 As soon as we get back to school and regular routines in the fall, many homeowners begin to assess their property and decide what needs to be done before the snow starts falling. For most, roof maintenance becomes a top priority. The integrity of your home depends on proper roof maintenance and keeping up to date with repairs and replacements. It is important to assess your roof and have any necessary work done before the winter season hits – bringing the rain, snow and hail along for the ride. So, I get asked this question all the time about what can wait until spring and what should get sorted before winter when it comes to the roof. Here are my thoughts: SOME PROJECTS CAN’T WAIT UNTIL SPRING. If you are thinking of delaying your roof repair or replacement until next spring, we always recommend doing it now to avoid any unpleasant surprises that could cost you a lot of grief and money in the future. For example, a small water mark on your kitchen ceiling may seem small, but that water could be travelling across your home and slowly causing more damage in other areas. During the upcoming fall and winter months, these other weakened areas will begin to show signs of water damage as well. Inevitably, the more damage there is, the more expensive your spring project will be. So why not save yourself money and have some piece of mind in knowing your home is prepared for winter. Replacing your roof before winter will help with numerous things:
If you are ready to get a quote, need an inspection, or just some friendly advice, our team would be more than happy to assist. We've been roofing the region for 20 years now and look forward to hearing from you! Please contact us for a FREE QUOTE HERE.
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 When the time comes for a new roof or a fix for an older one, you may be tempted to choose the company with the cheapest price or the one offering to get the job done the quickest. Although a good price and a quick turnaround are important, it is crucial that you have competent roofers and ones that are properly insured. Here is why insurance is so important: The risk of the home being accidentally damaged Roofers need to have insurance to prevent the homeowner from having to foot the bill in case an accident occurs and property is damaged. The risk of a worker being injured It is crucial for roofing companies to possess workers’ compensation insurance so that injured roofers or their families do not attempt to sue the homeowner in order to get compensation for medical costs, for lost wages, or for other associated costs. The risk of a homeowner or others in the household being injured Roofing companies need to have liability insurance which protects them from this sort of risk. If they don’t, then the homeowner and/or his or her family could be stuck paying for all of the medical and associated costs of the injury themselves. What You Can Do When hiring a roofing contractor, ask about their Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) certification and the liability coverage on their workplace insurance. This certification is mandatory by law, and must be held by the contractor to legally work as a roofing company. This certification protects and supports workers on the job if they were to receive an injury, and provides them with proper compensation. Bottom Line If you are planning on hiring a roofing company, it is of paramount importance that you hire one with proper insurance coverage. If you don’t, then you could be exposing yourself and your family to enormous financial risks without even realizing it. The team at Class Eh! Roofing have full liability and WSIB insurance to give you peace of mind in your roofing project no matter what it is. If you need our services please contact us for a free estimate today by filling out the contact form HERE.  After a major storm does significant damage to your home, you might be asking, “Will homeowners insurance cover a new roof?”
Great question and we are going to try and break it down for you. First Steps After major damage, it helps to give your insurance agent a call. Ask for the steps needed to file a claim and what help is available. Ask about exclusions. This prevents you from installing a new roof only to find none of the work falls under insurance coverage. If you work with a discount insurance provider and don’t have an agent of your own, make sure you get a copy of your policy so you can see your coverage for yourself. They might not mention to you additional services, like mold remediation or Additional Living Expenses (ALE). Specifically, ask what you need to do to have your roof replaced. Then collect that evidence and submit it with your claim. For instance, to completely replace a roof, some companies require estimates from three different roofing companies. All three must say a replacement is necessary, versus a repair. If it is clear you’ve maintained your roof, you did not cause the damage and your roof was not in need of replacement before the damage occurred, there’s a good chance your policy will cover the replacement. Just make sure you check in advance regarding exclusions. When Homeowners Insurance Refuses to Cover a Roof Replacement Old roofing isn’t covered under most policies because it is already so near to replacement at the owner’s expense. Age restrictions vary by policy, but anything 20 years or older is likely not going to happen. This relates to the first layer of roofing in place. According to the online magazine Money, most roofs can have two layers of shingles. More than that and your insurance company might reject your claim. Why? Because it shows a lack of basic maintenance on the part of the homeowner. Records indicating regular inspections and repair work, photo evidence or even posts on social media regarding clearing out leaves, and evidence of trimming trees might be necessary to justify a total roof replacement. Even then, depending on your type of roof cover, you might be out of luck. Bottom Line: There are a lot of variable that come into play about insurance when it comes to your roof. For all your roofing needs and questions the team at Class Eh! would be pleased to assist. Please contact us HERE for a free estimate.  