Tag Archive for: Residential Roofing

Stonewater Joins North Texas Roofing Contractors Association

Stonewater Roofing is proud to partner with the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, an organization that helps roofing professionals in and around the DFW area. Members must meet high industry standards and live up to a code of ethics designed to benefit consumers.

It is no secret that the roofing industry is fraught with devious contractors who chase storms, take advantage of property owners and deliver subpar work. However, groups like the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association seek to legitimize the companies who are doing things the right way, and they let consumers know who to trust.

NTRCA members are not stormchasers. They are full-time roofing companies — all in excellent standing with the Better Business Bureau — who are dedicated to helping the community by providing important roofing services. Members can provide a detailed list of accreditations, warranty information, previous work and customer references.

Along with this, NTRCA members also promise to apply only high-quality roofing materials that are not previous used or expired. For instance, Stonewater Roofing uses materials from GAF, one of the industry’s leading manufacturers. We have been named a GAF Master Elite certified installer, earning us a reputation of trust and excellence.

Stonewater Roofing and all other NTRCA members also comply with federal, state and municipal laws, specifically as it relates to the payment of deductibles. (Spoiler: Yes, you have to pay your deductible. It’s the law.)

In addition to the strict code of ethics, NTRCA also helps companies stay informed about the latest developments in the roofing industry through education opportunities. Events held throughout the year offer members a chance to learn from each other and receive in-depth training on a variety of topics.

“This is another great partnership that will help us continue to grow as a company,” stated Stonewater Roofing founder and CEO Roland Browne. “It’s also another great way for property owners to know that, when they work with Stonewater Roofing, they’re working with a trustworthy company who can and will provide peace of mind.”

Stonewater Is Certified To Protect Your Home From Snow

Snow doesn’t fall in Texas very often, but it can be extremely damaging to your roof when it does. This is especially true when we get several inches of snow and ice all at once. Is your roof covered in snow and leaking? You’re not alone. This can be a common problem across the Lone Star State, because many roofers do not take the proper precautions to weatherproof a roof in the event of an ultra-chilly storm.

A full roofing system that is properly installed should be able to hold up to the icy side of Mother Nature.

Stonewater Roofing uses GAF roofing products, which are among the highest quality on the market. Plus, we have been named a GAF Master Elite certified installer, meaning that we have a reputation and can be trusted to construct a roof that will keep you safe and dry, and hopefully bring you some much needed peace of mind.

For instance, we install a GAF Leak Barrier in areas where ice dams may form. That includes ridges, valleys, dormers, chimneys, eaves, side walls, plumbing vents, and any skylights. This is an extra layer of protection that uncertified roofers may not include. It keeps your home dry in the places where snowy leaks are most likely to occur.

Your roof protects everything under it, both your property and your loved ones. You shouldn’t settle for a subpar roofer. Choose an accredited company that will back up its work with a strong warranty. Choose the experts at Stonewater Roofing.

National Roofing Week Puts Focus On Roofing Industry & Community

Stonewater Roofing is celebrating National Roofing Week from August 23-29, 2020. This is a chance to stress the need for a good roof on every home and business, focus on the value of a reputable roofing company, and promote positive endeavors within the residential and commercial roofing industry and the community.

Organized by the National Roofing Contractors Association, this annual occasion serves as a reminder that the roof is one of the most important components of every structure. It is the first line of defense against the elements. However, it is often taken for granted until it falls into disrepair.

For this reason, it is crucial that home and business owners make informed decisions about maintaining and replacing their roof systems when needed.

National Roofing Week enables roofing professionals to engage with their communities and inform the public about the essential role that a roof and a roofing company play in our lives. “Stonewater is committed to informing customers of the importance of choosing the right roofer,” explained Annissa Albers, Events & Marketing Coordinator for Stonewater Roofing. “This week helps Stonewater spread the word through different posts and events.”

