Helpful Tips for Repairing Your Roof

Posted by: Roofing Contractor Denver

Water is usually damaging if it finds its way via modest cracks or free tiles. Water can effortlessly penetrate these cracked or unfastened tiles and trigger significant damage to the roofing lining underneath. It is crucial to acquire essential actions whenever you see a sign of h2o penetration in the ceiling.

The very first factor you need to have to do in this regard is to appear for the supply of that leak. You can't repair the leak until you discover the supply. So, you have to do some tough do the job in obtaining the real supply of h2o leak in the ceiling. Some leaks call for small work to fix even though other people need skilled roofing contractor to repair service the dilemma. Thoroughly examine the root trigger of the leak and if you sense that it demands some expert do the job than contact your roofing contractor otherwise you can repair service it on your personal.

Basic Tiles

If the plain tile is broken or harmed, take away the 1 above it and break open the roofing nail. Take a new tile and swap it with a harmed tile very carefully and secure it with the nail. Make sure that you use crowbar cover over the nail head before hammering it. It will stop the new tile from damaging.

Slate Tiles

Slate tiles usually slip out of site. You can effortlessly repair them. To substitute the slate, you have to take away the surrounding slates 1st in order to eliminate the broken slate. Make specific that you will not harm the roofing material below. Location the replacement slate on its position and lined it up with the adjacent slates. Use nails to secure it and substitute the surrounding slates as properly.

Flat Felt Roof

Flat felt roof is more inclined to splitting and blistering. What you require to do is to acquire the retractable knife and minimize across the blister very carefully. Then, apply bitumen inside the hole. Now, you need to have to minimize the roofing felt pretty much 5 cm (2 inches) bigger than the gap. Spot this roofing felt on the gap and press it down to seal it against the bitumen. Later, use bitumen to seal the split and give it some ample time to dry.

Roofing Flashing

Roofing flashing is one more selection to restore the ceiling leak. If you find any unfastened nails on the roof, basically apply bitumen to seal the holes. If there are any signs of corrosion holes that are 2 cm wide, you can use roof flashing to patch these holes. You have to minimize a piece from the roofing flashing, comparatively larger than the hole. You have to roughen up the surface so that the bitumen effectively sticks to it. Place the patch on the hole and seal it with the bitumen. Remember, if the harm accomplished by the corrosion is extreme, you have to have to replace the total flashing.

Suggestions & Warnings

It is important to locate the source of leak immediately. If you experience that you don't have the needed abilities and eqipment to restore the leak, call for a Denver roofing company or roofing expert instead of further damaging the roofing. Roof Repairs can save you a lot of money if you catch the leak right away. If you do not you risk further damages to your property inside and out of your house.

Measuring Your Roof to Determine Total Need of Roofing Supplies

Roof measurement is not hard, but because it occurs in three dimensions instead of two it takes a little more than simple arithmetic. Roof measurement is important if you are considering hiring a Denver roofing contractor for a job because it is a basis for pricing. The total area is how the roofer determines how much roof materials they need.

Except spray foam which starts in two mixable liquids, most roofs are measured in squares. One roofing square is 100 square feet. You do need some geometry to measure areas. The formula for a side of a triangle is area equals half the base times the height. This is useful for end gables which are already triangles. However most roof sections are four sided. So first you will need to determine the length of the angled side of the roof.

You could determine the roof area with just the floor plan but that would take some trigonometry. It could be easier to just clamber upon the roof and get the distance from eave to peak. To help out, divide up pieces of the roof into triangles or rectangles. The rules for these shapes are much easier to calculate. But it is never a bad idea to ask the Denver roofing contractor to check your figures.

To determine the roof slope, you need to break out that old formula from algebra - rise over run. So just take the height of your roof from eaves to peak and put that over the distance from the center of the roof to the eaves. This is your pitch. Another way to calculate it is with a level. Set a level of known proportions (best a one foot level) set one end on the roof and make it level. Then measure the distance to the roof on the other side. That measurement in inches is your rise over 12 for a one foot ruler. Otherwise just divide. If it was 3 inches that would be expresses3/12 or 1/4.

