Filed under: Roofing Problems
Going on my twentieth year in the industry, I have witnessed some great things in the roofing world. I installed the failed HO-25 shingles back when they first came out. I also remember the first time I saw the composition shakes and the high profile ridge. I was there when Ice and Water shield was being tested on homes and Ridge Venting began to make it’s first appearances. I saw the rise of Modified Bitumen otherwise known as Torch down and the short lived success of Spray on foam roofing.
This industry is much like others, and there of course will be achievements and also there will be blunders. But out of all these things there is one blunder that I witnessed that has left me in awe and struck with absolute confusion.
Imagine a situation like this. There is a new car that is coming out that is guaranteed to last you 20 years with absolutely no mechanical problems. You pay more up front, but the end result is for the next 20 years, you will never have to change a spark plug, buy new breaks or even have a tune up. I think most people in this disposable environment we live in would jump at such a deal.
Now imagine you have the car, you are bragging to your friends about it, and they decide to to join the crowd. Now there are tens of thousands of owners of these amazing cars all of whom are bragging to their friends and families as well. Some very high ranking Mechanics’ indorse the cars and join the praise which of course reinforces the belief that this car will last 20 years.
Then the unthinkable happens. Just 5 years into the owning of these wonderful cars, problems arise. At first it starts out as a failed car here and there, then a few more years into it stories of other cars failing and needing repair surface. Before 9 years is up, the same cars are no longer the car you bought, they changed the makeup of the car because of its failing predecessors.
It is now year 15, by this time there or hundreds of thousands of owners of the “amazing car” and even more bad news. Even though the car salesmen are pushing this 20 year lifetime car, the makers of the car change their tune and say it is now a 7 year car. Yes only 7, which is the same as some of the other regular cars which didn’t cost as much.
What happened? What happens to the owners who just bought this 20 year car 15 years ago, or ten years ago or 1 year ago? They paid for this amazing car due to its longevity and lack of maintenance and now it appears that is not what they get.
This scenario would cause an outrage and someone would have to be held accountable, right!? News reportings, firings, lawsuits the whole gammit would ensue right?
This is a very real scenario that has appeared to have happened in the roofing world. Single ply roofing systems such as TPO, PVC, EPDM and others had made huge claims to building and homeowners that the roofing would last a “Lifetime”. I heard building owners in the days brag about how they didn’t need to worry about roofing anymore because they just purchased a 50 year commercial roof.
I have been hearing this for years and these single ply systems now cover billions of square feet of roofing throughout the nation. We as a company had even weighed the idea of installing these (Tarp) systems, but decided against it due to how unproven the products have been.
Single ply’s had the answers, they had the endorsements of engineers, architects and consultants all backed by their Lifetime warranty. With all that credibility why wouldn’t a Building owner save up and purchase it? With so much of it being demanded, why wouldn’t a roofing company get the training and start installing it?
I have been watching this system carefully, and I heard the rumors of a huge blow coming to the single ply world. I have been getting on failing single ply roofs for years and have witnessed for myself the material failings. The membranes would shrink, delaminate, break apart and fracture. The sealants would dry up and pull away from brick and metal. I saw nothing to indicate a lifetime installation and yet these poor building owners were still out bragging about it.
This year I saw something that has me in a fury for all those folks who were and still have been told “Lifetime”. If you go to the single ply manufactures websites you will see what has enraged me for yourself. The companies now say the roof membrane comes with a 10, 15 and 20 year warranty depending on the thickness of the ply! What happened to Lifetime? What happens to those folks who purchased the roofing when it was boasted to be Lifetime? What happens to the consultants’, roofing companies and all who placed their stamp of approval on single ply?
Why is there not a huge outrage or something in the news or even courts over this situation? There must have been many billions of dollars spent on these products, so how could there not be someone feeling the sting of what has transpired?
I am not trying to beat up on any company, and I understand many folks just followed suit from what they were being told themselves. My curiosity is more for the purchaser of these products and what it is they will do, if anything, about it.
Did the Single ply community claims fail or did they just fail to let us know?
