Category Archives: Best Practices

Slate roofing

The Best Ways To Maintain Slate Roofing

Best Practices, slate roofing

Ask any slate roof home owner and they will let you know that slate roofs are more than just making your house look all fancy. These beautiful tiles are also responsible for your home’s longevity. When you take care of these little things, they can last for over a century. This blog will cover the best ways to maintain your slate roof. 

Regular Inspections 

The first step for maintaining your slate roof is routine inspections. You should make a habit of conducting a thorough inspection of your slates at least twice a year. You will not know if anything is wrong with your roof if you do not check. 

What to look for during the inspections? 

  • Cracked or Missing Slates, which can lead to leaks. 
  • Make sure that the metal pieces around the chimney and vents are intact.
  • Look for leaves and branches that might be stuck in your roof–since these can trap moisture and promote algae growth. 

Clean Your Slate Roof

Remove Debris

You will first need to start by making sure that your slate roof is clean, to prevent any damages that can be caused by debris buildup. Take a soft brush or a broom and gently remove any leaves or dirt in your slate. Additionally, try to avoid using a power pressure wash–since it can also dislodge your slate and cause harm to your roof. 

Cleaning Solutions

Avoid any abrasive chemicals that can harm your slate’s surface and if you see any moss or algae, only apply the products that are designed to eliminate these growths without damaging your slates. 

Prompt Repairs

Addressing Damage Quickly

During your inspection, if you see any cracks or missing tiles, address these issues immediately. These small cracks can usually be repaired with specialized sealants–while large damages might require you to replace them. 

Gutter Maintenance

Keeping your gutters clear is vital for preventing any water backup, which can damage your slate roof. By cleaning your gutter regularly, you are making sure that the water is being cleared from your roof properly. 

Slate Roofing Services in Smithfield, RI

Rhode Island Slate Roofing is a roofing team Rhode Island residents can trust with their next roofing project! To get started, just contact us!

Rhode Island Slate Roofing Truck

What Most Homeowners Should Know Before Roof Replacement

Best Practices, roofing

Every roof eventually needs to be replaced. If you have never experienced a roof replacement before, the process may overwhelm you. Do not worry. Being anxious about a roof replacement is common and hearing about the experience of others can ease you into the process. In this blog, we will discuss the most common things most homeowners should know before their roof replacement project starts.

1. Local Roofing Contractors Are Your Best Bet

There are many roofing contractors to choose from but in most cases, choosing one that is close to your home nets the best results. By going with a local roofing company, you can expect these roofing contractors to understand the climate, local codes and area. It also makes it easier to hold contractors accountable should anything go wrong during or after the process.

2. Patience is a Virtue

A roofing project is significant, so do not rush the process. Try to get multiple quotes and estimates from multiple roofing contractors. Doing this will help you develop trust in certain companies and get the best price. Rushing the roofing process can be costly.

3. The Cheapest Is Not Always the Best Option

Getting the lowest price on something always feels good, but in the case of a roof replacement, it can backfire easily. Cheap roofing materials usually lead to problems, so do not always jump on the cheapest offer.

4. Nails will be Scattered Everywhere

Expect to find nails scattered around your house during and after the roofing project is complete. While most roofing companies will do their best to keep nails organized and clean up afterward, scattered nails are inevitable. After your roof is replaced, move around your house and yard carefully. Stepping on a nail is not fun. Pick up any remaining nails you see on the ground and throw them away.

5. Roofing Warranties Are Essential

For a variety of reasons, roofs can fail to live up to expectations. When this happens, having a roofing warranty in place can make the process easier for homeowners.

Roof Replacements in Smithfield, RI

Rhode Island Slate Roofing is the team of roofers you can trust for all your roofing services in Rhode Island. With our years of experience, expertise and eye for detail, you will not be disappointed! Contact us today to get started!

 

Benefits of Roofing Warranties

Best Practices, roofing

Roof installations are significant projects that require serious financing. Due to the nature of those aspects, roofing warranties are imperative. As a matter of fact, roofing warranties benefit both roofing contractors and the consumer. Below, we will dive into how offering roofing warranties benefits both parties.

How Roofing Warranties Benefit Contractors

1. Competitive Advantage

Not all roofing contractors offer warranties so those that do have a chance to stand out. Even if other roofing contractors offer warranties, certain contractors can offer a type of warranty that makes consumers more inclined to choose them.

2. Display of Confidence

A roofing company that does not offer roofing warranties can be seen as a red flag. When a roofing contractor offers warranties, it means they are confident in their work and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done right.

3. Loyalty from Customers

Customers want businesses that have their back. With warranties in place, customers know certain contractors will help them fix an issue when the time comes.

