Sat 5 Feb 2011

Why Roofer Rochester Michigan?

Posted by Carl under Roofer Rochester Michigan
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Okay, so why a site called Roofer Rochester Michigan?

Yes I realize that this is an odd name for a website, but there is a logic behind the apparent insanity.

When a homeowner in Rochester, Michigan needs work on their roof, whether it’s a small repair or a complete replacement, the odds are that they fire up their computer, go to Google or one of the other search engines and type in: Roofer Rochester Mi or Rochester, Michigan. After all, there are Rochesters all over the country and a roofer in New York won’t do them a bit of good.

And I wanted you to find this site because I don’t own my own roofing company.

I am just an average consumer who has been where you are more than once and have gone through some bad experiences with home improvement contractors. I felt compelled to create this website to share those with you and perhaps save you from going through the aggravation that I did.

I’m not going to slam any particular roofing companies, at least not by name, but I will make a recommendation or two of very roofing contractors that are licensed, insured, and bonded, and that you can trust to do what you need fairly.

I also want to help educate you about the different types of roofs, the materials that are available to you, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each material, so that when it comes time to hire a roofing contractor in Rochester, MI., you will be better equipped to make sure the job is done right the first time.

So whether you have a few damages shingles, rain coming into your home, or the neighborhood squirrels have made a home in your attic, this site is for you.

Now when I started my quest to find a qualified. reputable contractor, I didn’t know my flashing from my asphalt shingle. I didn’t know the difference between a gable roof or a hip roof.  I knew nothing about natural slate roofing, traditional tile roofing, or cedar shake roofing. Maybe you can relate.

Not to worry. I will cover all those things here at Roofer Rochester Mi. We will cover the different styles of roofs and the different materials that are used. There are many different brands of roofing material, such as Owens Corning, Certaintweed, and GAF.

I will try to explain the difference between the different types of roofs, such as gabled and hip, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different roofing materials, such as asphalt shingle roofing, metal roofing, and slate roofing.

More importantly, this website will help you hire a Rochester,Michigan roofer that is honest, professional, and reliable.

It’s tempting to let your your neighborhood handyman do it, but you never know what to expect. You end up with a blaring radio, beer cans and roofing nails in your yard, and if he decides halfway through the job to quit, you will probably end up paying more to fix his mistakes than you would otherwise.

In the meantime, you have water leaking into your house and damage to your vents, gutter, and shingles. The last thing you need is the local jack-of-all-trades climbing around on your roof with no insurance or experience.

The cost of getting a roof replaced can get expensive if you don’t know what to look for. Most homeowners have no idea what these types of repairs cost and the skill that goes into completing the job. After all, how often does someone need to replace a roof?

One word of warning, though. Don’t rely on an organization like the Better Business Bureau or the NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association). The BBB is not an official governing body. They are actually paid by the businesses they represent.

So if your roof shingles are starting to look a little worn and it’s time to get them replaced, hopefully after spending a few minutes on my website, Roofer Rochester Michigan, you will be able to make an informed decision about who to hire for your roofing job.

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Sat 5 Feb 2011

The Various Types of Roofing

Posted by Carl under The Various Roof Types
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When building a house you usually start from the ground up, but one of the first things you need to be thinking about is the roof. There are several various types of roofs to choose from. You could build one which fits the style along with the functionality of your home, while protecting you against the elements in your location.

The most popular and common roof which you will see is made with asphalt shingles. This is a popular choice because it is the most affordable material to purchase, but it still looks very good. There are different styles, colors and durability levels for this type of shingle.

Keep in mind that this material does wear quickly and may not last very long in an area where there are windy and icy conditions. You can also use an architectural shingle, which is also called a laminated or dimensional shingle. They’re made from asphalt, but are designed to look like shakes or tiles. They are more durable and last longer.

Several years ago a trendy choice in roofing was the wood shingle. These shingles are made of cedar. They are dependable and resist decaying. They’re not as widely used now because they are less fire resistant, and therefore are less reliable. This is probably not really a great choice if you live in a wooded area, or in locations which are susceptible to fire.

You can also construct a steel roof. This is a metal roof which is known to be more resilient as well as fire resistant. These roofs last 50 years or more, but because of their durability and life span, it will be more costly. Another material which is just as durable, but may last 100 years or more is slate. The difference is that slate is heavier and you’d need to make certain that the building structure could hold the weight.

