Roofing options

New Roof Or Repair?

2009-05-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

There are many things that you should know when buying a roof or roof repair.
The first thing you should know is what type of roof you have.
This sounds simple but most people really have no idea what type of roof they have.
First look and see if it is flat or does it have slope.
Is it composite shingle, wood, asphalt, metal, slate, stone-coated steel, tile, built up or another specialty roof?
If it is a composite roof what year shingle is it (20, 25, 30.…etc.)?
To figure out which type you have can be done a couple of ways.
The best way is if you can look at it, compare it to a neighbor’s roof, and find out what they have.
The next is sending us a picture of it and we will tell you ( http://www.alltechroofingsm.com ) at no cost.
This is very important to the choices you make for a new roof or repair.
The difference could be $150.00 up to several thousand for repairs or a lot higher for a new roof.
If it is a composite shingle roof, the repairs should start at $150 and not exceed $1500.00.
Flat & metal roofs should be pretty close to this as there are very few major problems with either if they are maintained properly.
The next decision is whether you need a repair or if you need a new roof.
First how old is the roof?
If it is over ¾ of the warranted life span then you might want to look at having a new roof installed.
If you are having a few leaks and the roof looks to be in good shape then you probably only need a repair.
The true life span of a roof that is not maintained is ½ of the warranted manufacturer life span, but lighter colors last even longer.
When choosing a roof color is important the lighter the color the longer it will last and the better it will be on cooling cost.
Black roofs even though they may go with the color scheme of the building usually are a poor choice due to absorption of heat.
They increase your cooling cost but they also cook the asphalt in the shingles quicker so they are not a cost effective choice.
This is for most roofs but wood roofs have many different problems the main one being fire hazard even when treated.
Most insurance companies do not insure wood roofs and if they do, your insurance cost is substantially higher if they do.
I personally would recommend staying away from them along with the higher insurance the cost is about 50% more than a composition roof and if cost is not a factor then there are a lot of better choice out there that will give you the same look with out the fire hazard.
Also you will see an increase in durability along with lower maintenance issues for the life of the roof.

This is some of the factors that should be considered when making decisions concerning your roof.
If you would like to know more please visit us at www.alltechroofingsm.com or ask us for specific information about your particular project.

……… Thank You

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ROOF REPAIRS

2009-04-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

The problems with repairs is that there are a lot of repairmen out there that don't know what they are doing.
The first sign to look for is price if you are getting an estimate price for less than $150.00 then you should be wary.
between the price of gas and materials there is not much for labor at $150.00 .
The next thing to look at is what material the repairman is going to use.
No matter what type of roof it is unless the roof is a flat roof they should not be using plastic cement ( Tar) because there are no roofs that use it for installation, the roof should be repaired to the state it should have been in when newly installed.
Flat roofs can be repaired with it depending on the type of roof, some require a special type so that it does not react adversely with the roof and cause additional damage.
Metal roofs require different materials and preparation for repairs.
The next thing is warranty.
If the warranty is less than 6 months then your not getting a good warranty if it is over 2 years (except large repairs) the odds are the company is giving a long warranty to get the work and may not be around to honor the warranty.
Whether it is a home or commercial property the warranty should at minimum be 6 months and no longer than to years.
These are just some of the things to look for when getting estimates for repairs.
If you would like to know more please contact us.

Things you should know before you buy

2009-04-06T19:49:00.000-07:00

Hello to those who follow our blog and those of you who are here for the first time.
There are a lot of things you should look at before buying a new roof or repair.

1) How did you hear of the company?
The first thing you should look at is how you came into contact this company, so we will give you a few things you should know.

BBB:
BBB is good but they do not as most people think give you an in-depth report on the company, so if you got there name from the bbb does not mean they are always the best.
Case in point: I worked for several companies through out my many years that were members
most were good but a few bad ones are there also.
The main thing is they paid the dues and were listed now this is not to say that the bbb is a sham.
There not but as with everything there are some bad apples that sneak in.
If a company has been with them over 2 to 3 years then they are more than likely on the up and up.

Word of mouth:
One of the best ways to find a roofer is buy word of mouth from a friend.
It does not mean that it is a sure fire way to get a good roofer but it is a good start.
As with all things what some one thinks was a good job is not what you would think is a good job.
Then there is the referral of a friend or relative that never works out.
But all in all still better than most ways to find a roofer.

