How Does Your Roof Affect Your Energy Bill?

November 3, 2017slate roofingRIslate15

Growing up, you were probably told by your parents how important it was to wear a hat during winter. You may of heard some stat like, “75% of your heat escapes your body from your head!”. It makes sense, heat rises right? We cant confirm or deny these old wives tales, but when it comes to your roof (the head of your house) it is true that heat will escape it. That’s right, your roof does play a role in the cost of your utility bill.

With that being said, lets take a look at how different types of roof affect your energy bill.

Tiled Roofing

Tiled roofing is more effective at reducing energy costs than more traditional methods like shingle roofs. These materials are usually made to be resistant to thermal heat, making them great for homes that are in direct sunlight for most of the year.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofs can be expensive, but they are extremely durable and have low maintenance costs associated with them. Because metal has a reflective nature, the sun’s heat naturally bounces off the metal rather than be absorbed into your home.

Slate Roofing

Slate roofing is considered a green roofing product. Slate roofing will reduce your energy use and your utility bill. Slate roofing has a natural insulating quality to it. Studies show that slate roofing can provide 10% on energy savings.

One of the biggest factors for energy use for your roof is how well it is insulated. When we speak about insulation, your attic also comes into play. Remember, the old wive’s tale about heat escaping from your head? Keep that in mind when picking out a new roof, or looking at new homes.

For more information on Slate Roofing and its benefits, contact Rhode Island Slate Roofing.

Problems The Winter Can Cause To Your Roof

October 13, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

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.

Rhode Island Winter Roofing Services

September 25, 2017winter tipsRIslate15

Even though it seems like summer is lingering around this Fall, with temperatures in the mid 80’s recently, we in New England know that Winter temperatures are right around the corner. With winter temperatures, come winter conditions, and snow storms will be here before we know it. In recent memory, the winters of 2014 and 2009 proved to be some of the worst in the last few decades in New England. From a two week ice storm, to historic levels of snow, New England homes felt the consequences. Hundreds of roofing issues were reported in these winters. From collapsed roofs to leaks the damage cost homeowners thousands.

Rhode Island Ice Dam Removal

Ice dams are ridges of ice that form at the edge of a roof and prevent melting snow from draining off the roof. Ice dams can create havoc on a home. The ice will slowly melt, eventually leading to leakage in the roof. If the leaking is not taken care of right away, the potential of a roof collapse increases. Damage can also be had on your walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas of the homes structure. Rhode Island Slate Roofing provides Rhode Island and Massachusetts residents and business owners with Ice Dam Removal services to make sure you can avoid a devastating situation.

Roof Snow Shoveling

Just like ice dams, snow build up on your home can lead to some serious repair or replacement bills for homeowners. Depending on the slope and style of your roof, there is only so much weight-age it can hold safely. Additionally, the build of snow can lead to ice dams as well. Don’t end up like the multiple people every year who injure themselves trying to remove snow from their homes their selves. Contact the insured professionals at Rhode Island Slate Roofing.

Enjoy the last few weeks of warm weather New England. And as Winter comes, contact us for all your snow and ice dam removal projects.

August 24, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

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 Environmental Factors

July 21, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

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!

What To Consider When Looking At Slate Roofing

June 27, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

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.

June 5, 2017slate roofingRIslate15

Choose an Experienced Slate Roofing Contractor

Are you building a house and considering going with slate as your tile choice? Slate tiling provides a unique look to make your house stand out amongst your neighbors. Not only is it a durable material, slate roofing is a visually appealing roofing material for many styles of houses. In Rhode Island, there are many older looking homes with traditionally looks. Slate roofing is great for these types of homes.

When you are looking to select a roofer in Rhode Island for slate roofing it’s important to consider experience. You want to choose a roofing contractor that has experience in slate roofing because of slates unique properties. And when it comes to experience, the more the better.

Located in Smithfield, Rhode Island Rhode Island Slate Roofing has been the go to choice In Rhode Island for decades. Owner Doug Weiker has been working on slate roofs for many years now. He has done work on historic houses and new homes as well. Slate roofing maintenance is a specialty of Rhode Island Slate Roofing as well. A well-maintained slate roof will last much longer than traditional shingle roofing.
From new Roof Installation to regular maintenance, contact us today to get your project rolling.

Roof Work In Providence RI

May 12, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

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:

April 20, 2017roof replacementRIslate15

Slate Roofing Repair Job in Massachusetts

Rhode Island Slate Roofing recently completed a slate roofing repair job in Historic Rehoboth, Massachusetts. We were selected by the Blanding Antiquarian Society to repair their Library roof last March. March, April, and May are great times of the year to take care of the tiles you may need repaired or replaced. After a long winter in New England your roof may have suffered some damage due to ice, water, and snow.

Rhose Island Slate Roofing enjoys the opportunity to not only work on residential slate roofing jobs, but also working on historical buildings, libraries, and any other building with slate roof tiles.

We have worked on many historic buildings in the past and always look forward to preserving the integrity of the building while completing restoration work.

Our Salvaged Slate Yard

Over our decades of experience we have accumulated a large mass of slate titles so we can accurately match the size and color for every slate repair job we take on. Pictured below you can see our salvaged slate yard. Accumulating this large selection of slate tiles has only been possible due to the vast array of projects we have successfully complete over the years.

Slate Roof Tiles — **Rhode Island Slate Roofing’s Salvage Yard**

One benefit of our salvage yard is that we can save money in the long run on your repair job. Instead of having to go out and purchase new slates, we can use our salvaged slates at a reduced cost to you.

If you have noticed your slate roof may have some broken or cracked tiles contact us today for an estimate! We have the experience, know how, and resources to complete any repair job on your slate roof!

More Tips for Maintaining Your Roof

March 20, 2017winter tipsRIslate15

With the latest Nor’Easter dropping snow on overworked roofs all across Rhode Island and the rest of New England this winter, it is important to understand that a little maintenance on your roof and gutters can save you big headaches in the long run. Spring is almost here, but until the snow finally melts, Rhode Island Slate Roofing is here to offer a few post-snow maintenance tips to make sure your roof makes it through to spring in the best possible shape.

Clean Gutters and Remove Ice Dams

One of the toughest parts about owning a home is making sure the gutters are cleared in between snowfalls. To avoid any potentially dangerous injury from falling, it is best to hire a professional roofing contractor who has the special tools and experience to do the work, like the ones at Rhode Island Slate Roofing. If you let the leaves and debris build up in your gutters, the clog will start to freeze and become even harder to remove later on. Even worse, it is only a matter of time before the roof starts leaking from the hydrostatic pressure caused by water building up on your roof, leading to repair costs that easily could have been avoided. But even houses with clean gutters need to watch out for ice dams if temperatures fall back below freezing. Check out our explanation of ice dams if you need help recognizing or removing ice dams from your property.

Keep Your Trees Well-Trimmed

Dead branches near your home, especially large, heavy dead branches from older trees, must be removed if you want to avoid the risk of damage to your roof and the physical structure of your home. All it could take is one heavy instance of snow, hail, or icy rain to cause them to fall and damage your home or vehicle.

Inspect Your Roof Regularly and Hire a Professional If Necessary

Start by examining your roof by walking around the outside of your home and check for any sagging, snow buildup, or structural issues. Give us a call if you notice any potential issues, or if it has been a long time since the last time you have performed maintenance on your roof. A simple phone call to the professionals here at Rhode Island Slate Roofing to inspect your roof for potential issues could save you thousands of dollars in repairs down the road.