Filed under: Roofing Problems
The morning sun creeps lazily over the browning hills and fall it seems has dug its feet into the earth. Steadfast and determined, fall shows Portland that it has arrived and it is not moving till that bitter winter wind blows its leaves elsewhere. That low hanging sun blinds the morning commuters and I roll down my window to take in the brisk air.
As I stop at a light I hear a very familiar sound. Tap, tap…tap, tap,tap. In succession and steady… a roofer is out there most likely irritating some neighborhood trying to sleep. Like a hound dog I turn and go on the hunt. My tires grip the road and my ear is up and attentive. I will find the source.
The dirty beaten up truck is my first clue, the lack of safety equipment and the fact he is alone is all the evidence I need to see that he is a back yard roofer. I try and not judge… the world is full of enough opinions, but these guys are killing the honest roofing companies. They do not pay the same taxes, insurance (if they have any at all) and L & I costs.
I’m not generalizing all back yard roofers as bad, but after a long career of roof hopping, I have seen some interesting and outright bad roofing. I have seen so many shortcuts and cheats that only hurt the unsuspecting home owner. My hope is to help whoever reads this to have a keener eye on what to look for when inspecting a roof.
In an economy like this, profit is very difficult to manage. The shingles, the nails, the tar paper, disposal and etc. all cost a very certain amount. So the material price cannot change right? Wrong.
1) Buying substandard material is the first sin of the cheater roofer. They will by returned or slightly damaged shingles and get a break on the price. I have seen companies that have overestimated the amount needed on jobs and take the surplus to the shop and save it. When there is a large enough stack of same color shingles, they will use them on some poor homeowner. You may ask, who cares if they are the same color? The problem is the “lot” numbers will be different, which usually causes the house to look like a patchwork quilt because the colors are close but not the same. A solid black roof will look strange when the right light hits it because the die colors are different. Believe it or not, it is noticeable and manufacturers now warn you to never mix lot numbers.
2) The other problem I have seen is roofers use the old failing vents, pipe jacks and flashings. They just paint them black with spray paint and hope no one notices. All of these items must be replaced during a re-roof. They may put some sealant on the imperfections on the dying flashings but the sealants will fail in a few years and by that point they will have spent your money and been long gone.
3) These shingles come in a plastic wrap and it’s a pain to dispose of them. I have seen roofers who have figured out an easy way to solve this problem. They just throw the wrapper on the roof and roof over them… yes… the plastic is roofed over!
4) Cheat the roofers. I have seen small companies use illegal workforce and promise them good pay and all they do is the opposite. When the workers complain, the owner will threaten them will immagration. Have you ever heard the saying “Don’t let someone mad at you cut your hair”? Well an angry roofer will throw up some shingles and ignore the detail work just to quickly get it done and get paid. They dont care if it leaks this winter because they will be long gone.
I know some of these truths are hard to believe, but I have seen these problems with my own eyes. There are so many ways a roofer can cheat, so how can we better protect ourselves?
1) Get it in black and white. Make sure it is all written out on the original contract the responsibilities of the roofer and what they will or won’t do. Does the contract say they will replace the flashings, vents and pipe flashings? What will they replace them with? What will they do with the debris? Ask for a copy of the materials purchased, not the amount (roofers get nervous when you want a material receipt) or just ask the roofer what is needed and purchase it yourself.
2) Don’t be afraid to say hello. You have perfect strangers on your property who are providing a service that will protect all of your valuables, why not meet them. No matter what most folks think, people are good in nature. Even if the roofer hates his boss, if you go out and treat them in a nice and friendly matter, they will care about you. You would be suprised how much money and future issues you can save yourself from something as simple as donuts and coffee.
3) DO NOT RELY ONLY ON A COMPANY OR PERSONAL WARRANTY! I have seen not only Mom and Pop Homeowners but also Mr. Joe big business owner alike frustrated and angry because the people who roofed their roof wrong will not return their calls or have folded up shop. Just get the roof done right the first time and assure this by getting a second opinion.
4) If this is the first time you have used this roofer, check his work. Get a second opinion by asking a different roofing company to check list the finished roof, it’s cost should cost be between $50 to $75 and believe me it is worth it to have peace of mind. This should be done with great scrutiny and be sure you make the roofer return and fix the pointed out issues your non-biased inspector has made before you make your final payment.
