Merriam roofing seems like a pretty straightforward job. You look up a company, call for an estimate, approve the bid and get the job done. However, many homeowners have found themselves in precarious positions when the Merriam contractors they hired weren’t who they appeared to be.
In a cash-strapped economy, scam artists are having a real field day, according to the Better Business Bureau. Rounding out the “Top 10 Most-Complained-About Businesses” are:
Roofing contractors receive more than 7,000 complaints each year on average, but 2010 saw a 40 percent increase in filings.Consider that one company — American Shingle — received 1,000 complaints before filing for bankruptcy! This is simply unacceptable, but until greater oversight becomes standard and legislation is passed, we aren’t likely to see the number of Shawnee Mission roofing scam artists decrease. Did you know that Kansas is one of just five states who require absolutely NO regulation of new roofing companies?
Local homeowners often come to us with many questions about Prairie Village roofing and re-roofing jobs. In this blog, we’ll answer some of your most frequently asked questions. Although the questions come from Prairie Village clients specifically, we feel the answers can really apply to any market. Even if you’re not in the Prairie Village, Shawnee Mission, Olathe or Johnson County roofing markets, we’re still glad to help inform homeowners about the roofing industry.
The roof on your home is the first line of defense against the elements of nature, such as high winds, heavy rain, sleet and snow. Conducting a complete inspection-inside and out-each spring can help avoid costly problems later on.
-Water, water, anywhere? A home inspection should start with a check for leaks in the attic. This can occur and be most obvious after heavy, driving rains. Also walk through each room of the house and inspect walls and ceilings. Ceiling spots can be another warning sign your Leawood roof needs repairs. And peeling of interior or exterior paint or wallpaper, sometimes from excessive moisture or high humidity, can be a sign of possible inadequate attic ventilation. If more ventilation is needed, it can be relatively easy and inexpensive to install-even if you don’t need a new roof.
-Crack down on cracks! The most common leak sources on the outside include cracks in flashing around the chimney and vents, or worn-out, decayed or missing shingles. Check your gutters for debris, including granules in the gutter. If you find an excessive amount of granules, it may indicate aging shingles that should be replaced. While up there, check for any missing, cracked or curled shingles. These should be replaced quickly to avoid structural damage to your roof deck and the interior of your home. If any shingles are blistered, decayed or “dirty looking,” they need to be replaced, too.
If you find any of these potential problems and are in need of repairs, the first and most important step to take is to find a competent Contractor.Poorly installed or constructed roofing systems waste American homeowners billions of dollars every year, according to GAF Materials Corporation, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. Fortunately, most risks can be avoided with a professional roofing system that is correctly installed, maintained and/or repaired.
Eclipse Roofing has been servicing the Kansas City Metro area for many years and has built a reputation on reliability and superior workmanship. Eclipse has received Angie’s List Super Service Award for the last 6 years and has hundreds of rave reviews from extremely satisfied customers in Leawood and the surrounding areas.
Before you go to the expense of calling in a contractor, see if you can analyze and repair your roof problem yourself. The best possible time to repair your roof problem – is as soon as you realize that you have one and if the weather is calm enough to climb up onto the roof. In fact, this could be further qualified by saying that the best and most economical way to a trouble-free roof, is to inspect the roof regularly, so that you see the problem developing.
A leak from one dislodged tile is a small and inexpensive matter, but if you do not inspect your roof regularly, this will go unnoticed. By the time that you DO notice it, it may be because water is dripping into your spare room! This means that this whole area of the roof structure is soaked, the ceiling will need to be replaced and hopefully the flooring will recover.
Always check your roof after a wind storm, as most roofing is not designed to withstand fierce winds. Scrutinize the tiles for cracks, splits and torn-off corners; also check for lifting. Lifting is a common cause ofleaks, and can be easily rectified. Be aware of multiple tiles lifting, as this could be a sign that the roofing material is too old and is warping from all the weathering.
Climb into your attic/loft and ensure that any insulation that you have in your roof is not right up against the roof itself. There has to be a gap for air to circulate; also when a roof heats up and there is insulation directly behind it, this heat is thrown back into the roofing and excessive heating like this can damage and warp the roof.
Another weakness in all roofs is the flashing. Flashing is designed to provide a watertight junction between roof materials and structure, especially if the roof projects out or changes design (as with extension roofs). If you are installing a new roof, it is worthwhile to get the flashing ‘inspected’ as it is a common failure area.
Often the simple fact that the gutters, leading into down pipes from the roof, are blocked with leaves and twigs can cause a problem. Roofs must have adequate run off, especially in the areas which may have snow. Water trapped in the gutter will mean that it will back up the roof for a few inches and have time to seep into the edges of the roofing tiles. Not all homes have adequate perimeter protection on their roofs, although this is one good feature to ask for on a new roof.
Quite often homes incur roof leaks all at the same time (often after strong gales winds and torrential rain etc). This can mean that all contractors are busy and you have ‘stop up the leak’ until you can get help.
If you do get a leak, and you have placed buckets under the dripping water, be aware that the leak may be in a completely different place than it would seem. Locating the source is difficult, as water can run along horizontal timbers and appear to be leaking from a place that is sound. Getting up into the attic and actually looking for a wet spot on the roof decking will be an accurate way to tell.
If you can find the spot an emergency patch can be made applying roofing felt and using plastic cement to hold it until you can call in a contractor. You can also attempt to try repair yourself, if it is just a shingle that is damaged.
You can carefully prize up the roof shingle by removing the three or four nails that are holding it in place; next, apply a generous coating of tar beneath the tear in question, and also coat the underside of the shingle with a with a coat of tar before putting it back in place. Add a spot of tar to each nail head. Most Overland Park roof repair companies advise against the ‘liquid’ asphalt repair products.
Roofs can also be temporarily repaired using roof membrane and sealants. Care must be taken to clean the roof surface first to ensure that the sealant will stick and keep the leak protected from rain etc. In fact, as long as the roof is clean and dry, the wonder of the 20th century – duct tape – can also be stuck onto the roof!