Archive for: roof maintenance

How to Find the Right Florida Roofing Contractor

So it’s time for some work to be done on your roof. Maybe it’s just an inspection to make sure that everything is looking up to code. Maybe it’s a small repair because you think you saw a crack in your shingles. Or maybe your roof is in its final days and you need someone to come replace your roof. No matter the reason, you’ll want to choose the best of the best when it comes to roofing contractors. Now, of course we have a suggestion on who to choose, we wanted to lay out a few questions you should be asking when it comes to choosing the right roofer.

 

  1. Is the roofing business local?

 

Unfortunately, the roofing industry has a problem with “fly-by-night” roofers or storm chasers. These are roofers who travel to an area after a big storm and start knocking on doors. Sure, they might offer a lower price to attract your attention.

 

But, those lower prices come with some major asterisks. The main one being, they’ll get their job done as quickly as possible and then leave town to chase the next big storm. So when your roof has a problem, which it almost certainly will, these roofers are nowhere to be found.

 

So now you’re stuck in the same situation you were before, only you’ve already paid once for this job to be completed. That’s why you’ll always want to make sure your roofers are at least local enough to come by to help if your roof is having issues.

 

  1. Is the roofer licensed, bonded, and insured?

 

You should always ask for proof of all 3 of these before getting too deep into a conversation with a roofer. It will, first off, help you avoid the storm chasers we discussed above. But what do these things mean, exactly?

 

Being licensed means the roofer has registered with the state’s board of licensing contractors. This helps them operate their business and conduct projects legally.

 

Bonded means that your roofer is operating ethically. It ensures that even if the business were to go under or there is a problem with the workmanship that their company doesn’t fix, the bonding company will protect you and make sure that your roofing project is completed.

 

And insured means that the roofing company has general liability and workman’s compensation to protect you and their employees.

 

Making sure that your roofing contractor has all three of these certifications will give you the peace of mind that you are working with a reputable company.

 

  1. Do they have any references for similar roofing jobs?

 

This is one way to figure out how much experience the roofer has with roofing projects similar to yours. And it’s a good way to figure out how confident they are in handling your roof job. If the roofer quickly and happily sends over some roofs for you to check out or some contacts to call, you’ll know that they’re proud of their work and that they want to instill the same confidence they have about your project. Not only that, but you can talk to the people who worked with the roofer before and see what that process is like and if they would recommend.

 

Of course, the opposite is true. If they are hesitant or get defensive when you ask for references, there’s a good chance that there’s something behind the scenes that they don’t want you to know about. They may not have any experience with your type of roofing project, or they may not be as reputable as they told you they were when you first started talking. Either way, if the roofer isn’t willing to pass over some references, you’ll want to stay clear.

 

  1. What kind of warranty do you offer?

 

Even the world’s best roofer’s roofs will run into unforeseen events. As the saying goes, “You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather.” And although that saying is more of a metaphor, weather is definitely the number one unforeseen event that your roof will take.

 

But, like all humans, the world’s best roofer is also prone to a mistake from time to time. So checking on your roofer’s warranty is a big thing to check off your to-do list when deciding who to work with. These warranties give you the peace of mind knowing that your roofer will be there to help with any of those unexpected occurrences.

 

 

These are just a few of the things you should ask any potential roofer when you’re looking for help on your next roofing project. These questions will make sure that you will be protected for years to come and that you’re working with a roofer that wants to help you.

Why Now is the Time to Act on Roof Repairs

Somehow, it is already November, which means we have made it through another year of spring showers, summer heat, and hurricane season. It also means that as late fall and early winter are upon us, it is time for you to take action on any necessary residential roof repairs on your Florida home.

If you’re thinking of delaying until late winter or early spring, the team at All Area Roofing would like to discourage you from doing so! Below we’re sharing the 5 biggest reasons that now is the time to act on residential roof repairs to inspire you to do so today! Keep reading below.