If you would like to construct your roof with natural materials you can construct an eco or clay roof. The eco roof is made of vegetation and soil. This offers insulation during cold and hot weather, but it is very heavy. If the house can support the weight, this is a good energy efficient roof made from recycled materials. The clay tile roof is likewise heavy and must not be utilized in an area prone to insects or mold.

An additional energy efficient way to construct a roof would be in using solar shingles. Solar shingles have the capability to power a whole house from the energy it collects during the day. This is the most beneficial in an area which gets plenty of sunlight. These types of roofs are costly, but the energy savings are immediate and you could save a lot of money. There are also tax incentives for building a solar roof.

You can likewise choose the shape of the roof you want to build. The most common, as well as easiest to build, is the gable roof. This shape sheds water quickly and provides a good amount of ventilation. Another popular shape is the hip roof. This is a little more challenging to construct, but the design is distinctive. This style does not provide as much ventilation and because of the hips and valleys, it has an increased chance for leakage. An A-frame provides a roof and walls, and was first used for cottages. Now this style is found on houses, churches and various other structures.

The last type of roof is a flat roof. This is the most economical, but offers no design. This doesn’t require shingles, but instead uses layers of felt and tar, and is topped with gravel. This type of roof is for warm regions with little or no snow fall.

When planning to build your home, take a look at all material samples for the types of roofs which are available. Pick a roof which reflects your lifestyle and will also be dependable in the environment and climate where you live.

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Sat 5 Feb 2011

Choosing The Right Rochester Roofer

Posted by Carl under Michigan Roofer Recommendations
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Unless people understand a bit about the building or contracting business, it may be difficult to know what to look for when you’re looking for professional Michigan roofing companies. When you want a roof built or perhaps a roof replacement, this is really a serious matter that needs to be handled by only those who are truly professional and experienced.

My first experience with a roofing contractor was twenty some years ago. A storm had damaged and even tore away many of my asphalt shingles. I was a lot younger at the time and I knew nothing about chimney flashing, ventilation, fascia boards, asphalt rolls, or metal roofing.

I won’t go into a lot of detail, but let’s just say that it turned into a bad experience. Fortunately, it was covered by my homeowners insurance, so they handled the investigation.

Fast forward to today. I had to have my roof replaced again recently, so I started call around. I’m older and wiser now, so no sweat, right? Let me say that I had some very intriguing encounters.

Apparently little has changed. I actually had a couple of companies wanted to charge me to come to my house to give an estimate. That’s a red flag if I ever saw one. Still another contractor simply wrote some numbers on the back of a business card and left it in the mailbox. Red flag two. Obviously, they didn’t want the job.

I called one of those big name companies that you see advertising on TV, but I found out that they are little more than a broker. They simply sell you the service for a significant fee, hire out local contractors to do the work, and keep the difference. The one that came to our house really applied the pressure to get me to sign up on the spot.

The company I eventually hired was family owned and had been in business since 1986. That was important to me. I figured that for them to be around that long, they must be doing something right.

Normally you don’t want to go with the lowest bid. What corners are they cutting to get the price that low. I don’t know if my instincts were telling me it was a good move or if I was just being cheap, but I felt at the time that this was the company I wanted to hire.

The guy who came out was the actual owner of the business. He didn’t send some flunky salesman. He went over every detail, made a few recommendations, and even came up with a remedy for a problem I wasn’t sure had one. I will not go into details, but it had to do with the electrical lines.

Anyway, we sat down and had a cup of joe, and he explained my options. He was a genuinely nice guy and my instincts were telling me that I was able to trust him. I know, that isn’t quite scientific, but sometimes instincts are all we have to go on, so I hired them.

It was a very good move. They did everything they stated and more. They ran into a few unanticipated issues when they tore off the old roof, but he covered the cost of most of them. The only additional I had to cover was for our rotting deck boards underneath, but even that was relatively inexpensively, all things considered.

They had to remove my satalite dish, but they reinstalled it and, believe it or not, I’m receiving a better signal now than I received before. Yes, that’s only a coincidence, but it indicates they are thorough.

They did a great job at a very reasonable cost. Since they are technically a home improvement contactor and also do various other work, I’ll likely to end up hiring them again real soon.

The guy I am referring to is Joe Miller and he is the owner of A.S.I. Improvement. They are based in Lapeer, Michigan, but they cover a large portion of southeast Michigan.

If you want it done correctly the first time for a fair price, give Joe a call at 800-491-5115 or visit their website at http://www.asiimprovement.com/.

Your Last Roof Ever

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