Image of rooftop with open window for ventilation.

Attic Ventilation: Everything You Need To Consider

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March 2, 2021

8:50 am

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Home Improvement Tips

Knowing your loft ventilation choices results in a higher quality roof system set-up, which eventually supports your business and makes clients happy. Sounds great, doesn’t it? The good news is that the installation of the proper loft ventilation methods can become easier when you are familiar with the estimation of the right amount of ventilation your building needs as well as the proper tools for the project.

The usage of a functional ventilation system, which helps your clients comprehend what you are doing, can also evoke trust and satisfaction among your clients. When you use the right attic ventilation system, you stand out from your competition. Instead of leaving your customers with a shingle board as a sample and a quote, you can set the bar high by informing them about other critical components of a roofing structure.

Here are some things that you should consider when it comes to attic ventilation choices:

Why Attic Ventilation Is Critical

A nicely-ventilated loft enables air circulation at the lowest and highest level of your building. Proper ventilation also helps guard the roofing structure from the inside in all temperatures and weather settings.

To help your customers be aware of the importance of attic ventilation, consider these points of discussion:

Energy Optimization. High amounts of heat in an attic without ventilation may force your A.C system to work excessively to compensate for the lack and your power bill will certainly go up. Good attic ventilation can help boost your house’s power efficiency by letting the heat transfer rate work instead. Dry and cooler temperature air removes abnormal amounts of humidity and heat.

Humidity Damage. Without proper circulation of dry air from outside through the attic, humidity and condensation may gather in the attic and result in several issues. Mold may develop in poorly ventilated spots and insulation affected by humidity levels may shrink its R-value, again affecting utility expenses. Humidity and condensation may also damage the roofing units and system supports.

Ice Dams. Poor ventilation can lead to the collection of heat from inside the home to the attic and together with the heat from the sun rays, the snow on the roof will melt. This melted snow will run down the lower level of the roof structure and then refreeze during nighttime when the temperature lowers. This freezing-unfreezing pattern can lead to ice deposits beneath the shingles, damaging the roof structure and ultimately result in internal damage e.g. stained drywalls and dampened insulation. Good ventilation, therefore, allows cool air from outside to enter the attic and control the heat accumulation inside, which ultimately controls the freezing and thawing pattern that usually leads to ice dams.

Large roof with asphalt shingles.

 

Considering Attic Ventilation Options

A top expert will install ventilation units depending on the client’s roof structure, style, and local weather settings – not take shortcuts and go for the easiest and cheapest option.

Installation Of Exhaust Ventilation

Adding exhaust ventilation at the highest level of your roofing to transfer as much hot and humid air out of the attic as possible is very important. Ridge venting units, similar to those in the GAF Cobra product collection, are usually added at the edge or peak of a roof to transfer hot air from the inside out. If you have a contemporary roof structure, there are several off-ridge exhaust choices, such as the GAF Master Flow range. Among these options, you will find power attic vents, wind turbines, and louvered roof units.

Inbound Ventilation

Inbound ventilation is added at the lowest level of the roof’s structure to let dry and cool air from the exterior move warm and humid air out of the exhaust fans. Keep in mind that exhaust airing requires inbound ventilation to make the system efficient. Inbound ventilation features attic and under eave fans e.g. GAF Master Flow range units.

The installation of inbound ventilation may also need you to work with other contractors such as carpenters to make sure that the right intake ventilation unit is set-up. You may also have to check that the painter hasn’t colored any intake vents at the edges and that any attic insulation or debris is removed. If working with other contractors isn’t convenient or you are having a new roof installation consider getting “Cobra IntakePro”, which is an intake fan that keeps roofers in place. An air slot, like a ridge vent, is also trimmed into the lower point of the roof bed to enable the free and repeat flow of air inside the attic.

Atmosphere-Matching Ventilation Units

Adding the proper units according to the local weather settings is key to making your ventilation system perform at its best. For instance, a product range like “Cobra Snow-Country” comes with an interior snow filtering unit for cooler and snow-exposed climates. Even without the hazard of frequent snowfalls, it is always a great idea to use a filtering ridge fan in cooler settings or higher mountain altitudes.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the “Cobra Rigid Vent 3” live is aimed at regulating attic airing in warmer weather settings. The proper roofing units will function with the respective attic ventilation units to regulate and balance the temperature of roofing systems. This vent goes more than just enabling the heat and humidity to move out of the attic as it also boosts wind-powered infiltration of rain.

