Have you heard your neighbor rave about how he saved big by layering his new roof over the old one? Did that one article online tell you there’s no need for a roof inspection if you don’t live in a rainy climate? Homeowners often find themselves flooded with a variety of roof misconceptions that can negatively affect how they plan to proceed with their roofing project. Not everything Google tells you or what you watch in YouTube videos is legit; in fact, it hardly ever is. Knowing the facts from the myths is something every homeowner considering a big roofing project in the near future should know. The only way to really get your facts straight is through a qualified and knowledgeable roofing contractor.

Ultimate Roofing is a reputable roofing company with professional roofers on its team. This article will clearly outline all of the roofing misconceptions you’ve had and what the truth really is so keep reading!
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Myth #1: There’s no need to remove the old roof; just install the new one on top

One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to a new roof installation is layering a new bed of shingles over the last one. This is a shortcut and might save you some cash initially but it can seriously undermine the quality of your roof in the long run. The cost of future roof repairs will escalate in no time and you might find yourself in deep waters with a new roofing installation pretty soon.

Myth #2: Inspections are a waste of time

No one will tell you not to get your roof inspected after a bad storm has passed, but almost everyone will tell you not to get one done when there hasn’t been a drop of rain in months. Regular or annual roof inspections are actually pretty crucial to always keep tabs on the status of your roof even when the weather conditions have been decent. You might not require a roof inspection in the same year as your roof installation but you will need one done at least once or twice a year in the subsequent years. Roof inspections are important to rule out any underlying roofing issue and call for repairs immediately before the problems gets out of hand.

Myth #3: Metal roofs are unnecessarily expensive

Many homeowners find metal roofs ugly and that really boils down to your personal preference but people who think these roofs aren’t worth the money they put in are completely mistaken. Metal roofs naturally require more labor and the cost of its installation is at the high end of the spectrum but that also means that these roofs last much longer, need fewer repairs and are a lot more energy efficient than conventional shingle roofing.

Myth #4: Ventilation and Insulation don’t make a difference
 
We can’t stress enough how important proper ventilation and insulation are to your roof. If anyone tells you otherwise, don’t believe them! Without a proper ventilation system, you’re inevitably inviting moisture into your house and that consequently will lead to mold and moss growth. A poorly insulated roof, on the other hand, is directly proportional to your utility bills.

Myth #5: My roof warranty is complete and covers everything

It’s always a good idea to check out the warranty policy that comes with your roof and this includes both the manufacturer warranty and the roofer warranty. You’ll have to make sure both of these warranties are in sync before you can claim that your roof is entirely covered by warranty.

Need help with a roofing project?  Call the Albany roofing pros today at (518) 888-7663

Considering a roofing project and thinking about hiring a roofing company in Albany?  You might want to brush up on your roofing terminology so you can keep up with the conversation!

The roofing lingo can go straight over anyone’s head unless they’ve actually taken time to educate themselves on this topic. As with every other profession that exists, roofing terminology is unique and must be learned to understand how the business works. Whether you’re a homeowner in search of a contractor for a roof repair project or just someone who is interested in the art of roofing, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will teach you some of the most basic roofing terminology that you might meet during your roofing ventures.

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AGGREGATE: The aggregate on your roof is foundation of protection. It acts as the primary base for your roof and protects your house from harmful UV rays and provides insulation. An aggregate can be constructed with a variety of different materials but the purpose of it remains the same.

APRON FLASHING: Flashing is done on joints to prevent water from seeping through the roof structures. Apron flashing refers to the flashing that is present under a roof curvature in particular.

ASPHALT CEMENT: Also known as plastic or flashing cement, this type of cement is a blend of bitumen, fibers and mineral stabilizers.

BALLAST: Ballast is an umbrella term that is sometimes used for materials that cover the top or the membrane of your roof.

BASE FLASHING: Roofing membrane is constructed with base flashing material. It serves to prevent water from leaking into the several roof intersections.

BITUMEN: Bitumen is more commonly associated with road project to seal and suture road asphalt. In roofs built with asphalt materials, this petroleum distillate is also used.

BLIND NAILING: Since nails can suffer from easy corrosion, blind nailing is a technique to place nails where they are the least exposed to the environmental elements. It’s an excellent technique to improve the longevity of the nails and hence your roof.

BUILT-UP ROOF: In the US, sloped roofs are much more common than the flatter ones. A roof with a low or flat slope is referred to as a built-up roof made with multiple layers of asphalt and gravel.

CAP FLASHING: On top of the base flashing comes the cap flashing for an even more leak-proof quality of your roof.

CAP SHEET: On top of a built-up roof comes the cap sheet constructed with granules.

CHANNEL FLASHING: Channel flashing is one the more useful types of flashing with a built-in run-off channel for water. It is located in planes of intersection.

