Month: December 2021

Choosing the Right Shingles for Your Roof

William Romaine Roofing
Choosing the Right Shingles for Your Roof

When your roof finally comes of age, and it’s time to re-shingle and replace it, many people don’t understand what they are trying to evaluate. Many people think that shingles are shingles and may pick them based on the style or color. However, they may not know why some shingles are recommended for their house or area over others. You should ask your roofing contractor a lot of questions about shingle types and what’s best for your house style and the area where you live. You should be well informed when you step up to bat to put a cap on your house.

You should consider these structural factors

Weight limits of your house

While shingles are often seen as light compared to the components of the rest of the house, the fact is that they are frequently a considerable portion of the mass of a house. Not all houses are built to support all types of shingles. The weight limit of most typical house roofs is around 15 pounds per square foot of roof, which is a reasonably robust but not infinite amount of weight. Some heavier types of shingles can easily exceed this mark, and older houses that haven’t been kept up properly could shudder and shake under that kind of weight.

So, knowing the per-square-foot weight limit of your roof is going to be a large part of making the right choice to keep your home dry and standing for years to come.The slope and pitch of your roof

First off, let’s make sure we’re understanding these terms correctly. The slope of your roof is the amount the roof rises in inches for each foot of its depth into the house, so a house with a roof that rises one inch per foot would have a very shallow slope, whereas one that rises eight inches per foot would be incredibly steep. The slope is expressed as a ratio, 1:12 for the first house and 8:12 for the second.

The pitch of a roof is a fraction that represents the rise of the whole roof from edge to peak over the entire span of the roof. So, a roof that was 100 feet in span that rose 10 feet up would have a pitch of 10/100 or 1/10.

Depending on the pitch and slope of your roof, certain types of shingles might not be appropriate for your house. Larger clay and stone shingles, for example, might slide right off a steeper roof or have trouble staying in place in the long term. Again, this is something you should know before you go shopping to avoid setting your sights on something that’s not available for your home.

Environmental factors to consider

Where your home is in the world and what the environment is like will have a significant impact on what types of shingles you want to protect your roof. For example, a set of shingles that works beautifully for houses in a dry, warm climate like the Southwest might be inappropriate for a house that has to endure the cold winters and snow of the Mideast. Likewise, different kinds of tiles will provide different benefits and last different amounts of time depending on where you are in the world. So, it’s worth taking a beat to plan that out for yourself.

How much snow and rainfall does your region have each year?

The amount of snow or rain that falls on your roof is going to determine how appropriate certain types of shingles are for your area. For example, wood shingling will be better suited for a drier climate than most asphalt, rubber, or plastic roofs will be due to the increased pressure from bugs and mold that is going to be applied to even the best antifungally treated wood shakes.

A large amount of freezing and thawing will put a lot of strain on clay or stone roofs that would otherwise last an incredibly long time. So, while it won’t make them useless, it’s essential to recognize how precipitation is going to inform the longevity of your purchase.Are moisture and algae a problem in your neighborhood?

In a similar vein, different colors and materials are better equipped to deal with algal growth in moister areas where that’s likely to be an issue. It’s worth looking around your neighborhood to see whose roofs look the best in your local environment. It’s hard to beat the information you’ll get from looking at an older roof in your area because their owners have made similar choices and their roofs have been subjected to the same pressures yours will face.Winds—how high are they where you live?

If your area is subject to high winds, as in coastal environments or the Midwest, it’s worth considering whether your shingles might actually just blow away. Lighter types of shingles, such as plastic shingles or light metal roof panels, can be snatched up by fierce winds and tossed away. This makes it very worthwhile to invest in heavier shingles that will stay tightly latched to the roof and is one of the reasons slate and clay tiles are frequently so popular in coastal areas.The temperature range in your area

Last, the temperature of your environment is going to have a considerable impact on your choice. In hotter environments, clay and stone shingles can have significant cooling properties, which can help keep your house comfortable in hot summers but might make them less than ideal for places with sharp, brutal winters. The color of your shingles can also modify this a great deal, with darker shingles absorbing more heat from the sun and retaining it through the day, while brighter colors reflect more of the heat away from your house.

Make sure that you consider your house’s environment as you think about what you want it to look like.

