There are certain signs you can watch for that let you know when it is time for a roof repair or replacement. Some of these signs, like granules in the gutters, may get more obvious over time. For the most part, it is a good idea to address roofing issues as soon as you notice them. This is especially true when it comes to a roof leak. More
We’ll take any opportunity we can get to make our homes run more efficiently, especially with warmer weather just off the horizon. If you want to get a boost in energy while cutting down on your monthly heating or cooling cost, there are several upgrades you can make around the house to do so. Here are some of the best ways to make your house perform more efficiently.
Replace Your Old Roof
Depending on the type of material your roof is made of, it may be a great time to replace it. If you have asphalt shingles, for example, they typically last between 15 – 30 years. Shingled roofs older than 30 simply do not perform as well as their modern counterparts, and they could be doing a subpar job of insulating your home. Talk to your roofing contractors in Billings, MT about performing an inspection and discuss your options for replacement.
Invest in Siding
Another way to give your home superior insulation is to add siding. While it may not look like much more than a few panels on your home, siding is actually one of the best defenses against severe weather and extreme temperatures. If your siding is starting to get old, you may be able to gain tremendous savings by replacing it with a newer model.
Consider Upgrading to Modern Windows
All Billings, MT construction contractors know that one of the best-kept secrets to an efficient home is a modern window. Unlike single-pane windows of yesterday, today’s come with multiple panes and specialty reflective coatings. You can keep much more of the sun’s rays out of your home by upgrading to new windows.
Clean Your Gutters
Gutters play a vital role in enhancing the efficiency of our housing and roofing in Billings, MT. When they’re bogged down, any incoming precipitation ends up on your roof or siding and contributes to a colder house. You can warm things up by cleaning your gutters regularly.
These are just some of the best ways to give your home a boost in energy.
Ask any Billings, MT construction contractors what one of the best upgrades to make around your home is and they will point you to replacement windows. Although we may not stop to think about them, our windows do quite a bit to keep our houses running efficiently. Here are four benefits of replacing your old windows.
1. Improved Efficiency
If your windows were installed more than 10 years ago, there is a high likelihood they’re allowing in more sun and elements than necessary. Modern windows have at least two panes and provide a much tighter seal. If you want to keep that air-conditioned air inside, invest in new windows.
2. Protect Your Furnishings
Construction companies in Billings, MT also love replacement windows for their ability to protect our furniture and décor. Whereas older windows allow the sun’s harmful UV rays to penetrate inside our homes, new windows send those rays back outside where they belong. With new windows, you’ll notice far less fading on your furniture, paint, and décor.
3. Reduced Heating and Cooling Costs
Because your new windows will be doing much of the work to keep indoor air in, you’ll also notice a drop in your monthly heating or cooling bill. Thanks to their specialty coating and reflective properties, new windows keep heat and cold outside. To you, it means less of a battle with your thermostat every month.
4. Stylish New Look
One of the very best reasons to install new windows is, of course, to get a boost in style! Modern windows are available in a wide variety of design and color options. You can either go for an upgrading version of the window you already love or give your home’s exterior a mini-makeover for added curb appeal.
These are just some of the best reasons roofing contractors in Billings, MT recommend replacing your old windows.
Commercial roofing is most often flat, which means it’s more susceptible to damage during the winter when heavy snow might remain on the roof for weeks or months. If you have a commercial building, there are some important steps you should take to protect your roof so you won’t need extensive repairs or roof replacement come spring.
Be Proactive
Don’t wait until you notice a major problem to check the roof—schedule regular inspections to take a look at what’s happening up there. If you are not sure what you might be looking for in terms of commercial roofing damage in Billings, call a contractor to come and perform the inspection for you.
Check From Inside
When your Billings commercial roofing is covered in snow it can be difficult (or even impossible) to spot damage from the top. Instead of trying to inspect that way, look at the roof from underneath. There are plenty of tools available that can help you spot water leaks on the bottom side of the roof, which will give you an exact location where you need to do repairs.
Avoid Walking on the Roof
Commercial roofing is almost always flat, which means it’s easy to walk on. However, that doesn’t mean your staff should be walking up there. Talk to all your facilities and maintenance crew about minimizing the time they spend walking on the roof, and restrict access to the roof for building occupants except in cases where it’s necessary for an emergency.
Clear the Snow
Snow can build up and put unnecessary strain on your roofing, so rather than wait for it to cause damage, hire a commercial roofing contractor to clear the snow as soon as the storm is over. Snow, while it might seem harmless, can actually be pretty heavy when it accumulates, and it can cause other damage as it melts and becomes standing puddles of water.
Maintaining a commercial roof in winter doesn’t have to be a huge hassle or a big expense, but a few proactive steps now can save your roof from damage in the future.
It’s January, which means that winter weather in Billings is likely to stick around for a few more months. While you might be enjoying the time with activities like cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, your roof might not be having as much fun. That’s because snow can be pretty heavy, and if you allow it to build up on your Billings roofing, there is a chance you could have some serious damage.
