ROOF LEAKS – by Green Fin

<p>
1. Poor Roof Construction — This has become a serious problem in the past 15 years or so. Due to constant changes in the economy, the bidding on new structures (which includes virtually every kind of building including schools, hospitals, apartment buildings, shopping malls, and industrial buildings) has become so fierce that to get the job the roofing contractors must cut corners.<p>
The roofing contractors must fight the weather to meet completion deadlines. Oftentimes installation continues during unfavorable weather conditions. Sometimes moisture is trapped in the roofing system and can contribute to early failure of the roof. <p>
2. Normal Aging and Weathering – A roof begins to deteriorate the day it is constructed. Its main enemy is the weather. It takes a pounding from the sun, rain, snow and sleet; it is scorched by intense summer heat and buffeted by high winds from storms. The sun dries out the roofing paper; causes the tar to run and sag, weakening the roof mat. As this oxidation soaks the oils out of the paper, it becomes brittle and subject to cracking and splitting; and when the weather suddenly changes, the extreme expansion and contraction brings the ultimate disaster – A roof leak!<p>
3. Settling of the Building – All buildings settle; It is their nature, but some settle much more than others. When a building settles at an abnormal rate, this puts great stress on the roof. This unusual movement can, and will, create enough strain to cause a roof leak, which if left ignored will result in a general roof breakdown.<p>
4. Vibrations – Some of these result from natural phenomena such as earth tremors, severe storms such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Even buildings located many miles from such an act of nature can get enough impact to put a strain on the building, which in turn carried to the roof can contribute to a roof leak. Other vibrations from machines, equipment, air conditioners, railroads and truck traffic cause early failure.<p>
5. Mechanical Damage – Much more prevalent than you might think. In today’s technology, it has become standard to put many pieces of equipment on the roofs; air conditioning units, phone and TV antennas, sign supports, elevator housings etc., which presents a serious problem for two reasons.<p>
Sources:
<a href ="http://www.fixallroofs.com"> Roof Leaks and Roof Repair</a>
<a href ="http://www.buyliquidroof.com"> Liquid Rubber & Liquid EPDM</a>
<a href ="http://www.epdmcoatings.com"> EPDM Coatings</a>

Author is keen in home improvement researches.

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Roof Care and Cleaning – by Christopher Lovell

Have you noticed recently that your roof is dirty and maybe starting to look like something that has been left in the refrigerator a little too long? All that dirt and moss isn’t just an eye sore, it is damaging your roof. Dirt can cause you rooftop to stop absorbing and reflecting away heat properly which can damage your shingles. As well moss and algae growth can damage shingles and remove the granules which protect your shingles from damage.

Not sure if your roof is at risk, there are a couple ways to check and see. The first way is to check the gutters, the more granules in the gutters the more damage your shingles are taking. Another way is to take a board and wrap some tape around one end so that the sticky side is out and press it against some shingles to see how many granules come lose. If you notice the areas with dirt and growth lose more granules then other areas.

Still not sure you should clean your roof or not, here is a list of some reasons why you should:

1. Prolongs shingle life

2. Makes ugly roof stains vanish

3. Lowers utility bills

4. Reduces airborne allergens helping allergy sufferers

5. Inexpensive, fast, dramatic home Improvement

6. Helps resale value/ property value

7. Improves drinking water for cistern users

8. Puts doubts about your roof to rest for potential homebuyers and home inspectors

9. Cheaper than a new roof

10. “Extreme Makeover” for your roof improves curb appeal

Please note that getting on your own roof if you do not have experience in rooftop work can be dangerous. There are many companies out there that specialize in (http://cnc-construction.biz/) rooftop cleaning and you should leave that work to professionals.

Roof Cleaning Products

I highly recommend looking into a product called Roof Reviver. It is specifically designed to clean roofs and remove the dirt and growth from rooftops. I am sure there are (http://cnc-construction.biz/) rooftop cleaning specialists in your area that use this product, just make a few phone calls and find out who.

