Determining the appropriate frequency of roofing inspections is not what you would call an exact science.  There are a number of factors that will influence how often your roof should be inspected from the materials used in its construction to the age of the roof, not to mention the impact of weather such as wind, snow, rain, and sun.  As the homeowner, you should ideally commit yourself to giving your roof a quick once over at least twice a year where you look for signs of damage, but you will also want to schedule regular professional roof inspections.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors you should consider when determining how often your roof should be inspected.

Roofing Components

The most common exterior component of your roof is likely a layer of shingles – generally these are made from asphalt or wood.  But, there are many other roofing materials including metal roofs, ceramic tiles, and more.  Additionally, your roof is composed of more than that external layer; and all these components require regular inspections and maintenance.  For example, a roof is held up by trusses that are then covered by a sheeting material to provide the main structural support for your roof.  Then of course there is an underlay upon which this exterior surface (i.e. singles) are installed.  Additionally, roofing features are surrounded by flashing and you will have gutters that need to be inspected as well.  So, while a homeowner may be well poised to identify superficial signs of damage or deterioration, only a qualified professional will have the skills to thoroughly inspect your roof.

Inspection Schedules

One of the most obvious times to schedule regular inspections is after the harshest season in your climate.  Many homeowners want to know how their roofs have held up to winter weather or stormy seasons.  And it’s true, scheduling inspections after severe weather can help prevent future damage and ensure your roof is in good condition.  Alternatively, some professionals recommend inspections just before you expect the worst weather – once again, this helps to ensure your roof is in good stead for the coming harsh weather.  However, these shoulder seasons also tend to be busier for roofers and inspections may cost more. 

Still, perhaps the main factor that influences how often your roof needs inspection is the materials used in its construction.  Depending on the type of material, you can expect different rates of deterioration.  More specifically, guidelines dictate that asphalt, composite, and wood shingle roofs should be professionally inspected every 1-3 years, depending on the age of the roof.  Older roofs should be inspected more frequently.  On the other hand, a ceramic tile roof may reliably protect your home with inspections scheduled every 3-5 years, again depending on the age of your roof.

As you can see, there are many factors that influence how often your roof should be inspected, but there’s no question that regular inspection can extend the lifespan of your roof and prevent leaks that cause damage to interior structures.  And one more point to note – if you are not confident managing your own twice-yearly checks, don’t hesitate to work with a professional. 

The post How Often Should Your Roof Be Inspected appeared first on K2 Roofing Blog.

Look for damage around the area of the roof that is leaking.  Damaged, misshaped, curled, or missing shingles may all be the source of a leak.  Search areas of your roof where two surfaces meet and make sure there are now breaks or gaps in the shingles, caulking, or flashing.  Once you find the source of the leak, there are several ways you can repair it.  For example, if shingles are curled up, you can reattach them with asphalt roof cement or compound caulking.  If the weather is warm, you should be able to easily straighten the shingles, but in cold weather shingles become more brittle and should e softened before adjusting them.  A propane torch with a flame-spreader nozzle can be carefully run over the shingle to soften it.  Shingles can then be reattached by applying a generous amount of roof cement at each corner of the shingle and by pressing it firmly to the roof.

Torn, broken, or rotten shingles should be replaced.  Start by lifting the edges of the old shingle and removing nails with a nail puller or pry bar.  Slide the shingle free and be careful to remove any dried on roof cement.  If your shingles have been blown off in a storm, you will still need to remove remaining nails.  Next, you can slide the new shingle under the remaining shingles and align it according to the surrounding shingles.  You will need to fasten then new shingle with galvanized roofing nails at each of the top corners of the shingle.  Next, cover nail heads with roof cement and then cover the top of the shingle with the overlapping, original shingles.  You can use a bit more roof cement to attach the old shingles to the new one. 

Remember that when you are doing roof repairs, you should only work on a sunny day when the roof is completely dry.  Always follow standard safety instructions and use a harness when you are on the roof.  Finally, rubber-soled shoes provide excellent traction and are the safest footwear when you are working on a roof.

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Roofing systems are integral to the structure and protection of any commercial building and by extension your business.  As such, they are built for long-term durability and feature high performance materials and components in their construction.  Nevertheless, no roofing system lasts forever, particularly in climates that receive a diversity of inclement weather.  So, when your commercial roof is showing signs of wear and tear, how can you tell if it’s time to re-cover or replace your roof?