Once you find the total area in square feet, this is divided by 100 to find the number of squares of roofing material the Denver roofer has to order, plus extras.

Roofing Preventative Maintenance

If you have a little bounce in your knees you can do your own periodic roof inspections. Going up on the roof a twice a year can give you a heads up on problems before they cause water damage. The roof's job is to take all the abuse from weather and falling objects to protect the home. Over time it will tend to wear out.

This article will go over each of the common types of roof and the recommended inspections and maintenance for each one. I got these recommendations from my friends who do Denver roof repairs.

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material, however they can be the most fragile. To start inspection, remove all degrees because gutters and drain lines are often the first to go. Roof penetrations are other common areas of water ingress. Loose shingles can be firmed up with a dab of roof cement. Check caulking and sealants. While most roofs do a good job against weather, they are not so good at stopping hundred pound branches. So trim back overhanging branches.

Bitumen and built up roofs are a little different because they are flat. This means any pooling water is a real problem. Remove debris to help stop this. To repair bald spots in gravel roofs, brush out the areas and add mastic and loose gravel. Blisters are a common problem. They should not be handled themselves. Stepping on one can cause an instant leak so call your Denver roofer. Water is your enemy. Check sump drains for proper drainage.

Wood shingles are organic materials so they are especially vulnerable to moss and algae. The common Denver roofing repair is to install zinc control strips which stop these kinds of organisms from growing. Check mortar and flashings around penetrations. Look for rust, small amounts can be fixed with rust away, large amounts could be a signal of a drainage problem or the need for new flashing.

Single ply and spray foam roofs are similar visually to the built up roof. Single ply roofs only have one layer of protection so be careful of any possible punctures as this will lead to a leak. Check the edge trim. Roofs are designed to stop water coming down from above, not from below or the side. So the edge weather stripping needs to be intact or water will seep in.

Green Roof Building

Green roofing is an exciting new prospect for the roofing industry and the world. Green roofing has the potential to take wasted space on the millions of roofs needlessly absorbing the suns energy and convert that into something useful. Green roofing does present some unique problems. Usually roofs are designed to remove water as quickly as possible, but vegetation needs water, and there will be an additional layer of sometimes wet growing material for the roof to support. This means that the roof must be much stronger to support all this additional weight. The roof also needs a very effective drainage system that keeps the part below the growing material dry.

The soil and vegetation layer of a green roof usually consists of low maintenance plants. Therefore the typical roof does not need a irrigation system. If the roof is more for looks or to play on, a irrigations system may be installed. These should be drip systems that deliver the water to the roots to minimize evaporative water loss. But most will let the plants grow naturally. A Denver roofing contractor may have to consult with a nursery on the correct type of plants.

The scientists behinds these roofing systems divide them into intensive and extensive categories. The extensive roof is also called an eco-roof. These are thinner and lighter, but the reduced soil limits the vegetation options. The common plants are mosses and grasses. These grow in a low profile and require little maintenance.

If your Denver roofing contractor is more ambitious, you could try an intensive roof. These have enough soil to make a full garden. This type of roof is ideal if you are looking to make a rooftop garden oasis. Small trees, and little patios can even be housed with enough structural support. If you do get your Denver roofing contractor to install and intensive roof, you will probably have to hire someone to maintain it.

Green roofs are very good insulators and reduce the heat of the roof overall significantly. This saves on heating and air conditioning costs. This can help reduce the heat island effect in urban environments. The plants and soil also filter the air and water in the area. Green roofs are especially popular in urban environments because they add yard space in areas where this was impossible.

Spray Foam Roofing

Spray foam roofing is an interesting roofing material consisting of two different liquid materials that combine to form a seamless roofing material. After mixing, the foam expands over 20 times to form a complete solid roof. These roofs are popular for the speed in which they can be applied, while providing high performance water resistance and insulation.

