Roofing insurance fraud scams

If you have lived within the Houston southeast metro Texas area for any length of time, you have surely encountered at least a hail storm or two. This post provides some useful information to help you steer clear of the door-knocking, storm chasers so prevalent during these times it is important for homeowners to be aware of roofing scams and insurance fraud issues that can come back to haunt you later.

If your home is ever hit with a hailstorm, you will notice that within hours of the storm, roofing contractors and “storm chasers” will show up in your neighborhood knocking on your door claiming that your roof has hail damage and offering to help. You will also find them also claiming that your roof can be replaced for free with a roofing insurance claim.

These storm chasers will often leave flyers on the doors of the homes with their contact information etc.. if the homeowner is not home. These types of companies are called roofing storm chasers and are often come from out of town as well. Some of these out of town storm chasers roofing contractors will even go so far as to contract with local roofing companies paying them commissions to use their local roofing company name.

Is Covering Your Ductable Illegal?

The storm chasers will often offer to cover your insurance deductible for you. Many homeowners want to make sure this is not illegal or committing insurance fraud and I can assure you it is legal; however, there are some gray areas to be aware of on this subject. There are two mainly predominant ways these types of roofing fraudulent insurance scams have played out over the years, the first way being by submitting a “Fake Invoice to the Insurance Company“. A roofing company charges the homeowner one amount for roof the replacement, for example, in this case let’s use $9,000, then once the job is finished, the homeowner submits the roofing company’s revised receipt or invoice to his insurance company showing the higher amount of $10,000 which covers the $1,000 deductible (so they are not covering your deductible but the insurance company is!). The insurance company is being told that you paid $10,000 to replace your roof which you paid $9,0000 for. They keep the $1,000 for the deductible and send the $9,000 reimbursement to you or the roofer, you don’t have to pay the $1,000 out of pocket and the roofing company gets the insurance money.

This all seems like a nice winn-winn for both you as the homeowner and the roofing company who installed the new roof, right? WRONG! This roofing company and you as the customer/homeowner could end up in hot water by your insurance company for insurance fraud. if you fell for it and find out later you have been scammed, you might not only could have charges against you but lose your homeowner’s insurance! The truth of the matter is, your roofing company and yourself as the homeowner have participated in deceiving your insurance company for financial gain.

The second way is a “Yard Sign Advertising Reimbursement“. Your roofing company bills you as the homeowner for the full replacement value of the roof at the maximum amount that the insurance company will pay for replacement.  A “change order” is then used to reduce the final price to the consumer/homeowner in an amount that is now equal to the deductible.  The homeowner in return now agrees to advertise for the roofing company by displaying a yard sign for their services in the front yard of their home. In short, the insurance company is paying the deductible costs by being are misled with yet another roofing scam and insurance fraud situation that the homeowner fell for and is the one who will ultimately pay if caught.

Helpful Links About Roofing Insurance Scams and Licensing Requirements By State

The BBB Texas – BBB Free Roof No Deductible Could Be A Bad Idea

The Dallas Morning News – Beware Local Roofing Scams

Insurance Journal – Roofing Contractor Fraud

Roof Help – State Licensing Requirements

So, there you have it. The best thing that you can do to protect yourself from getting a fraud count against you and/or losing your homeowner’s insurance is to stay clear of any roofing storm chasers and their insurance claim scams by remembering that honesty is the best policy. This way you or your insurance company will not ultimately have to pay in the end. Pay your deductible, be grateful the insurance company is covering the major portion of your roof replacement and find a local Texas roofing company with references that are honest. As you can see that there is a lot of gray areas on this subject.

The components and parts that make up your roofing system and how they work together. Have you ever wondered how roofing component systems such as, decking, tar paper, pipe jacks, valley flashing, chimney and sidewall flashing all work together? As we receive phone calls from homeowners considering replacing their roofs, we often hear the question, “will your roofing company replace everything or just the shingles?” So, I decided to answer this question here at Texas Home Exteriors in this post to help homeowners better understand roofing components are and how they all work together to keep homes dry on the inside with what we call, best roofing practices. So with that said, here we go . . .

Roof Decking

Roof Decking Being Installed Houston TX Home

To start off with, your roofing system needs some type of a surface to install all the components installed onto allowing them to work together. The roof decking or roof deck is a pitched surface built from either plywood or OSB sheathing allowing the roofing system to work as a flat but pitched surface.

This decking is mounted on top of roof rafters most often constructed of a 2″x6″ wood material frame that holds and supports the roof decking. The roof decking is often built from 4’X8′ sheets of plywood or OSB sheathing on homes across the country.

An upgrade to standard decking would be a product such as a Tech Shield radiant barrier. This product has an aluminum side which reflects the radiant heat from entering your roofing attic space.  The result is lower heat gain in the summer reducing utility bills.

There is a big drawback to installing the Tch Shield radiant barrier however, be aware that it can interfere with cell phone reception in the home as the aluminum has the ability to prevent outside signals from entering the home making for weakened or even no signal.

Roofing Felt and Tar Paper

felt tar paper roll installed before roofing shingles

When your roof decking is installed it is vulnerable to the elements such as moisture and rain because the product is wood-based. Prolonged exposure to these elements will cause rotting of  this decking.

Roofing Felt and Tar Paper is a product that is most often installed that adds a waterproof layer to protect the wood decking below during installation continuing to protect the roof from the possibility of ingress of moisture .

