Category Archives: Roofing

Not sure if you need a new roof? Here are some things to look for:

It’s not always easy to tell if you need a new roof. Sometimes a really bad-looking roof doesn’t need to be replaced at all.  Sometimes one that seems to look good is already a disaster.  So how can you tell the difference?

The fact is, you can’t absolutely tell the difference without climbing around your attic, scrambling across the roof, and knowing what you’re looking for.  For instance, I have seen roofs where entire sections lift in the rain and cause terrible leaking damage that is completely invisible from the yard or even from a quick look in the attic.  But there are many things that you can see pretty easily that are sure signs of current or imminent trouble. Whether you suspect you may have roof issues or you’re just looking for the sake of future knowledge, we have answered the most common problems you can have with your roof. Enjoy!

Curling shingles 

Shingles that look like the edges are starting to “curl” or lift are a sign of serious wear that is either already allowing water into your attic or is about to start doing so.  Curling shingles are just waiting for the right storm to hit either to take a flight into another county or to just allow water into your attic to cause damage to your insulation, roof plywood, or the things you have stored in the attic. They need to be replaced.

Cracking or broken shingles 

Cracked and broken shingles are a sign of brittleness, which is unpleasant. It is usually caused either by age or by excessive heat. The problem usually is caused by inadequate ventilation in the attic.  You see, your attic needs to “breathe” in order to cool down your shingles, which are being beaten daily by the sun. 

Most people don’t realize that a shingle roof can burn your hand even on a sunny winter day because it soaks up so much energy from the sun. Brittle shingles can fly off your roof before you know it as soon as the wind picks up, leaving your roof open to rain and other damage. If this does happen, you will want to get someone out to fix your roof ASAP! Leaving your roof unprotected will cause the wood underneath to rot, and you will have a lot more trouble on your hands than just a few missing shingles.

Dark Streaks

This is actually NOT a big problem. Those streaks are just algae. While they look terrible, they are not harming your roof.  You have three choices to solve this: 

1. Ignore the problem
2. Have a professional wash it; however, never power wash or scrub a shingle roof. This will cause lasting damage that will affect your roof’s lifespan.
3. Install zinc strips along with the ridge vent; these strips leak zinc when it rains, which kills the algae for years.

Lifting Shingles

this is usually only visible on windy days, so most people don’t notice them until after they have blown away.  The adhesive that holds shingles down can only hold so much, so if shingles were not installed with the proper overlap, wind can easily stress them to the point that they lift and no longer hold to one another properly.  In some cases where the problem is isolated to a small area, a roofer may be able to re-adhere those shingles, and you are good to go. 

If the entire roof was installed without proper overlap, it may require a replacement.  Sadly, this often occurs on younger roofs that should not have needed either repairs or replacement for a long time.  It was often the laziness or lack of skill of the roofer that caused this, but don’t expect too many roofers to stand behind this problem because it usually occurs soon after the “warranty” runs out.

Granular in your gutters 

“granular” is the small stones that are adhered to the surface of a roofing shingle to protect it from the weather.  It also gives a grip to anyone climbing onto the roof.  If you start to find lots of these small stones in your gutters, your roof is wearing quickly.  Without granularity, your roof cannot protect your home as required.  It is also a sign that shingles are starting to get brittle, which we discussed above. These shingles are going to need to be replaced before long, so start planning for that cost now.
 
These are certainly not all the things you could look for, but they are by far the most common things a homeowner notices, which means it’s time to call a competent roofer.
 
Then it’s just a matter of figuring out which roofer is going to give you the best roof at a fair price,… but that’s a post for another day.

Energy Bills

If your energy bills have been gradually increasing over the past year, there is a chance it is due to your roof not being able to function properly. A damaged roof can cause air leaks or loss of heat. This causes your HVAC system to have to work extra hard to maintain internal temperatures. If you have noticed these problems for a while, it may be time for you to consider a new roof. Even if your roof is in perfect shape, old roofs do not have the insulating technology of modern roofs. This leads to less energy efficiency and can overwork your heating and cooling systems. 

