Your roof is one of the most important piece of your home’s exterior. It serves a number of benefits for your home, including keep your home protected from the elements, as well as providing your home with curb appeal and resale value. However, just like another piece of your home’s exterior, your roof will eventually fail. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can keep your home’s roof in great shape, take a look at our blog to learn how you can tell if your shingle roof needs to be replaced.

Check Your Shingles

The first, and most obvious, sign that you should look for when trying to determine whether you need to replace your asphalt shingle roof is to examine your shingles themselves. If your roof is on the verge of failing, the signs will be quite clear when you take a look at your shingle system. Keep an eye out for any buckling, warping, cracking, or missing granules. Generally, your shingles can fail in one of two ways: They will have broken due to hail, failing debris, or trauma, or they will begin to curl or buckle due to improper installation that exposes the system to water damage. However, if you notice that your shingles are losing lot of granules, that’s generally a sign that the roof is naturally aging out and you should consider replacing it soon.

Examine The Valleys

Another area of your roof that is likely to fail is the valleys in your roof. The valleys of your roof are exposed to more water than any other part of your roof, which means they need more attention and maintenance. While our team at Rhode Island Slate always takes care to properly protect the valleys in a roof, this area often fails due to water damage. Seeing damage in these areas is a clear sign that you need to replace your roof or deal with the inevitable leaks!

Chimney Flashing

Similar to your valleys, many homeowners overlook flashing, both around their chimneys and also roof vents, but it serves a very important purpose; protecting your home from water damage around the openings in your roof. If you find that the flashing around the vents and your chimney is rusting, a roof leak won’t be far behind. If your shingles are still in good shape, you can get away with simply reflashing around any openings and keeping up with your general roof maintenance.

Contact Us Today

Interested in replacing your home’s asphalt shingle roof this fall? Our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roofing needs!

Your home’s roof is an incredibly complex piece of engineering, and in order to keep it in working condition, you will need to periodically perform maintenance and clean the area. If you’re unsure what exactly needs to be done in order to properly care for your home’s roof, take a look at our blog to learn about some of the important fall maintenance that needs to be completed!

Check Your Gutters

As we discussed previously, maintaining your home’s gutters is quite important for keeping your roof in good condition. Clogged gutters can cause all sorts of roofing issues, from backing water up underneath your starter shingles and fascia boards, to allowing animals to take up residence inside your gutter system. If your gutters are clogged, clean them out this fall and consider investing in a gutter guard system to keep your system protected.

Clean Off Debris

You will also want to examine your home’s roof to ensure that it is not covered in debris. If you have a lot of debris sitting on your roof, including moss, leaves, sticks, branches, and more, it can end up causing a significant amount of damage to your roof. This debris can end up holding a significant amount of moisture onto your home’s roof. In some cases, this debris can function like an ice dam, holding liquid water on your roof where it can eventually penetrate your roofing system and cause rot damage to your roof deck! To ensure your home’s roof is protected, clean off any debris that builds up!

Check For Damaged Shingles

Another thing that you’ll want to examine is your shingles themselves. Your roofing shingles can fail in a variety of ways, some of them obvious, like when your shingles begin to simply fall off of your roof. However, there are a number of other issues that can arise without being nearly as obvious, but with the potential to cause just as much damage!

Your shingles can curl, blister, crack, or lose their granules, which all affect the effectiveness of the shingles. The most concerning shingle issue is likely curling shingles, which indicate that your shingles have been absorbed a significant amount of moisture. It is possible that curling, or blistering, shingles are a result of poor ventilation, but either way, you will want to address the damaged shingles and attempt to repair the roof to ensure that your roof is properly protected for the winter months.

Contact Us Today

If you need to replace your home’s roof, our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! We can be reached over the phone at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roofing needs!

Nowadays, there are more environmentally conscious consumers who are interested in reducing their carbon footprint and living as sustainably as possible. From being aware of where their food is coming from, to reducing fuel emissions during transportation, consumers are trying to reduce their environmental impact any way possible and unsurprisingly this has led to consumers trying to reduce the energy consumption in their homes and reducing the energy needed to cool or heat their homes. One of the best ways to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, and potentially your energy bills as well, is to install a roofing material that is both environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. Take a look at our blog to learn which roofing materials to consider installing if you’re trying to improve your home’s efficiency.