Telemarketing:
There is only one way to put it if you are getting a telephone call or email trying to get you to buy anything something is wrong.
First thing is that they prey on people that are on a fixed income or they try to hard sell over the phone.
They make it sound like you are going to save you money or that they can do what no other company can do.
Truth is reputable companies will not use this technique and are all going to give you the best deal they can and not try to take advantage of your misfortune.

Fliers & Door hangers:
The reality is that if there has been a storm you are going to receive a ton of them.
Reputable companies use them as well .
They are an honest way for a company to get there name out and it gives the customer many companies to choose from.
Which brings us to the last subject.

Price & Warranty:
There are two types of customers one who is bid shopping which can be good if all companies bidding are reputable, otherwise you will get that bid that is way lower than the others.
This is usually a sign that they will not be around to cover there warranty which generally
will be a lot longer than the others.
A warranty should be from 2 to 5 years.
You should always demand your warranty in writing if they won't do that then you should move on to another contractor.
Always make sure that the material comes wrapped in the package from the manufacture that they specified on the contract.
The other is the type who tries to play the companies against each other which can be good but also can end up costing more in the end.
Example I had a customer that did this and I could not compete with the price of the other company.
The other company got the job and once they had the roof off they came back to the customer saying that they under bid the job and demanded more money to finish the job.
There trick was that on there bid they gave the price for X-number of squares and were unable to finish the job.
The customer had two choices one pay for the extra squares or find another contractor to finish the job (which would have cost more because they would have to warranty the whole roof).
The best way to pick a contractor is get several bids and if any are real low throw it out .
Then meet with each representative and take the one who gives you a fair price and warranty and that you feel comfortable with.
In the long run a cheap roof is not cheap.
If you would like more info on any type of work you want done or you just want information contact us at http://www.alltechroofingsm.com .
Even if you use some other company we would be glad to answer your questions.

Roof Leaks

2009-03-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

Roof leaks are a very hard problem to fix for a DIY to do.
First problem it can be very dangerous for the average person because along with the heights, you also have a number of other factors.

These factors include the type of roofing some are very slick other problems can be that the roofing material is worn out and may come loose while you are standing on it, decking may be deteriorated to the point where it will not hold your weight.
These are just some of the dangers.

Second they are very hard to find some times and if not done right can cause more damage than you began with.
For most people it is better to have a professional diagnose and repair it.
This is not to say that all roofers are good at fixing links, it really takes a roof mechanic to do it right.
There are more factors than where the roof leak is coming through on the inside and it it needs to be repaired right.

One sign that a repairman may not be the best is if he tries to fix it with tar, when all roofs should be repaired to the state the were when first installed.
Second sign is if he tells you he can do it for less than $150.00 minimum because roofing materia l, gas and time take about half that to start then you have labor to add onto that.
If you would like to ask us a question or have conserns about this article please contact us.

Bobby Sweet

STORM SEASON IS HERE

2009-03-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

Storm season is here and there are steps that you should follow when your home has been damaged.

The first step you should take:
Asses the amount of damage this is sometimes hard to do because of many factors but for the most part you can see it from the ground.

Second step:
Contact your contractor before you call your insurance if it is minor damage. this step can save you a claim as most minor storm damage cost less than the deductible and saves filing a claim.
You also cut the time it takes to get it fixed if it needs an emergency repair (This will not cause a problem with your claim) and will prevent any further damage.

Final step:
If it is minor damage you should get it fixed as soon as possible, if it is more than minor you should have it temporarily fixed if possible till after storm season so if hit with another storm you don't have the cost of another deductible.

These steps are a general guide and you should call you contractor for more info or visit us at www.alltechroofingsm.com and we will answer any questions you have whether you have us do the work or someone else.
Bobby Sweet

Commercial & Residential roofing options

2009-03-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

There are many different types of Commercial roofing, below are the most used ones.

BUILT-UP

Built-Up Roof: a roof consisting of multiple plies of roof felts laminated together with bitumen. Built-up roof material can consist of bitumen-saturated felt, coated felt, polyester felt or other fabrics. A surfacing is generally applied and can be asphalt, aggregate (gravel or slag), emulsion or a granule-surfaced cap sheet.
This section was written simply to give people an idea of what a Built-Up Roof (B.U.R. for short) is and how it’s put together. The materials and information listed here are not comprehensive nor do they represent all types of built-up roof materials available.

Built-Up Roofing is one of the oldest and most reliable ways of installing a new roof. It was first known as composition roofing and started in the 1840's. B.U.R.’s come in two basic types, asphalt and coal tar, and three basic components – (1) the waterproofing component, (2) the reinforcing component, and (3) the surfacing component which is used to protect the other components from the elements.

