Archive for October, 2013
Preparing A Roof For Hurricane Season
Fall is a magical time of year where we build campfires and the leaves begin to change, but with the changing season also comes increased threats to your roof. Hurricanes are especially problematic this time of year; and if you live along the coast now is the time to prepare your home for the potential for upcoming storms.
Coastal Living
While living beachside may be appealing nine months out of the year, the other three are can be quite challenging. High moisture and high winds are two factors that can quickly lead to roof damage. When a hurricane comes along, an already damaged roof is likely to lead to disaster. Here is how you can prepare:
1. Inspect your roof before hurricane season starts. — Make sure your roof is in top condition before the storm rolls in.
2. Repair any missing or damaged shingles on the roof. — Having an already compromised roof can be the basis for denying an insurance claim down the road.
3. Take pictures and keep receipts of any maintenance work on your roof. — You are more likely to win your insurance claim if you can prove the roof was in good condition before the storm.
4. Consider purchasing a higher wind and water resistant roof material, like metal. — Metal roofs are more durable for coastal climates than traditional asphalt shingles.
Recycling Your Roof
Many homeowners know very little about the roof materials covering their home. When it comes time to replace a roof, most just simply replace with a similar material as before. Very few people actually stop to consider using recycled roof materials or even recycling the old materials that is removed from their home. However, making this simple choice can greatly benefit the environment and your budget for roof repair.
Saving Shingles
The average home in America is covered by a traditional asphalt shingle roof. Known for their affordability and aesthetic appeal these shingles come in just about every color possible. However, it is estimated that 22 billion pounds of the waste deposited into landfills each years are from old asphalt shingles.
Until recently these materials were manufactured new from composite asphalt materials, but with no recycled version available. These days asphalt shingles can be found in a recycled version, saving the homeowner money and sparing the environment. Since the recycling of asphalt shingles, the amount of waste ending up in landfills has been cut by 50%. As more homeowners encourage recycling of their old roof materials and choosing only recycled options for new materials the amount of waste in landfills can continue to drop significantly.
