Wednesday, February 26, 2020

The Main Points Covered During a Home Spring Roof Inspection

Although it’s cold outside, Spring is just around the corner, which means it will once again be time for people to get things done around the outside of their homes. Landscaping, siding, painting, and other jobs will begin in earnest by both homeowners themselves or the contractors that they hire. It may also be time to get some work done on your roof. How do you know if you need roofing work or not? You simply call to get a spring roof inspection scheduled. This is especially important if it’s been a long hard winter where you live or there have been strong wind and hail storms in your area recently. It’s always best to be proactive when it comes to your all-important roof. Here is what a typical roof inspection covers. 

Visible Damage 

Of course, this is the most obvious part of any roofing inspection. The inspector will look for such things as sections of the roof that’s missing roof covering or such things as an area of shingles that have bubbled up. 

Roof Structure/Underlayment 

The inspector will also look for visible signs of rot on such roof structure pieces as soffits and facia pieces. They will also try and sense soft spots under the roofing material as they walk around. A roofing inspector will usually carefully lift up the roofing material in a few areas and check the condition of the insulating underlayment underneath it, too. 

Number of Layers of Shingle (of course only for shingled roofs) 

A good veteran roof inspector will also look to see how many layers of shingle are on your roof. This is true even if there are no signs of visible damage or wear to the existing shingles. Why, you may wonder? It’s because no roof should ever have more than 2 layers of shingle built-up on it. So, if you call them in the future with a problem, they will know your roof’s situation. 

Leaks 

Your roof‘s number one job is to keep water from getting inside your home. So, a competent roof inspector will look for various signs of leakage inside and outside of your home. These signs include loose flashing around chimneys and water stains on the inside of your attic. 

Who to Call for A Roof Inspection? 

The best companies to call for roofing inspections are those that have a good reputation in your area. Ask your friends and neighbors who recently had roofing work done for them who they used and how was their experience with that company. If you can, find a good roofing contractor who will even do that roof inspection for free. Confident roofing companies like Evergreen Roofing & Renovations out of Beaverton, Oregon use these free inspections as a way to show off their knowledge of their profession. They know that will give them a leg up on the competition whether you have immediate roofing work that needs to be done or do some roofing work in the future.

Please visit the source link: The Main Points Covered During a Home Spring Roof Inspection

Friday, February 21, 2020

Things to Consider When Designing a New Outdoor Living Space for Your Home

Although it’s still cold out in many places now, trust me when I say that spring is just around the corner. That’s why it’s a good time to start thinking about what you will do around your home in the spring. One of the popular things that people are doing to their homes these days is to make useable outdoor living spaces. These make great places to entertain guests and are a nice relaxing change of pace from your home’s interior. In order to get the design of your new outdoor living space right, you need to consider the following when planning it. 

Intended Purpose 

Of course, the first step in planning for a new outdoor living space is the reason why you want to build it in the first place. Will it be used as a barbeque area, entertainment area or just a place that you can relax comfortably outdoors. Once you have decided upon this it will guide and shape the rest of the planning and purchasing for your project.   

Location 

You will also have to determine where on your property that you will put your new outdoor living space. Keep in mind that not all of what’s in your imagination can always be done. Be mindful of such things as plumbing if you will add a bathroom to your new outdoor living space. You may also need gas lines for cooking and electrical for lighting. So remember, locating your outdoor living space far from your home can start to get expensive. 

Size 

It goes without saying that you will have to have enough room to bring your new outdoor living space idea to fruition. You can’t very well build an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area in a 12’ x 12’ space. So be reasonable here. 

Looks 

The last thing that you want is for your new outdoor living space to clash with the rest of your home. Things like putting a dark stone patio in your new outdoor living area just don’t go well if you have an orange brick home. So carefully consider the surroundings where your new outdoor living space is going and plan accordingly. A well-designed outdoor living space will nicely compliment the rest of your home not take over the looks where it’s being added. 

How to Get Your New Outdoor Living Space in the Works 

It’s no secret that most people do not have the knowledge or time to create their own outdoor living area. That means you will need to seek professional help. Ask your family and friends if they know anyone in your area that does this type of work and is reputable. Take a few bids for the job and pick the contractor you feel most comfortable. Choose someone like Evergreen Renovations & Roofing out of Beaverton, Oregon who will even let you lean on their design professionals for help. Take advantage of that and you will end up with a new outdoor living space that you are very happy with. 

Read the source link here: Things to Consider When Designing a New Outdoor Living Space for Your Home

Monday, February 17, 2020

How Often Should You Get Your Roof Inspected?

