Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Looking for a roof that would last years and also be Eco-Friendly?

Shingles have to be replaced by the homeowners at some point in a roofs lifetime. Conventional asphalt shingle roofs last about 20 years if you are lucky because they are constantly exposed to sunlight, heat, cold, rain, wind, and sometimes snow, sleet, and hail.

If you’d like a roof that will outlast a conventional asphalt shingle roof and is made from eco-friendly roofing materials, consider the products outlined here. Many of them are virtually immune to hail. Green roofing products are many and varied, ranging from recycled-plastic shingles to recycled-metal roofs to sustainably harvested or reclaimed wood roofs to having plants grow on your roof. The best option for your home depends on the design of your home, local building codes, and price considerations.

Recycled Shingles

The most popular and perhaps the most environmentally friendly option would be shingles made from recycled waste materials, such as plastic, rubber, or wood fiber. Some products are made from clean post-consumer waste (waste from homes), others from post-industrial waste (factory waste). Recycled-content shingles are amazingly durable, and they look amazing, too. You’d never be able to guess they were made from “waste” materials!

Waste from landfills are reduced by recycled-content roof shingles help our need to extract and process raw materials, which reduced pollution and lowers energy consumption. Some of these products are recyclable, too, and many come with amazing 50-year warranties. A few even carry fire ratings that could lower your insurance rates.

A popular choice throughout the country has been wood shingles and shakes for homeowners and roofing contractors. Unfortunately, conventional wood shingles are made from old-growth western cedar. Although the amount of energy it takes to produce this product is relatively low, the harvest of old-growth trees is not sustainable in the long run. These shingles are also quite combustible and can no longer be used in areas where there is a risk of brush and forest fires.

If you are still considering installing wood shingles try considering shingle made from reclaimed lumber. Reclaimed lumber products are made from old bridges, mills, old water, and wine tank and other sources.

Slate and Clay Tiles

Slate produces an extremely durable tile, one that can last hundreds of years, and is also an all natural material. It is, however, an energy-intensive process to mine the slate tiles, but most companies salvage slate and clay tiles. Roofing contractors are very familiar with slate roofing as that is getting increasingly popular, the install cost may be a little pricey, but with that being said your roof will last twice as long with barely and repairs to be done.

Metal Roofing

Many metal roofing products include at least some recycled material, but one advantage of metal roofing is that it can be recycled at the end of its life. Because metal roofs can last up to 50 years, roof replacement is less frequent, which means less waste in the long run. They offer exceptional durability and fire-resistance, and they’re ideal for those who want to collect rainwater from their roofs to water gardens (or for household uses). You don’t have to worry about chemicals that might leach from a conventional asphalt roof. Standing-seam metal roofs work nicely as the base for thin-film photovoltaic panels, too.

Metal roofs are great in snowy climates because they allow snow to slide off, which prevents ice dams from forming. (Ice dams can damage roofs of improperly insulated homes.) To protect walkways from snow sliding off the roof, you’ll need to install snow bars or a similar device over walkways, garage doors, and entryways. Although other eco-friendly roofing options may not always be available at every local roofing company or roofing contractors may not be trained to handle the installation of those specific roofs, metal roofing on the other hand is extremely popular and the popularity is growing so most if not all roofing contractors know the inside outs of installing a metal roof.

Rubber Roofing

Another recycled roof material is reinforced rubber shingles made from old steel-belted radial tires. The material is coated with ground slate for texture and comes in a variety of colors. A big advantage to this material is a long life and a 50-year warranty, including against hail and other extreme weather. The only downside to rubber roofing is that it is not always allowed in all counties. Make sure with your local roofing company and the building department that rubber roofing is allowed to be installed on your house.

Green Roofing

A green roof is a roofing system that is an addition to the existing roof and add flora to it. Depending on the green roof type that you plan on installing the plants may be modular or have a drainage system to it.

There are many different reasons as to why a homeowner of a business owner would want to get a green roof. The installation of a green roof reduces the need to manage any stormwater that accumulates, as well as the stress put on local sewer systems. The plants would also help prevent the distribution of smog and would catch any pollutants in the air.