Abbreviated SPF, spray foam roofing becomes an adhesive, that will adhere and make a roof on almost any surface except bitumen. This means concrete, cinder block, wood and metal roofs can be covered, which leads to lower costs and less roof waste. Instead of tearing off the old roof and installing a new one SPF can be installed. Spray foam also doubles as insulation further reducing a step required on roofing contractors in Denver. Once sprayed, SPF lasts around 50 years. During that time, it will need occasional maintenance in the form of cleaning and priming.

Sometimes roofing contractors in Denver add UV resistant granules to the top coat of foam to protect it from the sun. Foam is actually pretty hardy. The word foam often turns people off, but the foam is hard and durable. They handle human traffic better than asphalt roofs, but can still be damaged from limbs and tools falling on the roofing surface. However, because it is foam roofing contractors in Denver love SPF for its insulating abilities. A square foot of the substance weighs less than three pounds. This means the rest of that material is insulating air.

In warm climates especially, SPF roofing will pay for itself with reduced energy bills on cooling. Studies show that this roofing material pays for itself in 4-5 years. Few other roofing systems will pay for themselves ever. For the two polymers in the foam to correctly combine, the spraying must be done right. The gun, hose and feeding systems must all operate correctly to install a 1 to 1 ratio of the polymer bases. If something goes wrong, it must be fixed immediately or the project must be stopped. It can be hard for some roofing contractors to do this because this means swallowing the costs of redoing the roof.

Finding Leaks in Your Home

So your ceiling is leaking. Unless there is a problem in your heat pump or other HVAC equipment, it probably means you have a roofing problem. However, short of simply replacing the entire roof, it can be hard to find a leak. Water rarely drips straight down. Instead it finds studs and beams and follows them down into the home's interior. So the source of the leak, from both location and cause cannot be determined just by looking at watter dripping from the ceiling.

For small roof leaks, you may never notice because the water runs over such a long portion of your internal structure that it gets absorbed before it chips any paint or causes any other blatant damage. Water in the attic can cause serious problems. Moist areas always have problems with mold, but in the attic water can start to degrade your insulation.

When trying to find a leak, Denver roofing companies follow these basic guidelines. First any contractor or experienced roofer will inspect roof drains in the area. Especially in flat roofs, clogged drains can lead to standing water. The roof is not made to work underwater. It is designed to wick water off as quickly as possible while keeping the interior dry. A drain is not waterproof because it is only expected that water will flow straight down it.

For composition or asphalt shingles, you can run a blade along under the shingle. If it stops about an inch in, it is probably sealed with tar, but if it goes further there is a good chance that this could be your leak source.

Penetrations are the most common leak sources according to Denver roofing companies. Often these penetrations were added after the roof and were not sealed properly. All roof penetrations need special attention because they are weak points in the roof. A combination of flashing, pitch and roofing materials is recommended by Denver roofing companies.

The next place to look is the attic or crawlspace. This will get you closer to the source of the leak before water starts running everywhere. Sometimes problems with duct work or plumbing cause leaks that you think are roof leaks. On steep roofs, exposed nails can rust and cause holes for water to leak in. Accumulated debris can also cause water damage. Clear nests and sticks near chimneys and other obstructions. Swamp coolers with leaking pans will dribble water on the roof and shorten its lifespan significantly.

Think if any contractors were working on the roof around the time it last held up. HVAC contractors, electricians and the like might have added equipment or damaged something in the ceiling. Dropped tools are a leading cause of roof damage. The thin inner roofing material is not made to handle a heavy roofing hammer. In those cramped spaces it is easy to pull flashings loose and cause other roof damage.

Historic Spanish Clay Tile

Out of the monotony of common roofing material Spanish tile really pops. The distinctive barrel shape is instantly identifiable. Along with slate roofing, tile is one of the oldest roofing materials still in use. The main reason for its continued popularity lies with its sturdiness and artistic expressions. Tile will last for over a hundred years as long as it is not exposed to blunt trauma. Clay tile also comes in a myriad of roofing options, with different shapes, colors and textures. Some clay roofs have lasted hundreds of years.

Because clay tile is not water tight, it is often the flashing and waterproof roofing materials under the tile that has to be replaced before the tile. Working on the materials under the roof requires the removal of tile. Tile is strong, but brittle, so only an experienced Boulder roofing company should do this kinds of work. Usually what needs maintenance is the tile fastening system, the weather proofing or flashing.