The felt and tar paper also serves as an additional layer of protection in the case of a roof shingle blow-off during a storm. Tar Paper is available in both #15 and in #30 pound options. This product is most commonly used in steeper roof applications.

Drip Edge

Worker installing drip edge

Drip edge is a galvanized metal or aluminum product that is available in galvanized or may be painted to match your home’s existing fascia boards.

Drip edge acts as an edge flashing which is installed around the perimeter of a home usually following the facia board. The roofing shingle when installed will be mounted flush with this drip edge or extended about 3/4″ of an inch beyond it.

Drip Edge comes in many styles such as, L, D-L, sizes and colors depending on application of the new roof installation. The most common drip edge that is used is 1.5″x1.5″ or 2″x2″ “L” style. This is what’s most commonly used here on most Houston Texas homes.

Roofing Valley Flashing

Crew Installing Roofing Valley Flashing is where two pitched roof angles come together and meet up with each other. The water is collected together at this junction called a valley. and or underlayment is needed to be installed underneath this roofing shingle area to be collected and guided down the roof slope.

Roofing Valley Flashing is installed where two pitched roof angles come together and meet up with one another. The water is collected together at this junction which is called a valley. Roofing valley flashing and/or underlayment needs to be installed underneath this roofing shingle area to be collected and guided down the roof slope.

There are several methods of installing valley flashing such as open valley and closed valley. These two have their definite differences in how they look. The open, has a passage space in the middle where the roofing shingles do not touch allowing for drainage and exposing the valley flashing underneath.

The closed valley option is where the roofing shingles overlap one another and are covering the valley flashing underneath, this method is by far the most common in the Houston Texas metro area.

Pipe Jacks

New pipe led jack installed on roof

Pipe Jacks also called “plumbing vents” are a pipe that protrudes out of your roof top to vent from your septic system and/or to allow venting (air intake) while flushing a toilet.

Pipe jacks can also serve as location to insert a snake if one were ever needed to clear out clogged drains or pipes. It is recommended that Roofing pipe/vent jacks be replaced every time a new roofing system is installed to ensure no water leaks into your Texas home.

Pipe Jacks come in plastic and led materials. We prefer the lead jacks because they will never rot or deteriorate and they are not susceptible to becoming brittle like plastic will. As you can see in the photo, you can also paint the new pipe jacks to match your new roofing shingle color. This offers a nice finishing touch with better blending.

Chimney Flashing

chimney flashing diagram

When replacing your roof, installing new chimney flashing is something to consider if applicable and in need of replacement. Most of the time, this is replaced when a roof is being replaced and the home either has a brick or chimney that has siding around it.

The flashing is made from galvanized metal or aluminum. Some chimneys have a roof cricket behind them to divert water away. This is a great idea and will prevent access water from building up behind any chimney and leaking into the home.

Sidewall Flashing

Sidewall flashing is a metal strip that is used when any roof pitch or slope meets a sidewall of any given home. This flashing will divert the water away, keeping it from getting into your home by channeling it away from the sidewall and off from the roof surface area without letting the water get under the roofing shingles.

Sidewall flashing replacement is often over-looked as it can be difficult to remove and replace because it goes under and behind the siding. The Kick Out Flashing is at the end of this sidewall flashing and diverts the water away preventing it from going behind the siding and entering the home.

Ventilation Solar

Innovative Solar Power Vents Fans

The roofing shingles lay on the sloped decking that creates a space we commonly call an attic. Day and night this space will have trapped air inside that can often get hot and damp due to the lack of air circulation and ventilation.

If this is a concern, we recommend considering roof solar power vents to help ventilate and remove accumulated dampness and moisture for free using the sun’s natural energy. This is a must for every homeowner that wants to conserve energy.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are several components that make up a complete roofing system. Each component plays a specific role in waterproofing your home to keep the home and the contents inside the home high and dry. When properly installed, decking, tar paper, pipe jacks, valley flashing, chimney and sidewall flashing roofing component systems work together to ensure that your Houston Texas home is watertight, providing protection that will last for years to come.

As you can imagine, we get a lot of Texas homeowners that would like to replace their older asphalt roofing shingles as replacement becomes a necessity. When folks just like you and I are considering a new roof, often a metal roof choice becomes an option to consider. Having said that, we have put together some ideas and considerations when choosing between a Asphalt or Metal Roof including the following considerations: Rust, Cost and the dreaded least favorite of all, complete loss or interference of your Cell Phone reception.

Cost of Asphalt VS. Metal Roofing

Metal roofing vs asphalt shingles comparisons

This is the biggest factor for most homeowners to consider between the two roofing choices. Let’s say the asphalt shingle roof replacement cost is $10,000 and the metal roof cost double (or more) at $20,000 +, this is most often the case that homeowners are often experiencing. Some will not mind paying the extra money that it takes to install a metal roof because that is what they have been desiring for some time.

The labor to install the two roofs is very different from one to another due to the skill level and experience in working with the two products. For instance, an asphalt roofing shingle is flexible and can be made to fit in many applications where as a metal roof panel is rigid and requires a much different set of skills and tools to fit in the same area of application. It is often common that roofers that have installed asphalt shingles in the past, will attempt to install a metal roof resulting many mistakes in installation resulting in an voided warranty. There is also a big difference in the cost of materials between the two products as well as the many options between the two roofing products as well.

