Category: Roof Inspections

You get what you pay for..

Roofing, Roofing Repair - Austin,TX - Georgetown, TX - Cedar Park, TX - Round Rock, TX - Pflugerville, TX

Ever hear of stories of roofers offering to pay your deductible? Not only is this insurance fraud, but there are many ways to cut corners on a big roof. Here at Ark Roofer located in Georgetown, Tx, we don’t cut any corners. One of the easiest ways to save money for the roofer (and the homeowner), is to felt over the old felt paper without removing it. But, if you don’t expose the decking, you may not see what lurks below.

We replace all rotted wood or warped boards on your roof, before putting on a new one. In order to do this, we must remove not only the shingles, but also the felt paper all the way down to the decking.

Another way roofers cut corners is by using inferior products underneath the shingles, that you the homeowner, never sees! If this is the case, you also get jipped out your manufacturers roofing system warranty. According to most manufactures, you must use a minimum of 3 or more of the same branded components on the roof. Here at Ark Roofer, we outfit the entire roof in the same brand. Most of the time, we either use Owens Corning or GAF.

Lastly, another way to cut corners is by not putting a flexible adhesive membrane around all problematic leak areas. These include chimneys, skylights, valleys, and all openings on the roof. Also, if you have a flat area where the roof isn’t steep, you will want to use this here too. Ark Roofer uses a product called Ice and Water Protective Barrier on all roofs. This is how and why we have such a great labor warranty!

These are just some of the ways roofing companies cut corners, and how they are able to pay deductibles, however, expect to call them back in 1-2 years due to your roof leaking. Don’t expect them to be there for you to fix your problems… If you want peace of mind, pay the extra money and do it right… It will last you 20-30 years and it’s well worth it..

Frequently Asked Questions | Roof Hail Damage

Hailstorms can cause some serious damage to not only your roof, but also your gutters, window screens, siding, and any personal property around the house. In this blog, Ark Roofer, an experienced roofing contractor in Georgetown, Tx, will be discussing how we handle this situation for our customers, and answer some questions you may have.

You Think Your Roof Looks Fine After A Hailstorm. Why Have it Checked?

Unlike many types of roof damage, hail damage is not always obvious, especially if you have a metal roof, or asphalt shingled roof. Sometimes, the hail will leave a small dent, or crater. For asphalt shingles, if the damage is deep enough, it will actually “bruise” the back of the matting, and sometimes even fracture it. Both can cause the slightest opening for water to get through the waterproof layer, and through the roof decking, into the attic, which will eventually cause major problems with leaking and water damage into the home.

Can I Inspect My Own Roof?

It is a huge risk for an unexperienced person to even climb on a roof. In 2016, there were over 101 reported actual roofers in America, that died by falling off roofs. The yearly average is around 50 deaths. Please don’t take the risk of hurting yourself or worse. Most homeowners lack the safety and education for climbing on roofs. In order to find hail damage that has actually damaged your roof, you need to be fully trained. Not all hail damage is the same. If you have any questions, please call Ark Roofer, an experienced roofing contractor in Georgetown, Tx, to help you understand more about hail damage on a roof.

What’s the Next Step After the Hail Damage Inspection?

1. File a Claim with Insurance: If hail damage is evident, have us help you call your Insurance claims department to file a new property claim for hail or wind damage.

2. Adjuster Meeting: On this day, the insurance adjuster and your Ark Roofer Representative will look at the property together, and Ark Roofer will fight for you to get them to pay for a new roof and any other damages to the home or property. Once the insurance has approved to pay to replace the damages, they will send you all the paperwork showing everything they are paying for, and how much they cost. They pay all of it, minus your deductible.
Ark Roofer, an experienced roofing contractor in Georgetown, Tx, is not only a full service general contractor specializing in roofs, but we are also insurance experts as well, and will act as your roofing lawyer to get the insurance to pay for what you deserve!

3. Contract Signing: Once Ark Roofer has a copy of the insurance paperwork, you can sign a contract, pick a color, and get started!

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Roof Shingle Options

Ark Roofer - Roofing - Austin,TX - Georgetown, TX - Cedar Park, TX - Round Rock, TX - Pflugerville, TX

Not all branded shingles are the same. I would like to discuss some of my favorite brands and types.

First off, generally speaking, there are two types of roofing asphalt shingles. There are 20-25 year rated 3-tab shingles, and there is the 30 year rated laminated architectural shingle, which many brands have a lifetime warranty with.

I never recommend putting on a 3-tab shingle. If you live in Texas like I do, you will find that they only last about 10 years before shingles start coming loose and falling off, or damage starts occurring from normal wear and tear, caused by the sun’s heat blisters, which then create openings for roof leaks.

Let’s draw our focus on 30 year rated shingles. The top two brands out there for the most common standard shingle is Owens Corning, and GAF. Both are excellent brands and I highly recommend them. You can view them here at www.owenscorning.com and www.gaf.com. With Owens Corning roof shingles, the best rated (without getting into decorative shingles) is the Duration Series Tru-definition shingle. It has a 30 year limited lifetime warranty, with a 130mph wind resistance rating, with a Sure-nail technology nail strip for a secure hold on your roof. With GAF roof shingles, the best rated (without getting into the decorative shingles) is the Timberline HD Series shingle. It has the same warranty and wind rating. Here in Georgetown, Texas for example, these should last 20-25 years in the Texas weather, unless of course you have a major hail storm. There’s a 3rd brand that I also recommend, TAMKO. They are honestly just as good, just a smaller branded company. However, if there’s ever a problem with their product or instal, their customer service is by far the best! You can check them out here www.tamko.com

Now, if you want to spend the money and want the best shingle on the market right now, I highly recommend DECRA Roofing System. The strength and durability of a stone coated steel roof is combined with the versatile good looks of a tile, shake or shingle profile to give you a DECRA roofing system. DECRA panels have a unique interlocking design, that withstand high winds and add shear strength. Decra roof shingles comes with a 50 year rated limited lifetime warranty, withstands winds up to 120mph, and is hail impact resistant. Check them out here www.decra.com. Basically, it’s a metal shingle dipped in similar material as the asphalt shingles are made of, but it’s half the weight with near twice the strength!