5 Reasons Now is the Time to Act on Residential Roof Repairs

1.      Winter is Florida Roofer’s Busy Season

Winter is often the busiest season of the year for Florida roofers because it is the easiest season for us to work in. We don’t say this to discourage you from taking action, but to encourage you to take action quickly. The team at All Area Roofing is seeing our winter residential roof repairs booking calendar fill up quickly and we know the other reputable roofers in the area are seeing the same thing. Give us a call today to ensure you’re able to get your repairs taken care of before it’s too late! 

2.      We’ve beat the summer heat

Although we can and do schedule residential roof repairs during the summer months, the Florida heat makes it tricky. Thanks to the brutal temperatures and strong UV rays, the hours our teams can safely work on your roof is limited to late evenings and early mornings in the summer months. This might be fine for commercial repairs, but can cause quite the disruption for homeowners, especially any with young children!

3.      Hurricane season is safely behind us

With hurricane season behind us for the year, we’ve seen the damage this year’s storm season has caused and know what needs to be repaired. We also don’t expect to be interrupted by another hurricane or tropical storm for many months, giving us an adequate window to make residential roof repairs. 

4.      Spring showers bring… major delays

We all know that spring showers bring May flowers, but did you also know they bring major delays to active construction projects? As Floridians, we are no strangers to our pop-up spring storms. One minute it’s beautiful and the next you’re taking cover under the nearest awning to wait out a surprise storm. Our teams can work through light rain and some drizzle, but we need to press pause when the rain really starts to come down and spring showers mean pressing the pause button more often than we’d like, leading to delays and continued interruptions for your family.

5.      You have adequate time to prepare for the harsher months ahead.

Many would agree that the winter months are the best time of the year to be a Florida resident. The temperature is warm, but not hot. The sun is shining, but not impossibly strong, and we go through a rather dry period. Not only does this make winter in Florida attractive to snowbirds, it also makes it an attractive time of year to take care of roof repairs. Winter is the calm before the actual storms and the perfect time of year to prepare your house for the stormier and warmer months that lie ahead.

If you are overdue for a roof inspection or have been ignoring necessary residential roof repairs, now is the time to act. Give the All Area Roofing team a call today to get started on your roof repairs because before you even blink, spring will be upon us!

5 Threats to Your Florida Roof

Living in Florida certainly has its perks. Sunshine, Disney World, year-round golf courses, the list goes on and on. But, for all of the benefits, there are also some downsides. As residential roofers, the All Area Roofing team has seen firsthand how the Florida climate can have a negative impact on our client’s roofing systems. 

To keep you informed, the residential roofers at All Area are sharing the five biggest threats to your Florida roof and what you need to be aware of to protect your home. Keep reading below to learn more!

Five Major Threats to Your Florida Roof

  1. The Florida Sunshine

They certainly don’t call Florida the Sunshine State for nothing! As much as we love the Florida sun and our year-round tans, the strong UV rays and constant sunshine can do a number on our roofs. 

If you have asphalt shingles on your home, you should know that UV rays can lead to a breakdown of the chemical coating on your shingles. When this happens, the oily substance covering the shingles can evaporate, leaving them unprotected. This can lead to dry, cracked shingles. Scheduling regular maintenance with your residential roofers can help keep your shingles safe from sun damage. 

  1. Heat Degradation 

It isn’t just the damaging UV rays we’re obligated to warn you about, but the overall heat degradation your shingles may face. The extreme Florida summers can cause your shingles to rapidly expand, followed by rapid contraction when temperatures cool in the fall. This can cause straining for your shingles and lead to a number of issues. 

Your residential roofers should inspect shingles that are peeling, splitting, or cracking, as these are all major signs of heat degradation. Left untreated, these cracks leave room for moisture and water damage overtime.

  1. Heavy Frequent Rainstorms 

Native Floridians know that afternoon storms seem to appear almost every day out of absolutely nowhere. These frequent, heavy rain showers can wear down shingles and other elements of your roofing structure overtime. If they bring strong enough winds with them, they can even cause shingles to come loose from your roof. 

Loose or missing shingles can easily lead to water damage that penetrates the roof deck and compromises the overall integrity of your roofing system. Moisture can also lead to problems like mold, mildew, and wood rot in your attic. 