$10,000 Asphalt vs. a $20,000 + Metal Re-Roofing Job Long Run Cost Comparisons

GAF Timberline HD Lifetime Asphalt Roof Weatherwood Color

This is where asphalt roofing shingles wins in my opinion. If a metal roof is going to cost you double or more, are you going to recoup this money in the long run? The short answer is yes and no and here is why: In the past, the asphalt roof will last anywhere from 12 – 25 years on average. That was in the past, today, GAF is offering a lifetime warranty on their asphalt composition roofing shingles replacement . This means, a longer replacement life if you install their lifetime asphalt roofing shingle warranty product.

Metal roofing products such as galvalume, offer a 25 year metal roofing warranty and other metal roofing products can range from 25 – 50 + years. We have even seen some lifetime warranties offered by metal roofing manufacturers as well. The reason for this range in warranty span, is RUST. These roofing panels are coated with paint or coated with a galvanized coating called, Galvalume. If they were aluminum or copper, they would never rust, however the cost would be 3 -5 times + the cost of an asphalt roof that can offer a lifetime warranty.

Having said all of that, here is some quick math thoughts for comparisons:

Should I go with a Lifetime Asphalt Roof @ $10,000 vs. a 25 – 50 Year Metal Roof @ $20,000 +? A quick math comparison quickly reveals that an Asphalt roof at half or less of the price offers the longer warranty of a metal roof, what are your thoughts? Form a cost effective perspective, the asphalt roof is less expensive in the long run if you go with the Lifetime Warranty that GAF is offering.

Rusting VS. Weathering Longevity Issues

Before and after metal roofing applied coating

This is where metal roofing wins big time in my opinion. When an asphalt roofing shingle gets weathered and old, it will experience granule loss and lose its structural integrity and start to fail and come apart.

Those ceramic granules are adhered to the shingle with asphalt petroleum based adhesive. As these shingles age they lose this protective coating leaving the underlying asphalt and fiberglass base to crack and become quite brittle.

No matter what one might put on top of this asphalt shingle, the base has become so deteriorated that it can no longer support anything that is coated on the surface of it. This is why roofing contractors  will re-coating metal roof over asphalt shingles.

Both of these buildings were built at the some time. Notice the roof on the left how it is faded as apposed to the roof on the right. Click to enlarge photo.

Fading Issues With Metal Standing Seam Roof Panels at Hwy 6 & 290 in Houston TX

On the other hand is the metal roof. When it starts to age the most common issue is loss of the painted or coated surface such as galvalume or Kynar 500 paint coating. When these factory applied coatings start to fade, they leave and expose the metal surface underneath to the elements. The most common response to this exposure of most metal products is surface rust.

This metal roofing panel often still holds its structural integrity and only exhibits unsightly surface rust as long as it has not been exposed for a lengthy span of time.

With this metal roofing panel still intact with only surface rust, it is the perfect candidate to be sprayed with a new fluid applied metal roof coating. This coating is completed sprayed on and has a warranty for 10 -25 years. So another words, for a “fee” you can extend the life of your roof for 10 – 25 years. Please note that I said… “for a fee”.

The Myth Of The Forever Metal Roof

Galvalume Standing Seam Metal Roofing

When I get a call from a Texas homeowner seeking a price on a metal roof, there seems an instant connection that by installing a metal roof that it will be the last they will ever install. This is clearly not the case as the manufacturer warranties range anywhere from 25 years to lifetime. Even with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, you will eventually have to replace that roof after your warranty is claimed with the manufacturer due to the coating failure.

The metal roofing manufacturer typically will prorate the warranty claim that you have against them and either offer a small portion of the original price back to you or offer a discount on the replacement materials. The metal roofing manufacturer will not offer any labor money to replace the rusting and or falling metal roofing panels.

The same goes for asphalt roofing shingles should you ever need to file a warranty claim against them as well. After you have contacted them, they will come out and assess (look at) your asphalt roofing shingles and take an assessment on the service life that is left. The asphalt roofing manufacturer will make a settlement offer that is either a partial credit (rebate) towards new replacement roof shingles, or a possible cash value settlement. Either way with metal or asphalt roofing, you are going to be out of pocket some time down the road when either the warranty period ends or a claim needs to be filled due to failure.

Cell Phone Reception Interference

cell phone reception issues associated with a metal roof

This is an area where most Texas completely forget to consider and is one of the most frustrating to find out onee the new metal roof is installed. Something to think about, when you have a metal roof installed on your home, you now have installed a shield that stops some of your cell phone signal from coming into your home. What you have now created is what is called the Faraday cage effect.

One of the ways around this is to install a signal booster that has an outside antenna to receive better reception. Sometimes this works and sometimes this will not depending on your existing reception situation. If your signal is already poor or marginal, you will probably have none with an addition of a metal roof replacing your non interfering asphalt roof.

Final Thoughts

You have to choose between which roof is better for your home when you consider the cos, rust and possible cell phone reception issues associated with a metal roof. If you are liking that standing seam ribbed metal roofing look, then by all means go with that type of roof. Keep in mind that you are going to pay 2-3+ times more without really getting much longer of a warranty out of a metal roof. Should you decide on the Asphalt roofing shingle, you be saving money up front and in the long run if you get the lifetime warranty shingle that is offered by GAF.

Please feel free to make comments below.

So you are considering a metal roof for your home, you get on the internet to find and learn about the various roofing companies and arrange to get bids. Several of the roofing contractors are now coming by and providing you with bids for the installation of a new metal roof. Now, as you review the bids, you wonder why you are seeing such a big difference from one company to another for the cost of the roof installation and you don’t want to make a mistake or poor re roofing decision.

