The Guardian Gazette: May 2019 Newsletter

Giving back has always, always been important to me and to our team here at Guardian. We try everyday to deliver the best possible service and to give back to those less fortunate when we can. This is why in November of 2018 we launched the Guardian Halo Project, where we promised to give one homeowner in need a major roof repair or replacement. Those who visited the Halo Project page were able to nominate not only themselves, but others who they believed were truly in need. We could never have anticipated the tidal wave of nominations that would come in from people nominating others less fortunate. One couple is particular received an avalanche of nominations from her local community and when we read through each one, we know we had found our Halo Project Winner- Mrs. Cindy Lu Vaughn of Federal Way.

Beloved grandma of the neighborhood and loving wife to Grandpa Pat, Cindy Lu’s doors (much like her heart) are always open to her community. The Vaughn’s home, while filled with warmth and good cheer, was in bad shape due to the deterioration of their roof and a large portion had been covered by a tarp for the better part of 2 years. In addition to the poor condition of their roof, the couple has been battling serious health issues which leaves little time or money for home repair. Thanks to glowing nominations from their community, Guardian excitedly took on the Vaughn’s and their roof project. Our team jumped at the chance to volunteer their time and skill in helping on this project and this past Monday demolition began. Over the course of the week our guys have been removing the old shingles and dry rot, repairing trusses, and installing new sheeting. This Saturday while the final shingles were being installed the Guardian Team gathered with the Vaughn’s and their community to celebrate their new roof and our new friends. I am so grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community; it is because of loyal clients like you that we are able to make a positive difference. From all of us here at Guardian and on behalf of the Guardian Halo Project, thank you for your continued support.

Best,
Lori Swanson

If you’d like to learn more about the Vaughns and the Halo Project check out Sound Publishing’s recent article, Guardians give ‘neighborhood grandparents’ new roof.

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Guardian Roofing Look at Flat Roofs – Part 2

How to hire a quality contractor for your Flat Roof and what questions are important?

Hiring the right contractor for your flat roof is a very important choice; but, how do you know which company is right.  There is several questions that you can ask contractors to help single out the right contractor for you. The list below are questions that any qualified contractor, that works on flat roofs, should have answer.

Standing Water on Flat Roof

1. Does your roof ever have a problem with standing water?
   Standing water on your roof, is very important as not all materials are created equally. Only one product gives you guarantees for standing water; while others have a clause that standing water will void the warranty. A contractor who cannot address this question can leave the homeowner vulnerable or unprotected.
2. How will the contractor address condensation with your flat roof?
   A standard answer people hear about condensation is “they will install ventilation”.  While this is a okay answer it is very vague. Condensation on a flat roof has a lot of components and factors to look at (insulation, type of flat roof being installed, type of ventilation being installed, underlayment, etc.) and a quality contractor will do an assessment and plan for all aspects.
3. How are they checking for multiple layers and are disposal fees included?
   A lot of companies will either add disposal fees on after the contract or will only quote for one layer. If you have an older home the chances you have multiple layers are pretty good. This will leave you with unexpected, and very expensive charges.
4. What kind of gutters do you have?
   It is common to find internal gutters and “Built In” Gutters on flat roofs. Both gutters can are very prone to leaking. If your contractor has not assessed what condition your gutters are in, they may be leaving you at risk for continued problems. These problems can be very expensive to fix so make sure they can identify what kind of gutter you have and has a plan to address them.
5. Does your contractor do repairs, maintenance in addition to replacement?
   Having a contractor that only does replacement on flat roofs, or any roof for that matter, can show their inexperience with underlying problems and how to address them.  Completing repair work a contractor must become very knowledgeable with all components that can impact a flat roof. This is a great piece of mind that your contractor will be able to become a “partner” with you regarding your roof’s health for years to come!

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Guardian Roofing Look at Flat Roofs – Part 1 Common Errors:

Flat roofs are popular roofing style for many designs of homes. They can provide extra living spaces or add unique designs to contemporary homes. Flat roofs can be completed with a number of different materials as well. From your “hot mop” flat roofs to “TPO”, flat roofs are just like all other roofs and require maintenance, repairs, and replacement as they age. This article will go over 3 common issues that can be found on flat roofs.

Improper Venting:

Picture shows organic growth under a sheet of plywood in a improperly vented flat roof

One of primary purposes of the ventilation of for all roofs is to help dry out attic space from condensation that gets trapped in the attic from conditions inside and outside the home. Failure to adequately ventilate can lead to:

• Organic growth (also known as mold!)
• Expensive repairs to the substrate
• Damage to the insulation
• Damage to the drywall inside the home

These issues can be very hard to identify in a flat roof since typically there is no attic spaces to crawl inside.  To compound this a lot of places don’t work on flat roofs regularly so when problems occur they are ill equipped with diagnosing the problem.

Improper Flashing Detail:

Damage to a flat roof due to failed flashings

Damage of failed flashing inside the flat roofing cavity

Flashings are the most important, and most overlooked part of any roofing system. They are the components that divert the water away from the openings in your roof that are prone to leaking. In flat roof installs, where sitting water can be normal flashing play a pivotal part in keeping your home dry. Improper flashed areas of a flat roof can cause damage not just to the roof but the entire home.

Loose Seams:

Picture shows what a loose seam can look like on TPO Flat Roof

Most flat roofs are installed by creating seams of roofing materials that when done correctly prevents sitting water from getting between the layers of roofing material. When this processed is rushed, not properly measured and lined up, it creates areas that will fail. These areas become easy areas for water to gain access into your roofing system.