Tiles resist weather and hail very well, but because there are spaces in between them they are not weather proof. During average rainfall most moisture will be quickly routed off the roof but there are always chinks in the armor. Because the tile is expected to last so long, it is important to install quality roofing materials underneath. This means metal flashing. Once properly installed, a clay tile roof should not need any further visits from the Boulder roofing company. Tiles often outlast the buildings and roofs they were installed in. There is actually a booming business in recycled tile from Spain. Broken tiles are the chink, and they do need to be replaced quickly.

These tiles are beautiful on historic and modern buildings. In olden days, clay tiles were hand made and fired in kilns. Historic buildings using tile often find that the tile is the most memorable aspect of the building.Some handmade Mexican and Spanish tile tradesmen still exist, but most tile used by a Boulder roofing company comes from factory made, machine extruded manufacturing.

Once installed in a new roof, tile often lowers the temperature of your roof and attic. All the air space allows for adequate airflow, essential in roofs. Without airflow, heat and moisture build up, eventually leading to rotting. The tile also acts as a barrier. It absorbs heat while there is the air space and roofing materials between the hot tile and the roof. Compare this with asphalt shingles which are thin, dark, and attached directly to the roof.

Built Up Roofs for Flat Roofing

In warm weather like California, people like the built up roof because it allows for a large shade overhang. Choosing the right color rocks to cover the tar also gives it a southwestern feel. The real reason that flat roofs are popular however is their cost. Flat roofs and roofing is very cheap because of the low amount of skilled labor. It is basically just a post and lintel - beam construction for the frame, covered in tar or some other material.

The tar-like material used to cover these roofs is called bitumen by professional Denver roofing contractors. The thick, black material must be heated for the roofers to spread it on the roof. Almost like asphalt, the layers of thick bitumen hold the gravel in place. The process is cheaper than other roofing choices because all the raw materials can be hauled to the job site to be mixed and poured. If you look at an asphalt shingle, you will realize that a bitumen roof is really just a handmade version.

A composition shingle consists of a felt base with tar and small pebble grains. Well a built up roof uses felt roofing, bitumen and and gravel on a larger scale. The felt material serves to reinforce the roof and stop the bitumen from spreading. Called "plies" built up flat roofs built by Denver roofing contractors measure the thickness of the roof by the number of plies. So a 3 ply roof has three layers of roofing material inside the tar membrane.

The way that Denver roofing contractors get the tar or asphalt bitumen up to a melting point is with a special heated tanker. The tanker then releases liquid tar on the roof to be mopped around by roofers. Needless to say, this is not a roofer's favorite part of the job. There are some tar alternatives that do not need heat to apply. However this means they probably use some organic adhesive that could be just as bad for you.

The mix-in product does not have to be gravel. Any kind of slag, glass fibers or mineral grains can be mixed in to create a built up roof. Some roofers opt out of this all together and just leave the roof covered in tar. Gravel is popular however because it makes the roof stronger, more resistant to the sun (imagine walking on tar in a sweltering day), can reduce the cost of total roofing materials, and also looks more attractive. Another alternative for sun control is to paint the roof white.

Roof Types

Before considering a roof redesign, roof replacement or when building a new home, you should look up the kinds of roofs available. You do not necessarily have to use the same kind of roof as in your old home. There are many options out there that have differences in utility and aesthetics.

One of the most common types of roof is the gable roof. Gable roofs with composition shingles represent more than half of American homes. It is simple for Denver roofing contractors to build, and it has some positive design features like easy ventilation and rain shedding. Some even use the false thatched roof style, that uses tan shingles formed on the eaves to look like a thatch overhand.

The hip roof is similar to the gable except it has triangles that shed water on the ends, while the gable just has two planes. It is harder to ventilate, and some HVAC contractors dislike it because of the possibility of leaks and less room inside.

A frames look like a capitol A stuck into the ground. The roof goes all the way to the ground and doubles as the walls. Usually used in smaller cottages and the like, now some ambitious Denver roofing contractors are using A-frame construction on churches in unconventional ways.