Lifestyle factors to consider

A roof is more than just the hat that keeps your house warm. It’s also one of the most obvious statements that your house makes to people who visit you. So, it has to match the style of your house, and it has to look good with the color of the house.

Style

A house that has a hyper-modern aesthetic might struggle not to clash with slate roofing or wood shakes. Your house is the most significant stylistic choice you make in your life, and you don’t want to purchase something that makes it look questionable. That said, if your roof has a higher pitch, you have more visible surface area to play with, and the flatter your roof is, the less visually important the color of the roof is likely to be.

If you have a flat roof, a duller color could let the eye focus elsewhere, and a sharper color could be harder to pull off. In contrast, a taller roof gives you the opportunity to strike out with a color or tone with your choice of shingles.Neighborhood blend

You also want to make sure that your choice is not going to cause problems with your neighbors or make your house stand out in a bad way. For example, being the only house with bright orange clay tiles in your neighborhood could be lovely, but if it’s a clash with the houses around it, an otherwise lovely-looking roof could be made to look gauche.Maintenance needs

Certain types of roofs, most notably wood, clay, and slate, all require more constant maintenance and attention to keep them in order. If you’re not going to be happy to be taking care of your roof in a more active way, then perhaps these might be more of a headache than you actually want to deal with.

Costs

Finally, we get to brass tacks and cost. Depending on how long you plan on staying in your current home, certain purchases may simply not make sense. For example, you can pay more for much more longevity on your roof, with some stone roofs getting up to 200 years of durability with proper maintenance, but if you’re not planning to hand your house on to your heirs, it may not make complete sense to pay for a century of use that you’re not going to use. Similarly, solar tiles are a potential boon to a homeowner, but the precise economics of them may or may not make sense for a particular homeowner.

TypeCost per Square (100 sq./ft.)LifespanAsphalt$350 – $50020 yearsRubber or Plastic$550 – $1,10030 yearsMetal Panels$600 – $1,20050 yearsWood Shingles or Shakes$80030-40 years based on maintenanceSolar Tiles$2,100 – $2,500 (additional electrical wiring costs)30 yearsStone and Slate$1,50070-200 years based on maintenanceClay$1,50050-100 years based on maintenance

Now you’re armed to go forward and shop for a new roof, knowing what you need to get started on the journey of picking a roof that will keep you dry and warm for at least the next twenty years.

The post Choosing the Right Shingles for Your Roof appeared first on Mr Roof.

Pros and Cons of Asphalt Shingles

William Romaine Roof Maintenance
Pros and Cons of Asphalt Shingles

Traditionally, asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing used in residential homes across the United States. That being said, this doesn’t mean that asphalt is the perfect roofing material—it comes with several upsides, but asphalt shingles carry a number of downsides, as well. Therefore, before deciding whether or not you would like to install an asphalt roof, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of this popular material.

Different roofing materials will suit different homes, and there is no one true “perfect” option. No matter who you are, however, it’s essential to ensure the strength and durability of your roof—without this protection, your home could suffer serious damage, such as water damage or flooding. If your roof needs constant repair, not only will this compromise the safety of your home, but it is also an expensive problem to deal with. To avoid these issues, it’s a good idea to have the best possible roofing material installed in the first place.

Could asphalt shingles be the ideal roofing material for you?

What are asphalt shingles?

The base of an asphalt shingle is constructed of either an organic material or fiberglass. This base is saturated in asphalt before it is covered in even more asphalt, either on a single side or both sides. Finally, the top of the shingle is coated in a mixture of schist, mica, slate, quartz, stone, or ceramic. The back is instead covered in talc, sand, or mica. This helps prevent the individual shingles from getting stuck together.

Although there are numerous types of asphalt shingles to choose from, the most common is known as “three-tab” shingling. This name is a reference to how the shingle is cut and how it is installed.  Shingles are stylistically versatile and come in a fair variety of colors, shapes, and styles.

The pros of asphalt shingling


Owens Corning

Let’s begin by discussing the positives of asphalt shingles, which may make them a superior option to other roofing materials.

Asphalt is quite inexpensive to install
This is possibly one of the upsides that most commonly leads homeowners to install asphalt shingles.