Clay Tile Roofing

One of the most environmentally friendly roofing materials on the market are clay tiles. Clay tile manufacturing does not produce any harmful greenhouse gases, making them a sustainable option for homeowners looking to reduce their environmental impact. Furthermore, clay tiles are often used in arid climates due to their ability to reflect heat away from the home, as well as their durability. They can help improve your home’s energy efficiency which in turn improves your home’s sustainability and reduces the amount of heating and cooling needed to keep your home comfortable. Clay tiles can also be recycled and repurposed making them a very sustainable option.

Slate Roofing

Another eco-friendly roofing material that has been growing in popularity is slate roofing. Like clay tiles, slate is a naturally occurring, recyclable roofing material that requires minimal processing to in order to install on your home. There are some companies that offer recycled slate tiles, reducing the environmental impact of your home’s roof even more! Furthermore, slate roofing can last for over a century, meaning that once you install a slate roof on your home, you will never need to replace it!

Rubber Roofing

One material that many homeowners wouldn’t immediately identify as being environmentally friendly is rubber roofing. While not all rubber roofing is environmentally friendly or sustainable, there are plenty of companies that build their membranes with recycled material, such as old tires. If you can find a rubber roof that is made from recycled materials, it is an environmentally friendly option that not only reduces waste, but also requires minimal processing.

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in replacing your home’s roof and installing a more environmentally friendly option than your standard asphalt shingles, our team is ready to assist! We can be reached over the phone at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!

There are plenty of roofing contractors that will tell you what you want to hear to secure a contract. However, when it comes time for them to replace your home’s roof, it becomes obvious that they don’t know what they’re doing. Take a look at our blog to learn more about the mistakes that inexperienced roofers make.

Forgetting The Starter Shingles

One of the most common mistakes that inexperienced roofers will make is forgetting to install the starter shingles. Starter shingles are fitted with special adhesives which make them more durable and able to withstand strong wind gusts which make otherwise blow the shingles away. Forgetting to install the starter shingles can result in a roof that is unable to withstand wind.

No Leak Barrier

Depending on your climate, you may not need a leak barrier on every portion of your roof. However, you will need to have it installed in at least the valleys of your roof and around any roof openings and near your chimney. If your roof doesn’t install a leak barrier, it can quickly lead to expensive repairs!

Poor Shingle Installation

Another clear sign that your roofer doesn’t know what they’re doing is when you see that your shingles are being installed incorrectly. There is a variety of mistakes that can be made when installing shingles, from having them improperly spaced or not aligned correctly, to damaging them during the installation process. Poorly installed shingles not only take away from your home’s curb appeal, they can also end up causing damage to your home, as your roof will not properly protect your home from water damage.

Forgetting About The Drip Edge

This one can be harder to spot, but it is important that your roofer remembers to install a drip edge along your roof in order to protect it from water damage. Forgetting to install a drip edge will result in water dripping under your shingle into your roof deck, or down your fascia boards, where it can cause significant rot damage.

Poorly Installed Gutters

Finally, an inexperienced roofer will likely install your gutters incorrectly. Poorly installed gutters may not be able to handle the water coming off of your roof, which can quickly lead to more expensive repairs as water drips down the side of your home and pools around your foundation.

Contact Us Today

If you need to have your roof installed by a contractor who knows what they’re doing, our team is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today to learn more about our roofing installation services! We can reach us over the phone at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our online contact form! We look forward to assisting with your roof replacements!

When it comes to your home, your roof is arguably the single most important piece of your home’s exterior. Your roof provides a number of benefits for your home, including protecting your home from the elements and pests, providing an additional layer of insulation, and also improving your home’s curb appeal and resale value. With so much to gain from having a properly installed roof, it is essential to ensure that yours is kept in good repair! However, from time to time, bad contractors will try to take advantage of this, convincing you that your roof is in bad repair to make repairs when it is still in good shape! However, it can be difficult to identify whether someone is trying to scam you! If you’re interested in learning more about roofing scams, take a look at our blog to learn how to spot one so you don’t get taken advantage of!

