Preparing Your Home for Winter

New York winters can be harsh. In order to survive through the rain, wind and snow without significant damage, it’s important to make preventative repairs to the roof, gutters and siding before the storms start. Proper drainage and insulation is essential for maintaining the quality of your home and ensuring that your family can stay comfortable during the winter. Even though it is October, it is not too late to get some repairs in before the bigger storms start to roll into the city.

Roofing – the roof is the most important part of protecting your home from weather. Leaks during storms can cause a significant amount of damage to the interior of the home and can end up costing a lot more money than replacing and repairing the roof would. A Real Advantage Inc. are experts at roofing and they specialize in asphalt shingles, slate and tile and metal roofs. There’s no reason to delay when it comes to protecting your home.

Gutters – a proper and clear gutter system is essential for drainage during storms. Backed up gutters and improper water management can cause significant damage to the home during storms, meaning big and unnecessary costs in the long run. Let A Real Advantage construction improve your drainage, remove leaks and debris, clean downspouts, install new gutters and make adjustments to old gutters. You’ll thank yourself on a rainy day when all the water is drained to safe areas that can’t cause damage to your valuable home.

Quick Fixes For Damages to a Roof

Storms can wreak a lot of havoc on a home. Especially to one’s roof. Sometimes so much so, that a significant roof repair is required. But what do you do if something happens to your roof and a repairman can’t work on it in the middle of the storm? You very well can’t let rainwater pour into your exposed house. You should do some emergency patchwork if you can, at least to hold it over until some professional work can be done. Here’s what to do:

The thing to realize about roof repairs in the wake of a storm is that they don’t have to be pretty or permanent. They just have to work long enough to secure your home until a professional repairman can come.

For a small hole – Tuck a piece of aluminum flashing under the nearest intact shingle above the damage. Use one or two nails to keep the aluminum flashing in place. This is a quick fix though so don’t wait too long to repair it with a real shingle. This should only be used to hold your roof over until the storm breaks and you can get it professionally repaired.

For any larger damage – If the storms are bad and you’ve got to cover up a large area quick, drape a tarp over the ridge and fasten every grommet to the roof sheathing with a 2 inch screw and 1.5 inch fender washer. If you have a tile roof that can’t be screwed into, fasten the edges of the tarp to the roof’s rakes and eaves. This should keep rain out temporarily.

For longer-term patching: Although you really need to get a professional roof repairman there immediately after the storm, if you can’t then here’s how to tarp for longer periods of time. First, cover the hole with 5/8 inch exterior grade plywood and fasten to the undamaged areas with 2 inch deck screws. This should prevent water from pooling up on the tarp. Now, pull the tarp so one edge goes over the roof peak and a few feet down the other side. Secure the tarp’s edges with 1x3 strapping and screw to the roof sheathing or fasten to the roof’s rakes and eaves. This should hold intact, until you can get a repairman out.

Check With a Real Advantage Construction

Check with A Real Advantage Construction for the following:

1. Ask for more details on metal roofing.
2. Seek an explanation about shingles and the composite material used in the same.
3. Check for a good ventilation system.
4. Ask for guarantees and read the contract well.
5. Insist on timely delivery and fixing.

Your apprehensions will be well answered by the efficient team of roofers. On site too, you could inspect the material used. Usually for maintenance, the senior supervisor will visit your house and give you an estimate of the repairs and maintenance. Extra costs for replacement will be given to you with proper billing. Do you wish to take care of your attic? Most roofing companies gladly extend the service for attic requirements. They will give you an estimate on the phone too.

You can get the details from us via email. These websites will as you to fill in some details and you can get the instant estimation. Since the brilliant team at the customer service standards your time and money, they keep themselves updated with the recent styles in roofing. For further information, you can also visit their office. The special job is the commercial roofing. Professionals at the roofing company will give you varied options. They give you an estimate for completion of the job. Look into the tapered roof systems and the asphalt types.

Replacing Your Roof!