In terms of installation cost, asphalt is considerably more affordable than other popular materials. If you’re on a budget but urgently need a new roof, then asphalt shingles are likely the pick for you.Shingles do provide curb appeal
Of course, functionality isn’t the only variable you’re probably considering as you decide upon a roofing material. Most homeowners also care about the appearance or curb appeal of their property, and the roof you select can have a powerful impact. In addition, if you ever plan on selling your home, then its appearance becomes even more critical—curb appeal is a vital factor in determining the overall value of a property.Asphalt shingles are a reasonably flexible option
This means you can likely find shingles that perfectly suit the aesthetics, style, and color scheme of your home. In addition, you can find shingles in an array of styles, including (but not limited to) three-tab, laminated, and even premium varieties. In any case, it isn’t hard to install shingles that look perfectly in place on top of your home.Installing asphalt shingles is quick and easy
Not only is installation cheap, but it’s also a quick process to have asphalt shingles installed—and considering how much stress a roofing replacement can add to your day-to-day life, this can be desirable.

Most notably, asphalt shingles are easy to cut and lighter than many other roofing materials. This means that the roofing team won’t need to perform much prep work before they can install your new roof. There also isn’t any requirement for special tools or equipment. Not only do these variables make the installation process faster and simpler, but they also contribute to the lower cost of installing asphalt shingles.You can easily replace asphalt shingles
Although needing to re-install your roof isn’t desirable, it might still be a necessity in the future. As such, it’s a possibility that you should account for if you’d like to save your future self a headache.

Replacing shingles doesn’t even need to entail replacing your entire roof. It’s possible to replace a single shingle at a time if they become damaged without needing to tear out the roof and start from scratch.

The quick and simple installation process supports this ease of replacement.

The cons of asphalt shingling

Although there are numerous positives to installing an asphalt roof, there are also some disadvantages worth considering. In addition, certain downsides may impact certain individuals more than others—for instance, the weather conditions where you live could make some cons more detrimental.

Shingles are more susceptible to wind damage
If you live in a region with frequent high winds, asphalt shingles may not be the most practical material for you. Although this is mainly applicable to cheaper varieties of asphalt shingles, they tend to be more vulnerable to uplift.

Strong winds can cause individual shingles to detach from your roof, which in turn makes your roof more susceptible to developing leaks. A leaky roof is a big problem—leaks can lead to a variety of serious issues, including mold and severe water damage. In addition, much of the damage caused by leaks will require pricey repairs, especially if they go unnoticed and are left to worsen over time.Asphalt can crack
Asphalt shingles are a light roofing material, as was mentioned earlier. While this leads to several perks, it can also cause problems for your roof in other areas. Notably, asphalt is light enough that it is more vulnerable to cracking compared to other roofing materials.

If your shingles are exposed to extreme fluctuations in temperature, then cracks are even more likely to begin forming. These fluctuations can lead to your shingles expanding and contracting, which eventually could cause cracks in the material. However, high temperatures can also promote the cracking of asphalt shingles, even without fluctuation.

So, if you reside in an area with extreme temperatures, make sure to take the possibility of cracking into account.Shingles shouldn’t be installed in cold weather
Generally speaking, it’s recommended that homeowners install asphalt shingles when the weather is warm. However, this can be seen as inconvenient as it restricts the times of the year when shingles can be installed. If you need an urgent roof replacement in the dead of winter, asphalt shingles might not be the most appropriate material.

This is especially true if the temperature outside is below freezing. These cold temperatures can cause the shingles to become damaged as they are being installed. As the temperature warms back up, this can also cause the shingles to become misaligned or be knocked out of place due to the resulting expansion.Shingles don’t look unique

Although shingles can look nice and have the ability to support the curb appeal of your property, they’re not necessarily the most distinctive option.

Other roofing materials, such as metal, tend to be better known for their extreme level of customizability. Although it’s easy to find asphalt shingles that fit the style and color of most homes, it’s going to be challenging to step outside the box.

If you’re hoping to make your home stand out from the rest on your block, then asphalt shingles aren’t the most effective way to accomplish that.Asphalt shingles don’t have the highest longevity
Are you hoping to install your new roof and then never have to go through the process again? If so, then keep the low longevity of asphalt shingles in mind before choosing this material.

Asphalt shingles are lighter and cheaper than other roofing materials, but this also means that they’re more likely to become damaged or wear down over time. Typically, you can expect properly installed shingles to last for up to 20 years before they need to be replaced. This can be compared to the longevity of metal roofing, for instance—that material can last for up to 70 years if it’s correctly installed.