Roof Reviver can, in most cases, restore you rooftop to like new condition with only one application. This will add years to your roof and make your house look much more attractive. If you are looking to sell your home soon this can also increase the selling points of your home. This is due to the fact that the buyers know that they will not need to have the roof replaced as it is clean and growth free. Once you roof is clean and great looking I also recommend getting it rinsed once a year to continue to keep it clean. This will greatly increase the life of your shingles and help save you the money of having your roof replaced before it needed to be.

Benefits of a Clean Roof

Roof stains can cause your roof to hold in more heat due to the darkening effect of the stains, as much as a 25 degree increase. This heat increase can shorten shingle life, increase your cooling bills, and increase personal discomfort in your home.

A dirty roof can make it much harder to sell your home when that time comes. A functional, yet badly stained roof can make home-buyers, real-estate agents, and home inspectors doubtful of the roofs reliability and may cause them to want it to be replaced even though it is a perfectly good roof, which is stained. Therefore getting your roof cleaned before putting it on the market can actually save you money.

Also it just makes your home look much better. Having all the moss, algae, and stains removed from your roof can increase the look of your home greatly, you may not even notice the effect the stains are having on the appeal of your home, because they have always been there.

Christopher Lovell is a Web Content Specialist for Innuity. For (http://cnc-construction.biz/) rooftop cleaning and inspections call (http://cnc-construction.biz/) Elite Countertops today.

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Reflective Roof Coatings Institute Formed – by Ken Bowman

The Reflective Roof Coatings Insitute is a non-profit trade organization that will promote the benefits of reflective roof coatings in extending the life of roof systems while reducing energy consumption and demand for the building envelope. Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) December 31, 2005 — Several companies engaged in the development and manufacture of reflective roof coating materials have banded together to form the Reflective Roof Coatings Institute (RRCI). The purposes of the Institute are: 1. To promote the benefits of reflective roof coatings in extending the life of roof systems while reducing energy consumption and demand for the building envelope; 2. To promote the highest standards in product promotion, application training and product performance within the reflective roof coating industry; 3. To promote the development and research of data relating to the application, performance and value of reflective roof coatings; and 4. To advance the best interests of the reflective roof coatings industry. The first organizational meeting was held in Chicago in November where Jim Leonard, president of ERSystems, Rockford, MN, was named the interim president of RRCI. “Because of the growing importance of the California Energy Commission’s Title 24 program, we felt the time was right to form an organization that would not only promote reflective roof coatings but also provide a means to educate the end-users of their benefits”, stated Leonard at the recent organization meeting. At present the RRCI is engaged in actively recruiting new members and have had twenty companies become Founding Members of the Institute. Ken Bowman, president of the Robstan Group, Inc – an association management company located in Kansas City, MO – has been retained to act as the executive director and help manage RRCI. Bowman said, “With our experience in managing construction related associations, we are very proud that the Robstan Group has been chosen to be RRCI’s partners in getting this association started.” The next meeting of RRCI will be held in Las Vegas on February 12, 2006 at the Tropicana Resort & Casino that will be open to the entire industry. “At this meeting, we will continue the business of establishing the Institute but we are also going to have general sessions to discuss issues facing our industry. We feel this meeting will be a great start for RRCI in helping provide an educational venue for reflective roof coatings”, stated Leonard. There are three categories of membership in RRCI: Manufacturer, Raw Material Supplier and Associate, which includes sales representatives, design professionals, consultants, architects and engineers. For more information about the Reflective Roof Coatings Institute, please contact Ken Bowman at 816.472.8870 or visit www.reflectivecoatings.org. # # #

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How Long to Install a New Roof? – by Steven Briesemeister