If you invest in a roof, it is important to know the types of warranties that are available as well as what is covered through the warranties. Here we are going to do a brief overview ... Installation Only The installation only warranty covers roof defects. These defects have to be due to improper installation. Labor Only Labor only covers the labor costs. This warranty does not cover materials. It’s important that you have a clear idea of what’s covered under a labor only policy. Materials Only Material only warranties are a guarantee that your roof holds up to specified roofing defects. They do not protect against roof damage if there is a faulty installation or if you do not maintain your roof. System Warranty System warranties cover labor cost and materials. The roof manufacturers offer these warranties and they may protect you in the case of an installation failure. However, they will not cover you if your damage arises from lack of maintenance. Manufacturer’s Warranty Manufacturer’s warranties can cover material, labor and system warranties. These warranties last for about 10 to 30 years. These warranties will not protect your roof from all damages, but they are a safeguard against roof damages to non-manufacturer provided components of the roof. Of course, not all warranties are the same. You need to understand precisely what goes into your warranty. When you purchase a new roof, you need to pay close attention to the warranty options that are important to you. After all, to invest in a roof is a big deal. These are expensive investments that should last you a long time. It’s crucial that you have a warranty in case anything goes wrong. Most of the time, if something does go wrong, it’s simple enough to be fixed with your warranty before the problem gets out of hand. For a free estimate on your roofing needs, or any questions about our warranty please contact my team at Class Eh! Roofing!  It is high season for roofing right now and you may be in the beginning stages of finding a reputable roofing contractor to take care of your home. With that in mind, we've put together some tips in helping you to choose the right roofing contractor and getting the best service for your money. 1. INSURANCE - Make Sure They Have It! Make sure that your contractor has worker’s compensation and liability insurance. Ask to see the certificates and actually call the insurance carrier to confirm that they are valid. This keeps all bids on a level playing field, knowing that part of the cost of the roof and the service being provided to you is protected with the security of coverage. 2. KEEP IT LOCAL Make sure that the company that you choose is local. This means that they are not just operating locally now, but have an established business and reputation in the community. We have had many calls from customers that have problems with their roofs and the company that they chose to install their roof closed, moved or vanished. It is very easy to provide a piece of paper, but the warranty is only as good as the longevity and reputation of the roofing company. 3.PRICING IS NOT THE BE ALL END ALL Never choose a company based on price. Cheap bids drive down the market and anyone with overhead and proper insurance has to establish pricing to cover such costs. Those that do work on the side or are just working out of a pick-up truck can always do the work cheaper. But in the long run, you get what you pay for. Customers that are sold on price as their sole criteria ultimately end up spending more money to fix problems, and many of these problems would have been covered under a workmanship guarantee by a reputable established roofing company. 4. REFERRALS ARE ALWAYS A GOOD THING Pick a roofer from a referral or a sign in your area that has a satisfied client on the other end. There is no better proof that a company is legit and does good work than if others vouch for them and have already experienced their service. 5. GET IT IN WRITING The scope of the job, the price, the start and end date, the warranty information, all of these are important to get in writing before signing on with a roofing company. 6. SHOP AROUND It takes a little time, but your roofing investment is worth it, so get more than one quote on your job and weigh in on the results. 7. COMMUNICATION 101 Did the contractor you called return your calls? Did they send the documentation that you asked them to send? Did they follow through? If you answered “no” to these questions, then this is a red flag. If they don't communicate in an easy to understand and timely fashion, just walk away. Communication is key to every business. If you aren’t getting what you need on the front end when they are trying to get your business, what will happen once you have committed the work to them? Probably not much. If you are in the market for a new roof, a repair, or just some good old fashioned advice, my team at Class Eh! Roofing would be pleased to assist! Please contact us for a free estimate HERE.  Flashing is an important part of any roofing system that helps to protect your home by redirecting the flow of water around potential openings. It is quite literally your roof’s last line of defense from moisture and we will focus on what it is and how it works today because many people ask about it!
Where will you find flashing?
