Raynproof Roofing Company of Seattle

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Buying a new roof? Get your money's worth!

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...

Manufactured homes targeted by roof scams

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...

Why you shouldn't choose the lowest bid

With today's economy there are a lot of "new" roofers competing out there for your business. New roofing companies are popping up left and right. The problem is most of them will not be in business 2-3 years from now. The dropout rate of failed roofing businesses is staggering. Do you really want to trust your roof to a company or individual who is not going to be around when you have trouble with your roof down the road?

Sure, you can save yourself a few bucks today by going with one of the new, inexperienced roofing companies. However, making that decision is a double-edge sword. Not only are you not getting someone who is going to stand behind the roof's warranty, but you are also almost guaranteeing yourself that you'll be back searching for a new roofing company in 5 years time. Why? Because you are choosing to accept lower quality workmanship and materials to save a buck today. Read More...

Why roof maintenance pays off

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...

Winter roof care tips

  • Due to icy conditions, take extra precautions whenever accessing your roof.
  • If snow and ice arrive for any length of time, be sure to check for ice damming along your gutters and roof drains as this will prevent proper drainage. If water can't drain properly, it will seek out any minor roof deficiencies and enter your house.
  • After strong wind storms, inspect your flat roof for membrane uplift around perimeters. Inspect shingled roofs for shingle uplift which can be seen during the actual windstorm.
  • Avoid shoveling snow off your roof as you could do more damage than good.
Read More...

Fall roof care tips

  • Look for signs of fatigue: splits and cracks along stacks, vents, expansion joins, walls and perimeters which are the hardest hit by your house's movement as temperatures rise and fall.
  • Remove all debris and leaves from all drains, scuppers and gutters. (Blocked drains are the biggest source of roof leaks so attend to them before the rain storms hit.)
  • Make sure all skylights are not broken or cracked due to falling limbs and debris
Read More...

Spring and summer roof care tips

Tips for all Roof Types


  • Check all gutters and downspouts to make sure water is flowing freely.
  • Clean out all roof drains and gutters from spring time flower blossoms.
  • If your roof is over 10 years old or you suspect that your roof is aging badly, inspect it from the ground during an intense wind storm. Look specifically for shingle lift -- this is an indication that the shingle adhesive strip is no longer doing its job, exposing your roof to potential leaks and shingle blow off.
Read More...