Commercial Roofing

  • How To Choose A Vista Roofing Contractor

    BlackstarreviewCommercial Roofing, Roofing Companies

    Tips for Choosing The Right Roofing Contractor In Vista, CA

    A homeimprovement project doesn’t reach perfection until there’s a good roof over the home keeping the residents safe from all weather conditions in Vista, CA. As a result, roofing projects need the right consideration before you invest in them. You need to find a local Vista roofing expert who will handle your roofing projects, whether replacements, repairs or installation.

    Here are some tips to help you choose the best contractor for your roofing job in Vista.

    Independent Contractors Vs Roofing Companies

    When you want to embark on a roofing project, you can either work with a roofing company or an independent contractor. Although you can use either of them to do the job, they have their unique features.

    For instance, a Vista roofing company is used to handling all forms of large-scale roofing projects. You can also get a more favorable deal, a faster project, and a roofing warranty when you’re dealing with a good Vista, CA roofing company. However, the process isn’t intimate and personalized, because you will most likely be communicating with different people at different stages.

    On the other hand, an independent roofing contractor is a better option when you want to handle a simple and quick job like roof repairs. With an independent contractor, you only need to communicate with one person throughout all the stages. However, the disadvantage of working with an independent contractor is that the job often takes longer to complete. A warranty might also be out of the question or difficult to get.

    Share All Roofing Project Details

    The best way to get the best job done is to leave everything out in the open and explain all that you need to be done with your roof. That way, the company or contractor will be able to fix the appropriate price, timeframe, and other details associated with your roofing project. You should also have the roofing expert assess the roof and get a clear picture before giving you a quote.

    Get a written quote

    Always ensure that the quote for your job is written out in detail to avoid misunderstanding and possible hidden costs. Always have written estimates that you can refer to and present if issues arise during the period of the work. Even in the advent of a price change, you can ensure to return to the quote and make the necessary adjustments within the range you had previously set.

    The quote should contain all details involved in the roofing project, including the price, breakdown, insurance coverage, and payment plan or agreement.

    Have face-to-face meetings 

    Always have a face-to-face meeting with your potential contractor before you start working together. During this meeting, you can ask vital questions about the project, other projects they have worked on, their work ethic, the communication plan for your projects, and how often they will give status reports during the roofing period. The day your project begins shouldn’t be the first time you meet your contractor, to avoid working with the wrong person.

    Agree on a project timeframe

    Always ensure that you’re on the same page with your contractor regarding how long the product will span from the beginning to the completion. Decide on the milestones, have an estimated completion date, and factor in the time it’ll take to purchase the necessary products before beginning.

    Delays can happen sometimes, so factor in delay periods as well, so that whatever happens, you’re on the same page with your contractor.

    Discuss post-project Cleanup 

    If the company will handle post-project cleaning, you should also factor that into the conversation.

    Even if you’re getting another company to handle it, ensure that your roofer can keep to their part of the cleanup strategy, including getting all the dangerous equipment and tools out of the way so that they don’t pose an injury to you and your family. A roofer should have a plan for sweeping through your apartment after the roofing process and then you can take it up from there.

    Consider other factors beyond price

    Many homeowners focus on getting the best price from a roofing contractor and they base their decision on how much they can save. However, that can be deceiving. While you need to take account of the cost in your quote and how it relates to the national roof installation average cost of $14,360, you also need to consider other factors like experience, references, timeline, work style, and ethics, as well as the nature of the entire project.

    Always discuss Licenses and Insurance

    Depending on the state where you reside, your roofing contractor may or may not need to be licensed. If a license is required in your state or local government, ensure that the contractor has one. If it isn’t a requirement, then ask for proof of skills and experience, such as previous work that has been done, and training certificates.

    Liability insurance is also compulsory because it protects you and your home, in case of issues. Ensure that the contractor you work with has liability insurance.

    Always consider references

    Whether references on a website or word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family members who have worked with the roofer, you need people who can vouch for the experience levels and professionalism of your roofing contractor in Vista, CA.