We have a wide range of attic ventilation units to choose from such as a hip, ridge, inbound/intake, power, and more off-ridge ventilation options for application in any roof structure and weather condition. Adding the proper ventilation units in a well-regulated system will help keep your client’s roofs nice and functional for many years to come.

Front view of a home with asphalt shingle roof and brown bricks.

Can You Stay At Home During A Roof Installation?

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March 1, 2021

8:13 am

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Residential Roofing, Roof Replacement

When getting ready for new roof replacements, homeowners may wonder: can you stay at home while the new roof is installed? It’s a common and apparent concern.

The answer is YES but there are a few catches to consider, which we’ll discuss here.

Roof Replacement: What Can You Expect?

Sometimes, there is an unfortunate emergency situation and you need to replace your roof immediately. This is something that we don’t expect to happen but we may have to tackle during our home time.

The urgent need to get a new roof can emerge due to several reasons. One of the most frequent ones is the outburst of a fierce and strong hailstorm. Damage from wind blowing or rainfall can make several parts of the roof fall apart, which implies that you need to replace your entire roof immediately.

The aging of your roof could also be a factor to consider. In case your roof hasn’t been replaced for a long time, age and weather can wreak havoc on your roof and render it less capable of guarding yourself and the rest of the house.

Whatever the culprit is, there will be a time where you will have to get a new roof and a full roofing system that is more functional and upgraded than your previous one. This won’t become a headache and burden to you if you pick the right roofing experts to do the job.

At this point, you may ask yourself: can I stay at home during the new roof installation? If the roof is still pending, you might feel a bit unsafe and unprotected from the weather elements, so can you stay inside during the roofing work?

You Can Stay Inside During Your New Roof Installation

While this can be a big mishap to your home life, you can stay at home if you wish while your new roof is installed. A reliable and established roofing company will take extra care to minimize your discomfort during the replacement work.

Professional roofers totally get that you have other chores to do: feed or watch the kids, cleaning chores, caring for your pets, and other everyday hassles that you can’t avoid.

Obviously, you will wish to know the duration and waiting time for the roofing task to finish so you don’t arrange any large guest or family gatherings and parties during the installation time as this will hinder the work of the roofers.

House with scaffold and roofers working on the roof.

Should I Stay Home During Roof Installation?

There are a few things that you have to tackle initially, but provided you follow a few safety measures, you should be able to sort everything out without any problems during the installation of a new roof.

Do Roofers Have To Enter Your House?

This varies according to the replacement time period. There will be times where the roofer should enter the home’s interior to check the condition of the attic. However, this is a job that takes place before the actual roof replacement.

How Long Will It Take To Replace My Roof?

If you hire an established and reputable roofing expert, the whole project should take just a few days and you can definitely stay inside and work in and out of your house as usual.

Protect Your Pets During The Roof Installation

One of the biggest things to consider during replacement work is to make sure that your pets are safe and comfortable throughout the process. Due to the fact that there are several small tasks that take place during the project, your animal friends will struggle to adapt, especially when there are many unfamiliar noises and new folks near their area.

If possible, you may wish to move your pets out of the house during the fixing phase and bring them back once the contractors finish for the day. You’ll be glad you did that as it will save the sanity of both you and your pets.

This may be an ideal schedule to stick to with your children as well. Make sure that they are not walking and playing around the home while the roof is getting installed and check that they are inside the house safely within appointed spots so they don’t expose themselves to danger or disturb the contractor’s job.

Clear Out Your Exterior Spots

Those with exterior furnishing and valuable deco objects placed outside should move those items to a safer place away from the roof before the roofers get in. You certainly don’t want to risk breaking something of value during the process when it could simply be moved away.

Anything you can’t remove should be thoroughly shielded and guarded to make sure that is not ruined for any reason. It is also a good idea to let the roofers know about this stuff, especially if they are bigger objects that can be easily transferred to another place easily.

Another thing to consider is that the roof switching stage can be quite loud. While it will be easier for you as you’ll already be prepared and aware of the project, your neighbors may be startled by the noise. Thus, it’s best to let them know that you are getting a new roof installed so they prepare themselves as well and tackle the noise during this period.