Keep an eye on Stonewater Roofing’s Facebook page to see what is being done to celebrate the week. “We want to highlight our National Roofing Week projects as well as thank the employees of Stonewater Roofing for the hard work that they do.”

Stonewater Employee Proves Roofing Industry Isn’t Just A Man’s World

The construction industry is often thought of as a boys club. Jobs are typically filled by tough guys with muscles like superheroes. But don’t tell that to Tayler Burkett. As one of Stonewater Roofing’s new project managers, she is proving that roofing is no longer a man’s world.

“I’ve had people tell me that this is a man’s job and ask me if I was ready for what I was getting myself into,” said Burkett from her latest project site, a home in an exclusive east Tyler subdivision. “I don’t think that females come short of many things. We’re as capable as men.”

“I think anybody can do anything that they set their mind to,” Burkett added.

More than a thousand people across the country agree with Burkett and have joined National Women in Roofing, an organization created to help advance the careers of women in the roofing industry. Stonewater Roofing has been approved as a company that supports females.

The coronavirus pandemic pushed Burkett out of restaurant management and forced her to explore other options. With some encouragement from friends, she decided to try something completely different. Burkett joined the Stonewater Roofing team in May. “I just took a leap of faith and went with it,” she said. “I love Stonewater, so it’s somewhere to make a career.”

“Stonewater does pride itself on its diversity,” explained COO and co-owner Jacob Law. Indeed, the company includes employees from various backgrounds. “We’ve got a lot of women and men in the same roles, project management, office staff and otherwise. What it does for us is it just creates a whole and cohesive team.

“We just want to make sure we have the right people in the right positions, regardless of exactly where they come from. Whether they be male or female,” Law continued, “we want to make sure we have the right person in the position that’s going to be able to serve the company’s needs, but also take care of our customers. We don’t really care who that is, as long as they can get the job done and get it done right.”

The project manager must be able to effectively communicate with both the property owner and the construction crew, ensuring that everything is done the Stonewater way. “I don’t see any difference with a woman or a man out here as a project manager, as long as they’re authoritative,” said CCO Shay Burton. “It’s all about getting your crew’s respect.”

“They work well together and I work well with them,” Burkett said of her crew. “We’re all in the same team, working toward the end goal, which is making the customer happy, doing things the Stonewater way, always following the same guidelines no matter male or female.”

Burton agrees. “Tayler’s doing good,” he said. “There’s still things she’s going to learn along the way. We expect everybody to do that. But she’s calling, she’s asking questions, she’s getting her hands dirty, she’s getting in there with the crew, elbows deep. Couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Yes, You Have To Pay Your Deductible For Roofing Claims

Do you have to pay your insurance deductible? It is a question that confuses many homeowners, and Stonewater Roofing hears it often. In nearly every situation, the answer is yes.

Most people have not needed to make a roofing or home repair claim with their insurance company, but may have done so with their car insurance. It’s a very similar process. You have a set deductible for your car insurance. Then, when you get into a fender bender, you can take your car to the shop. You pay your deductible, the shop fixes your car, and you get your car back.

The same thing occurs with the roofing insurance claim process.

In most states, including Texas, homeowners are required to pay that deductible. However, many roofing companies will offer to absorb the cost. This is illegal. You should not trust a company that is breaking the law.

But also, if a company does not ask you to pay your deductible, where does that money go? It is likely coming out of the materials or the quality of the roof that they are installing on your home. “You want to be careful with your contractors,” stated Stonewater Roofing COO and co-owner Jacob Law. “Make sure that everybody is doing things above board and the correct way, not only by you, but also the insurance company and state regulations.”

Most contractors understand how a deductible payment can impact a family after a storm. They will likely offer financing options to cover the deductible and minimize the hardship.

In summary, yes, your deductible does need to be paid. Make sure that you hire a contractor who understands this and can guide you through the process the correct way.

Stonewater Uses Only The Best Roofing Materials From GAF

Do not get sold by sales tricks. Choose a company that uses only the best materials from GAF, the nation’s largest roofing manufacturer.