Are you planning to replace your roof. You can check the tiled effect roofs. They give you a stylish look and they can also withstand to any wind conditions or a rainy climate. But is the main factor when you consider these materials. The adhesives, hinges and all the new quality in roof building material are checked. The key asset of this roof is its durability. Be it any type of construction the cleaning is a mandatory aspect, the company sees to it that the entire place to ensure that there is no residue of nails, adhesive or particles of roof. If it is done properly there is no damage caused to your patio, plants or other facade of your house.

A good brand name is attached with the New York roofing company because they use a genuine material. It thereby extends the area of security to your house. You must check out the new schemes available in roofing if you are to build a new house or a villa. You can plan your roof to be in an artistic way especially if it is a farmhouse or a holiday home. Just flip the pages of the catalog to know the creative ideas in roof. You must select a roof which needs to be very neat in its concept and compressed in nature.

The imperative criteria of a home buyer is the roof and walls of a room. Consequently your part in investing a roof is indispensable as you're asking rate in case of sale that you can get a superior roof. If you are much bothered about your peace of mind then a good piece of roof can do that. In certain situation you might have urgent requirement for fixing a roof, then you may contact your nearest New York roofing company. If you see them since they are professionals time is never a constraint. The roofing company will serve you as an urgent requirement, if there is an emergency.

Choosing Roofing Contractors

Are you looking for good roofing contractors in New York? Given are some ways in how you can get skilled and experienced roofing contractors:

Type of Roofing

You should first decide the type of roofing you want. For instance, you can choose between asphalt and wooden shingles. Both these varieties are immensely popular among the home owners. However, your decision will also depend on your budget and style of your home.

Roofing Contractor

You should contact several roofing contractors before arriving at a decision. Ask your builder or friends for recommendations on roofing contractors. You can also contact the local builders association if you are having difficulty in finding roofing contractors. This association can suggest someone who has been in this field for many years.

Quotes for the Project

You should ask the contractors to provide quotes for the project. Provide access to your property and ask them to inspect the condition of your roofing. Ensure that all the contractors are bidding for the same roofing type. For instance, all the contractors should bid for asphalt shingles.

Add-On Costs

Ensure that the firm also includes additional costs in their bid. Some of the add-on costs that can be added are as follows:

* Removal of old roofing and shingles

* Applying roofing felt

* Trimming down nearby branches

Ask the firms to state the additional costs in advance. Keep in mind that it is not necessary to remove the existing roofing for installing a new one.

A Commercial Roofing Contractor

When you're looking for a roofer for your commercial roofing project you need to find a contractor who understands the special needs of a commercial roofing project. For example it can be harder to work on a business during business hours so either the business has to be shut down for the repair or replacement or the job has to be done after conventional business hours. Is the roofer you are considering for the job willing and able to work around your schedule constrictions which might involve working weekends or evenings?

When you begin your search for a roofing contractor not only do you need to answer those questions but you also want to find someone that will do a high quality job without a lot of time delays. Going about finding someone can seem like an obstacle in itself but there are some ways to make the search easier.

Ask friends and family for referrals and try to find at least three contractors to give you written bids on your job. Before you go any further you need to make sure that the contractors you are considering are fully licensed and bonded. A simple search with the state contractor's board will verify if your roofer is licensed and if there are any past judgments or claims against their license.

Once you select three or four roofers to place bids, you should prepare yourself for the bids to be widely varied. Roofers will have brand preferences that will vary and may factor in more or less than the next guy for a labor estimate. The more detailed a written bid is the more helpful it will be for you to see where the cost are going to be incurred. Don't, however, select a roofer based solely on the bid price. Any low ball bids may be tempting to take, but if they are low because of poor quality workman ship it may not be worth it in the end.

Go With the Pros for Commercial Roofing

As the owner of a business, you know how important maintenance is to your building. Most companies have a maintenance man (or crew, for larger companies) that takes care of the interior and exterior aspects of the building. This is typically inclusive of electrical and plumbing repairs, overloaded gutter systems, paint touch ups and even issues that arise with the heating and cooling system. Commercial roofing, however, is a whole other ballgame. Most states require roofers to be licensed and a typical maintenance crew leader is not. For repairs and replacements on the roof, a professional needs to complete the job.