A metal roof is a metal roof right? So why would there be so much of a difference in the bidded price from one company to another? With a project like this, it is one that you only want to do only once and have it done correctly because even subtle installation mistakes can cause issues in the long run. Please read the warnings and advice below to know what to do to ensure you have a great roof, the first time, saving yourself time money and headaches!

1 – Metal Roofing Batches Color Issues

Spring Texas Standing Seam Metal Roof Color Batch Issue

This photo is a commercial business located in Spring Texas near The Woodlands Texas south border of town.

As a historical constant, commercial builders will, almost 99% of the time, choose to go with the lowest bidder on their projects in order to maximize the profits on their building project. You can see in the photo to the right, a standing seam unpainted called Galvalume Roofing product was used for this metal roofing system that is only a few years old.

When studying the photo, it is quite obvious to see the color differences indicating where the installers used product from two different batches of material. It is quite common practice for roofing contractors to use leftover material from previous jobs where the material was not purchased together and ends up coming from different batches with color variations.

What has happened is that over time this creates a problem as these two different batches will weather differently causing the effect you can see in the photo. Can you imagine, paying a lot of money for a new roof, only to have revealed mismatched colors. This is not something you will notice when the roof is newly installed, it will look beautiful until down the road exposure to the elements and time that different batches were installed on your roof. The roofing crew knows they are from different lots and were purchased at different times, but you will not see evidence of the roofing color mismatch till a few years later long after the crew is gone and the check has been cashed.

2- Voiding The Warranty

There are many things a roofing company who installs a metal roof can do that will inadvertently void the roofing warranty. Here is a quick list of some items to be aware of and watch out for that may void your warranty on the new roof you paid good money for: Tweeked installation of the panels, jagged cut edges that are not sealed (painted), fasteners that were driven to tight, wrong sealant used around protrusions, improper underlayment, furring strips spaced out to far, crinkles on the panel from walking in the unsupported areas, unsealed scratches from installation crews just to name a few.

3 – Fasteners Rusting and or Backing Out

Metal Roofing Fasteners Backing Out

This is by far one of the most common issues that can lead to leaks as well as constant maintenance issues of your metal roof system.

Something to keep in mind, a metal roof standing seam panel with the hot Texas blazing sun beating on it will move at a different rate than the wood furring strip underneath the panel that it is attached to.

This becomes a BIG problem due to the fact that so many of the roofing crews who simply drive the screw fasteners from the outer top side of the panel directly down into the wood furring strip below. This is a BIG NO, NO! The better way to install standing seam panels is with a hurricane wind resistant Z-purlin which is made of 20 gauge  steel that will move at the same rate as the metal panel above it. The metal roofing is then fastened with the screws through the Z-purlin (support), down into your roof’s decking. This prevents the fasteners from backing out and causing the holes to wallow (made bigger) and more elongated holes in the panels that were smaller when the roof panel was initially installed.

4 – Oil Canning (wavy panel)

A Classic Issue Of A Oil Canning Metal Roof

This image at the right shows the dreaded look of a wavy metal roof, no one likes to see their roof doing this! Nearly 100% of the time, this problem is due to the installer using a thin standing seam panel of 26 gauge or thinner.

The contractors will often choose to use these thinner (26 gauge) roofing panels in order to increase job profits because the cost of these panels are less for the roofing contractor. Additionally, these panels are lighter in weight so much easier for the roofing crews to install, screw thorough, crimp, etc. This is also a “non striated” (no small ribs) in the wide open section of the panel that would also reduce the Oil Canning effect.

This BIG drawback of using the thinner 26 gauge sheet metal is the dreaded oil canning effect that can occur when our hot summer Texas sun starts beating down on the roofing panels. This thinner panel often looks good in the cooler months, but quickly becomes quite a different story as the summertime heat sets in as many homeowners have reported this across the country. The solution is to upgrade to a 24 gauge anti oil canning “striated” standing seam roofing panel, this instantly corrects 99% of the slightly oil canning effects.

5 – Choosing the lowest bidder (estimate) for roof installations

This is the most self-explanatory of the 5 most common installation and estimate mistakes. This happens to be the most common mistake we see property owners making during the selection process. Commercial business owners and homeowners alike often get at least three bids for their roofing project.

Greg G. Kapitan

One of the ways we are identifying this method is that we are being asked more and more often to email a bid or just leave it in the mailbox. When a prospective customer looks at the estimate, the first thing that they often look at is the price. In reality, this is the quickest way to overlook the quality and details of the installation that will be used for your new metal roofing project.

Keep in mind the importance of meeting with and interviewing each and every roofing contractor face-to-face regardless if you are paying in cash or financing your new metal roof, it is still your hard earned money. In my opinion, by personally meeting (interviewing) with them allows you to get a sense of their Professionalism, knowledge and installation techniques allowing you to learn how they plan to install your new metal roofing system as well as meeting the contractor in person.

Another word of advice, be sure to ask for a current, verifiable insurance certificate and some references to their previous work as well. The quality of their installation often influences the roofing cost as the saying goes, “You Get What You Pay For”. If you are considering a Metal Roof over and Asphalt Roof, you should check out this like to see the differences between the two.

Greg Kapitan (the siding man) of Texas Home Exteriors Inc.

PS: Take a close look at this standing seam metal roof (mistake) where they apparently used different batches of galvalume to save money. So not worth the money they saved to forever have it look like this, click on the photo enlarge..

Metal Roofing Color Issues As Indicated By Arrows – Click On Photo To Enlarge, Must See!

