Maintenance Tips for Asphalt Shingles

October 5, 2020Best Practices, roofingRIslate15

Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material in North America. Widely manufactured and installed, this material is known for its durability, aesthetic appeal, and economical price point. However, while they are renowned for their longevity, that doesn’t mean that you can neglect your roof. By following the proper maintenance procedures, you can keep your home protected from damage, and your roof in good condition. Interested in learning more? Keep reading below for our asphalt shingle maintenance tips!

Keep The System Clean

Since your roof is constantly exposed to the elements, you may think that you don’t need to worry about keeping the system clean of debris, as that is far less damaging than the rain or snow.

However, debris like leaves, sticks, and other foliage, can hold moisture on your roof, which can be damaging over time. If you’re interested in maximizing your roof’s lifespan, keeping the system clean of debris is one of the best things you can do for your roof.

Keep Branches Away From The Roof

Sometimes the most damaging debris isn’t whats on your roof, but whats hanging over it! If you live in a heavily wooded area, it’s possible that you have branches from surrounding trees hanging over your roof. If these branches rub across your shingles, they will likely knock granules loose from the shingle system, which shortens the lifespan of your shingles. If there are any low-hanging branches on the trees surrounding your home, be sure to remove them to keep your home’s roof protected!

Handle Moss, Mildew & Algae

Next, if you’re trying to protect your roof from moisture damage, it is best to address & remove any moss, mildew, or algae build-up on the system. While in general, these won’t damage your shingles, they do have the potential to hold moisture onto your roofing system which can cause damage to your roof.

Clean Your Gutters

Lastly, whether your roof is made of asphalt shingles, slate, copper, clay tiles or anything else, you will want to keep your gutter system clean and free of debris. If your gutters are overflowing with debris, you may end up having rot in your roof deck as water spills out of the system. It could also damage your foundation, siding, fascia boards & more. Keep your gutter system clean to ensure that the entirety of your home is well protected.

Contact Us Today

If you need to replace 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 for more information by giving us a call 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!

Fall Gutter Maintenance Tips

October 5, 2020Best Practices, roofingRIslate15

Fall has arrived in New England, which means it’s time to take stock of your home’s exterior, and ensure that everything is well-maintained and ready for the cold seasons ahead. One of the most important elements of your home’s exterior that needs to be cleaned each fall is your gutter system. However, you may be wondering why keeping your gutters clean is so important, and what you should be doing to maintain the system. Take a look at our blog for a few gutter maintenance tips!

Remove Debris

If you want to protect your home this winter, it is essential that you remove any debris from your gutter system before the frost sets in. As most New Englanders know, one of the most damaging conditions for your roof during the winter is ice dams.

Formed when snow melting off of your roof refreezes in your gutter system, having debris in your gutters gives the snowmelt far less room to fill the gutters, which means it will quickly back up onto your roof, seeping under your shingles and causing water damage & rot within your roof deck. If you want to keep your home protected from ice dams this winter, cleaning your gutters this fall needs to be a part of your home maintenance routine.

Cleaning Your Gutters Safely

In order to keep yourself safe while cleaning your gutter system, it is essential to wear gloves during the cleanout. Your gutters are full of all sorts of debris, and you don’t want to hurt your hands during the process, whether from a splinter, bugs, or rust in the system.

Furthermore, you will want to use a standalone ladder, rather than leaning one against your gutters, as this could cause your gutter system to pull away from the home. Its best to have someone spot your ladder as well, since you will likely be leaning back and forth as you clean.

Check The System For Leaks

Finally, once you have finished cleaning out the system, it is best practice to run a steady stream of water through the gutters to see if there are any leaks. If you find that water is leaking out of the system, you can make spot repairs with a sealant that will keep your system working for years to come!

Contact Us Today

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 by calling us at (401)-255-2003 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to assisting you!

