4 Tips For Choosing A Trustworthy Roofing Company

roof repairs

A high-quality roof is vital to the structural well being of your home. A leaky roof may seem like a small problem but left unchecked, the moisture can damage walls, weaken ceilings, lead to mold, and even cause a fire hazard when water reaches electric wires. Whether you’re building a new home or repairing your old roof, choosing the right roofing contractor can protect your house from costly damages. Be sure to get your residential roofing done right by using these standards to select the best commercial roofing company available.

  1. Ask for Referrals

    One of the best ways to know if a roofing company is reliable is to check with your network of friends and acquaintances. The company website may give good information about material options, pricing, and availability, but a reference can give you information about how friendly and honest the builders were, how well they kept to a schedule, and whether the work was worth the price.

  2. Check Better Business Bureau ratings

    Another way to check a roofing company’s quality is to research their online record. Checking website reviews can help you see if the company has been trustworthy for a long time, and understand what customers have praised or complained about.

  3. Check for License and Insurance

    Though it may seem obvious, a roofing company without the right documents is not qualified for roof repairs, and not worth your time and money.

  4. Choose Local

    Searching online can help you find out if a roofing company has been in your area for a long time. This is desirable because problems with roof repairs and replacements often don’t show up for several years, and a company that is new might be more likely to relocate before problems appear. Looking for local companies can also help you avoid scam roofers who often canvass neighborhoods after a storm, tricking desperate residents into accepting wind or hail damage repair from unqualified laborers. Make sure the company is established and local so that when you call for them to fix an error they made last summer, you don’t discover that the company no longer exists.

Any kind of exterior remodeling can be nerve-wracking and expensive. Make sure the stress of roof repairs is worth it by following these five company-selection tips. After all, a good metal roof can last over 30 years. By selecting a good roofing company, you can protect your home for years to come.

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Exterior Remodeling: What You Need To Know For Your Roof’s New Look

exterior remodeling

Whether you’re looking to put a new roof on your home because it’s weathered from age, it needs hail damage repair or general roof repairs, or you just want a new look for your house, the decision can be a hard one. To simplify the process, you first need to know your options for roofing materials, and then think over a few key considerations for your roof’s final color that will make your exterior remodeling perfect.

Roofing Material Options

Most roofs are made of one of five main materials. Before you move on to color, take a look at the basics of each material and decide which is best suited for your home.

  • Asphalt: Asphalt is the most common residential roofing material used in the U.S. These shingles are easy to install, usually come with a low price tag, and come in a wide variety of colors. Their downside is that they have a shorter lifespan than other materials.

 

  • Wood Shingles and Shakes: Many homeowners love the look of wood shingles and shake atop their homes. Wood shakes are handmade, giving a roof a rustic look, while the shingles are cut by machine. While they are very aesthetically-pleasing, many fire-prone areas prohibit their use.

 

  • Metal: Metal roofs are ideal for commercial roofing, as they are resistant to extreme weather conditions. These durable roofs are made out of aluminum, copper, zinc, and stainless steel. Their quality generally comes with a higher price tag.

 

  • Slate: Roofs made of slate create a distinctive and elegant appearance. They are very durable, sustainable, and come in a wide range of natural colors. This type of roofing is rather heavy and needs a professional to install it.

 

  • Clay and Concrete: Clay and concrete tiles give a roof texture and Tuscan elegance. Clay tiles come flat, ribbed, or scalloped, but are very heavy. These tiles are long-lasting and non-combustible, but usually, require additional framing due to their weight.

 

Roof Color

When you are going through an exterior remodeling of your home, the roof’s appearance is an important consideration. In general, the roof makes up about 40% of the visual exterior of a home, playing a very important role in a home’s overall aesthetics. As you’re deciding on your roof’s color, make sure to consider these factors.

  • The climate in which you live.

 

  • Your home’s architectural style.

 

  • Color and style coordination with your home’s siding.

 

  • Any rules set down by your neighborhood’s homeowner’s association.

You’ve learned about roofing materials and the things you need to think about when choosing a roof color, so now you’re ready to dive into your exterior remodeling project. Have fun, be smart, and be bold with your roofing choices.

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3 Signs You Should Check Your Roof For Hail Damage

hail damage repair

Hail storms can cause a bunch of damage to anything exposed outside. No residential roofing material is immune. Flat roofs, asphalt, clay, and metal can all sustain visible or invisible hail damage. Sometimes a homeowner can see some obvious damage to roofing materials on their home, but other times it’s difficult to discern damage from the ground. Don’t risk climbing your roof to check. It’s recommended you get a professional to take a quick peek at your roof after a bad storm regardless, but here are three sure-fire warning signs that you need to get your roof checked out.

Other Parts Of Your Home’s Exterior Were Damaged

If the hail damaged your windows, gutters, or siding, it’s likely that it was strong enough to do some damage to the top of your roof as well.

