Archive for the ‘New Roof’ Category
Grant Programs Offer Assistance For New Roofs
Think you don’t have the money to repair or replace your old roof? Think again!
There are several local and federal grant programs that offer monetary assistance to homeowners. These government grants are accessible to homeowners of all types.
In this tough economy, having extra cash for home improvements is hard to come by.
Money For Home Improvements
Whether you lost your job and can’t afford to pay for a new roof or live in an area affected by a natural disaster, the government has a grant program available to help homeowners fund repairs. There are many grants available for people who are experiencing financial troubles and have a roof in need of replacing.
Federal programs, such as FEMA, help homeowners fund the cost of repairs after a natural disaster. However, these programs are often limited in funds and can take months before any money is paid to homeowners.
Many local governments offer voucher or rebate programs for homeowners looking to upgrade to a more environmentally friendly product. With the push for “going green” becoming stronger each day, many people have found rebates for installing solar panels, recycled shingles or other green roof materials.
Contact the municipal permit or building office to find out more about roof repair voucher or rebate programs offered by your local government. For more information about federal grant programs visit: http://www.governmentgrants.us/home_improvement_grants.php
Warranties
Understanding warranty provisions and after sale issues on roofing products and materials could prove to be one of the most important decisions you can make when making roofing choices.
In 1975 congress enacted the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act providing the rules and regulations to be issued by the Federal Trade Commission covering the use of warranties or guarantees on a broad range of consumer products.
The goal of this legislation and its subsequent FTC rules and regulations was to clear up consumer confusion and resolve consumer complaints about the products being purchased. Congress wanted to ensure that consumers could get complete information about warranty terms and conditions. To give consumers enough information so they could clearly read the duration and service options for the products.
Congress also intended to organize the rules and warranties to encourage manufacturers to provide more reliable products. Customers would be able to compare warranty coverage before committing to the product under the new act. Another aspect of the law was incentives for companies to settle complaints and disputes in a timely manner inexpensively and informally.
The law is basically to protect the consumer from deceptive warranty practices, to make the warranties easier to understand and enforceable. Replacing or repairing your roof is a large purchase amount, be prepared and know what your rights are in the event of problems with the product or services.
Saving For A New Roof
We have all heard the saying “save for a rainy day”; well this saying is taking on new meaning for homeowners that may have a damaged roof in need of repair. Repairing or replacing a roof can be expensive and many homeowners simply are not prepared for the costs associated with roof replacement.
What Can I Do?
Most people have some sort of emergency fund for unexpected costs and purchases. Getting a new roof does not have to be categorized as an unexpected cost. The bottom line is you should be saving money for roof repair and replacement.
As a homeowner, you should be budgeting about 1% of the value of your home for repairs each month. For example: if you have a $200,000 home, you should have at least $200 a month set aside for necessary home repairs.
If you haven’t already, you should begin saving money for a new roof immediately if your home has:
- A roof over 10 years old
- More than 2 layers of roof materials
- Visible damage to the roof
- Suspected (may or not be visible) roof damage
- A roof with multiple missing shingles, or shingles that are loose
- A roof that has a leak, or had a leak in the past
The truth is, most people don’t have this money set aside and haven’t even thought about the cost of roof repair or replacement until the time has come. Make a plan to set aside at least $25-$50 per month in a “roof repair” fund, you never know when you will need it.
Oregon Historical Museum Gets New Roof with an Old Look
The Benton County Historical Museum in Philomath Oregon will be getting treated cedar shingles reminiscent of the original shake roof from 1867. The flashing and metal coverings will also be repaired or replaced.
The building was originally constructed for Philomath College which operated until 1929. The building was then used as a church until 1968. In the 1970’s the building was saved from demolition and in the 1980’s the structure was turned into the Benton County Historical Museum. The museum currently preserves historical artifacts, photographs and manuscripts and is used as a research library and art gallery.
The Benton County Historical Society is working to preserve the building to it’s original state. Executive director Irene Zenev says the new shingles are more historically accurate. Since the building is on the National Register of Historic Places they feel obligated to help return the building to its original look.
The work started on July 25th by Sprick Roofing of Corvallis and ReConstruction, Inc. of Albany, Oregon. Funding for the project is coming from a grant from the Kinsman Foundation in Portland, Oregon and the estate of Don and Krystal Kabler.
New Roof Types Challenge Claims Professionals
New building standards and changes in the roofing industry such as green roofs and new technology have insurance claims professional educating themselves to keep up.
Generally commercial roof losses are more expensive and more complex than residential; a lot of different styles and techniques are being used today. From the new white roofs, vegetative roofs as well as the more familiar built up roofing systems, thermo plastic roofing, spray applied polyurethane foam, and metal roof systems.
While the roofing industry is creating new roofing systems, with new materials and new processes, mistakes are being made, adding up to more insurance claims. Claims adjusters are learning how to determine normal wear and tear from covered losses
