Roofing Tips

5 Myths About Roof Ventilation

Very few people understand the science of attic ventilation. Generally, ventilation is all about a continuous circulation of air in the attic to minimize moisture levels. According to statistics, approximately 90 percent of UK homes have very high moisture levels. Have a clear understanding of if your roof requires attic ventilation could turn out to be a roof saver if not a life saver. Here are some facts and myths you have to understand before making your decision.

More attic ventilation is good

Just like having the right air ventilation in your house or a good size of your furnace, you will definitely want to have sufficient ventilation in your attic. If you allow a lot of moisture to accumulate, it will result in serious problems when winter comes and increase your energy bills once summer knocks at our weather. Nevertheless, you should not over-ventilate your roof. Having several roof vents increases the risk of leaks. Apart from leakages, the seams that are usually created when vents are built can blow out in the case of a hurricane or when summer comes. This raises the question, how many roof ventilation should you have? To make an informed decision on this, contact professional Halifax roofing companies to give you professional advice on how you should ventilate your roof.

Roof vents are only suitable for warmer climates

Almost everybody believes that the sole purpose of roof ventilation is to better energy efficiency when summer comes. It is true that a well-ventilated roof will do this. However, other factors such as sun exposure and shingle color and insulation will perform better than just ventilation. I am not disputing that installing vents on old roofs can decrease the levels of moisture but I mean that there are other better cost effective ways to do this.

In the meantime, it is very important to control the amount of moisture whether you are living in a warm or cold climate. As a matter of fact, colder climates have more moisture than warmer ones. For you to install a roof that is unvented you will need highly trained professionals from Halifax roofing companies and technologically advanced roofing materials.

Simply because your roof has vent it means you are ventilated

Most people are convinced that since warm air rises, having ventilations on the attic will release warm air during winter which could lead to the creation of a drag on your heating efficiency.  Assuming that this argument was true it would bring more problems to get concerned about other than just letting warm air out of your attic. Poor roofing insulation is usually the problem here. Unless you have a properly insured roof you will not achieve what you think roof vents will do. Inadequate or lack of insulation on the roof will result in the accumulation of moisture in your attic. For more on how to prevent the common roof problems have a look at this.

Roofing Tips

Common Cause of Roof Problems and How to Prevent Them

Despite the fact that roofs are installed to last for decades if not centuries, there are several issues that if not taken into consideration could destroy your roof severely  consequently bringing forth the need for repairs long before this period. Having said that, allow me to take you through some of the most common factors that could destroy the functionality and the structure of your roof.

Trees

As much as trees bring beauty to our compounds, we must take into consideration that that they have the capacity to damage our roofs. Most common causes occur during storms, whereby unmaintained tree branches collapse on roofs. To prevent your roof from being damaged by trees, I strongly recommend trimming any branches that are at least six feet close to the roof of your house. It is also very important to pay attention to the nearness of the trees from your neighbors’ compound. Professional Halifax roofing companies will be of great help to help you identify trees that could transform into potential risks to your roof.

Animals

Ever since the conception of mankind, animals have been a great challenge to roofs. Birds that want to nest on roofs or ones that peck roofs in search of nesting materials will eventually end up damaging your roof.  Raccoons will end up tearing apart your vents as they seek entry into the roof. To protect your roof from possible damage from animals ensure that you have closed the entire avenue that could enable the animals from getting access. You should also make sure that tree branches are not so close to your roof to prevent the possibility of the animals getting easy access to your roof.

Gutters

A gutter is meant to channel away water from the roof. If a gutter is not properly installed or that it is clogged, it could result to water seeping into your roof on the edges. Eventually, these places will rot and tear apart from other parts of the roof. If you suspect that the gutters on your roof are not effective, contact Halifax roofing companies to have a look at your gutters and give you the right advice.

Just as you might have noticed, each of these problems leads to the other. If you have found any of these problems on your roof, you will most probably come across the rest soon. Therefore as with any other problem, taking precaution is the best strategy. Contact a professional roofing company for advice on any problem concerning your roof. Here are tips on selecting a perfect contractor for your roofing project.

