The moment that you realize that your roof is in need of repair, servicing or replacement, it can be nerve-wracking. Sorting through the various roof contractors in Houston, TX can be overwhelming. You want to make sure that you not only get value for every dollar but that that value comes with quality care and craftsmanship. While you might consider selecting the first name that you see because, of course, a roof repair can’t wait, you really need to take the time out to find the most dedicated service provider that will ensure that your roof will stand the test of time.

4 Important areas to consider when choosing the best possible Roofing Contractor in Houston, TX:

#1 Select a roof contractor who has extensive working knowledge on your particular roof type
When it comes to choosing a roofing company in Houston Texas, you might come across new companies which might be generally good at roof repair, but it’s important that they know about your home, the structure and placement of your roof as well as all of the elements that go into your specific roof. No home structure is the same so one-size does not fit all. Does the contractor offer a warranty, what are the specific elements covered in the warranty and what is the length? Some companies offer a few months, others may offer a longer term, make sure that you are covered.

#2 Take the option of reviewing the company through the NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association):
The NRCA is a leader in the industry with over 3600 members; they provide extensive roofing information relative to contractors and their memberships. You can easily locate a companies name and location as well as submit an online quote directly through the NRCA’s website.

#3 Confirm that your roofing contractor is licensed and insured in Houston, TX
Yet another essential factor to consider while choosing a roofing contractors Houston, is whether they are licensed and insured. You can review Roof Contractor Licensing information through the Roofing Contractors Association in Texas. The latter will confirm that the contractor is ensured as in order to be licensed via this association, the contractor must prove with satisfactory evidence that they indeed to have insurance. You can confirm what type of insurance they have as well.

#4 You can also have a conversation with friends, family & neighbors:
Another method to choose the best roofing contractor in Houston is by knowing someone in your vicinity who might have had the roof repaired to their satisfaction. Ask for a referral and get as much detail as you need from someone that you trust. You can also check for review online via platforms like Google review or Yelp.

Final Thoughts:
In a nutshell, roof contractors are plentiful in Houston, TX but you must ensure that your best interest are met and that the service provided will be lasting and ecnonomically feasible for your budget, roofing contractors in Houston Texas are not created equal, do your research and find the best value for you and your family.

 

What can you expect from Metal Roofing Companies

Metal Roofing Companies are not all the same. There are Companies that only furnish and fabricate supplies, but do not install the roof systems as it is often viewed as a conflict of interest to be both a supplier and an installer. They often have specialized fields they specialize in such as: R Panel or M Panel Roofs, Standing Seam Roofs, Aluminum Shakes, Decra Metal Tiles, Roman Metal Tiles, Metro Metal Tiles. Then there are Companies that handle all types of metal roofing such as Anchor Roofing and Sheet Metal.

Metal Roofs can be installed as a retrofit, new construction, or tear off and complete re roof. It depends on the project and the budget. It can be installed for as little as $3.00 a square foot all the way up to over $10.00 a square foot.

Metal systems can be made to simulate the look of a tile roof without the live load that is associated with traditional tile roof systems. Companies that manufacture and fabricate metal such as Berridge Metals can fabricate and form either concave or convex roof panels as well as panels of any length eliminating end laps and the associated leaks from end laps.

 Standing Seam Metal Roof

Many homeowners and businesses alike are not aware of the fact that since May 1st of 1998 TDI (Texas Department of Insurance) has mandated that insurance companies provide mandatory discounts for hail resistant metal roofs. If you have had a metal roof installed or are thinking of having one installed it is best to assure up front that the roof you are purchasing will enable you for an insurance discount to help offset the cost of your new metal roof.

With fluoropolymer technology being applied to pre painted metal such as Kynar 500, or Hylar 5000 paint finish long term warranties are available against paint fade from Metal Roofing Manufacturing Companies such as Berridge Metals and Englert Metals; furthermore almost all colors of metal available from Englert Metals are considered cool roof and are eligible for up to 25 USGBC (United States Green Building Council) LEED (Leading energy efficient design) points.

They are no different than any other type of company in that they vary greatly in ability, service, reputation, and quality. When looking for a contractor it is recommended to do your research and make sure you are dealing with a company that has been in business at least 5 years, is a member of the Better Business Bureau – with a good rating, and had certified applicator status for the system they will be installing if they win your business. It is also strongly recommended to have the Company you choose provide you with a COI (Certificate of Insurability) listing you as an additional assignee, and that they have a Workman’s Compensation Policy endorsement to protect you in the event that anything goes wrong as working on metal roofs, particularly ones with a steep pitch can be very dangerous and requires the proper safety equipment and training.

