If you are a first time home owner approaching your first winter, you probably have a lot of things running through your mind. How much will heating cost? How do I stop drafts? Will we get a plow service or should we deal with snow removal yourself? The questions are many. But what about your roof? At Rhode Island Slate Roofing, we know what to do before going into winter as a home-owner for the first time. Follow these steps if you have an older roof this winter.

Property Maintenance

If you live in a heavily wooded area, you’ll want to follow this one closely. Ideally if the fall you will assess your tree line in your property. Its crucial that you take note of any trees that may be to close to your property that are older, damaged, or have tree limbs sagging near your house. The last thing anyone wants to deal with is severe roof damage during a New England Winter Storm. Get these problem trees taken care of before high wind and ice storms combine for an awful situation.

Roof and Gutter Cleaning

This step is close to our previous one. If you live near large amounts of trees, chances are during the fall your gutters & roof get bombarded with leaves and twigs. If you don’t clean your gutters the debris, combined with water, will create large amounts of weight and stress on your roof. This weight can cause damage that eventually can build up to ice dams and roof leaks.

Make Repairs

A great way to extend the life of your roof is to go through periodic maintenance of your roof. This could be something as simple as replacing damaged shingles to replacing roof flashing.

If you think your roof may need a professionally trained eye before this winter, contact Rhode Island Slate Roofing today!

With snow and ice storms expected to hit the Northeast over the next few months, Rhode Island Slate Roofing had decided to share some tips on how to inspect your roof for any damage.  Older roofs are more likely to see damage caused by these types of storms, but new roofs can also have damage to them. In Rhode Island and Massachusetts we also see older tress cause damage to roofs. As we covered in a previous post, make sure to get those taken care of during the Fall.

After a snow, ice, or wind storm pasts your property take these steps to inspect your roof:

Start Inside:

Start with your attic. If you see any sunlight showing through the interior, this could be an indication of holes that need serious repair.  Use a flashlight to inspect the inside of your roof. Be on the look out for dark stains or streaks that could be caused by moisture. If you see no issues, move on to the next step.

Go Outside:

From the ground level you should be able to get a pretty full look. Be on the look out for missing shingles that could be flown over your property. See if there are any cracked or curled shingles caused by ice or high winds. Inspect your flashing, the metal strips that seal parts of the roof, if any is detached or curling, that will cause future issues.

If you do find any of these issues, take note of them and call Rhode Island Slate Roofing. By repairing damage caused by winter storms, you’ll save yourself considerable money in repair bills later on down the line.

This morning, across New England, residents were greeted with frost on their lawns, and in some instances slightly frozen windshields. As we enter into the Winter of 2017-2018 your roof will be open to the weather that follows.  As homeowners, you should be aware of the issues that can be caused during the winter season in New England. The following are coming issues we see in Rhode Island & Massachusetts

Flashing Leaks

• On your roof, Flashing is the strip of metal that are placed along the front edge, ridges, and corners of your roof. When installed correctly, they protect your roof from leaks. If they aren’t installed properly, they can start to peel away and expose your roof to risks. Check your flashing every few months to make sure they are still creating tight seals.

Tree Limbs

• High winds + old trees near your house = potential disaster.  During Nor’easter winds can approach speeds north of 50 miles per hour. If you have trees near your house, you should evaluate if they could put your roof, or home at risk during a storm. Limbs or whole trees breaking in half can completely destroy your roof.

Icicles

• Icicles form during the winter on days when the temperature goes above freezing. And while they may look pretty, they pose a serious threat to the structural integrity of your home, and are a danger to people and pets. Ice dams and their heavy weight can cause gutter and roofing damage.  Make sure you remove icicles before they cause a problem.

If you notice any damage to your home during the winter, contact Rhode Island Slate Roofing to perform maintenance and stop and potential roofing disaster.

3 Signs Its Time To Rebuild or Repair Your Roof

Your roof is one of the most expensive aspects of your home. But due to the life expectancy of modern, efficient roofs, they can often go forgotten about for years. The last thing any home or property manager wants to wake up one day and realize they need a completely new roof due to years of neglect. Even the most basic of maintenance can add a few years on to the life span of your roof. So lets take a look at the 3 things you should be aware when it comes to the overall health of your roof.