Roofing Tips

Why Halifax Roofers prefer synthetic slates over natural slates?

Natural slates have been the roofing choice for many years in the UK and all around the world. However, natural slates come with a ton of baggage which is hard to handle for Halifax Roofers and eventually homeowners. Halifax roofers have figured out a perfect alternative solution for people who prefer the slates as roofs.

Before delving into the solution, let’s briefly delve into the problems with the natural slates;

Issues with natural slates

Natural slates seem to have problems with the production, installation and durability. They are very expensive, for starters.

They are pretty heavy, which makes the transportation and eventually installation a difficult task. Also, natural slates are really delicate to drill, nail or cut. They can crack even by a light impact like foot traffic.

Solution comes in shape of synthetic slates

According to Halifax Roofers, synthetic slates come as a pretty commendable alternative to the natural slates. Synthetic slates are considered as a modern version of the natural ones. They are produced by mixing rubber, plastic and other natural ingredients to intact the look and feel of the natural slates. Also, synthetic slates are much cheaper, they are easier to transport and roofers don’t have any problem installing them.

Here, we would like to delve a bit more into the advantages of synthetic slates;

Recyclable

Synthetic slates are completely recyclable, even the ones that have natural material. Natural slates don’t have this quality and they simply add to the carbon footprint.

Retain Color

The natural slates fade quickly as compared to the synthetic ones because the slates have added ultraviolet inhibitors that fight with the sunlight. However, synthetic slates do slightly change in color after a certain time and exposure to the sun.

Resilient and Durable

Unlike natural slates, synthetic slates are produced in a way to survive the heavy storms and impacts. They are tested in manufacturing factories against different testers to assess their resiliency.

Fire Resistant

The synthetic slates get Class A ratings mostly when it comes to fire resistance. In simple words, they can stand a mighty fire attack and will not spread the fire. However, this quality is hard to compare with the natural slates as they are completely immune to fire. Natural slates get the highest fire resistance ratings among all roofing types.

Costing of Synthetic Slates

The cost of a synthetic slate roof falls somewhat in the middle area. They are expensive than the asphalt and sheet but cheaper than clay tiles and natural slates. Most synthetic slates come with the guarantee of 40 to 50 years. They are known to survive for a century so definitely, the property owners are saving money on the maintenance.

Halifax Roofers Recommend

At the end of the day, the final call is yours. Both natural and synthetic slates are there to stay in the roofing industry for a long time.

Roofing Tips

Roofers in Halifax Discover the Advantages of Drones for Roof Survey

Commercial buildings are huge and tall. A large company uses its office as a stamp to showcase its strength and magnitude. This philosophy results in giant buildings, which have scores of floors. The signature office buildings serve their purpose but from roofer’s point of view, they create quite a challenge for observational roof checkups.

The ancient method, rather current, is a cherry picker or scaffolding. If you know about these two techniques, you will immediately understand the level of risk, labor and time required to get a roof inspected by professionals. Since it is too risky, the roofers ask for ahefty amount of fees as well.

However, things are going to change pretty soon. Thanks to drones or UAV’s (Unmanned Air Vehicles), inspecting the roofs of really tall buildings isn’t a difficult task anymore. It has completely changed the game in terms of money, time, risk and labor.

Roofers in Halifax tell advantages of drones

Let’s explore few more advantages of drones for roof survey;

Eliminating the risk

Imagine a roofer on a cherry picker trying to get a better look at a roof of a very tall building. The impertinent wind is usually merciless at such heights. The roofer has to fight with the extremely powerful wind and focus on inspecting the roof. There is a major level of threat to his life and at the same time, you are not getting the correct observations too.

Now when we talk about drone, it is controlled by an expert pilot who is sitting in an office on ground. He can maneuver the drone easily and get access to the nook and cranny of the roof without any trouble. Also, the drone has been designed in a way to handle the strong wind pressure. You get high definition images of the roof which enable you to witness the area closely.

Eliminating the disruption

The cherry picker or scaffolding requires a certain amount of preparation. There has to be a number of workers staying alert on ground cordoning off the area and performing other duties. Whereas the drone requires no such protocol, it is a loner who can go up alone and perform an excellent job without any fuss.

