For most California homeowners the cost of repairing or replacing a roof isn’t something they can easily afford. Therefore it’s to your advantage to protect your investment by periodically performing roof maintenance. You can typically spot most roof problems and address them before they impact your home and your budget.

A1 All American Roofing, a top roofing contractor in Los Angeles wants you to keep your property in great condition all year round.  We have prepared a list of tips for Southern California homeowners to maintain their roofs and protect their home.

As you might guess, maintaining your roof requires regular inspections. Seasonal or annual checkups will significantly prolong the life of your roofing materials, as well as prevent leaks that can damage not just your roof, but the other parts of your home.

Roof Maintenance Tips For Southern California Homes

Use a Drone to Inspect Your Roof

Using a drone can give you a birds eye view of the quality of your roof. You can use it to inspect all areas of your roof including the spots that are difficult to access. If you don’t, its pretty easy to find someone who does.  Drones take high def photos and video.  This is also a lot safer than climbing up there yourself.

Damaged Shingles Require Immediate Replacement

Damaged or missing shingles should be replaced as soon as possible.  Giving your shingles a good cleaning is also important when it comes to preventing moss, algae, lichen, or fungal growths that can compromise the quality of your roof.

Replace Worn or Cracking Sealant

Examine every part of the roof where there is sealant. If you find signs of wear or cracking, remove the old sealant from the affected areas completely and reseal them with a new sealant.

Check For Signs of Rust

If you have metal components of your roof, they need to be examined regularly for rust and corrosion. If you do find rust spots, you should use a wire-brush to remove the rust, and then prime and paint the problematic areas.

Clogged Gutters Can Damage Your Roof

If water is allowed to accumulate inside the gutters, it can easily seep into your roofing structure and severely damage your roof. Regularly maintaining and cleaning your gutters, is good for your roof and your home in general.

Look For Overhanging Branches

Tree branches hanging over your roof can cause problems if there is a storm or high winds. You should inspect all branches that are hanging directly over your roof.  Not only is there a risk that the branches could break off and fall on your roof, the leaves falling from them and collecting on your roof may cause your roofing materials to corrode.

Summary

A newly installed roof can give you some piece of mind and help raise the value of your home. The roof may be the last thing people see but it is perhaps the most important.  Make sure you hire only the best roofing contractor available for your project.

If you have any questions or would like a roofing estimate for your home, please send us a note or call (310) 320-0224.  Thank You!

Your roof is the home’s primary defense against the extreme weather. You should choose the best available materials for your roof to protect your home investment.  Fortunately for homeowners there are a wide variety of roofing materials in the market today. Shopping for the perfect roof has become relatively easier over the years, but choosing a reliable roofing contractor can present challenges.

As with any contracting job, roofing installation can be a hit or miss affair. Many roofers have a lot of experience and will do a great job for you, but there’s always the chance that you’ll end up hiring a less capable roofing company. You can invest in the best roofing materials for the house you’re going to flip, but it would be all for nothing if the roofing contractor you hire has several shortcomings, like not having proper roofing insurance, a lack of attention to detail, or no team to finish the work.

Always ask roofing contractors who you’re considering hiring for your house flip if they’re insured. Roofing is one of the world’s most dangerous jobs, and you wouldn’t want to be working with uninsured roofers. In case of an accident, you would end up being liable for any property damage or personal injuries that happen while they’re doing their job. Don’t just take their word for it if they say yes – always ask for verifiable, current documentary proof of coverage.

Aside from checking if they have insurance coverage, here are a few more tips that should help you find the right roofing contractor:

Do Your Research

All roofing contractors should have a portfolio of past work, so ask for one to see if you’re going to like their results. If the prospective roofers have a website, look for non-stock pictures of roofs they have completed. While you’re at it, search the web for testimonials from their previous clients. Business directory sites and review forums are also great places to look for reviews of their services. Make sure they have a good track record of finishing on time and staying on budget.

Ask Your Roofer For a Copy of Permits and Licenses

Always work with roofing contractors who have the necessary permits and licenses to operate as a roofer in your state. Such documents are the ultimate proof that they are legitimate players in the roofing industry. These documents will also indicate if the contractor is in compliance with all guidelines and policies covering roofing as set forth by your state. This is the easiest way to make sure you are hiring a legitimate contractor who will back their work.

Hire Experienced Roofers Only

This tip may sound unfair to newbie roofing contractors, but it’s a fact that roofers who have been in the business for some time have seen practically all possible roofing installation or repair issues. That makes them better equipped to deal with whatever roofing challenges that might come their way.

Another advantage of having experienced roofing contractors working for you is that they typically know more suppliers than new roofers. They may be able to purchase roofing materials for you at much friendlier prices.

Hire Local Roofing Contractors

Hiring local roofers offers several advantages. Local roofing contractors, for example, have a much better grasp of the weather in your area. That makes them better prepared to provide roofing solutions for any issues that the local weather might present.