Environmentally Friendly Roofing Options

August 25, 2020roofingRIslate15

Now more than ever, homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact. One of the biggest pieces of your home’s exterior is certainly your roof, and if you’re interested in reducing your carbon footprint, one of the best decisions you can make is choosing a sustainable option when it’s time to replace your home’s roof! Interested in learning more about which roofing options you should be using on your home? Keep reading below!

Rubber Roofing

To begin, let’s talk about an option that many homeowners are likely surprised to see; rubber roofing. While many homeowners assume that rubber roofing is a poor choice because it is highly processed and manufactured, it is often constructed from old rubber tires and other recycled materials, making it a relatively friendly option! If you’re looking to install a roofing material that is safe for the environment, you could do far worse than rubber roofing!

Clay Tile Roofing

Another environmentally friendly option, clay tiles are a sustainable, and durable roofing option that many homeowners trust to protect their homes. Manufactured from natural clay, these tiles require minimal processing, and they are fully recyclable at the end of their lifecycle, able to be deconstructed and rebuilt into more shingles. Beyond their recyclability, they are a durable option, capable of lasting up to a half-century, which means you won’t need to replace your roof as often. This makes them a great choice for another trying to limit their environmental impact.

Slate Roofing

Finally, we have arrived at what is arguably the most sustainable roofing option on the market, slate. These tiles are sustainably sourced, and the tiles are produced with minimal processing. This means that not only is this roofing option completely recyclable at the end of it’s lifespan, it is also safe for the environment, and it’s manufacturing produces little to no pollutant by-products. Furthermore, this roofing option is fully capable of lasting over a century, and in some cases even longer. This means that if you’re looking for a roofing option that will keep your home protected from everything Mother Nature has to offer, while reducing your carbon footprint, slate roofing is arguably the best option available!

Contact Us Today

Interested in replacing your home’s roofing this summer? 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 roof replacement needs!

Roofing FAQ Part 1

August 24, 2020roofingRIslate15

Every homeowner knows that your roof is one of the most important aspects of your home’s exterior. It provides your home with so many benefits, including protection from the elements, curb appeal & resale value, insulation, & more! Considering how important your home’s roof is to the health of your home, it is important to ensure that it is well-maintained. However, your roof is also a complex piece of engineering, with many individual aspects that need to be accounted for. Considering how complicated it is, it should come as no surprise that many homeowners have questions about their roofs! Our team is here to assist! Take a look at our FAQ for answers to some of your questions!

Should I Repair or Replace My Roof

Our team receives this question perhaps more than any other. Obviously a roof is a major investment, and many homeowners would prefer not to replace the entire system if they can avoid it. So this often begs the question; can I get away with repairing my roof or do I need to replace the entire system.

The answer to that question is entirely dependent on how severe the damage to the roof is. If the damage is localized to a particular area of your roof you can likely just repair the damage. You will still need to have a professional assess the roof deck to ensure that the damage hasn’t spread under your shingles.

However, if the damage has occurred in more than one area of the roof, you will likely need to assess the entirety of the system in order to properly answer that question. Generally, if damage has occurred in more than one place its a sign that the system is getting older and failing, so you may need to have it replaced, but it’s still possible that repairs may fix the issue.

If My Shingles Are Losing Granules, Do I Need To Replace Them?

If your home’s shingles are losing their granules, this can always be read as a sign that the system is on the verge of failing. Your granules help to keep the shingles protected from UV rays, so even if there is an external factor besides age that’s causing the granules to fall off, it can still be read as a sign that your shingles will be failing in the near future. Be sure to keep an eye on them, but you may be able to get away with another year or two before needing a full replacement if your system is losing granules left & right.

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in learning more about our team’s shingle replacement services, reach out today to get started! Our team can be contacted over the phone 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!

Check back in soon for more installments of our roofing FAQ!

