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.

  

The Latest Designs In Roofing

There are a number of different designs in roofing that fall under two categories; sloped roofs and flat roofs.

Roofing designs are linked to either a certain style of housing or a particular region.

Here are 6 of the most popular ones out there.

1. Shed Roof

This is a simple option; a flat roof that is sloped. An upper floor can be added depending on the architectural elements and how sloped the roof is.

2. Pyramid Hip Roof

All four sides of the roof meet at the center point. This is commonly used in ranch style homes which do not have an upper floor. Dormer windows can be added but they aren’t necessary.

3. Gable Roof

This is one of the most popular designs in roofing. This allows room for creativity; dormer windows can be added to make it look even more extraordinary.

4. Mansard Roof

Mansard roofs have steep sides which give it a cap effect. This is a French inspired roof that allows additional space and light in the upper floors.

There are a number of variations within this design; such as the pyramid mansard roof in which the corners meet at the center creating a pyramid at the top, and the mansard roof that flares out at the bottom.

5. Bonnet Roof

There is an extended ledge around the base of the roof. At the top, it can be any roof design but the extended ledge makes it a bonnet variation.

The ledge can be held up with pillars for extra support. These are a good option for areas with strong winds and hurricanes as these are less likely to get torn off due to the extra support. The sides are sloped and so they protect the house from the sun, so that the porch is far cooler.

6. Flat Roof

This might appear a simple and plain design, but if you want a modern and mid century-look for your home, then this is the ideal choice.

These are mostly common in arid climates; the roof space can be used as a living space. They are usually found in commercial buildings all around the world. The material depends upon the region and preference. In warmer climates, concrete is a good option as it keeps the heat out. Wood is another popular option, but cannot be used where rainfall is common.

Haralson Roofing is a reliable and experienced roofing company. If you need repairs for your flat roof or want a new roof installed, they take care of the job. 

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 

Winters Can Damage Your Roofs–Protect It Today!

Who doesn’t love a white December? Well, your roof, for starters.

Roofers around the world recommend proper roof inspection after extreme weather conditions. No matter how good or expensive your roof is, without proper maintenance, it can’t protect your property.

Whether you have a sloped, flat, or a low slope roof, certain environmental factors can result in damage. This includes heavy rainfall and ice damage.

As an owner, you must check up on the roof before the weather takes its usual nasty turn. Your roof will thank you for it! 

1. Inspect the roof for obvious signs of concern. If you have a steep roof, don’t do this by yourself.

Call in an experienced professional with proper equipment, and one who is trained for fall protection. This inspection should cover loose chimney caps, loose tiles and shingles, and vent covers.

2. On low slope roofs, walking over can help you notice signs. Secure loose flashings and metal trim to prevent moisture and ice from seeping in.

3. Clean the roof by removing leaves and other debris away. Loose objects, including beverage bottles and other containers, must be removed too. Make sure any loose wiring and conduit is collected, secured, supported and moved away as well.

4. Also, ensure roof drainage is unimpeded. If water is allowed to freeze because of a nonfunctional drainage, it will weigh down on your roof. Furthermore, the resulting ice can clog drains, gutters, scuppers, conductor heads and downspouts.

5. Make sure maintenance personnel haven’t left behind any mechanical equipment. This can cause damage to shingles and other roofing material.

6. Trees hanging around the roof are also a source of damage. Wind can cause small branches and leaves to fall over the roof. Trim trees and make sure no branches or leaves are left behind.

7. While you may want to show off your attractive roof lighting, some of the roofing materials may get penetrated by screws, resulting in damage. Avoid decorations that have the potential to clog the drain, increase snow buildup, or penetrate a roofing material.

8. Limit the access to roof to only one or a few individuals. An increase in foot traffic can cause harm too.

9. Snow loads vary from region to region. Roof collapse is becoming more common owing to excessive snow build up. Keep an eye out on the weather and know how much snow is predicted. Remove snow when you can to prevent freeze thaw cycle and roof damage.

10. Snow guards can also be placed on steep roofs. These are specialized devices which retain ice and prevent buildup on the roof.

We offer both installations and roof repair services. Call our residential and commercial roofing company today for excellent roofing services.