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Minneapolis Wind & Hail Damage To Roofs

Written By: CopperSmith Gutter | Minnesota Seamless Gutters, Minneapolis Copper Gutters Contractor | Published On: 6th September 2009

Wind is one of the worst enemies a roof can have. This goes along with hail damage and the weather changes that occur over time. However, wind, along with hail, can take your roof in a heartbeat. You can have a perfectly find roof one minute and experience significant damage the next.

There are several reasons why wind wreaks havoc on MN roofing. Those reasons are:

  • The strong winds can blow the rain in the opposite direction of the natural water flow of your roof.
  • Debris from trees or other objects can be blown onto your roof and damage be done. Once damage occurs to shingles and water is blown into those damaged areas, the water can cause even more damage to the roof by reaching the unprotected inner roof.
  • Strong winds can also blow off shingles if the wind is blowing just the right way during the storm. This exposes the inner roof and can lead to further damage

If there were any cracks or holes already in your roof, further damage such as the above can turn those small pieces of damage into significant damage. A small leak could literally turn into a waterfall.

If you find that both wind and hail damage are wreaking havoc on your MN roof, then there is something you can do when looking at roof replacement and that is to talk to your MN roofing company about a Class 4 roof. This is the best that you can buy because the shingles are high impact shingles. They are designed to stand up to the elements much better than Classes 1, 2, and 3 roofing. However, be prepared to pay a price. Better roofing is going to cost more money, so you can expect to pay approximately 50% more on Class 4 roofing than traditional roofing.

Here is an example as to why Class 4 roofing is better: Your traditional shingles have a 3-nail pattern. Class 4 requires a 6 nail pattern. Because more nail driving is involved, you can expect to pay more for labor, but you can take into consideration that you’ll have a much better warranty that could last up to 10 years. Plus, the expected lifespan is 30 to 50 years. There are quite a few benefits. When you take into account that you could possibly have to replace traditional roofing multiple times within the lifespan of Class 4 roofing, the truth is that you will be saving money over time. You will also be saving yourself money on the other damage that can occur to your home due to faulty roofing.

So when it comes to wind damage or any other kind of damage that may occur to your roof, look at the facts and make a responsible decision regarding your roofing. You would be amazed at the thousands of dollars that you can save by making sure you have the best roofing in MN to begin with.

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Cost of Roof Repair vs. Roof Replacement In Twin Cities

Written By: CopperSmith Gutter | Minnesota Seamless Gutters, Minneapolis Copper Gutters Contractor | Published On: 5th September 2009

roofing contractorWhen damage has been done to your roof, you are faced with a tough decision. That decision is whether or not you should simply have your roof repaired or if you should have it replaced. In many cases the extent of the damage may help make this decision for you and in other cases cost will dictate your decision. Most of the time cost rules a person’s decision because they’re working with a tight budget.

So what is the difference in cost between roof repair and roof replacement in Minnesota? Obviously replacing an entire roof may be more costly than repairing because replacement involves replacing the entire roof…

Or could it be the other way around?

There are different techniques that may be used to fix your roof. For instance:

A “tear-off” may be more costly than re-roofing your home for the fact that this task involves removing the old shingles and the underlayment from your roof. The Minnesota roofer may also provide haul away and disposal services of the old roofing materials. The reason why a tear-off costs more is because the roof deck can be inspected thoroughly and the rotten parts replaced; those high risk areas such as eaves, outside rakes, valleys, and inside rakes can also be inspected and rebuilt from scratch if they need to be; and you receive brand new underlayment and a variety of other fixes to your roof that can make your roof last longer than ever.

A “re-roof means that new shingles are applied over the old shingles. Most Minnesota building codes will allow a re-roof if there is only one existing layer, but will not allow for a third layer because of the weight. Re-roofing means that the decks and valleys cannot be seen, no new underlayment is applied, more moisture may be held by a 2 layer roof, and any damage done to the existing shingles can bleed through to the new shingles over time.

Although some Minnesota roofing contractors will suggest that a tear-off be done rather than a re-roof, there is concern that you do what you can afford. Some individuals are suspicious when a roofer suggests a tear-off because of the higher cost, but a tear-off is better for the overall well-being of your roof and of your home. It is important to note that a tear-off is recognized and approved by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and by manufacturers.

Nevertheless, what you do is up to you. You can review the costs with your Minnesota roofing contractor and see what your options are. For some homes, a re-roof may be a valid option. Ranch style homes tend to be the best candidates for re-roofing because the valleys are small or they don’t exist at all. A re-roof can be risky for those homes with multiple or long valley assemblies.

