional to fix whatever is broken.

4. Go up into the attic after a heavy late-Fall rain to scan for leaks – areas that display water stains, are damp to the touch or dripping. During the winter, even tiny leaks can lead to heat loss and the formation of ice dams. Ice dams are very dangerous because they can potentially tear through the sturdiest of roofing systems and injure the persons living inside your home.

5. Keep an eye out for parts of the roof that appear to be buckling, or sinking – these are a strong indication that the roof’s supportive framework has given way and must be replaced soon. Few things ruin a happy holiday season as surely as a caved-in roof.

6. Concentrate on areas where two different types of materials meet, such as at chimneys, gutters, built-on extensions, etc. These places are prone to leakages because different materials often don’t bond well, and tend to separate over time. Seal up cracks and holes using a silicone sealant or expanding foam, making sure to use a fire-proof foam around chimneys and other areas that could be exposed to high heat.

7. Check for loose or broken shingles because these might let in water that can damage the layers of material underneath, shortening your roof’s overall lifetime. Call in a professional to replace any missing or damaged shingles you may find, making sure to have a new roof installed every couple of decades or as soon as a majority of shingles start showing signs of excessive wear and tear. When the snow does begin to fall, try to remove it from your roof as often as possible using a blunt, long tool with an extendable handle.

Please make sure to keep track of any roofing issues your find and share them with our team of professionals at AROCON Roofing and Construction should you call in an expert for help!

The roof is your home’s first line of defense against the elements. It shields your family and belongings against harsh sunlight, damaging moisture, and falling debris like branches or hail. It may be time to replace or repair your roof if you’ve ever asked yourself the following questions:

1. How old is my roof? The average age for an asphalt shingle roof is between 15 and 18 years. A concrete tile roof usually lasts 35 to 50 years. If your roof is older than its standard lifespan, consider contacting a roofing specialist to discuss options.

2. Will the next big snowfall be too much for my roof to handle? When a roof starts developing valleys – places where it appears to sag, or buckle – that means the structure supporting it is weak and needs to be replaced.

3. Does my roof have peeling or missing shingles? If there are gaps in your shingle coverage, rain can seep into the underlying materials, damaging them. Peeling shingles are more likely to be ripped off by high winds. A large patch of missing shingles requires immediate attention.

4. Are there shingle granules in my gutters? When they get old, tiny bits of shingle break off. Then, they get carried down by falling rain. If you’re confident that your roof was installed correctly, shingle granules could mean that just a few new shingles are needed in worn or damaged areas. If the workmanship appears poor, overall, chances are you need a new roof.

5. Is my chimney flashing intact? The materials used to seal the chimney where it passes through your roof are called flashing. If these are broken, missing, or show signs of wear, it’s time to have them replaced. Flashing made from solid metal works best to keep wind and rain from reaching the inside of your home.

6. Does water leak through my roof when it rains? If your roof feels spongy or bouncy when you walk around on it, or if it appears to be swollen, chances are that water is getting in. A leak of this kind can damage not only the roof’s support structure but also valuables stored within.

7. Are there mossy patches or algae blooms in places that sunlight doesn’t reach? For the most part, algae is a cosmetic issue that causes streaks and unsightly blotching. In wintry climates, however, mossy patches tend to trap moisture, which can lead to the formation of ice dams. These creep under shingles, tearing into even the sturdiest roof.

After you’ve inspected your roof, do some research into the average cost to replace or repair your roof. Reach out to trustworthy roofing companies in your area for quotes, and guidance. A solid roof protects everything stored below it, and everyone living inside. Consider having your roof repaired or replaced, today!

Repairing or replacing your roof can often be a confusing process. Your roofing contractor will be trained in the different methods to fix or replace your roof, but you should definitely learn about roofing techniques in order to ensure that your contractor is using the most up-to-date methods with the proper techniques. By educating yourself about the variety of possible ways you can have your roof repaired or installed, you can work with your contractor to assure that he or she knows what you want for your roof.

In addition to knowing what the best roofing methods are, it’s important to know what can and will damage your roof. Here are a list of the seven deadly roofing sins:

1. Walking on the roof: Not only is walking on your roof dangerous, if you aren’t a trained professional, you could actually damage your roof. Walking on your roof can strip shingles of the coating that prevents leaking, and can even dislodge them, creating gaping holes that will allow rainwater and debris to enter into your home. However, roofing contractors are trained so that they can minimize the damage when they are on top of your roof.

2. Bad nailing technique: There are many different ways to incorrectly nail a roof. For example, “high nailing” — which occurs when the roofer inserts the nail too high — can lead to the bottom part of the shingle to become detached from the rest of the roof, resulting in unfortunate leaks. On the other hand, “shiners”  — which are nails that are inserted too low onto the roof  — can be visible from the ground which is not only unsightly but may also lead to leaks. In addition, over driven nails can tear at the shingles and decrease wind resistance. To ensure that your nails are driven into your roof correctly, your contractor should spend some time before the roof job gauging the pressure of the compressor used to insert the nails.