Most Popular Roofing Materials

July 29, 2020roofing, slate roofingRIslate15

When it comes to roofing materials, there are so many on the market it can sometimes be difficult to decide which option is right for your home. Depending on your aesthetic tastes, durabilty requirments, and budget, there are a variety of options to choose from but which one is truly right for your home? If you’re interested in learning more about some of North America’s most popular roofing options, take a look below for more information!

Asphalt Shingles

To begin, lets start with what is North America’s most popular roofing material by far; asphalt shingles. They have enjoyed a long run as the most commonly installed roofing material in the country, and for good reason. They offer a incredible amount of durability, ensuring that your home will be protected for decades to come. They are also manufacturered by an enormous amount of companies, which means they are extremely accessible, and are available in a wide array of color & style options. If you have a particular aesthetic in mind for your home’s exterior, asphalt shingles are one of the best options for achieving your vision. Furthermore, they are economical due to their widespread manufacturing which has helped to drive the cost of the shingles down. If you’re in search of a roofing option that is durable, beautiful, and inexpensive, you could do far worse than asphalt shingles.

Rubber Roofing

Another popular option among home and business owners is flat, rubber roofing. It is used on buildings without traditionally pitched roofs, making it a bit more of a niche option, but still popular enough to be one of the most widely installed materials. Used more in commercial applications, it is durable, and long-lasting, but not particularly beautiful. This particular option is far more concerned with keeping a building protected than improving it’s curb appeal, which brings us to our next option…

Slate Roofing

If you’re looking for a roofing material that looks beautiful and offers unparalleled durability and longevity, slate roofing is the best option on the market. Slate roofing is the longest lasting roofing material on the market, with a lifespan of well over a century if well-maintained along the way. Furthermore, it is available in an array of natural colors, which some homowners choose to take advantage of by installing a multi-colored slate roof. Slate roofing is capable of withstand nearly anything Mother Nature has to offer, and no material will keep your home protected for longer while maintaining plenty of curb appeal along the way. If you’re looking for one of the best roofing materials on the market, slate roofing is a fantastic choice!

Contact Us Today

If you would like to install any of these roofing materials on your home this summer, 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 all of your roofing replacement needs!

Signs Your Slate Roof Needs To Be Replaced

July 29, 2020slate roofingRIslate15

Slate roofing is known for it’s truly exceptional and nearly unmatached durability. It is capable of lasting over a century with proper maintenance and care, which makes it arguably the best roofing option on the market. It is also a beautiful option, helping to boost your home’s curb appeal and resale value, making it a material that provides numerous benefits for your home. If your home has a slate roof that you’re fearing is nearing the end of it’s lifespan but you’re not quite sure how to tell, our team has put together a list of the signs your slate roof is in need of replacing. Take a look below to learn more!

Rot or Moisture Damage

The first sign that your roof will need to be replaced is moisture damage. The easiest way to identify this is to take a look inside your attic for signs of rot. Slate roofing is heavy, and if your roof deck is rotting, it will need to be replaced for the health of your home.

Rusted Flashing

An issue that can plague any style of roofing is rusting flashing. Installed in the valleys of your roof, flashing is used to protect the most vulnerable areas of your roof. However, because it protects your roof from water damage, it is constantly suscepted to it, causing rust over time. If you find rust on your flashing, you’ll want to replace it as soon as possible in order to keep your home protected from inclement weather.

Broken Shingles

While slate roofing is incredibly durable, it is also susceptible to damage just like any other roofinng material. When your shingles are exposed to blunt force damage, they can often break because slate can be brittle. You’ll need to replace any shingles that have been broken, as they will expose your roof to further damage.

While you’re looking for shingle damage you’ll also want to assess whether your roofing system is damaged. Is the shingle damage localized to a particular portion of your roof? Perhaps your roof has structural damage below the surface. Have a roofing professional come and assess the roofing system!

How Extensive Is The Damage

To determine whether the whole roof needs to be replaced, you’ll want to assess how extensive the roofing damage is. If the damage is only to a few shingles in a specific area of the roof that was damaged, you can very likely replace the shingles and get plenty of additional time from the roof. However, if the damage is spread out across the roof in no particular pattern, it simply means that the shingles are aging out and the roof will need to be replaced sooner than later.