How Roofing Warranties Benefit Property Owners

1. Peace of Mind

With roofs being a significant investment for property owners, having a roofing warranty in place can give owners a peace of mind. Should an issue crop up, a warranty can make the process easier and less stressful.

2. Money Saver

Roofing services do not come cheap, so having a roofing warranty in place can help cover at least some of the financial cost of future roofing services.

3. A Plan for the Unexpected

Some things happen unexpectedly. With a warranty in place, you can have a plan for how to approach things if your roof has an issue sooner than expected.

Conclusion

At the end of the roofing warranties are worth it for everyone involved and set a baseline for an honest relationship between a contractor and property owner. In a day where miscommunication happens frequently, warranties can help make communication clearer.

Roofing Services in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Slate Roofing is the roofing team you can count on when you need a roofing service in Rhode Island. With decades of experience, warranties and a friendly staff, we can help you resolve your roof issues. Contact us today to get started!

Moss growth on roof

How Do I Prevent Moss On My Roof?

Best Practices

Moss on any roof should not be ignored and it can pose a handful of problems. Not only is it an unpleasant sight, but it is also only a negative presence for a roof. For those not familiar with moss, moss is essentially the fuzzy green, plant-based material that looks like algae. Moss can spread quickly across a roof and do more damage than it appears. Fortunately, there are a handful of ways moss growth on a roof can be prevented. Here are five strategies homeowners should keep in mind for moss prevention.

1. Clean Your Gutters At Least Once A Season

One of the ways moss can grow on a roof is through a gutter system. When a gutter is clogged and backed up, water will not exit your roof the way it should. This can serve as a springboard for moss to grow via the gutter and spread to the roof. If you do not want to or lack the motivation to clean your gutter, a professional company can tackle the task for you.

2. Do Not Let Debris Linger on Your Roof

Debris can commonly be found on a roof. Debris is another component that helps moss grow on a roof. After a windy day hits your area, check your roof to see if any debris ended up on there. Windy days often cause branches to end up falling on roofs. If you notice branches or other debris on your roof, have it removed as soon as possible.

3. Trim Your Surrounding Trees Branches

Going off the previous point, trimming surrounding tree branches is a win-win. Not only does trimming tree branches decrease the chances debris ends up on your roof, trimming tree branches also knocks out another pivotal moss component: Shade. Moss thrives in a shady environment. If tree branches are providing your roof with too much shade, that plays into moss’s hand.

Professional Roofing Services in Smithfield, MA

When your Rhode Island roof needs roofing services at any point of the year, you can count on Rhode Island Slate Roofing. For over a decade now, we have provided consistent roofing services across the state of Rhode Island. The next time you need a particular roofing service, you can count on our team to get the job done! Contact us today to get started!

Roof Insulation

Benefits of Roof Insulation

Best Practices, roofing, winter tips

When it comes to your home’s roof, there is quite a bit of maintenance that’s required to keep the system in good repair. From weather damage, to aging, to pests, your roofing system can become damaged in a variety of ways, but your roof maintenance doesn’t end on the exterior of your roof. One of the most important parts of your roofing system is your insulation, but many homeowner’s are unaware of it’s importance, or how to ensure that their roof is properly insulated. Curious in learning more about the benefits of roof insulation? Keep reading below for more information about our services!

Heat Control

Of course, one of the primary reasons that homeowners need insulation in their roof is in order to control the heat gain & loss in the building. Your roof is one of the biggest sources of heat gain & loss in your home, so having proper insulation in place can help make your home more temperate no matter what time of year. In the summer, insulation will keep the heat in your attic, and in the winter it will keep it in your home. Insulation is easily of the the most important aspects of keeping your home comfortable, no matter the season.

Ice Dam Prevention

Another reason that insulation is so important to install in your home is that it helps to prevent ice dams, which can cause plenty of damage to New England home. Ice dams form when the heat escaping from your home reaches your attic, and heats up your shingle roof from the inside of your home. When this happens, it causes the snow on your roof to melt, which leads to it running down your roof, and refreezing in your gutter system

However, proper attic insulation can stop ice dams from ever forming! By insulating your attic, you can prevent heat from escaping into the attic and causing the snow to melt off of your roof. Combined with proper roof ventilation, insulation will prevent ice dams from forming and causing damage to your roofing system. This makes attic insulation as good for your utility bills as it is for your home!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in installing a new roof on your home this summer, our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! You can contact our team today by calling us 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!