Most homeowners know that they need to get their roofs inspected from time to time. What they don’t know is how often those roof inspections need to be done. Most homeowners would expect a straightforward answer when they ask how often their roof should be inspected. The problem is that this question is not so simple to answer because there are many factors to be considered. Here is some information that will help you plan your next home roof inspection. 

When Was the Last Time That You Had Your Roof Inspected? 

If the answer to this question is been “so long I don’t remember”, then you should pick up your phone right away and schedule a roof inspection. That’s because roof problems simply don’t go away over time, they get worse. When roof conditions such as leaking, structural rot, and underlayment deterioration go undetected, they can cause many types of expensive and damaging roof problems. As a rule, many roofers recommend that people get their roofs inspected yearly. And why not? Most reputable roofing companies like Evergreen Renovations & Roofing out of Beaverton, Oregon will provide this service free of charge. So, take advantage of it. At the very least you should get your roof inspected every other year. A quick roof inspection by a trained professional can catch little problems and repair them before they become much bigger expenses. 

Other Factors to Consider When Deciding the Frequency of Roof Inspections 

Here are some other things that you may want to factor into how often you get your roof inspected: 

  • Age 

Just like older vehicles need more attention than newer ones, so is the case with your roof. If your current roofing material has been on top of your home for a while, you may want to strongly consider inspected more than once a year. 

  • Roof material 

Different types of roofing materials age better than others. Asphalt shingle and wood shake roof coverings need to be inspected more frequently than do roofs with metal panels or ceramic or synthetic tile. 

  • Weather 

Weather can be a significant factor in moving up the timeframe for a roof inspection. This is especially true after a winter where your home had a heavy snow load on top of it for a long time. Such significant events as a hail storm with large size stones may also necessitate a quick roof inspection. 

Benefits of Yearly Roofing Inspections 

It was already mentioned that a yearly roofing inspection often catches little roofing problems so you can get them fixed before they become bigger and more costly roof repairs. Here are some other benefits you get from periodic roof inspections: 

  1. It will help extend the life of your roof 
  1. It will help you catch potential leak problems 
  1. It will help you fulfill warranty or bank loan requirements 
  1. It can help you detect roof venting problem areas 
  1. It will help you plan and budget for future repairs 
  1. It gives you peace of mind that the integrity of your roof is where it needs to be 

Visit the source link: How Often Should You Get Your Roof Inspected?

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

The Advantage and Disadvantages of the Most Popular Commercial Flat Roof Coatings

Spring is just around the corner and if you own or manage a commercial property with a flat roof, you may be thinking about putting a new roof coating over it. That’s a great way to keep your building watertight and maybe get some energy–saving benefits in the process, too. The only problem is deciding which flat roof coating to use. There are many choices and each of them has its advantages and drawbacks. Here are the most popular flat roof coverings and the good and bad things about each one.  

Built-Up Roofing (BUR) Membrane (Tar & Gravel) 

This is one of the most popular commercial flat roof coatings because it’s inexpensive. It also offers great insulation value and looks very good once applied. The biggest drawback to using it are water ponds on it easily and it can only be applied to heavily reinforced buildings because of its extreme weight. 

Modified Bitumen Roofing 

Here is a much lighter flat roof coating that is like big sheets of asphalt shingle rolled onto a roof. Installation is fairly easy and some of the manufacturers make it using reflective materials. The biggest drawback with it is it does not handle foot traffic well at all. 

Thermoset (EPDM) Roof Membrane 

This is what many people refer to as a rubber roof. It is rolls of thick rubber rolled onto a roof and then seemed together. It fits great and lasts a long time. The biggest disadvantage to using this roof coating is that the seams in it may fail over time. 

Thermoplastic (PVC) Roof Membrane 

If you have a roof that has much foot traffic this is the best roof coating to apply. It’s laid down in sheets and these sheets are made from a sturdy PVC material. This is another type of roof material that is seamed together and that may cause problems over time. 

Spray-Applied 

This is the best commercial flat roof coating to use in most situations. That’s because it has no seams and even gets into cracks and crevices in the old roof. They also can be applied over a wide variety of existing roof surfaces and they are reflective in nature which will save you some money on your company energy bills. By far the biggest drawback with it is the cost. 

How to Go About Getting a New Flat Roof Coating Applied 

Chances are that you or the personnel at your company may not have the experience to properly apply a new flat roof coating. That’s why it’s always better to seek professional help to get the job done right. Companies like Evergreen Renovations & Roofing out of Beaverton, Oregon not only have factory trained roof coating installation teams, but installation by them also guarantees that the roof coating manufacturer will honor the warranty on their products. So, seek professional help to get your new flat roof coating properly applied so it will stay watertight for many years to come. 

Check out the source: The Advantage and Disadvantages of the Most Popular Commercial Flat Roof Coatings