Contact Us Today

Interested in learning more about our team’s slate roofing installation services? Our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! You can contact us 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 slate roof replacement needs!

Carriage House Revival

July 16, 2020UncategorizedRIslate15

Our team recently replaced the roof on a homeowner’s carriage house. They reached out to us after they noticed their flashing was deteriorating on their roof. Our team was happy to assist the homeowner, and we went out to the property to take a look at the home. Here’s a look at the home’s old flashing:

Old Carriage House Flashing — Old Rusted Flashing

We took a look at the home’s flashing it was clear that it needed to be replaced. Our team was up for the task! We visited the property and discussed our flashing options with the homeowner. They wanted a beautiful flashing option to compliment the slate roofing on their carriage house. After discussing our options with the homeowners, we got to work on replacing their flashing.

Interested in seeing photos of the finished product? Take a look below:

Slate Roofing with New Flashing — Slate Roof & Copper Flashing On Front of Home

And here’s a close up of the new flashing:

The new flashing looks fantastic, and the homeowners were thrilled with the finished product!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in learning more about our team’s roofing services, reach out to us today. Give us a call 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!

Should I Repair or Replace My Roof?

July 10, 2020roof repair, roof replacement, roofingRIslate15

Your home’s roof is an essential piece of your home’s exterior shell. It serves a number of essential functions for your home’s exterior, including most importantly keeping your home protected from the elements and pests, but also providing your home with curb appeal & resale value, as well as insulating your home and increasing it’s curb appeal and subsequently resale value. Considering how much you have to gain from having a well-maintained roof, it is essential to ensure that your home’s roof is well-maintained. However, because it protects your home from the elements, it ends up taking a beating, and over time it will begin to wear down and deteriorate. If your home’s roof has been damaged and you’re trying to decide between repairing and replacing your the roof, take a look at our guide for more information on making the decision!

To Repair…

If the damage feels relatively minor, most homeowner’s first instinct is going to be to repair the issues rather than replacing the roof. This is often the right decision but you need to assess the damage to ensure that it is worth the repair. Ask yourself a few questions as you examine your roof. Is the roof relatively new and would last for many more years with proper maintenance? Is the damage extensive or is it simply a few broken shingles here and there. If your roof is only a few years old and otherwise in good condition, it is often better to simply repair the damage. However, one concern of repairing roof issues is that the replacement shingles won’t match your existing shingles. This can damage your home’s resale value, but it is often still the better option than repairing a roof that is in otherwise good repair.

…Or To Replace

If you have extensive damage, such as an entire side of your home’s roof being damaged, or if the roof is beginning to age, you will often be better off replacing the roof as a whole. When you notice that the roof has been damaged, the first thing you will need to do is inspect the roof and consider it’s age. Are you going to replace a section of shingles and need to replace the rest of the roof in just a few years? You’re certainly better of replacing the entire roof now so it’s matching and secure. Consider your home’s climate, the age of the shingles, and the likelihood for additional damage. In general, if your roof is getting older when it’s damaged, you’re better off simply replacing the roof as a whole. You will simply need to assess the roof to determine the best course of action!

Contact Us Today

Interested in learning more about our team’s roof installation services? Reach out to us today to get started! Our team can be reached over the phone 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!

Why Roof Ventilation Is So Important For Your Home

July 10, 2020Best Practices, roofingRIslate15

Most homeowners know that your home’s roof is arguably the single most important portion of your home’s exterior. It functions to keep fresh air circulating through the top of your home, and there are so many different styles of ventilation to choose from. Your roof has a unique combination of intake & exhaust vents depending on the shape of your home’s roof, but no matter how your roof is designed, you will need to have ventilation in order to keep your roof in peak condition. However, many homeowners don’t understand the importance of proper roof ventilation. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of having your roof ventilated, keep reading below for more information!