Leaks in your Roof

Leaks can start small and grow over time. Leaks that continue to develop in a homes roof is a sign that the roof in no longer protecting the interior from water damage. This could be solved with the replacing on tiles, depending on the severity.

Missing or Loose Shingles

Older roofs that are in the process of failing are prone to having loose or missing shingles. Maybe you notice after a bad storm or windy day your lawn is littered with roofing debris. You may want to make a phone call to a roofing contractor to check on the integrity of your roof.

The Age of the Roof

New homeowners sometimes neglect the age of their roof when they move in to their new house. Overtime, as the roof, ages, you should take into consideration the total age of the roof. Remember that most roofs last an average of 20 to 25 years. Slate roofing title last much longer.

Rhode Island Slate Roofing

If you notice any of these 3 warning signs, it’s time to call the experts at Rhode Island Slate Roofing. We have been in business in Rhode Island working on homes, properties, businesses, and everything with a roof! Contact us today to get your project started.

Slate Roofing is a natural stone that is an eco-friendly, durable, and beautiful roofing material. While it is typically at a higher price point that traditional shingle style roofing, the benefits far outweigh the cons. There’s a reason why many churches, libraries, government & university buildings use slate roofing. It is dependable as a long-lasting roofing solution and can save on heating costs.

Roofing slates are produced from natural stone that is formed under intense heat and pressure underground.  A fireproof material that doesn’t saturate with water but has a characteristic that allows it to be split into pierces to form roofing slates.

The density of the slate material is what helps it be an energy reducing factor for larger homes, which is a reason why large government buildings use slate roofing when possible. The thickness regulates the temperature of your home, helping to keep it cool in the summer and retain heat in the winter.  Other eco-friendly benefits of slate include how long lasting it is. Slate will outlast you’re your home, and is typically recycled during house demolitions.

Some of the top producers of Slate shingles are:

• Buckingham- Slate Corporation- This Slate is blue-black and produced in Virginia
• Evergreen Slate Co. – Blue-Black colored Vermont Slate
• Hilltop Slate Co. – Gray-Green New York & Vermont Slate
• Monson Maine Slate Co. – Black Slate
• Shelton Slate Products Co. – New York & Vermont carrying all colors

To get your Slate roofing project started contact Rhode Island State Roofing Today!

Are you considering a new slate roof? This blog has already covered the benefits of slate roofing. As well as the benefits to replacing your roof. But what should you look at when making the decision whether to use slate roofing vs traditional tile?

The first thing you should look at is the quality of the roofing slate. Natural slate roofing  comes in three levels of quality. These levels are S1, S2, and S3. The highest quality naturally provides the longest life term before it starts to deteriorate.  These quality levels are defined by ASTM International, a 3^RD party company that takes slate through tests.  In Rhode Island, and especially New England, you want to make sure your roofer contractor is using S1 slate. This will last the longest and protect your house against the harsh New England winters.

Lastly, you want to consider the experience of your contractor. Naturally in every profession there are intricacies that go into each niche. You want to make sure you have an expert in the field you are making your investment in.

At Rhode Island Slate Roofing we have been working with slate for decades now. Our projects speak for themselves.

Its been quite a busy week at Rhode Island Slate Roofing! We completed a job on beautiful house in Westford Road in Providence and started a new job and started another job nearby on Friday.

The first job was quite special. We did basic repair and maintenance work on the roof but we found something that surprised the homeowner. Hidden beneath a board was a beautiful sky light that was covered up by a previous owner of the building. We were able to restore it to its original state after the home owner decided he wanted to.  The happy home owner now has stunning natural light coming into his home.

You can see members of our crew below working on roof repairs below:

Contact us today to take care of your aging roof!

Whether you are just curious about flat roofs,  interested in designing a new building or thinking about adding a completely new roof to your home or business, flat roofs have their positives and negatives. Traditionally, especially in the New England area, we see flat roofs used on commercial buildings. Here are some various pros & cons of installation a flat roof.

