Most homeowners located in the Denver Metro area are subjected to high winds; this can potentially cause damage to the roof. Throughout this week GBS Roofing will explain the possible damages that high winds can cause to your roof, how to identify trouble areas and repair them, and finally how to prevent or be well prepared for high winds.

First, when high winds tear across your roof it is possible for some of the shingles to lift and actually blow off the roof. This leaves the underlayment and possibly flashings or valleys uncovered. When these sensitive areas are left uncovered and exposed to the elements, water can leak through and cause damage to insulation, support beams or the decking.

Wind damage is easily viewed from the ground, most homeowners will see areas the shingles are lifting or in bad cases the shingles can be seen blown across the lawn. If any of those symptoms are noticed it is best to call a roofing contractor and determine the extent of the wind damage.

In out last blog, we discussed how to make sure your home has enough ventilation. Now, I’d like to discuss one of the hazards that can happen if you don’t have proper ventilation; ice dams.

Ice dams are typically created when the heat from your attic melts the snow on your roof, the water travels down your roof and freezes again along the gutter line and eaves. That ridge of frozen water that forms along the edge of the roof is called an ice dam. As the snow continues to melt the water begins to collect behind the dam. The pool of water behind the ice dam can begin to leak into the home and cause damage. Even if the water doesn’t leak into the home the shingles can be significantly damaged.

While it is impossible to stop ice dams from forming there are several things a homeowner can do to be prepared. It’s a good idea to have ice and water shield installed along the eaves to prevent water from getting in the home. Check and see if your attic is properly insulated and ventilated. Also, placing a piece of heat tape inside the gutters will help the water keep moving instead of freezing over.

Its Thanksgiving time again and we are reminded to give thanks for all that we have. Here at GBS Roofing we believe one of the best ways to give thanks is by helping out others. This year we were able to donate some necessities the Denver Rescue Mission to help ensure others will have a nice meal for Thanksgiving.

Upon our first call to the Denver Rescue Mission we determined that the Rescue Mission also needs basic food staples to help them feed and care for the less fortunate. In this area were able to donate several hundred pounds of flour, sugar and cooking oil for the cooks to use on a daily basis. We were also able to donate a hundred pounds of coffee thanks to Daz Bog Coffee. Finally, Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without turkey so we also brought over 1,800 pounds of turkey.

This is our second year donating to the Denver Rescue Mission and we intend to make this a yearly effort! We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

GBS Roofing was recently called out to repair a roof not only just for hail damage but for a leaking chimney. Upon arrival we noticed that the roof sloped into a massive 7’ long chimney with no dormer behind it. In Colorado, it is required by code for any chimney over 30” to have a dormer, sometimes called a cricket, behind it.

Adding a dormer behind this chimney is a fairly straight forward process. Once the roof is torn off and the deck is bare our workers will build a frame for the dormer. First they will identify the center point on the length of the chimney and several inches up from the roof deck; from there they will secure 2×4’s from that center point all the way out to the lower left and right edges of the chimney. This creates a triangle shape on the chimney. Another 2×4 is then attached perpendicularly from the top of the triangle out to the roof deck.

Now that the frame for the dormer has been created we can begin securing decking to the frame. Depending on the size of the chimney a few pieces of decking may be required. Once the decking has been secured roofing materials such as ice and water barrier, 90 # roll roofing, felt and/or asphalt shingles can be applied depending on the codes in your local area.

Once this roof addition has been completed any precipitation will be diverted away from the back side of the chimney and can prevent future leaks from occurring there.

Here at GBS Roofing we always strive for excellence and it’s great to hear from our customers when we hit our goal! We received this email from Paul regarding his experience with GBS!

Recently (7/28/11), I called your office to inquire about possible hail damage to my residence roof from the storm recently. I was given 3 names of companies that would come out to give me an estimate etc. I called all 3.