The roof is by far one of the most important parts of your house when it comes to protecting the rest of the building and it’s occupants from extreme weather conditions and many roofs are in a state of disrepair. Yet, despite this, they are left to worsen before people are willing to act and either pay for decent repairs or bite the bullet and have a new roof fitted. Paying for patched repairs or doing them yourself, when you don’t really know what you are doing, may prove cheaper in the short term but it won’t be long before you have to patch up the holes on a very regular basis. One of the most effective ways to lengthen the lifespan of any roof is with regular maintenance and checks conducted by a professional.
The life of your roof.
Knowing how long to install a new roof really is a question of knowing how well looked after your current roof is. Many new roofs come with a life of up to 20 years and some more durable and hard wearing roofs will have a life as long as 40 or 50 years but if you don’t care for your roof and regularly have it checked and maintained you face a very real risk of substantially decreasing this lifespan. When you have a new roof fitted you should, as far as possible, pay as much as you can afford to ensure that you get as long a life as possible with your new roof.
Taking the plunge.
Having a new roof fitted will mean a fairly major upheaval in your life. It may be necessary for you to move out while it is being done so it is important to know exactly how long to install a new roof will take. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t that straight forward. Everything depends on the size of the roof, the shape of the roof and exactly what you are having fitted. Applying a single layer of shingles on an existing roof is unlikely to take longer than a few days but having your existing roof completely removed and an entirely new one built can take a number of weeks. To get an accurate idea you should get a quote from a professional roofing contractor and ensure that this information will be included. Do be aware that things can go wrong and even when there is nothing wrong with the roof a sudden change in the weather can set the construction of your new roof back dramatically.
Start as you mean to go on.
Once you have your new roof fitted you shouldn’t just assume that because it comes with a ten-year warranty you won’t need to do anything about maintenance for the first ten years. You should, wherever possible, have an annual check up just to make sure that everything is ok because if a small problem is found it can be fixed before the small problem grows into a much larger and more costly problem.

Steven Briesemeister who is the owner of http://www.roofer911.com has 33 years experience in all types of roof repair problems and new roof installation for residential and commercial accounts. As a Long Island and Northern Virgina roofing contractor, we believe, “Quality Doesn’t Cost…It Pays!

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Home Inspection – Going On Top – by robert hanania

Everyone who buys or sells a house, apartment or condo is going to use a home inspector at one time or another and even though you pretty much know what they do, many of you might have more appreciation for them once you learn more details of there chosen profession. Home inspectors have been around for a long time and they will be here for a lot longer, preparing reports, giving advice and recommendations and to some, a peace of mind. Because this is a big subject and there is a lot to say, right know I will focus on roof inspection and also give a little class on roof construction.
First the basics – Pitched Roofs
The basic structure of a typical pitched roof is: the framework, a deck and a weather resistant covering. The purpose of the deck is to serve as a base for supporting the roof covering, which is what protects the roof. (Pretty simple so far, right?) A pitched roof has a series of parallel beams (joists) joined at the top at angles, like tepees with a supporting overlay (the deck), usually plywood or similar material that serves as a base for supporting the roof covering (shingles), which has the purpose of shedding the water away from the roof either into gutters or just falling off the roofline. The deck is not waterproof so the shingles must be intact and able to withstand all types of weather, (except tornadoes and meteoroids) be it snow, hail, or rain.
I can’t speak for all home inspectors because they have there own techniques and working procedures. Like most people I had a couple of them look over my house, so from my experience they generally do a outside visual of roofs that entails walking around the house, sometimes with the aid of binoculars for close-up viewing or use a ladder for ranch type houses, if practical. They generally don’t want to walk up there for liability issues (fear of there foot going through the roof), but I feel that is the best way to check for roof structural integrity and they need to do it anyway for flat roofs. Needless to say they would be responsible for any damages they do in the course inspection!
A typical roof inspection will include checking for:
Uneven shingles – poor installation of a second layer over an old one. This might be ok but will be prone to water damage. When making an attic inspection the deck should be checked for damage and signs of leakage.

Sagging roof – probably deck damage, but may be a structural problem like a damaged ridge beam (A beam placed on end at the top of the roof and fastened to the rafters) or a roof deck that may not have adequate bracing or spacing of wood-frame support members. This is better left for a structural engineer for evaluation.