On commercial roofs, no property manager or business owner gives the final check till the roof has been walked through. This assures that the building was done to satisfaction, there is no reason a homeowner shouldn’t do the same. Do not pay a roofer for a finished product without some type of inspection.
As I continue to write these blogs for the interested, I will go more in depth with other issues to look out for. The fly by night companies are awesome salesman who use the the home owners lack of money and need to save it as their closing tool. All they have to do is underbid, underpay, and under install.
Filed under: Roofing Problems | Tags: hot roof, plastic vents, rip off, roof leak, roof maintenance, Roof problems
As if things couldn’t get worse. Roofers and Roofing supply companies are frantic with the forecast for the next few summers. According to our supply companies, the governments bill that is centered on repairing the nations roads can cause serious problems for the roofing industry.
All that road work needs asphalt and asphalt emulsion to complete, most of the roofing industry uses asphalt materials such as shingles, tar paper, asphalt sealants, hot tar kegs and so on and so on.
If the asphalts are used for all the road work, what will be left for the roofing? Last year alone, asphalt prices jumped multiple times and then settled in a still higher than before slot. This year, a few supply companies are claiming that asphalt shingle and such will not only become extremely expensive, but may also become very difficult to get.
What this means to the average homeowner is if material prices go up, their total roofing quotes will expand. There are also more issues surrounding this soon to be “shortage”.
Over 30 years ago, the asphalts that were used to make roofing materials were a much better quality. Many old roofers would recall the tar being so pure that they used to chew it like gum. When companies learned how to refine the tar even further to make propane, the sludge that was generally used for asphalt became less pure. The materials were not as pliable and when hardened, had a glass like attribute.
The solution to make the asphalt more pliable was to add solvents to the material. The asphalt used on todays commercial and residential roofs are a lower grade of material of what those folks 30 years ago recieved. What is to happen to the materials when the shortage comes?
Prices will go up, material quality will go down and the end result is building owners and homeowners will pay more for less. If you are thinking of roofing this year or you want to see if your roof can last just one more year, you may be setting your self up for more cost than you realize.
To see more articles on this subject you can go to:
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Cost-of-New-Roofing—Rising-Through-the-Roof&id=2489722
http://www.ajc.com/living/content/homefinder/stories/2009/05/31/roofing_home.html
http://real-estate.nwfdailynews.com/news/asphalt-417-contractor-roofing.html
Roofershane
Filed under: 1
With all of these government and personal woes that have grown ever greater in our lives, I have noticed so much sadness in so many eyes. So many losing jobs, so many losing homes and the lives they have been tirelessly building. These days are sad days for so many, but I have something that may help give some strength in your soul and some calmness in your heart. If you feel life is spiraling out of control and you are dwindling to an unforeseen voyage into the unknown, please take the time read on. I myself have been past the edge of never and been to end of forever and just wanted one more day. These are the thoughts that broke me through and helped build the strength in me.
It is the worst of times and the best of times that one’s heart and beliefs are put to a test. So many wonder what it is that helps someone go through such horrible things such as the Holocaust, or Rwanda or little Caylee. The truth is, I have been to countless churches through my life and everyone there speaks of faith and belief, but when the smallest of turmoil’s hit their lives, they falter and blame, and accuse. All the lessons and teachings of the Bible have withered away and the arrogant belief that they don’t deserve this takes hold.
Nature has so many attributes that are pure. In nature there are no lies, no excuses, no blame and no reason other than the fact that it is nature. It is nature that a young fawn is attacked by a cougar, it is nature that a baby bird before it can be hatched is swallowed by a snake it is nature that forest burn and mountains crumble. It is also nature that blooms wild flowers, births young wolves and lies before the world sunsets and sunrises. Good and Bad nature accepts and lives in something I rarely see in human lives, faith.
To live in faith is to live a life unlike any around you, to sit in the face of turmoil and pain and just lift your feet and accept the outcomes. This does not mean you shouldn’t try to change things or make things right, but when that pivotal moment that decides the outcome faith is all you need. When the answer is there, take a deep breath and focus on what to do now. Focus on Faith and continue to try, and even if you fail time and time again, realize the amount of strength you are building within yourself with each failure. Sometimes the forest burn, and maybe your forest will burn, but nature has shown us one thing, through the devastation and through the blackened reality that surrounds it, in time a single seed sprouts and then another and so on. The forest will rebuild, nature will continue to take and give and we should do as nature and believe.