The first one I called was GBS Roofing/Leighton Fowler. He answered the call and said he could be there within 20 minutes. He came over, conducted his inspection (physically walking on my roof to get a complete viewing) and gave me an on the spot verbal report with a promise of a written one if needed. He was professional, knowledgeable, courteous and is just the kind of employee every employer would like working for them.

I had called the other 2 companies, one said they could not come out until the middle or end of next week (I still have not heard back from them) and the other has not returned my call.

I am happy to report my roof did not have hail damage but in the future if it does or I need roof replacing or information I will call GBS Roofing/Leighton Fowler and no one else.

May I recommend you continue to recommend GBS Roofing for your estimates, and perhaps exclusively. It is very seldom that I have experienced the professionalism and service demonstrated by Leighton Fowler and GBS Roofing. He is the ‘ Real McCoy ‘ 100% personally and professionally.

Thank you for your good State Farm / John Bussey service.

Paul

A few months back GBS Roofing decided it was time to give back to the community here in the greater Denver area. We were excited to help Shiloh House with their administration buildings leaking flat roof and got the chance to talk with Rev. Martino about their positive influence on the community. We were then informed of a wonderful lady named Jennie who really could use our help!

Jennie’s roof was over 30 years old and had truly seen better days! Her insurance told her she had to replace her roof or could face losing her policy. Immediately we stepped in, took measurements and determined the right color and product for her home. Phoenix O’Hara with CertainTeed Corporation donated XT30IR shingles to help us in our efforts while Andy Miller with Pacific Supply donated the accessories required to reroof a home. We are also grateful to have Ron Way’s help from Total Maintenance Source; he also donated his time in labor in this effort by removing and trimming the trees on the property.

Today, Jennie has a new roof on her home donated by GBS Roofing, CertainTeed, TMS Inc., and Pacific Supply. Due to the impact resistant shingles installed on her home, she will keep her homeowners insurance and receive a discount on her monthly premium!

With all the storms this summer has brought, there is a good chance that storm chasers are looking for work in new communities across the country. When a representative from a roofing company knocks on your door and asks to give you an estimate on a new roof, there are a few ways you can tell if they are storm chasers or not.

Something as simple as looking at the roof estimator’s license plate can tell you where they are from and where they register their work vehicles. Local companies will have a local plate on their vehicle and their vehicle should be marked to inform you which company they represent. Also, it’s not a bad idea to check the estimator’s ID, see if they are local too.

When you are discussing the scope of work needed on your roof, listen for accents and their vernacular. If you live in Washington and they have a Texan accent, it’s probably because your contractor is not local and is only in your area looking for work.

If at this point you are still not convinced they aren’t storm chasers, request a copy of their license in your jurisdiction and their insurance policy. References and referrals are another great way to determine if the company is local. Storm chasers will only have a record of roofs they have done in your area after a large storm, local companies will have references from the time the company began.

If you want a company to stand behind their work and follow through on their warranty, don’t hire storm chasers. They will leave town as soon as another extreme weather event occurs in another area. Find a local company that has credentials and an upstanding reputation like GBS Roofing!

After any major weather occurrence there will be an influx of “Professional Roofing Contractors” who will do anything they can to get your business. Here are a few signs that the contractor you are dealing with may not be what you’re looking for!

You should contact a roofing contractor before they contact you. Salesmen going door to door are typically storm chasers that have not had enough time to develop a local standing in the community. It’s best to ask your friends or insurance agent for recommendations rather than allowing the contractor to find you. If they do knock on your door, read all of their policies and their proposal completely before signing anything! Some roofers will ask for you permission in writing to get on your roof, this actually is a contract with them allowing them to conduct business with your insurance company.

Reputable companies in your area will have a local address, phone number and listings in your local directories. Having a local roofing company ensures that they will be available for any roofing issue that may arise. Storm chasers rarely stand behind their work and are difficult to locate once they have been paid.

