When it comes time to choose a residential roofing contractor, you have to take several factors into consideration.

The roof of your home is a very important part of your home and the structure of your roof affects the entire integrity of your home. Your roof protects your most valuable assets and requires a residential roofing contractor that you can trust. Buying a new roof or repairing your roof are both important and costly investments. Before spending money take your time to evaluate roofing contractors in your area. You should insist on a professional roofing contractor that is reputable. Below is a few tips to help you choose a residential roofing contractor that will not only get the job done, but will get the job done right.

Reputation Matters

You should spend some time doing research on local roofing contractors in your area. Search for online roofing reviews, ask your neighbours who they recommend, and check with the better business bureau. You should be leary of a roofing contractor that doesn’t have customer testimonials. When you come across bad or negative reviews be sure to give the roofing contractor the benefit of the doubt and READ. Some customers may be unhappy about something not pertaining to the work the contractor performed and could leave negative review due to this.

Choose Local

While there are plenty of great Florida roofing contractors, you should always try to remain local to where your home is located. Check for a contractor that isn’t just operating locally at this time but has a permanent place of business in the area. The last thing you want is a company that operates elsewhere or that just vanishes after installing your roof and when the roof starts leaking they’re nowhere to be found.

How often do you look at your roof, really?

While arguably one of the most important parts of your home, the roof is usually an afterthought to most home owners. When you see a dreaded brown spot on your ceiling it generally means your roof is leaking and chances are some damage has occurred. Can your roof just be repaired or is it time to replace your roof? What determines if you can get away with a roof repair or does your home need a total roof replacement? Below is 5 ways to tell you need a new roof.

How old is your roof?

The age of your roofing system is a huge factor when it comes to ways to tell you need a new roof. Most roofing contractors agree that an asphalt shingle roof for example will need replaced in around 15 years in Florida, give or take. With the Florida sun and rain storms, shingle roofs just don’t stand up compared to tile or metal. This is not to say that a shingle roof can’t last 30 years, especially with the shingles currently available. Unfortunately, an old roof that is constantly leaking and needing repairs is a bad mix and generally points to the need for a shingle roof replacement.

Follow your neighbours lead

While one neighbour replacing their roof may just be a neighbour looking for something new, pay attention to the homes in your neighbourhood. If a few or a bunch of your neighbours are replacing their roofs, it may be a way to tell you need a new roof. Homes in the same neighbourhood are often times built similarly, and built at the same time. If you have 5 neighbours replacing their shingle roofs, chances are yours may be getting close to the end of it’s life as well. This is also a good way to determine roof age if you’re a new home-owner and are unsure of the age of your roof.

Check your gutters

In the event that you have the most common roofing system in Florida, shingles, you should check your gutters regularly (and with other roofing systems too!). Gutters should be inspected regularly for debris and to make sure they’re draining properly. Clogged gutters can lead to bigger issues in the future. If you notice shingle granules in the gutters it could be a way to tell you need a new roof. Shingles toward the end of their life will start to lose more granules.

The roof can be one of your properties biggest investments, and yet they’re so easily neglected.

Roofs receive a lot of beating that tends to go ignored. Extreme weather, accidents, and lack of maintenance can affect the life of your properties roof and left ignored can lead to the need for a total roof replacement.

A roof that is well maintained is a great way to ensure that your property remains worry free. Below you will find a few tips for roof maintenance tips for Sarasota property managers.

Florida Climate

Managing a property in Florida, a property manager may not consider the climate in Florida when it comes to the roof on their property. While we don’t necessarily receive snow or big hail, we’re still not immune to some of natures harshest weather. As a Sarasota Property Manager you must take into consideration the climate in which your building resides. From summer storms (including hurricane season) to what feels like year round heat, the climate in Florida will affect the life of your properties roof.

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For most people, the roof is an afterthought — that is until it starts to leak. Only then we realize how critical that part of our home’s exterior really is. Besides keeping the home dry, the roof contributes greatly to the look of the house. When choosing roofing material, it may pay to consider all of the options. In Florida especially, Shingle Roofs are the most common type of roofs we here at Florida Southern Roofing install. Shingle Roofs are popular for the budget conscious and can really look great, and protect well when quality materials are installed by a licensed roofing contractor. While there is many roofing types, slate, composite, metal, clay tile, wood shakes, and many many more, today we are going to focus on shingle roofs and what you should know about replacing yours.

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As your roof ages and sustains various weather damage, certain areas can become susceptible to leaks. It is important as a homeowner, property manager, or business owner to keep an eye on your roof and address any leaks or damage, sooner than later, to avoid costly repairs and other unexpected dangers of a leaking roof you may not be aware of.

Roof leaks can happen for many reasons; age, severe weather conditions, improper installation, and lack of maintenance and upkeep. No matter the reason, a roof leak is a serious issue that must be addressed as soon as possible to avoid these unforeseen dangers of a leaking roof:

Black mold in a homeowners roof

Firstly one of the more serious dangers of a leaking roof: Mold. Mold spreads quickly through the structure of the home, into the HVAC system and subsequently through the home through the vents. Once mold has made it into the HVAC system of a home it can then get into the carpeting, your furniture, and even your clothes. Black mold is the most common mold caused from water intrusion, it is more than just an aesthetic problem; it can actually make you and your family very sick. According to HGTV the most common health concerns are respiratory related. Chronic coughing and sneezing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat, rashes, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches can all be symptomatic of black mold exposure.