COMPOSITION SHINGLE: For steep-sloped roof, composite shingles are usually advised. These shingles are made with a mixture of asphalt and other roofing materials.

COUNTER FLASHING: This highly common type of flashing is placed on the very top of the house wall above the shingles and its flashing.

DAMP PROOFING: Sometimes roofers will pretreat your roofs to see how well your roof can resist water seepage. This is known as damp proofing.

DIMENSIONAL SHINGLE: Shingles that are textured in such a way so as to produce a 3D effect are called dimensional or laminated shingles. The latter is a misnomer because these shingles need not always be laminated shingles.

DORMER: Dormers are framed roof projections. An easy example of a dormer is your window.

Familiarizing yourself with roofing terminology can help you greatly when you’re undertaking a new roofing project. You should also feel free to talk to your roofing company about the process of roofing and how he plans to proceed!

Need help with a roofing project and looking for an Albany roofer?  Contact Ultimate Roofing today!

The roof on your house, the defender against all environmental elements, is a constant prey to weather damage. When an aggressive storm hits town, your roof will likely to get much more insult compared to the windows, doors or even the walls of your house. The large surface area of it and its position on top make it a susceptible target. Not only does your roof take a beating in adverse weather conditions, it’s not a rare event for it to suffer from some sort of damage when the sun’s out. Since your roof acts as a shade for your entire house, it is exposed to the most amount of UV rays from the sun and we all know how harmful UV light can be! To put it simply, your roof is constantly undergoing some sort of degeneration, whether it’s chronic or acute. And that’s exactly why your roof needs repairs and regular maintenance.

Not every homeowner is familiar with the signs of roof damage and the key signs to look out for that beg for a repair. Building a house is itself a big expense and to make sure you’ve invested your money right, you want to keep your roof maintained and functioning for a long time. Aging can further deteriorate the quality and function of your roof and the effects of aging are multiplied if you don’t get the necessary repairs every now and then.

Here in this blog post, we’ll throw light upon some of the most important roof damage that should instantly alert you that you require a repair.

Sometimes something so harmless like water can be the worst enemy for your roof. Water damages are one of the most common and the most fatal roof problems that should prompt you into calling a professional contractor for the necessary repairs. This type of damage can show signs both inside the house and outside it.

From the outside, leaks and water damage can manifest in the form of clogged gutters and damaged or eroded fascia. The recommended course of action to investigate signs of water damage outside your home is to take a quick look at the gutters and soffits. You should also keep a careful lookout for the fascia underneath the soffit. The fascia is often found damaged or soaked when there is a leak or water damage. You might also find the paint peeling, growth of greens on it or even the boards swollen up. Gutters are frequently found clogged when water damage occurs and if that’s the case, then your drainage system might be causing the water damage in the first place.

You will also be able to see the signs of water damage from inside your house if the water damage is especially large. The ceilings, especially of your attic, are the first victims of water damage and leaks. If you notice large wet spots, peeling paint or swelling of the paint in your ceiling or even your wall, it’s a sure shot sign that there’s a leak on your roof. Sometimes the leak might even start dripping. This is when the leak has extended beyond control and you’ll need to contact a professional roofer immediately.

Apart from the ceiling, signs of water damage can also be investigated from the chimney of your house. Usually the flashing around the chimney keeps water from seeping in but when the flashing is damaged or chipped off, you will notice the chimney walls get damp from rainwater. It’s a good idea to check the bricks of your chimney for any dampness when it rains.

The attic, as already stated before, is the first place in your house that will show the typical signs of water damage. Before you pass the verdict on a leaky roof, you should go to your attic and take a look around for any signs of water damage. If a leak or water damage has occurred, you’re likely to find leaks in the ceiling and even damp floors or rafters. The ridge line in your attic might also be affected with water damage. The ventilation pipes in your home could also present with signs of water damage so it’s wise to evaluate vents and pipes that originate from your roof.

Water damage also inevitably comes with a certain damp smell in the air that can easily be picked up. Other signs of roof water damage can be swollen wood and mold growth especially when the damage has progressed to a fair amount.

​Mold is one of the dreadful signs of roof water damage that nobody wants to experience. Mold remediation is an extremely stressful and expensive project so you want to make sure that the problem is nipped in the bud before it propels out of hand.

Water damage leads to mold growth but sometimes there might be no other signs of water damage or leaks and you could still experience the growth of mold. In those unexpected cases, it would be a good idea to investigate your ventilation system. Improper roofing ventilation could build up the moisture content inside your home and we all know that mold thrive in humid, moist conditions. The attic or the basement is especially vulnerable to mold growth because these rooms tend to be the most humid naturally.

Mold can not only be unsightly but it also encourages respiratory tract problems and aggravates allergies, asthma and skin issues. If you want to make sure your family gets a healthy environment in your house, you need to stop mold growth in its tracks by contacting an expert roofer to fix the underlying water damage.