Roof ventilation – in a way roofs have to breathe too, that’s why there are roof vents on the roof and in the soffit (a horizontal board nailed to a roof overhang). Warm air must have an escape in attic space or there will be moisture buildup and the wood will rot. This can also cause streaks on interior walls and peeling paint. An inspection should be made of vent placement and count to evaluate if there is adequate ventilation.

Shingles- If the roof is pitched it will most likely have overlapping shingles to shed water away and down the roof. The south and southwest sides of the roof gets most of the sun that makes brittle and age faster, thereby causing deterioration. If there is any cracking, pealing or breakage of these ’tiles’ they will need repair or replacement because it will not protect the roof.

Flat Roofs
Even if a roof has a slight pitch it is considered a flat roof. As with the pitched roof this is the first thing inspected. Sometimes an interior wall that has signs of water damage could be traced back to the roof. Since this type of roof can’t be seen from the ground inspection must be made at top of the house. On a two story or more building access to the roof has to be made from inside, a stairwell, ladder, or an access hole in the ceiling of a room, probably a bedroom closet or pantry. As with any type of roof ventilation is key so checking for air vents is a must. A ventilation opening can be a pipe coming from the roof top or an open space on the side of the roofline right below the roof. A flat roof differs from a pitched one in that it is water tight, not just shedding water like a pitched one. At one time standing water was considered a good thing because it would cool the roof a bit during the summer months. There should be no ponds of standing water because this could be a breeding ground for insects and more importantly plants, where the roots can break through the asphalt covering. Special attention should me made when inspecting flat roofs because even small cracks between the roofs drain and the roof covering could become serious.
There are many types of flat roofs like single-ply membrane, roll roofing, metal roofs, hot tar covered or built-up roofs an inspecting them is similar in every case. The inspector will look for any visible cracking, blisters, weak spots or any kind of corrosion that will compromise the structural integrity of the roof. The cause of a leak on an interior wall or ceiling may be hard to find because it may have started on the roof, then zig-zagged its way down, but several feet away from the area you saw it.
These are some of the things home inspectors look for and report on when checking roofs. They not only go in 120ºF attics but also crawl under houses, and look in chimney stacks, but do with a great of courtesy and professionalism!

Robert is the owner and operator of this website: http://www.houseimprovementonline.net and a true fanatic of learning and sharing ‘how to’ material and info. If you love anything ‘do it yourself’ you should visit this website and http://www.fileanddatarecovery.com

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Green Roof Is Installed At The New St. Louis Variety Playground In Forest Park . – by Todd Schowalter

Green Roof Blocks ™, recently installed its patent pending self contained green roof system at the new St. Louis Variety Playground in Forest Park. (PRWEB) November 19, 2005 — Green Roof Blocks ™, recently installed its patent pending self contained green roof system at the new St. Louis Variety Playground in Forest Park. The educational green roof was contracted by BSI Construction. BSI served as the general contractor of the 10,200 square foot playground which is located next to the Lindell Pavilion Visitors Center and was dedicated on October 22. Green Roof Blocks™, makers of the nation’;s only portable green roof system, installed the green roof on the playground’s entry pavilion. Green Roofs are aesthetic vegetated roof covers that help to reduce energy consumption and costs, decrease storm water runoff, and preserve the life of roof materials. Green Roof Blocks™ is a subsidiary of St. Louis Metalworks, with offices located at 11701 New Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63033. The company maintains a web site at: www.greenroofblocks.com and media site at, www.greenroofsmedia.com. ###

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Green Roof Blocks„¢ Attends Environmental Expo Hosted By Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee – by Todd Schowalter