3. Covering damaged shingles instead of replacing them: Although it may seem like a good way to cut costs, the best way to fix a roofing problem involving old shingles is to remove them and replace them with new shingles. Covering old shingles with new ones will result in the collection of dirt and dampness in between the shingles, which will cause your roof to become damaged much faster than if the old shingles had been removed. When working with a contractor, check to make sure that he or she has removed the old shingles before installing new shingles.

4. Improper flashing installation: The metal flashing on the roof helps prevent moisture from entering your house from areas where your roof comes in contact with walls and chimneys. Avoid using old flashing to save money, because it will cost you more money in the long run because old flashing will break apart more rapidly. Also, talk with your contractor about the methods that he or she plans to use to install the flashing. If the flashing is not aligned properly or is not fastened securely, your roof may not be able to protect your house during heavy rainstorms and snowfalls.

5. Poor ventilation: Many homeowners often forget about the necessity of proper ventilation when considering roofing replacements. If your roof isn’t ventilated very well, it can result in the build-up of moisture and trap heat into your house. Unless you enjoy paying higher air conditioning bills in the summer, be sure to talk to your contractor about how he or she can improve your roofing ventilation.

6. Shingles that don’t extend outward over the eaves: The eaves are the section of the roof that overhangs or meets the building’s walls. If the shingles don’t overhang the eaves by at least half-an-inch, it could result in shingles becoming separated from the rest of the roof and blowing off.

7. Not researching the roofing contractor beforehand: With multiple roofing companies to choose from, how do you determine which contractors to work with? Confirm that the company is legitimate by checking that the company has a permanent address and workers’ compensation and liability insurance. You can also read reviews posted on sites like Angie’s List and Google to see what previous customers have said about the company. Choosing the cheapest contractor without checking the quality of his previous work could end up costing you a lot of money if you have to hire another company to fix his shoddy work.

Regardless of whether you are looking to do a routine roof repair or are planning to completely replace your roof, committing one of the the seven deadly roofing sins can prevent you from having the hassle-free roof you want. The roof is an integral part of the house in insulating your home and protecting your house from the elements. Working with a reputable roofing company, such as AROCON Roofing and Construction, is one of the best ways to ensure that you get all of your roofing problems solved!

The roof is understandably one the more neglected components of a home.  After all, you probably only see it from a distance, if at all, and it doesn’t cry out for your attention like a leaky faucet or a door that doesn’t close properly.  Your roof just sits there, protecting your most important investment from the elements … until it doesn’t.

So how can you tell whether your shingled roof is nearing the end of its life, especially after a long and challenging winter like this one?  More importantly, how can you tell before it fails and leads to costly interior damage?

Obviously, you can contact us for a roof tune-up.  We’ll inspect your roof, replace up to 10 shingles, and even caulk and re-attach any loose shingles.  You’ll get a full 21-point report so you’ll know exactly the condition of your roofing system.

In the meantime, here are some signs that your shingled roof may be nearing the end of its lifetime:

1. The Age.  If your roof is more than 20 years old, it’s probably time to start planning for its replacement, especially if those no-longer-a-teenager shingles are nailed on top of another layer.  Is your roof vented properly?  If not, expect a shorter life span.

2. The Obvious.  Look for torn, curled, buckled or missing shingles, or exposed nail heads among the shingles.  You may need binoculars to get a good look.  Remember to check all sides of the roof: depending on how your home is positioned, one side may weather much more quickly than the others.  Finding bits of shingles in your yard?  That’s another red flag.

3. The Less Obvious.  An accumulation of shingle granules in your gutters is another sign that your shingles are past their prime.  We don’t advise getting on a ladder to check – that’s our job – but sometimes a portion of the gutters is visible from an upstairs window, especially a dormer window.  If so, take a look.  You can also look at the places where the downspouts discharge at ground level.

4. The Inside Out.  If you have easy access to your attic, go up in daytime hours, turn off any lights and look closely around the edges of the chimney.  If you can see any daylight, that’s a sign that the chimney flashing – an important part of your roof system – needs to be re-done.  While you’re in the attic, look at the underside of the sheathing (the plywood the shingles are nailed to).  There should not be any damp or spongy areas, although there may be water spots from before the last time the roof was done.  Mark or photograph these so you can look for any changes next time you inspect.  Finally, make sure that any venting from bathrooms is directed through the roof, as opposed to discharging steam in your attic, which will shorten the life of your sheathing.

If you have any of the above signs, or other red flags you may notice, it’s best to have a professional come out and take a second look. As always if you have any questions, feel free to contact your local home improvement experts at AROCON Roofing & Construction!