EPDM
EPDM has been in use on roofs in the USA since the 1960's and is one of the most common types of low-slope roofing materials. It is fairly clean to work with when compared to conventional built-up roofs. There aren't the odors and fumes that accompany built-up roofs which appeals to many property owners and managers. EPDM is a rubber material whose principal components consist of the compounds ethylene and propylene. A flexible rubber matrix forms when a small amount of diene is added to the mix. EPDM is available reinforced or un-reinforced with both commonly used; it's also available in either a cured (vulcanized) or uncured (non-vulcanized) state. Vulcanized EPDM is the most common with non-vulcanized often used for flashing purposes.

TPO
TPOs are relatively new materials and they have been heralded because of their numerous advantages over other materials. In fact, they offer the benefits of both EPDM and PVC, without sharing their drawbacks. Theoretically TPOs are naturally UV and heat resistant while also remaining heat-weld able as they age. Additionally, TPOs are resistant to a wide variety of chemicals, are environmentally friendly and recyclable. On the other hand the longer TPOs are in the real world of environmental exposure the more they are purported to be showing the typical signs of surface degradation, IE: the loss of millage and sheet shrinkage, both of which are very normal for a roofing material.

Metal Roofs
Metal roofing's attributes are impressive. Durable and long lasting, a metal roof requires little maintenance and can be retrofitted over many existing roofs it is available in a wide range of colors and styles, and is fire resistant. A standing seam roof is constructed of many interlocking panels that run vertically from the roof's ridge to the eave. The interlocking seam where two panels join together is raised above the roof's flat surface, allowing water to run off without seeping between panel. Standing seam roofs can easily last the life of a home or Commercial building.

Residential Roofing Options
The residential roofing industry in recent years has developed an extremely wide variety of shingle roof appearances. Shingle material is still dominated by asphalt products but over the years, the manufacturers have developed new designs that can closely approximate the appearance of other, more expensive roofing materials such as slate or hand split cedar shakes. Another major change is that asphalt shingles today are predominantly reinforced with fiberglass, not the paper felt which was popular 10 - 15 years ago. This has allowed shingles to become somewhat lighter and more durable.
Alltech takes pride in sorting out what we feel will offer you the best performance for the best price. Hopefully, the following information will help you feel comfortable with your roofing decisions.

Metal roofing materials have come a long way and have become much more popular in recent years. They are attractive, light weight, durable and fire resistant. There are many types of options for metal roofing but the main two are aluminum and steel. Each has their own benefits depending on its application.
Aluminum is strong, durable and light weight. These are the same properties that makes aluminum a popular choice in the aerospace industry. And if its good enough for NASA then its excellent as a roofing material. Due to its being very light weight roofing with aluminum does not require the structure's roof to be reinforced which can be a problem when using other heavier materials such as tile or slate. Another major benefit to using aluminum is its resistance to rust and corrosion. This can be a very important advantage for those building is coastal areas that will be subjected to salt spray. And lastly because aluminum is more malleable than steel it can more easily be formed into various designs and shapes.
Steel is another option for a metal roof. But steel itself is not known for its corrosion resistance and will start to rust quite quickly. Therefore the steel that is used as a roofing material is galvanized. This means that the steel is given a protective coated of either zinc or zinc/aluminum to give it the rust and corrosion protection needed for use in roofing. For use in areas of high winds steel can be a better option than other metal roofing materials because of its higher resistance to wind uplift. Galvanized steel roofing is also available in a variety of finishings. It can be painted, aggregate-coated, or with a mill or bare finish. It will also never crack or peel when exposed to sun and weather making a long lasting material.
For home owners looking to save on cooling costs in the summer metal roofs can do just that. With a tradition asphalt shingle heat from the sun can be absorbed into the home heating it up throughout the day. A metal roof will tend to reflect the radiant heat away that would normally collect in the home's attic. Depending on where you live you could save about 40% on your cooling costs.
The biggest stumbling block most home owners have with metal roofing is the cost as it is more expensive than other available roofing options and yes, if you plan on moving in a few years then a metal roof may not be cost effective. But if you are planning on living in your home for a long period of time a metal roof can actually be cheaper. That's because a metal roof can last as long as fifty years or more and requires very little maintenance. In the same time period an asphalt roof may need replacement 2-4 times.
A properly and professionally installed metal roofing, whichever type you choose, will give you decades of protection and beauty to your home. Add to it the energy cost savings and you have a winning combination..