Elimination the high cost

We have mentioned drones and it is one of the most advanced technologies of today. However, that doesn’t translate into an elevated cost. In comparison to other methods for roof survey, drones are a much cheaper option.

For further information on using drones commercially in the roofing industry, contact Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as they are responsible for rules and regulations to use drones in the UK airspace.

Roofers in Halifax are open to welcome such advanced solutions for different roofing tasks as it not only makes their job easy but also satisfies the client.

Roofing Tips

Durability, Defects & Lead Work in Halifax with roofers in Halifax

Lead roofs are one of the oldest and durable roofing options. Perfect lead sheet roofing has been known to last for more than 2 hundred years. The classic way to make cast lead sheet is by casting molten lead on a bed of sand. However, now the lead sheets are produced on rolling mills and called milled lead sheets.

The cast lead sheet is still manufactured by specialist firms and mostly used to replace the old lead sheets of historic buildings like churches where authenticity is crucial.

Defects of Lead Roofs and Eventual Lead Work

Your roofer must be well experienced and skilled in order to repair lead roofs. While selecting the roofers in Halifax, you must ensure that they know how to assess and diagnose a defect or problem in lead roofs before initiating or suggesting any lead work on the roof. If your roofer fails to identify the real problem correctly then it will recur within a short period of time.

When it comes to lead roofing, soaking, flashing or cladding, the common sense dictates to assess if the damage is not too much, maybe a few splits here and there, then it can be handled with appropriate repairs. In case if the situation is too bad then renewal of the lead work seems like an only option.

The checklist to gauge any lead roof includes:

  • The condition of lead
  • Number of years left in a lead roof
  • Lead work required to fix the issues
  • Design defects
  • Splits and ripples
  • Corrosion – top or bottom of the lead roof

Repairing or Lead Work in Halifax

The defected area should be patched up via welding with small cutouts of lead sheets as a permanent repair. The lap joints must be utilized in the process to strengthen the fix and also in order to avoid the direct contact of flame with the lead. The roll ends in lead roofs are mostly the vulnerable part. If it is the roll ends issue then a new pre-fabricated roll end should replace the damaged one.

The roofer must take proper precautionary measures when using a blow-torch in order to avoid the risk of fire. In case if the hot working ban is effective, the lead work can be done by taking out the defected panel of lead sheet and fixing it off site. There is also an option of sealing tape in condition of the hot working ban but it is not recommended as the tapes are not long lasting.

At the end of the day, the lead roofs and lead work is only a task of deserving and experienced roofers in Halifax.

Roofing Tips

Roofers in Halifax discusses the trend of solar panels on roofs

The trend of solar panels acceptance is a new one but it is gradually gaining pace. Especially with the cost of installing solar panels going down and the increasing number of consumers successfully taking advantage of solar energy, the adoption of solar panels will surely grow in years to come.

Roofers in Halifax pointed out very rightly that when we talk about solar panels, we forget the most important support of such an endeavor – the roofs on which the solar panel will stay and function.

So if you are also looking to get a solar panel to curb your energy bills, Roofers in Halifax suggest you consider following points;

Solar Panels and your Roof

As mentioned earlier, your roof and the solar panel are deeply connected. So why don’t you figure out the answer to following questions;

  • Does your roof get enough sunlight?

If your roof does not receive a proper amount of sunlight then there is no point in wasting money on a solar panel because it cannot survive without ample supply of sunlight.

  • Is your roof strong enough?

The condition of your roof matters a lot. Here you have to consider the future situation of your roof as well. A solar panel can work fine for a couple of decades so your roof should also be able to bear its weight for the same number of years or even more.

Once you have decided to go for the solar panel, the first step should be to get your roof checked by a professional. In Halifax, Eagle Roofing can provide valuable consultancy about the life of your roof.

  • What is the amount of debris your roof receives?

The roofs get fair amount of debris – be it fallen leaves or just dirt. You must be aware of the debris situation or any huge trees around the roof that may hinder the solar panel in any way.

Also, you need to take effective measures to fix the debris situation, if it is too bad, before installing solar panels.

