Leaks and Roof Repair in Katy, TX

Left unchecked, a small leak on a roof in Katy, TX can result in problems that could become costly, dangerous, and even unmanageable. Among these problems are leaks to exterior walls, rotten wooden framework, sagging support beams, and water stains on the ceiling. Such problems can be resolved or prevented through efficient roof repair in Katy, TX.

Read More

Ensuring Your Roof’s Safety

Your roof is your number one defender against a variety of harsh weather conditions, from extreme summer heat to pounding hailstorms. To protect your family and your valuable assets, you need to ensure that your roof remains in tip-top condition. Essentially, conducting annual roof inspections are necessary to uncover undetected or hidden roof damage.

Read More

How Important are Gutters in Your Home?

Your roof might be performing one of the most important functions in your home exterior, but there is a fixture within it that, when absent, can negatively impair its function: the gutters. A reliable gutter system allows rainwater to flow smoothly away from your roof and into the ground (it also keeps this very water from getting into your house foundation and seep its way through your basement).

Read More

Metal Roofing Can Last in the Lone Star State

A roof can easily crack under the hostile weather of Katy, TX. In fact, heat and hailstones are only some of the things that can immediately shorten the service life of a roofing system. Homeowners who are tired of the constant need to re-shingle or repair their roofs can try out metal roofing.

Read More

Mitigate Hail Damage, Choose Roofing Wisely

There are only a handful of weather conditions that can cause more damage to property than a hail storm. Unfortunately, hail storms are a common occurrence in Texas, making it important for state residents to understand how hailstones affect various roofing materials.

According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, some materials prove to be more hail-resistant than others. Architectural shingles, for instance, withstood hail damage better than the standard three-tab shingles, while metal roofing sustained only cosmetic or superficial damage. Likewise, the tests showed that older roofing materials, as well as unsupported roofs, were more prone to hail damage than their newer and supported counterparts.

Experts say it is not easy to detect hail damage; it takes the trained eyes of professionals to distinguish the difference between damage from hailstorms and manufacturing defects or regular wear and tear phenomenon. However, it is important to identify hail damage in roofing for insurance claim purposes.

Likewise, some hail damage may appear superficial, but can quickly deteriorate if not properly fixed on time. Therefore, to facilitate insurance claims and protect roofing from premature deterioration, it is best to call on the services of roofing repair experts once a hailstorm has passed.

Read More

Survive a Storm with Expertly Installed Roofs

Hurricanes have been battering states close to the ocean since time immemorial, bringing incessant wind and rain that damage most structures. Homeowners who want their homes to survive the relentless barrage of storms constantly need to be on the lookout when it comes to their main protection: roofing.

The aftermath of hurricanes like Ike, Katrina, and Sandy should prove the need to pay close attention to your roofing. As two storms are rarely similar, now is the perfect time to let roofing experts inspect and evaluate roofs for repair, maintenance, or retrofitting. Most assessments are free of charge and some roofers offer price quotes for a roof repair job.

Homeowners should hire an experienced and reliable roofing company that can give them quality and uncompromising work to keep their families and personal belongings safe from the elements. Apart from choosing quality roof material, letting a professional install your roof is essential, as it will define how long the system will last.

Professional roofers are trained to keep the roof leak-free for many years even in the face of strong storms. Additionally, they have the right tools and equipment that allow them to perform the installation quickly and safely. Despite the fact that you will have to fork out a little more if your hire a roofing company, there’s a guarantee that your roof will last for a long time, which means you can avoid costly repairs down the road.

Read More

Ensuring Genuine Roofing Repair Following a Storm

Following a destructive storm, many contractors pay homes a visit to offer their roof services; however, more often than not, these businesses can be shady. The more reliable ones are busy due to unsolicited referrals from happy customers, which can serve as an effective measure to gauge a roofer's trustworthiness. Homeowners need to be careful in choosing a roofer, as some will try to capitalize storm-ravaged communities.

Looking for a reliable roofing contractor can be a tricky trade. Much like in their situation after the storm, in sifting through the array of options, there are several factors to consider when looking for reliable and genuine roofers to service your needs.

Before you contact a local roofer, take a picture of your roof before anyone takes a look at it. One of the most common scams in the roofing industry is damage deliberately caused by the contractor. It is, therefore, advised to have an insurance adjuster's eye be the first to examine your roof's damage.

Thorough research and looking for third party directories to cross-check facts about your selected contractor is vital. Most importantly, make sure no document is signed before making an informed decision. Many make the mistake of closing the deal early in the process.

Read More

Matching Roofing Designs to HOA Standards

Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) are organizations formed among communities such as subdivisions that introduce policies and rules that ensure unity and peace among its members. Typically, these community regulations can be small and simple enough to comply with, while others can be downright unreasonable at times. It’s even possible to live in a region that mandates a strict building policy, demanding all members to fashion their homes based on a single standard.

Generally, HOAs can either be voluntary or mandatory in terms of membership. You can choose not to join a HOA if it's voluntary but at the expense of losing out on privileges. On the other hand, you need to join a HOA if mandatory, though some rules may conflict with your interests. How you deal with HOAs is up to you.

Some HOAs can be very particular about roofing color, especially if most of the buildings in the region have exactly the same roofing. Should you need the right roof color to comply with HOA by-laws, many major roofing brands like GAF have weathered wood and other hues suitable to match whatever color homeowners need. Householders can always rely upon local contractors to outfit their homes with the appropriate roof to match with the rest of the community.

