Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Roof Cleaning Chemicals: What To Do When Your Lovely Roof Turns Black


Roof Cleaning Chemicals: What To Do When Your Lovely Roof Turns Black

Watching your lovely composite roof turn black with roof algae can be quite distressing. Although algae do not necessary destroy your roof in record time but it can make your roof look dirty and ugly. Fortunately, you do not have to put up with a blackened roof for long. There are plenty of roof cleaning chemicals sold in the market that can help remove roof algae in no time. The best part of it is that most of these roof cleaning chemicals can prevent the algae from coming back.

Why should you use roof cleaning chemicals instead of just water and soap? According to people who are into the roof cleaning business, good old water and soap is not effective in removing algae from your composite roof. The idea of using soap and water to clean off a huge area of composite roof is not exactly that appealing. If your house is big, you will probably end up using galloons and gallons of soap and water just to get the whole area cleaned up. Besides, using soap and water to clean your roof may not be that safe after all. Just imagine how slippery your roof will become when it is drenched in soapy water. Wet slippery roofs increase the risk of accidents. Besides, soap and water is not a guarantee the removal of those stubborn algae stains. Take note that algae stains can be tough to remove from composite roofs. Only roof cleaning chemicals may be able to remove most if not all the strains on your composite roof.

Buying Roof Cleaning Chemicals

A lot of people think that all roof cleaning chemicals can remove algae stains on roofs. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Despite what those manufacturers of roof cleaning chemicals have to say about their products, some of these products are not as effective as they should be. Some of those cheap cleaning chemicals cannot remove stubborn stains. Moreover, some these roof cleaning chemicals are harmful to your roof and to the environment. Make no mistakes about it, some of these roof cleaning chemicals contain very strong ingredients that can damage your roof. If you do not want to end up with faded roof colors or worst, corrosion on your roof, you need to be very careful when buying roof cleaning products. Before you buy any roof cleaning chemicals, you need to read the label first and make sure that it does not contain any harsh chemicals that may damage your roof... Call Me At 774-9200 To have your roof cleaned or go to our online showroom at: http://www.theroofjob.com

Sunday, August 22, 2010

A Guide on Replacing Roof Shingles

When it comes to replacing roof shingles you don’t have to be a professional but there are a few things that you are going to want to be aware of before you get started. Roof cleaning, roof shingles, roof repair, whatever it is, you don’t just want to hop up on a roof before you know what you are doing.

How to do it

So now if you are going to be going through with replacing roof shingles, here is how you are going to do it. First to get started replacing roof shingles you need to do is install a starter strip which is basically just a backing for the first visible row of shingles and which has a main purpose of preventing water from getting through to the roof at the gaps between the shingles.

You can use pre-cut starter strips but you can also trim the tabs off a whole shingle. There are a few different styles and sizes of these shingles that you can choose from and so it really all depends on what sort of roof you are working on which will help determine what supplies you are going to need to go through with replacing roof shingles.

You want to start everything off by cleaning the roof. Your shingles are not going to stick properly if there is a lot of dirt and debris covering the roof so this is one of the first things that you are going to want to take care of. Now you want to start shingling. Loosen the adhesive under the old shingle and remove it, and then put a new shingle in its place to properly go through with replacing roof shingles.

To reseal all the shingles, you want to lift each tab and apply 1” diameter spot of shingle cement under each tab. Repeat the nailing and cement procedure for each one, and remember that you only have to fix the ones that are broken but if you have the money available, and you want to do the best job and have it look the best it can, you may want to do the whole roof over again.

This is probably the best idea anyway if your house is older and has not been reshingled in a while because then you are just going to end up saving yourself time and money down the line by getting the job done now.... Call David Deschaine at 774-9200 or Visit our online showroom at http://www.daviddeschaine.com/

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Is Shingling a Roof the Only Choice You Have?



Is Shingling a Roof the Only Choice You Have?

Whether you are building for home or business, you will find that you have more options when it comes to roofing than simply shingling a roof with asphalt shingles. Shingling with these types of shingles is often popular simply because they are a much more cost effective option for many roofs—especially if you aren't certain how long you will be living in a home or occupying a space for a business. In fact, most people move before they've outlived the life of their shingles in today's mobile world.

If you are planning to put down roots though it may very well be worth your while to explore all of your options before deciding on asphalt shingles for shingling a roof. Remember, even if you do sell your home before the life expectancy of your roof expires that solid roofs in great condition are a selling point for most homes and businesses.

You have many options available to you. Some of these options are more decorative in nature than others and some carry a much stiffer price tag than others but the options remain impressive. You even have the option of using one type of shingling for the great portion of your roof and other shingling options to highlight or accentuate certain points or features. You can make all sorts of statements when shingling a roof and you are only limited by your budget and your imagination.

You can even opt out of shingling a roof altogether. Though more common with business roofs, there is always the option of bitumen roofs, built up roofs, metal roofs, and membrane roofs to consider. While not generally as aesthetically pleasing as shingles are for a roof these roofing types are better suited for many applications. If you are exploring all of your options though it would be a shame to overlook these options for roofs—especially if you are in need of a commercial roof.

Other options for home roofing include clay tiles, wooden shingles, asphalt shingles, metal. Each roofing type offers its own unique strengths and weaknesses to consider. Of these options, asphalt shingles require the lowest up front investment. The downside is that they also need to be replaced the most often. This leaves them having a negative impact on the environment and may actually workout to a greater overall cost when all is said and done.

