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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The Guardian Gazette: April 2019 Newsletter

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

All around us are signs that winter is finally over and spring is in full swing! The blooming of daffodils and the early morning chirping of birds confirms that we can safely pack away those parkas and leave the house in a light sweater instead!

One of our favorite signs of spring here at Guardian are the blooming of all the beautiful flowers! The purple crocuses, bright yellow daffodils and multi-colored tulips native to Washington are all blossoming, creating a vivid carpet of colors in our yards, gardens and fields! We love flowers so much we want to send some to you! The first 50 clients who respond to our Newsletter with the phrase “Springtime Flowers” will receive a packet of Forget-Me-Not Flower Seeds! We’re so excited to share a little bit of Spring with you and we hope you’ll “forget-us-not” when you need help with your roof!

Happy Spring!

 

Guardian Roofing honored to win Owen’s Corning Product Excellence GOLD Award!

 

As an Owens Corning Roofing Platinum Preferred Contractor, Guardian Roofing attended the 2019 Owens Corning Roofing Platinum Conference. At the national event, we were honored with the 2019 Product Excellence Gold Award for our company’s industry-leading contributions to the roofing category. This industry recognition reflects our continued focus on bringing a results-oriented, customer-driven approach to running our business and delivering trustworthy, dependable work for Washington State homeowners.

 

Have you heard of Houzz?

I’m sure most of our readers have heard of Pinterest, but do you know about Houzz? Houzz is a unique online platform that helps homeowners generate ideas about architecture, interior design and decor, home improvement and landscaping. Using specific search parameters, detailed photos, product recommendations, articles and a community forum, Houzz users are able to put together a comprehensive design plan (what Houzz calls an idea book) for their home. The Home Improvement platform also offers contractors a chance to showcase their work through online photo albums and customer reviews. Check out Guardian’s Houzz Profile to view our products and services or visit our Project Board to review some of our amazing work!

 

Click Here For Diagnostic Form

 

This month’s featured review:

“The Guardian rep who repaired our roof also discovered other problems and took care of them. Our problems involved a skylight malfunction and Guardian went out of their way to research the installation to see if it’s still under warranty. We’ve used Guardian previously and have always been impressed by their service and the skill of their employees THANK YOU GUARDIAN.”

We are so grateful for our customer reviews. A kind review is one of the greatest gifts the Guardian team can receive from a client. Each month we reward three clients for their positive accolades.

This month, we are rewarding John K, Craig M, and Janet K. Be on the lookout for a pair of Movie Theater E-tickets to arrive in your email inbox soon!

 

21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard
By Better Homes & Gardens

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

 

 

Meet the Team

I’m sure most of our readers have heard of Pinterest, but do you know about Houzz? Houzz is a unique online platform that helps homeowners generate ideas about architecture, interior design and decor, home improvement and landscaping. Using specific search parameters, detailed photos, product recommendations, articles and a community forum, Houzz users are able to put together a comprehensive design plan (what Houzz calls an idea book) for their home. The Home Improvement platform also offers contractors a chance to showcase their work through online photo albums and customer reviews. Check out Guardian’s Houzz Profile to view our products and services or visit our Project Board to review some of our amazing work!

 

Guardian Goofies:

Raise the roof with a little humor to brighten your day from Guardian Roofing.

 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Do you have an interesting roofing story? Tell us on facebook!

 

 

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National Window Safety Week Is Here

When it comes to windows, most homeowners don’t really notice them. We tend to only notice what is on the other side of them. But, as spring approaches, we need to take a close look at all of the windows to ensure they are undamaged by our winter weather.  According to the National Safety Council, windows are in important safety feature, but they need to be maintained properly so they can adequately protect your family.

Why is Window Safety Week Important?

NSC and the Window Safety Task Force established Window Safety Week in 1997 to heighten awareness of the actions homeowners can take to establish window safety and fall prevention as a year-round safety priority.

Window Safety Week, the first full week in April, coincides with the arrival of spring, when people naturally want to open the windows and let in fresh air. The goal of this observance is twofold: for families to understand the role of windows in escaping a fire or other emergency and to learn how to safeguard against window falls.

Print out the window safety brochure, checklist and kids’ activity book and share them with family members so they are aware of their role in window safety.

Window Safety Week is in April, but we encourage you to practice window safety year-round. Lives depend on it.