All the hero’s and victims of the world prayed and hoped and found a truth within themselves at those pivotal moments. They were no better or worse, no stronger or weaker, they were born with the exact same structure and love God gives everyone.
Maybe your heart is broken today, and lost yet once again, but maybe this time your faith in you and your faith in God has given you the strength and understanding to smile this morning. A voyage into the unknown and this is a time… of faith.
Filed under: Roofing Problems | Tags: leak control, roof leak, roof maintenance, Roof problems
The morning sun has crested the mountains and the soft wisp of clouds a faint kiss. Summer days are creeping ever nearer and our minds drift to wooded walks, fireworks and bar-b-ques. The past season is a forgotten foe and we will dance happily into the hot days and leave all that plagued us this winter behind.
This summer shows such great hope for the real estate market. Government incentives, lower home prices and amazing rates make it almost impossible to not consider buying or at least attempting to buy a first home. The buzz and excitement of this type of “gold rush” moment, can leave some people caught off guard on what they should be looking for when getting that first new home.
Check that home inspection report and slow down your heart rate, take a deep breath and actually read the report. I know when I bought my first home, I didn’t even look at the report. I was far too interested in where my 1966 four door would fit. I found a great website with great information on general home issues. His top ten most common leak locations hit dead on with what I have seen out there. If it interest you to learn about the simple problems that can turn into huge issues, please follow his link and learn a thing or two.
The website is http://www.askthebuilder.com/B188_Roof_Leaks_-_Ten_Most_Common_Leak_Locations.shtml
Take care and don’t forget the sun block. ; )
Filed under: Roofing Problems | Tags: hot roof, leak control, roof leak, roof maintenance, Roof problems
Why do most building owners continue to waste their money on reroofs and roof repairs that only fail within the first 5 years? Why can’t a roof last longer? What is it that causes a roof to lose it’s protecting qualties?
These questions are valid and there are simple solutions to these issues. But first lets just look at the average life span of a commercial roof.
Please look a this example and when your done reading it, think of how silly it is that people waste so much money on such a failing system.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/3471342854_c97f67a729_b.jpg
Filed under: Roofing Problems | Tags: attic, hot roof, plastic vents, roof leak, Roof problems, ventalation
The suffocating air of the room envelops you, a cocoon of absolute misery. The summer heat has somehow penetrated your home and is trapped inside with you. A mocking heat filling the rooms always seem to require the constant hum of a fan blowing on your skin. The night is torture, and sleep is only a memory and all that can utter from your aching throat is, “Why is so hot in here?”
These moments mark the beginning of a process of phone calls and hope that some educated person can enter the home and somehow make the misery end. The simple logic in this scenario is trapped heat. The house is a box that can either keep heat and cooling, or lose heat and cooling. The better insulated the home, the better the box you have. Simple right? So how can a home that has perfectly insulated walls and brand new windows and doors, still have venting issues? Why must the AC always be on or why is it always cooler outside than it is in?
Have you ever had a situation where you have stripped all the blankets and sheets off the bed and you are laying under a fan trying to cool off, and by the time the morning comes you are buried under a mountain of blankets because it’s so cold in the house? Why can’t it be that way all night? The reason could very well be above you.
Most likely the hot suns constant cook on your home has caused the temperatures in the attic to reach unbearable heights. This turns your attic into an oven that cooks the house at night. As the hot air eventually vents out, the temperature of the home begins to match that of the outside and that is why it’s so much cooler in the house in the morning. So what can be done? Most people think, “Lets add more vents to allow the heat to vacate!” or “We should add a Power Vent that will suck out all the hot air, raise our power bills and possibly suck out the cooling in the home as well!” ok maybe they don’t say that, but they may mean it.
Now don’t get me wrong, in some instances a power vent is a great option due to the roofs structure or framing, but it should be a last resort. The most cost effective solution is to check the soffit vents. These soffit vents allow for cool air to enter the attic as the hot air vacates. The hot air actually sucks in the cooler air and this process helps keep the attic in a constant temperature. The hotter is gets in the attic then a well ventilated attic will pull in that much more cooler air naturally. What stops this is if the soffit vents are covered or blocked, the attic cannot suck in the cooler air and the oven affect begins.