As for the actual cost, the cost will depend on the roofing contractor you use, the size of your roof, and the extent of the job. And although using a licensed contractor will cost you more, you will receive a much higher quality of work that will last for years to come.

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Minneapolis Roof Replacement Considerations

Written By: CopperSmith Gutter | Minnesota Seamless Gutters, Minneapolis Copper Gutters Contractor | Published On: 4th September 2009

When replacing a roof, there are things that you need to consider. However, know that you do not have to consider these things on your own. You do have the help of a qualified Minnesota roofing company to help you make the right decisions regarding your roof replacement and do so according to your particular budget.

So what are these considerations?

The type of roofing that you want on your home. The type of roofing is going to coincide with your budget and/or the type of curb appeal you want your home to have. Minnesota roofing also needs to be strong because of the different types of weather that occurs throughout the year.

Look at the warranty. The warranties on Minnesota commercial roofing has been extended over the past few years. There are some warranties that will last as long as fifty years. However, there are certain stipulations put in place for each warranty, so you need to review those terms.

You need to evaluate the life-cycle cost. What this means is you need to learn about the life-cycle of the roofing that you are interested in. Is it going to last a long time? Are you going to have to have your roof repaired every single time the wind blows or a hail storm comes through? What kind of energy savings are you looking at? Don’t let low initial costs fool you because your long-term investment could exceed the actual quality of the roof. A roof with a lower life-cycle cost and a higher initial cost can actually save you money over time.

The longevity is also an issue. The longer the roof will last, the better. You can invest in a roof that is designed to last 30 years or you can have a roof that is designed to last 15 years. Although the 15 year roof is cheaper, you will be replacing it for more money in 15 years than what it would cost you to replace in 30.

All of these areas touch on the main thing to consider and that is the cost. Whether the impact is on the initial cost or the cost over time, you will be paying more or less money based on your decisions. That is why it is good to consult with the Minnesota roofer about what you need to do. They do not want to lose your business because they cannot work with your budget. They would rather have your business and provide the best for your budget rather than lose it completely.

A thorough evaluation of your roof can be done and that evaluation will reveal what the next steps need to be in making sure your home is protected from the weather. When you have high quality roofing that is installed correctly, that next hail storm may not seem so bad. When your roof is the one standing up to the elements, then you’ll know that you made the best investment for you.

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Minnesota Cool Roofing Contractors

Written By: CopperSmith Gutter | Minnesota Seamless Gutters, Minneapolis Copper Gutters Contractor | Published On: 1st September 2009

Since we have become a society focused on bringing down energy costs in order to save money and also work to save the environment, “cool roofing” is a term that we are hearing more of. But what is it exactly? To some, it may sound like a roofing system with fans installed in it or maybe even a refrigeration unit installed. Imaginations can run wild when trying to figure out what cool roofing is. But it is neither one of those.

Cool roofing is actually rather simple. It is more about the color of the roof than it is anything else.

Think about it this way: you know that you shouldn’t wear all black clothes in the sun on a hot summer day. What’s going to happen to you? Well, you are probably going to overheat. You are going to overheat faster than the person wearing lighter clothes. The same concept applies to your Minnesota roofing.

If you are going to have a black or dark colored roof on top of your home, then you may as well be placing a black t-shirt on it and leaving it to stand in the hot sun during the summer. The light is going to be absorbed and that light produces heat. When you walk up into your attic, there is a good chance you will want to turn around and walk back out because the heat will almost knock you over.

But place a white or light colored roof on your home and you are reflecting the light away. When the light is reflected away, the heat cannot be absorbed. It is then that you can walk into your attic and not be bowled over by the heat. This also means less heat making its way into the living quarters of your home.

When you have less heat making its way into the living quarters of your home, your air conditioning will not work as hard to cool your home. When your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard, not as much electricity is being used. When not as much electricity is being used, you do not have to pay for so much electricity. It all trickles down to your wallet and the money that you will save because of it. This is what Minnesota cool roofing really does for you. Not only is your attic more bearable, and even your home in the summer, but you are keeping more money in your pocket and out of the hands of the power company.

As for how you obtain cool roofing, you simply contact your Minneapolis Roofing Company and discuss cool roofing with them so that you can be presented with the best options for you. Over time, the amount of money that you will save will exceed what you spend on your new cool roofing system. And what’s great is your cool roof will stand up to those harsh Minnesota winters, which is extremely important when choosing the right roof for your home.

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