Window Safety Task Force

The Window Safety Task Force in partnership with National Safety Council was formed in 1997 to promote greater awareness of window safety. Members include representatives of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, the Window & Door Manufacturers Association and the Screen Manufacturers Association in cooperation with the National Association of Home Builders and other organizations, as well as leading manufacturers of windows, doors and screens.

Helpful Tools to Promote Window Safety

The NSC Window Safety Task Force has compiled information you can use to promote window safety.

 

• This media kit contains news releases, social media tools, task force contacts and other information for media and consumer audiences.

• Use this tool kit to promote window safety awareness in your company, as well as with family, friends, community or service organizations.

 

When you’re getting your home ready for the spring weather, safety inspections for your home should be the top of the list. Inspecting your roof for damage, your yard for safety hazards, and your home itself for weather damage. Your professionals at Guardian can help. Give us a call.

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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The Guardian Gazette: March 2019 Newsletter

Spring? Are you there?

I don’t know about you, but I sure am glad to see some March sunshine after all of February’s snow. It might still be a little chilly, and I might still have to scrape ice off my windshield every morning, but those few rays of sunshine hold the promise of light, warmth and springtime.

It’s usually around this time of year that Mother Nature seems to be playing tricks, promising us spring flowers one minute and giving us arctic winds that would cause a polar bear to shiver the next. The month of March is always a roller coaster ride of temperatures and weather and I never know if I should leave the house in a t-shirt or in a goose down parka. Either way, the fluctuation in weather signifies the changing of the seasons and I am so excited for Spring!

Spring is when the you see bright yellow daffodils popping up out of the soil on your front lawn. Spring is when the chirping of birds wakes you well before your alarm clock has the chance to go off. Spring is when cherry blossoms bloom and fat bumblebees fly lazily from flower to flower. Spring is the time to shake the cobwebs of winter away and remember that Washington is beautiful this time of year. Happy Spring from all of us here at Guardian!

 

GET THE DIAGNOSTIC FORM

 

 

Guardian Roofing is excited to announce they have added a new service offering with their business owning customers in mind; commercial roofing. The company, who has focused primarily on residential roofing since its inception in 2005, kept receiving repeated inquiries from small business owners regarding commercial roofing issues. Realizing they had uncovered a huge need within the small business community for roofing repairs and even replacements, Guardian set to work on building out their newest service/division, Commercial Roofing.

By providing maintenance and repair services to commercial properties in addition to their standard residential roofing offering, Guardian has proven once again they always have the client in mind. “A lot of our homeowners are small business owners as well”, says President and Founder Lori Swanson, “It just makes sense to provide this service to our clients, especially when we consider our client for life mentality”.

Services provided under the commercial division include roof inspections, roof repairs, a preventative maintenance program, emergency leak response, and roof replacements. Low slope and steep slope roofs are well within Guardian’s range of expertise, and the company is fully equipped to repair and replace the roofs of structures of restaurants, warehouses, retail stores, churches, and office buildings. Said best by Guardian’s General Manager, Matt Swanson, “We are so excited to bring commercial building owners into the Guardian Family!”.

To learn more about Guardian’s new Commercial Division, or to schedule an estimate, call their main office at (253)926-9966.

 

This month’s featured review:
“Andrew was cordial, knowledgeable, and helpful. He had looked up our previous Guardian Roofing work. I was impressed.”

We are so grateful for our customer reviews. A kind review is one of the greatest gifts the Guardian team can receive from a client. Each month we reward three clients for their positive accolades.

This month, we are rewarding Craig P, Betsy B, and Richard S. Be on the lookout for a pair of Movie Theater E-tickets to arrive in your email inbox soon!

 

 

Here’s How to Spring Clean Your Entire House In a Day

It’s that time of year again.

When the weather starts to warm up, it’s a sign to bust open your windows—and, perhaps less exciting, your cleaning supplies cabinet. Yes, it’s already that time of year again. Don’t know where to start your spring cleaning project? Use this to-do list, which includes all the spots you’ve likely neglected for the past year (speaking from personal experience, here) and how to tackle them like a pro. Here’s to spring cleaning the entire house in one day….

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

 

Guardian Goofies:

Raise the roof with a little humor to brighten your day from Guardian Roofing.

 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Do you have an interesting roofing story? Tell us on facebook!

 

 

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