The bottom line is that you have many options available for shingling a roof that go well beyond simple choosing which asphalt shingles you wish to purchase. Do not think though that you can't get a perfectly lovely roof by shingling a roof with asphalt shingles that will last quite a while when properly cared for and maintained.
Dave Deschaine - Maine's Professional Roofing Contractor - http://www.daviddeschaine.com

Monday, August 16, 2010

Roof Repair - Get Started With it

Roof Repairs

If you need to get involved with some roof repair, then there are a few really helpful tips that you are going to want to keep in mind. These tips are going to make sure that you get through with the roof repair successfully, because after all it is not the easiest thing in the world. Whether you are working on flat roof repair or angled roof repair, here is some pertinent information.

Gathering Supplies

Before you try working on any roof you want to make sure that you have the proper roof repair supplies on hand. This is important because the last thing that you want is to get all the way up on the roof only to realize that you are missing something that you need. Now there are a few basic pieces of equipment that you almost always need when it comes to roof repair.

A hammer for one, which is almost always necessary, whether you are working on shingles or fixing a hole in the roof, but there are also other equipment and supplies that you will need and which are going to vary depending on what sort of job it is that you are going to be working on.

One of the best tips for roof repair involves chasing leaks. This is one of the most common reasons for problems on roofs and why contractors are called in to work on them. There can be many different reasons for a leak, including that there is a hole in the asphalt shingles, or that there is a hole in the top of the underlayment.

Chasing a leak is not always as easy as it may seem to be, and as most contractors will tell you that they have experienced. When you are working on flat or low-slope roofs, you want to make sure that you inspect any roof drains near the leak area and if you find that they are plugged or draining slowly, then they are probably the reason for the leaks.

It is really going to depend on what sort of roof you are working on and what sort of angle it has to determine what sort of roof repair is going to be needed. Make sure that you are as educated as possible before going up on any roof so that you know what you are doing and are not going to be putting yourself or any other men up there in danger.

http://www.daviddeschaine.com

Do Roofing Materials Make a Difference?


If you are wondering what it matters if you choose one roofing material or another while making your plans to build a better roof the answer is without a doubt: yes! Different roofing materials mean different things to the longevity, quality, and environmental friendliness of your roof as well as your own personal opinion of the roof. Whether we like to admit it or not, the types of roofs on a home or building impact how well we like the overall look of that building.

Aesthetics

Seriously, have you ever looked at a gorgeous home with a hideous roof and wondered why it is that you really don't like this house that would otherwise be perfect? How about a rather plain home that has a lovely tile or slate roof that makes you take a second look when otherwise nothing about the exterior of the home would attract you. Roofing materials make a difference in how much or little you like the entire building. If you don't believe me, take a drive around town and find the homes that you like and those you do not. Now, pay attention to the roof and see if there are certain similarities in the roofs of the homes you like as well as the ones you do not like. You might be surprised at what you discover.

Carbon Footprint

Did you know that the right roofing can make your home a much greener place to live? It's true, even if your roof is black, white, or even green. Choosing the right roofing materials can make a huge impact on how much it costs to heat and/or cool your home. Lowering energy consumption also lowers the amount of waste that is produced in the creation of that energy. Other building materials, such as tile or slate have a long life cycle which means they will need to be removed and/or replaced far less frequently. Finally, roofs that are made of metal can be completely recycled when all is said and done. Furthermore, metal roofs can be installed over existing roofs which reduces the waste that is created.

Longevity

As mentioned above, some roofing materials simply last longer than others. When you consider the costs involved in roofing with these long lasting materials compared to the costs of frequent replacements you might find that costlier materials are a bargain in the long run. Of course, this is only a wise investment if you plan to stay in your home or with your business location for quite a while. Otherwise you are giving the new owners a bonus once you decide to sell.

All in all, yes, roofing materials make a huge difference and are worth considering carefully when the time comes to build your home or replace your roof. When you are ready to have a new roof replacement contact Dave Deschaine in Maine for the roofing company thousand of people choose, and you should too!

Call Dave Deschaine or Schedule Your Estimate Online at http://www.daviddeschaine.com

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Winter Storm Aftermath


What a winter rain and wind storm we just had last week, over 6 inches of rain. We have received many phone calls from home owners, with trees that have fallen over because of some of the 80 mile an hour winds from the major winter storm. We lost power at our office, and had to use one of our generators to get the phone system online, our computers we down but we were able to help people with water coming into their homes. All over the city power was out, people were calling all upset, we have 4 guys out helping people anyway we could to stop the leaks. We worked all weekend tarping roofs from the wind damage to the roofs.

The rain finally stopped for a while on Sunday, but we had some snow over night, and Monday the roofs had a small amount of snow on the roofs, which are very slippery to walk on. We went to some homes where the trees had ripped big holes in the roof sheathing, and water had been pouring in. Homeowners had called there insurance companies to let them know that their homes had been damaged from the heavy winds and torrential rain from this storm. Lots of businesses in Westbrook were underwater from the heavy rain, and the Scarborough marsh had risen to the highest levels in years. With all the earth quakes all over the world, you have to wonder what is going on with the weather. We have had very little snow here in southern Maine and really not much precipitation at all. Finally the power has been turned on but we have many roofs schedule for this spring, and if anyone ever needs help after these storms, call us and we will do whatever we can do to help you. I’ll talk with you soon. Dave Deschaine

This is from other sources:

After a night of heavy rains water spilled over the river's banks, shutting down a section of Route 302 and flooding nearby parking lots. A second teenager, who ended up in the water after his kayak tipped over, managed to get himself to shore.
Westbrook's police chief says the decision to take the kayaks out in those conditions not only put the teens in danger, but also put the rescuers at risk.

The winter storm that knocked out power for tens of thousands in Maine is quickly becoming a fading memory. Not so for nearly 1,000 homes and businesses still in the dark, however.Central Maine Power said its utility crews had reduced the number of power outages to 898 by noon. That means the utility missed its goal of restoring electricity for everyone by Monday night.