Asphalt Shingle Roof

Signs My Asphalt Shingle Roof Needs To Be Replaced

Best Practices, news, roof replacement, roofing

Determining whether or not your roof needs to be replaced is never easy. However, by knowing which signs you should be keeping in eye out for, you can often quickly determine the best course of action, or get a roof inspector involved who can provide you with a more educated assessment on the quality of your roof. To help you get started, here are a few of the signs you should consider replacing your home’s asphalt shingle roof!

Missing Shingles

Let’s start with the obvious; if you have missing shingles, it’s certainly time to consider a roof replacement. While it’s possible that strong gust of wind, or broken branch, may have caused shingles to fall off of your roof, the more likely scenario is that your roof is beginning to age, and the fastenings are coming loose. In this case, a missing shingle is just a symptom of a larger issue.

Warping or Buckling Shingles

Sometimes the damage to your shingles isn’t quite as drastic as missing shingles. Oftentimes, the signs of damage will be far more subtle. A couple of the most important ones to look out for are warping or buckling shingles. This happens when your shingles, and roof deck, begin to absorb water. This leads to warping & buckling, which gives water more room to infiltrate your roof. If you begin to see signs of warping, you’ll want to have the roof inspected immediately.

Granules in Your Yard or Gutters

Another reason you might want to consider a roof replacement is because you’re beginning to find granules in your gutter system or yard. Your granules are essential for the health of your roof, helping to keep the system protected from UV rays which can otherwise damage the shingles. Once your shingles begin to lose their granules, it’s generally a sign that your shingles are nearing the end of their lifespan and need to be replaced.

The Age Of The Roof

Do you know when your roof was installed? If you can’t answer that question, you should at the very least by inspecting your roof annually. Once an asphalt shingle roof is over 20 years old, the signs of damage will quickly begin to show, and waiting to replace it for signs of imminent failure could mean that you’re exposing other parts of your home to water damage or weathering as well.

Contact Us Today

If you need to replace your home’s asphalt shingle roof this summer, our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! You can contact our team today by calling us 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!

Dirty Gutters

Why Do I Need To Clean My Gutters?

Best Practices

When it come’s to your home’s exterior, your gutters are likely an afterthought. After all, your roof protects your home, your siding provides it with curb appeal, and your windows offer natural light & ventilation, making it easy to overlook one of the most important aspects of your home’s exterior shell, your gutters. However, your gutters offer invaluable protection for your home, and keeping them clean and free of debris is essential, as neglecting the upkeep they need can end up causing significant damage to your property. Interested in learning more about why you need to clean your gutter system? Keep reading below for more information!

Protect Your Roof

The first reason you need to keep your gutter system clean is that having too much debris in the system can end up causing damage to your roof! If your gutters are full of debris, they won’t be able to drain the water rolling off your roof properly. This can end up causing water damage to your roof as the water spills out of your gutters and under your starter shingles, causing rot in your roof deck. However, this isn’t the only way clogged gutters can cause damage.

Watch Out For Your Foundation

While of course your roof is in danger due to it’s close proximity to the gutter system, clogged gutters can end up damaging a far more important aspect of your home; it’s foundation. If water pours over your gutter systems and rains down on the ground below it, it can seep down and end up causing cracks in your foundation, which can seriously damage your home.

Think About Your Foliage

Another important consideration is all of the plants, shrubs & trees planted below your gutter. If water is overflowing out of the system, it is very likely that the plants below are being overwater, which in certain cases can end up killing the plants. If you have any foliage planted beneath the system, it is essential that you keep your gutter system clean and free flowing!

Contact Us Today

If your roof needs to be replaced or repaired this year, our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! You can contact our team today by calling us at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with all of your roof replacement & repair needs!

Roof and home in the spring

Preparing Your Roof & Gutters For Spring

Best Practices, news, roofing

With spring just around the corner in Rhode Island, now is the time to start thinking about your home maintenance, and ensuring that your home is prepared for the windy, rainy spring & summer months ahead! When it comes to exterior maintenance, one of the most important areas to examine is your roof & gutter system. Since they offer your home so much protection from the elements, keeping your roof & gutters in working order is essential for the health of your home! Interested in learning a bit more about what you should keep an eye out for this spring? Keep reading below for more information!

Check For Damage

The first thing you should do is examine your roof & gutters for damage. While it is best to enlist the help of a professional to be certain, you can perform a quick check for yourself from the ground. Walk around your home, taking a step back to examine as much of your shingle system as possible. On your roof, keep an eye out for missing shingles, or signs of damage such as broken, cracked, or warped shingles, rusty flashing, or a sagging roof deck. On your gutter system, you will want to check all of your fasteners to ensure that the system stays water tight. Also keep an eye out for any sagging in the system, as the boards that your gutters are attached to can rot as well.

