Orange County

So it’s time to replace the old roof on your home? Or maybe you’re doing a new build, but can’t decide what type of roof to put on your home.

With all the options on the market today - from metal to asphalt to clay and concrete tile - it can be difficult to pick a roofing material that will work best for you and your home. Luckily, a few steps can get you through much of the choosing process up front. Here are the steps you should take to eliminate some roofing materials right off the bat so that you can do your due diligence and choose the roof that will work best for your particular needs.

First, eliminate the impossible

The first thing you should do is eliminate any roofing types that are completely unsuitable for your home and the Southern California climate. On this second point, most types of roofing material can be made to suit the climate in SoCal. However, you’ll see cedar shake shingles less often here because the dry weather and sun exposure may weather them more quickly.

You should also look into the types of materials that your roof can support. Heavier materials, such as concrete and clay tiles, take a stronger supporting structure and underlayment than lighter options. While you can often retrofit a house to support these materials, this could add significantly to your costs. So ask your Orange County roofing contractor whether your current structure will support all types of materials, and you may be able to eliminate some options off the bat.

The moment an Orange County Roofing company begins servicing a roof, the team invariably knows whether or not someone else has been there first. And that someone usually is a homeowner intent on solving a problem without the assistance of an Orange County roofing contractor.  Not necessarily a bad move – provided said do-it-yourselfer has the requisite skill, knowledge, and time to do a creditable job. If this sounds like an accurate description of you, then, depending on the complexity of your roofing needs, you might be qualified for a DIY job – like cleaning leaves out of a rain gutter.  Anything more complex than that really does require the skills of a commercial roofing contractor.

Think about the investment you’ve made in your beautiful Orange County home, say in San Juan Capistrano. Would you really want to risk jeopardizing the investment by tearing into the roof, relying on your wits alone? Doesn’t it make more sense to call in a San Juan Capistrano roofer to tackle the assignment? In most cases, the answer will be a resounding ‘yes’.   
 
It’s not unusual for an Orange County roofing company to be summonsed for a roof rescue. These typically occur when homeowners have started something they couldn’t finish – at least, couldn't finish without risking their safety or the future performance of their roof tiles. The dollars these homeowners had hoped to save now will spent in increasing amounts, mainly to cover any damage caused by their efforts, as well as service costs. In the long run, DIY roofing services likely will set you back more than originally anticipated.

So think before you tackle a roofing assignment. Because, in all likelihood, you’ll pay tomorrow for whatever mistakes you make today.

If you have any questions about doing your own roof servicing, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County Roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Brea or anywhere else in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

Part of maintaining your roof is actually keeping it clean, as odd as this might sound. But debris built up on your roof can cause some serious problems, from leaks to backed-up gutters. Just like you need to clean your gutters regularly, you’ll also need to regularly clean your roof.

How often you’ll need to clean your roof depends on a variety of factors, including the type of roofing material that’s on your roof. Talk to your Orange County roofing contractor about whether or not your roof needs cleaned regularly.

If you can see debris

Built-up debris from tree leaves and other things on your roof can cause some serious problems. Debris can itself start rotting, which can cause certain roofing materials to do the same. But even if rot isn’t a problem, debris can stain your roof, causing your property values to lower. Or debris can keep your roof from functioning as designed, since it can block the flow of water from your roof into your gutters.

Heavier debris, such as sticks, can also puncture your roofing materials, causing holes and leaks in the roof. Of course, this is a problem you want to avoid at all costs!

Your roof is one of the most important components of your home, since it protects the rest of your home from wear and tear. Even the best-installed roof from the best materials will need replaced eventually. But you can mitigate the need to repair or replace your roof by establishing and following a maintenance plan early on. Here’s how you can establish and keep track of your roof’s maintenance plan.

1.First, understand the whys

Before you’ll take time to follow a maintenance plan for your roof, you’ll want to know why you should do such a thing. Talk to your Orange County roofers about this, and they’ll tell you why it’s important to actually follow a roofing maintenance plan.

You need to change the oil in your car to keep larger problems from cropping up down the road. The same thing goes for your roof. Though you don’t need to replace the oil, you do need to be sure your roof is in good repair on a regular basis to avoid more expensive repairs down the road.

Every Orange County roofing company understands that you want to keep your roof in good working order and completely leak-free. That is, unless you prefer the pleasure of water droplets steadily plopping your head or possibly on the new sofa. Which is why this Orange County roofing contractor recommends preventative maintenance for your rooftop.

