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!

You have selected a contractor to repair the deck in your backyard and signed the contract. But then, the contractor does a lousy job. Or he leaves the project unfinished. Or he creates a big mess in your yard and never cleans it up. The bad contractor scenarios are endless.

Here are some steps you can take if you aren’t happy with your home improvement contractor:

• Review the written contract. Look over the contract you signed with your contractor and read what it says about complaints and warranties. How does the contract stipulate how you should register complaints?

• Document the work (or lack of work) and damage that your contractor has already done. Keep track of the days and times your contractor has worked on the project and the specifications and details that you gave him about your expectations for the project. Also, record all of the costs you have incurred on the project and your attempts to contact him, if he has cut off communication with you. Take photographs of shoddy work and other aspects of the project that you are unhappy with. If you have photographs of your home prior to when the home improvement project began, collect those as well. Keeping track of all the information regarding your project is important to use as evidence when confronting your contractor and in court, should it be necessary.

• Assertively confront your contractor. Before expressing your dissatisfaction with your contractor, create a written document discussing the problems with the home improvement project, what you want the contractor to do, and the timeline in which you want the contractor to implement solutions. When talking with the contractor, explain why you are unhappy with his work, and get him to sign a document detailing the solutions that you have both agreed on, so that if he flakes, you have written proof. Remember to avoid writing an online review before talking with your contractor. This often can make the situation worse and can really damage the reputation of the contractor.

• Fire the contractor, if necessary. If you feel that the contractor will not provide you the quality work that you requested, you should fire him. It can get messy if you paid for his services upfront, because he may not be willing to refund your money depending on the contract you signed with him, so you might have to take legal action.

• Warn other consumers about the contractor. Register your complaints with the BBB. You can help prevent other consumers from having a botched home improvement project on their hands.

• Have another contractor finish the project. Take time to carefully look over reviews before selecting another contractor. This contractor can review the quality of the other contractor’s work and also help you assess the monetary value of the damage, which is information you can use in court if you decide to take legal action against your first contractor.

Dealing with a bad contractor can be very difficult and time consuming, so it’s important to research your contractor before signing the first contract. At AROCON Roofing and Construction, we pride ourselves on providing quality finished products and great customer service throughout the entire duration of your home improvement project.

Along with barbeques, pool parties, and picnics, the summertime also brings increased air conditioning costs as homeowners struggle to keep their homes cool. One way to spend less money on your home’s air conditioning bill this summer is by installing energy efficient windows. Before purchasing new windows, you should always check the energy performance ratings to find windows that will block solar radiation and lessen your home’s dependency on AC. If you aren’t in the market for new eco-friendly windows, you can still make your current windows more energy efficient without breaking the bank.

Check out these four great ways you can help your existing windows absorb less heat and  lower your AC costs this summer:

1. Install window awnings. Window awnings can block the sunlight from directly penetrating into the window, resulting in less heat entering the home.  According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, window awnings can “reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows.” Because awnings need ventilation in order to prevent hot air from becoming confined in the area around the window, make sure there are openings on the sides of the awning. In addition, you can choose to install awnings that can open to the top or sides for extra ventilation.

2. Tint Your Windows. By covering the exterior of your window with reflective film, you can prevent harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from entering your home. Not only will reducing the amount of sunlight that enters your home decrease the temperature of your home, it will also prevent your interior furniture from fading under direct sunlight as an added perk. Tinting will be most effective in blocking heat from windows that are facing east and west due to their relationship to the sun’s orientation.

3. Add mesh screens. In addition to serving as a barrier to pesky mosquitos and other bugs, mesh screens can disperse the heat from the sun. When you install mesh screens to your existing windows, make sure that they cover the expanse of your entire window to block as much solar radiation as possible.

4. Caulk your old windows. Seal in the cracks around your windows with a quality caulking job to prevent the cool air in your home from leaking out. Not only will caulking make your home more energy efficient, it will also increase the lifespan of your windows. Caulking will also keep your home warmer in the winter, so you can benefit from a caulking job done well all year round.

You can either DIY your own projects or you can work with a home improvement contractor to increase the energy efficiency of your windows. Talk with an AROCON window contractor about personalized steps that you can take to improve your windows to decrease your AC costs and keep your home cool at the same time.

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, and families around the world are scrambling for gifts. Some will go for breakfast in bed. Others will go for the classic chocolate and flower combo. Some brave souls might even take up mom’s chore list. Although these are all passable Mother’s Day gifts, they are not exactly memorable. If you really want to make this Mother’s Day memorable, there is something special and creative you can to change things up: home renovations. Now you obviously won’t have enough time for a whole addition, but here are a few relatively cheap and easy ideas that can boost both your home’s appeal and your standing with mom!

Let The Light In. Although waking up to breakfast in bed would be nice, imagine waking up to a new source of beautiful, natural sunlight. You can give your mom this luxury by installing a skylight! Skylights not only let in warming, calming light, but they are also energy efficient. With the right contractor, you can get a skylight isntalled quickly So before frying her some eggs and bacon, consider installing a skylight for her!

Fix The Gutters. A dirty, broken gutter can lead to a dirty, broken home. Leaking, clogged gutters can cause lasting damage to a home’s exterior. Additionally, I’m sure cleaning the faulty gutters have been on mom’s to-do list more than once. Installing a new gutter system will boost your home’s appeal and efficency. While it might not be as glamorous as flowers, a new, working gutter system would be a practical, useful Mother’s Day gift.

New Door! There are few things that draw more attention and use in a home than the front door. After a few years of wear, doors can begin to look beat up and worn down, which can actually make the whole home look worse. And when it comes to a home’s appearance, no one is more invested than the mother of the house. Replacing the front door is a relatively quick and inexpensive renovation that could instantly improve the whole home’s appearance. A new front door would be a great gift for any mother on Mother’s Day.

Sure, candy and flowers are nice, but going the extra mile will win you some brownie points and make your mom happier than ever this Mother’s Day! Whether you are a loyal partner or a loving child, you can’t go wrong with home renovations! For help with any your home improvement needs, contact a licensed contractor like award-winning Arocon Roofing and Construction today!