Green Roof Blocks (TM), makers of a completely self contained, portable green roof system, has been invited by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) to demonstrate its product Green Roof Blocks„¢ during the Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Products Exposition for Olympic Projects taking place July 12“14, 2005 in Beijing. St. Louis, MO July 11, 2005– Green Roof Blocks (TM), has been invited by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) to demonstrate its product Green Roof Blocks„¢ during the Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Products Exposition for Olympic Projects taking place July 12“14, 2005 in Beijing. Green Roof Blocks„¢ are self contained portable units that hold four square feet of drought resistant sedum foliage. Green Roof Blocks help to reduce energy consumption and costs, decrease storm water run off and preserve the life of the roof by up to four times.The decorative and functional units are placed on the existing roof and provide building owners with a decorative and affordable way to literally add “life” to the building. A typical commercial green roof requires expensive water proofing, drainage systems and an excessive amount of soil. However, Green Roof Blocks„¢ are completely self contained and provide an affordable solution to installing a green roof. The Beijing expo will allow exhibitors to demonstrate their products and services to China ’s growing green construction community. The expo will be attended primarily by owners, investors, contractors, designers and municipal government departments involved in the Olympic projects. In addition to the upcoming Olympic Games, Green Roof Blocks„¢ hopes to expand its sales efforts to additional China markets. Green Roof Blocks„¢ is a subsidiary of St. Louis Metalworks, with offices located at 11701 New Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63033.The company maintains a web site at, www.greenroofblocks.com and media site at, www.greenroofsmedia.com .

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Getting In Touch With Roofing Contractors In Connecticut – by Ernest Jarquio

There are numerous roofing companies all over the country. But if you are looking for one just within the Connecticut area, then read on. This is a list of roofing contractors in Connecticut. The companies are arranged in no particular order. Please note that the author is not associated with any of these contractors and this list is provided only as a starting point to help make your search more efficient.

Phil’s Main Roofing. This is a family-owned and operated company. It has been around for three generations, providing residential and commercial roofing services to Fairfield County, as well as its surrounding areas.

The company’s sales and project management departments are equipped with knowledge and expertise on vital aspects of roofing and sheet metal work. Their services include design, installation and repair of residential and commercial roofs. The company’s sheet metal shop also manufactures roofing panels, custom gutters, and flashings. Aside from the regular services, Phil’s Main Roofing also caters to snowplowing and sanding needs. They offer a 24-emergency service.

A Concept Roof. This has been around for seventeen years. The company provides services for a wide variety of roofing systems: fiberglass shingles, shake, wood shingles, asphalt, hot tar and gravel, EPDM, flat roofing, and single ply. They accept repainting, waterproofing and installation projects. A Concept Roof also undertakes repair and restoration of roofing systems.

Bailiwick Roofing. This contractor specializes in the following services: wood roofing, slate, fiberglass shingles, E.D.P.M. rubber roofing, gutters, leaders, copper flashing, ice and snow removal, skylight installation and replacement, and flat roof pitching.

Burnham Building. The company offers roofing services to residential buildings in the Connecticut area. They accept roof installation, repair, and remodeling projects. They also take maintenance jobs for residential roofing systems.

Burr Roofing Company. They specialize in residential roofing services. The company provides residential roof installation, repair and remodeling services. It has been around since 1969.

Jimmy’s Home Remodeling. The company provides services to residential owners in Connecticut. The services they provide include: gutters and leaders, gutter cleaning, roof inspection, roof material testing, roof installation, roof maintenance, roof repair, sheet metal work, and other roofing projects.

NCI Construction. This contractor provides construction services that involve general contracting, restoration, painting, masonry and carpentry work, waterproofing, and more. One of the services they offer is roof installation. They also provide roof repair, restoration, and maintenance services.

Roofing Specialists. This company provides services to residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Aside from roof installation, they also provide services such as roof inspection, roof maintenance, roof repair, roof material testing, sheet metal work, gutter cleaning, and other roof-related work.

Home Resource. The company provides roofing, siding, and other home improvement services. It gives roof installation services, mainly, to residential buildings. The company has been in operation for over five years.

Ctroofer.com. The company has been servicing residential roofs for over eighteen years. It accepts roof installation projects, as well as repair and maintenance services. It also provides gutter cleaning, roof inspection, and sheet metal services.