Having an unlicensed, uninsured individual doing repairs on a business’s roof can be a huge liability. If the individual were to get hurt, you would be held responsible for any and all costs pertaining to pain, suffering and medical care. Beyond that, if the person makes a mistake, you have no recourse. Everything may seem fine when he leaves the job, but a week later during a downpour you realize that the ceiling may as well be Swiss cheese. What do you do then? Since the person that did the work was unlicensed, uninsured and likely not incorporated, you really have no place to turn. You will end up spending more money to have a pro come in to repair the work that was already paid for and completed, albeit incorrectly.


When you need commercial roofing repairs completed, it is best to do a little fact checking. Get a license number from the contractor and cross-reference that with the state’s database. Check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure complaints have not been filed. Ask to see a copy of the business’s liability insurance policy, and then call the administering agent to make sure the insurance is active and covers the scope of your project. If any of these areas seem a bit muddled or grey, look for a different roofing contractor.

Benefits of Roofing Inspections

Many homeowners conduct a formal or informal roofing inspection on an annual basis. Perhaps more than any other material used to build your home, the roof is subject to wear and tear and may be particularly bad if the weather has been extreme or destructive. When conducting an inspection, it is important to keep in mind what part of the country you live in, what sort of weather patterns your area experiences, how often your roof has been maintained or replaced in the past, and what kind of material it is.

Whether you hire an inspector or do-it-yourself, some things to look for when inspecting your roof include verifying integrity of flashings around chimneys and vents, looking for asphalt gravel in gutters or bare spots on shingles, checking for warping in wooden shingles, finding signs of pitting or rusting in metal roofs, and looking for brittle slate or clay tile shingles that are particularly susceptible to bad weather. Don't forget to look under eaves and around skylights for signs of water damage. Many roofing companies offer free inspections and can be contracted on an annual basis to come by your home and look for damage. Regular inspections can be worth their weight in gold and often save a lot of time and money in the long run.

If your roof inspection shows damage, the next question may be whether to replace or repair. While replacement is often expensive, older homes may actually save money when repair work is extensive. The biggest factor determining the cost of replacement or repair is roofing material. The most expensive materials are clay tiles and the least expensive are asphalt shingles. However, it is important to keep in mind your location in the country and particular weather patterns when choosing materials. The decision to repair or replace may arise much more often if you choose clay tiles in an area that receives a lot of ice storms.

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Roof Vents

In the hot summers of New York, a ridge vent could be avery important part of your asphalt or fiberglass shingle roof replacement Bronx, and could save money on your energy bills. Roof vents are an important product that draws hot, humid air outside and pulls fresh air into the attic. Venting moisture out of your house will reduce mold problems. Removing hot air will keep your air conditioner wasting energy and costing you money.

Roof Ridge vents Bronx are not required by national building codes, but many local codes are requiring the use of them. Check your local building codes to see if your city requires a ridge vent and consider getting one for your shingle roof replacement Queens whether it is required or not.

There are several products on the market that can be installed as part of your fiberglass or asphalt shingle roof New York project. Credit: Courtesy Tarco Specialty ProductsMichigan City, Ind. based Blocksom and Co. offers a natural fiber product called Roof Saver that vents the ridge and can survive the severe winds of Miami and the Southeast coast. Made from high-density fiber on polyester netting, it removes hot air from the attic and eliminates potential damage to the roof, the company says.

Rapid Ridge Metric from Benjamin Obdyke in Horsham, Pa., is a nylon and polyester product that will keep roofs dry and tight for a longer period of time, the company says. The product is designed to protect roofs that have been installed with metric asphalt and fiberglass shingles New York. It helps the asphalt shingle roof Queens stay dry in warm regions of the country. The product is also a benefit to builders, Grimes says, because it comes with its own 1 U-inch collated nails and installs quickly.

