Need a new roof or in need of roofing repairs?
Monday, January 2nd, 2012
If your home is in need of a new roof this new year you may have a bucket full of questions ranging from quality to pricing. I have researched and put together a list of local roofing companies for you to contact so that you may begin comparing and weighing who offers the best out there for you and your home.
AAA Roof Masters Insurance Roofing Contractor: (904) 402-8563: 221 N Hogan St., Jacksonville FL
Burger Roofing Company: (904) 355-2756: 134 Ernest St, Jacksonville, FL
James Neill Roofing and Waterproofing Incorporated: (904) 221-5981:Jacksonville, FL
RI Campbell Roofing Company: (904) 359-8900: 76 S Laura St, #2200, Jacksonville, FL
Align Roofing Company: (904) 302-8076: 2242 Newberry Rd, Jacksonville, FL
Champion Roofing Svc Incorporated: (904) 396-4642: 3734 Spring Park Rd, Jacksonville, FL
Bill Simpson Roofing Incorporated: (904) 744-9238: 7427 Merrill Rd, Jacksonville, FL
For a lengthier list of local roofers in the Jacksonville area, go to Yahoo Local.
Source: Yahoo Local
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Christmas lights safety tips
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Thanksgiving has past and now Christmas is just around the corner. With that said you have probably seen Christmas decorations beginning to pop up and maybe earlier than usual. Thinking of putting Christmas lights up on your home and shrubbery? Before you do, take a look at these Christmas lights safety tips. It will help you avoid unwanted accidents and injuries.
Safety Tips for Christmas Lighting
- Be sure you string up Christmas lights that have been thoroughly tested. Replace broken bulbs, etc. The best kinds of lights are usually UL or ETL.
- Using mini lights is safer than the larger bulbs. The cooler burning mini’s are great.
- Be sure to only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plugs.
- If any of the lights are damaged, it’s best to toss them out and buy a new string of lights.
- Never hang lights on any metal surfaces. This can cause a person to get an electric shock.
- When purchasing Christmas lights, be sure the package says they are for outdoor, indoor or both.
- Properly use extension cords and never overload them.
- Do not string lights near any power lines that may be near your home.
- Properly run the string of lights through hooks or be sure they are secured by nails or insulated holders.
- Always be sure to turn off your Christmas lights before you go to bed or leave your home for several hours at a time.
- Do not pull on Christmas lights when taking them down. You could fray them. Also store them loosely for the same reason.
Decorating your home for the Holidays is a fun and exciting experience for the whole family but be sure to follow these safety tips. You want to continue your Holiday joys without any hazards and problems.
Source: About
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Care and maintenance for shingles
Monday, July 11th, 2011
Do you want your roof shingles to have a long life? I am sure pretty much all of us do since replacing a roof can become quite expensive. There are ways to care and maintain for your shingles to keep them in good condition for longer than you might expect. Here are a few tips to keep your shingles in tip-top shape for the next few years:
Shingle tips according to the Handy American
- Inspect your roof for tree branches, leaves, etc. This can lead to problems if not cared for properly and in a timely manner so it’s good to clear your roof of all debris.
- Get an understanding of how roof flashing works. Roof flashing is where most leaks can occur.
- Check all of the shingles on your roof. A thorough inspection cna save you alot of money.
- Check and clear your gutters.
- Check and clear out any hanging tree limbs that may interfere with your shingles causing problems.
- Be sure to check for discoloration or streaks on your shingles.
- If you currently are experiencing leaks in your house, it’s a good idea to search for that particular leak to get it taken care of ASAP to avoid further problems and damage.
For more information on how you can care for your shingles check out, the Handy American on handyamerican.com.
Source: Handy American
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Concerns with pressure washing:Why it’s better to have a professional do it
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Image by Alexcua
Are you wanting to pressure wash your house siding, sidewalk, roof, or even your deck? You can attempt to do this yourself but it may be better to hire a professional to do the job.
Before I examine reasons why to have a professional do the pressure washing, let’s look at the benefits of pressure washing so that you can compare and contrast any ideas or opinions you may have.
According to Adam Maxwell over at ezinearticles.com, here are some benefits of pressure washing:
- It’s not as expensive as you think. Don’t replace with new siding, etc. Try pressure washing first to see the outcome. You may be saving yourself a lot of money in the long run.
- Pressure washing removes any mold present. Mold can cause health problems and allergic reactions. Mold can grow outside of the home so pressure washing even the outside of the home is very beneficial.
- Your roof shingles will last longer. Pressure washing your roof to remove anything like mold etc, will give your roof a longer life so to speak.
- Quality insulation and energy efficient. Pressure washing does more than one would think. Pressure washing aids in proper insulation, etc.
Now that you are brought up to speed on the benefits of pressure washing, let’s look at the reasons why it is better to have a professional do it vs. yourself:
- It’s cheaper to hire someone as purchasing the equipment yourself may be more costly. Everyone wants to save money right?
- You will most definitely save time if a professional does the pressure washing for you.
- The end results will be far greater than that if you do it yourself (DIY) Because a professional is trained in this line of work they understand how to produce quality work. If you know nothing about pressure washing, you will most likely end up doing a poor job.
Source: Ezine
Image: Wikimedia Commons
DIY: How to shingle a roof
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
Wikimedia Commons
If you are a “Do it Yourself” type of person most likely this includes large projects like on “how to shingle a roof.” If you have never done this before be advised that this DIY project takes a lot of your time and patience.