Weathertite Systems, LLC. With over twenty years of experience, Weathertite specializes in residential roofing projects. The company does not employ sub-contractors for the projects. It uses its own crew of eight to seventeen installers. The owner also visits the site frequently to make sure that the strict quality standard of the company is maintained.

The companies mentioned might not service all areas of Connecticut, so be sure to contact the nearest one. The roofing contractors in Connecticut may also vary in their service rates and packages.

Visit Flooring2Roof.com for useful information and resources about roofing contractors in Connecticut, Florida roofing contractors and Elk Roofing.

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Gallagher’s Construction: Making A Difference in the World of Roofs in Texas. – by suny

<p>Gallagher’s Construction: Making A Difference in the World of Roofs in Texas.</p>
<p>Roofs have undergone a lot of changes in the last few decades. A variety of roofing are made these days such as flat roof, asphalt roof, steep roof, wooden roof, slate roof, tile roof, concrete roof shingle roof and many more. You can have the roofing of your choice but it becomes necessary to take certain points into consideration while selecting roofing for your residence or office. However, this hassle of selecting a roof can be solved if you are the residents of Dallas and Houston. Gallagher’s constructions provides you with all the kinds of roofing that you require and will help you in building the most ideal <a href="http://gallaghersconstruction.com/">roofing</a> of a good quality.</p>
<p>Roofs are generally meant to protect you from cold, heat, wind and rain. But it has got an aesthetic value since the ancient times. However, in today’s world roofs are more cubical in shape and have lost its charm of magnificence as they are now-a-days only meant for the purpose of protection. Gallagher is one of the standard companies located in Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth. It is a company dealing in one of the best roofing services available in Texas. If you are tired of the leaking roof or you need to change or repair the roof then this company can be of utmost use to you. </p>
<p>Gallagher is also an expert in building a flat roof and the company builds all sorts of <a href="http://gallaghersconstruction.com/">flat</a> <a href="http://gallaghersconstruction.com/">roofs</a> such as Asphalt roof which is very common made by several layers of plies and asphalt, EPDM – Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, CSPE – Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene, PVC – Polyvinyl Choride, Curon and so on. There are number of benefits of flat roofs like: it occupies the coefficient of all the rooms and therefore, the above space as well as below space both can be utilized. It also permits fixation of solar panels as it is necessary to save natural resources and the best way would be to use solar energy. It is also an  ideal roof for planting of plants and a terrace garden as tough waterproofing can be done on it, it is easy to maintain these roofs. Flat roof are thus the most convenient roofs in the modern era.</p>
<p>Thus, if you are in Texas you simply need not worry about the roofing just fill in free estimation online form and get your roofing done with the best company in Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth.</p>

Roofs have undergone a lot of changes in the last few decades. A variety of roofing are made these days such as flat roof, asphalt roof, steep roof, wooden roof, slate roof, tile roof, concrete roof shingle roof and many more.

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Does your insurance cover roof repair cost – by Tanya Wiseman

<p>
As homeowners, we are not always protected from the weather conditions that may be prone to the area we live in. Anything from rains, snow, frost, humidity and storms, we have to be ready to protect our home. Your roofing insurance coverage may be able to provide the coverage for several roof damages. When you obtain the insurance, it is always wise to check with your insurance agent about your policy’s coverage as it relates to roofing insurance claims, and what is covered in the case of loss.
Homeowner’s policies do not contain coverage for "match" issues. Your policy says the company will pay "to repair or replace the damaged property with material of like kind and quality" (language varies by state). That means, they owe to replace the individual shingles or tiles that were damaged by a covered peril (wind, hail, etc) unless your shingles are old, brittle, and cannot be repaired. In that case, the company must pay to replace the affected slope(s). Over the years, lawsuits established precedents, claims settlement statutes in each state. These guidelines address match as well as other issues. In some states it is customary to replace only the individual shingles, unless there is a reparability issue or mechanical mismatch which makes it impossible. In some states, it is customary to replace only the slopes containing damage. In other states, line-of-sight guidelines prevail, this allows replacement of roof covering on one or more elevations. Please check with your agent for more details.
If the shingles that are currently on your roof are no longer manufactured, the company is responsible for replacing your entire roof. But if your shingles are manufactured and do not match the existing shingles due to weathering, the company is only responsible for replacing the damaged shingles, not the whole roof.
Some homeowners insurance make adverse underwriting decisions based on the make up or condition of the roof of a home. The type of roofing materials include, but are not limited to: wood roofs, multi-layered roofs (composition shingles over wood or several layers of composition shingles), asbestos shingles, and sheet tin or aluminum roofs.