Other types of asphalt shingles

Fortunately, if you enjoy the appearance of shingles on your home, there are options other than traditional asphalt shingling. Fiberglass asphalt and polymer modified asphalt are popular alternatives.

These other types of asphalt tend to be more durable than the traditional variety and are considerably more resistant to weather. Polymer-modified asphalt, in particular, is an excellent pick if you live in an area with frequent extreme weather conditions. Whether you’re faced with wind, hail, or heavy rain, polymer-modified asphalt is better able to hold up than traditional asphalt shingles.

Contact Able Roof Today

Do you believe that asphalt shingles are the roofing material for you—more specifically, fiberglass asphalt or polymer-modified asphalt shingles? If you’re in Central Ohio, then be sure to reach out to Able Roof. Our expert roofers can quickly and efficiently install your brand-new shingles in such a way that maximizes their longevity. Or, you can look into our other roofing options instead.

Able Roof even offers free estimates through our website.

The post Pros and Cons of Asphalt Shingles appeared first on Able Roof.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.columbusroofcompany.com/?p=310

How to Hang Christmas Lights Correctly

William Romaine Roof Maintenance
How to Hang Christmas Lights Correctly

Everyone loves the warm glow of Christmas lights in the dark months of the year. However, setting them up correctly can be a daunting task if you don’t approach it with a plan. To make things easier, we’re sharing some tips for setting up your yuletide display for success.

Plan your design and make your budget

When you are starting a project like this, it’s an excellent first step to establish a budget. You want to make sure that your joyous display is something that’s going to continue to spark joy, not something that you finished over your estimate. Going in, knowing your number is going to make sure that you’re happy with your result.

As you’re looking around your property, you’re going to want to know how much a given area will need. A good rule of thumb is that you’ll need 100 lights for every 1.5 feet of tree or shrub that you’re hanging, and you can use a similar figure for covering 1.5 square feet of roof or siding. This will help you get your head around how much design you have to play within your budget.

Where are you going to place your lights?

When you’re placing your Christmas lights, you want to start by establishing a few features of your house or property that are going to be focal points of your design. Many houses are asymmetrical or weighted more heavily on one side or the other, which is frequently offset by the architect with architectural or landscape features, but the asymmetry may look awkward if you just light up everything.

Good places for focal points tend to be windows, large trees, door frames, pillars, posts, and the eaves but try to pick only one or two to focus around and leave the other areas less fully populated to emphasize the places where you’ve put in the work. Window boxes and planters that you already have are also usually instinctively placed around these areas and can be lit up to accent the features they’re near. If you’re hanging and you feel like something’s off-balance, don’t be afraid to subtract lights from the side that feels too heavy. Taking away something is free, but adding more things can be a lot of work while only making the problem worse.

Carefully choose the lights you plan to hang

Your power supply and the type of lights you choose can also determine how much lighting you can afford in your design. For example, a lot of people favor incandescent bulbs for their warm glow. However, these lights tend to overheat if left on for an extended time, and you are only likely to be able to attach three to six light strands per outlet, which means that you have to be more strategic in your placement and more attentive to when you turn them off.

If you are looking to be more ambitious with your lighting designs, it’s likely that you’ll want to go with LED string lights, which can fit up to 25 strands per outlet on most standard circuits. They also don’t overheat as much and are much more energy efficient. However, regardless of which type you choose, you want to make sure to buy all your lights in a single type or color at a time as year-to-year variations in manufacture can lead to mismatched lights, which will make your display less peaceful.

For expanding beyond your initial wiring system, there are weatherproof battery-powered light packs of both varieties. However, these need frequent maintenance, and you’ll want to make sure you have backup rechargeable batteries on hand to keep those lights running night in and night out. Otherwise, a significant portion of your carefully plotted design could go down.

Numerous lighting styles are available

For different effects, you may want to pick different sizes of lights. The largest lights are C9 Christmas lights (1¼ inches diameter and 2½ inches tall), while smaller ones are available down to C7 (¾ inch diameter and 1⅛ inches tall). Of course, a bigger light will provide brighter output and fill more space, so plan for the size of your light as you’re considering applications.