Storm Chasers

One of the most common roofing scams that homeowners run into is storm chasers. These scammers wait until an area is hit by a high-impact storm, such as extreme winds or hail storms, and then roll through the town going door-to-door to sell their roofing services.  These roofers will show up to your door insisting that your roof needs to be replaced immediately, as it was damaged in the stormy weather. However, the installation itself will be shoddy, as they roll through the town installing as many roofs as possible before leaving. Your roof will far sooner than a typical roof replacement, and you won’t have any way to contact the roofers once they leave.

Large Down Payments

Another tactic used by scammers is, whether it is a door-to-door cold pitch or you called them for an estimate, is to demand a large down-payment before work begins, perhaps under the rouse that the rates will go up if you don’t lock in on that particular day and appointment. This may not be a red flag to homeowners at first as most roofers will require a down-payment before they begin work. However, the down payment that these roofers request will be an unusually large percentage and they will insist that you pay it that day. After collecting this check you will never hear from them again. If your contractor is every demanding an unusually large downpayment, be sure to properly vet them before handing over the check!

The Door-to-Door Salesman

Finally, some contractors will attempt to go door-to-door, cold pitching roofs to homeowners who don’t need them. Oftentimes, these homeowners use the fear tactic to make a homeowner scared that their roof is on the verge of failing when the roof is actually in good repair. Furthermore, these contractors will often insist they get on your roof to take a look, where they will create damage on your roof just for the sake of repair. If a contractor shows up on your door asking to get on your roof, at the very least ensure that you get a name, address, way to contact, and copy of their insurance information to make sure they are who they say they are. However, anyone coming to your door trying to cold pitch you a new roof is most likely a scammer!

Contact Us Today

If you need to replace your home’s roof, our team is ready to assist! We can be reached over the phone at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!

Your home’s roof is arguably the single most important piece of your home’s exterior. It provides a number of benefits for your home, including increasing your home’s curb appeal and resale value, as well as it’s most important function, which is protecting your home from the elements and pests. If you’re considering replacing your home’s roof, you may be wondering which season is the best for the replacement. Take a look at our guide to learn more about which season is the best for replacing your roof.

Winter

Let’s start with the obvious; if you can avoid it, you shouldn’t replace your roof in the winter.  While it’s certainly possible to replace your roof in the winter and have it go off without a hitch, generally replacing a roof in the winter is a difficult task that should be avoided, particularly is there is any snowfall.  The cold weather can make it difficult for adhesives to adhere to your roof, but if there is also an element of moisture involved it will make the process incredibly difficult, if not downright impossible.  Avoid a winter roof replacement when possible. However, if spot repairs need to be made to stop a leak from causing damage, that can be patched until a more opportune time occurs.

Spring/Summer

This one can be a toss-up as the weather in the spring and summer can be a mixed bag. If you have time to schedule your roof replacement early in spring, you may be able to avoid the rush of work that begins in the summer and continues to pick up through the end of the season. However, if the spring months are particularly rainy, it may be difficult for a crew to come to assist with your roof replacement.

Early in the summer is a good time to have your roof replaced as well, as contractors tend to get busier as the season goes on. The earlier you schedule an appointment, the more likely you are to have your roof replaced in a timely manner. However, if you can wait until the end of the summer season, around late August or September, the wait times tend to be a bit better, as long as you can avoid the humid, late summer heat waves that can make it difficult for contractors to work on your roof.

Fall

The fall season is often the best season to have your roof replaced. Generally, the weather is temperate enough to work long days on the roof, and the precipitation is reasonably mild, meaning that the climate is perfect for the replacement. If you’re considering replacing your home’s roof, fall is often the best season!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in replacing your home’s roof, our team is ready to assist! Feel free to reach out to our team today at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!