Simply clear the soffit vents or add them if there are none and see if there is a difference in the temperatures in your home. Before you spend the money take my advice and check the ventilation first.
You can see a drawing of this report on my flicker. Just click the photos link. 
In an economy such as this, watching every penny is sometimes not such a bad idea. The odds of getting a bum deal or being taken for a ride are great in this environment. In my ever growing experiences I have bared witness to some “take the cake” mischievous acts.
Commercial roofs are the most sabotaged roofs out there. The building usually has acquired compiled leaks and has been tolerated to some extent. Eventually the hassle becomes too unbearable and a roofer is called out. In many cases the building owner has no idea what is going on up on the roof other than it leaks and that ignorance is what the shady roofer loves to know.
1) Roofers who are sent up on a roof to fix a leak will purposely cause another while they are up there. Kicking in a scupper or bursting a blister by stomping on it will take a few rains to finally leak in the building. I have even seen an old foreman of mine purposely walk away from what was an obvious leak and his logic was we were hired to fix the one leak and its money in bank to have to come back. This of course will lead to another service call and the rest is obvious.
2) The other issue I have seen is multiple charges for a lack of experience. I have climbed up on a business or even a home where the poor owner has had a reoccurring leak and has paid roofers multiple times to fix the problem… If you don’t see the problem with this scenario then it is in your best interest to read on.
These poor people have a leak, the roofer makes an attempt at fixing it (smeared some goop) and because they didn’t have the knowledge to fix it the first time, they return and recharge the owner again! Roofers get usually $200 to $300 per leak repair for the standard leak, in many cases the leak is fixed within 10 minutes and we accept it why? Is it because they are the experts? Just as a dentist pulls a tooth in minutes or a doctor takes a look in your ear and gives you a pill a roofer walks up on your roof, and recognizes the cause for the leak fixes it and gets a crazy amount of money. We accept this reality because we see them as experts and the end result is all that matters. But what if the dentist pulls the wrong tooth or the doctor gives the wrong pill or the roofer fixes nothing? What are the right expectations for these “experts”? How can a building owner protect themselves?
1) First of all, find out from the roofer their policy on leaks. It should always be one leak, one charge, and one year. If the roofer is worth his salt, he will peg that leak down within the first visit. That initial charge is for one hour of their time and basic material, if they are not sure, then they better use that hour to help them get sure. Ask how long the warranty is for the leak, there are ways to make a repair last six months, twelve months or even three years depending on the repair and the time of year of service. If the roofing company is competent they should keep a record of the roofs history, if not then they should have the salesman go with the roofer and document the project.
2) Depending on the size of the roof and the amount of buildings being managed, there should be a record of the roof and the prior leaks solved. There should be photos and photo pages describing the roofs issues and what steps were or should be taken to solve them. The estimator should value the business or the possibility of the reroof business enough to take the time to do all these things for the building owner. If the owner has all the information in complete detail, then when a leak returns, they can visually look at their records and see if they are being taken for a ride.
Diligence is key, and for the money roofing companies receive a simple addition to their great service is not all too much to expect.
My next addition to this will be for the residential homeowner and the ways a roofer can rip you off. Knowledge is the first step to avoiding problems in the future.
Filed under: Roofing Problems
It is often a situation where a home or business owner has absolutely no idea on what is happening with their roof. Many people think that if it isn’t pouring into the home it isn’t leaking. Unfortunately, it is the smaller leaks that will cause the most hidden damages. Exposed or rusted out fasteners will allow small portions of water to enter the substructure. This unnoticed leak will in time began dry rot or delaminate the wood deck. I have been on roofs so soft and delaminated I had to walk on the trusses to keep from falling in. The homeowner never saw a drip prior to my inspection and the only reason he called me was the fact dried old shingles were falling off of his roof.
My goal for all my new friends and their contacts is to help the normal person understand the logic and science of the roof. My Blogs are happy to be a helping forum for those who don’t know and those who think they know explore the problems that usually are above our normal thinking.