Resale Value

If you are planning to resell your home or you are working on a house flipping project, the state of your house roof will impact the resale value of your house in a negative or positive way. Most home buyers are not interested in buying a new home, only to be faced with replacing an entire roof! Making sure you have an attractive roof will add to the overall aesthetic appeal of your home, and you will be able to sell much more quickly.

Have Elmer’s Roofing give you free roof inspection when you notice wear or leaks, before more damage occurs.

As spring arrives, you may notice that the extreme winter took a toll on your roof. All winters are hard on roofs and the evidence will show up in the spring this year as the snow and ice begin to thaw. You may notice cracked shingles or even leaks.

At the first sign of damage, it is in your best interest to consult an honest, professional roofer to assess your roof. Waiting to repair or replace a damaged roof can be more costly and could result in damage to your home’s interior. When it comes to your roof, an ounce of prevention could save you both money and headaches.

If you notice any of these issues with your roof, please schedule your free roof inspection right away!

Dark, “Dirty-Looking” Areas on Roof

Missing, Cracked, or Curled Shingles

Leakage in Attic After Ice Build-Up

Elmer’s Roofing offers free roof inspection, so if you have questions about your roof, this is a risk-free way to get the answers you need. And it isn’t all doom and gloom if you do need to repair or replace your roof. First, you are in great hands with Elmer’s Roofing. From the communication of options to the quality of workmanship, you will be pleased. If you do need a new roof installed, Elmer’s offers a great selection of roofing shingles styles and colors as well as start to finish service including the cleanest roof installation you have ever seen!

Yes, we understand that over the years roofing contractors, in general, have obtained the best reputation. To often known for taking advantage of the homeowner by overcharging or underperforming, we have spent the last 25+ years building a roofing business that you can trust.

Don’t Settle for A Messy Roofer

Quite possibly the biggest problem and liability has been the fact that many roofers have built a reputation of leaving the job a mess. While the big shingles and other larger items get picked up to make it look like it is clean, the real mess is left in the flower beds or grass. Many homeowners have come outside after their new roof is installed, only to find pieces of shingles or shingle residue all over the flower beds, ruining plants and leaving dead spots in the grass.

We haven’t even mentioned the nails that often were found strewn across the yard and in the corner of the flower beds. These nails were too often found after someone stepped on them causing injury.

Yes we are a roofing company, and we are here to say that it doesn’t have to be like this. You don’t have to put up with the roofing contractors that only want your money and leave before you are 100% satisfied.

Beware of these Roofing Contractors

Beware of so-called contractors who tell you the things you want to hear. The weight you place on investing in a roof can either save you or run you down thousands of dollars. We at Elmer’s Roofing believe strongly in performing the job once and right, completely and with integrity. We do not think it necessary to spend a fortune to get a roof that will last and keep your home dry for decades. Here are some things about the trade we think you should have the right to know. Beware of roofing contractors who claim the following:

• Let’s talk about storm chasers. Often the “roofing expert” that shows up at your home after a severe storm passes through. Normally a one or two-man operation, these guys will move to your area and go door to door looking for work. We highly advise staying away from them because it seems like as soon as they come they also can leave. Maybe you even hire them and your roof is fine for the first 5 years, and then it starts leaking, well these storm chasers are long gone and couldn’t care less about you or the reputation they left behind because they aren’t even trying to come back.
  
• “You will not find shingles cheaper than these!”
  Beware of flimsy shingles. Most roofing companies purchase their shingles from the same suppliers. If a contractor is quoting you a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Please feel free to ask us about our suppliers. We will gladly show you our references.

• “It is hard to quote you at this time. We will have all the paperwork for you after the job is done”
  BEWARE! This is a red flag. All paid material receipts and lien waivers should be conducted, viewed, and signed before the job even begins, arranging potential provisions for extras or changes as well. There are many cases of contractors attempting to charge their customers DOUBLE the cost of the project simply because the two parties never fully agreed to total costs and litigations. Right off the bat we at Elmer’s want you to know what you are getting yourself in for. We will discuss with you all options, costs, pricing, and timing before we lay the first shingle.