Fire Hazard

Is your electrical wiring present in your attic or through your ceiling? This could pose a fire hazard if your roof is leaking. Wires can short out due to water and cause a fire in your home. It is recommended you turn off the electricity to these areas and contact an electrician as soon as possible as well as a roofing contractor to address the root of the problem; the roof leak. Any water in your attic or ceiling poses a threat to the integrity of your home, especially if electrical wiring is exposed to the water.

Slipping and Falling

Another one of the dangers of a leaking roof is for commercial building owners and property managers, mostly. Water from roof leaks can pool on the floor where people could end up slipping. This can be a serious risk for a commercial building that sees a lot of traffic daily. As a homeowner, you or your loved ones may slip and fall when a roof begins leaking in your home and you don’t catch it in time. Not only will you be facing a bill for the roof leak, but unforeseen medical charges may become an issue as well.

Structural Roof Damage

The structural damage that can occur with even a small roof leak is a major concern for homeowners and property managers. Letting a little problem turn into a bigger problem can mean huge problems with your homes structural integrity. Water travels and can find its way under the roof decking. Over time the water will then intrude the roof decking. It can then seep through a wall and then run down the framing. The wood will get soaked and begin to rot and lose it’s strength. The roof will begin to sag and the water will also begin to weaken the foundation. You can also face expensive wood framing repairs if water leaks down into ceiling joists and walls. The ceiling itself can even cave in and cause a huge mess, potentially hurt someone in your home, and will in the long run cost a lot more to fix. Fixing the roof leak early and not letting it get to this stage will save you lots of money in the long run.

Everyone likes the feeling of owning something brand new. Whether it’s a new car, new clothes, or a new roof, having it brand new is clean and nice, r...

If a metal roof system is an option you’re considering for your home’s roof, you should look at the pros and cons of metal roofing against other common roof materials (shingles and tile).

Below is a closer look at some of the benefits of metal roofing systems as well as the drawbacks you may encounter when considering a metal roof for your home.

1.) Metal is Lightweight

Metal roofing, depending on its gauge, can weigh anywhere from .7 to 1.3 pounds per square foot. Other common roofing materials like asphalt shingles can weigh 2 to 2 ½ pounds per square foot, and tile can weigh as much as 10 pounds per square foot.

2.) Longevity

When considering to replace the roof on your home, longevity is a huge factor in your choice of roof material. You want something that will stand the test of time and last. Metal roofs have been found to last up to 70 years. This is much longer than traditional asphalt roofing which usually lasts from 10 to 20 years, and in the Florida sun can be much less.

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Whether you have experience dealing with Sarasota roofing contractors or not, when starting a new roof replacement project or repair project it’s important to ask the right questions. While roofing is not rocket science, it can be daunting to find the right roofing contractor for the job. You don’t want to choose a contractor who just meets the minimum standards. Below is 7 things you should ask your Sarasota roofing contractor before starting your next roofing project.

1.) Do I need to replace or is a repair possible?

Sadly, many Sarasota Roofing Contractors will pitch you a roof replacement when in fact your roof can just be repaired or a smaller sections replaced instead of the entire roof. Knowing the severity of the issues along with key information like roof age & roof type will lead you in a direction to know if repair is possible before replacement. A 20 year old shingle roof with several leaks in different areas will probably need replaced, but a 10 year old shingle with a few leaks over the garage may just need repaired or a smaller section replaced. Talk to your Sarasota roofing contractor about the details of the leaks & issues and find out if a repair is available instead of replacing the entire roof.

2.) Do you have references?

Metal Roofing is becoming more popular in Florida, and has many advantages over traditional roofing materials. While your neighbor may replace the roof of their home many times, a high-quality metal roofing system will likely be the last roof that you will ever need.

However, there is several misconceptions about metal roofing and many myths involved. Florida Southern Roofing wants you to be prepared with knowledge about the roofing systems available for your home – and we want you to be confident when choosing to install a metal roof in Florida.

So your roof is leaking, it needs to be repaired right? Maybe or maybe not. Do you know the age of your roof? What type of roofing system does your home have? There is a lot of points to consider when it comes to either repairing or replacing a roof, and knowing what you want and need beforehand will give you a head start in getting an appropriate estimate.

Choosing whether to repair leaks and issues with your existing roof or to invest in a new one can be a hard decision. Today’s economy is uncertain.. Most homeowners have the tendency to just patch up a leak and make do with what they have in hopes that it will solve their roofing problems, at least for a little while. However, when you’re thinking about roofing, that might not be the best idea. If your roof has needed several repairs over the years, is leaking on a large scale, is exposed to strong sunlight (we are in Florida after all!), or is more than 15 years old (Shingle roofs in particular), replacement is likely the best option. Advanced new roofing materials are energy-efficient and will keep you protected better than the roofing material your roof probably currently has, and will also save you money on bills in the future.