Roofing Guide: Gutters and Downspouts

When it comes to your house, good maintenance doesn’t just equal to modifying the interior. While it’s important to make your home’s interior look aesthetically appealing, it’s also important to protect it from threats. These threats can be both external and internal, and can damage not only your interior, but the structure of your home.

– How Bad Weather Affects Your Home

As mentioned earlier, it’s important to take initiative to protect your home. But external factors can result in internal damage as well. Therefore, it’s important to address any problem before it becomes worse.

Bad weather is one of the reasons for property damage. According to a report published by Insurance Information Institute, hail storms cause $1 billion property damage every year.  

Rain, snow and hail are some of the reasons for roof damage. Not only do bad weather conditions damage the gutter systems of your home, they weaken the foundation of your property.

Clogged gutter systems can also damage downspouts, resulting in water accumulation. When roof shingles get damaged because of high winds, and moisture from snow or rain, they start crumbling. The granules of the shingles go down the gutter system and block the downspouts.

When this happens, rainwater accumulates. When the water has no access to the downspouts, it goes inside the structure of the house, through the areas of the missing shingles.

– Cleaning Gutter Systems

By cleaning your gutter systems every season, you can help prevent damage. Weather conditions are not the only reason for damage. Bird droppings and leaves from trees can also block the passageway.

During the winter season, snow can accumulate and once it melts, moisture can get into the attic area, blocking insulation. Once that happens, mold starts growing. Once there’s mold, it starts spreading to the vent system of the house. It starts affecting furniture and carpeting, making it difficult to eliminate, without replacing everything.

Most homeowners try to clean their gutters by climbing on the roof. Not only is that dangerous, without the right tools, you can damage the gutter. Falling off the roof is a risk, and homeowners should avoid climbing the roof.

– Why You Need Professional Roof Services 

Hiring a professional roof contractor can help avoid injury. Not only will it save you costs, it can help you prevent accidental death. Since roof contractors have technicians that are skilled workers, they also have the right tools to address the problem.

This includes using the right equipment to climb and balance themselves. Furthermore, they have special cleaning products that thoroughly clean gutter systems. They can also use special applications to prevent shingles from deteriorating.

We are a roofing company that offers repairs, installation, and maintenance services for both residential and commercial areas. Whether you need to take care of repairs or replacements, we have the solution to your problem.  

If you’re looking for residential roofing repair, feel free to contact us, or call 330-784-4000 if you have any questions/queries.

  

Long Live The Roof!

When installing a new roof, there are a number of factors to consider: cost, aesthetics, lifespan—there are so many things to keep in mind.

The lifespan of the roof depends on the sort of material that has been used to construct it. Roofing materials can last between 10 to 50 years. Here are some pointers that can help you make the right choice.

Asphalt Shingles

These usually last for about 20 years; if superior quality shingles are used, then it can last for up to 50 years. These are one of the least expensive options in roofing, but installation is a bit tricky so that will cost you. This is the most widely used product in the US and also has a number of options in colors and styles.

Architectural Asphalt

These only last for about 30 years and installation is also difficult due to the shingles being twice as thick and heavy as the regular asphalt shingles. This a new product used for roofing which in appearance looks similar to either slate tiles or wood shakes. These are less expensive but since it’s a new invention, there is no guarantee of how reliable the product is.

Metal Roofing

This product lasts between 40 to 60 years. The cost is higher as compared to asphalt shingles but you might want to consider this option since it will last almost a lifetime. The product is still less costly than slate. If you want to add another layer beneath it—for better insulation—then costs will drastically increase for you. Leaks, tears and punctures are concerns the same as with other materials.

Wood Shakes

This material does not last longer than 30 years unless the weather conditions are in its favor. The problem with wood is that becomes wet and weakens over time. In winters, this becomes a major concern.

There are pressure treated options available in the market which are said to hold up better. Since wood is easy to cut and shape, the thicker shakes are able to last longer than the thinner ones.

Slate Roofing

Concrete, slate and clay all can last for over a 100 years. This is definitely the most expensive option, but worth the investment. The major problem with this is the fact that it is extremely challenging to work with and installation will be time-consuming.