Choosing Roofing Contractors can be a daunting task for any homeowner looking to get their roof replaced. With so many roofers in the Houston Texas metro area market, a potential client might wonder who they should hire to get the job done correctly. We have put together some recommendations here in this post that we believe you will find most helpful. Below I have outlined a step by step approach when it comes time to replace your roof and selecting from the vast sea of  residential roofing companies. Here is a great article from WIki choosing a residential roofing contractor and some things you should be looking out for. As a homeowner, you should read each of the points below carefully as they have great information that you should be aware of when selecting a company to replace your roof.

Get Three Roofing Estimates from Different Contractors

In the past, many homeowners have used the first and only roofing company to give them an estimate because they liked the person that came out to give them a bid. This is not a good idea because you have no idea if their pricing is inline with the going roofing market. By getting other bids, you will now have something to compare to. Look at each roofing estimate closely and read what each roofing contractor is offering of the following:

Contractor Reputation and Reviews

You should be doing your research in looking around on the web for reviews for that roofing company you are considering using. Check with the local BBB and view the reputation of that contractor and it’s complaint history if any. You can also do a Local Google Review search for that company that you are considering hiring and see what their Google reviews are like. I would also check with Angie’s List, as well as other sites and see what their reviews are like as well.

Price They Are Charging

What is the price that is offered and does it include tax? Make sure that there are no hidden charges like replacing any extra rotted wood that might be found under your old roofing shingles. The cost of replacing your roof can vary from contractor to contractor as you will see in their estimates.

Roof Removal Work Scope

Make sure that you are reading line by line what the scope is of the removal work the roofing contractors are doing such as; removing the old roofing shingles, tar paper (felt) hauling off the trash, removing drip edge, pipe jacks, valley flashing, sidewall flashing, ridge vents, air hawks or turbine vents.

Roofing Installation Scope of New Material

This is where you should find listed on their contract what new in accessory materials they will be installing such as the following; New tar paper (felt) and what weight such as #15 lb or #30 lb? Drip edge what size? 1″1/2 X 1″ 1/2 is most common and make sure that it is colored to match your new roofing shingles. Pipe Jacks, make sure they are using led jacks as they are most common and will most likely out last your roof. Valley flashing, the roofing contractor should be installing new at least 20″ wide metal or roll roofing before installing the new shingles. All that I have spoke of here you can call, best roofing practices. Note: Ice and water shield usage in the south on all of the roof protrusions and valleys is a nice upgrade to ensure no water leakage. This is a must in the north especially where snow can ice dam around the perimeter we recommend ice and water shield in those areas as well as all valleys and roof protrusions. This should all be outlined in free roofing estimate they have given you.

Roofing Shingles and Warranty

What roofing shingles are offered and what is the warranty? With all of the roofing shingle options that you can choose from, consider what kind of look do you want your roof to have, flat and smooth, dimensional or maybe the wood shingle look? Most homeowners have been using a laminate shingle that is offered by GAF called Timberline Roofing Shingles. They come with a lifetime warranty and have great reputation in withstanding the elements and that desired dimensional look.

Shingle Colors Offered

Consider the color of your home both in siding and trim, how do you want your roof to contrast with the colors? Do you want the roof to blend in or stand out? Look around at your neighbors houses in your neighborhood and see if there is a roof color combination that you like. This way you can see what it will look like before getting started on your own home.

General Liability Insurance

Every roofing contractor should have at least one million dollars in general liability insurance should it rain while your roof has been removed and is being replaced. This they should offer a copy of while giving your roofing estimate.  As a suggestion, you might want to make sure that the insurance certificate is genuine and active by calling the issuing insurance company.

Roofing Job Completion Walk Around and Final Payment

At the end of your roofing job we suggest that you do a walk around to inspect the entire job from top to bottom. Look up at your new roof, make sure that all of the shingles are laying down, this might take several days if the sun is not out and in the colder winter time as well. Also, look around on the ground near the perimeter of the home and your driveway for nails and trash as they should be using a magnetic sweeper nail rake to pick them up. If you have any type of natural gas, propane appliances or heat, look in your attic, make sure all of the roof protrusions are securely fastened to the base of where the hot gases come out of base unit. Take a flashlight and make sure that all single and double wall vent stacks are not touching any plywood for fire safety. This is often overlooked.

Some Helpful Links – Choosing a Roofing Contractor

Owens Corning – Roofing Basic Choosing Contractor

Angie’s list – Tips Choosing Roofing Contractor

Roofing About – Selecting a Roofing Contractor

GAF – Roofing Residential Contractors

Inspectapedia – Roofing Contractor Selection

San Francisco Chronicle – Select Roofing Contractor

Each of those links above have great information when it comes to selecting or choosing a roofing contractor for your project. Amittengley, this can be an exhausting task and we hope that the information included will make for a more enjoyable home improvement experience.

From all of us here at Texas Home Exteriors do hope that you have enjoyed this informative article that we have written for your benefit and education. Should you need home improvement financing we have some exciting options with no payments for one year and free roofing estimates in the Houston TX metro area.

Thank you Greg Kapitan (the siding man)

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HOUSTON TEXAS, USA, January 19, 2015 – TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC of HOUSTON TEXAS has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The “Siding, Roofing and Window Contractor” was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that com- prise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz Award is given in two categories:

Design and Customer Satisfaction. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 25 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers.” Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2015” badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional’s work to learn even more about that business’ popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.

