Blog on all things Roofing in the Greater St. Louis, MO Area
Serving: Creve Couer, Chesterfield, Wildwood, Des Peres, Wentzville, Weldon Springs, Ballwin, Manchester, Fenton, Affton, and more!
September 29, 2022
3 Ways To Prep Your Roof For Fall
We hope your end-of-summer BBQ was legendary. We hope you enjoyed your pool parties and porch-sitting. But time marches on and autumn is here. Before the cold weather hits, there’s a few things we think you should know about your roof – and steps you can take to make sure it stays functional and damage-free through the harsh winter months. As you might know, it costs an average of $7,200 to replace a roof in Missouri. Unfortunately, homes don’t really come with how-to manuals to protect roofs and avoid repairs, but RRSA has you covered. Let’s take a look at three ways you can prep your roof for fall and winter.
Clean Out & Protect Your Gutters
Clogged gutters are one of the main causes of damage to your foundation, which can cost you thousands of dollars to fix. The purpose of your gutters is to guide water away from your home; which means that when they don’t work, water has a high probability of making its way to your foundation – where you least want it to wind up. This means that as you approach autumn, it’s wise to make sure your gutters are thoroughly cleaned to prepare for seasonal rainfall and, eventually, snowfall. Another smart move is to invest in gutter guards to prevent material from building up in your gutters and leading to clogs at all. If you’re interested in gutter guards, get a free quote from RRSA today
Keep An Eye Out For Roof Damage
Damage to your roof can happen at any time throughout the year. And when small damages go unfixed, they can amount to expensive repairs – even the need for full replacements if the damage is extensive enough. Fortunately, fixing smaller problems is
generally pretty affordable: somewhere in the $400-$1000 range. If you’re not sure about the condition of your roof and want to be safe? Contact a roofing expert like RRSA, which holds a GAF Master Elite certification – a level of expertise matched by only
2% of roofers in the U.S.
Consider Steps Like Roof Ventilation
Poor roof ventilation leads to
all sorts of problems. Deterioration of roofing materials, mold buildup, temperature issues, and (seasonally)
ice dams. Concerning ice dams, the process goes like this: your attic gets hot (because you’re heating the house), your roof heats up, the snow on it melts, and the runoff refreezes down your gutters. When this cycle repeats itself time and again, you wind up with costly problems. If you’re detecting a trend here, that’s because there is one: it’s always cheaper to take preventative measures than it is to repair reactively. If you’re interested in roof ventilation, contact RRSA for a
free quote.
May 24, 2022
Three Signs Your Roof Is Getting Old
It’s hard to gauge the life expectancy of a roof. The best estimates put the lifespan of the average roof at between 20 and 30 years for standard asphalt shingles. Other materials, like clay and concrete, can last up to 100 years. Aside from materials, lots of factors play a role in aging or preserving a roof: temperature, exposure to elements (like wind and hail), and maintenance history. But no matter what kind of roof you have, it pays to know what the early signs of age and degradation are so that when you see them, you can act before your roof becomes compromised and begins to leak, which can cause thousands of dollars of damage, or otherwise fail. Let’s take a look at three warning signs that your roof is getting up there (pun intended).
It Looks Bad
It may seem like a no-brainer, but the appearance of your shingles is probably the first clue that your roof is aging; besides leaving you vulnerable to leaks, outdated and aging roofs also seriously affect your home’s curb appeal and perceived value. For asphalt shingles, that means cracked, loose, curling, or distorted shingles. For less common kinds of shingles, the same rule holds up. Metal shingles show rust, wood shingles rot and grow mildew (which can later affect other parts of the house, contributing to the nearly 70% of homes with mold problems), clay/concrete shingles chip, and slate shingles crack. Additionally, places on your roof that appear to be sagging or drooping could mean that your roof has been damaged by moisture and needs to be replaced.
It Has New Life
Notice that your attic is starting to look like a bit of a greenhouse? Your first instinct was probably right: that means something from the outside has made its way into your attic; chances are that it is thriving on the moisture that exists in your attic already. As we mentioned in
December’s post, the existence of moisture in your attic is generally a bad sign — and often one that can be remedied with proper roof ventilation. But if it’s the case that the moisture is caused by faulty or leaky tiles, roof ventilation is only part of the solution; the rest is to repair or replace the faulty roofing at fault. If you observe high moisture or plant growth, we advise a complete roofing inspection to paint the most accurate picture of your roof’s problems and possible solutions.
It Lets In Sunlight
When you step into your attic, can you see sunlight pouring in from a non-window light source? If you guessed that you shouldn't be able to see sunlight, you guessed correctly: it almost certainly means that your
roof is compromised in one way or another. As mentioned above, a gap between shingles could spell water damage over time if left neglected. So what’s the best course of action? Get an inspection. A+ BBB-rated RRSA is happy to offer free inspections, even within 24 hours if your case is an emergency; and we can recommend solutions (plus financing offers) so that you can achieve peace of mind without going broke in the process.