For roof lines, overhangs, and peaks, there are some styles that you might consider as an accent instead of a simple outline. For example, icicle and raindrop lights hang down in chains from a single line that attaches to the gutter or the drip edge and give a nice cascade effect in these areas.

It’s also worth considering whether you want to have twinkling or stationary lights. With programmable lights, the motion of light displays can get quite intricate. However, some people find these effects to be overwhelming. So be judicious about using them and consider exactly how much of your house or tree you want to be dancing. Done right, it can be lovely, while done wrong, it can be a bit much.

Don’t forget to gather all the tools you’ll need

Once you’ve got your design in place, you want to double check that you have the appropriate tools for the job. One of the first things you need to check is that all of your extension cords and lights are UL rated for outdoor use. If a light display isn’t safe, it will not be very effective at bringing peace and joy.

You’re also going to be working upon an elevated surface, so in addition to making sure that your extension ladder is in good repair, you’re also going to want to invest in a tool belt or over-the-shoulder bag. This ensures that your hands can remain free while climbing. You’ll also want your sturdiest and best traction shoes to make sure you stay ON the roof.

In your kit, you should avoid nails or staples whenever possible at all, instead of opting for plastic clips. There are a few different kinds of plastic clips which attach to the edge of shingles without going under or to the dripline or gutter.  Some of these clips combine simple hooks or latching hooks, and there are specific roof peak clips that attach to the side of the shingle while sitting on top of it. These will make removal easy come spring and prevent you from punching holes in the roof. Clips are generally sized to go with the size of your bulbs, so make sure you know whether you’re using C7 or C9 clips.

For vertical spaces like windows, columns, or the side of your house, there are adhesive clips that stick to the surface and allow you to hang lights vertically up the side of the building. These are great as for many applications. You can put them up without even getting on a ladder, and they let you adorn otherwise unavailable spaces.

Last, it’s very smart to invest in app-controlled smart plugs or timer plugs that will save on your electricity bill and prevent you from leaving them on. If you’re using a smart plug, make sure your internet is secured, as you don’t want to find out if you have a mischief-maker in the neighborhood.

Check roof condition and the weather forecast

When you’re ready to head up there, the first thing you absolutely need to check is what the weather is going to be. You should never work on a roof when it’s wet or uncleared, and you should plan to be up there for a few good hours, so check the weather report and look around at the clouds.

Get someone to help you

You have to have someone with you to hold your extension ladder as you head up after you’ve secured and leveled it. People hurt themselves every year by not asking someone to just do this one small thing, but you don’t have to be one of them.

Line up your lights

Untangle your lights on the ground, not up on the roof, and take the time to inspect and test each line. You’re going to be much better equipped to fix any problems with the lines and detect any fraying, loose bulbs, or damage when you’re not also trying to stay up on the roof. Once they’re untangled, carefully coil and pack them so that they come out of the bag or off the shoulder cleanly.

Clips need to go on first

As most people are rarely on their roof, you want to take the time to set up your clips first and make sure that you’re setting the shingles back correctly with no gaps underneath. Then, after that’s all set, you can return to string the lights knowing that you did the first job correctly.

Now that you have your lights all fixed up, you can enjoy their glow all season long, knowing that you’ve set yourself up for success and that come spring packing the kit away won’t be a huge problem. Of course, it’s also worth taking time to inspect your lines when they come down and to stow them away as untangled as you can get them.

The post How to Hang Christmas Lights Correctly appeared first on Mr Roof.

How to Hang Christmas Lights Without Damaging Your Roof

William Romaine Roof Services
How to Hang Christmas Lights Without Damaging Your Roof

’Tis the season to bring out the holiday decorations! Although decorating your home for Christmas each year can be an exciting tradition, it’s essential to keep the potential risks in mind. Christmas lights, for instance, can damage your roof if they’re not installed wisely. At the end of the holiday season, the last thing you want is to be faced with expensive roofing repairs—repairs that could have been avoided if you correctly hung your Christmas lights.

So, don’t rush to get all your lights strung up. Instead, make sure to go about the process carefully and with the following pieces of advice in mind.

Don’t use nails or staples

Sometimes, it can be tempting to use nails or staples to keep Christmas lights in place. This makes sense, on the surface—it is a secure option, and you can remain confident that your lights aren’t going to plummet to the ground when you least expect it.

Nevertheless, this sense of security isn’t worth it—especially as nails and staples aren’t the only way to securely fasten Christmas lights to your roof.