The flat roof is popular on the big box retailers because it is the cheapest roof. You just construct a flat plane on the top of the beams. These roofs are usually not considered very attractive for two reasons. One, because it is flat, you cannot see it from below, and two, the top is often covered with layers of felt, tar and gravel. This is called "built up roofing" by Denver roofing contractors. A perfectly flat roof would have problems with water pooling, so even flat roofs on large buildings should have a slight pitch for water drainage. These roofs are uncommon in the north because they do not shed snow.

Still in the simple roof construction category, the shed roof is a roof that only has one angled plane. So the high side is on one wall and the low on the opposite. This is also easy to build, but uncommon in larger structures.

Tile vs Slate Roofing

The upper tier of roofing materials in terms of quality and looks are tile and slate roof shingles. Both tile and slate will last a long time due to the strength of their material. Tile is made out of baked clay, while slate is either stone or a synthetic material.

The most recognizable form of tile are the red Spanish s-tiles. These are a traditional and classy look, but tile can come in may more designs as well. Some tile is even made of concrete instead of clay. Concrete can be molded to look like other types of roofing materials. Both forms are very resistant to weathering because of their density. The only real weakness of tile is that it is brittle and can shatter when people walk on it. However if for example a tree limb falls on a tile roof, it will only break a few tiles. Compare that with having to call a Denver roofing company to completely replace a thinner asphalt shingle roof.

Tile can withstand fire, hail and other adverse conditions well, however it is very heavy like slate roofing. Slate has many of the same benefits, but it is the most expensive roofing material. Some at the Denver roofing company say this is because they look better, however the real reason is because slate is really made from stone. It is a hard to gather natural material.

The main benefit of using real rock is that it lasts almost forever. It may cost 10x as much as asphalt shingles, but slate roofs will last 10x as long as well. They require much less maintenance from a Denver roofing company over that span as well. Like tile, slate is very heavy and requires a sturdily built roof to hold it up. Not all roofers are familiar with slate.

One interesting factoid is that light colored roofs significantly reduce the amount of solar energy absorbed. This keeps the house cool in the summer, and it also reduces the effects of global warming by reflecting heat back out into space. So in warm climates pick a lighter colored tile if possible. Slate is loosing some of its popularity because of the price. There are new synthetic slate roofing materials that are made of either slate dust or cement and fiber resin. They are slightly cheaper and retain many of slate's good qualities.

Roof Replacement Costs

Installing a new roof is a big decision. You will have to hire a roofing contractor and pay thousands of dollars in roofing materials. If you are constructing a new home, the best bet is to go with what the architect advises and what will be the longest lasting investment.

Unfortunately roof shopping is not like shoe shopping. These materials cost a lot and will be what is protecting your family from the elements. So you will want to do some research and make some calculations about the overall costs and benefits of each product. The roofing contractor you choose is also important. Don't let them tell you that shingles will last longer than Denver metal roofing.

Although asphalt shingles are everywhere and have been the cheapest roofing choice for years, most roofing contractors do not recommend them anymore. Sure, the roofer will probably get more business because he will have to replace the whole thing every 10-20 years. In the meantime the roofing contractor will also make money as shingles break and need to be replaced. However, this results in significant extra costs to you, and significant waste in terms of old shingles. Those shingles are made of a petroleum byproduct, asphalt and do not bio degrade. So for economical and ecological reasons we do not recommend asphalt shingles.

To determine if you want a roofer, consider their track record. Ask about their other jobs and customers. If they offer any product or construction warranties, make sure you get those in writing. They should be helpful and give you a written proposal, not try and convince you to let them start work immediately. That is unless you have put off roof replacement for so long that your roof damage is starting to damage the interior of the home as well. Denver metal roofing is probably the hardiest type of roofing and it is not complicated to install.

