Roofing Archives

Determining Whether to Repair, Patch, or Schedule a Roof Replacement

Understanding the most effective approach to addressing roofing issues is crucial for ensuring the longevity and integrity of your home. When faced with roofing concerns, it’s essential to assess the extent of the damage and make an informed decision on whether to repair, patch, or opt for a complete roof replacement. Here’s a comprehensive guide from The Modern Pros to help you navigate this crucial decision-making process:

Assess the Extent of the Damage:

Begin by conducting a thorough inspection of your roof to evaluate the extent of the damage. Identify any signs of missing or damaged shingles, leaks, or structural issues. For minor damages, such as localized leaks or isolated shingle damage, simple repairs or patches may suffice. However, if the damage is widespread and significantly compromises the overall structural integrity of the roof, it may be more practical and cost-effective to opt for a complete roof replacement.

Consider the Age of Your Roof:

Take into account the age of your roof when determining the best course of action. If your roof is relatively new and the damage is confined to a specific area, repairing or patching may be a viable solution. On the other hand, if your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan and experiencing recurrent issues, investing in a full replacement might be a more prudent long-term approach, offering enhanced durability and minimizing the need for frequent repairs in the future.

Evaluate Cost-Effectiveness and Long-Term Benefits:

Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of each option, considering both short-term expenses and long-term benefits. While repairs and patches may seem more budget-friendly initially, recurring repairs can accumulate significant costs over time. In contrast, a complete roof replacement, although a more substantial upfront investment, can offer long-term peace of mind, improved energy efficiency, and increased property value, making it a more financially prudent choice in the long run.

Consult with a Professional Roofing Contractor:

Seek guidance from a reputable roofing contractor, like The Modern Pros, to obtain a professional assessment of your roof’s condition. A skilled contractor can provide expert insights, including what color to pick, based on a comprehensive evaluation, offering recommendations tailored to your specific roofing needs. Their expertise can help you make an informed decision, ensuring that you choose the most suitable and cost-effective option that aligns with your budget and long-term maintenance goals.

Roof replacement is costly, without a doubt, but it’s an investment in the health and safety of your home. Schedule a consultation with an expert at The Modern Pros to discuss materials, concerns, budget, and more and learn whether an entire roof replacement is necessary.

How to Pick the Right Roof Color for Your Home

roof color, roofing contractor in Michigan

Many aspects add to the overall aesthetic appeal and curb appeal of your home, but perhaps few as quickly and easily as the chosen roof color. It can complement the architectural style, enhance the exterior color scheme, and even affect energy efficiency. With a multitude of roof colors available, selecting the right one can be a daunting task. But where do you even start? Here are some things to consider.

Consider the Architectural Style

Take into account the architectural style of your home when choosing a roof color. Different styles have color palette options or suggestions that can guide your decision. For example, traditional or colonial-style homes often look stunning with classic and neutral roof colors such as black, gray, brown, or shades of slate. Whereas, modern or contemporary designs may allow for more unique and bold roof colors that complement the clean lines and sleek aesthetic.

Assess the Exterior Color Scheme

The existing exterior color scheme of your home should correlate with the roof color you choose. Consider the colors of the siding, brick, stone, or other elements. Aim for a complementary or contrasting roof color that enhances the overall appearance. For instance, if your home has warm-toned exteriors like beige or tan, earthy roof colors like brown, terracotta, or warm gray can create a cohesive and inviting look. If your home features cool-toned exteriors like blue or gray, consider cooler roof colors such as shades of blue or gray to create a balanced and unified appearance.

Prioritize Climate and Energy Efficiency

The climate where you reside can also influence your roof color selection. Lighter-colored roofs naturally reflect sunlight and heat, keeping the interior of your home cooler in warm climates. Conversely, darker-colored roofs can absorb heat, making them more suitable for colder climates. Consider the regional climate and energy efficiency goals when deciding between light or dark roof colors.

Consider and Respect Your Neighborhood

While you want your home to stand out, it’s also important to consider the overall aesthetics of your neighborhood. Take a look at the neighboring homes and observe the predominant roof colors. While you don’t have to match exactly, choosing a roof color that complements the neighborhood’s overall visual harmony can add value to your home and prevent it from looking out of place.

Gather Samples and Visualize

Before making a final decision, obtain physical samples or swatches of the roofing materials and colors you are considering. Place them against the exterior of your home and observe how they look in different lighting conditions throughout the day. It’s also helpful to use online visualization tools or consult with professionals who can provide digital renderings to visualize how the roof color will look on your specific home.

Consult the Professionals

When in doubt, contact us to seek guidance from The Modern Pros a roofing contractor in Michigan. We can easily help you decide the best options for your needs and budget. We also have years of expertise in selecting roof colors that match your home’s style, surroundings, and personal preferences. When you’re ready, we’ll be happy to provide valuable insights and recommendations based on our team’s experience and knowledge.