There are a number of reasons commercial roofs can fail; problems are sometimes associated with poor design and installation, poor maintenance, or even simply the age of the roof.  Regardless of the specific problem of your roof, the best remedy should arise from careful consideration of the following:

• The extent and severity of damage,
• The quality and effectiveness of insulation,
• The current status of the building (i.e. is it occupied or are their other maintenance issues?),
• Building purpose and location,
• Signs of internal moisture,
• The nature of the remediation (i.e. is this an emergency repair? Are you looking for long-term solutions?).

Once you have a clearer picture of these factors, you should speak to a qualified roofing professional about the best course of action.  Typically speaking, roofing fixes can be categorized as repair, coating, re-covering, or replacement.  Let’s have a closer look at each.

With respect to repair or simply coating your roof, these are great options for more minor problems.  Repairs are advisable when your roofing membrane is within the manufacturer’s stipulated lifespan and no major problems have been identified.  If your roofing insulation is also in good order, repairs are usually a low cost and appropriate solution. 

Coating is also a good option if you want extra protection against leaks or to extend the life of your roof.  In addition, certain types of coating can improve the energy efficiency of your building which ultimately translates to lower heating and cooling costs.  A new coating is less labour intensive and will be less likely to interrupt business operations than more major repairs such as re-covering or replacing your roof. 

If your roof is showing more serious signs of damage, re-covering or replacing the roof might be your best options.  Not all damage justifies replacement, and in many cases re-covering is a more affordable and equally acceptable solution to roof problems.  If your roofer has determined that roofing structures are fundamentally sound and has only one membrane that can be re-covered, they might suggest this route. 

Finally, roof replacement is typically recommended when damage is severe or extensive (i.e. more than one quarter of the roof is damaged), insulation is wet or damaged, or you want a new roof that features the most recent roofing technologies.

The post Re-Cover or Replace a Roof? appeared first on K2 Roofing Blog.

The reality of the roofing industry is such that no matter the time of year you can get a roof replacement if you really need it.  That being said, a reroofing is a major project that is best scheduled for a convenient time rather than left for an emergency.  Why?  Simply put, if you try to schedule a roofing project (reroofing or repairs) during a roofer’s busiest season, you are likely to pay a premium for the work.  On the other hand, if you take care to maintain your roof and schedule regular inspections, you will be in a better position to schedule a roof replacement during your roofer’s off season.  This usually means the labour costs are lower.  So, when is the best time to reroof a house?

Roofing Season

Ok, we’ve already established there is not a single season for roofing work, but there are times of the year when roofers tend to be quite busy.  While roofing contractors work year-round, their busiest time tends to land between the end of summer and beginning of winter when the weather is warm and dry and homeowners are preparing for winter weather.  Roofers actually prefer to work during these months too; fall weather is cooler and more predictable, and usually the rainy season hasn’t kicked in yet.  So, to make a long story short, late summer and fall months might be considered “roofing season” and a time when emergency roof replacement will be difficult to schedule and roofing contractors tend to charge more.

Winter Replacement

Many homeowners probably would never consider reroofing a house during the winter months, but there are some advantages to scheduling work at this time.  If late summer and fall are the roofing season, you can consider winter the roofing offseason.  During the winter months, you’ll find there is much more flexibility around when you can schedule work and costs can be lower.  There are certainly some challenges to roofing in the winter namely due to unpredictable weather.

Summer Replacement

Reroofing in the summer is advisable because of weather considerations, but unadvisable because of cost.  In fact, summer tends to be almost as busy as the “roofing season” we’ve already discussed, and because of higher temperatures shingle installation is more challenging too.  Nevertheless, in a pinch anything is possible and reroofing in the summer can also be easier because of more consistent weather.

The Best Time to Reroof

I’m sure you’re scratching your head right now and asking, “So, when is the best time to reroof?”  Ultimately, the best time for roof replacement is when you’ve carefully planned the project and scheduled it with a trusted roofing contractor.  This means you’ve already taken the preventative approach and scheduled regular inspections and maintenance for your roof and you and your contractor have decided that planning a roof replacement is in your best interests.

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Sometimes you don’t have the luxury of scheduling your roof replacement.  In the event of an emergency, you’re likely to find roofing repairs or replacement are considerably more expensive – not because roofers are cashing in at your time of need, but because emergency roofing work typically comes up during a roofer’s busiest season.  Of course, emergency roofing repairs are not always avoidable, but with regular maintenance and inspections you can ensure that your roof will survive seasonal weather challenges so that you can schedule repairs or replacement during the roofing off-season when rates tend to be lower.