Once you decide on a roofing contractor and type of roofing, price will probably influence your final roofing choices. When doing roof replacement, oddly shaped roofs or an excess of protruding roof structures like vents will make the job more difficult and expensive. The base price is found by multiplying the cost per roofing unit by the amount needed to cover the roof. The roofer then adds expenses like fasteners and labor. Labor often costs more than the total costs of roofing supplies. If you had a poorly designed roof or suffered damage, the roofer may have to tear off the old roof before installing Denver metal roofing. This is a much more expensive process than just laying tile shingles.

Eco-Friendly Metal Roofing

Metal roofing's biggest plus is its durability vs asphalt shingles. Shingles need regular replacement and if just one shingle gets damaged, that could equal immediate water damage. The strength of an asphalt shingle also leaves much to be desired. Anyone could snap one of these shingles in half with their bare hands.

If you want an alternative that does not use tar and asphalt, metal roofing is a green roof alternative. The fabrication of metal sheeting certainly has its environmental effects, but those effects are minuscule compared to using asphalt. Asphalt is basically just oil residue, but it does not last very long. Asphalt shingles need to be replaced regularly, while Denver metal roofing will last over 50 years.

The amount of maintenance required of metal roofing makes it much cheaper over time. Correctly constructed, Denver metal roofing should be like a shield, protecting your home for years. Most homeowners do not replace their roof or realize there is a problem until there is a leak causing damage in the home. With replaceable shingles, this means possible roof damage every few years, instead ever half decade with a metal roof. Asphalt roofing is becoming obsolete because there are so many roofing materials now that do the job better, with less labor required.

Asphalt is still the cheapest, but as a property owner, you should be looking at the house as an investment. Over time asphalt will require many repairs and it will not increase the value of the house like Denver metal roofing can. If you are just flipping properties, you may not have time for a metal roof or other superior roofing materials. Asphalt shingle manufacturers claim that their roofs will last around 15 years. During that time however, you may need to do some roof repairs or replace broken shingles. These shingles are sent to the dump, and the asphalt is certainly not good for the environment.

Some people think metal roofing is boring, and this may be if you just leave it like it is. But metal can be painted and this leaves you with an array of colors and designs to choose from. You do not have to have your house looking like a barn just because you bought metal roofing! They now have metal that mimics slate or wood shingles, so you can get the best of both worlds.Choose your roof color to match your home and personality, just like you would anything else that is customizable.

To add green energy savings, choose a light color in hot areas with a lot of sun, and a dark shade where it is cold. Reflective roofs can save you a great deal on air conditioning costs. As the sun's energy comes from above, much of it is absorbed by the roof, and light colors minimize this. Metal will not deteriorate in weather and leak into the environment like other roofing materials.

A Guide to Choosing Roofing Company in Denver

Posted by: Roof Denver

One of the sad facts about living in Denver is that sooner or later, a storm is heading to appear by and damage your roof. With that in mind, you need to nearly definitely give some consideration to how to decide on a Denver roofing company that will be in a position to cope with the distinct requirements of the city's environment. What you undoubtedly want to watch out for are firms that aren't true Denver roofing. Following a key storm comes by way of, you're heading to discover that a quantity of providers from out of the area moving in to take advantage of the new perform, and that brings its own complications.

It's not that the roofing crews that appear in are conclusively incompetent, even though you can come across very a number of scam artists and usually inexperienced folks that will possibly be sniffing around trying to discover income. The issue is that when they arrive from some other place, they may possibly perhaps not recognize how to repair or replace a roof to guarantee that it it won't fly away the future time the weather conditions gets a little hairy. So, clearly, the 1st point you'll have to have to be certain of when you hire an Denver roofing company is that it genuinely is an Denver roofing business.

This is significant, given that understanding the demands of the sometimes extreme weather conditions that hits the town is something that only comes from understanding. A roofing crew from an additional state, no matter how talented, just isn't going to turn into ready to comprehend and operate close to the tiny nuances that are necessary to get a roof which will withstand a tornado or hail storm.

It might be tempting to use an out of town crew, but it will cost you inside the lengthy run. And, obviously, if your roofing firm isn't from Denver, precisely wherever will you find them if you could have a dilemma? You require a enterprise that will be around if you have issues, preferably a corporation where by the owner actually lives in your area and is accessible if you would like to talk to him. The final element you want to appear for is that you're hiring an experienced roofing company. There's no licensing agency or accreditation agency for contractors and construction, so any person, regardless of expertise, can print up some company cards and get up and running. Rather a couple of times, the roofing sales individuals that follow a storm just have a couple of hours training.

