Avoid Storm-Chaser Roofing Contractors

Choosing the right Cincinnati Roofer to hire for your home can be challenging and confusing. We know that. With the alarming number of scams that are related to roofing companies, it’s only understandable.

The Urban Roofing Legend

We’ve all heard the story about the friend of a friend who decided to hire a Cincinnati roofing contractor after they claimed to have noticed something on the roof, and knocked on the front door offering to inspect the roof. Asking for the money upfront, they agree on repairing the house roofs but weeks later they’re unwilling to service or even complete the roofing work that they had promised. There was no contract signed, or if there is one, it’s a scam Cincinnati roofing contractor. Not only is this the most widely-known nightmarish tale about roofers, but sadly, it is actually a true story in many places around the country.

Anyone can say that they can hang up a shingle and they can start calling themselves a roofing company. It’s common to see an influx of roofers that are recently “expanding” into the city after a big storm. These could the feared storm chasers.

Learn How to Identify Storm Chasers

Sometimes there may be locals who have decided to start a roofing business right after a major storm hit the city, with the likes of hail and tornadoes.  Sometimes they are painting contractors that suddenly become roofing contractors. They know that the most vulnerable times for any homeowner is right after possible damage to their Cincinnati roofs, so they will likely contact you or stop by to give you an inspection for free.

It can be a challenge to avoid offers from various roofing contractors at times, but getting contracts and offers in writing can help you analyze them carefully and choose the one that is most beneficial to you. Learn to stop yourself from signing or agreeing to anything before you’ve studied various options.

Other clues that might give them away are lack of license certificates or lack of insurance.  Just like in many other cities and states, Cincinnati roofs are often inspected after major storms.

Every roofing contractor that does this kind of work needs to cover workers from injuries if they go up any and fall down from any roof, whether it was Cincinnati storm damaged or not. It’s the insurance company or the homeowner who becomes liable if something happens to the roofer, so it’s best to ensure that the roofing contractor has a current, valid insurance. This will cover the workers in case anything gets ugly.

I repeat, you don’t want to risk your home just because the roofing company you hired didn’t have insurance. Avoid signing any contingency agreements, unless you have already agreed you want to do business with them. Do some research and find out more about the company online or in Better Business Bureaus.

Storm-chaser contractors might even fail to pay for supplies, making you responsible to pay for them. You need to make sure that all the materials have been paid for, so ask directly and ask to see the invoices for the purchases.

It’s best if you hire someone from the area. Local roofing specialists will know about any state licensing requirements they need to have in order to operate. They will also be available to service your roof later on if you need them to. Hiring local will also help you guarantee their work. They will have to respond to their own work after they have finished it.

As 2017 continues to fly by in Ohio, some new trends have popped up regarding roofing. Cincinnati roofers see more and more requests for items that will help the planet rather than hinder it. This is an excellent way to have a smaller footprint per Cincinnati roofing contractors. In this short guide, you will be informed of the top five modern roofing trends in 2017.

1. Go Green

A hot new trend for 2017 is to go green. No, not literally with green shingles, gutters, or flashing, but with the use of recycled materials. There has been more and more demand from consumers for the roofing industry to come up with green alternatives when it comes to residential and commercial roofing products. Cincinnati roofing contractors are seeing more and more of this in the Ohio area and are impressed with the change that is occurring to use new “greener” products based on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

2. Shingles

Not everyone has the same opinion of the environmental need for greener roofing products. These individuals may stick with the traditional type of roofing products such as asphalt shingles. Cincinnati Roofing contractors have been applying asphalt shingles for many decades now. Asphalt has come a long way over the years, and they are a great, quality product to use on your roof. Not only are they Class A fire-resistant and provide for low maintenance, but they are also inexpensive and ideal for extreme weather including hail, heat, and high winds. Shingles are very trendy currently with property managers and homeowners choosing light colors to assist with energy savings.

3. Solar

When you think of roofs, you think of the outdoor improvements of your home including power washing, chimney repair, and even remodeling. One item that homeowners tend to forget about, but that is quite trendy right now, is the use of solar panels on the roof. If you are interested in solar power, you need to contact any Cincinnati roofing contractor to verify if your home can indeed have solar panels installed on the roof. It is a requirement that your roof has a remaining ten years of wear to be able to install solar panels. If not, you would need to have the roof replaced and the discussion about placing solar panels at the time of the roof replacement.