Go ahead and ask your roofing contractor if they are going to use GAF materials. See if they don’t try to sell you on something that is supposedly “better” (actually just cheaper for them). If they are using GAF materials, be sure to find out if your roof will have a full GAF system: synthetic underpayment (not black felt paper), real starter shingles, leak barrier protection and attic ventilation.

If it is not a full GAF system, you will not get the GAF Wind Proven Warranty of unlimited wind speeds.

“You may also want to inquire how you can get a 10-year or even a 25-year labor warranty,” added Stonewater Roofing co-owner and COO Jacob Law. “Unfortunately, most will not be authorized to offer it to you.”

When you choose Stonewater Roofing, the full GAF system is standard. If your project is an insurance claim, we only require that you follow the law and pay your deductible. You will receive the full GAF system at no extra cost.

Together with GAF, Stonewater Roofing helps you protect what matters most!

Wind Can Be More Damaging To Your Roof Than Hail

It makes perfect sense that hailstones would cause damage to your home’s roof. After all, we’re talking about chunks of ice barreling down onto your property at a high rate of speed. But even storms that do not have much hail can be destructive to your roof. That is because wind has the power to rip away entire pieces of your home’s protective top layer.

Such a storm was felt recently in the DFW area. There were very few reports of hail, but winds reaching up to 80 mph knocked down trees and power lines, damaged buildings and even toppled a crane in downtown Dallas. It might not be the kind of storm that has homeowners thinking about roof repairs, but that is a mistake.

According to the National Weather Service, some slight roof damage can occur with just 45 mph winds, even though this is considered to be a “non-severe” storm. A traditional “severe” storm features winds of at least 58 mph, and definitely has the potential to rip apart a home’s roof. Wind speeds above 75 mph will likely cause widespread roof damage.

The effects of strong winds on a home can be pretty interesting, because the damage is not done in a uniform manner. Wind tends to cause the greatest amount of damage along the edges of a roof, or in areas that were damaged by a previous storm. Those are the places where the shingles can most easily be ripped away from your property.

Much of the reasoning is based in science. Wind pressure is greater along a home’s perimeter, and lower in the middle sections of a home’s roof. Also, there are two types of pressure: positive and negative. The positive pressure creates a pushing effect while the negative pressure is more like a suction. Your roof will experience both kinds of pressure. The section of your roof that sees each type of pressure depends on the direction that the wind hits your home.

Strong winds knocked trees down onto and around a home. (credit: NOAA)

That wind pressure will cause the materials on your home’s roof to move. In areas of higher pressure (like the edges) or locations where the shingles are already damaged, that movement will be greater. The problems increase exponentially from that point. Once there is a little bit of movement, it becomes easier for wind to grab that shingle and move it more, or even peel it away from the roof entirely.

This kind of roof damage usually starts very small, and is difficult for most homeowners to notice. But the problem increases with each gust of wind that blows through your area. Spots where shingles are raised, displaced or missing altogether become susceptible to water damage from rain, which can quickly lead to leaks inside of your home.

The goal is to prevent wind damage before problems become devastating, or fix your home’s issues very soon afterward. Contact the experts at Stonewater Roofing for your FREE damage assessment. We can thoroughly look over your home and let you know if recent storms have had a hazardous impact on your family’s safety.

A New Roof Can Increase The Value Of Your Home

Your home is likely the largest investment that you’ll ever make, so it’s important that you protect your investment with routine upkeep and maintenance. While professional installation, maintenance and roof repair will provide you with years of valuable service, there are a number of factors that can affect how long your roof will last. Regardless of whether you want to replace your roof for structural or aesthetic reasons, it’s important to know how your decision will increase the value of your home.

Signs You May Need A New Roof

Depending on the length of time that you own your home, and the quality of installation and materials used to install your last roof, you may eventually find yourself in need of a roof replacement. The question is: how do you know when it’s time to replace your roof? Like most other types of home repairs, your roof will provide you with any number of warning signs that replacement is imminent — some are subtle while others are glaringly obvious.