Here are some tips to reduce potential damages and home insurance premiums, when it comes to roofing:
Hailstorms do not usually result in the catastrophic damage associated with windstorms or fire. However, hail does result in significant damage to homes. The main area of a home susceptible to hail damage is the roof. The following are ways that can help mitigate damage in the event of hail:
1. Roof Covering – The condition and materials of the roof covering can improve the impact resistance. Worn asphalt shingles are especially vulnerable to hail damage. Impact-resistant roof coverings designed and tested to improve roof performance during hailstorms are available.
2. Roof Decking – The roof decking provides the structural support for the roof covering. Solid roof decking improves the impact resistance of the roof. Material and construction techniques can improve the stiffness of the roof decking and help reduce hail damage.
3. Roof Slope – Angling the roof reduces the force of impact from hail. Hail hitting the roof at a 90-degree angle causes more damage than hail hitting the roof at an angle that deflects the force of the hail.
Hurricane/ Tornado
The main areas of a home that could be improved to help mitigate damages and losses in the event of a hurricane are the roof, the windows, the doors, and garage doors (if present). Hurricane loss mitigation efforts should typically attempt to prevent a structure from being penetrated by the wind. Keeping the roof intact, and keeping the doors and windows sealed shut are of utmost importance.
Roof – The type and condition of roof can be a significant factor in the amount of damage sustained by a structure in a hurricane or tornado. For instance, gable roofs are more likely to suffer damage from the high wind generated by hurricanes/tornados. Also, the quality of the construction can affect the performance of the roof in high winds. When the roof decking is not properly attached to the roof frame, the roof may not survive high winds.
Loose shingles or tiles increase the susceptibility of the roof to high winds. Once the roof structure is compromised, the integrity of the roofing is weakened and the interior of the house and its contents become susceptible to water damage or even the collapse of the roof itself. Loose tiles and shingles also become dangerous projectiles in the high winds. <p>
Wildfire
The two main areas of a home that could be improved to help mitigate damages and losses in the event of a wildfire are the roof covering, and landscaping. Fire loss mitigation efforts should typically attempt to prevent a structure from catching fire. Proper landscaping can keep the fire from getting close enough to the structure to ignite it, while proper roof covering can help prevent ignition from floating embers.
Roof Covering – The type of roof covering will depend on the other perils a home faces. Concrete or tile roofs are very fire resistant, but can be prone to hail damage. An asphalt shingle with good fire rating is often the most cost-effective choice a homeowner has. Wood shakes or shingles are to be avoided for homes exposed to wildfire, as these roofs are the most fire prone.
Winter Freeze
The easiest and most effective way to reduce potential loss from winter freeze is to conduct regular maintenance on your home and property. You should be aware of the potential hazards of seasonal temperature changes, and protect your home accordingly. The major areas of concern should be gutters, outdoor faucets, the maintenance of appropriate indoor and attic temperatures, as well as that landscape, whose proximity to your home might pose a winter freeze-related danger.
Gutters – To prevent or lessen the possible impact of a winter freeze, gutters should be cleared of debris and flushed out with a garden hose. This will help prevent ice dams from forming at the base of the roof, and in the gutter area.
We don’t always know when Mother Nature will send forth her fury, but we can be prepared for unexpected disasters. Review your homeowners’ coverage every year and talk to your insurance agent if you have questions. Don’t compound the disaster of losing your home by not having adequate insurance coverage to replace it.

Tanya is the the author for

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