• ‘Your homeowner’s insurance will protect you from any potential mishaps during our contract.
  BEWARE! Oftentimes this is not at all the case. If you choose to hire an unlicensed, uninsured individual or firm, you run the risk of having no financial safety net when they take untrained shortcuts. Moreover, you could even be liable for injury of the roofing individual(s). At Elmer’s Roofing, we have no reason to have reservations. We are licensed to serve customers in Pennsylvania (#PA118414), and will gladly share with you all of our proofs of licensure.

• ‘I don’t even have to go up there. I can tell right away what you need for that roof.’
  BEWARE. There are some roofs whose damage is so evident a simple glare could take notice. However, to really take a holistic damage report and a complete quote requires physical contact. At Elmer’s Roofing, we always set up our ladders and step on up. This is the only way to really see what is going on. That way we can most easily and accurately let you know our options for repair or total replacement.
• ‘We’ll get this finished for you in no time, it’s a simple job!’
  BEWARE! No job is too simple. All roofing repair and replacement take time and patience. Roofs protect one of your most valuable and precious investments, your home. For the job to be done right, it’s got to be done completely and with honest skill. We are trained professionals with 20 years of roofing experience. By virtue of our “No Mess” Guarantee, we promise to do our best to leave nothing behind. No scrap materials, no nails. If we accidentally do miss something (which is extremely rare), we will be back out there within 24 hours of your call and make sure we have removed everything. And we won’t leave until you say it is clean.

So Who Do I Trust?

We can not stress enough how you need to research. Research. Research.

Use the internet to your advantage! Check out the contractor’s online profile before you decide to hire them. Check out their reviews to see what other people like you are saying about them. Ask your friends and neighbors if they ever heard of them or who has done work on their house. Every contractor knows that the best way to get business is by word-of-mouth referrals.

Do your homework to make sure you are getting the proper contractor you deserve.

What Do I Do About Roofer’s Mess

As we talked about before, one of the biggest complaints homeowners have, when a new roof is installed on their home, is that the roofing contractors left a mess? This is the last thing you want to do deal with! Hire a residential roofer that will treat your property the way they would like their property to be treated.

Everything from nails to fragments of shingles from the old roof that was removed in the process of installing the new roof can often be found. The debris litters the lawn, the shrubbery, and the surfaces surrounding the home. From children playing to lawn mowing, the hazards to homeowners and their families are real when roofing materials are not cleared away.

Roofers are notoriously messy! That’s why Elmer’s Roofing uses an ingenious invention, the Roofer Buggy. This is so effective in keeping the mess from the roof off your lawn. This also has greatly improved our work efficiency, so you can get a higher quality job at an affordable price. For commercial jobs, a commercial roofing dump wagon can be very helpful for carrying tools, trash, and supplies from one part of the roof to another. Using tools like this help a roofer keep the job site from looking a mess.

At Elmer’s Roofing we are committed to our New Roof No Mess guarantee, so you can have the peace of mind that your property will be returned to normal when we are finished with your job. We also won’t consider your job done until you are 100% satisfied.

Elmer’s Roofing key to happy customers is three-fold. It involves First a high-quality roof. Second, experienced team members with professional installation from start to finish. Third, a clean yard and area around the home once the roof is installed. To guarantee satisfied homeowners.

Elmer’s Roofing based in Lancaster PA with service in Lancaster County, Chester County and Lebanon County always promises quality workmanship and to leave as little behind as possible. It is what makes the company stand out against competitors and what customers like best.

 Elmer’s Roofing ensures a clean, efficient roofing installation by using a roofing buggy to slide debris from the old roof removal process into the bin.

The No-Mess Guarantee

We promise to do our best to leave nothing behind…no scrap materials, no nails. If we accidentally do miss something (which is extremely rare), we will be back within 24 hours of your call and make sure we have removed everything. And we won’t leave until you say it is clean.

Elmer’s Roofing Is Right for You If…

• You Want a Clean Roofer: Our New Roof No Mess guarantee is our commitment to you.
• You Support Small Businesses: We are an owner-operated business that is focused on giving you high-quality work at an affordable cost.
• You Care About Reputation: With 25+ years in the residential roofing business, we are proud of the hard working, commitment to our customers, reputation we have built.

With Elmer’s Roofing being an owner-operated business, that gives you the luxury of being in direct content with the owner so you will know for certain that you are getting the absolute best experience possible.