Things to consider
You first need to know how to replace roofing shingles. Take it from professionals who say that shingles take many years of knowledge and practice in order to get the job done correctly. Why is this such a long process to learn? Well according to “Brook Side Roofing” there is a lot involved and a lot to consider. What exactly is involved?
- Shingle choice
- Attic health
- Roof insulation requirements
- Roof deck damage and repair
- Roof ventilation
- Proper installation of flashings
- Deck shingle underlayment etc.
If this seems too much of a hassle or you are just unsure don’t hesitate to give in and hire a professional who has been in the business for quite some time. But if you feel you would really like to learn how to shingle a roof go to “How to Shingle a Roof” for a full instructions and examples of how to get the job done properly. It also shows you how to shingle a roof while on a budget and if you are in a hurry to get the job done.
Roof damage and your insurance company
Friday, January 28th, 2011
Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
How can you get your insurance company to pay for roof damage?
This is an excellent question. Maybe you currently have roof damage but you are fearing what the insurance company is going to say after filing the claim.
According to Distinctive Roofing, LLC, “insurance companies sent teams from all over the country to handle the large amount of claims. The claims ranged from hail damage to wind damage.”
The first thing to do is obviously contact your insurance company to see if they can possibly replace your roof. Believe it or not there are specific steps you need to take in order to possibly get your roof paid for. So, get a pen and paper and take notes even if you currently do not have roof damage. It’s always good to be prepared.
Steps to getting your damaged roof replaced and paid for
- According to Melvin Richardson over at eHow, it’s important to review your insurance policy. This will tell you if your roof is covered or not. Your roof may not be covered in certain situations so pay attention to the fine print to see if you will be spending an arm or a leg on a new roof.
- Call a local contractor to come out to your home to inspect the damage. Most likely he will survey the situation with some snap shots and from there you can determine what to do.
- File a claim with your insurance company ASAP. Give them details of the situation. Your insurance company will recruit an insurance adjuster to come out to thoroughly examine the damage to your roof. Be sure to present all important documents from your recent inspection. The contractor should not begin work until everything has been approved.
- When your claim has indeed been approved, call a contractor of your choosing so that he/she may begin work immediately. It’s important to observe their work to see if it is done professionally. You do not want quick and cookie-cutter work. Make sure the contractor takes pride in his work with outstanding results.
For information on why home insurance may deny roof claims go to ezine articles.
Have you experienced roof damage? If so did your insurance company pay to have it replaced? Please feel free to share your experiences. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Proper care of your gutter protects your home
Thursday, December 30th, 2010
Not only does cleaning out your gutters look better, but it prevents rain from spilling over the gutters, creating flooding in the home. Sure, you can handle the job yourself, but who wants to drag out the ladder and spend hours in an uncomfortable position, putting yourself of risk? Instead, hire a professional gutter cleaning service that can get the job done fast – and reasonably priced.
Gutters should be cleaned about twice a year, although this does vary depending on where you live. For example, being in an area with lots of trees can cause the gutters to get clogged more often. Since professional companies offer free estimates and quotes, be sure to check out a few companies in the area before hiring a service.
Also be sure that the service is fully insured and has reputable references. Many companies will even provide written testimonials from customers directly on their website, which is a great way to check out what others are saying. Finally, before signing an agreement, make sure that what you agreed to in terms of price and completed work is written in the contract.
Image c/o Ted Garvin
Power washing a roof
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
The impact of algae on your roof
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
You have all seen mold growing on the roofs in Florida. Many of our customers have asked,” is this damaging my roof.” Having cleaned roofs for years I decided to get to the bottom of this topic, but unfortunately there are many proponents for both sides. I will present some of the facts and you can decide for yourself.
Algae on a roof can cause damage.
This mold is airborne, and grows well particularly on the North side of your building. It feeds on the crushed limestone that is put in your shingles, to give them weight. It stands to reason that if it is feeding on your shingle, your shingle is breaking down, but the mass the shingle is losing is very small and the damage you can cause climbing on your roof or taking a pressure washer to it may be much greater than the damage the mold is causing. (The exception to this comment would be moss, which has roots and does damage your shingles.)
Most shingle manufacturers recommend you use a chlorine solution at low pressure to kill this mold. A high pressure washer will blow off the protective aggregate on your shingle, decreasing its life. There are also alternatives to chlorine, such as oxygen bleach, which is less caustic to your plants, but more costly to your wallet.
With the amount of UV exposure we experience here in Florida our shingles get more and more brittle as they bake on the roof. The older and more brittle your roof is the more likely you will damage it by walking on it.
Those of you who live in gated communities may not have a choice whether you want to clean your roof or not, due to your home owners association’s regulations. For those of you who have a choice, figure out how old your roof is, or how brittle your shingles are. You can do this manually easily by just bending the corner of one. If it breaks off in your hand it is probably not time to wash the roof. Let the roof live out its life and put the money you would have used to clean it towards the time you are ready to replace it. Because the roof is brittle doesn’t mean it doesn’t have many years left in it. It is just a good indicator that if you are walking around on it you could cause damage.
As always estimates and consulting on your projects is free.
Krystal Klean looks forward to taking care of your building maintenance needs. Please don’t hesitate to call (904) 520-4001 with any questions regarding our services. Thanks and have a great day!
