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Roofing Contractor Tips – Fall Procedures

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As each season changes, there are always new things to do and do be aware of to maintain your roof. If you aren’t careful about staying on top of it, you may have to call your roofing contractor for major repairs earlier than desired. Here are some tips for the fall season:

Fall Roofing Contractor Tips

Roofing Contractor in Livingston | Central NJ Roofer

  • During the Fall season, there are many things you can do to ensure the longevity of your roof and help it survive the harsh weather approaching. Some basic things that you can do are clean your gutters and re-caulk around your chimney and roof vents. You can get help from a roofing contractor if DIY isn’t your forte.
  • Changing weather can take a toll on your roof as well. Some fall weather threats include leaves that can clog drains and gutters, pre-winter rain, moisture leakage, rubber cracks on pitched rooflines from early snow, rotting flashing, excessive water pooling and more.
  • Doing fall structure inspections, staying on top of drainage issues, and making an investment in protecting your roof are valuable things to do because you will prolong the lifespan of your home’s first line of defense against the elements. Most roofing contractors offer inspection services.

 

Biondo Contracting is a roofing contractor that provides roof installation services, roof replacements, roof repairs, siding services, and many other roofing services to the Central NJ area in towns such as East Brunswick, Livingston, Short Hills, Point Pleasant, South Brunswick, Hillsborough, Bedminster, Lavalette, Green Brook, Madison, Somerset, Millburn, Bay Head, Springfield, Manalapan, North Brunswick, and many more. For more information on this expert Central NJ roofing contractor and it’s service, or for a free roofing estimate, call Biondo contracting today at (732)257-2926 or visit the website.

Roof Leak – How to Find ?

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The hardest part of fixing a roof leak? A lot of times, it’s simply locating the problem. Sure, it’s easy enough to spot water stains or mold growth—sure signs of a leak. But once water has penetrated the roof, it’s easily diverted by such things as insulation. So even though you may notice the evidence of a leak in the corner bedroom, the vulnerable point in your roof may be quite far removed from that part of your house. That’s why roof repair jobs typically begin with a certain amount of detective work. Here are some tips to help you crack the case quickly, so you can plug the leak before the damage gets any worse.

Roof Leak – How to Find ?

 

Get a Good Look
Arm yourself with a flashlight and head up to the attic. Be careful up there: If there’s no proper flooring, step carefully from joist to joist. (If you step between the joists, you might put a foot through the ceiling of the room below!) Once you’ve got your bearings, use the flashlight to examine the underside of the roof. Look out for any areas that are darker than the surrounding roof sheathing. If there hasn’t been rain recently, moist spots may be too difficult to discern. Mold, on the other hand, has the tendency to linger. So if you encounter a patch of mold, which thrives on moisture, chances are you’ve found the vulnerable point in your roof.

Interfering Insulation
The underside of your roof may be obscured by insulation, and that’s helpful for the task at hand, because insulation deteriorates more noticeably and more quickly than wood does. If you’re seeing damage on one section of the insulation, however, you must remember that the leak itself may be several feet to either side. It’s best to carefully remove all insulation adjacent to the spot where you notice signs of a roof leak. That way, you can follow the path of the water from the damaged area all the way to the water’s entry point in the roof. Remember that whenever you are working with insulation, it’s important to wear the appropriate protective gear.

Foreign Objects
Most noticeable to the eye are leaks caused by an object (for example, an errant nail) that’s managed to pierce the roof. Failing any such obvious signs, check out the roof vents. If present, these vents are typically near ridges or gable ends, or both. Over time, the seals around vents can gradually weaken, allowing rainwater to seep in.

 

Dry Weather
What happens if you’re desperate to find a roof leak, but recent dry weather has made your search more challenging? Well, you can always simulate a storm. This method requires two people. While one person goes up on the roof, garden hose in tow, the other person remains in the attic, flashlight in hand. Section by section, the person on the roof wets down the roof, while the other carefully examines the roof’s underside for leakage. By simulating a downpour, you can witness firsthand how your roof withstands—or fails to withstand, as the case may be—conditions that mimic those of a natural storm.

The Next Step
Roof leak only get worse. Act quickly once you’ve pinpointed the location of yours. Fortunately, in many instances it takes only a modest repair to fix the roof leak for example, replacing a shingle. If you don’t feel comfortable on the roof, however, or if the roof leak seems extensive, do not hesitate to contact a professional.

Biondo Contracting is a roofing company that provides roof installation services, roof replacements, roof leak repair services, and many other roofing services to the Central NJ area in towns such as East Brunswick,South Brunswick, North Brunswick , Hillsborough, Bedminster, Green Brook, Lavalette,Madison, Somerset, Millburn, Bay Head, Springfield, Manalapan, and many more. Call this Central NJ roofing contractor today for a free roofing estimate or visit the website.

