An In-Depth Look At Whether Your Roof Needs To Be Replaced Or Not

Floridian homeowners have three primary choices for which roofing material to use when getting a new roof; there are asphalt shingles, tile, and metal, with the vast majority of homeowners opting for shingles or tile. Asphalt shingles offer an excellent combination of affordability, design flexibility, and durability, especially when you elect to use impact-resistant shingles. Impact-resistant roofing shingles , referred to often as “IR” roof shingles, are designed to handle intense impacts from debris, be it giant hailstones, or more importantly for Floridians, debris flying from the high wind velocity of hurricanes. IR shingles are engineered in two primary ways to add strength: one is a reinforcing polymer-based mesh that gets added to the back of a standard shingle, the second is when rubber-like polymers are added into the asphalt composition. These types of shingles earn themselves a Class 4 Rating. To achieve such status, these shingles need to withstand a test. The testing involves dropping a 2-inch steel ball multiple times from a height of 20 feet. A 4-inch concrete paver will usually crack in half when the steel ball is dropped from 20 feet to put this into a good perspective! Now, one must realize that these shingles are necessarily more wind-resistant. So a massive hurricane can still tear a shingle off, even though they are more durable than your standard 3-tab or architectural shingle. Where they shine is how they deal with the inevitable debris that flies around during a hurricane that can cause massive damage to the roof. Some of the main benefits of impact-resistant shingles are: Reducing or even eliminating the number of roof repairs needed. Having tough IR shingles will significantly reduce the need to replace shingles over the years and can end up saving you thousands in would-be roof repair bills. Extent the lifespan of your roof. Replacing a roof is not cheap; extending the roof life by five or more years is a considerable advantage. Save money on homeowners insurance. For example, many companies will offer a discount on the premium for a home roofed in IR shingles. If you live in the Hollywood, FL area or nearby and are considering replacing your roof with shingles , we urge you to give a strong look towards impact-resistant shingles. The peace of mind that having a solid roof overhead brings when a massive storm like a hurricane blows through is worth it!

Thankfully for South Floridians, the entire calendar year is just fine to replace a roof, much unlike most of the country, where winter is obviously not ideal for roof replacement . But there are certain times of the year where it is more advantageous to replace a roof; in fact, those very months in Hollywood, FL, are the absolute worst everywhere else, during the winter months. The summer in much of the country is the only time that gives perfect conditions for a roof replacement. While spring and fall are also possible, they aren't the same as the summer. This, however, is the opposite down in south Florida, as the summer brings intense heat. As if the heat isn't enough to deal with, it rains almost every day in Hollywood, FL, throughout much of the summer, even leading into the fall months. The rain will cause delays, and the intense heat will require roofing crews to take additional breaks to remain hydrated and cooled down. The daily rain also brings with it many leaking roofs. This also makes roofing companies extremely busy; many smaller companies will have to schedule new replacements out due to stacked repair schedules. This doesn't even consider if a hurricane comes through, which would most likely occur at the end of summer or early fall. Hurricanes can cause severe to catastrophic damage, and even small ones will cause damage. But, after hurricane season, the winter and spring months' long stretch are perfect for getting a roof replacement. The rains are pretty much gone, at least from a daily standpoint; the intense heat is also gone. Plus, the roofing companies are getting far fewer roof repair calls due to a lack of rain, allowing them to focus more on any individual job. Again, as stated in the first paragraph, any time of year works in south Florida, as we don't have freezing, icy winters. And while winter and spring are ideal for replacements, if your roof is in dire condition and hurricane season is around the corner or even in full swing, it must be addressed ASAP. Safety is always the first concern.

The investment of a commercial roof is not one that many business owners or property managers take lightly. Quite often, these projects can run into the millions depending on the property. Therefore, hiring a reputable commercial roofing company with the correct experience is crucial. However, how can you spot some of the mistakes inexperienced commercial roofing companies make? Read below to learn more. A Lack Of Industry Knowledge Commercial roofing and residential roofing are different beasts. The materials used, the techniques employed, and much more are vastly different. It takes a lot of experience to become an expert at commercial roofing, working on jobs, attending training events, staying up to date on the latest literature, etc. The Lowball Underbidding Technique While the price is important….it needs to be stated that it should not be the primary determining factor. And if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Many residential roofers trying to break into the commercial sector will bid down in an attempt to secure the job. Just remember you get what you pay for. Quite often, such companies will not hold the correct licenses, insurance and lack of workforce. Missing The Correct Licenses & Insurance Securing proper licenses and insurance can be quite the obstacle, one that many shady companies will shorthand in order to start securing work. As someone looking to hire a commercial roofer, you must ensure they are licensed and insured. Proof Or Work This is quite simple, has the company you want to hire completed a job similar to yours? If not, move on. You don’t want to be a learning experience for a company that has never worked on a roofing project akin to your needs. Reputation Another needed step to complete before hiring a commercial roofer is to ensure the reputation is up to par. Check places like Google, Yelp, and even the Better Business Bureau . See what other people are saying about their work, and if they are negative reviews, what is their nature? And did the company bother replying and addressing the situation? If whatever company you are thinking about hiring can check off all of the issues mentioned above, then there is a good chance you’re in the clear to work with them. The biggest problem besides licensing and insurance, which is a must, is that the company has the right experience. Assuming they do and their bid isn’t outrageously high, it is always wise to select the company to get the job done correctly. A roof on a commercial building is not something to skimp on!

Learn about the benefits to installing a metal roof if you live in Hollywood, Florida.