Definitely Flat Roofing Materials

It’s a fact that your roof is one of the most important parts of your house and is the one thing that provides the building structure, the building occupants and the building contents with protection from the elements. Many roofs are in a state of disrepair but homeowners ignore this until the roof gets worse or until the weather gets worse.


With regular maintenance and the early identification and fixing of any problems you can usually avoid the big problems that have equally big price tagsattached to them. Regular maintenance in this way will also help extend the life of your roof New York.

Selecting flat roofing materials.
Flat roofs New York have extra difficulties associated with them. Because they do not slope rainwater does not automatically run down the roof and drain off. It is absolutely vital that flat roofing materials are as water resistant and water tight as possible to prevent serious damage to the roof itself and to the rest of the building and it’s contents. New types of flat roofing material are being used and while these offer more in the way of protection they are also more expensive as a general rule. There are still three main types of flat roofing materials that are used on a regular basis on new and older houses.



Built up flat roofing materials New York.

Built up roofing is basically just that. Built up roofing consists of laying down several layers of tar and water resistant materials and then covered with gravel. This is quite an old technique but the introduction of new waterproof materials has seen the strength and durability of this technique increase. The gravel acts as a good fire resistant layer and can be made to look very attractive. It is usually the cheapest of the flat roofing materials available, however, it is very heavy and may require strengthening of the joists. It is also impractical to use on residential houses that are being lived in because it smells terribly. The gravel itself can clog gutters and other vital aspects of water drainage.



Modified Bitumen flat roofing.
Modified bitumen is another stalwart in the world of flat roofing materials. Once upon a time it was necessary to use torchdown techniques that involved burning the roll of material onto the roof, however it is now possible to get adhesive varieties, thus cutting out the potential fire hazard that is sometimes associated. The mineral surface that is used to create modified bitumen can be created in light colors, effectively reflecting the heat and sun. This will cut down on your energy bills during the summer months, and it can even be installed by any avid (and competent) do it yourself fanatic.

Got Shingles?

Shingles cover 80% of America’s homes, but they are far from being all the same. Today’s shingles come in a large variety of colors, styles, and materials to meet any homeowner’s demands. Before we look at the different types of shingles available there are some other elements we should first consider.

Climate - shingles treated with zinc or copper New York are resistant to algae and fungus. This is something you will definitely want to have if you live in a damp, humid climate such as Florida, or Louisiana.

Building Codes - In some areas local law restricts certain roof types. The number of shingle layers a roof can have may be limited as well. A quality roofing contractor will be able to help make this decision with you.

Roof Pitch - The slope of the roof is something else that will be a factor in deciding which shingles are right for your home. Again, this is where a qualified professional New York can help guide you in the right direction.

Roof shingles are made with many different kinds of materials to suit a large range of needs. We will examine some of the major types of shingles, what they are made of, and how long they will last.

Asphalt Shingles - Often called composite shingles; asphalt shingles are widely popular due to being lightweight and relatively inexpensive. They are made by permeating a fiber material with asphalt. Since the late 1950’s manufacturers have constantly worked to improve quality by utilizing modern synthetic materials. The newer fibers being used make synthetic asphalt shingles more fireproof than their organic predecessors. They also absorb less asphalt; making them lighter also. Both types are covered with various colors of ceramic coated mineral granules. This not only adds to the beauty of the roof, but also protects the roof from the suns ultraviolet rays and increases the fire resistance. Granules of copper or zinc are used to fight algae growth. Most asphalt shingles have spots or strips of thermoplastic adhesive on the bottom side. This adhesive heats up in the sun, creating a bond with the roof which increases wind protection. With a life span of 20+ years asphalt shingles deserve serious consideration when choosing a roofing system for your project. Visit http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Shingle.html for more details.