Flat Roof Pros

Costs: The installment of a flat roof is far less expensive then a sloped roof. It is much easier because you don’t have to worry about any dangerous pitch which makes it difficult for the installer to navigate. There are also many more extra parts and pieces that go into the installation process of a pitched roof.

Usable Space: Often times, pitched roofs leave extra space that doesn’t get used. With a flat roof, you can maximize the space in your building and you can often utilize the space on top of your building. A nice rooftop deck or patio is very popular for apartment buildings.

Flat Roof Cons

Maintenance: Both pitched and flat roofs require maintenance during their lifetime but flat roofs may require more. Especially living in New England, flat roofs require that snow gets shoveled off of them. In the event of a couple harsh storms, a flat roof could gain too much weight and could collapse.

Lifespan: The average lifespan of a flat roof is much shorter then other pitched roofing options. The abuse that flat roofs take, without any natural drainage leads to a shorter lifespan.

For more information on flat roofs, flat roof installation, or maintenance work please feel free to reach out. Rhode Island Slate Roofing can be contacted over the phone at 401-255-2003 or through our online contact form.

Getting prepared for a harsh winter means that there are things around the house that you need to keep up with. Follow these general fall maintenance to-dos to ensure your home is in peak condition during the winter months.

Clean Gutters: After the leaves have fallen, it’s important that you clean out your gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters during winter is one of the main reasons that people endure ice dams.

Roof Inspection: You should check to make sure that your roof is in good shape. Contact a local roofing contractor to do a thorough inspection. Winter provides the harshest weather on roofs so it’s more important then ever to make sure your roof is in tip-top shape.

Air Conditioners: Take out any window air conditioner units and wrap up and cover any exterior air conditioner units.

Seal Your Driveway: Driveways can take a beating during the winter. Inspect your driveway for any cracks and fill them. If unattended, your driveway will only get much worse.

Store any yard equipment: Any tools or equipment that you use on the lawn should be properly stored away for the winter. Lawn mowers, leaf blowers and chain saws should all be put away. Also, be sure to organize your snow clearing equipment so you can be ready when the snow arrives.

Inspect Your Furnace: Getting your furnace inspected by a professional is a good idea to ensure everything is in working order. Some signs that you need an inspection performed sooner includes noisy belts, poor performance and erratic behavior.

Fore more information about roofing maintenance and inspections feel free to contact the specialists. We can be reached over the phone at 401-255-2003 or through our online contact form.

A strong, healthy, properly installed and well maintained roof is imperative in order to see the best possible results both short term and long term. For a variety of reasons, roofs have problems though and the number one frequent issue is leakage. Leakage is often the most notable and one that people immediately call for help about.  We wanted to dive into the main reasons that home roofs see leaks.

Clogged Gutters & Downspouts: When debris combines  with water, you get a gross sludge that can reduce the life of your gutters by weighing them down. Tearing down and moving around your gutters can then directly result in water getting into your home.

Deteriorating Shingles: Depending on where you live and your areas specific location, a roof can be expected to last as long as the warranty period, plus or minus a few years. This is important because knowing when your singles have been installed can give you an indication of how long they will last, and when they need to be replaced.

Fascia Rotting: The fascia on a roof is the lower part of a roof located just above the gutters. Clogged and built up debris in gutters can direct lead to a rotten fascia. This then can open up space for water, and animals to get into your home.

Deteriorating Pipe Boots: A vent pipe boot is a type of flashing that fits over a plastic vent pipe. The base of the boot lies over against the roof with its top portion covered by the shingles to defer water. The most common problem with this type of flashing is when the boot cracks or peels away from the pipe. From there water can easily flow into the roof.

After acknowledging you have a leakage problem, what’s next? If you can, get a pair of binoculars and try looking at the potential leakage issues. If you can find a problem first hand, then call a professional.

For more information about Rhode Island Slate Roofing and handling a leakage issue, please feel free to give us a call at  401-255-2003 or fill out an online contact form.