    Ask the contractor to give you a minimum of three references who can speak about their job and work ethic based on experience. Reach out to these people and ask questions about the project timeframe, whether they maintained the set budget, and whether or not they were satisfied with the work done.

  • Things You Need To Know About TPO Roofing

    BlackstarreviewCommercial Roofing, TPO Roofing

    Common TPO Roofing Challenges To Consider

    One of the most popular types of roofing system you can find is the TPO system which is also known as a single-ply membrane. You could also use a special type of single-ply membrane that is commercially viable which is the Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM). However, let’s analyze the Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO).

    Why use TPO roofing?

    There are several benefits to gain from utilizing the TPO roofing system on a commercial roof. It is very durable, strong, and flexible. This kind of roofing is also resistant to tear, accumulation of dirt, and the growth of mold. Its energy efficiency is perhaps the best aspect of the roofing system. The TPO roofing system can resist and reflect high UV rays that usually end up heating commercial buildings. TPO roofing helps in ensuring that the building is cooler and does not require powerful cooling machines to compensate.

    TPO Roofing Challenges

    1. Easily Punctured Membrane

    Most roofers regard TPO roofing as the most problematic for several reasons. The most recurrent is the fact that it is flexible and extremely lightweight and so may not be able to withstand the pressure that is exerted on most commercial buildings. The membrane usually ends up punctured resulting in a leakage.

    In more private buildings with limited access, TPO roofs work just fine. With fewer people walking up and down on the top floor, the TPO roofing system might be in jeopardy. The single-ply membrane does not include a hard top layer which usually protects the synthetic rubber layer from objects like stones, tools, or metal.

    Most TPO roofing problems that you may see will involve these objects puncturing the rubber membrane layer thereby tearing and breaking the seal and creating holes in the insulation. This leaves your entire roofing system a lot more vulnerable to roof leaks and the accumulation of mold and rot further down the road.

    2. Expired warranty

    A simple yet effective way to maximize your experience with this roofing system is to purchase a warranty when you install a new roofing system. Most notable manufacturers require contractors to carry out repairs for some years after the installation has been done.

    The duration of a warranty could be anywhere from 15 to 30 years. You can solve the most common problems of TPO roofing by simply paying for your warranty at the right time. You must ensure that you constantly monitor the situation to ensure you are not liable for even more expensive repairs and replacements without the warranty.

    The necessity of warranties cannot be overemphasized. It will also help you keep your TPO in check especially as you cannot predict just what to expect in extremely rainy climates. You will also be able to protect yourself against persistent problems or recurrent roof bills which make warranties a cost-effective alternative.

    3. Degradation of adhesive by UV Rays

    The constant wear and tear of the membrane is the most common challenge you can face using this TPO roofing system. This is because this roofing system is constantly exposed to harmful natural elements that constantly cause degradation. This also applies to constant exposure to harmful UV rays that can cause significant damage to the roofing system. UV rays can cause the degradation of the adhesive used in the TPO roofing to attach the membrane firmly to the substrate. Additionally, these adhesives also help in sealing the membrane seams creating a waterproof seal that protects your roof even in the most unfavorable of weather conditions. Without the presence of this seal, your roof is left vulnerable and may ultimately begin accumulating water.

    When UV rays begin to harm this seal, you may begin to notice significant damage to your roof in the form of dents, tears, punctures, etc. When these adhesives deteriorate, your roof is not capable of withstanding any pressure applied to the roofing system. This is why it is necessary to ensure that your adhesives and membrane are kept intact.

     4. Longevity

    Many users of the TPO roofing system complain about the short life span of the roofing system. Although this roofing system is reliable and durable, its technology is fairly recent and so requires more years of experimental work to improve the quality.

    The materials used in the TPO roofing system require even more reinforcements to be able to withstand the effects of harmful environmental and natural elements. The formula used in the production of the materials still requires a lot to last longer and avoid problems like seam cracks and material failures. Some significant improvements that have been made to these materials along the way have significantly improved their durability, but they tend to be pricey and difficult to buy which is not a sustainable option for the roofing industry.

    The current challenges experienced by users of the TPO roofing systems are relatively easy to solve, and they should always be attended to, to ensure that they do not escalate into an even worse situation.