The good news is, you needn’t call in your local commercial roofing contractor to carry out a preliminary preventative maintenance program. Much of the basic work easily can be done by you, members of your family, and if you bribe them sufficiently, perhaps neighbors and friends.

If Orange County is your home, you may not be particularly concerned about roof leaks. So why bother with maintenance? After all, rainfall is minimal in this neck of the woods. True, but when the rains do arrive, you’re roof is as vulnerable as those in the moister regions. So don’t think you’re invulnerable if you live in a place such as San Clemente. You may not have to call in a San Clemente roofer. But you will have to do some looking around … at least, for the preliminary stages.

No matter where you live in Orange County, one of the first places to do your looking is not necessarily on the roofing material itself. No, it’s the chimney (assuming, of course, you have a fireplace.) Believe it or not, chimneys are among the top leak zones. So make sure yours is properly sealed. If not, you’re inviting rainwater into your home. You’ll also want to check out your skylights, as these also are major leak sources. You see, water can get trapped behind skylights. Therefore, make certain the flashing is in good shape. And don’t forget, the skylight material itself can crack or puncture, allowing moisture inside.

If you have any questions about preventative roof maintenance, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in San Clemente or anywhere else in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

If you’re considering the purchase of a vintage home in OC, this Orange County roofing company strongly recommends you look closely at the rooftop. Aging roofs may be and probably are severely worn. Unless, of course, a reliable Orange County roofing contractor recently has performed a roof replacement on the residence you’re considering. Then you have little to worry about except the plumbing. But that’s not our department.

Vintage homes abound in Orange County. Laguna Beach definitely has its share. If you’re considering the purchase of classic residence in this community, you’ll want an evaluation from a qualified Laguna Beach roofing company such as Luke Roofing. This will alert you to any potential problems well in advance.

What are some of the possible problems commonly associated with worn roofs? Among the most common encountered by commercial roofing contractors are pest invasions, water damage, and deteriorated insulation.  Should any or all of these issues be discovered after you move in, the price tag for correction and repair will be a small fortune. It’s much wiser to get an advance opinion of a qualified Orange County roofing company.

You may be able to spot some of the telltale signs of roofing problems yourself. Obvious ones are missing or broken shingles, crumbling rooftop cement, bent gutter, ongoing dampness in the attic (assuming the home has one), water spots on walls and carpet, and yes, even a lurking creature or two residing comfortably in the attic. Clearly, it’s best to get a roof inspection than to discover furry uninvited guests after you hang your hat.

If you have any questions about roofing issues associated with vintage homes, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Dana Point or anywhere else in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

Are you hiring an Orange County roofing contractor to put a new roof on your home? Maybe your main goals is to increase your curb appeal and the value of your home, or to replace a worn out roof. Either way, you’ll find that the re-roofing process requires some preparation on your part.

Whether your roofers are working on your home or your business, you’ll what to take certain steps to prepare yourself for the process, and to get through it well.

Keep in mind that you may need to move out of your home or shut down your business temporarily, especially during the early phases. Re-roofing can be messy and even dangerous at times. It’s best to talk to your roofing contractor ahead of the process to see if they have advice on whether or not you can stay in your home.

Does your Orange County roof have a slow leak?

Sometimes, especially in sunny SoCal, your roof will have no signs of a leak. A home that looks to be in perfect condition, though, could be hiding insidious problems with its number one form of protection: the roof.

Whether your roof is tile, asphalt, or metal, if it wasn’t installed properly, it could have a slow leak. But here’s the thing: with a slow leak, you may never know you have a problem until it’s too late to avoid replacing the entire roof, and maybe even some beams and rafters.

The danger of a slow leak is that you may not notice it for months or even years. This is especially true if you rarely go into your attic. But these types of leaks can cause serious damage over time, including rotting through your roofing underlayment or causing mold.

So what should you look for as signs of a slow leak in your roof? And how will an Orange County roofing contractor fix the problem? Or even help you prevent it? Here’s what you need to know.

Signs of a slow leak

A regular roofing leak is pretty easy to spot. It comes with a drip-dripping during sudden storms. You may even notice holes or missing shingles or tiles from the outside of your home. The signs of a slow leak, though, are more subtle. They include:

As you might already know, the federal government often offers tax credits to incentivize eco-friendly improvements on your home. You can, for instance, get a tax credit for installing a solar water heater or a more efficient furnace. And in 2016, you can get a tax credit for an energy-efficient roof, too!

The details

This tax credit is a federal income tax credit, and it’s effective through the end of this year: December 31st, 2016. In other words, you must have the roof installed before the end of the year to claim the credit.

