Monday, June 15, 2015

Roofing Within An Allotted Budget

It is important for homeowners to consider what they want in a new roof, roof replacement or roof repair and how to go about getting it within their allotted budget.  In order to do this it is crucial that you know exactly what you can afford to spend on the venture and define cost saving alternatives available to help make your project work within your allotted budget.  Below you will find steps to help you refine the roofing process.
Should you replace or repair your roof?
This question is one that is not easily answered.  In order to determine if your roof is in need of repair or replacing you must take into a variety of considerations.  Repairing a leak in your shingle roof may be a preferable option over a complete roof replacement due to lower cost and time restrictions.  However, there are several things to consider before jumping to that conclusion.  Some of the things you will need to look at are the age of the roof, the history of previous repairs on the roof and the consideration of finding materials that will match the existing roof structure.
How will the structure and design of your roof affect the materials available and cost of labor?
The selection of roofing materials to choose from in replacing your roof will be limited to the underlying structure of the roof.  Not all existing structures can support new materials.  It isn’t common to replace a shingle roof with tile or slate which is the heaviest of roofing materials.  Different roofing materials, as well as the design and angles of your roof can increase the cost of a new roof significantly.
What style and cost considerations are there?
When looking into putting a new roof on your home you must take into consideration the style of your home.  If you have a shingle roof budget but a villa style home you need to seriously consider one of two things: saving more money or looking for a material that is complementary to the homes style that fits within your allotted budget.  It is crucial to the curb appeal of your home to consider the aesthetics of the new roof.
Who will you choose as your roofing contractor?
A quality roofing contractor is even more important than superior quality roofing materials.  Instead of looking for the lowest bid look for an experienced roofing contractor that has a proven record for installing the materials you are choosing for your new roof.  Quality installation makes the difference in all home improvement projects your roof included.
Home Pro Roofing contractors offer a variety of roofing services throughout Brighton, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Fenton and Commerce Township, including installation of shingle roofs, metal roofing and roof repairs.  You will find them at http://www.homeproroofingmi.com today.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Prevent Roof Damage With Regular Maintenance

Maintenance is an important aspect in home ownership.  From your homes roof to the homes foundation it is important that your home is kept up on.  Often time’s homeowners overlook the maintenance that needs to be done on their roofs.  There are several steps to take in order to prevent the decay of your asphalt shingle roof.  Below you will find several tips on keeping your homes roof in tip top shape.
One of the first things that you will want to do when maintain your roof is to clear any and all debris.  Anything that has built up behind heating and cooling units, pipes or other parts protruding from the roof needs to be removed to prevent moisture build up and the growth of moss.  Debris soaks up water and water saturation is the leading cause of damage in asphalt shingling.  This process should be done in the spring and fall seasons.
Often times a shingle roof will quickly manifest moss and algae growth.  This can happen even when homeowners are closely monitoring the condition of their roofs.  If you notice this has occurred it is easily remedied by applying zinc or lead control strips at the peak.  After this is done check all flashing for holes and for algae and moss growth.  This should carefully be removed.  If you notice any shingle tabs that have loosened secure them by adding roofing cement.  Any shingle that is broken or damaged should be removed and replaced with a new one.  This will help prevent damage from occurring underneath the shingle and seeping into the structure underneath.
If your home has gutters it is important that they are kept clean and downspouts are clear.  This helps to ensure proper water flow control.  Tree branches that overhang the roof should be trimmed to help prevent branches and debris from falling into the gutters.  Gutter cleaning should be done at least two times a year.  Any time you visually see debris take the time to clean the gutters as improperly draining gutters can take years off of the lifetime of your shingle roofing.
Maintaining your homes roof is often simple and just a matter of knowing how your climate affects the shingles.  Asphalt shingles are meant to thrive in the northern climates.  They are resistant to heat, humidity, cold, ice and water.  With periodic checks and minor maintenance your shingle roof should have a solid lifetime.
Maintenance is the key to prevent major issues in and outside of your home.  Small activities to maintain your home are much simpler and less expensive than the more complicated costly repairs once something does fail.
Home Pro Roofing contractors offer a variety of roofing services throughout Brighton, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Fenton and Commerce Township, including installation of shingle roofs, metal roofing and roof repairs.  You will find them at http://www.homeproroofingmi.com today.