  • Can you go for shared solar panel system?

In case you are tempted by the idea of saving energy via solar panels but you live in a shared territory like an apartment then convincing your neighbors is the only way to get the solar panel. If you succeed in getting their permission then it will be great because the installation cost will be divided among all the parties.

At the end of the day, installing solar panels will definitely have a huge impact on your energy bill and you will be doing a favor to the environment at the same time. However, Roofers in Halifax strongly recommend you to get a status report of your roof first from a credible roofer like Eagle Roofing.

Roofing Tips

Resolve the problems of roofs with Roofers in Halifax

The roof is a word that completely defines a home. A word that itself indicates its importance. We can consider a roof just like a tree that provides us shade and comfort.

To provide us the feeling of satisfaction and peace of mind, roofs suffer a lot and fights against the evil enemies like rain, snow, storms, and crazy winds.  And to get rid off from those enemies, we have roofers in Halifax.

What are the troubles a roof can endure?

Roofs are the main body of a home that not only provides us the sensation of comfort but also provides us protection from various things like heat, snow, rain etc. It acts as an external membrane of a home. Now if we talk about the troubles, there are so many of them.

If we look in winters, the main and huge problem is the snow that surrounds the whole house and cause damages. Ice formation on the roofs causes the blockage of gutters which results in the drainage problems.  Snow also gets stuck in the chimneys. Extreme temperatures also lead to the development of the cracks that not only weakens the part of a home externally but also damages it internally. Development of cracks also depends upon the material of roof (i.e. wood, tin, metal). The formation of icicles looks beautiful but can lead to severe problems.

While if we look into spring season the main and enormous problem is the rain. It causes leakage problem due to the accumulation of water on roofs. Water ponding may result in the damage of the home appliances, furniture, and the other such items.  Don’t worry; you can solve such problems with the help of roofers in Halifax.

Resolve your problems with roofers in Halifax

Roofs can be considered as a human heart. As we know that humans cannot survive without a heart. Similarly, a home cannot survive without a roof. Now, you can easily clear out all the troubles of your roofs with roofers in Halifax. The roofers will help you out with all types of roofing problems.

They will resolve the blockage problems of water pipes and chimneys caused by snow, kick out the cracks from your roofs (developed because of extreme temperatures or formed due to any other reason), sweep away the formation of icicles, help you with the leakage problems and so on. Now, you can easily enjoy any weather at any time without getting any tension about your roofs.

Roofing Tips

5 Common Roofing Problems and How to Get Rid of them with Roofers in Halifax

Roofs can be considered as the basic unit of a house. It is the outer protective layer that surrounds the whole house but there are several problems which people have to face regarding it.

So what are the problems? How such problems can be resolved?  What magic should be done to get rid of such troubles? Is there any solution or not? So, yes there is a solution of such problem and that is the roofers in Halifax.

Roofing and many issues

Generally there are the following factors which cause the roofing problems:

1. Water Leakage from Roof

Water is one of the factors that results into many troubles. It leads to a huge damage to the roof. It causes the leakage problems that ultimately damage your wall, ceiling, carpets etc.  The leakage of water from roof is quite dangerous if it comes in contact with the electrical circuit.

2. Strong Wind troubles for Roofs

The second factor that results into a significant damage is wind.  Wind causes destruction of the shingles. However, the removal of shingle also depends upon the nailing of the roof. Inadequate nailing can also lead to the removal of shingles in storm.  The strong wind also causes the removal of tall branches that can even break your roofs. This factor also depends upon the shape of the roof.

3. Leaves and small granules

The third factor is the leaves and the small granules that cause the blockage problem. They get stuck in gutters and chimneys resulting in damage.  When gutters are clogged those leaves and granules exerts more pressure on water to fall freely whereas same is with the chimneys.

4. Effects of Heat on Roofs

Roofs fights against the enemies and provides us the comfort. Heat is one of the enemies of the roof that causes a huge damage. Extreme heat causes discoloration, removal of shingles, cracks etc.

