Roofcorp Blog

April 16, 2019 Roofcorp Publisher No Comments

Notorious Colorado Roofing Scammer Sent to Prison

Colorado is filled with excellent roofing contractors who do an excellent job but there are undoubtedly some scammers. Luckily for homeowners those scammers are usually brought to justice as is the case for Jeffery Masias. Colorado Fourth District Federal Judge Gregory Werner sentenced Masias to a four-year prison sentence for taking more than $300,000 from 18 different people with no work performed or intent to perform. The judge declined the defense’s request for probation and chose a sentence between his options of two to six years. Masias had pleaded guilty to felony theft.

Masias took several thousand dollars from Colorado residents over a period of two years for jobs including bathroom remodels, deck maintenance and repair, and roofing. Masias ran his haphazard construction company as Masias’ Innovative RAC and did business under other entities.

The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department revoked Masias’s Innovative RAC’s contractor license in December, 2018 before filing a lawsuit against him in the Fourth Judicial Court for unlicensed work and continued contracting without a license. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) also revoked Masias’s accreditation after receiving 17 complaints in a two-year period.

Masias cost dozens across the Pikes Peak Region tens of thousands of dollars including a couple who paid Masias $58,000 for a deck project but were forced to pay another contractor an additional $40,00 to complete it. Masias had made several excuses for the delays and mishaps but the judge wasn’t hearing any excuses handing down the four-year term.

Finding a Reliable Roofing Contractor

It will take years for Masias’s victims to recoup their losses, but you can avoid hiring a scammer by following a few simple steps:

Read Online Reviews – Online reviews are a wealth of information on how a company operates. A few bad reviews aren’t cause for alarm but if the company ranks poorly across different review sites – they are no good for your roof.
Check Licensing and Insurance – Your roofing contractor must be licensed with your local city and carry liability insurance.
Check the BBB – Check that your contractor is accredited with your local BBB. Look for an A+ rating for the most confidence.
Get Personal Referrals – Before hiring, ask potential hires for references and referrals. Talk to their previous customers for a unique perspective into how the roofer operates.

Jeffery Masias is a good example of everything that’s wrong in the roofing industry but there are more good guys in roofing than bad. Use the steps above and more to only hire the best roofing contractor.

April 11, 2019 Roofcorp Publisher No Comments

Is Spring a Good Time for Roof Replacement?

Spring brings showers, flowers, and the heralding of summer. Spring also brings plenty of new projects left over the winter. If having your roof replaced is one of those projects, can you make it happen in spring? Let’s learn the advantages and drawbacks of roofing in spring, and how to find out if spring is the right time for your roof replacement.

Advantages of Spring Roof Replacement

Light Schedule

Roofing companies often have light spring roofing schedules. Summer is the most popular season to replace your roof but if temperatures are nice – spring is perfectly optimal too. It’s much easier to choose a specific window with the light schedule of spring roofing.

Slower Work Process

Because the pipeline of work isn’t stacked, the crew will be more deliberate with your job. A crew from a reputable company will do a great job regardless but spring increases your chances of a more thorough and quality replacement.

More Communication

The slow spring season brings an added benefit of more communication with your roofing company. It’s easier for a company to quickly and efficiently answer your questions when the phone isn’t ringing off the hook from summer storms.

Disadvantages of Spring Roof Replacement

Asphalt shingles are the most popular residential roofing material, but they can’t be installed in all conditions. Asphalt shingles require a temperature threshold around 40 degrees to properly cure and adhere. Optimal temperature isn’t always in the cards in spring which will cause delays in your project.

Your job can also be delayed due to spring’s wet weather. Early spring brings both snow and rain that can keeping falling up until May. If you need firm dates on your project’s start spring is not the time to do it.

Lastly, because summer is the most popular roofing season, companies are firing on all cylinders. Summer brings full crews, full consultant staffs, and the attitude to make your job happen quickly and efficiently. In spring some roofing companies are waking up from winter and may not be operating with a full staff.

Getting the Lowdown on Spring

There’s an easy way to tell if spring is the right time to replace your roof – just call your local roofing company. A local roofer knows the perfect time and conditions for your replacement and can let you know if you should wait or if it’s time to get moving.

It’s Springtime for Roofing

If you should replace your roof in spring depends on many factors but if you like short lines and ample communication – spring time is a great choice for most of the country. Give your local roofer a call to figure out your unique spring roofing situation.

April 2, 2019 Roofcorp Publisher No Comments

Colorado’s Weather Causing Problems for Denver Roofs

Denver and Colorado’s Front Range has seen extreme weather in the tail end of the winter and the beginnings of spring. While late winter and early spring are typically Colorado’s snowiest months, the sheer amount of snow and extreme cold is unusual for this time of year – and it’s causing problems. Let’s learn what types of problems come with the recent weather and what you can do about them.

Condensation

If you notice abundant moisture in the attic or spot slowly-developing leaks and drips you could have a condensation problem. Condensation is caused by runaway attic temperatures that cause water to form in your attic like it does on a glass of ice water. Condensation is linked to poor ventilation or insulation. If you see condensation in the attic it’s best to call an HVAC company before calling a roofer.

Ice in the Gutters

Dangerous chunks of snow and ice in your gutters and eaves, commonly known as ice dams, can cause a host of problems. Like condensation, ice dams are most often caused by poor ventilation and poor insulation. These factors cause the snow to melt at different rates and pile up at the eaves of your home instead of draining correctly. Talk to an HVAC company for ice dam problems.