Age: Although different types of shingles have a different lifespan, asphalt shingles tend to be the most popular, typically lasting between 20 and 30 years.

Deterioration: Visible wear or damage to your shingles such as curling, breakage, missing shingles or granules in the gutter are all signs that something is amiss.

Moss or algae growth: While this issue is purely cosmetic, many new shingles are algae-resistant. So, if your roof has algae, it will be a dead giveaway that your roof isn’t quite new. In this instance, a new roof is more likely to increase the value of your home based on aesthetics, regardless of whether or not it’s at the end of it’s usable lifespan.

Sagging: This issue is structural and is indicative of a bigger problem. Call for a comprehensive roof inspection to determine the source of the issue and for a potential roof replacement.

How Much Value Can A New Roof Add?

When you consider how important your roof is to the integrity and safety of your home, its value becomes apparent. But just how much more value will a new roof add to your current home?

Contributing Factors

There are a number of variables which will help determine the return on your investment, including:The condition your current roof is in, as a more substantial upgrade will bring more value. More expensive homes may see a higher increase in value, as buyers are more willing and able to pay for a home that doesn’t require repairs. Choice of roofing style and materials matters, as those which are more visually appealing will add greater value.

Estimations

As a general range, a new roof can add up to $12,000 to the overall value of your home, dependent on a number of factors, many of which are listed above.

Efficiency

The quality of your roofing materials and insulation contribute to the efficiency of your home, preventing heat transfer and effectively lowering your cost of energy. The addition of rooftop solar panels can result in extra savings and may be appealing to buyers.

Reasons To Get A New Roof

In addition to the potential resale value of your home, there are a number of other great reasons to consider installing a new roof:

Curb appeal: With so many available color and style choices, you can instantly transform the look of your home with a new, quality roof installation.

Warranty: Enhancements to the quality of new roofing materials have helped extend their lifespan, and length of warranties. A standard warranty for asphalt shingles was once between 15 and 20 years, but high-quality asphalt shingles now come with warranties of up to 50 years.

Peace of mind: There’s no need to wait until the last minute to replace your roof. Whether you plan to sell your home in the near future, want to update your home’s exterior to match the style and age of other homes in your area, or want to protect the integrity of your home, a new roof can add immeasurable value to your home.

 

The professionals at Stonewater Roofing are highly skilled and experienced with exterior renovation, roofing assessment and installation. We can perform a free in-depth inspection of your roof and let you know its condition and provide a free estimate for its replacement.

Roofing Contractors Vs. Roofer Vs. Roofing Company

Deciphering common roofing terms and what they really mean can be confusing. A single company may describe itself by several different terms. When consumers are looking for residential roof repairs, maintenance, or a new roof, confusion sets in quickly! Let’s define three of the most used roofing terms: roofer, roofing contractors and roofing company. 

What is a Roofer?

When you hear “roofer,” you should think of the hammer-and-nail guy that climbs a ladder to fix or install a roof. These are the hands-on workers performing the installation of the roof. Finding a roofer to repair a roof is usually not a wise choice, because their specialty may be purely in installation itself, not in providing a roofing estimate, solution or inspection.

What is a Roofing Contractor?

A “roofing contractor” is someone that is licensed with their state as a contractor specializing in roofing. Many roofing contractors complete the job themselves as a roofer.  Roofing contractors may often be employed by a roofing company. You should always ask questions such as whether the contractor is licensed, if they work with a crew, have their own company, or use subcontractors to help clarify the issue.

Hiring a roofing contractor: This is the person for the job if you’re just looking to focus on the roof itself.

Warning: Be sure that any contractor that comes to your door after a storm is local and can show proof of this along with a list of references. Many will be working locally, while others will be storm chasers. These contractors will either do poor work or take the money and run.

What is a Roofing Company?