While mold grows preferentially inside your house, other fungal greens like moss and algae can be found outside on top of your roof when there’s water damage. Moss, algae, lichens and other classes of fungi are an alarming condition to have flourishing on your roof. It’s not too hard to find out exactly which type of green is growing on your roof but at the end of the day, they all cause the same type of roof damage.

For starters, moss and algae make your roof look dirty, unattractive and inhospitable. They deteriorate the appeal of your house and they also cause functional damage to your roof. Excess moss and algae on a roof inevitably leads to a complete roof replacement and that is an expensive project. If you want to make sure your roof stays in shape and moss free for a long time, you should call for the necessary repairs as soon as you can and stop its growth in its tracks. What homeowners need to realize is that since moss and algae are fungus, they’re not exactly dead or metabolically inactive. In fact, these organisms are constantly leaching nutrients and participating in the active degeneration of various roof structures. Shingles are probably the first targets and when moss and algae grows on your roof, you might find your shingles become loose, break or go entirely missing from their roots. This is because the fungus can actually make use of the oils that constitute asphalt shingles and use it as a source to produce their fuels; the result of which is disintegrated shingles with granules and debris found in drain pipes.

Since shingles make up the most important part of your roof, any damage to them will ultimately result in your entire roof becoming compromised. Constant shingle damage will lead to your roof losing its form and function. Excess moss and algae might even cause the roof to buckle under pressure. Plus if a storm hits a roof that’s in such a bad shape, it could essentially lead to a roofing crisis.

Nowadays some homeowners have shifted to metal roofing instead of asphalt shingles. Along with increased longevity that comes with metal roofs, roofs made up of zinc or copper is toxic to biological growth and may be your best choice if you want an algae-resistant roof. However, metal roofs are considerably more costly and require more complex installation that the average asphalt shingle roof.

Contact a Qualified Roofing Company Today!

At Ultimate Roofing, your roof is always our priority. Whether you need repairs from water damage, leaks, clogged drains, mold or moss growing on top of your roof, our expert roofers are equipped to handle it in an effective and professional manner.

Contact us today!

In the universe of roofing, professional terms and technicalities can come off as extremely perplexing especially for the layman. A good majority of homeowners aren’t too familiar with how the roofing system works and how your roof and its several elements can get damaged. A lack of familiarity in this area particularly when you’re considering a new roofing project can be a serious drawback on your part. In this article, we discuss the single most frequently asked roofing question: how should you choose your roofer?

​Before you jump into the technicalities of roofing, it’s important that you do your research and find a credible roofing contractor to work with. As in every other profession, you’d want to leave the roofing repairs and installation in good, reliable hands. There several ways to confirm the certification and work experience of a roofing contractor but the entire process can often come off as daunting for a lot of homeowners. Whatever you do, just remember that the cheapest option in the market is probably far from the best one. It’s natural to get pivoted towards low rates but inexplicably low rates are never a good sign. So if you were thinking about hiring a cheap roofer, you should probably scratch that off your list immediately if you genuinely want a roofing job well done.

There are other things to look for in a roofer in Albany before you make the final decision and sign the deal. Here are some key things to investigate during your hunt for the best contractor in town:

Rates: As already stated, when you’re researching on the best roofing contractor, it’s important not to get fazed by the price alone. Sometimes even the most expensive contractors don’t make it worth the money you’ve spent. Roofing rates are probably the least specific indicator of how good a roofing company is.

Type of Materials: It’s important to understand that not all roofing material is high quality. You should also have enough elementary knowledge to identify and differentiate the poor quality roofing materials from the better quality ones. If your roofer suggests working with the poorer quality, it’s red flag for sure.

Work Experience: Feedback, testimonies and accreditation are all essential in determining the roofer you want to hire in your next roofing project. Ideally you want to steer clear from contractors that have a poor track record or are new in the game. You should also validate the reviews by checking from multiple sources. Often the reviews listed on the company’s personal website or social media page are fake so you want to be wary of that.

Work Plan: A good roofer will have everything planned out before the start of the project so he can move systematically step after step and complete your project in a given time period. Roofers that appear vague in their planning and don’t provide a solid timeline are roofers that you don’t want to be working with.

Insurance: Last but not least, you need to be absolutely sure that the company you plan to hire is insured fully so any additional unforeseen costs can be covered. Make sure you ask your roofer for proof that the company is insured.

Take Your Time!

When hiring a professional roofer it is crucial that you don’t make rushed decisions. Familiarize yourself with the process and complete your research on the best possible roofing contractor you can find in your locality. Remember: your roof is the shield to your house and you want to give it the attention it deserves.

Ultimate Roofing is a renowned firm established to provide the utmost level of professional roofing services for our clients. Our extensive work history and track record is a brilliant testimony of our roofing business. If you live in the greater Albany region, contact us today!