Their work is to close the deal at any price! These folks aren't genuinely there to support you, they're there to make a commission. Then they hand over the work to one more and are nowhere to turn out to be discovered if there is a dilemma. Yet again, it's not necessarily that persons with less experience will do a poor work, but it is a lot less difficult to uncover out how very good they are if they've been all-around your location for a while. Indeed, the mere fact that they have been around for a time is decent evidence that they're reliable and talented, which is key in not just Denver roofing but any form of construction. The up coming aspect you need to take into account is what sort of roofing the corporation does.

You do not will need to employ an Denver roofing company that specializes in significant, commercial roofing to do your house, or vice versa. This ensures you get somebody who has the exact skill set that you would like.

Repetitive Stress Roofer Injuries

Roof construction is an inherently dangerous industry. Roofers work high up so are at risk to fall. In competitive markets they are often on tight deadlines, so many Denver roofers get injured working in adverse weather. The combination of working outdoors, high above the ground, with heavy staple guns and materials make the job one of the most dangerous in Colorado.

The most common injuries for roofers are broken bones from falls. One slip and a Denver roofing contractor may be out of the business permanently. Clambering around beams requires a lot of nimbleness that may fade as roofers age. As data from aging roofers is collected, there is another possible injury being associated with Denver roofing companies, and that is repetitive stress injuries.

One study said that over half of all roofers who leave the Denver roofing industry do so because of pain induced by repetitive stress or other health reasons. Leaving the industry early can also be crippling financially. Many roofers do not have many other skills than constriction, so they may have trouble supporting themselves if they are forced into early retirement because of health reasons.

Repetitive stress is caused by doing the same stressful actions over and over. Things like carrying heavy roofing supplies up ladders and nailing frames are possible contributors. In houses with shingles or tile roofs, roof contractors have to nail thousands of shingles to the roof with a gun. They are often hunched over, nailing roofing tile after roofing tile in the sun. Each firing of the nail gun is like a small shock wave that can damage bone, nerves and connective tissue over time.

Unfortunately many of these roofers who have to retire early suffer from skeletal diseases. Being a roofer past the age of 50 is not very common because of the stresses on the body. So at a time when most occupations are reaching their peak, roofers are breaking down. They even seem to physically age faster than the norm. Most construction workers are paid by the hour, so as their bodies break down, older roofers have to take time off and miss work, which means they are getting paid less and face the possibility of not being rehired for the next job.

Beware Door to Door Roofing Scams

The roofing contractor business is going through a tight time now because of the economy and housing market. However any legitimate roofing company is not going to go door to door asking for free roof inspections and your business. But that is exactly what some "roofing contractors" are doing.

The scam works like this: the roofers drive through the neighborhood going door to door offering a free roof inspection. If the customer agrees, once on the roof, the roofer looks for damage and if there is any, reports it and tires to get a contract to fix it from the homeowner. This sounds just like any reputable roofing contractor in Denver would do, and it is. The difference is if the roof is fine, the scammers start damaging it.

So you have a 100% chance of having a damaged roof if you let a door to door roofer into your home. Legitimate Denver roofing companies may offer a free inspection, but they will not go door to door. In any case, it is a good idea to supervise workers, especially if you have not dealt with that company before. Benjamin Franklin had a plaque that applies in this case, saying: not to oversee workers is to leave your purse open.

Most people don't know the difference of what it looks like for someone on a roof to be repairing or damaging a roof. And most people just mind their own business. The owners are usually inside and can't see anything that is going on. The scammers run it as a numbers game: eventually someone will let them on their roof, and someone will pay for the damage. Since they are just manufacturing work out of nothing, it only takes a few houses to pay for their week.

The only people who might understand are construction workers and insurance adjusters. Insurance companies hate this kind of behavior because it inflates the probability of something happening far beyond the projected average. Don't be worried that big roofing companies only care about the lucrative Denver roof replacement jobs. Most will give you a free consultation because they want to build connections. At some time, everyone will need a little roof work.