The credit is for up to 10% of the cost of your roof, not including installation costs. You can claim up to $500. So to get the full credit, you’ll need to spend $5,000 on roofing materials.

One item of note here: roofs installed on business and secondary properties don’t count. The roof needs to be on your primary residence in order to apply for this tax credit. Your principal residence is defined as a home that you own and that you live in most of the time. Also, the roof must be retrofitted to an existing home. You can’t claim the credit if you’re adding a cooling roof to a new construction home.

Once upon a time, metal roofs were merely sheets of tin tossed up over southern shanties and red barns. The corrugated metal looked attractive, in a rustic, woodsy sort of way. But metal wasn’t a material you’d use for most residential roofs, especially not if your house was of a certain style.

But today, metal roofing has expanded its repertoire. It’s now a versatile, good-looking option that can look like more traditional roofing materials for residences. Whether your home is a European-style Colonial, a contemporary home, or even a classic SoCal mission style, there’s a metal roof for your home.

But first, the benefits

Of course, other types of roofs will also work for these styles of homes. Colonials, for instance, are often roofed in wood shingles or even asphalt shingles. Contemporary homes typically use shingle roofs, though some other options are used. And on mission-style adobe homes, you’ll usually find slate or clay tile roofing.

As part of your overall roofing system, you may not think about flashing much. But whether you’re in for roof repair or full replacement, rest assured that your Orange County roofing contractor is thinking about flashing. It’s an essential part of the weatherproofing system for your home, and should be used in more places than just on the roof. But as part of the roof, it’s essential.

So what is flashing, and why is it so important? And how do you know if it’s been damaged and needs repaired or replaced?

5 Things to Know About Your Roof Rain Gutters by an Orange County Roofing Professional

If you’re working with an Orange County roofing contractor to repair or replace your roof, you may consider having your contractor check out your gutters, as well. Though you might assume they’re in great shape, new gutters can work wonders for the efficacy of your roof and the overall look and feel of your home.

When it comes to gutters, most homeowners don’t think about them until something is going terribly wrong--like they’re starting to fall off the house. But the right gutters can protect your home during a deluge, and can even add to the overall style of your home.

Here's 5 things to consider when picking your shingles

If you’ve decided to reshingle your roof, you’ve got a lot of decisions to make, though you might not know it yet. Not only do you have to decide on the types of shingles you’ll use, but you’ll also have to choose the color of your shingles. Since your roof covers a large part of the outside square footage of your home, you’ll find that it’s a great way to make a statement.

Put some thought into choosing your roof’s color, and you can really make a statement. Not sure how to go about choosing a color--especially if you might want to vary greatly from the current color of your roof? Take these five tips when choosing the shingles your Orange County roofing contractor will use on your new work:

If your home is like many in Orange County, California, it has a tile roof. These roofs have many great advantages, including added insulation and the ability to stand the test of time. They can last for fifty years or more without being replaced. But, eventually, nearly any roof will wear down and need replaced. When you’re considering replacing your clay or concrete tile roof, you’ll need to take several factors into consideration, including the following:

Repair or Replace?

The first question to ask your Orange County roofing contractor is whether your roof can be repaired cost-effectively, or if it should be replaced. Like shingle roofs, clay tile roofs can be replaced fairly easily by the right professional. Individual tiles that are cracked or worn can be replaced on their own.

Metal roofs may remind you of backwater shanties without much curb appeal. But that’s really no longer the case. New manufacturing techniques have made metal roofs incredibly interesting and attractive. This roofing material now has a lot to offer consumers. While metal roofs aren’t the best choice for everyone, you should certainly consider a metal roof when it’s time to replace yours. Here are just ten reasons why:

1.Weight

Metal is one of the most lightweight roofing options available, which makes it a good alternative to a clay or concrete tile upgrade. If your home was originally built for an asphalt shingle roof, it may require additional support to be added if you’d like to upgrade to a tile roof, which adds much additional weight. Since metal is often lighter even than asphalt shingles, you won’t have to worry about this issue.

So you’re noticing a drip from somewhere around your roof whenever it happens to rain? Luckily, many roofing leaks are easy to fix. Sometimes, it only takes a professional Orange County roofer a few minutes to a couple of hours to fix a leak. On the flip side, it can sometimes take hours to figure out exactly where that leak is coming from.

The first step to figuring out where the leak is coming from is to identify the leak in the first place. All too often, leaks can start out silent, and you won’t even know they’re there until they’ve caused lots of issues. For instance, your roof could be leaking into the attic, but it takes time for the leak to trickle down to the ceiling where you can actually see it.