Here's a great resource for homeowners put out by the National Roofing Contractors Association. There's a lot of great advice for homeowners so we wanted to be sure to highlight it below:

Roof system components

All steep-slope roof systems (i.e., roofs with slopes of 25 percent or more) have five basic components:

1. Roof covering: shingles, tile, slate or metal and underlayment that protect the sheathing from weather.
2. Sheathing: boards or sheet material that are fastened to roof rafters to cover a house or building.
3. Roof structure: rafters and trusses constructed to support the sheathing.
4. Flashing: sheet metal or other material installed into a roof system's various joints and valleys to prevent water seepage.
5. Drainage: a roof system's design features, such as shape, slope and layout that affect its ability to shed water.

 

Choosing a roof system

There are a number of things to consider when selecting a new roof system. Of course, cost and durability head the list, but aesthetics and architectural style are important, too. The right roof system for your home or building is one that balances these five considerations. The following roofing products commonly are used for steep-slope structures. Read More...

Tags: roofing| tips| homeowners| roofing definitions

Here's another warning about roofing scams. This one is targeting mobile home parks.

The sheriff's office has tips for anyone having any work done on their home - manufactured or not:

• If you have an existing warranty, contact the number on your paperwork to confirm that you are dealing with the company who holds the warranty.
• Get multiple estimates.
• Before signing anything, always ensure a state-licensed contractor is doing the work.
• Verify licenser and check complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
• Request the contractor's certificate of insurance for workers' compensation and general liability coverage.
• NEVER give final payment until the work is complete.
• Never let anyone you don't know come into your home to sign papers or use the restroom.
• Conduct your business outside if you can.

Read More...

Tags: roof scams| homeowners| tips

In this month's Roofing Contractor magazine (Nov. 2009), there is a great article about maintaining one's flat roof in a proactive versus reactive way. It even shows how being a reactive roof owner, that is, waiting to deal with one's roof after the problems have made their way INSIDE your house or building, can cost you nearly double AND shorten your roof life by almost half: Read More...

Tags: flat roofs| homeowners| roof maintenance| tips