Roofing Columbus Ohio – Finding a Good Contractor

Ah, the age-old wisdom that floats around choices: “The thing about choices is there are always two of them… the right one, and the wrong one.” But then, there’s a camp that argues all choices are like ice cream flavors – none are wrong, just that some are more delicious than others. That is, until you stumble upon the roofing contractor from the underworld, proving that indeed, some choices can rain on your parade, literally.

Scouring the land for a noble roofing knight can feel like a quest in itself. Arm yourself with patience and a keen eye, and embark on this adventure to find the contractor of legends. The magic of finding “The One” lies not in spells but in communication. If you can’t have a chat over tea without cringing, perhaps it’s time to seek elsewhere. And remember, a smooth-talking salesman does not a trustworthy contractor make. Listen to your gut; it’s like your internal compass pointing to your roofing soulmate.

Before you shake hands or cross palms with silver, consider these gems of wisdom:

Reputable Contractor

First, ensure your roofing hero is a local legend. They know the land’s laws and won’t vanish into the night post-sale, for fear of tarnishing their name in the local taverns.

Roofing Insurance

Second, a true roofing knight comes with the shield of insurance. Demand to see the proof of their armor to ensure they can weather the storm of accidents.

Third, inquire about the sacred scroll of warranty. A commendable contractor will guarantee their craftsmanship beyond the first winter.

Fourth, insist on the parchment of estimation before binding yourself with a contract. Rush not into the alliance; weigh your options with the wisdom of the ages.

Fifth, when it comes time to pledge your allegiance, ensure the contract is as clear as the day sky, detailing every agreed-upon spell and potion.

And as the wise Nelson Mandela once imparted, “May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears.”

So, dear homeowner, embark on this quest with your banner high. May you find a roofing columbus contractor who is more gallant knight than elusive specter, turning your tale of repair into one of triumph and not despair.

How Do I Install Composite Shingles?

Composite shingles are the most common and widely installed roofing material in America.

They are durable and they come in a variety of colors and styles. They are cost efficient, readily available, they have warranties that last from 25 to 50 years and they are relatively easy to install. For a worry free roof installation you should call a qualified professional roofing contractor, but if you are adventurous type you can Do-It-Yourself.

First of all, get a plan together. Find out how many roofing shingles you will need. It takes three bundles of shingles to cover 100 square feet. Measure your roof and find out how many bundles you are going to need. Remember, safety first. Think before you act. You may want to call a local roofing company.

Put together a list of tools and materials you will need to complete your scope of work. This should include, ladder, hammer, roofing knife, nails and nail caps, flashing, underlayment, etc. Remove the old existing shingles on the roof if this is a roof replacement. Clean the roof by sweeping or use a blower and remove nails that may be left over from removing the old shingles.

Next, install the underlayment using the nails caps to secure the felt. Overlap each run 3 inches. Many roofers are still using the old black felt but most are transitioning to synthetic felt because of its strength and light weight. At this point replace any metal flashing that is needed and install the metal drip edge around the perimeter of the house. The same is true with your starter shingles. They should be installed before you begin to install your new shingles.

New Roofing Shingles

Now to install the new shingles, Begin at the bottom of the roof line. Measure one half inch from the edge of the roof. This allows the shingles to overhang the drip edge one half inch then install your first row of shingles. Now lay out the design for your next row of shingles. Mark 12 inches up and pop a chalk line across the roof for the first row of shingles then 5 inches the rest of the way up the roof until you reach the ridge or peek of the roof. Each shingle should butt up next to each other and four to six nails should hold them in place. In some areas code calls for six nails to be used. Repeat the process all the way across the roof and on all sides.

Once you have completed the field on all sides of the roof you are now ready to install the ridge cap shingles. Beginning at the end of the ridge bend a single tab shingle over the ridge and nail it down. Then nail the next ridge shingle so it will cover the nails on the first. Repeat the process across to the other end. Nail the last shingle in place and use roofing cement around the bottom edge and then dab cement over the last exposed nails. And you’re finished.

Roofing Repair Trusses

Roof Truss Repair

Roof trusses that have been damaged can be dangerous if they are not addressed.  A well thought out plan of repair should initiated as soon as possible after the damage has occurred. Roof trusses are the wooden frames that are nailed or bolted together to form the shape of your roof structure. Roof trusses come in many shapes and forms t fit the design of the roof.