Texas Home Exteriors is honored to receive this award and recognition from our customers and the Houzz community for two years running.

“Houzz provides homeowners with a 360 degree view of home building, remodeling and design industry professionals, empowering them to engage the right people and products for their project,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC. among our “Best Of” professionals as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthu- siasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Follow TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC. on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/pro/greg-kapitan/texas-home-exteriors

About Texas Home Exteriors Inc.

​Texas Home Exteriors and our owner Greg Kapitan “Kapitan The Siding Man” comes to you with over 30 years combined experience in the construction trade. Our expertise in the areas of Home Improvement and Energy-Efficiency has been demonstrated on numerous completed jobs and happy customers over the years throughout the greater Houston, Spring, The Woodlands, Livingston metro areas of Texas. Texas Home Exteriors specializes in HardiPlank Siding, LP SmartSide Siding, Vinyl Replacement Windows, Pergolas, Patio Covers and Roofing Options including Metal Roofs. Our products and services are the most Energy Efficient and innovative in the business. Our sales reps are experienced and have integrity, our crews are experienced professionals who have all been hand-picked by Greg Kapitan himself, to ensure superior workmanship and customer satisfaction. We will give FREE Estimates and offer Texas EZ Pay 100% Financing at 1% monthly payments.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin and Sydney. For more information, visit www.houzz.com

If you would like this kind of service, please fill out the form below for a free estimate  from Texas Home Exteriors

Decra Shake XD Metal Shingles in Pinnacle Gray Houston Texas Home Exteriors The Woodlands

Time to replace your roofing shingles? As a roofing contractor I find many of today’s Houston Texas homeowners considering stone coated metal roofing shingles as a roof replacement option. A good many of Texas homeowners in the southeast Houston Texas metro area realize that replacement of their composition asphalt roofing shingles needs to be done every 10-15 years. If you are a homeowner in Texas, “I need a new roof” is as common as “I need an oil change”, well almost.

Texas Summer Heat and Roofing Shingles

Because of the intensity of our hot South TX UV rays (ultraviolet rays), the standard composition petroleum based asphalt (tar) roofing shingles become baked and brittle over time baking in the hot Texas sun. If you look closely at roofing shingles, they will begin looking like a road map of Texas with cracks and lines going in many different directions. What is occurring is the protective granules, common on composition roofing shingles, become loose and often ending up in gutters or on the ground.  As the shingles loose granules, it leaves the petroleum based asphalt (tar) naked and exposed to more UV rays thus accelerating the deterioration of the roofing shingle leading to leaks and phone calls to roofers for roof replacement bids.

Time To Rethink Asphalt Composition Roofing Shingles

Instead of getting yet another composition shingle composition roof that will last 10 – 15 years, it may be time to consider a stone coated metal roof option.  Below is a quick bulleted list of facts as to why a southeast Texas homeowner may want to consider Decra Stone Coated Metal Roofing Shingles over traditional roofing shingles.

Stone Coated Decra Shake XD Metal Roof in antique Chestnut for your Houston, Spring, The Woodlands TX Texas Home Exteriors The Woodlands

Benefits of Stone Coated Metal Roofing Shingles

• Last 50 years or more
• Resist hail damage than composition roofing shingles
• Steel based shingle gives unparalleled strength
• Increase Energy Efficiency savings
• Produce air circulation under shingles
• Provide fireproof characteristics
• Aesthetically Unparalleled Beauty

Energy Efficiency Savings with Stone Coated Metal Roofing – Reflectivity/Emissivity 

Stone coated metal roofs manufactured by Decra and Metro reflect much more of the solar radiation that is usually absorbed in your attic and home with standard composition petroleum based asphalt (tar) roofing shingles. Here in Texas, granular coated metal roofing systems not only reflect solar energy but also cool your home by re-emitting most of the solar radiation instead of absorbing it. In southeast Houston Texas annual cooling loads dominate, a highly reflective and highly emissive painted metal standing seam roofing or stone coated coated metal roof is by far the most optimal way to reduce energy consumption from your roof.  These reflective roofing shingles and can re-emit up to 75% of absorbed solar radiation (heat) that otherwise would have been absorbed into your attic and into your homes interior.

Decra Metal Roof Systems Villa Venetian Gold by Texas Home Exteriors for Houston, Spring, The Woodlands TX Home Improvements

Unparalleled Beauty of Stone Coated Metal Roofing Shingles

Composition roofing shingles are aesthetically pleasing however they only go so far from a thickness and depth perspective. That is because standard asphalt roofing shingles can only be so thick due to the fact that they are petroleum based and have almost NO structural value. Stone Coated Metal Roofing Shingles have a Steel Base with PLENTY of structural value.

Decra Metal Roof Styles include beautiful options with look of Tile, Villa Tile, Shake, Shake XD, Shingle and Shingle XD

Having said that, the flood gates are wide open for any creative roofing shingle style imaginable because metal roofs have lots of structural value. You can now have a Stone Coated Metal Roof with a variety of looks like Terra-cotta, Spanish Tile, Mediterranean-Italian Tile but without all of the weight and drawbacks of tile roofs and at the same time, all of the benefits of Stone Coated Metal Roofs.  Roofing shingles that were once limited due to thickness now are granted the freedom to express themselves. Now roofing shingles can have all of the dimension homeowners want thanks to the steel base and protection of the steel being covered with mini crushed stone can create any color you can imagine!