April 28, 2022
Three Reasons A GAF Certification is Important
Did you know that only 2% of roofers in the U.S. qualify to be recognized as GAF Master Elite™ Contractors? That figure may seem small, but taken together with the fact that the roofing industry has a failure rate more than 50% — and much of that failure attributed to lack of knowledge — it starts to make a little more sense. If you’ve owned a home for more than a few years, you’ve likely heard stories (or had your own experiences) with bad roofers. When trying to avoid the shoddy workmanship, subpar product, and un-warrantied work, three letters are going to change the way you think about roofs and roofers: GAF. Let’s look at three reasons this particular certification ensures you get the most for your money.
Professional Installation
Roofing is difficult. Per a 2020 survey, roofing was ranked the toughest contractor job in the US based not just on the physical labor involved, but on the difficulty associated with mastering the craft. Critically, mastery of craft is what ensures that a customer gets a roof that stands the test of time and looks good. In order to be GAF certified, roofers must complete not only their company’s training, but also complete extensive educational materials developed by experts at GAF. Additionally, GAF certifications require an A+ BBB rating, a state license, a history of ethical contracting, and a commitment to ongoing professional training. This means that when you hire a GAF certified roofer, you can trust that installations and repairs are held to the highest possible standard.
Superior Protection
GAF Weather Stopper Roofing System is the only roofing system
backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal. GAF shingles with Advanced Protection technology undergo 185 individual tests for durability, longevity, and weather resistance. Some have added impact features to guard against severe weather and help prevent future leaks — and could even lower your home-insurance premiums. With the high-end design of GAF’s shingles, the 40% of your curb appeal associated with your roof will contribute positively; and from the 50+ GAF products stamped with the GH Seal, you’re bound to find one that meets your needs and matches your style.
Warranty Options
Because GAF products are factory-certified, roofs that GAF contractors install are eligible for specials; some products even qualify for limited lifetime warranties. The average price of a 1000 sq ft roof is
about $8,000; with an investment that considerable, it doesn’t make sense to leave the longevity of your roof up to chance — or undefended with a weak warranty. With a GAF certified roofer, you’re getting the best possible product installed by the most highly qualified contractors backed by the most extensive warranties on the market. It’s
workmanship and quality of product that are the determining factors in the lifespan of a roof; a GAF warranty guarantees you’re getting the best of both.
If you’re interested in learning more about our GAF Master Elite status or about any of GAF’s products,
tap here and schedule a free consultation or on-site estimate with RRSA!
December 1, 2021
Three Reasons To Consider Roof Ventilation
How often do you think about your roof? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably not a lot — after all, we’ve got plenty to think about without worrying about the condition of our houses. But a roof is one of those things that you really don’t want to fail on you when you need it most. On top of being a fairly expensive thing to fix, it’s also incredibly stressful to deal with when inclement weather is approaching. To this end, one of the best things you can do for the long-term health of your roof (and of your savings account) is to be proactive and consider roof ventilation. Let’s take a look at three reasons it’s a smart investment.
Increase Your Roof's Lifespan
It may seem like common sense, but your region, weather conditions, and roofing material all affect your roof’s longevity. If your attic regularly gets overheated (which can be the result of a variety of circumstances), your roof will be heated on its interior surface leading to the underlayment and the shingles themselves drying out and cracking. That inevitably leads to expensive repair work down the line. Roof ventilation alleviates this problem by ensuring that your roof vis-à-vis your attic remains at a healthy temperature. Now, you may be thinking, “overheating? It’s about to be winter.” Well, that leads us to our next point.
Prevent Ice Dams
An ice dam is a
ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. Those icicles hanging from your roof might look pretty, but they actually spell a potential problem; they’re associated with a poorly-ventilated attic. The basic process goes like this: your attic gets hot (‘case you’re cranking the heat), your roof heats up, the snow on it melts, and the runoff refreezes down your gutters. The cycle repeats itself much to the detriment of your roof, backing up under the eaves and even into your attic; this spells more costly repairs. Again, the solution is as simple as roof ventilation.
Lower Your Energy Costs
Americans spend about
$22 billion on HVAC costs every year and costs are trending
even higher in 2022. Being proactive and considering the Midwest climate that your home is subjected to is one of the surest ways to save yourself money in the long run. By installing roof ventilation, you can ensure that your attic won’t get overheated; this means you can avoid that hot air seeping into your home and forcing your HVAC system to work overtime (consuming more energy) to cool your house. In summary: a more controlled attic environment, a more energy-efficient HVAC system, and a much more manageable energy bill.
If you’re ready to take the next step and preserve the lifespan of your roof, prevent ice dams, and lower your energy costs, give RRSA STL a call! We’re GAF Master Elite-certified roofing experts — meaning you’re going to get a higher quality of work than your local HVAC company. Moreover, our work is warrantied and backed by more five star reviews than you can shake a stick at. Get in touch with us today for a free, on-site estimate!