  1. Poor Ventilation 

As Florida based residential roofers, we firmly believe that a well ventilated attic and roofing system is one of the most important elements of your home. Poorly ventilated attics can cause air and heat to become trapped, leading to many issues for your home including decreased energy efficiency, mold, mildew, and wood rot. Avoid these issues by ensuring your home is properly ventilated and if it is not, taking the necessary steps to fix the issue.

  1. Overhanging Tree Limbs 

We love our palm trees, the bigger the better! But, only when all limbs and branches are a safe distance from our homes. When tree limbs grow long enough that they hang over your home, they become a major hazard to your roof and home in general. All it takes is one extreme storm to take a limb off and send it right onto your roof, puncturing your shingles and leading to major repairs or even a replacement. Mitigate this risk by keeping tree limbs away from your property so it never becomes an issue. 

Despite the many threats to our Florida roofs, the residential roofers at All Area Roofing would want to live anywhere else. We’ll take our UV rays and heat degradation over ice and snow pile ups any day of the week! 

If the list made you pause to consider whether your roof might be in need of a few repairs, our team is here for you. Give us a call and we can schedule you for an inspection with one of our expert residential roofers today!

How Heat and Humidity Affect Your Florida Roof

I’m sure I’m not telling all you Florida residents something you don’t already know when I say that it can get pretty humid out there. And while it certainly affects our life when the temperature rises and you can feel the moisture in the air, most people don’t think about the ways it can affect your roof. Your roof is out there protecting you and keeping you cool from the sun, but in turn it can take a beating. Because of this, we decided to write a blog about the effects of heat and humidity have on your roof.

The unfortunate truth is that both heat and humidity can significantly decrease the life of your roof. The heat can cause your roof to expand, stretch, crack, break, and a variety of other not ideal actions. The holes and cracks that are created can allow moisture into your homes, which is only exasperated when the heat comes with humidity. The moisture can also become trapped in the cracks of your roof, which will lead to mold, rotting, weakening, and a host of other problems.

On top of the cracks and holes that lead to moisture in your roof, attic, and crawlspace, the heat and humidity will also increase the temperature of your roof. And that increased temperature means an increased workload for your air conditioner, which already has a harder job because of the moisture in the air. Unsurprisingly, that means that, if your roof isn’t up to the task, your energy bills could skyrocket.

And I know you’re reading this thinking, “But I can’t stop the sun from being hot and Florida from being humid, so what am I supposed to do?” Well, I’m glad you’ve made it this far! There are a few things you can do to make sure your roof is protecting yourself, your family, and your wallet from the heat and humidity of the Florida sun.

The first is to make sure your roof is properly ventilated. A lot of times, people say that a wave of humidity feels “stuffy”, and that feeling is only amplified when there’s no air flow. The vents will help prevent condensation from forming and will also dissipate the heat. By preventing condensation from forming, it will also help stop the formation of mold on the interior of your home.

This one shouldn’t come as a shock since it’s right in the name, but a dehumidifier can also help with the humidity in your attic and roof. A dehumidifier works in conjunction with roof ventilation to stop the accumulation of condensation. Even if no one regularly goes into the attic, running the dehumidifier there can have positive effects throughout the whole house, including a cooler environment and a lower energy bill.

And lastly, making sure your roof is inspected regularly and all repairs are made as soon as they are noticed should be a priority when it comes to roof maintenance. This step is especially important for us in Florida, where a small crack or hole could mean costly energy bills. Even if it’s not noticeable, the heat and humidity could cause your foundation to weaken through its constant expanding and retracting. And you also run the risk of a costlier repair when the small hole or crack becomes a bigger issue in the next storm or heat wave.

This is all to say, there’s nothing you can do to stop the sun. As Annie said, it will come out tomorrow, and my guess is it will still be as hot as is what yesterday. The humidity it brings has an effect on your mind, body, and roof. But making sure your roof is properly ventilated, running a humidifier, and having a professional come out to take a look regularly will help your roof protect you and your family for years to come.