Architectural Shingles - While made with the same types of materials as regular asphalt shingles; architectural shingles New York offer a more refined look. With their attractive thickness they can be made to resemble wood shakes or slate. Architectural shingles tend to be a bit more expensive, but they are easier to install than some other types. It is not unheard of to find premium laminate shingles with 50 year warranties.

Wood Shingles - Are usually cut from cedar though some other woods such as pressure treated pine are also used. Wood shingles are smooth and uniform, but with a lot of variety in look because of the natural grain. Wood shakes are similar to shingles, but are left rough. This type of shingle should last for 30-50 years, but expect to pay more than you would for asphalt shingles.

Choose Copper Roof Shingles?

The world is full of copper lovers, and lovers of the copper roof New York are by no means an exception. There are essentially two different types of copper roof you can buy, there is the solid copper roof that consists solely of sheet copper on your roof.

It is very resilient to weathering and will protect your house for decades but it is incredibly costly, as you can imagine. On the other hand, copper roof shingles are made by attached sheets of copper around standard asphalt shingles. All in all, the cost is likely to work out less than a slate roof but once the copper roof shingles have aged and been weathered they will take on the magnificent green look that only copper can create.

Can I use copper roof shingles?

One of the advantages that copper roof shingles New York offer over other forms of long lasting roofs, especially the solid copper roof, is that the shingles are actually surprisingly light and most roofs and structures can usually cope with the load admirably. As long as you are prepared to pay approximately $4 per square foot (compared to $1 for standard asphalt but up to $15 for solid copper) there is unlikely to be any good reason why you can not use copper roof shingles on your roof.



What kind of life can I expect from copper roof shingles?
This is something of a confusing issue. Asphalt roof shingles will normally only last 20 years, but covered in copper sheeting the life of the asphalt shingles can easily be extended to between 30 and 40 years. However, the copper sheet itself will last an average of about 150 years. Obviously the copper roof shingles themselves will only last as long as the asphalt roof shingles that are found underneath the copper.


The cost of copper roof shingles.

Copper roof shingles New York are by no means a cheap alternative to other styles of roofing but if you like the look of copper and you want a longer life than asphalt shingles can offer then copper roof shingles are an excellent option. The copper sheet doesn’t an excellent job of protecting the asphalt shingles underneath effectively giving them an extended life of around 30 to 40 years.

The copper sheeting also protects the shingles from most general wear and tear meaning that with good, regular maintenance you won’t need to have repairs done too often. On a yearly basis copper roof shingles do work out cheap but not overall and not for the initial installation.

Standard asphalt roof shingles usually cost around $1 per square foot, whereas solid copper roofing will set you back around $15 per square foot. Copper roof shingles are available at approximately $4 to $5 per square foot so they are 4 times more expensive than asphalt but considerably cheaper than a full solid copper roof. However, you are undoubtedly paying for the attractive looks of a copper roof but for less money than covering the entire roof in an expensive metal.

Do Reflective Roof Materials Work?

The temperature of your roof plays a very important part in a number of different environmental factors within your home. If your roof collects heat without reflecting any then your home will get incredibly hot during the summer months meaning you will have to pay more for energy bills to keep your air conditioning running or face long sweaty days with no reprise from the searing temperatures. This extra heat can also cause a build up of moisture inside your roof and eventually cause damage to the timber structure; this damage may manifest itself in the form of cracks, warped materials and leaks. Also in winter your home will get very cold and you will have to pay more for heating to keep your home at a reasonable temperature. There are essentially four main types of reflective roofing materials you may want to consider using for your roof.


Reflective roofing materials – metal roofs.

Aluminum, brushed stainless steel and other materials are used to create the metal roof New York. They are usually durable and hardy giving you an extended life on your roof and homeowners with metal roofs have reported savings of 20% on their annual energy bill. Don’t forget that cooling buildings accounts for an incredible 1/6th of all the energy that is used in the average home. The problem with metal roofs is that while they prevent the heat from being emitted in your home they actually trap it and so they do not actually reflect the heat as well as other types of reflective roofing material. If combined with a polymeric coating they become even more efficient and you could realize greater energy reduction within your home.