Clear Debris From The Systems

The next thing you will want to do after examining the system for damage is to clear it of debris. While a few leaves on your shingles aren’t a big deal, if there are any large branches on your roof, or rubbing across your shingle system, you will want to have them cut back to protect the granules.

More importantly, you will want to clean your gutter system of any debris. As the winter thaw begins to melt, you can remove any gunk that was trapped in the system, which is important for allowing water to flow freely and not spill over the sides of the system where it can cause water damage to your siding, foundation, and shingle system. While it is a good idea to clean your gutters twice a year, cleaning them during the spring is the most important time, as spring showers will test the limits of the system!

Contact Us Today

If you need assistance installing a new roof or gutter system on your home this spring, our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today to get started by calling us 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 needs!

Roofing Inspector

FAQ’s About New Roofs

Best Practices, roofing

The time has finally come, its time for a roof replacement. Most homeowners have quite a few questions about what their roof replacement will look like. Do I need to do anything special to prepare? Which materials should I consider using for my replacement. If you’re ready to replace your home’s roof, check out our FAQ to learn a bit more about the process!

Which Material Should I Use?

One of the most common questions we get from homeowners looking to install a new roof is which material is right for my home? The answer is that there is no right answer! When it comes to roofing materials, while there are some materials that are better suited to particular applications, such as rubber roofing on flat buildings, most materials come down to homeowner preference!

While asphalt shingles are the industry standard, our team also happily installs a number of other roofing options including clay-tile, and of course slate roofing, which we recommend to homeowners in search of a durable, long-lasting option.

There are other options too, including metal & cedar shingles, which means ultimately, what you choose to install on your home comes down to your preference!

What Maintenance Should I Be Performing

When it comes to roofing maintenance, the answer is dependent largely on your property & climate. For homeowners who are trying to be diligent about their roof and keep it protected as much as possible, there are a few best practices.

First, it’s a good idea to clear off debris as much as possible. If your home is surrounded by trees, it’s quite likely that you tend to have leaves and sticks accumulate on the roof. While these are generally safe to leave, they do have the potential to hold moisture on the roof and cause damage. If you’re serious about keeping your roof protected, cleaning them off gently with a roof rake can help protect your home as long as you take care not to tear off the granules of your shingles.

Additionally, if you have a great deal of snow on your roof, it is a good idea to remove the snow to take extra stress off of your home.

Have It Inspected Annually

Lastly, it is a good idea to have your roof inspected on a yearly basis to check for any signs of wear & tear. While generally your roof while be in good repair for the first few years after a replacement, having a roof inspection can often provide peace of mind knowing that everything is well maintained!

Contact Us Today

Are you ready to replace your home’s roof this winter? Our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us 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!

Roof moss and algae

How To Remove Algae & Mold From Your Shingles

Best Practices, roof repair, roofing

New England is known for being rainy and humid for a good portion of the year, and those conditions tend to cause damage over time. While your roof is designed to withstand rain and moisture, over time, a constant exposure to moisture, without ample time to dry, can cause your shingle system to begin to grow mold, mildew, or algae. If you’ve noticed that your shingles are grown a layer of mold, and you’re curious about how to safely remove the mold and protect your shingle system, keep reading below for more information!

What Is Roof Algae & How Does It Form

The most common roof algae, which resembles dirt to many homeowners, is Gloeocapsa Magma. This algae forms on your roof due to a combination of moisture in the form of humidity, mixed with sample sunlight. The algae will eat away at the limestone filler in your shingles and spread across the entirety of your roof over time. While generally, this is relatively harmless, over time, it has the potential to wear away at the integrity of your shingles, giving water an opportunity to seep into your roof deck and cause damage to your home.

Often even more concerning is the mold and mildew that follows. Algae begins to hold moisture to your roof, and this provides the perfect opportunity for mold & mildew to follow, eventually causing far more significant damage than the algae would have. This means it is important to deal with roof algae before it has the chance to develop into a more significant issue.

How To Remove Roof Algae

There are really two different routes to take in this case; preventive maintenance, or removal. If you’re interested in preventing the algae from growing in the first place, try installing zinc strips on your roof, which should prevent the growth before it can begin.

However, if you need to remove algae that has already formed, the process is relatively straightforward. You will need to make a mixture of bleach, water, and a heavy duty cleaner like Tri-sodium phosphate, which will help break the algae down. Mix this together and spray it over your shingles. It will make the shingles slippery, so be very careful when performing this maintenance. If possible, its better to call a professional!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in replacing your home’s roof this fall, our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today to learn more about our services by calling us at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to assisting with your roofing needs!