Need a Roof Replacement? 5 Cost Factors to Think About

Regardless of whether you own a home or a commercial business, at some point, you’ll probably need to consider roof replacement. This is especially true in the Midwest, where the weather can quickly wreak havoc on external structures. But before diving into the first “deal” you find, consider some of the cost factors involved with replacing your roof so you’re not taken by surprise or, even worse, choose the wrong roofing contractor in Michigan.

Home Size and Shape

Homes and businesses can have varying roof shapes, which affect overall roof replacement costs. Issues such as the slope or pitch of the roof, roof accessibility, and actual square footage of the roof can require significantly more materials and labor. If safety is a concern, your hired contractor may need an extra worker or even a team of contractors to help them complete the job.

Types of Damage and Structural Problems

Your chosen roofing contractor in Michigan will need to know what type of damage and potential structural problems occur. Damage may be limited to moderate winds, fallen limbs, or even minimal water damage. But heavy water damage, ice dams, and other weather-related or structural issues may cause extra labor, extended work times, and far more replacement materials. Survey the issues from ground level and get closer to take pictures if safety isn’t an issue. The more a contractor knows about the repair needs upfront, the more likely they’ll be to provide a relatively cost estimate.

The Extent of Existing Roofing Materials and Required Demolition

You may not know how many layers of roofing materials are on your home or business roof, but knowing that upfront will help with cost estimates. If you have multiple layers to your roof, that will extend the demolition time. But don’t worry if you’re not immediately aware of that information since a good roofing contractor can discover that for you. Just be wary of any contractor who claims it’s okay to install new shingles or other materials over worn roofing materials. That will probably lead to extensive rot or other damage, which will lead to more structural damage and higher repair costs later.

Preferred Roofing Materials

One of the biggest cost factors for replacing your roof will be the materials the homeowner and contractor agree to use. If you don’t care what materials are used or if you want to go as cheap as possible, a good contractor may suggest asphalt or specially treated fiberglass shingles. But if you decide you want wood or slate shingles, expect the final costs to swell, especially compared to an estimate that didn’t originally include those high-end materials.

Extra Installation Requirements

Roof replacements and repairs don’t always just include roofing materials. Sometimes the customer needs a special coating or waterproof barrier. Perhaps they also want a skylight installed. Often, gutters and shingles also need to be replaced. Know what extra installation options you need or want and expect the overall costs to reflect those decisions. Call us when you’re ready to discuss those needs with a roofing contractor in Michigan, and we’ll help you make the best decisions for your situation.

4 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Roofer

Hire a roofer like a pro and never waste your time, energy, and money again. Just follow these tips and questions to ask a roofing contractor in Michigan.

Just like the rest of your home, your roof requires occasional care and maintenance. Ignoring your roof needs and repairs can lead to heartache, headaches, and serious financial strain down the road. But hiring the wrong contractor to do the repairs can be an epic failure from start to finish. Before you hire a roofer, be sure to ask the following questions.

Are You Licensed and Insured?

A competent roofing company must have a valid license that proves the workers are properly trained and have the experience needed to perform the required tasks to code. Proof of liability insurance and workers comp insurance can also be provided by the company to prove the client is covered from potential job-related damage and the workers are also covered in the event of accidents or injuries. A good roofing company should also inform the potential client of any permits the homeowner needs to secure and provide a checklist of cleanup and removal services included or as needed.

How Long Have You Been in Business?

Loads of new or more recent contractors or companies offer great “deals” for potential new customers. But those can often come with expensive mistakes and cut corners that the customer will eventually have to pay for themselves. Always opt for companies that have years of experience with the jobs you require. Moreover, don’t just rely on their word… do some research yourself. Check their website, double-check their BBB listing, and Google their employees to verify the listed credentials match. It doesn’t take long, but it can save you tons of time, money, and headaches in the long run.

Do You Have References?

Content, loyal, and repeat customers are any company’s bread and butter. So if a company or contractor claims they don’t have references on hand or that they can’t provide references, thank them for their time and run away. They’re not worth your attention. A legitimate roofing contractor in Michigan should have references for previous jobs similar to the one you need to be done. Some of those references should be recent work or completions, within 3-6 months at least. Look for reviews and testimonials posted on the website. Comprehensive reviews (those that aren’t necessarily glowing 5 stars) should be listed as well. The company or website should also be able to direct you to current reviews of the business and to their own Better Business Bureau listing and other relevant certifications or distinctions.

What Are Your Service and Product Warranties?

Most professional roofing materials such as shingles come with their own manufacturing warranties. However, a professional roofer or roofing company also may offer a warranty for the labor involved. Always confirm all warranties involved in your project, and be sure you understand and get those terms and promises in writing. If your shingles wear out in five years, who’s responsible for the repairs? If your gutters fall off or the external painting chips in a year, will the company come out and fix them for free? Never settle for less than you deserve. Call us when you’re ready to hire a roofer.