Reflective roofing materials – roofing tiles.

When considering roofing tiles New York as reflective roofing materials the most important factor to consider is the color of the tiles. Anyone who has been out on a summer day wearing a black t-shirt will know that dark colors do not reflect heat and anything they protect gets very hot very quickly. The same is also true when considering reflective roofing materials. Whether you choose ceramic or fabricated concrete you should select a light color that will do an effective job of reflecting the heat away from your home.



Reflective roofing materials - Roofing membranes.

Again, with roofing membranes New York it is important to opt for the right kind of color. Lighter is always better, and if you opt for the darker membranes that give your roof a similar appearance to that of one using slate shingles it will have very little reflective quality to it and you will need to pay through the nose for your air conditioning and you might also face damage to the roof itself.

Do You Need a New Roof?

This is the first question many roofing contractors New York get asked when dealing with a new potential customer. Often the answer is that repairs will do the trick. Other times a new roof or re-roof will be in order. We will discuss some common problems that occur and try to determine the best course of action for each. I’d like to note here that it is always best to seek the advice of a reputable, qualified professional. Early detection of problems is by far the most desirable option available. Yearly inspections by a knowledgeable, licensed professional can save you a ton of money in future repair, or replacement costs.

Exterior Inspection

A thorough exterior inspection should be the first step in making a decision on whether to replace or repair a roof New York. A frequent culprit is damaged or missing shingles. High winds as well as improper installation can cause shingles to become displaced. Some regions of the country (especially in the southeast) may have shingles permeated by algae or fungus which can lead to damage of the roof decking material. Damaged or improperly installed flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vents may also be a source of potential problems. Checking rain gutters for granules and bits of rotten wood may also indicate trouble. It should be mentioned that loose granules found after application of new roofing should not alarm you, this is normal; on older roofs this indicates the need for replacement. Buckling of shingles may be a result of improperly installed felt, or shifting of the roof deck. Though there are other things to look for while inspecting the exterior of your roof an interior inspection is most likely to be the deciding factor when asking “Do I need a new roof?”


Interior Inspection

An interior inspection can be instrumental in deciding whether or not to go with a new roof New York. Deteriorated decking or decking that sags between the rafters (sometimes visible during an exterior inspection) is a sure sign that superficial repairs such as replacing a few shingles will not suffice. If both the decking and rafters are badly damaged it is time to consider a new roof. Re-roofing (placing a new roof over the existing one) when there is extensive damage to rafters and/or decking can lead to major future problems, even roof collapse in areas with heavy snow.

Choosing the Right Roof

Aside from choosing the right contractor for your roofing project New York perhaps the most important decision you will have to make, is choosing the roof itself. There are many options to choose from and many factors to consider, sometimes making it a very difficult decision indeed. A good roofing contractor can help you in making the right choice.


As you begin the process of deciding which roofing system is right for you, there are many questions you must ask yourself (and the contractor). How long will the roof last? This is a big question and one that ultimately depends on the type of system used. Some are designed to last for twenty years and others are built to last fifty or more.

Weather conditions such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or heavy snow will also need to be considered. Are there wildfires or intense heat in your area? If so heat resistant materials may be necessary in order to get the most out of your new roof.

Is the desired material too heavy for the existing roof structure? If you have an older wooden home it may not be able to support clay tile or other heavier materials.

Will the new roof New York compliment the style of my home? If you own a historic home you may want to apply the same material that was originally used, or a modern material (such as plastic polymers) that can match the look.

There are even synthetic materials that look like wood. Also, you will need to consider whether or not your roof has the right slope to accommodate the type of system you would like.

You will also need to determine if the local building codes allow using a particular roofing system New York. Again this is where a reputable, fully licensed and insured contractor can spare you a lot of headaches. And if there is a community association (you know the people that tell you what color your house can be) you may want to check with them as well.