There was a case where an insurance adjuster noticed that roofers were damaging the roof of his neighbor. These crooked contractors were using the aftermath of a hurricane as an excuse to create more "wind damage."

Integrating your roofing decisions into your home concept

Your roof covers about half the visible area of your home from the outside. You therefore have some very important decisions to make regarding what kind of roof you want. This is going to be a fun process because of all the different options you have available! For every roofing material, there are many different styles and concepts you can go with.

In the good ol' days, a roof was just straw or wood over your head. Even further back was stone... and in modern days some Denver roofers even offer stone roof tile! The first settlers in Denver used wood planks with tar paper for water proofing. If you are making a log cabin, you can still use wood as your roof, but add tar paper and shingles or metal sheeting as well to make it last. Most modern homes have shingle, tile or metal roofs.

Metal is the easiest and simplest roof. Roofing for metal roofs basically just involves screwing the metal to the roof and leaving. It can be hard to make a metal roof attractive, but painting usually works well. A painted red roof indicates a kind of country barnyard style. A light blue or white roof will reflect sun heat and could be striking in the right background. Metal does not need much maintenance, although it will rust eventually, this would be after you had replaced your shingles several times.

Shingles are very popular in Denver due to their cheap price, light weight and ease of installation. Asphalt shingle installation is a labor intensive process, where the Denver roofing workers staple rows of shingles to your tar paper. The price for the materials is cheap however and it does not require highly skilled workers. Wood shingles on the other hand look much nicer and require more work to make and install. Wood lasts around the same time as asphalt/fiberglass shingles despite their use of natural material.

Tile is like shingles but made of a hard material like clay or concrete. The ceramic shingles are made by hand, cut from clay. Tile shingles last much longer than wood or ceramic. The tiles will last at least 50 years as long as they do not break. These tiles are very hard and strong against weather. They will however break or slip off if hit by branches or if people walk on them. So for tile roofs, you will have to replace a few tiles every year, while shingled roofs have to be completely replaced once they wear out. Tiles can also operate in a more narrow range of roof grades.

Call your Denver roof company to see what the life of your shingles is expected to be because you want to replace them before they start casing weather damage to your home.

Tile or Shingles?

The great debate in roofing is tile or shingles. The debate is not black and white. It gets clouded as slate shingles... which look about halfway between shingles and tile. Asphalt shingles are the cheapest kind of shingle. They are light and any Denver roofing company can install them easily, but they are not the most durable good.

Asphalt shingles are easy to replace, but they wear out quickly and can be damaged by strong weather. The problem with all kinds of shingles, both wood and asphalt, is that weathering slowly deteriorates them. Asphalt shingles shrink and wood shingles rot, the eventual end result of which is water damage through the roof below. Wood shingles have a long history in Europe but have been replaced by asphalt and other synthetic materials in the US for most common applications.

On the other hand, the low cost and flexibility of shingles make them more resistant to impact than tile, and the replacement cost is lower. Tiles are also more fragile when it comes to people walking around on them. Tile can break and fall off, causing a hazard. The tiles may offer more protection from impacts, at the expense of destroying themselves. Roof tile is made from a hard material like ceramic, clay or slate. There are many different styles, from Spanish rounded roof tile to simple square slate tiles. Tile is heavier than shingles, so when switching roof styles, hire an engineer or Denver roofer to check your roof for structural stability.

When it comes to insulating abilities, roof tiles work a little better than shingles because they are made of thicker material. The real difference in heat loss is your insulation in the attic. Proper insulation and venting will make much more of an impact than the type of Denver roof materials you choose.

From a pure aesthetics standpoint, only wood shingles can compete with tile. Tile looks cleaner and more masculine because of its thicker shape. The barrel roof tiles of southwest architecture are usually red or earth tones and give a more laid back tropical image.

If you want to really go crazy with your roof, hire a custom roofer that knows how to do old-school European shingles. There are many designs to choose from and your roof will definitely be unique.