I remember when another roofing company called our office asking for a labor only bid on a standing seam roof. I asked the gentleman calling what was going on and he replied, “Well it’s a Standing Seam Roof and we have all the materials on the ground but our installers can’t figure out how to install it.†I was amazed, first the installers typically assist in ordering all the materials to assure that everything has been addressed as all metal roofs are unique and they are not like composition shingle roofs where you just figure out the roof area and order bundles of materials and other accessories. Metal roofs generally have to be fabricated to exact specifications that account for all the facets, rake trim, eave trim, soffit, and other accessories. This call proved to me that not all roofing companies are capable of installing metal roof systems, and even not all Metal Roof Companies are capable of installing all types of metal roofs as per relevant building code, manufacturer installation protocol, and SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association) which is an international group representing over 4000 contracting companies and helping to assure best industry standards are met.

In close I summarize that Metal Roofing is no different than any other trade, do your research, realize that you are getting what you are paying for, and that if you follow the above listed recommendations you should be able to avert a headache. If you have any question regarding metal roofing systems, give a local metal roofing contractor in Houston a call.

What should you know about roof information

I was recently asked this question via our online request form, “Message: Hi, I would like to know how many roof repairs can you possibly handle within a month?

To answer that question I sent the following back, there are many variables that go into the answer to that question. Manpower is not an issue; however the time it takes to properly inspect and identify the source of the leaks and then write a practical work scope with coinciding proposal including a conditions report for the repair/s along with the time involved for the visit to the property is a large contributing factor to the answer. Then there are some roofs such as gravel ballasted systems that are embedded in coal tar pitch that you can put a band aid on; however there is not a permanent solution – repair wise for this type of archaic roof system, as coal tar pitch is a living organism and will move around when exposed to enough heat, and is also carcinogenic.

For example water goes from liquid to solid at 32 degrees F°. With coal tar pitch the phase change from solid to a liquid / soft state usually occurs at around 85 degrees F° and there are very few repair options, and the ones that are available are temporary solutions typically coming with a 6 month warranty at most, depending on the time of year the repair takes place.

Also, if it is more than just roofing involved, such as gutters, coping, re sheathing, along with other situations it requires a Commercial Minor Repair Permit issued from the City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering in advance and there is the time it takes to have the permit issued assuming the property has a valid Occupancy Certificate, and must be finalized upon completion by a Department of Public Works and Engineering Inspector.

There are also the liability issues when anyone goes on your roof that you want to address prior to any work being performed. If you are a Real Estate Investor and set up as an investment group, or outsourcing the building maintenance and management to a Property Management Company, then typically we will have an additional insured COI (Certificate of Insurance) issued to the management company, or investment group listed as Additional Insured. We carry Class A Rated Insurance and Workman’s Compensation insurance to protect both us and you or your clients. Some jobs may require a COI for just the property that is being repaired and having the proper legal description of the owner or relative persons is a prerequisite to obtaining the COI for that property and it can take a day or two once the information is provided before the COI’s come in. Having this in advance helps immensely to provide indemnification as well as a reputable insurer should something go wrong.

The type of repair and the location of the property play a role too, as many roof systems under long term NDL warranties require a Post Warranty Repair Form to be submitted to the roof system material manufacturer whom has issued the long term NDL warranty in advance of the repair or additional work such as new penetrations, HVAC curbs, drains, and many other items relevant, the written approval in advance from the manufacturer that you are a credentialed applicator and approved to perform the roof repair as per specifications can be the difference in a warranty seeing full term and not being voided can save a lot of potential headache.

When it comes to repairs for example if it is a metal roof being repaired then the materials may have to ordered and fabricated to the proper dimensions. If it is an asphalt composition shingle roof, a built up modified rolled roofing system, or a white TPO, or PVC roof system then the process is quicker.