Vinyl Siding on Your Home

Vinyl siding is a fascinating building material. . As happens with many other building products, vinyl siding pushed and bullied aluminum siding out of the spotlight. I clearly remember my childhood home getting aluminum siding on it. The cost, in 1958, was $400 for labor and material.

If you've seen how fast vinyl siding can be installed, you may be easily tempted to read a vinyl-siding how-to booklet or guide. If you've been hypnotized by a home-improvement television show that tempts you into thinking you can tackle installing vinyl siding yourself, wake up. It's not as easy as it appears. It takes considerable skill to get professional results. What's more, you need help in most cases as well as an assortment of ladders and hand tools.

Vinyl-siding colors usually are muted, lighter tones. There's a reason for that. Deep colors absorb and retain the sun's heat. Vinyl siding reacts violently to heat, and expands significantly. If you don't install vinyl siding correctly, it can buckle, warp and distort from the sun's rays. Deep colors would simply make the situation worse. Some paints can be applied to this siding to create different vinyl-siding colors, but beware painting vinyl siding a dark color.

When you obtain a vinyl-siding cost estimate, don't panic. Rest assured that there is a significant cost for the material, especially for all of the trim pieces that are necessary when the siding abuts windows and doors as well as inside and outside corners. Vinyl siding is a product made primarily from crude oil. If the price of oil is high, vinyl-siding material costs will also go up accordingly.

Then there is the labor involved. Don't underestimate the amount of time and effort required for a typical vinyl-siding installation. There is a considerable amount of time spent in setup, trimming, dealing with utility penetrations in walls and even fighting insects. Dealing with wasp and bee nests is common, especially in warmer months. If you watch siding installers, you'll quickly discover that they spend little time installing the siding. The trim work, caulking and fitting take up a majority of time on the average job.

Leaks in the Roof

A skylight is an excellent source of both warmth and light for your home and they can enhance the overall appearance of your house as well as giving you a little extra air when required. There are a number of different factors that can lead to a leaky skylight but the most common factor is an improperly fitted or installed skylight. This inadequacy is usually brought about because having a skylight fitted by a professional roofing contractor can cost a lot of money, and people tend to revert to a handyman or, often worse still, doing it themselves.

Without proper knowledge of construction regarding the skylight fitting and the roof surrounding it, though, can lead to disastrous results. Even the inadequate fixing of an existing leaky skylight can make things worse. Roofing contractors tend to charge quite a high cost to fit a skylight because they would rather work on better paid, roof installments. That doesn’t mean you can’t find a reputable and highly skilled roofing contractor who will complete the job at a reasonable price. However, because fitting a skylight is a skilled job, as is all roofing, you will need to pay more to have one fitted properly by an expert when compare to paying a handy man to fit it.

The damage a leaky skylight can cause.

A leaky skylight causes relatively minimal damage in the short term, however over the long term this damage can become significant so you should make sure that the drops you saw coming off your skylight are actually condensation and not the first tell tale signs of a leak. You may end up having to replace wallpaper, carpets and worse still making structural repairs to the inside of your house (although only usually in extreme circumstances). A leaky skylight may also be indicative that you have bigger problems with your roof so you should get someone out to check it as soon as possible.

Melting Snow and Roof Leaks

Looking after the roof of our house is the first and possibly most important step to caring for the long-term life of any house. Roof leaks are obviously a big problem in any house but knowing the correlation between melting snow and roof leaks can help you to prevent one of the major problems that many houses face. When snow melts and runs down the roof it often refreezes at it reaches the edge of the roof and the gutter.

You’ve probably stood back in awe looking at these ice dams that form, but these can cause havoc with the integrity of your roof. However, they are relatively easy to prevent and doing so will undoubtedly save you money and heartache in the future.



How ice dams form.

The warmth from your house melts the snow on the top of your roof because this is the warmest part of your roof. As this melted snow runs down the roof underneath the snow it then reaches the roof edge, which is at sub zero temperature; this drop in temperature causes the snowmelt to refreeze creating the dams that you often see on people’s houses in winter. The weight of these dams can cause a problem itself, however, the real problem occurs when further snowmelt collects in pools against the dams. This water eventually runs through the roof and into the house. Understanding this connection better melting snow and roof leaks is the first step to preventing it, and you basically have two options in order to do so.


