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.
Below are ten steps property owners can take to extend the life of their roof (you'll also find this article on the checklists page):
Trim back tree branches that scrape against or overhang the roof. Keep branches away from the chimney to avoid fire hazard and to allow draft for proper chimney operation.
Check for curled, damaged, loose, or missing shingles.
Check the underside of the lower edge of roof sheathing for water stains, cracking, and any other visible damage.
Examine all flashing and the flashing around chimneys, vent stacks, roof edges, dormers, and skylights.
Make sure that the chimney cover (cap), if present, is in good condition and that it is tall enough to prevent the build-up of creosote.
Check vents and louvers for free air movement. Clean screens and remove bird nests, spiders, insects, and dust.
If there are wind turbines on the roof, be sure they spin freely and check ball bearings if any exist. Clear gable vents of bird's nests and other obstructions.
Check for damaged gutters, downspouts, hangers, and strainers. If needed, clean out gutters and downspouts. Make certain they are free of leaks and rust.
Check the condition of the paint on gutters.
Examine television guy wires and support straps (not many of these anymore).
Below are ten steps property owners can take to extend the life of their roof (you'll also find this article on the