We have a large portfolio of commercial clients and are performing repairs daily in multiple locations; however sometimes there are situations where a roof has reached the end of its life cycle and in good faith we cannot endorse a roof repair when the probability of it failing elsewhere regularly starts a never ending repair process that will cost more to put repair after repair up over a period of time versus either a retro fit system, a coating system, or a complete tear off with new roof system to Local Code as the most practical answer. Plus if it is a commercial roof system in Houston and a new roof is the best op that is not white then to meet the 2008 Houston Commercial Energy Code which was enhanced to meet the 2009 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) then the mandated Solar Reflectivity and Thermal Emissivity must be met which also typically results in a substantial energy consumption reduction as less energy will be used to cool the building now that the Sunlight is being reflected back in to the environment, sometimes offsetting the cost of the new roof. I do not believe there is a reputable roofing company in Houston, or anywhere for that matter that could give you a for sure number of how many roof repairs they could complete in a month’s given time, as no matter where you are the weather plays a significant role.

We welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the issues you are having, and we have the philosophy that we can show you better than we can tell you. Please free to contact your trusted local Houston roofer today and schedule a FREE inspection!

Single Ply Roofing Information

As Single Ply Roofing Continues to grow in popularity we wanted to provide some information to help explain the 3 Types of Single Ply Roofing, TPO, PVC, and EPDM, each with different properties that may make one particular Single Ply the best fit for a Retro Fit Assembly, or for New Construction. I remember when I first was starting out in The Commercial Roofing Industry, one of the first things I did was research analytically, “Where is The Growthâ€, at that time going back to 1995 TPO had shown consistent growth, and is projected to continue at projections of 3.1% to 4% growth (depending on both the study and the region) through thru 2018.

Entering the Commercial Roofing Industry Years ago, one of the first thing I did was learn everything I could about TPO, as well as help make adjustments in my Employers Business to accommodate the growth fueled by Single Ply Roofing. This investment of time and effort not only helped grow my Employers Business but has led let to consistent growth, year after year, and proved to have a great ROI for time and effort invested. You can never learn too much about, “All Things Roofingâ€, a mantra of The RCA / Roofing Consultants Alliance

The RCA is a Win / Win, for anyone willing to have an open mind, and embrace the Principals, “All Things Roofing†and “Fairnessâ€.

DATA FOR REVIEW ABOUT SINGLE PLY ROOFING

Single Ply Overview

Carlisle Syntec Systems

EPDM Information

Carlisle EPDM Case Study Link

PVC Information

Carlisle PVC Information

TPO Information

Firestone Roofing, TPO Information

As I was learning about TPO I was also learning about the other Single Plies, EPDM and PVC. While TPO remains my favored Single Ply. Having the outlook that every building is unique, and should have all factors taken into account prior to specifying any roof system. Reviewing the links provided above will help explain the associated benefits of Single Ply Roofing Systems, and hopefully aid in the decision making process when evaluating a buildings Roofing Needs.

There is no doubt that when Repetitive Elongation Properties are of great significance that no other Single Ply can compete with EPDM. Just as when Animal Fats from Greases from restaurants, or Chemical Residue  are in abundance that PVC Single Ply will most likely be the best fit of all 3 Single Ply Roofing Systems.

In sum, while TPO Claims the Lion’s Share of the Single Ply Market in the USA, it is up to The Architect, The Roofing Consultant, or when applicable The Roofer to make a decision, not based on what is their favorite, but what is likely to see the longest life cycle and perform the best, as well as for the Roof to fit Business Model of the Building that it covers.

I still favor TPO Single Ply Roofing; however having the viewpoint, “Every Building is Unique, and there is not a One Size Fits All Roofâ€, is a Philosophy that benefits both the Roofing Contractor and The Building Owner, with the Professional who consistently specifies the best roof for the building and understands, “All Things Roofingâ€, is the difference from The Average to The Truly Great.

I urge anyone looking into Roofing, be it New Construction or Retro Fit, to look at every building as unique, practice your trade with discipline, and do your research (and never stop researching as understanding is empowerment), as there has never been a One Size Fits All Roofing System, in the History of The US Market.

Anchor Roofing specializes in Commercial Roofing in Houston, Texas. We pride ourselves on a long history of successful installations of all 3 Types of Single Ply, as well as “All Things Roofingâ€. We will gladly evaluate your buildings Roofing Needs and gladly provide multiple options based on what is The Best Fit, keeping your Goals and Business Plan In mind with The Understanding, “All Buildings Are Uniqueâ€, and being able to account your Business Model, how long The Life Cycle term your Roof Needs To be, and the ability to explain multiple systems gauged as Ideal, and providing the associated Cost / Benefit, be it a Single Roof System, a Roof Coating to extend the service life or decrease utility consumption, to Steep Slope Metal and Tile, as well as Asphalt Systems. “There is not a One Size Fits All Roof Out Thereâ€. With that I close.