Having an eco-friendly roof not only helps the environment but also as a homeowner, your roof life will last longer preventing the replacement costs. Contact your local roofing contractor today to discuss the options of eco- friendly roofing and how that may benefit you.

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Monday, June 3, 2019

What are “Storm Chasers”?

Your roof can suffer a great deal or damage when a big storm hits. Typically, this damage is covered by your homeowner’s insurance, which means you are more likely to take action to repair or replace your roof. “Storm Chasers” are fraudulent roofing contractors that know about the increased likelihood of roof repair in areas affected by large storms, and can rip off homeowners with poorly constructed roofing projects. Knowing how to identify these storm chasers can help you avoid falling for their corrupt tactics.

What is a storm chaser?

Roofing contractors who go to areas recently affected by large storms, rain, hail or strong wind are called storm chasers. They use special programs to locate large storms and determine the value of affected homes. These roofing contractors have immense knowledge about insurance companies they use their knowledge to estimate the cost of a new roof. Local and reputable roofing companies are most likely overwhelmed and overbooked, and the “Storm Chasers” use that to their advantage and go door to door to notify residents that they have roofing services available. Typically, they will start by offering a free roof inspection.

Why are they unreliable?

Most storm chasers only do the bare minimum to replace a damaged roof. They will find the cheapest materials to quickly assemble a new roof, often leaving out important elements that a professional roofing company would take in consideration, and they fail to restore things back to their original condition. The roofs that are installed by them usually only have a lifespan of fewer than 10 years because they are installed using cheap material, whereas a professional roofing company using high-quality materials and techniques would leave you with a roof lasting 40 years with warranties to back up their install. Professional roofing companies have the certifications and licensing while storm chasers usually do not have the proper licensing or insurance to work on roofs.

In some cases, storm chasers do not replace the roof at all. Instead, they give a free inspection, quote a reasonable price and ask for upfront payment. Once they are paid, they move on to the next town without any intention of working on the roof.

What tactics do storm chasers use?

If you want to avoid being scammed by storm chasers do your research before handing over any money. Make sure that the contractors you hire to replace your roof or fix the damage have a reliable background and pay close attention to the approach they use. There are a few telltale signs that a contractor is a storm chaser.

1-They come directly to your home

The most obvious tell-tale sign for storm chaser is that they come directly to your door, Roofing companies don’t go out looking for work, especially after a big storm, they know that work would be coming to them as people will try to find reliable roofers in Albany to deal with their insurance agency and get the best repair or replacement possible. Storm chasers, on the other hand, move around to wherever the storms go, they cannot rely on the chances that people in need of roof repair will find them. Sometimes storm chasers go so far as to pretend they were sent by a company that previously worked on your roof. If this happens, ask for proof.

2-They want payment upfront.

No roofing company will ask for payment upfront before starting the job, When you pay storm chasers upfront, even if it is just a deposit, it is likely that it will be the last time you ever see them.

3-They offer to pay for the deductible.

How nice would it be to have your insurance deductible waived? Storm chasers think so, too. If a roofing contractor offers to pay for your deductible, they are probably a storm chaser. It is considered insurance fraud to allow a contractor to pay the deductible. If you let a roofing company pay your deductible, you will be the one responsible for committing the illegal act. Make sure you are familiar with your insurance policy and the laws regarding fraud to prevent yourself from falling into this trap.

4-They create damage that was not there before.

Because they are usually familiar with the insurance claim process, storm chasers sometimes create their own damage if the real damage is not sufficient. They may use golf balls, hammers or other hard, heavy objects to pound dents into your roof. Watch and listen carefully as contractors inspect your roof and have a camera or cell phone ready to catch them in the act if you are suspicious. Adding fake damage for the purpose of collecting insurance money can have serious consequences.

Educate yourself and your neighbors about the common signs of storm chasers to avoid being the victim of a roofing scheme. Check the Better Business Bureau if you are unsure of the legitimacy of a roofing contractor. This will tell you if the business is local and if complaints have been filed against it.

Infinite Roofing and Construction is proud to boast an A+ rating on the BBB. We are a local, trusted roofing company in Albany with over 20 years of experience. Getting a new roof is an expensive endeavor, so make sure you are getting it done right the first time by a company you can trust.