Author: homebuilder

What Should I Know About The Type and Length of Roofing Nails

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It is often the little things that are overlooked when it comes to replacing a roof that are very important. Most homeowners only see the finished product of a roofing project that stands out to them. While the curb appeal and beauty of a roof is important, it is also important to keep in mind the installation and the quality of materials used is just as important and perhaps even more so.

The roof of a home or business is there to serve a purpose. That purpose is to shelter and protect your family and your possessions from the elements from the weather. Roofs can take brutal and devastating blows from nature. High winds are especially testing to the durability and choice of roofing products and to the quality of installation of that product. Weather elements like heat and cold can inflict brutal testing of a roof.

A beautiful roof is great. But you want to make sure that it stays that way. One of the most important components of roofing is choosing the correct type and length of nails. Nail selection can be the deciding factor in whether your roofing shingles remain tight and secure on your roof’s decking or whether it blows off during a storm with high winds. And, nail selection will determine the longevity of your roofing system overall. Most every homeowner wants a roof that will service them for decades. A good lawrenceville roofing company will make sure you get the right fasteners.

Roofing Manufacturer Nail Size Specifications

Most roofing manufactures have certain guidelines for the type and length of nails to be used for installation of their products for decking, underlayment and finished roofing coverings whether it is asphalt shingles, wood, metal, tile, etc. Many cities and states have codes for the type and length of nails to be used, especially in coastal areas where there is the threat of hurricanes

There are a variety of nails that can be purchased for roofing. The most popular roofing nails are galvanized steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Galvanized steel is considered to be the favorite choice because of its strength and rust resistance. There are also a variety of types of nails that are available. Three of the most popular are: the “ring shank” known for its withdrawal resistance, the “smooth shank” known for its ease to drive with a hammer, and the “screw shank” known for its fastening quality.

The length and diameter of a roofing nail is critical to its integrity. According to International Building Code the nail must be able to penetrate through the roofing materials and must not be less than ¾ inch into the roof sheathing. The most common length of nails depending on the thickness of your decking is 1 ¼ inch to 1 ½ inch.  It would be wise, not for just the roofing installer but the homeowner as well, to know the often obscure importance of using the correct nail. It is vital for the homeowner to know their roof is installed to last.

Roofing Tarps for Emergency Roof Repairs

Posted on Posted by homebuilder

So you have just had a severe thunderstorm with high winds, heavy rain, and hail damage your roof.

Shingles have been blown off and you fear another round of storms are eminent. You are sure if you get more wind and rain like the first round you are going to get water inside your house. You have expensive furniture and it would be costly to have the interior restored to like it never happened. You have good insurance but it would be hard to replace some of the items. In fact the family heirlooms could never be replaced so what do you do at this point?

Protect Your Interior

The first thing you want to do is protect those items inside your house that cannot be replaced. Move them to areas in the house where you aren’t afraid they will get ruined, or cover them with blankets or other heavy padding material and then wrap them entirely in heavy mill plastic. Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other home supply stores will carry everything you need to protect your cherished items.

You may also be able to find a good local roofer like dimensionalpro.com/roofing to help you if you live in the DFW Metroplex.

Now, to temporarily address the damage on your roof, it is best to call on roofing professionals. Roofing contractors know exactly how to do emergency tarping to protect your home. Your insurance company will reimburse you for the expense of emergency tarping. If it is a large storm with a lot of damage you may have to get on a list and wait for someone to get to you. If you feel you can’t afford to wait, you can do the emergency tarping yourself. Remember to put safety first, never get on a wet roof especially while it is still raining. Always wait until the roof is dry enough to do your emergency tarping.

Purchase a Tarp

First purchase a tarp (Home Depot, Lowes) that will be large enough to cover the damaged area. Make sure it will extend at least three feet past the damaged area on all four sides. You will also need enough 1X3’s to nail or screw the perimeter of the tarp down onto the roof. Wrap one end of the tarp around a 1X3 and nail or screw it down about 1 ½ feet past the damaged area. Repeat the step on all four sides pulling the tarp tight as you go. This includes the ridge if necessary.