Local roofers are also more likely to provide you service as soon as you need it simply because they operate in your area. Out-of-town roofers, on the other hand, could take some time before they can address your concerns.

Ask for References from Previous Customers

A reliable roofing contractor should have no problem providing references when you ask for them. When you talk to those references, ask questions that cover anything from any issues that they’ve had with the roof since the contractor worked on it to whether or not they will hire that contractor ever again. And if the answer to the latter is no, then you already know what you need to know.

Ask About Roofing Materials and Work Guarantees

Legitimate roofers typically offer a warranty for their workmanship, but you have to make sure they do offer one, what it covers, and how long it will be in effect. Get all of these details about the guarantee in writing before the job starts. If the roof presents problems within the period specified in the warranty, the roofing contractor is obligated to inspect and fix that roofing problem free of charge.

Request and Compare Quotes From Different Contractors

Let’s assume that you’ve narrowed down your list to three or four local roofing contractors. Since you can only hire one professional to do the work, it’s time to ask your candidates to send in quotes that you can compare.

When comparing quotes, always consider the following information:

• Itemized estimate of labor and materials
• Incidentals such as cleanup and waste disposal
• Warranty length, and the damages it covers, and to what extent

Ask Potential Roofers if They’ll be Hiring Subcontractors

Some roofing contractors hire subcontractors for the projects that come their way. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but are you really comfortable with the idea of paying a roofing contractor so they can find someone else to do the work? Besides, you cant be spending a lot of time on vetting a roofing contractor only for him to find subcontractors that you will have to vet all over again. So as much as possible, avoid roofing contractors that hire subcontractors to fix or install your roof.

Summary on Hiring a Roofer

A newly installed roof can give you some piece of mind and help raise the value of your home. The roof may be the last thing people see but it is perhaps the most important.  Make sure you hire only the best roofing contractor available for your project.

If you have any quesitons or would like a roofing estimate for your home, please send us a note or call (310) 320-0224.  Thank You!

When it comes to going green, or using renewable materials, many people do not immediately think of the building materials in roofing and home repair. Families can not only benefit the environmental friendly materials, but can also increase the comfortability of their home, support the health of their family and greatly reduce costs.

Across the country, many homeowners are making a difference to help our planet and the homes we live in. Below are three reasons why homeowners should consider using green materials in their home improvement projects.

Environmental Benefits

Our environment can be profoundly impacted by building methods, materials and operations. More often than not, that impact is negative. Shingles can clutter landfills, harming air and water quality; building materials such as aluminum, concrete and steel are responsible for an excess of CO2 emissions; and water, air and land pollution can build up from contracting waste.

Contractors must be responsible. When building green, contractors protect and enhance ecosystems and biodiversity. We can do this by utilizing recyclable materials in our products, shingles and other components. Concerning installation, it is paramount to read through manufacturers’ recommendations for each product that’s being installed. One of the most valuable players in the sustainable manufacturing industry is CertainTeed. The company not only recycles the majority of internal waste created by manufacturing (90% is turned into asphalt materials for road construction), but they are also constantly developing new products, systems and solutions to reduce contracting’s carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency. Products such as their CoolStar® are designed with solar reflective surfaces to reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption. Partnering with a manufacturer that benefits the environment is critical in propelling our communities and our world forward.

Roofing and contracting businesses who partake in the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) rating system help to reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment by utilizing sustainable methods to “help people, and the communities they reside in, safely, healthily and sustainably thrive.” These methods include erosion and sediment controls, soil stabilization and pollution prevention measures to ensure pollutants are discharged correctly and safely, in addition to minimizing the discharge of pollutants from any used equipment (site vehicles, associated chemicals, etc.).

Health Benefits

One of the biggest benefits of building green is the increased health opportunity. A “green” roof will utilize green building materials that enhance the air quality of homes, in addition to increasing the thermal and acoustical quality. This means the utility systems will work less to maintain temperatures in the home. Overall, families will experience a higher level of occupant comfort and health. While helping protect the environment from further harm, homeowners will also be improving the overall quality of life for their entire family — a big selling point to mention when discussing these types of roofs, and green buildings in general, with clients and homeowners.

Economic Benefits

The economic payoff of a green roof isn’t always immediately noticeable, as many materials and installations of green materials do cost more initially. In the long term, however, homeowners can expect to both lower their home’s utility bills and greatly increase the value of their home when they do end up selling. As most green building materials are of higher quality, they will last longer, and provide a more sustainable design, construction and operational practice.

When it comes to a family’s health, homeowners don’t want to sacrifice any expenses. Building green saves money in the long run, improves the overall quality of health for everyone in a home and of course, helps the environment heal.

A newly installed roof can give you some piece of mind and help raise the value of your home. The roof may be the last thing people see but it is perhaps the most important.  Make sure you hire only the best roofing contractor available for your project.

If you have any questions or would like a roofing estimate for your home, please send us a note or call (310) 320-0224.  Thank You!