A “roofing company” generally specializes in roofing, but offers other exterior services such as gutters, siding and windows. These companies will employ licensed professionals to do the work. Roofing companies typically gain standing with manufacturers that allow them to offer substantial warranties. Oversight and accountability are always better with a roofing company because they’re looking to do great work and stay in business indefinitely. 

Hiring a roofing company: This is the right choice for anyone looking to replace their roof. While they are still a good choice for repairs and maintenance, companies really shine with installations and their warranties. 

Warning: Just because they call themselves a roofing company doesn’t make it so. To be sure, make certain that they employ contractors, have an office staff, owner(s), project managers and other parts of their business. A real organization will have these working parts. 

A Roofing Company You Can Trust

The professionals at Stonewater Roofing are highly skilled and experienced with exterior renovation, roofing assessment and installation. We can perform a free in-depth inspection of your roof, let you know its condition, and provide a free estimate for its replacement. 

We hope our defining roofer, roofing contractor and roofing company has helped clear up any confusion you may have had. 

To be clear, Stonewater Roofing is a roofing company. We are locally owned and operated, run background checks on our employees, provide reference lists upon request, and maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. 

The 7 Most Disastrous DIY Roofing Mistakes

Stonewater Roofing’s expert technicians have inspected thousands of roofs in the East Texas and DFW area over the last few years. In that time, we have seen a lot of DIY roofing and remodeling projects go horribly wrong on windows, doors, ventilation, siding and, of course, roofing. In no particular order, we present the seven worst DIY roofing mistakes which homeowners perform that can lead to more problems.

  1. Reroofing by adding a new layer of shingles: We’ve torn off roofs with three layers of shingles before. The homeowners usually site that they just wanted a new color or that their previous roofer told them it was okay and a money saver. All it takes is the old bottom layer to have issues and the whole roofing system fails. This may be the worst thing we’ve seen, particularly due to the wasted money spent on the short-lived second and possible third layers. Of the worst roof repairs homeowners perform, this one can cost the most in the long run.
  2. Trimming all parts of a tree except for those overhanging the roof: Perhaps the roof makes it too hard to reach branches with an extension trimmer, or perhaps it’s just negligence. You never want branches hanging over your roof. This is asking for clogged gutters that fail and moss growth on the shingles.
  3. Power washing roofs to remove moss: Some homeowners take this a step further and sprinkle bleach on the affected area. Both of these roof “cleaning” techniques are highly destructive to shingles, not to mention unsafe!
  4. Cleaning gutters from the ground: It’s easy to spot a gutter that was improperly cleaned with an extension poll or extension hose. Sludge is often built up thick in the worst points possible. It then takes just a few bits of debris to cause a plugged-up gutter. It can literally snap, burst or break free from the roof. In some cases, we’ve seen gutters take pieces of the roof with them when they collapse.
  5. Pulling up shingles to look for leaks: Yes, most people wouldn’t do this, but it’s been done before. We often see caulking and other repairs under shingles during tear-offs. This is just asking for more leaks!
  6. Adding or repairing skylights: This is not a great DYI idea unless you are a window installer for a living. Skylights are one of the leakiest components to a roof. If not properly installed, they can wreak havoc on your roof, ceiling and room below.
  7. Doing anything to ports, vents or chimneys: This follows skylights as being something left to a professional. Chimneys feel particularly safe to work near, which is why the roofing around them tends to suffer.

There are a few rules to roof maintenance. They are constantly broken and end up costing homeowners more down the road. We hope you avoid the following:

  • Walking on your roof, no matter the grade
  • Power washing your roof or gutters
  • Patching leaks from the roof surface
  • Ignoring overhanging trees

Always seek a professional before combating roofing issues on your own, so that you don’t make these DIY roofing mistakes. What you may save now could cost you a great deal more in the future.

The professionals at Stonewater Roofing are highly skilled and experienced with exterior renovation, roofing assesment and installation. We can perform a free in-depth inspection of your roof, let you know its condition and provide a free estimate for its replacement.