Decra Stone Coated Metal Roof Shingles in Pinnacle Grey for Houston Home Roofing Replacement from Texas Home Exteriors in The Woodlands

Stone Coated Metal Roofing Shingles The Envy Of The Neighborhood

When you drive up to any home in the southeast Houston Texas area you will notice two main things on a home, the roof and the siding on the home. Often the roof has composition roofing shingles. Why not be the envy of your neighborhood and maybe even the first to take advantage of an energy efficient stone coated metal roof?

I cannot tell you how many homeowners have expressed to me how much better their home looks with a metal roof, how often they get complements and improved efficiency. Homeowners realize 15-25% energy saving every year while also enjoying the peace of mind of not having to change their roof for over 50 years! Keep in mind that it is important to hire a roofing contractor that is proficient in installing metal roofing to avoid costly mistakes on your home. Texas Home Exteriors is proficient in correctly installing any of the stone coated metal roofing products mentioned in this post.

Energy Efficiency Savings of Stone Coated Metal Roofing – Air Space/Circulation
Watch for My Next Post – More on Energy Efficiency Savings of Stone Coated Metal Roofing – Air Space/Circulation

 Stone Coated Metal Roofing Estimate

Missing roof kick-out flashing

Roofing Components

I cannot stress enough to homeowners the importance of kick-out flashing and how often it is overlooked.  Kick-out flashing is a small piece of metal flashing that diverts the water away from an intersection where a side wall and roof line meet.

Missing Kick-out Flashing

The photo to the right showcases missing kick-out flashing on the roof. Note how there is no flashing where the roofing shingles meet the sidewall.  The lack of flashing allows mold to grow and the wood siding to begin rotting. This is a common problem here in Houston and southeast Texas.

Corrected Kick-out Flashing

Kick-out flashing installation

After the rotted wood is replaced, the kick-out flashing needs to be installed under the roofing shingles.

Here in Houston Texas we receive nearly 4′ of rain per year. This correctly installed flashing will ensure that no water gets behind the siding and roofing shingles to cause mold and rot issues.

Kick-out Flashing Example  

Completed Roofing kick-out flashing job

This is a Stucco Siding job with correctly installed kick-out flashing.

This photo showcases how to stop water from entering under roofing shingles and siding long after the crews are gone.

As with any roofing shingle replacement job done by a reputable contractor, the correct components are the key. When a roof is being replaced, often a company will not replace some essential components/flashings to save money.

If you are receiving roofing replacements bids or estimates, look for a list of components such as, pipe jacks, valley flashings, drip edge, sidewall flashings and ridge vents.

All of these should be replaced when changing your roof to insure no leakage for many years to come. That way when it is raining hard in the middle of the evening you can rest assure that any leaks will be non existent!

I truly hope that you have found this article most helpful and informative when it comes to proper re-roofing installation techniques. Greg Kapitan of Texas Home Exteriors.

Visit my website to learn more TexasHomeExteriors.com

email me directly at [email protected]

Free Roofing Shingle Estimate

What many Texas homeowners desire is a roof that’s not too expensive, requires no maintenance, and lasts forever. However most roofing shingles are replaced and or at least repaired every ten to twelve years here is southeast Texas due to the intense heat and leaghty sun drenched summers. By carefully choosing re-roofing material, you can reduce the cost and increase the duration of the life of your Houston TX roof. In the long run, you’ll use less building material, fill up less landfill space with discarded materials and have a roof that lasts for years or even a lifetime with some options.

If you select a light-colored surface or a material that doesn’t absorb heat from the sun, you significantly reduce the cool needs of the home or building. When your attic stays cooler, your cooling bills reduced. I will post more on “Cool Roofing” shingles in a future blog.

Popular Roofing Materials

Below I provide a quick overview of the most popular types of roofing. Remember that cost alone does not determine quality of the roofing shingle and not all of these products will meet the specific needs of your home or building. By carefully selecting the right material, ensuring it is installed properly and by performing occasional modest maintenance, your roof can function properly for 20 to 50 years or even longer!

Composition/Asphalt Roofing Shingle by GAF Timberline Laminate

Composition Roofing Shingles

Asphalt and composition roof shingles are the most common choice for a clean look at an affordable price. Higher quality versions made from asphalt or fiberglass shingles offer a more durable option, we’ll discuss those later.

Bob Vila tells us that Composite Shingles come in a large selection of types, brands and colors. They are versatile, adapt easily to different applications, are relatively easy to install and in some applications can even be nailed in place over an existing roof. This type of shingle is low maintenance and can be walked across without damaging the material. Most brands also offer Class A fire protection and can be recycled.

The negative side of composition shingles is that they don’t have the lifespan of other roofing materials like tile or metal, they don’t offer the dimensional look of tile or wood shakes, and there is a possibility of them blowing off in high winds. At Texas Home Exteriors, we use GAF Roofing Shingles with the GAF roofing warranty.

Wood Shake Shingles

Wikipedia – “wood shingles are thin, tapered pieces of wood primarily used to cover roofs and walls of buildings to protect them from the weather” Wood shake shingles offer a natural look with a lot of character. Because of variations like color, width, thickness or cut of the wood, no two shake roofs will ever be the same. Wood offers some energy benefits, too!   It helps to insulate the attic, and it allows the house to breathe, circulating air through the small openings under the felt rows on which wooden shingles are laid.

A Great Natural look. Wood Roofs require proper maintenance and is much more costly to replace.