Re-Roofing Your Home – 5 Upgrades to Consider

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Although re-roofing is not necessarily a glamorous home improvement project, it is certainly an important one. If you are planning a new roof, consider these 5 upgrades that will make your roof more beautiful, functional, and long-lived.

Re-Roofing Your Home – 5 Upgrades to Consider

Re-Roofing Your Home - 5 Upgrades to Consider

Re-roofing your home is not the most glamorous of home improvement projects. You’ll note that HGTV shows rarely even mentions the roof. Unlike decks, kitchens, and baths, the roof is not really something you’d invite your friends over to admire. But re-roofing does present some appealing opportunities for the homeowner who wants to reduce maintenance and unnecessary expenses for years to come. Here are five roof upgrades to consider when you are about to reroof your home.

1. Install an airtight chimney cap

Unlike masonry and metal chimney caps that are designed to keep rain and (if screened) birds and other critters out of your chimney, airtight caps are about saving energy.

When your fireplace is not in use, warm air from inside your home is literally gushing out the chimney when the weather is cold. The damper in your firebox does little to stop it because it is not airtight.

Ask your roofer about installing an airtight chimney cap while the roof is being worked on. These units are spring-activated. To open the chimney cap, you just tug on a steel cable that’s attached to a bracket inside your fireplace. Pull it shut after your fire is completely out. An airtight cap has the added benefit of keeping animals from nesting inside your chimney.

2. Install eave flashing
If you’ve ever experienced damage from an ice dam, you might want to invest a little extra when re-roofing to install eave flashing. These peel-and-stick bituminous membranes are applied prior to shingling to a depth that is 2 feet inside the exterior wall plane (three feet on low-pitched roofs). The membranes self-seal around roofing fasteners, forming a watertight seal over the eaves, which are the portion of the roof most susceptible to ice dams. Bituminous eave flashing may also be specified for other vulnerable roof areas, such as over valleys and around skylights and dormers.

3. Improve roof ventilation
Attics become like furnaces in summer if they are not well ventilated. That heat buildup radiates to the rooms directly below the attic, making them uncomfortable. To keep the attic—and your home—cooler, be sure your roofing contractor installs ridge vents across the top of your roof. Barely noticeable from the street, ridge vents allow air movement beneath the ridge cap shingles. For ventilationto be effective, soffit vents located under the eaves draw cooler air into the attic as hot air is being expelled. Gable vents, which are located near the roof peak of exterior walls, may also be needed to ensure adequate airflow. A cooler attic means your home will be more comfortable during the summer without your having to spend a fortune on air conditioning.

Re-Roofing Your Home - 5 Upgrades to Consider

4. Choose an energy-efficient shingle
The recommendation for a cooler roof used to be to select light-colored or white shingles. This option, however, wasn’t always aesthetically appealing to homeowners. Today’s new reflective shingles come in assorted colors, from popular slate to wood tones. The granules not only reflect the sun’s radiation but also quickly reemit much of the heat that is absorbed. Depending on your climate and your home’s construction, a cool roof can save between 7 and 15 percent of your cooling costs.

5. Install low-maintenance gutters
While you’re having your home reroofed, it’s also a good time to scrap your old gutters and install new ones—especially if your existing gutters are misaligned or unsightly. Gutter systems with built-in curved hoods, such as those from Englert LeafGuard, are designed to be maintenance-free. The patented design works on the scientific principle of water adhesion, allowing rainwater to travel down and around its curved hood and into the gutter while deflecting leaves. This prevents clogs and unsightly staining on gutters and siding due to gutter overflow. It also means you can forget about the messy and hazardous chore of climbing a ladder to clean your gutters. The one-piece, seamless LeafGuard Brand gutters are generously sized for the heaviest of downpours, and homeowners like the clean architectural way they define the roof eaves. They even come in a variety of colors, allowing you to choose a tone that will complement your trim, roofing, and siding. Use LeafGuard’s design tool to get a preview of how the gutters will look with your new roof.

Biondo Contracting is a roofing company that provides re-roofing services, roof installation, roof replacements, roof repairs, and many other roofing services to the Central NJ area in towns such as East Brunswick, South Brunswick, Hillsborough, Bedminster, Lavalette, Green Brook, Madison, Somerset, Millburn, Bay Head, Springfield, Manalapan, North Brunswick, and many more. Call this Central NJ roofing contractor today for a free roofing estimate or visit the website.