Roofing blog for Raynproof Roofing of Seattle, Bellevue, & Redmond

Buying a New Roof? Get your money's worth!

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:32:09 -0700

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:

Roof covering: shingles, tile, slate or metal and underlayment that protect the sheathing from weather.
Sheathing: boards or sheet material that are fastened to roof rafters to cover a…

High Wind Warning Leads to Blown Off Shingles

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:24:51 -0700

Today's wind advisory for Seattle area is still in effect through 9pm tonight. With gusts of 45 to 55 mph, homeowners should be on the lookout for blown off shingles tomorrow. Be sure to check your roof tomorrow. Look in your yard for shingle fragments. These are all signs that you need to have your roof inspected and possibly repair or replaced.

Since we are entering the raining season now, don't procrastinate. Contact a reputable, professional roofing company so they can evaluate your roofs…

Manufactured Homes are the Target of Roof Scams

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:11:44 -0700

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…

Some things are best left to a professional roofer...

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:00:30 -0700

We found this video quite entertaining. Hope you enjoy it too!

Cheap roofing solutions aren't always the best choice! Choose a roofing contractor wisely.

Let Raynproof Roofing help you with your roofing needs. We love to roof!

Beware of Roofing Scams

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:08:14 -0700

It is so disappointing to us to read articles such as this recent one about an 89 year old gentleman being scammed by a father and son who never actually did the roofing work as contracted: Authorities Arrest a Father and Son in Roof Scam.

According to the authorities, Robbie Wharton Jr., 65 and his son, Robbie Wharton III, 34, are being accused of contractor fraud and theft over $500. They ripped off $4800 from an elderly man for a roof repair job that never got done.

It's hard to believe…

Why you shouldn't choose the lowest bid on a new roof

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:53:46 -0800

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…

We've won the Super Service Award Again for 2009!

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:05:32 -0800

It's true that we've won the Angie's List Super Service Award for the second time in 3 years. We are honored to accept this award that reflects our desire to be the best roofing company in the Greater Seattle area.

Thank you, Angie's List!

Why Roof Maintenance Pays Off

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:58:22 -0800

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:

"According to data gathered in a 15-year alliance between Firestone Building Products and ProLogis, a global provider…

Get a Tax Credit on Your New Roof

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:28:14 -0700

Early in 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was enacted into federal law to try to stimulate the housing industry and the US economy in general. Included in the law is a tax credit of 30% of the roofing materials cost, up to a maximum of $1,500 (it does not include installation or labor costs). This tax credit is good in 2009 and 2010 to homeowners with existing homes if they choose to install Energy Star rated asphalt roofing products.

These types of products, also known as "cool…

Recycle Your Roof

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:13:29 -0700

Did you know that your old asphalt roof shingles could help pave a road rather than take 300 years to decompose in a landfill? Chris King, editor of Roofing Contractor magazine, has a very informative article about "Recycling Asphalt Shingles" in the October issue.

"People talk about 'win-win' situations all the time, but a business that keeps asphalt shingles out of landfills and saves contractors money at the same time sounds like an ideal example." This win-win solution is catching on…

Most Roofs Not at Risk of Collapse

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:46:28 -0800

Seattle PI article by Ruth Teichroeb (http://www.seattlepi.com/local/393225_collapse23.html)

Heavy snow that caused the collapse of a Marysville factory roof and a Bellevue skating tent has prompted some homeowners to worry about what's accumulating above them.

But local experts say most roofs will be fine, and the bigger threat to structures will occur when the melt begins.

That's because the layer of snow closest to the attic can melt first, running down underneath and freezing when it gets…

Insulation Upgrade Will Save You Money!

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:21:55 -0700

Department of Energy studies have shown that upgraded attic insulation will typically pay for itself within 2 to 3 years thru increased energy savings. In fact, you can save up to 30% per year on your energy bills!

A great time to upgrade attic insulation is when Raynproof Roofing of Seattle is installing your new roof! Over the course of a few years, the cost of your roofing and insulation project will be offset by your increased energy savings. In addition, your roof will essentially be…

Vinyl Siding: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:56:52 -0800

Vinyl siding as been around since the 1960s, and it is growing in popularity each year. It was originally designed to be a re-cover siding, intended to be installed over the top of an existing water-tight siding material as a means of quickly enhancing the exterior of a house. Unfortunately, the easy application and relatively low cost enticed builders into using this material as a primary waterproofing material. At this time, nearly 30% of new homes now have vinyl siding.

As a long-standing…

Winter Roof Care Tips

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:22:41 -0800

• 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…

Fall Roof Care Tips

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 10:24:36 -0700

• 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

Note: Your safety is of primary importance. The following…

Help! There's Water in my Crawl Space!

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:59:36 -0700

In general, roofing companies are not experts in diagnosing "water in basement" problems; however, I am an experienced house builder and remodeler, so I will provide you with my knowledge on this subject.

If the source of the water problem is not an obvious water-flow issue, for example, water flowing down a sloped driveway and directly into the garage, then the problem is quite often the result of excessive ground water next to the foundation.

Because of gravity, the water levels on BOTH…

Angie's List Super Service Award Recipient

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 09:00:27 -0800

Spring & Summer Roof Care Tips

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:55:06 -0800

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.

• Moss on…

Dealing with Insurance Adjusters

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 13:58:28 -0800

On January 16, 2007, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer had a great article about dealing with insurance adjusters in the wake of last December's worst storm since 1993. It has been unfortunate how many insurance companies have been low-balling their customers. Raynproof Roofing will work together with their customers to help make the insurance claim process as smooth as possible, but be assured it will involve a lot of communication between all three parties to get a favorable result.