4. Garden Roofs

If you live in a very populated area and do not have a backyard, this trend may be the next best thing! Garden roofs or living roofs are the next trends to hit the roofing world. Mostly contained in Europe, this trend is making its way to the United States and consists of lush, green foliage on the top of your home. The best benefit, the supportive flora keeps your home cool in the summer and keeps that energy bill inexpensive, what could be better than that?

5. Renewable Energy

Cincinnati roofers love using products that are green and that consist of renewable energies. The newest trends in 2017 roofing products are building-integrated photovoltaics (BPIVs). This is a technology that can make electricity out of sunshine. It is a renewable energy source that causes no pollution, sound, or upkeep. You should contact your Cincinnati roofing contractor if you are interested in this product as it is not sold directly to consumers.

As you can see, there are quite a few roofing trends in 2017 that are emerging according to Cincinnati roofing contractors. Hopefully, these are not just a fad, but rather will catch on and keep the planet and their people healthy. If you follow our advice on the top five popular roofing trends in 2017, you will be amazed at what you as an individual can do to save on your own roofing expenses as well as helping the planet in the process!

Clean your Cincinnati Roof

With spring arriving, and summer just around the corner, it is time to be thinking about spring cleaning of your roof and gutters as well as chimney repair if applicable. The roof can take a toll over the long, cold Ohio winters and a Cincinnati roofing contractor or Cincinnati roofers may be what you need to get you motivated to spring clean your home’s roof. In this short guide, you will be informed of the top six great tips to spring clean your roof.

1. Trim back tree limbs 

A fantastic tip to use when spring cleaning your home’s roof is to trim back tree limbs and leaves to prevent damage to shingles and to avoid moss growth. Not only will trimming tree branches prevent scraping of shingles, but it will also allow sunlight to hit the roof and dry up any moisture on the roof. This will prevent moss from growing as moss thrives on moisture.

2. Repair the roof from any damage

With late fall storms in the Ohio area, storm damage may have gone unnoticed until spring when a leak has developed. Spring storms will bring hail as well so it is crucial to have your roof inspected for any damage, leaks, or other issues that can cause you bills as well as headaches.

3. Clean out the gutters to make way for spring rain

Gutters get clogged up with natural debris such as leaves, seeds, bugs, and other sediments. One important tip is to clear out those gutters for the spring showers that lay ahead. If the water has nowhere to go, it will drip off the sides of the lower shingles as well as overflow the gutters which are not suitable for the drainage system. Have your gutters inspected and cleaned out while you are spring cleaning your roof.

4. Evaluate and repair the chimney as needed

This may or may not apply to some homeowners. If you have a brick chimney, you need to have it inspected while you are spring cleaning your roof to look for damage. Chimneys can weaken, and the last thing you want is for the bricks to disintegrate and fall onto your roof or driveway. A Cincinnati roofing contractor or Cincinnati roofers can look at your chimney and evaluate its strength and usage. If repairs are needed, they can give you an estimate to fix or replace the chimney.

5. Remove tree debris from the roof

Tree debris can damage a roof and gutters. It is critical to remove leaves, needles, or seeds that collect and hold moisture. The moisture from this debris can cause mold and mildew to form which can weaken the roof. It can also add extra weight to the roof, which can damage the integrity of the structure. Make sure to have a handyman, or even yourself if you are willing, remove any collection of foliage debris as soon as you recognize it.

6. Inspect and replace shingles

Shingles are essential to the integrity of the roof as they keep the structure from leaking. If you have a bunch of shingles that have fallen off or that the wind has damaged, make sure to replace them as soon as possible. This action will prevent you from a leaking roof later down the road.

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into keeping your roof clean and damage-free. By using a Cincinnati roofing contractor or Cincinnati roofers, you will have a roof that is ready to go for the hot summers. If you follow our advice on the top six great tips to spring clean your roof, your roof will be grime-free and ready to protect you from the harsh Ohio rains, as well as be the talk of the neighborhood!