Consider putting aside the staple gun and nails this holiday season. It can be easy to accidentally staple or nail into your shingles if you have asphalt shingles on your roof. Whenever you puncture your shingles in this way, the holes you create can lead to severe problems down the line.

For instance, these holes can welcome water or moisture into your home. This can be an especially serious risk during the winter months—after a snowstorm, you don’t want the melted snow to flood directly into your home. This water can eventually damage the structure of your home. It could also lead to the development of mold or rot, which will cause a significant health hazard to the inhabitants of your home—especially if these inhabitants have sensitivities or allergies.

Well, then what’s the alternative? Rather than busting out the nails or staple gun, you can instead turn to clips that are specifically designed to hang Christmas lights. These aren’t difficult to get your hands on, and they allow homeowners to easily hang their lights while posing minimal risk to their roof’s integrity. There’s no reason to put holes in your roofing system.

Familiarize yourself with the kinds of plastic clips

On a related note, there is more than just one kind of plastic clip for you to choose from. Be sure to review each of the possibilities to ensure that you choose the best type for your particular roof and lighting style.


Christmas Designers

A few of the most common varieties of clips are:

All-in-one clips
Generally, all-in-one clips are the best option if you’re hanging lights from your shingles or gutters. That being said, it’s generally not a good idea to hang any lights directly from your shingles if this can be avoided. Shingles are a lightweight, often cheaper material, meaning that they’re more likely to be damaged or pulled out of place by your lights. Instead, try to position most (if not all) of your lights around the eaves and gutters of your home.Clay tile roof clips
As the name would imply, this is a clip designed for those with a clay tile roof. This way, you can minimize the risk of damage with a clip designed especially for your unique roofing material—even if it’s not the most common type.Eave clips
Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to hang Christmas lights from the eaves of your home rather than directly from the asphalt shingles. You can even purchase special clips that are designed specifically for this purpose.Clips for the ridge of your roof
You can also purchase another variety of clips explicitly designed for the ridge (or peak) of your roof.

Where to install your lights: gutter or shingles?

Rather than hanging your Christmas lights haphazardly across your home, be sure to put some serious consideration into the process. In particular, you can break the arrangement into two distinct sections: Lights that are best hung from the gutters and lights that you should be hanging from the shingles. Different kinds of lights can fall into one of these two categories, and it is vital to be aware of their ideal placement. Otherwise, you could be putting the safety of your roof at an increased risk.

However, if you don’t have gutters on your home, you can instead consider hanging lights from the shingles located along your roofline.

But what if you do have gutters? If that’s the case, then try picking up some icicle-style Christmas lights. You can break out the all-purpose clips and begin installing these lights along the gutters of your home.

Once you’ve sorted out where your lights will be hung, you can begin considering the arrangement and kinds of lights that look best on your home. Of course, every roof and home are different, so try working with whatever suits your property the best—as long as it is safely secured to your roof, of course.

Before you hang lights, clean your gutters

While it’s generally a good idea to clean out your gutters regularly, it is especially important to take care of cleaning before hanging up your Christmas lights. While this is an important step to take, it is also one that is often overlooked, as not everyone realizes how it relates to roof safety and hanging Christmas lights. In reality, they go hand in hand with one another.

Like most kinds of lights, Christmas lights are going to warm up. As the areas surrounding your lights grow warmer, this can cause debris to begin drying up. For example, if you have a large number of leaves piled up in your gutters, these can be dried out by your lights.

Ultimately, these dried-up leaves can create a preventable fire hazard. If the lights come into direct contact with the dried-up leaves, a fire can begin.

So, before you begin putting up Christmas lights (or, at least, before you’ve finished the job), remember to clean out your gutters, getting rid of any fallen leaves or debris. It’s also worth noting that cleaning out your gutters can offer other benefits to your roof and home, especially at this time of year. For example, if you are hit by snowstorms this winter, the melting snow will lead to a large quantity of water. Your gutters will then be responsible for diverting this water away from your home to prevent flooding or water damage.

However, leftover debris can lead your gutters to become clogged. If the water can’t flow freely away from the structure, it will build up in your gutters and leak or overflow. To minimize the chances of water damage during the winter, make sure to give your gutters a thorough cleaning before the start of the season.