Never cover a ventilation pipe underneath the tarp. Apply weatherproof tape around the ventilation pipes to keep water out before putting down the tarp. Cut a hole in the tarp allowing the pipes to protrude, and then tape the tarp down around the pipes.

If the roof damage is extensive and the entire roof needs to be tarped, it is best to let roofing specialists take care of the job for you. You want the tarping to last until your insurance company can arrive and assess the damage. During large storm events that can take a while so you may have to be patient.

seamless gutter benefits

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Posted on Posted by homebuilder

7 Reasons to Consider Switching to Seamless Gutters

If you’re looking for an efficient gutter system, here are some reasons you should consider switching from standard to seamless gutters.

The extreme weather conditions seen in Texas during August 2017 shocked the world. Images of flooded streets and stranded residents spun around the internet.

Experts estimate that the damage bill could top $40 billion.

With such weather becoming more common, you may want to consider how to protect your home. You can’t weather-proof it entirely, but you can work towards making it easier to manage with heavy rainfall.

Replacing your traditional gutters with seamless gutters is an easy way to install peace of mind. But what other advantages does it have?

Read on to discover 7 reasons why you may consider switching to these excellent gutters.

1. The Gutters Are Custom-Made to Fit Your Home

Regular guttering comes in a range of lengths. They’re snapped together to fit the size of the house. Sealant plugs the gaps in the seams between the gutters.

They’re often fitted as a DIY project since they’re relatively easy to install. Yet the nails they’re attached to can work loose from the boards, leaving gutters hanging away from the house.

You don’t get a custom fit with regular gutters. The lines of the guttering are ruined by bulky, unsightly seams.

Seamless gutters by their nature can’t come in ‘one size fits all’. They’re made on site according to the specific measurements of your property.

Fitted by a trained professional, they’ll have a longer lifespan, improving the curb appeal of your home.

They’re also hung in a more robust way, fixing the problem of gutters in freefall.

2. Eliminate Problems from Varying Climates

Seams cause problems when the temperature changes. On hot days, metal expands, meaning regular gutters rub against one another. That can allow debris to become trapped in the seams or damage the material of the gutters.

On cold days, metal contracts, causing gaps in the seams of regular gutters. Water can spill free, or things can get caught.

Even vinyl gutters aren’t immune to temperature changes since they crack when it gets frosty.

Weather-related issues don’t affect seamless gutters as the seams are restricted to the joints. That keeps the gutters working more effectively for longer, improving their lifespan and protecting your home.

3. Avoid Leaks with These Popular Gutters

A machine cuts the gutters from a continuous sheet of metal. While there are seams at the ends of joints, you have fewer seams overall.

Removing those excess seams improves the look of the gutters. It also means removing potential areas that might leak.

Leaking gutters can cause damage to fascia boards or even your home’s foundations. You could expect to pay an average of around $3,900 to fix damage to your foundation.

Even the inside of your home can be damaged by leaky gutters. Water can squeeze into your property, which it can cause mold growth and wood rot.

By having fewer seams, seamless gutters prevent these leaks and protect your home.

4. Cleaning Seamless Gutters Is Easier Than Regular Gutters

Cleaning out the gutters is often a job for the end of fall. Leaves and other debris easily build up and block the rain flow. In the summer, moss or bird’s nests can block the gutters.

Any blockages lead to leaks since the gutters can’t direct water to the downpipe, away from the house. They also look unsightly, as grass or debris hangs over the side.

Regular gutters cause cleaning issues because you need to ensure nothing is caught in the seams. Things can become trapped where gutters expand and contract in different weather conditions.

Even the ridge inside regular gutters can cause water or debris to back up.

Seamless gutters don’t have that problem. Simply scoop out the gunk and enjoy clean, fast-flowing gutters.

5. You Can Still Use Gutter Protection

While seamless gutters are easier to clean, you can still install gutter protection. These meshes prevent the build-up of debris, like fallen leaves or moss, that block the flow of water along the gutter.

Mesh guards attach to the frame making them easy to install. The meshes even filter out sand so they’re useful if you collect rainwater to use around your garden.