Reduce Ice Dams

One of the biggest benefits of roof ventilation, particularly for New England homeowners, is that it can reduce, or completely prevent ice dams. This is because the whole reason ice dams occur is the temperature differential between your attic and the outside air. The warm air leaking into your attic can heat up your attic without proper ventilation. This means that the snow on your roof will melt, sliding down your roof and re-freezing as an ice dam. Therefore, having proper roof ventilation is nearly essential for New England homeowners who are looking to reduce the need for ventilation. However, with that being said, there are still other benefits to proper roof ventilation!

Increase Roof’s Lifespan

In addition to increasing its lifespan by preventing ice dams, roof ventilation helps to protect your home from warm weather as well. If your attic isn’t well-ventilated, heat can build up in the roof, which can end up damaging your shingles from the inside. In order to increase your roof’s lifespan, have a professional examine your roof and ensure that it is properly ventilated.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Another reason that roof ventilation is so important is that it helps to hot air escape during the summer, which can reduce your home’s energy bills by keeping the house cooler. If you’re looking to improve your home’s energy efficiency, proper roof ventilation is one of the best options!

Help Balance Out Your Home’s Temperature

If you notice that the top floor of your home is always considerably warmer than the rest of the home, it is quite likely a ventilation issue. Since heat rises, if your roof isn’t ventilated well enough, all of that rising heat sits in the top of your home, greatly increasing its temperature. If you’re looking to make your home a more comfortable place to be, ventilating your roof will help!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in learning more, or in replacing your home’s roof this summer, our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by giving us a call 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!

Slate Roofing vs Asphalt Shingles

June 5, 2020news, roofing, slate roofingRIslate15

When it comes to replacing your home’s roof, there is a number of different roofing options to choose from, all of which offer their own benefits and drawbacks. When it comes to roofing in North America, asphalt shingles have long reigned as the standard of the industry. However, there have always been niche options that many homeowners trust to keep their home’s protected. One such option that our team regularly installs for homeowners in need, is slate roofing. If you’ve been trying to decide which material you should be using for your home’s roof replacement, our team has compared the pros & cons of each roofing material to help inform your decision!

Aesthetics

When it comes to choosing a roofing material that will help boost your home’s curb appeal, there is no better option than a beautiful, slate roof. While asphalt shingles are widely manufactured, and thus available in a wide array of colors, slate roofing offers a classic, sleek, design that will help your home stand out in the neighborhood. If you’re looking for a roofing option that will provide your home with superior curb appeal, slate roofing is one of the best options you can choose!

Cost

If you’re interested in replacing your roof on a budget, asphalt shingles will be the more economical option. Asphalt shingles cost less than slate, partially due to the fact that slate is much more difficult to process and needs to be carefully sourced. That being said, it cost is a concern, asphalt shingles are going to be the less expensive roofing option.

Longevity

If you’re interested in installing a roofing option that will keep your home protected for decades to come, there is no better roofing option on the market than slate. While asphalt shingles are durable and can last for two or three decades if well-maintained, they simply don’t hold a candle to the durability that slate roofing offers. No roofing material is less susceptible to moisture damage than slate, making it a fantastic roofing option for any climate. Well-maintained slate roofing has been known to last for over a century in the right conditions, making it a truly elite roofing option when it comes to longevity.

Environmental Impact

If you’re interested in installing a greener roofing option, slate roofing is much more environmentally friendly than asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles are manufactured with the use of fossil fuels, making them an unsustainable roofing option long-term. Slate roofing, however, it simply mined and cut with minimal processing, making it one of the most environmentally friendly roofing options on the market, along with cedar shingles. If you’re looking for a roofing material that will help reduce your home’s environmental impact, slate roofing is a fantastic choice!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in learning more about our team’s roofing options, including asphalt shingles and slate roofing, 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 home’s roof replacement needs!