Trusses can be purchased pre-built or can be built on site for a custom build. Trusses must be able to support great amounts of weight and be able to withstand the stress of high wind. Damaged trusses can cause the collapse of the entire roof. So it is important to do a periodic check of every truss in the roof system.

The quality of timber used for trusses is very important. Before you begin your truss build, you should check with your engineer to make sure you choose the right timber for the right job.  Be sure to check for the strength and make sure they are treated for insects and rot prevention. Remember every hole cut into the truss and cut made into the truss will weaken it. There are several reasons trusses get damaged. Severe storm wind damage, electrician or plumber cutting holes and notches, and rot caused by water damage.

To repair a damaged roof truss first determine the source of the problem. Is it a weight problem, rot, joint failure etc.? The best you can hope for is to be able to splice the truss that is damaged. This way you only address the “damaged area” of the truss without having to remove the entire truss. Once the damaged truss is identified it can be temporarily supported and are repaired with a “Timber Splice Kit.” The damaged portion of the truss is cut away and replaced with a section of new healthy timber. These good roofers can help you with damaged trusses.

If an entire truss must be removed, a part if not most of your roof would have to be removed in order to gain access to the damaged truss. It is very expensive to have an entire truss removed and replaced. All the roof covering must be removed, including the decking, shingles and underlayment in order to install the new one. A crane would have to be used to lift the new truss into place. Although professional roofing companies have the equipment and manpower to address these problems they are still expensive and time consuming.

Consider the cost of roof removal, truss removal, crane, truss replacement, decking, underlayment, shingles, and miscellaneous costs.

The importance of correctly repairing damaged trusses should not be underestimated. Be wise enough to know what projects to attempt yourself and which ones to hand off to a professional. No one wants a repeat on a job that should have been done right the first time. And, as with any project that requires due diligence for safety, have a qualified inspector or engineer sign off on the finished product.

How Can I Tell If I Have Hail Damage

How Can I Tell If I Have Hail Damage?
If you are a homeowner that lives in the path of reoccurring severe thunder storms then you are familiar with storm reports of pea size to softball size hail and the damage they can bring. Every year millions of dollars of damage are inflicted on homes and businesses caused by these storms. Being able to detect the damage large hail does is easy, but what about small to medium size hail? How can you tell if you have enough damage to warrant calling your insurance company? There are numerous ways to tell if you have hail damage. There are obvious tell-tell signs. And we will go through a list of them for you.

The best way to determine the extent of damage to your roof is to get on it and inspect it. Be sure you use all the safety measures needed to protect yourself. If you have fear of getting on your roof, then don’t, call a professional to inspect it for you. You can roughly gauge the size of hail; pea size is ¼ inch, dime size is ¾ inch, golf ball size is 1 ½ inch, Tennis ball size is 2 ½ inch, baseball size is 2 ¾ inch and softball size is 4 inches. You should be able to see where the hail stone hit and bruised the shingle by knocking the granules off. Large hail will often tear the shingle and sometimes even penetrate the shingle, underlayment, and decking entering the structure itself.
While on the roof check out metal chimney covers for hail damage. Other hardware on the roof can tell the story of the size and extent of the hail damage such as; low profile vent covers, turtle type vent covers, turbines, and power vents. Also check out the skylight covers. They will often get completely broken out. More hardware to check on the roof are pipe boots, vent caps, and roof mounted satellites. Check inside gutters and at the bottom of downspouts for loose granules that the hail knocked off.
There are other ways of detecting hail damage without having to get on the roof. Check out your gutters and downspouts. They are usually made of lightweight metal and are easily dented when a hail stone hits them. Window and window screens are a great way to tell if you have had hail. They will show signs of breaking and denting. Also look at your wooden fence, hail will scar and blemish the fence sections. The damage is easily detected from the direction the hail came from. Inspect your garage doors for dents. Look closely at you A/C units for damage. Stained patios, pergolas, and wooden swing sets are another way to detect hail damage.
There are still a few other ways to determine if you have had hail damage. Check out any siding you may have. Look at the fascia on your house. Check out the surface of your pool decking and driveways. There are these and more. But this will give you an idea of where to start.