Flashing Materials
Types of Flashing
How Roof Flashing Works Flashing is typically installed during home construction and depends heavily on gravity to work. When it works correctly, flashing helps guide water onto the regular roof materials, as opposed to cracks that can leak into your home. If you think that your flashing needs attention due to wear and tear, or have any other questions about it, our team at Class Eh! Roofing would be pleased to help you out. Please contact us today by going to the link HERE.  Now that spring is finally here, many homeowners are going around their homes and getting to work repairing any damage that might have occurred during the long winter months, and making sure their homes are ready for whatever the upcoming season might hold. There are a number of important features around your home that require attention, but one of the most important of these is going to be your home’s roof. Here are three tips to get you going in the right direction for the seasons ahead... Clean Out Your Gutters. Once the snow and ice clears away enough for you to do so, one of the first things you are going to want to do is ensure that your gutters are properly cleaned out. As soon as you are able, break out the ladder, or hire a professional and make sure any lingering debris is cleared out of your gutters, to ensure they are working properly when the spring rains finally start to come down. Get Your Roof Cleaned After it is safe to do so, you are going to want to ensure that your roof is completely cleaned off, whether you do it yourself or again have a professional come in and do so. If your roof is still covered in debris that might have come down throughout the course of the fall or winter, now is the time to clean it off so that you can get a good idea of the condition of your roof underneath. Any lingering debris can not only make your roof that much more dangerous to navigate, but can also hide smaller issues when you are having your roof inspected for damage. Get A Professional Inspection One of the most important things you can do for your roof to ensure it is prepared for the coming spring is to have it professionally inspected. Our team at Class Eh! Roofing are experienced professionals and would be happy to help you out if you'd like assistance with this. From loose or damaged shingles, to rust, fungus, algae, or any areas where your roof might be sagging, our team will go over your roof thoroughly and give you a detailed report of any issues we find and what needs to be done about them. CONTACT US HERE FOR A FREE ESTIMATE. And now, enjoy the warmer months ahead!  We have freezing cold temperatures and more snow in the forecast. It’s a good time for some winter weather roof tips from Class Eh! Roofing.
Drainage First up let's look at drainage. Drainage is a critical element of any roof system. Snow and ice don’t move until they melt. When that happens they must drain so it is imperative that drains and eavestroughs are clear. Gutters and roof drains are designed to divert water away from your home, and allow for the proper flow of water during a heavy rain, reducing the risk of interior water damage caused by water backing up into the roof. When there is snow, they also provide a conduit for melting snow in order to reduce the weight loads on a roof. If you’ve noticed water overflowing from eavestroughs in the past couple of months, that’s a sure sign of a drain issue and it may be wise to call in a pro before a bad situation turns worse. Roof Top Trips In a word. DON'T. Especially in winter, it is slippery and hazardous to attempt to get up there this time of year. If you do sense an issue of any kind or drainage problems as mentioned above, a professional is the way to go to give yourself peace of mind. Sooner Rather Than Later As with anything, when you notice a problem, taking action sooner rather than waiting until later can mean the difference between a small fix up or a large one that costs more. If you need any assistance this winter season with roof issues, our team is here for free estimates. Contact us today by filling out the form HERE.  Having a solid roof over your head means you need to take care of it, however sometimes we can do things with the best of intentions not realizing they are harmful.
With that in mind, lets talk about some of the roofing myths out there and learn the correct way to take care of yours. 1. Cleaning Your Roof With a Pressure Washer Cleaning your roof can help enhance its appearance and prevent mold from growing. Many people will use a pressure washer to do the job but this can actually damage the surface of your roof. Next time you clean your roof, opt for a hose instead. 2. Over-Insulating Your Home Insulation is good, too much can be bad however. If your home has an attic, too much insulation won’t allow the room to ventilate properly which can cause mold to grow and other issues. 3. Not Regularly Checking Your Roof Just because you don’t see any leaks doesn’t mean there aren’t issues with your roof. Take the time to inspect your roof so you can handle small repairs when needed. 4. Not Checking Your Attic If you only inspect the outside of your home, you may be missing out on some obvious signs that your roof needs to be replaced. Always check your attic to look for signs of mold growth or excessive humidity. 5. Roofing Over Shingles No matter what you do, do not simply put new shingles over old ones. You’re only making things worse. Old shingles need to be removed and replaced by new ones for a proper seal. Call a Professional! Roofing problems can be complicated and that's where a professional team like Class Eh! can help you out. We offer FREE estimates, so what are you waiting for? To contact us please visit the link HERE. 
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AuthorWayne Jeffreys is a native of Niagara-On-The-Lake and owner of Niagara based roofing company Class Eh Roofing! Archives
September 2019
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