Other Leaks and Drips

Damage from ice dams, condensation, and other-winter caused drips and leaks can cause sizeable damage if not addressed right away. Check your attic after the worst of winter has passed to make sure you’re aren’t seeing any leaks or moistures. If you do, have them addressed by a local roofer immediately.

Too Much Weight?

Many Denver homeowners are worried about the weight that all the snow brings with it but snow on the roof is normally not a problem, Denver homes are built to tolerate heavy loads of snow and ice without buckling. Attempting to clean your home of snow can be very dangerous. Only clear snow off when you hear moderate to severe creaking or believe the integrity of your roof is close to done – and only use a local roofing crew to do it. Your local roofer has the knowledge and equipment to safely clear your home of snow.

There are many unique problems our snowy and cold winter and spring brings to Denver roofs but there are easy ways to keep yourself protected. Get your home insulated and ventilated, always check for leaks after big storms, and only clear snow if necessary. With these tips and the help of your local roofing contractor you’ll be ready for whatever enemies Colorado’s bizarre seasons can throw at it.

January 3, 2019 Roofcorp Publisher No Comments

What Type of Underlayment is Best for Cold and Snowy Environments?

Your roof’s covering, also known as shingles, tiles, or panels, is the first line of defense in your roofing system and the most visible portion of your roof – but it’s not everything. Underneath the roof covering is a layer of waterproof or water-resistant material known as underlayment.

Underlayment helps keep your roof intact and your home dry should there be a leak in your roof covering. Many roofing experts would argue your underlayment is just as important as your roof covering.

If you live in an extreme environment that experiences significant cold or heavy amounts of snow you need to be certain you have the best underlayment to weather these conditions. Let’s learn the top styles of underlayment for cold and snowy environments.

Synthetic Underlayment

Unlike most traditional underlayment, synthetic underlayment is manufactured with plastics and other synthetic materials. Synthetic underlayment is stronger than traditional underlayment and can take much more punishment from snow and cold. There are several weights of synthetic underlayment available so match the underlayment’s thickness to the home and type of shingle.

There are even synthetic underlayments manufactured for cold and snowy environments.

Organic

Organic underlayment, known more popularly as ‘tar paper,’ is the most affordable underlayment for most roofing systems but it may not be what you want for snow or cold environments. Most tar paper is too flimsy to stomach continuous extreme weather and may fail after a few seasons. If are installing organic underlayment on your roof, make sure it is a heavy enough weight (30# for example) to withstand winter storms.

Ice and Water Shield

Ice and water shield is a specialized form of underlayment that adds extra protection to leak-prone areas of the roof like eaves, valleys, and penetrations. If you live in a cold or snowy environment, you should install ice and water shield on your home’s eaves at the least. The more severe weather you receive, the more ice and water shield you need.

If you live in the snow and cold you must be certain your roof can fight the outside elements. This includes choosing a strong roof covering but also the underlayment that goes under it. For cold and snowy environments roofing experts recommend synthetic underlayment and installing ice and water shield at areas vulnerable to winter leaks.

To get the strongest underlayment for your environment choose a local roofing company that knows the weather and the best way to protect your roof against it.

December 18, 2018 Roofcorp Publisher No Comments

10 Reasons to Love Asphalt Shingles

Let’s learn the top ten reasons that asphalt shingles are America’s favorite residential roofing material.

1. They’re Affordable

You can find asphalt shingles on three-quarters of residential homes. They’re many reasons for their popularity but one of the top reasons is asphalt’s affordability. There aren’t many roofing materials that match quality and price like asphalt shingles.

2. They Can Fight Hail

Low-end asphalt shingles will get shredded by hail but high-end materials like impact-resistant shingles will stand up against hail. Hail-resistant materials are so strong, they qualify most homeowners for an insurance premium discount.

3. Dozens of Colors

Whatever color you can think of, there’s probably an asphalt single for it. Asphalt shingles are available in cool colors, warm colors, natural colors – whatever color you need to match your home.

4. Customize

Asphalt’s popularity means it’s available in many styles. You can choose different hip and ridge shingles, different underlayment, and whatever else you want for your unique roofing system.

5. Mimicry

Asphalt shingles are manufactured to mimic several other roofing materials including wood shakes, slate tiles, and clay and concrete tiles. You can avoid the expense of high-end materials by installing asphalt instead.

6. Strength

Shingles come in many varieties. If you’ve got the budget, you can invest in strong shingles like triple-laminates or impact-resistant materials. High-end asphalt shingles can come with fifty-year warranties.

7. Different Dimensions

The different varieties and cuts of asphalt shingles means you can get as much depth and dimension you want. If you prefer a simple roof you can go with a normal shingle but if you want a variety of depths, you can choose a triple-laminate shingle or a high-profile ridge.

8. Easy to Install

9. Asphalt shingles are easy to install. A homeowner with solid construction knowledge can even install shingles themselves. The ease of installation means you won’t be raked over the coals with it comes to price. 9. Easy to Find Contractors

Because asphalt is the most popular residential roofing material, it’s easy to find a contractor. It’s easy to find a great contractor too. While specialty roofing like slate won’t give you many labor choices, asphalt shingles present many reliable and reputable options.

10. Recyclable

Asphalt is 100% recyclable. Your asphalt shingles won’t end up in a landfill, but back to the plant where it can be turned into your next roof.

These are just ten reasons to love asphalt but they’re plenty more. Talk to your local roofing contractor to see what asphalt can do for your roof today.