Ice Dams
Lots of snow on the roof, coupled with poor insulation in the attic, could lead to the snow melting from the peak of the roof, then freezing again as it reaches the colder outer edges. This forms what is referred to as an ice dam, a dangerous blockage that doesn’t allow snowmelt to get to the gutters. If and when more snow melts, it could pool up on the roof side of the ice dam, and standing water is likely to cause roof leaks if left for prolonged periods of time. The easiest way to spot ice dams is the presence of icicles hanging over your roof. If you see them, talk to a Billings roofing contractor about how to fix it in both the short- and long-term.
Visual Inspection
Another easy way to identify potential roof damage from snow is to just look up there once in a while. If you see buildup of 18 inches or more on top of the roof, it’s likely putting a serious strain on your roofing. The National Weather Service calculates that 18 inches of snow can put as much as 90 pounds per square foot of strain on a roof. While your roof may be able to hold up for a short period of time, the longer the snow sits on the roof, the more dangerous it becomes.
Interior Signs
The winter months aren’t a season when people spend a lot of time outdoors, but you can even identify some of the signs of excessive snow load from inside. Listen for loud cracking or popping sounds, check for roof leaks or sagging areas of the roof from the attic, look for cracks in walls or masonry, and pay attention to doors and windows that previously opened easily and now are “stuck” or difficult to open.
If you see these signs, it’s important not to panic, and to call a roofing contractor right away to help you identify ways to clear the roof (safely) and/or ways to reinforce the strength of your Billings roofing.
GAF is one of the oldest and most trusted manufacturers in the U.S. for roofing materials, but they also understand that quality roofing shingles are no good if you don’t match that with quality installation. That’s why they created the GAF Master Elite Certification—it’s an honor only awarded to the top 3 percent of all roofing contractors in Billings and around the U.S., so you know if you’re working with a Master Elite contractor, you’re getting the cream of the crop.
Why GAF Certification?
In the state of Montana, any construction contractor or subcontractor who hires employees is required to register with the Department of Labor and Industry, but this registration is essentially just to ensure that the company is complying with Montana worker’s compensation insurance regulations. While worker’s compensation insurance is important, GAF certification takes it several steps further to ensure that your Billings roofing contractor has the right experience and a track record of quality work.
What is GAF Certification?
GAF requires contractors to go through several different questions and evaluations in their screening process, with the end goal of making sure that anyone who gets their highest level of certification:
How To Find a Master Elite Contractor
If you’re thinking that it would be nice to have a GAF Master Elite roofing contractor in Billings, but are not quite sure how to find one, the great news is it’s a simple process. Just go to the GAF website and put in your zip code for Billings, MT – Sprague roofing is the first contractor on the list with a near-perfect rating from over 100 homeowners in the area who have used their services. Great installation matters, which is why GAF Master Elite certification is critical in your search for a Billings roofer.
Have you seen icicles hanging from your Billings roofing? Most people think these are just a sign of winter weather, but they could actually be a sign of a more problematic issue that homeowners might not be aware of, but that could cost you a lot of money and be a hassle if left untreated. The problem is ice dams, and anyone who lives in a place with snow, ice, and cold weather during the winter months could be at risk. If that describes your home, here are some ways to eliminate and prevent ice dams.
Understand the Cause
Before you can eliminate or prevent ice dams, the first step is to understand how they form. The air inside your home is much warmer (hopefully) than the air outside during the winter, and when some of that hot air escapes from inside through the attic, it might make its way to the top of the attic where it melts the snow on top of your Billings roofing. That melted snow flows toward the gutters, but before it can make it there it has to pass over the eaves of the home that are much colder, and it might freeze again. This creates a blockage on the outer edge of the roof that won’t allow any other water to get through, so any more melted snow just sits on the shingles.
Why They Form
The most common reasons that ice dams form on a roof are either, or perhaps both, of the following:
In either case you can talk to a roofing contractor in Billings about either adding more (or better) insulation, improving your ventilation based on the shape and size of your attic, or perhaps both.
Removing Existing Ice Dams
If you have ice dams on your roof right now, removing them can be potentially dangerous, especially on a Billings roof covered in ice and snow. Call a Billings roofer to have them come and examine the problem; they have the proper safety equipment to prevent injuries when clearing the dams, and they will know the best de-icing strategies to prevent damage to your shingles.
If you’re like many homeowners, the thought of getting up on a ladder and cleaning out every inch of your gutters this fall makes you want to do just about anything else. While it may not be the most fun thing that you could put on your home maintenance list this season, it’s actually a really critical part of preparing your home for winter.
The Function of Gutters
Your Billings roofing relies on gutters to collect and channel water away from your home and out to a safe distance in your yard. When they are clogged or the series of interconnected gutter sections are falling apart or pulling away from the house, it can quickly cause problems.