5. Roof Decomposition

One of the main factors of roof damage is the decomposition factor. When roofs get aged the material also starts getting old and the material begins the process of decomposition, which results into damage. So it is necessary to have an annual checkup of your roofs so that you could face minimum problems.

Roofer in Halifax has the spell

The spell to get rid of such trouble is the Roofers in Halifax. They will help you face all the problems. The roofers can be considered as the doctors of roofs who have all the medicines to treat any kind of disorder of the roofs.

Roofing Tips

Halifax Roofing Companies Dread the Worst of all Roofing Problems – improper repair of roofs

If you thought that roof leaks, lack of maintenance, gutter blockage or cracks in the roof were the biggest roofing problems then you are certainly wrong. The evil of all has to be improper repair of roofs.

The improper roof repairing happens in two scenarios. One is when you take the charge in your own hands and mess it up and the other is when you hire amateurs to handle the task. In any case, improper roof repair is a nightmare.

You should be extra careful when selecting the right roofing company for the roof repair otherwise, the consequences can be worst. We have gathered few reasons for you to put in extra efforts while finding the right professional roofing company. Let’s do this;

Permanent damage to the roof

A non-skilled person can not only fail in repairing the roof but ends up causing a permanent damage to it. You might have hired them to fix the holes in the roof caused by different birds and they may create an uneven surface on the roof by putting excessive cement for repair.

Now that patch of uneven surface on the roof can become a place for water ponding, which can cause roof leakage. So you see the cycle here, an amateur’s work will permanently damage the roof.

Amateurs can increase the problem

Why have you hired an amateur in the first place? To save money or because the company offered you the minimum quote. Well, when you try to save money during such crucial matters about your home, there is a vivid possibility that you might have to pay more. That’s exactly what happens in this scenario too. You hire someone to fix the problem in limited cost and that person increases the problem. So now you have to pay double the amount to right the wrongs of an unskilled roofer.

Roofing is a proper industry which requires skilled workforce

Yes, there are plenty of videos available on the internet and fancy tools being sold in the market but this access doesn’t transfer skills into people. An inexperienced person will still remain unskilled even when s/he has the right tools and bunch of tutorials.

Halifax Roofing Companies think the only way to combat improper repair of roofs is by hiring the right people for the right job.

Roofing Tips

How Can Metal Roof Help in Reducing the Man-made Climate Change?

What happens when the sun reaches your roof?

Halifax roofing companies have been not only involved with building, repairing, or replacing roofs in the area but they also focus on bringing the change in the world in whatever ways they can. One such example is the quest to find a way to reduce the man-made change in climate.

Before indulging into the subject, we would like you to think about the roofs in your neighborhood and try to remember their color. Well, it comes as no surprise to us that most roofs are in darker tone in your area.

The relationship between sun and dark colored roof

When sunlight reaches a dark-colored roof, it is absorbed by the surface of the roof, heating it up a lot. Also, it is interesting to note that almost 70 percent energy from the sun reaches the earth, influencing the temperature of people, places, and architecture.

The heated roof then transfers the energy to its surrounding by direct interaction, radiation, and air. So your heated roofs are making the environment heated too. From this point of view, you are responsible for increasing the temperature of your area or city.

The alternative solution by Halifax roofing companies

Halifax roofing companies have come up with a plausible solution i.e. reflective metal roofs. The reflective roofs won’t let the sunlight to penetrate the surface. Thus, the roof will not be heated and consequently, the surroundings will not be affected.

Ultimately, by opting for an environment-friendly roofing system, you are not only saving your house from the heat but your neighborhood, area, city, country, and the earth too.

The science behind it

A research from a leading institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, shows that if the temperature is 99-degree on any given day, then the sunlight absorbed by your dark colored roof will heat up the wind by 52 percent and overall atmosphere by 38 percent.

Whereas a light colored roof is not that affected by sunlight and it heats up the wind by 8 percent and wider atmosphere by 10 percent only.

So the dark roofs reflect back only 5 percent of the heat received from the sun whereas the light colored roofs will reflect 80 percent heat back to space.