Nearby Cars Are Dented

Cars’ exteriors are tough metal. They can take simple dings. If your car or other nearby vehicles sustained some damage such as dents from the hail, then your roof probably got a few good knocks, too. Metal is famously long-lasting for residential and commercial roofing, but it can take some damage. A dent or two may not affect your roof much, but damage to the seams and joints of a metal roof could allow for water to leak into your home via the roof and cause some damage.

Your Neighbor’s Roof Needs Repairs

If your neighbor is already working on hail damage repair on their own roof, then your own roof is more likely to have sustained damage.

Missouri folk aren’t strangers to hail storms, especially in the past decade. If you lived in St. Louis area in 2011, you’ll remember how much hail fell that year; there were about 30 hail reports in the city! In 2017 there were 14, making Missouri number 5 on State Farm’s list of 10 ten states for paid hail claims that year.

So far in 2018, there have been 7, but more storms are anticipated. Worried about your own roof when the next hail storm rolls in? St Louis roof repairs and hail damage repair are handled expertly by 1st Choice Construction. We’re local, family owned and operated, and we know you need reliable speedy repairs. Call us after the next hail storm and know that your home is in good hands.

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Snow Removal 101 — And When You Should Call The Pros

commercial roofingWith cold weather around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll tackle snow removal this year. Whether you have residential or commercial roofing needs,

If possible, you’ll want to safely clear your roof every six inches to a foot of snowfall. Letting snow sit there can cause too much weight on your roof, dangerous icicles, and ice dams. If you can accomplish at least partial snow removal with a plastic-edge shovel or roof rake a couple of times during the winter season, you should do so. Be careful to avoid damaging shingles and other roofing material under the snow.

If you’re wondering about commercial roofing, much of which is flat, find out if it is structurally safe to access the roof and shovel the snow to a safe, blocked-off area. Be careful of piping and HVAC equipment. If your roof is especially large or cluttered, you guessed it — call a professional!

Skip the ladder. It’s incredibly unsafe to be climbing a ladder and walking around your roof with snow and ice, and nobody wants to ruin the holiday season with a broken leg, or worse.

Sometimes removing every six inches of snowfall doesn’t cut it. Even a little snow or sleet can cause an issue like ice dams in the right conditions. If ice dams do form, you want to take action quickly or risk damage to your shingles and gutters that could allow serious leaks into your roof and home.

Water damage is usually the cheapest of elemental damages to fix, at least compared to wind or fire damage, but it’s still nothing to sneeze at. Water damage repair costs an average of $2,386, which raises to an average of $2,688 if you’re dealing with damage from standing water. Water damage also leads to more expensive issues in the long run, like dangerous mold and rot.

If you’re already seeing possible damage from ice dams, you’ll want to call your residential roofing or commercial roofing service to check it out ASAP. There are some methods you can finagle with calcium chloride ice melt to potentially get rid of ice dams yourself, but salting your roof could result in discolored shingles and problems with your lawn growth when the snow melts in the spring. The potential damage of a partially formed ice dam is such a pain, you may want to start with professional help from the very beginning.

Need the power of St Louis snow removal’s greatest trade secrets on your side? Call the leader in St Louis roof repairs, 1stChoiceSTL. Not only is 1stChoiceSTL experienced in recognizing the first signs of roof damage, but we offer the full gamut of salting, de-icing, shoveling and plowing to keep harsh Missouri winters in line.

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Important Signs That Your Roof Is In Need of Repair Right Away

residential roofingWhen it comes to taking care of their home, many homeowners decide to focus on their foundation, simply because a solid foundation equates to a sound home. However, the foundation is not the only aspect of the home that requires diligent attention.

We’re talking about your roof.

The roof is the icing on the cake of your home. While under normal circumstances, your roof should be inspected once or twice per year, there are some clues you should not ignore when it comes to the structural integrity of your roof. Here are some signs your residential roofing is in need of some repair.

You cannot remember how old your roof is
Typically speaking, an asphalt roof can last between 25 and 30 years. But if you cannot remember when you got a new roof, it is important to take steps to give it a thorough check. This is simply because even if it looks good from the ground, there can be something murky happening underneath your shingles.

The shingles are moving around
Typically there are two ways your shingles show wear and tear. They can curl inward, which is a sign of an improper installation, or they curl outward, ripping and even falling off in patches. If you are noticing any of these symptoms, it is a telltale sign that there is water damage lurking around.

There’s moss or algae on your shingles
Structurally speaking, moss on your shingles isn’t that bad for your roof. However, if you don’t clean it off in due time, the moss can chip away at the important granules on the top of your shingles. The granules are a protective coating that keeps the sun’s rays from deteriorating the asphalt, and once they are chipped away, the quality and protection of your shingles decrease dramatically.

There’s a droop in your roof
If you notice your residential roofing is sagging, it is pivotal to call our roof repairs professionals right away. This is a sign that there is intense water or hail damage repair that needs to be done immediately. Don’t wait until your structural damage is too far gone to seek help.

Keep an eye out for these common signs that your residential and commercial roofing needs to be seen by a professional. If you have any questions or notice something that seems amiss, call our St Louis residential roofing professionals right away.

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