Control the roof temperature.

There must be sub zero temperatures in order for the snow to be created initially, there then must above zero temperatures to melt the snow and there must be further sub zero temperatures to create the ice dams. Without all three of these factors you will not suffer from ice dams. For instance your shed is very unlikely to suffer ice dams because the entire surface of the roof is at a sub zero temperature. This means there is no build up of ice around the eaves. It is virtually impossible to keep the whole of your roof at temperatures above zero during very chilly winters, but it is possible to keep a new roof entirely at sub zero temperatures without compromising the temperature of the house. In order to avoid melting snow and roof leaks you need to have very good insulation, ventilation and an effective air barrier. This keeps the warm air in and the roof at a constant temperature thus eliminating melting snow and roof leaks from occurring.

Gutter Guards

Purpose of a Gutter Guard:

There are many products that claim to be gutter guards. They can be anything from a piece of chicken wire to complete vinyl covers with a slit allowing water to go through. When attached to your gutter, the guard is supposed to keep leaves and debris out so you don't have to climb up a ladder, reach over and clean the gutter. Some claim to keep you from ever having to clean your gutter out again. But the truth is, while most do an excellent job of keeping out the big leaves, other debris does get in the gutter. You will have to take the guards off and clean the build-up inside the gutters once in a while.

How the Guard Works:

The guard is attached to, placed in or placed over the gutter, depending on the type. As leaves fall, the guard prevents them from getting into the gutter. Twigs and seed pods also fall from trees, and the debris may pile up on top of the guard. As it rains and the wind blows the debris blows off the top of the guard and the water runs into the gutter and out the downspout. If some roof gravel

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Problem Rain Gutters

When it starts raining outside an incredible amount of water beats down on the roof of your house. Your roof principally does the job of protecting your house and everything in it from this rain. Most roofs are sloped in order that the water can run off and prevent heavy collections of rainwater gathering in pockets all over the roof.

If this were to happen the roof can become severely damaged and eventually holes will form where the rainwater once was (it would now be underneath the hole that has formed).

The damage that rainwater can cause.

If left to it’s own devices the rain water would run down the sloped roof and subsequently continue to pour down the wall of the house passing over window frames, windows, door frames, doors and possibly onto the damp proofing at the bottom of the house. Here it would collect in puddles that would take a long time to evaporate. All in all this would cause damage to the structure of your house, it can rot away wooden window and door frames and cause cracks in paving amongst other problems. During winter this damage does not take long to manifest itself and can cause further damage itself.

What drainpipes do.

The gutter and down pipes are there to prevent this from occurring. They collect the rainwater once it has reached the end of its descent. From there the slight slope in the guttering will encourage the rain water into the down pipe, subsequently carrying it down into the drain and safely away.


The effect of having improperly pitched gutters can have a similar effect, and in some cases it can be even worse. Improperly pitched gutters that are pitched away from the wall with even a slight gap is the equivalent of having no gutter whatsoever and you will face similar problems. However if you have improperly pitched gutters that cause all the rain water to collect in one area, this rainwater is then likely to run down one area of the wall.

Instead of all the rainwater from one day or one week being spread over the whole wall it is now being concentrated in just one area. The power of the water can erode the brickwork and the cement work causing serious structural damage and internal damp and rot. Both of these occurrences will cost you a lot more to right than having your drainpipe fixed or even having your improperly pitched gutters completely ripped down and replaced.

The dire consequences of improperly pitched gutters.

Improperly pitched gutters can end up costing you a very large amount of money and it is important that you regularly check that everything is running smoothly. You can easily tell whether a gutter is pitched properly by watching when it rains. However, you should have it checked regularly when you have your roof checked to make sure that the water isn’t running back into the roof because this will also cause serious damage and it is difficult to tell unless you know what you are looking for.

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