Collaborate With Your Roofing Contractors

In a nutshell, the roofing switching procedure is the result of a joint effort, more than you may believe. You have to collaborate with your roofing crew to ensure that the process runs as flawlessly as possible and everything is sorted out. When this doesn’t happen, you risk having a hard and unpleasant experience.

A solid and established Vista roofing contractor will take all necessary measures and care to work with you and inform you about the progress of the work in detail. Safety measures are crucial in these events and if there is any big mishap that may emerge, the roofing company will collaborate with you to find a solution.

Since your roofing is your house’s first fundamental and supportive structure, keeping in a great state is very important. Properly maintaining your roof will finally pay itself off as it will boost the structural integrity and safety of your house.

Reputable and skilled roofing experts will take all the necessary steps and measures to complete the project successfully and resolve quickly any potential problems along the process. Of course, getting a new roof isn’t the most pleasant thing but it doesn’t have to bother you that much.

It may take you a few days of fuss, but in the end, you will enjoy having a new roof that will protect your home and those that live inside for the years to come.

wood shake roof with old shingles

How To Fix Roof Shingles That Have Fallen Off

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February 22, 2021

8:22 am

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Residential Roofing, Roof Maintenance

Following a heavy storm, homeowners should always do a quick check on their roof to make sure that the shingles stay solid and unhinged. In case of finding damage, homeowners should be aware of how to fix roof shingles that have slides off. It is a fairly easy procedure.

If you realize that any shingles are lost after a heavy storm, don’t put it off.

They have to be fixed immediately or the roof region has to be shielded to stop water from ruining the back-up roof layer and leakage in its interior.

How To Fix Roof Shingles That Have Fallen Off

The simplest method to fix blown-off shingles is to replace them one by one or a group of them.
The ruined shingles can be taken off and new ones can be installed in their spot. However, these spots may be apparent as climate settings can fade out the shade of older shingles.

Your Essential Tool Kit:

The essential tools you have to collect to fix fallen or damaged roof shingles include:

  • Nail puller, hammer, or pry bar
  • Fitted shingles (one pack is enough for minor fixes)
  • Galvanized roof nails
  • Ladder

How To Replace Shingles Step By Step

Step No. 1: 
Taking the pry bar, take off the ruined shingles and old nails that may still exist in the roof. If the shingle is completely lost, take off any accumulated debris or left nails. In most cases, there are four nail types: two of these holding the lost shingle and two supporting the one over it, penetrating the shingle beneath it. Take these off as a quick fix and you can settle the new shingle in its place. Avoid adding a new shingle onto old nails as this may cause a puncture.

Step No.2: 
Attach a new shingle beneath the one over it, paying special attention not to ruin or misplace the current shingles. You may have to take off the shingle nails or the shingler on top to set-up a new safe installation. Switch the old shingle and nail into place and make sure to switch the nails in the shingle on top.

How Do Roof Shingles Fall Apart Initially?

There are two separate ways by which the shingles are added to a roof: sticky strips and roof nails.

Roof Nails:

Typically, roof nails have sharp edges, short bodies, and broad compact heads that let them enter through the shingle without damaging it.

Sticky strips:

Some shingles are made of sticky strips added to the bottom which, when installed, generate a solid waterproof layer to the shingle underneath.

brown wood shingle that is broken in the middle

Reasons A Roof Shingle May Fall Apart

Poor installation.

If the installation is faulty, nails may be positioned too high above the shingle instead between the nailing strip, making the shingle fall apart under heavy environmental settings.

Roof impairment.

If the supporting roof structure beneath the shingles is ruined or outworn, the shingles will not attach properly and let humidity or wind collect beneath them. Decay and mold can also make nails slide off and weaken the shingle.

Curing Time Is Not Enough.

When sticky shields are applied, they require some time to set themselves in order to work at their peak, which is typically 4 to 6 weeks, depending on weather conditions. A shingle that has just been applied might not be given enough time to cure itself.

Age span.

Roofs have an average life span between 10-15 years. As shingles get older and go through years of exposure to weather elements, their material and seals loosen up.

Front view of a house with asphalt shingles and white siding.

How Often Should You Get A New Roof?

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February 16, 2021

1:50 pm

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Home Improvement Tips, Residential Roofing

While the roof above you will offer you shelter and safety for years, you’ll need to replace it at some point in the future.