Read More

On Repairing Composition Shingles

The right time to get complete repair work done on your roof depends on so many factors. The first one is the climate in your area. In Katy, Texas, the weather is rarely extreme enough to deal severe damage on residential roofing that would require immediate repairs. This means that, as long as you regularly clean and maintain your roof, you are likely not to encounter a whole lot of issues with roofing.

Aside from being durable roofing materials, the beauty with composition shingles is that, when some of these do get damaged, you do not have to replace the ones that are still in good shape. Replacing the damaged shingles, however, can get a little bit tricky. Instead of guessing how much material you are going to need for replacements, leave the estimates to a professional roofer instead.

Roofers also know how to properly nail the new tabs or pieces back on because they have been trained to do so. Since most of them are certified to install certain roofing materials, you can rest assured that they will do good work on your roof. If products do get damaged during installation or at a later date during the warranty period, your roof will be able to qualify for warranty.

Read More

Which Clay Tile Design Should You Pick?

Clay tiles may be throwbacks to an earlier era in architecture, but a check of many houses will give you clues that they still adorn residences. This should come as no surprise, as these thick tiles are also engineered to last several decades of changing weather if they are installed properly. If you are interested in outfitting your roof with clay tiles, you will want to familiarize yourself with the various styles to see which will work best.

Barrel or Mission roof tiles, which are nailed to the roof structure, are one of the most common styles. As their name implies, they are shaped after half-barrels. A derivative called the Spanish or Mission style has the barrel tiles fused in opposing layers, giving them a woven, flowing appearance.

Flat clay tiles, also known as the Cambridge style, usually adorn houses that have a distinctively Old World theme. They are locked together with nails. However, they can be deceptive in the sense that they can be mistaken for flat roof shingles. In turn, Oriental tiles are distinctive because their individual curves curl up, resembling waves. The ridges in some multi-slope houses with Oriental tiles are Barrel derivatives.

Clay roofs have a unique flair that is all their own. Take the time to find the proper style and colors that will sync with the rest of your house.

Read More

The Client-Contractor-Manufacturer Relationship

Roofers generally don't make roofing materials. At the same time, roofing manufacturers don't install or repair their products themselves, unless they also double as a roofer.

Roofing manufacturers like GAF and CertainTeed primarily focus on making the shingles, shakes, and panels homeowners put on their roofs and walls. Though they rarely interact directly with their end clients, the homeowners, manufacturers still have a duty to them. They can avoid gross negligence issues by producing quality products and offering a list of certified contractors.

Roofers—as contractors—are the middlemen in this three-way working relationship. The manufacturer provides the materials while the contractor provides the skills and services necessary to put the materials to good use. Their duty to the client is to fulfill whatever was agreed upon by both the contractor and client.

The distinction is important. Some delays in roofing projects can be attributed to the manufacturer, especially if a contractor doesn't have the materials to work with. In some cases, though, delays might be the fault of another party. This is usually the case for government programs where the program itself can't operate because of lack of funding. This only means that, in the case of trouble during a project, it's not always right to put the blame on the contractor.

Read More

A Look at Why You Should Choose Metal Roofing for Your Home

When it comes to home improvement projects, people usually prioritize their front lawn, living room, kitchen, or bathroom. While all these are important to the beauty and comfort of a house, sometimes the hardest-working parts are often the most neglected. Take your roof, for example.

Roofs protect you from rains, storm winds, and the scorching heat of the sun. If they fail, you're looking at water damage to your walls, ceilings, and furniture. Leaking roofs are also an invitation for mold infestation. With the beating they receive year round, homes should have sturdy roofing. One of the best options out there are metal roofs.

These sturdy roofs are reinforced to withstand with up to 1020 mph. It's not surprising then that they typically last 50 or more years. They can also lower your electric bills since they help insulate the home during winter and reflect the sun's rays during summer. They also come in a variety of styles and colors, thus disproving those who say metal roofs do nothing for a curb's home appeal. They can even be made to look like traditional wood or tile shingles if a metallic look isn't your thing.

If you're willing to invest in other parts of your home, make sure to invest in your roofing system as well. Talk to a reliable Katy roofing contractor to learn more about metal roofing and other options.

Read More

Functional and Attractive Clay Tiles Roofs

Whether it's a contemporary or rustic look you're going for in your home, clay tiles will help you achieve this look. Easy on the eyes, this natural material can enhance your home's curb appeal and resale value. Clay tile roofs come in different colors, shapes, and sizes as well—giving homeowners freedom to pick one that suits their personalities.    

Aside from its aesthetic value, clay tile roofs are also sturdy. They are fire-resistant, and can last for decades with little maintenance. Cleaning clay tile roofs is a breeze, as sweeping off debris, like leaves and dry branches, does not have to be done on a regular basis. Moreover, rot and rust do not stand a chance with this roofing material.

In terms of insulation, roofing made of clay tile protects the house’s interiors from extreme temperatures. Clay tile roofs help to cool down the house during humid weather, and keeps the house warm on cool days. Also, clay tiles promote air circulation between the roof deck and tiles, which prevents a smothering atmosphere in the abode.

Another advantage to installing clay tiles is its ability to withstand different weather conditions. Elements like rain, sunshine, and snow may alter the texture of clay tiles and give them a “weathered” look, but this only adds to the charm of the roof. If a house is located in a city that experiences a lot of rain, an underlayment can be installed to keep off moisture.

Read More