A wood shake roof, however demands proper maintenance and repair or it will not last as long as other products. Keep in mind that mold, rot, and insects can be a problem with this type of roofing. The life cycle cost of a shake roof may be high, and old shakes cannot be recycled.

Additionally, installing wood shakes is more complicated and costly than roofing with composite shingles and the quality of finished roof depends on the experience of the contractor as well as the caliber of the shakes you use. The best shakes come from the heartwood of large old cedar trees, difficult to find anymore thus adding to the cost. Note that some contractors maintain that shakes made from the outer wood of smaller cedars but the usual source today are less uniform and more subject to twisting and warping causing them not to last as long.

Roofing Tiles

Roofing tile is a good choice for homes with Southwestern, Italian, Spanish Mission, Terracotta designs or even for homes with a modern, clean look.

Tile lasts a long time with an expected lifespan greater than the material on which the roofing rests. Tile will not rot or burn and it cannot be harmed by insects. It requires little maintenance and comes in a variety of colors, types, styles and brands.

Terracotta Roofing tiles have a long lifespan, but are heavy and may require extra roof support. Additionally they are fragile and can break if walked on.

The biggest drawback to tile by far is its weight. Depending on the material used to make it, tile can be very heavy, so heavy that extra roof support may be required. Originally made from clay, new tiles are being made from lighter materials and lightweight metal tiles can be installed over existing roofs. However, keep in mind that with some new materials color is added only on the surface of the tile which can fade over time.

Also be aware that some types of tile are fragile, so walking on them can and will often break them thus making it more difficult to accomplish maintenance like painting or cleaning rain gutters and fireplaces. Initial installation can be complicated and tile can cost more than other roofing materials but it does have a nice look.

Slate Shingles

Slate Roofing Shingles like Davinci are actual shingle-like slivers of rock that commonly shows up on more upscale homes. Although slate is by far a more expensive choice, it offers a very natural look and can be laid out in a variety of patterns.

The benefits of slate are identical to those of tile with a very long lifespan, good fire protection, low maintenance and an invulnerability to rot and insects. It comes in a good selection of sizes and colors, although colors are limited to those found in nature.

Like tile, slate can be very heavy and sometimes requiring expensive extra support. It too is breakable enough that walking on it is difficult for a non-professional and complicating tasks such as rooftop maintenance, gutter cleaning and painting but again is a very lovely looking option.

Concrete Roofing Tiles

Concrete is now a roofing material that is commonly used. Concrete Tile Roofs Shingles, simulated wood shakes, lighter-weight tiles and concrete panels are being manufactured from a variety of fiber-reinforced cement products. Some are coated with plastics, enamels, or thin metals with some even containing recycled materials. Although the products themselves are not yet recyclable, they are a good choice for durability and resource efficiency.

Concrete roofing material shows an interlocking greystone colored roofing tile

The advantages of concrete roofing vary from product to product, but generally they all have a long lifespan, require low maintenance, offer good fire protection and are resistant to rot and insects. Concrete mixed with cellulose can mimic the appearance of wood shakes while improving on the durability and fire protection that real wood affords. It can approximate the look of clay tile or slate while mitigating the structural problems caused by the weight of the real material.

Concrete is more expensive than some roofing materials and early types of concrete roofing had problems with the material curling, breaking and changing color. Technology has improved, however; and these problems have mostly been overcome. Style and color choices are expanding and by mixing the cement with additives, manufacturers are producing lighter and lighter products.

Metal Roofs

Metal Roofing is increasing in popularity and back in style. In the late 1700s, zinc, copper, and lead were the most popular materials used for roofing and used for such famous historic buildings as the Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello both having metal roofs.

Metal Shingles with the look of Shake Roofing Shingles

Standing-Seam Steel Roofing is the most popular residential metal roofing on the market today (the term standing-seam describes the upturned edge of one metal panel that connects it to adjacent sections, creating distinctive vertical lines and a trendy historical look).

Stone-Coated Metal Roofing Shingles are pressure formed with an aluminum-zinc alloy coated steel with an acrylic bonded stone chip finish. The stone coating resists fading and UV penetration and is a beautiful roofing choice. We have used both Decra and Metro Stone Coated Metal Roofing.

Metal roofs can also be made to resemble wood shakes, clay tiles, shingles and Victorian metal tiles. Aluminum or coated steel is formed into individual shingles, tiles or into modular panels four feet long that mimic a row of shingles or tiles and look very nice.

Greg Kapitan (the siding man) Texas Home Exteriors

Metal roofs are durable, fire-retardant and almost maintenance-free. They are also energy-efficient reflecting heat and blocking its transfer into the attic. Research by the Florida Solar Energy Center in 1985 showed that metal adsorbed 34 percent less heat than asphalt shingles (believe it or not) and homeowners switching to metal roofing reported saving up to 20 percent on their energy bills. Be sure not to make common metal roofing mistakes by choosing a qualified roofing contractor.

Well that was a bit of a lengthy post, I know, but I hope you found it information as it is my intention to provide information homeowners and those interested in roofing and shingle trends and available roofing options across the U.S. If your home resides in the Texas coastal wind zone, see that page for more in depth roofing installation requirements. Stay tuned for a post on Cool Roofing Shingles and FREE Solar Ventilation!

“For A Home That’s Superior, Call Texas Home Exteriors!”
Call or Text for FREE Roofing Estimate with NO Pressure and Texas EZ Pay Financing at: 281.919.6999. You can also email me at: [email protected] and we will be happy to provide you with an estimate and answer questions you might have.

Free Texas Roofing Shingle Estimate