Ice Dams
One of the biggest dangers to your Billings roofing when gutters are clogged is the formation of ice dams. You can see them in the form of icicles hanging from the house, and while that might evoke a beautiful winter scene, keep in mind that the buildup of ice along the edge of your roof is keeping standing water on the shingles, which can lead to leaks and other problems if left too long. Cleaning out gutters helps melting water flow away from the roof and out into the yard.
Basement Flooding
When gutters are clogged, the water that should be flowing toward downspouts instead flows over the edge of the gutter, where it collects in the area right around your home. Since the roof doesn’t hang far over your house, that means the water is pooling around your home’s foundation, where it can leak through and cause basement or crawl space flooding, as well as damage to the foundation itself. Both are costly and frustrating situations.
Landscape Damage
Finally, when gutters are filled with debris, the water cannot be properly channeled to areas where it will not cause harm. Usually this results in excess water overflowing in areas of your yard that you did not expect, where it can wash out flowerbeds, gardens, and other parts of your landscaping.
To avoid these problems, make sure you get your gutters in Billings cleaned before the winter comes. If you’re not crazy about the idea of doing it yourself, there is always the option to call a gutter cleaning contractor to help.
If your home suffers damage, whether it’s from flooding, fire, mold, or something similar, your first priority is to get it cleaned up and return your home (and your life) to normal. While there may be a few things you can do on your own to get things cleaned up, hiring a restoration contractor in Billings, MT ensures that your home is appropriately repaired and structurally safe to live in, and that as many of your belongings as possible are salvaged.
They Have Proper Equipment
Unless you plan to clean up a lot of mold, or you have experienced several home fires (hopefully that is not true for the vast majority of homeowners), chances are you don’t have the equipment necessary to properly clean up these types of messes. A certified Billings restoration contractor will have specialized equipment that is designed to clean up fire, water, flood, and other problems.
They Have Proper Safety Training
Entering your home after there has been fire damage, or trying to clean up significant mold problems can actually be hazardous. Without proper training you could get hurt or suffer from things like respiratory problems if you breathe in mold, smoke, and other contaminants. It’s best to leave these things to the professionals so you avoid any additional problems.
They Know How to Work with Insurance
Hopefully most homeowners will not have extensive prior experience with homes damaged by water and flooding, smoke, fire, or mold and mildew, but that also means you won’t have a lot of experience working with homeowners insurance companies to get the costs of cleanup and repair reimbursed. A restoration contractor in Billings will know exactly what your insurance company needs, and the best way to work with them for optimal reimbursement outcomes, and can walk you through that process and help you get what you deserve.
They Can Spot Hidden Damages
Sometimes you will get lucky and that flooding in your basement will only cause some surface damage, but if you’re not sure how to spot the signs of deeper problems, you could easily miss something critical that needs to be addressed. Restoration contractors know what to look for to ensure that all areas are cleaned after your home suffers damage, so you get thorough treatment and can avoid problems later down the road.
If your home is damaged, don’t waste time and effort worrying about whether you can clean it on your own; simply call a contractor in Billings, MT to help you get it cleaned up right away.
The gutters that surround your Billings roofing may not seem like they do much, but they actually play a very vital role in helping to protect your roof from some of the most common problems that can occur when water is not appropriately channeled away from the shingles.
Gutters Keep Water Away From the Shingles
One of the most dangerous things for your shingles is standing water. While they are designed to shed water and protect against things like rain and snow, the longer you have standing water around your shingles, the more likely it will find its way under the shingles to the roof support, and into your attic and home as a leak. Gutters channel water away from the roof to avoid these problems.
Gutters Prevent Ice Dams
Another potential threat for homes in the Billings area is the buildup of ice dams in winter. Sometimes when warm air rises from your heated home, it melts the snow on the top of your Billings roofing; the water runs down the roof and freezes again when it reaches the colder outer shingles. This causes the formation of ice dams, which can have the same damaging effect as standing water on your roof.
Gutters Keep Water from Pooling Around the Basement
Another benefit of quality gutters in Billings is that they can protect against the dangers of water around your home’s foundation. If water is allowed to pool near the foundation, you run the risk that it will damage the foundation or get into the basement and cause flooding. Either scenario is bad, so it’s best to keep this water away from your house and safely channel it into the yard with gutters.
Gutters Protect Your Landscaping
If gutters are clogged with debris, detached from your Billings roofing, or have broken seams, you run the risk that the water will wash away or damage your landscaping. Keep an eye out for areas of landscaping that appear washed out, and if you see that, call a gutter repair company right away.
Having clean gutters in good repair can help protect your Billings home from some of the potential hazards that can otherwise occur without quality gutters.
Sprague Construction Roofing LLC
2120 Main St
Billings, MT 59105
Phone: (406) 534-1222
Office Hours:
8-5 Mon-Fri
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