Apart from the lifespan of the material, another factor to consider is whether your roofing company is reliable to begin with. Haralson Roofing is a leading Ohio-based roofing company you can turn to for all kinds of roofing installation and repair services. 

Comparing Roofing Materials: Choose the One for You!

Roof comes in all shapes and sizes, and they can be made up of different materials. Each has its set f properties and advantages. Let’s discuss some of the most common roofing material you can choose from.

Composite Roofing

Composite roofing is what we know as asphalt shingles and is perhaps the most common type roofing used on modern homes. If you are strapped on budget, this tile is perhaps your best option in terms of low cost and quick installation.

This roofing is made from fiberglass or cellulose mats that are coated with granules and asphalt. Its profile is flat and rather lightweight. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the shingle you choose the more durable they will be.  

Wooden Roofing

Wooden shingles are made of southern pine, redwood, and cedar. You might want to check out your county's local construction code as some prohibit use of wood, as it is flammable. You will have to double your budget if you go with wooden roofing.  

If you live in a suburban neighborhood, wood would blend seamlessly with the surrounding ambiance of your home. The average life you can expect from this type of roofing is between 15 – 25 years and requires your roof measurements to be at least 4:12 slope.

Concrete Tile Roofing

Concrete tiles are modern in appearance and virtually indestructible in terms of durability. This type of roofing gives you an added peace of mind as you install and forget about its replacement guarantee. This type of roofing isn't the most expensive, neither is it the cheapest.

This type of roofing is molded so they interlock firmly, not to mention this makes it easier to install if you are considering doing the roofing yourself. You can decide between different weight types depending on your roof.

Rubber Composite Roofing

Rubber composite roofing, also known as synthetic slates are shingles made from rubber and blend of plastic. Bonded on a molecular level, the characteristics of this tile make it extremely lightweight, extremely strong and flexible.

These types of roofing come with a minimum warranty of 50 years. This is perhaps the most expensive roofing available and is not height in demand. But if it is durability you are looking for, this roofing is the go-to type.

No matter the type and material of your rood, we offer a wide range of roofing services to help you maintain one of the most important components of your home. Get in touch to learn more about our domestic and commercial roofing services. 

Benefits of Having a Professional Inspect Your Roof for Storm Damage

Being able to see a damaged roof and knowing that it needs repair doesn’t make anyone a qualified roof damage inspector. There is a reason professionals go through extensive training and build their expertise over years of supervised on-job training and experience.

Once the storm is over, there is much more than meets the eye.

Water being one of the most destructive forces of nature can deal more damage than what you initially see and imagine. It is why it is important to call in a team of professionals who can climb on to the roof and take a look at every nook and cranny for the damage that is not visible otherwise.

Now, you may be great at climbing the roof but there are many reasons the inspection part should be left to the residential roofing companies. Here are just a few reasons to convince you of that.

We Are Equipped for Safety and Efficiency

What might take you hours is actually a matter of minutes for us because we have the right tool, equipment, and experience. While the importance of tools and equipment and tools is unchallenged, experience also has a key role to play in expediting the work. We are well aware of the places water can sneak into, so we have a better roadmap to begin with.

Speaking of safety, we bring along the approved safety gear and equipment that let us work safely and quickly at great heights. Most people don’t have such equipment at home and buying that will cost at least ten times more than hiring professionals.

Our Words Matter, Especially for Insurance Claims

When we inspect roof damage, we create a proper report that mentions the extent of damage and the cost of repair. This will help you start your insurance claim process even before we start working on the repair. Since our inspection is more comprehensive, the report also accounts for damage that you might not consider when estimating the cost. This means you will not end up claiming less money than actually needed.

We Help You Prevent Future Damage

Sometimes during an inspection, we realize that the roof has taken more damage than it should have. This usually happens when there is an underlying issue that makes roof more vulnerable during a storm. In such scenarios, our professional roofing experts can offer you the right advice and recommendations to protect your roof from as much damage as possible, in case a calamity strikes again.

Learn more about our residential roof repair and inspection services by getting touch with us at 330-784-4000