So when is the best time to reroof?  Obviously, roofing contractors are available year-round to help homeowners with their roofing needs.  As a homeowner, you may think it is in your best interests to delay roofing replacement as long as possible, but it’s much more important to consider the quality of your roof when deciding when to schedule a replacement.  This is why regular maintenance and repairs are so important.  An annual roofing inspection will reveal minor problems that can be repaired before they become catastrophic damage.  Moreover, your roofing contractor will likely be able to predict when your roof will need to be replaced.

A good contractor will always try to coordinate roof replacement or major roofing repairs with their offseason.  Late summer and fall tend to be the busiest months of the year for roofing companies.  As we prepare for the harsh realities of winter weather, we want to be sure our roofs are in good condition, so it makes sense that roofers would be busiest leading up to the winter months.  Moreover, late summer weather tends to be more predictable and temperatures are cooler so it’s easier to schedule and conduct repairs.  However, being the busiest months for roofers also means it can be difficult to find available contractors.  Roofing supplies also tend to be more expensive during the late summer and early fall months, so homeowners will likely find the peak season for roofing to be the most expensive.

On the other hand, scheduling major roofing work during the winter months can be easier since roofers tend to be less busy at this time of year.  Asphalt shingles can be installed in any temperature without affecting their warranty, so if you live in a dry environment, winter might be a great time to schedule your roofing work.  Unfortunately, winter weather can be unpredictable in most climates making it challenging for roofers to complete a project in a timely manner.  Interruptions from weather can definitely impact the cost of your roofing replacement.

As you can see, there are pros and cons to conducting a roof replacement at any time of the year.  Ideally, you want to have the luxury of planning ahead whenever it comes to major roofing projects.  So what does that mean?  Ensure you schedule regular inspections and maintenance for your roof so that you can effectively plan major repairs or replacements.  

The post The Best Time to Reroof appeared first on K2 Roofing Blog.

We’ve found a video that has the classic signs of a roof in need of professional help due to unwanted guests – a lot of them.  If you have any issues with creepy crawlies that fly, look away.   

Otherwise enjoy this little gem of a re-roofing experience and to ensure you don’t have any undesirable critters living in your roof, feel free to give us a call for a complimentary inspection.
 

The post Does Your Roof Have Critters? appeared first on K2 Roofing Blog.

Do you know what’s going on under your roof?

Recently, we did a reroof for a client and friend. On first inspection, we discovered four layers of previous roof underneath.

What do I mean when I say “previous roof”? I mean instead of tearing off the old roof before laying down new shingles, the last roofer just put new shingles over the old damaged and or rotting ones that were already there. Not just once, but four times!!

Wait. Here is the real kicker… When we got to work on the tear off (and you can imagine how much work that would be, when dealing with all that old roofing material) we found yet another layer of shingles lying underneath the four we had previously noticed.

Yikes, what a mess. Like the rings on a tree, the older this house got the more roof layers it seemed to have, and this is an old house.

In the end, our client came out with a new roof and his poor house sighed with relief when we lifted all that weight off its back.

So, for all you out there looking for a new roof, here is a tip. Do not let your roofer put a new roof on your house without taking off the old one.  Just don’t.

Better yet, just call K2roofing and let us take care of it for you.

The post How Many Roofs Do You Have Up There? appeared first on K2 Roofing Blog.

Is it a Chia Roof or a do it yourself Green Roof? Either way, you got to give them credit for their moss cultivating skills. 

It might be an endangered eco system under protection

Cha Cha Cha Chia

If this is your roof, You need to call K2 Roofing… Now!

Free Estimates 604-317-0004

Did you find your roof in the Friday Frights? You are eligable for our Ugly Roof discount. Call us asap!! You really need to.

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Hey look what we found! It’s an ugly roof and they are everywhere. Join us for our weekly ugly roof feature, where we will be featuring random ugly roofs we find in our communities.

Hey is that my roof?

Does this look familiar? If this is your house you need to contact us right now for a free estimate and discuss your ugly roof discount

If you find your own roof in our weekly ugly roof feature, contact us for a free estimate and you will be eligible for our ugly roof discount.

Check back here every Friday for the Ugly Roof of the week. You never know, it could be yours. 

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