For most folks, their home is the biggest and most costly investment they’ll ever commit. To secure this investment and increase its overall value, make sure that your roof is in a good functional state. Don’t let damage impact your roof. Keep reading this report to find out more about getting a new one.

Life Duration Of A Typical Roof

An average roof replacement job, according to Home Advisor, will cost between $5K-10K and so you will probably need to get a new one once it’s damaged. Luckily, your roof’s life will depend on a few aspects that you can control. Your roof’s building material is the biggest factor that affects its life duration. Here are some of the most commonly used roofing materials:

Composite/asphalt shingles

Asphalt shingles are among the most commonly used roofing materials. Besides being great to look at, they are incredibly affordable in terms of upfront costs. However, the good ol’ saying “you get what you pay for” applies here as well, as they typically last for up to 20 years. If you invest in higher quality shingles, however, your asphalt shingle roof will probably last for another 10 years.

Metal Roofs

These roofing materials often have a more contemporary look as they give you the chance to choose between various shades. They also need less maintenance work through the years and offer significant energy-savings. Thus, if you wish to trim down your energy bill, get a metal roof.

Flat roofs

In addition to their great appearance and connection to modern home styles, flat roofs have increased in popularity over the last 10 years. A nicely sealed flat roof is safe to walk on and that’s a big plus if you wish to make your roof a nice chilling spot for you and your family. Flat roofs, on average, last around 20 years, given that they are properly maintained and inspected occasionally to expand their duration.

Obviously, most roofs are highly resistant to elements and can last for a couple of decades. However, proper maintenance and regular inspections can increase your roof’s lifespan by a few more years.

What Kinds Of Damage Should I Look Out For?

It’s best to get your roofing professionally checked at least 1X a year. We suggest that you call for a professional check during springtime. What you can do yourself in advance is to watch out for signs of mildew, bending, leakage, or empty shingles a few times throughout the year when you are doing maintenance work.

When Is The Right Time To Get A New Roof?

You can tell if it’s time to get a new roof by closely examining its shingles. In case you see that they aren’t falling flat against the roof’s bed, you better call a professional roofer. In some cases, roof deterioration is obvious, however, in some other cases, the damage is not apparent to the untrained eye.

An image of a construction site where a new house is beeing build and roofers are working on the roof.

A Starter Guide To Roofing Estimates

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January 1, 2021

8:28 am

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Roofing Estimates

If you are seriously considering having your roof fixed or fully replaced, the first thing you need to do is to get an estimate/quote for the overall project. In general, a roof quote breaks down the tasks the professionals will perform and the total cost. In the present report, we will examine the entire roofing quote process so you get the best deal for your roofing project.

Do I Need to Get A Quote?

That is a pretty common question as most people can’t tell if they really need a quote or not. Briefly put, the answer is YES. Above everything, your quote serves as an agreement that breaks down the work that should be carried out and the cost of it.
If worst-case scenario, your project isn’t finished as expected or a discreditable contractor tries to milk you for more cash, your printed quote serves as proof in legal lawsuits.

What A Roofing Quote Should Include?

A proper quote will feature all the tasks to be performed, with optional pictures that illustrate the former condition of your roof. This should come with a total estimate of the costs, categorized by work, materials needed, and any other additional elements e.g. a skip.

In some situations, roofers will give you several quotes for different tasks. For instance, if your roof has leakage because of fallen tiles, they may give you one quote to switch the tiles and a second one for a total roof replacement, which would be a more lasting fix.

How Many Quotes Are Needed?

The general rule of “three quotes” is a common practice in the home improvements sector. The philosophy of getting three quotes is to offer you a good estimate of the labor costs and pinpoint any quotes that are especially low or high.

While this is a handy general rule, note that quotes can vary depending on the labor that is carried out. A higher quote usually implies a more solid and detailed job which stops the need for future repairs so make sure you consider what the quote covers in detail instead of simply comparing the total cost.

Who Should I Ask For A Quote?

You may be tempted to receive a quote from a “man and a van” service, especially if you are having several quotes anyhow. Often, these handymen will be able to reach you faster and give you a cheaper quote. However, they hardly ever do a solid job and you won’t be able to reach them if things turn sour.

Whether you are getting a single quote or more, the best suggestion is to only request quotes from a established and reputable roofing contractor. This will put a stop to unrealistically cheap quotes from dishonest roofers who simply manipulate the quoting procedure.