Also, be wary of any company that asks for money up front. This is a red flag that the company does not have good enough credit to purchase the materials needed to reroof your home. Here at GBS Roofing we don’t expect payment until the job is done!

The roof on a home can be in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and slopes. If it is time for you to replace the roof on your home there will be a few key words that will be integral to your understanding of the project. Here are a few terms GBS Roofing thinks are important to learn:

Closed Valley:  A method of valley treatment in which shingles from one side of the valley extend across the valley while shingles from the other side are trimmed from the valley centerline. The valley flashing is not exposed.

Counter flashing: That portion of the flashing attached to a vertical surface to prevent water from migrating behind the base flashing.

Deck: The plywood surface that is attached to the rafters.

Dormer: A framed window gable that is installed in the roof slope, intended to divert water from pooling behind the window, chimney or roof protrusions.

Drip Edge: metal strip attached along the eaves and rakes to keep water from getting under the shingles and rotting the roof decking underneath.

Eaves: The horizontal area under the overhang from the rake leading back to the wall plate.

Felt:  Asphalt impregnated material in roll form used to go between the deck and the shingle as an added layer of protection.

Flashing: Pieces of galvanized metal used to prevent water seepage of any roofing joints or items that come through the roof. Examples include roof valleys, vents, stacks, dormers, etc.

Ice and Water Shield: Waterproof underlayment designed to protect against water being forced up under the shingle caused by ice damming and wind.

Open Valley: A valley where both sides of the roof are trimmed back from the centerline to expose the valley flashing material beneath.

Pipe Flashing: Pre-formed flange made of neoprene rubber or aluminum, and designed to slide over a vent pipe to enclose the outer vent pipe opening.

Pitch: Is the ratio between the rise and the span. It is measured in feet, but stated in inches. Example: 4:12 is 12 inches of span (or run when measured to the ridge) will generate 4 inches of rise. 4:12 is the most common pitch used in standard roof design.

Rake: An inclined edge of a sloped roof over a wall from the eave to the ridge. This is a gable side of the house.

Ridge: A peak of the roof where the two sloped planes meet at the top.

Soffit: A finished underside of the eaves.

Square: A unit of roof measure covering 100 square feet.

Valley: The joint created where two sloping roof planes come together providing a place for a water runoff.

Vent: It can be any device installed on the roof slope, ridge, gable, or soffit for the purpose of providing ventilation to the underside of the roof deck.

Woven Valley: Shingles from both sides of the valley extend across the valley and are joined together by overlapping alternate courses of shingle during installation. This will completely cover the flashing installed in the valley.

Many factors can be a determining factor when choosing a roofing contractor, price, product and time frame are all big considerations.  Here at GBS Roofing we recommend that clients first look for the contractor to have a valid license in the city or county their home resides in and an insurance policy that covers workman’s compensation and general liability. Most homeowners don’t know how important those two factors can really be.

To obtain a license the contractor will have to show either knowledge of proper practices in that city or county, such as code requirements and inspection guidelines. Each city will have a different process for applying for a license. Some require the contractor to pass a test regarding the specifics of their industry, or an application listing references of recent jobs completed.

A valid license will allow the contractor to acquire permits for construction projects within that city or county. Repairs typically do not require a permit but jobs larger than one square usually will. Once the permit is obtained the contractor will have 180 days to complete the work stated in the permit application. When the project is complete the contractor will notify the city or county and an inspection will take place shortly after. An inspector will then observe the work and ensure it is up to code.

The insurance policy is sometimes required before the contractor can attain a license, but it is still important to view the actual policy before agreeing to any work. If an accident were to happen during work and the contractor does not have general liability and workers compensation policies, the homeowner may be sued to compensate the injured for damages.

Checking for a license and insurance should be one of the first things a homeowner does when deciding who to hire for a roofing project. This will ensure your contractor is knowledgeable of the jurisdiction they are working in, the roof will pass code and that the homeowner cannot be held liable for injuries during the construction.