These three common mistakes can be avoided by hiring a certified contractor. On part two of our segment on flat roofs, we will go over what questions to ask and what to look for when considering a flat roof.

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Spring Cleaning Time Is Here

A Dozen Little Things To Prepares for Spring

Now that the weather is getting warmer and dryer, it’s time to put away the winter things and get ready for spring. You’ll need to check the outside of your home for winter damage and take care of the small repairs before they get worse. Here’s a short list of the first tasks we need to accomplish.

Clean Rain Gutters And Downspouts

Wind, animals, and gravity can stuff your gutters full of bring sticks, leaves, and other organic matter over the winter. That accumulation in the gutters will prevent proper water flow and will clog the downspouts. Rainwater can spill out of your gutters and around the perimeter of your house, putting it at risk for leaks and flooding. Even worse, the water can seep under the roofing materials and cause extensive water damage, property damage, and mold growth. Get ready for spring showers by removing the debris from your gutters to ensure that the water will flow freely away from your home.

Replace Your Filters

To maintain optimal air quality in your home, you need to replace your HVAC system’s air filter regularly.  Manufacturers recommend replacing the filter every 3 or 4 months, but HVAC professionals will tell you to replace the more often. Scheduling a replacement in early spring will remove all the fireplace ash and dust that has been trapped in your home over the winter.   Bur, spring is a good time to replace or clean the filter in your kitchen range hood,.too. While you’re at it, now is a good time to change the filters in your water purification system, if necessary. You might not need to maintain your water purification system very often, but regular maintenance checks are always a good idea.

Check Vents

As snow melts away from your home’s foundation, it’s time to check any vents along the foundation or in the attic. A visual inspection for missing or damaged screens, debris, signs of insect or rodent infestation, or other issues is important. Issues need to be corrected before they have a chance to become bigger problems later in the season. Inspecting the inside HVAC vents for dust accumulation and signs of insects or rodents is a good idea, too, Then, you can ask your HVAC professional to address the problem during your spring HVAC inspection.

Service the Lawn Mower If You Have One

Most homeowners think lawn mowers need little or no maintenance. But, they have been sitting unused for months. Your lawn mower needs to be prepared for the season with a tune-up. If you didn’t do it in the fall, you should drain and replace oil, sharpen the blades, remove caked-on grass and mud, and lubricate moving parts. A test run will ensure further repairs aren’t necessary.

Prepare the Grill

After a long winter spent indoors, you’re probably waiting for a sunny day to fire up the grill. Get your outdoor cooking station ready by scraping away any rust spots that developed over the winter, cleaning the grill inside and out, and removing and accumulated debris. You will also need to inspect your grill for any damaged parts and replace them. If you have a gas grill, you need to carefully inspect the fuel tank and hose for damage.

Clean And Repair Backyard Furniture

As the weather warms up, outdoor entertaining may be just around the corner. But, injured guests are not happy guests. Prepare your chairs, tables and loungers by thoroughly hosing them down, wiping away cobwebs and dirt, and bringing outdoor chair cushions out of winter storage. Replace any missing or damaged parts as soon as possible.

Pamper the Lawn

Once the danger of frost has passed and your grass starts to come out of winter dormancy, it’s time to give your landscaping the spring lawn-care spa treatment. Address winter damage to your turf by seeding bare patches. Avoid spring applications of chemical weed or crabgrass treatments, which can harm new grass. For cool-season grasses, spread a light application of fertilizer in early spring. For warmer season grasses, fertilization can wait until late spring or early summer. Get a head start on weed prevention by manually removing weeds before they have a chance to multiply. In addition to manually weeding the grass, your flower beds need your full attention, too. Removing dead growth and weeds can prevent damage to your home and removes nesting material for rodents and insects.

Groom Trees And Shrubs

Winter storms can be hard on your landscaping leaving broken tree limbs, ragged shrubs, and a garden full of organic debris behind. Get your yard ready for spring by removing broken or damaged branches, pruning summer-blooming trees and shrubs, like butterfly bush and crepe myrtle, and raking up fallen leaves.

Plant Bulbs and Flowers

Spring is the ideal time to plant summer-blooming flowers. Creating a colorful welcoming landscape can really make the most of your outdoor time. Beautiful flowers, like dahlias and gladioli, should be planted as soon as the danger of frost has passed.

Clean And Repair Windows

Winter snows and rain leave your windows streaked and dirty. Winter weather can also damage sills and weatherstripping and create entry points for drafts and insects. Improve your view of your spring blooms and let more sun into the house by cleaning windows and replacing weather stripping.

Test Alarms

While your preparing for spring, test all your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working properly. Change the batteries, too. It’s easier to get on a ladder once a year than drag out the ladder when your alarm needs batteries. Use those batteries in devices that are easier to access, like TV remotes.  Alarms can malfunction as they age. If your alarms are older than seven years, replacing them now is a good idea.

Check the Roof

Take some time to check your roof for cracked or missing shingles or tiles from the ground. Also examine flashing around vents and the chimney for damage. Now is the time to schedule your annual roof inspection, especially if you see and damage.  Have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional if you have used your fireplace over the winter.

It’s been a long, cold winter. Taking care of these projects over a weekend can make your spring even better.

When your home is ready for a new roof, repairs, or maintenance, you need a reliable, dependable roof repair company. You count on you roofing contractor to keep your home safe and dry. Guardian Roofing is committed to providing top-quality service, professionalism and workmanship.

If you are looking for a roof repair contractor please call us today at 844-499-7822 or complete our online service request form.

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