Taking practical steps with Halifax roofing companies

Since now you are somewhat introduced to the subject, it will be a great idea to discuss it further with your local roofer in Halifax. The best starting point will be to talk to them about the reflective metal roofing or any other alternative option.

Flat Roof

5 Ways to Make Your House Environment-friendly

We are living in the 2016 and the situation of global warming is getting worse with each passing day. So what are your contributions towards making our planet eco-friendly? Let’s start by making your home environment-friendly.

Solar powered roofing system

Did you know that if you don’t have a proper roofing system you end up having so many problems like you pay more in power bills because your ACs have to work extra hard in the day time as the heat seeping through the roof is too much? Also, in winters, your roof is allowing too much cold from outside and your heater has to work extra hard, which again is adding up to your power bills.

So a solar powered roofing system that forms a layer on the roof and the house so your home cannot be influenced by the outside weather is a very nice way to be eco-friendly.

Energy savers only instead of bulbs

The energy savers versus the bulbs are pretty easy to understand. The energy savers are as good as bulbs when it comes to the lighting but they cost so much less in terms of energy bills.

So if there is any bulb left in your house, you must change it as soon as possible. Also, the bulbs in lamps should also be replaced with the energy savers.

Mini Garden

The mini garden can be your direct contact with nature. Also, it is the best way to be eco-friendly. So you should think about growing a mini garden in your house.

Also, if growing a garden seems like a big deal to you then no problem, you can start with few plants and then move towards the mini garden.

Cover your swimming pool

Did you know that when your swimming pool is not covered, the water evaporates into the air? Can you imagine the amount of water lost because of your procrastination? So when the pool is not in use, you should cover it always. Also, it is a great way to keep your pool safe from dust particles and other mess.

Eco-friendly paint, even on the flat roofs

The wall paint is full of harmful and toxic chemicals. The size of your house will tell you how much you are harming the environment. So whenever you have to paint your house, make sure that you have bought the eco-friendly paint. The paint will be a bit expensive than the normal ones but it will be totally worth it.

Another thing that you can do is to paint your flat roof also. The thing with flat roofs is that they are less visible so people leave them unattended. However, you can use the same paint as on the exterior of the house on flat roofs to protect it.

Re Roof

Home Maintenance: How to do it better and quickly

Home maintenance is not an easy job but we all have to do it in order to get a long life out of our places. Also, it is a truth that we need shortcuts to reduce our level of efforts required to take care of the house.
Well, here we have a small list of checkups that are more than enough for any home. The great thing is that following things are really easy and quick to do;

Avoid Gutter Repairs

The gutter repairs are necessary only when the gutter is damaged but what if your gutter is never injured. Won’t it save you a lot of money and efforts in finding the right roofer for the job?
So you can avoid the gutter repairs by checking it every once in a while for leaves and debris.

Hire Roofing Services for Professional Roof Checkups

If you hire a roofer for a re-roof job then it will be costly but if you hire roofers in Halifax for the quarterly roof checkups, it will be so much cheaper.
You must find ways to invest the money in small chunks in your house to avoid spending a large sum of money on repairing damages that could have been easily avoided. So hire Eagle Roofing immediately for regularly checking your roof and home.

Velux Windows or Window seals

Often times, the window seals are not as tight as they are supposed to be and they end up letting the warmth of your room slip outside, which creates more pressure on the heater.
So you must fix all the gaps in your window seals to ensure the long life of your heater. Also, it will have a huge impact on your power bills.

Adjusting Sidewalks

The sidewalks are full of cracks and require repairs all the time. Before winters, you should fix any type of problem with your sidewalks because it becomes impossible to get rid of snow from a damaged sidewalk.

Add proper lights outside

It is a security measure to have proper lighting outside the house, especially if you live alone. You come and go all the time at night so it is always good to enter and leave your house in lights. It doesn’t matter what type of neighborhood you live in or how awesome people around you are but it is always good to be on safe side.

Chimney Repairs

Capping the chimneys in the winters is very important because the many crawling small animals will enter the chimney to save themselves from the cold.
It is recommended to get your chimney examined properly before the winters from inside out as they also get iced up and often chimney boots are cracked. It is good to have chimneys in perfect condition before the winters.