The mesh minimizes the need for cleaning, though you will need to periodically clean the gutter protection to ensure it doesn’t get clogged.

Having less debris to remove means you don’t need to spend as much time up a ladder. More than 164,000 injuries treated in the emergency room are caused by falling from a ladder. Don’t be one of them.

6. Enjoy Lower Maintenance and Repair Bills

While seamless gutters may initially cost more, they’ll pay for themselves in the long run. They require less maintenance and fewer repairs than traditional gutters.

We’ve already mentioned their durability in changing weather conditions and their protection against leaks, causing damage in your home. Preventing this damage means saving on the repair bills to put it right.

You also won’t need to replace worn sealant between the sections as there isn’t any to replace. Aluminum gutters are a great choice since the metal doesn’t rust or crack.

They’re far more durable and require less of a time investment from you throughout the year.

7. Improve the Look of Your Home

Being made-to-measure ensures a better ‘fit’ for your property. In addition, the gutters come in a range of colors so you can find one that matches the rest of your home.

You can ditch unsightly, ugly sectional gutters in favor of simple, elegant aluminum that almost floats along the roof line. They’ll blend in with the soffit and fascia, boosting your curb appeal.

While you may not be planning on selling your home now, increasing its value is never a bad thing.

These gutters also look more ‘uniform’ in appearance than sectional guttering, which can sag or crack where debris builds up.

Interested in Seamless Gutters?

They offer so many advantages over traditional sectional guttering.

If you’re interested in replacing your existing setup with seamless gutters, please contact ASAP Roofing Nacogdoches today or find us on Facebook – ASAP Roofing Nacogdoches.

You can also enjoy a free roofing inspection to highlight any issues before they become problems.

Your home deserves it.

Wood Shingles on Log Homes [Editorial]

Posted on Posted by homebuilder

Wood shingles have been used to roof houses for literally hundreds of years.

They are some of the most dependable, attractive materials that you could choose. Wood shingles are among some of the most desired materials that you can roof your house with. These shingles are beautiful, and durable. They are also hard to maintain upkeep and expensive for the individual shingles and installation. Here are some details on wood shingles.

Wood shingles’ pros start with how attractive they are. They are some of the nicest shingles money can buy. And why wouldn’t you spend the money? Along with being beautiful, wood shingles are also very durable. They last a long time (normally about ten years longer than regular asphalt shingles) and can more easily withstand severe storms. This helps in hurricanes, heavy rain, hail storms, snow storms, and other severe weather. Another reason to invest in wood shingles is because they have proven to be very energy efficient due to their natural insulation. You have save on your energy bill because it retains heat in the winter and cool air in the summer.

Despite that these pros are all wonderful, there are a few cons. One being that since these shingles are beautiful and desirable, that is part of the reason wood shingles tend to be more expensive. They tend to be four hundred to seven hundred dollars per shingle. Installation can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $15,000 depending on different factors of your roof. Regular asphalt shingles run about one hundred dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars, which is much more inexpensive, but asphalt shingles are not as attractive nor do they have as many benefits. Another con is that wood shingles tend to be more susceptible to moss, mold and mildew. They are also sensitive to moisture and insect. Wood shingles need almost constant upkeep and maintenance.

There are ways to help protect a cedar roof from moisture, moss, mildew, mold, and insects however. At the time of installation you can spray the shingles with cedar treatment preservatives. Once a year, you should brush the dirt off of your roof with a push broom after several dry, sunny days in a row. This is so that the dirt will be easy to sweep right off. If there is an exceptional amount of dirt, you could use a power washer to spray the water off, though please avoid doors, windows, vents, and foliage, to avoid damage to those things. You should wash from top to bottom, in five feet horizontal stripes, with the nozzle about eighteen inches from the shingles. In humid areas, you should coat shingles with a sealer every three to five years.

While wood shingles are expensive and a tad more difficult to maintain, they are a great investment and are worth the work because of how beautiful they will look on your home. Remember that the pros (attractive, durable, weather resistant, and energy efficient) far outweigh the cons!

You will certainly enjoy your cedar roof.