Be careful (if you step foot on your roof)


Home Depot

It is often feasible to hang up all the Christmas lights you desire without actually having to step on the surface of your roof. Of course, this is the ideal scenario if you’re looking to prevent damage during the hanging process. But what if treading onto your roof can’t be avoided?

If that’s ever the case, you will need to remain as careful as possible—not only to ensure your safety but to protect the safety of your roof. Make sure that you are moving carefully across the surface to avoid loosening the granules that coat the surface of your shingles. These granules are there for a good reason—they help ensure the durability of your roof. Without them, your asphalt shingles will become far more susceptible to damage. Unfortunately, this can also decrease their overall longevity, leading you to need a replacement earlier than expected.

Still, be sure to prioritize your own safety. For example, if you aren’t confident climbing on top of your roof to hang Christmas lights, don’t do it. Instead, you could consider hiring a professional to hang your lights in your place—you don’t even need to sacrifice the arrangement or design you’d initially planned.

Protect and repair your roof with Able Roof

Homeowners across Central Ohio know who they can turn to if they’re looking to keep their roofs in peak condition: the roofing experts at Able Roof.

Before you begin hanging your Christmas lights this holiday season, consider having your roof inspected by one of the professionals at Able Roof. We can ensure that there’s no damage to your asphalt shingles, which could be further exacerbated by the light hanging process—even if you take all the precautions that we’ve listed.

If your roof has experienced damage, Able Roof is also prepared to take care of the repairs. If you need to have your entire roof replaced, we are also ready to take on the job with ease and efficiency.

Interested in learning more or getting started? You can visit our site to learn more about our roofing or gutter services, or you can request a free estimate today.

The post How to Hang Christmas Lights Without Damaging Your Roof appeared first on Able Roof.

Is a Metal Roof Worth the Investment?

William Romaine Roof Maintenance
Is a Metal Roof Worth the Investment?

Is a Metal Roof Worth the Investment?

When researching new roofing options, discerning home-owners should consider more than just the price. We’ve made it easy by breaking down the advantages and disadvantages of having a metal roof, so you know exactly how far your dollar will stretch!


Metal panel roofs give a sleek and classic look all at once while being one of the most reliable roofing systems possible. Odds are that if you’re reading this, your roof is due for an upgrade and you’re considering metal! Let us help you kickstart your research with our breakdown of pros and cons of a metal roof.



dvantages of Metal Roofing

Metal panels are highly durable. Metal roofs are tremendously wind and weather resistant, so this eliminates the stress of losing a few tiles or shingles during a storm.Metal roof systems have a high capability for fire safety. A metal roof won’t ignite or feed a flame like some traditional roofing materials.Metal roofs reflect light, which means lower energy use for you. A roof that reflects sunlight works hard to keep your home cool in summer months, so you may see a drop in energy costs!Metal roofs are one of the most long-lasting roof systems available. An expertly installed metal roof can last 40-70 years with minimal need for maintenance!Metal is very customizable to suit your ideal look for any home. There are a range of specialty metals to choose from (i.e. copper, zinc, aluminum, etc.) along with paint colors and finishes.Metal roofs are erosion-resistant, which is particularly important for coastal climates. Irritants like saltwater and sand in tropical climates can erode traditional roofing materials like shingles much faster than roofs in a dry climate.

Disadvantages of Metal Roofing

Metal panels are an expensive material, and hiring a roofer to install with the proper training and resources comes at a cost, as well.A metal roof can be noisy during storm events if not insulated well. If you are installing metal on your home in a climate that experiences storms more often, you should consider your insulation options to prepare for the investment.Improper installation can cause problems and financial burden in the long run with aspects like expansion and contraction in metal panels. Extra care should be taken when researching experienced roofers to install this roof system.

It’s true that there are more advantages than disadvantages to metal roofing, but every home and home owner’s need are unique. If you still have questions about how metal stacks up with other roofing options for your home, contact or team by clicking below!

Need more detailed help? Our Home Exteriors by Baker team serves homeowners in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee and are ready to answer your questions!

Click here to request a quote.

By Shelby Zeuli

Alex has worked at Baker for 5 years! When not at work, she loves spending time outside with her Goldendoodle and her husband Cole, hanging out with her family & friends, trying all the new restaurants in Raleigh, and watching a good movie!

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