Welcome to our blog. This page is important because many people in the roofing business have absolutely no business being in the roofing business. The huge amount of negative customer reviews on the Internet is mind boggling. You need to stay away from these folks (aka Cowboy Roofers*) and know how to get the best roofing job for the best price possible. This blog will help you do that with fun, informative, and educational factoids about all aspects of roofs and roofing.
*Cowboy Roofers are the folks you should avoid hiring because they put their interests above yours and are marginally to moderately skilled at best. Cowboy roofers give a bad name to the roofing trade and worse yet they give a bad name to the large number of quality-oriented roofing contractors out there. Check out our Hall of Shame for examples of what happens when cowboy roofers get on your roof.
If you have a question that you would like SuperRoofer Joe Sardotz to answer in his blog or FAQs, please complete the Ask SuperRoofer form. Visit Joe's Contact page if you would like Joe to provide roof consulting and inspection services for you.
Oregon Roof Consulting (ORC) had a busy early Spring 2014. Revenue receipts in April were 4X last year! We conducted several roof inspections. Here is a summary of each job, with links to more details and picture galleries. (Dates are approximate, reflecting when we updated the website for projects completed.)
Oregon Roof Consulting was hired to inspect these new roofs at the Rosewood Apartments in Gresham, Oregon. They failed inspection badly. You name it, the "roofers" did it wrong.
This roof in Vancouver was done by a major national retailer who subbed the job out to a marginally skilled 'roofer' and tacked on a huge middle man fee.
The homeowner was concerned because the tarps had come loose, with significant water intrusion inside resulting in significant ceiling damage. I informed the homeowner that the roofing likely was installed incorrectly as the nailing highly likely not to manufacturers specifications, which is an all too common occurrence.
Here is not how to install shingles and roof components. The nails were placed improperly and/or were in the factory sealant. Even worse, all vents and pipe fixtures are buried, meaning all will leak every time it rains.
The HOA is deciding now whether to repair, restore, and maintain these tile roofs, or replace the roofs using materials that are both attractive and easier to maintain, such as triple-layer asphalt shingles.
More images at Roofing Gallery ("Vista Ridge HOA in Lake Oswego (April 2014)")
This is a flat roof Oregon Roof Consulting recently inspected in the Oak Hills Community in Beaverton, Oregon. This is one of the first planned communities in our region. This home and three others nearby were built by Robert Rummer (Joe Eichler), who created homes in Oregon and California in the 1950s and 1960s.
More images at Roofing Gallery ("Robert Rummer / Joe Eichler Homes in NW Beaverton (April 2014)")
At ORC the small jobs are just as important as the big jobs. This 1940s home by the Oregon Zoo in Portland has a 42 year-old aluminum shingle roof. The owner needed an independent inspection for the insurance company.
More images at Roofing Gallery ("Oregon Zoo Home Inspection (April 2014)")
This is the Willow Pointe Homeowners Association in Longview, Washington. ORC was hired to look at the 20 duplex roofs, which were between 5 and 7 years old.
More images at Roofing Gallery ("Willow Pointe Homeowners Association (Longview, Washington, March 2014)")
Oregon Roof Consulting (ORC) had a busy December 2013 - February 2014, typically known as the "slow season." We conducted several roof inspections including the unique metal roof on Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene, Oregon, with calls for follow-on and new work coming in almost daily by March 2014. Here is a summary of each job, with links to more details and picture galleries. (Dates are approximate, reflecting when we updated the website for projects completed.)
Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene, Oregon, next to Autzen Stadium on the University of Oregon campus. The City of Eugene, which owns this outdoor concert venue seating 5,500, could not find anyone local to do this rare and technical roofing job, so they had to cast a wider net for the required skills. Oregon Roof Consulting was hired by Englert Inc. in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to inspect the new 9,100 sq ft metal roof to be certain it was installed to their specifications.
More images at Roofing Gallery "Cuthbert Amphitheater, (Eugene, Oregon, February 2014)"
Oregon Roof Consulting inspected this apartment complex in Hillsboro, Oregon. ORC found a number of issues and made recommendations for their remediation.
More images at Roofing Gallery "Apartment Complex (Hillsboro, Oregon, February 2014)"
Commercial/retail building in Orchards Washington. Oregon Roof Consulting was hired to inspect and provide photos of problem areas and advise on necessary repairs and maintenance.
More images at Roofing Gallery "
Commercial Building (Orchards, Washington, January 2014)"
Home in Eastmoreland next to Portland, Oregon's Reed College needed an inspection on a tile roof prior to sale. Oregon Roof Consulting provided a detailed written summary along with photos and a description of work necessary.
More images at Roofing Gallery "Home in Eastmoreland Next to Reed College (Portland, Oregon, January 2014)"
71 unit Home Owners Association (HOA) complex in NW Portland, Oregon. Oregon Roof Consulting was hired by a property management company to evaluate the composition shingle roof and assist with finding a vendor to perform the miscellaneous repairs required.
More images at Roofing Gallery "71 Unit HOA Complex (NW Portland, Oregon, December 2013)"
While tile is unique and very beautiful, it is not a practical system and it doesn’t work well with our Pacific Northwest cocktail of moisture, humidity, and long periods of days with little sunlight. Moss loves it! The appearance of tile declines with age as the UV rays damage or dissolve the top slurry coating. Eventually the concrete becomes visible. This does not occur with colorthru tile but the initial vivid coloring fades to a noticeable dullness. Also, birds, bats, bees, and other critters just love making their home within your very expensive tile roof. See below link for amazing video evidence of this!
Over time, the water channels clog up with debris and sediment accumulates at the bottom of the valleys, which then diverts water where you don’t want water to go.
Tile also is very expensive to maintain and repair. Count on many being broken if anyone is walking on the tile roof for any length of time. I put tile on my other house and regret it.
Residential and commercial roofing project consulting in Oregon; Portland Metro, Oregon; Bend, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Washington State; and the Pacific Northwest area. Offering professional roof consulting, inspections, project monitoring, and certifications for property owners and homeowners.
While tile is unique and very beautiful, it is not a practical system and it doesn’t work well with our Pacific Northwest cocktail of moisture, humidity, and long periods of days with little sunlight. Moss loves it! The appearance of tile declines with age as the UV rays damage or dissolve the top slurry coating. Eventually the concrete becomes visible. This does not occur with colorthru tile but the initial vivid coloring fades to a noticeable dullness. Also, birds, bats, bees, and other critters just love making their home within your very expensive tile roof. See below link for amazing video evidence of this!