Saving Money with Roofing Maintenance  

Most people don’t spend too much time thinking about the condition of their roof. But, the old expression “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies when it comes to roofing maintenance. The costs associated with routine maintenance of your roof doesn’t amount to much; the costs of ignoring routine maintenance, however, can be significant.

In the long run, you will save money with regular maintenance done now!

10 Things You Can Do Now

Here are a few tips for keeping your roof in tip-top condition: 

·        Trim back trees. To prevent damage to your shingles, trim back and remove overhanging tree branches or those getting close to your roof.

·        Keep gutters clear. Leaves and other miscellaneous debris can clog your gutter system, allowing water to back up into the attic or living areas of your home. It’s a good idea to check your gutters at least twice per year. Inspect your gutters, too, for sagging or other signs of damage.

·        Check downspouts. In addition to the gutters, make sure your downspouts are also free of congestion. If they are clogged, they can’t channel water away from your home.

·        Remove excess debris. Even a small layer of debris accumulation could potentially lead to moisture build up or a roof collapse. If the debris piles up, carefully remove debris off the roof.

·        Ensure proper ventilation. This is one of the most important elements in extending the life of your roof. Without proper ventilation, heat and moisture can accumulate in the attic, leading to roof rot and deteriorating insulation.

·        Ensure adequate insulation. A properly insulated attic space will allow your roof to perform at peak efficiency.

·        Look for storm damage. After a big storm, inspect the interior of your home for water stains. Check the outside for damaged shingles.

·        Check for moss or algae. Have your roof cleaned if your roof is starting to collect moss or algae.

·        Inspect flashings. Many roof leaks begin at flashing points, where the main body of the roof meets up with the home’s siding, chimneys or skylights. Check the flashings for holes, cracks, or other signs of damage or deterioration.

·        Consult with an expert. An experienced roofer, like Urbach Roofing, can provide a no-obligation consultation to help you in maintaining and caring for your roof. Take advantage of our skill and know-how to keep your roof performing its best.

Call your experienced roofing contractor if you need help with roofing maintenance or need a quick inspection. Urbach Roofing, Inc. has been serving customers, all year round, for more than 40 years! Our family-owned business is known for quality and professionalism.

Call San Marcos office at (760) 471-5065 for your roofing estimate today!

From new roof installations to roof leak repairs, we offer reliable, affordable and professional roofing services throughout San Diego County, and we look forward to serving you!

TRUTH ABOUT WARRANTIES

   Posted: June 28th, 2018

uNDERSTANDING ROOFING WARRANTIES!

It seems like everywhere you look everything comes with some sort of "warranty," cars, electronics, appliances......but your roof?  Yes, even a roof can come with a warranty. Now it leaves you with, is it needed or important? When you’re spending a lot of money on something like roofing your house, it’s important to know just what warranty you are getting.

STANDARD MATERIAL WARRANTIES

When a roofing company hands you more information on which warranty they offer, never, ever assume all warranties are created equal.  A typical shingle warranty from just any roofing company is just that, it covers the shingles and has a prorated term which most of the time is 10 years. So let’s say you were told by Chuck in the Truck Roofing Company that he is going to sell you a lifetime shingle and you have a 30 square roof. What this really means is you’re getting a 50 year shingle that begins to prorate after the full protection period of 10 years. So in year 11 if you have an issue with the shingles, you can file a claim, and at that time you will be reimbursed by dividing the number of years remaining on the warranty (39 years remaining by 50 year term of warranty) and multiply that by the number of squares, so you will receive a credit of 23.4 squares of shingles. No install, no removal included in this at all....... that will be the customers expense. What will it cost you to remove and install a 30 square roof and 11 years? Also you will have to pay for all the accessories such as new underlayment, nails, drip edge, caulking, sealants, prostart, ridge vent, step flashings, pipe flashings and many other items that it takes to make a "roof".

If you go with us a Certified Master Elite roofing company we can give you peace of mind and help you avoid this scenario completely by choosing one of the upgraded warranties that we offer.  The first option is called the  "Systems Plus Warranty" this warranty is just that a full system warranty with no proration and covers all parts and accessories, as well as the removal and replacement expense of the entire system at whatever year the claim is filed so if an 11 years there is a material defect GAF will pay to replace the entire system and the customer pays nothing out-of-pocket.

 

The best option that we offer is a warranty called the "Golden Pledge Warranty," what this covers is everything the systems plus warranty covers except it goes further, it not only covers the entire system, it covers the labor as well for 25 years. What this means is that all material defects are covered, as well as any labor installation defects. This allows you as the homeowner to rest assured that the roof on your home will not be your issue again for 25 years. With this option GAF backs the Master Elite Contractors workmanship, assuring that your new roof is installed to or above their specifications and then they back our warranty for the entire length of the time. If we retired in 11 years and you have an issue with your roof, GAF will still be there and will fix your roof at no cost to you, the customer.

While a warranty can look like a bunch of legal jargon that you just want to skim over, you might just want to read it or have them explain it.  For us, picking which warranty to offer our customers was easy. As a GAF Master Elite Certified Roofing Contractor, we are able to offer the "strongest and safest roofing warranties in America." What does that mean for you, the homeowner? It means that your roof warranty will not only provide superior long-term protection on the physical materials and components of the roof, but also the workmanship is well.

Urbach Roofing, Inc.

445 Production Street, San Marcos, CA 92078

760-471-5065

"PROUDLY SERVING OUR CUSTOMERS FOR 45 YEARS!"

Taking Care of your Skylights

Tips for Taking care of your Skylights

Many homeowners today are including skylights as part of an energy efficient build or makeover.
Why?
Because when properly placed, they can help lower heating and lighting costs by making efficient use of solar heat and natural light. They’re not only good for your utility bills, but for the environment as well. However, as with all good things, you need to maintain them properly. Here are a few tips to help you do that.

1. Clean Glass Regularly
Ensure the glass is thoroughly clean; start by soaking it in clean water and mild soap. Use a mild, non-abrasive glass cleaner and a soft brush (or pad) to remove any dirt and debris, and a squeegee or lint-free cloth to wipe clean. Avoid using metal scrapers, blades or knives as they can scratch or damage the glass.

2. Pre-finished Wood FramesIf your skylights have wood frames, do an annual inspection before spring for signs of peeling, cracking or fading. Also ensure all exterior fasteners are secure, and that cladding and flashing are free of excessive wear or scratches. Immediately replace any that are damaged or broken.

3. Venting and Electric Skylights
For venting skylights, make sure the mechanism that opens the sash is working problem-free by opening the skylights (turn off the power if it’s electric) and use a clean, dry towel to wipe off the chain.

4. Skylight Blinds
Consider installing blinds on your skylights if you already haven’t done so; they can help improve overall energy efficiency. Remote-controlled, solar-powered blinds allow you to easily open and close solar powered skylights, and shade them when the sun touches that part of the roof – improving the skylights’ energy performance rating by as much as 45%.

GAF: TigerPaw Synthetic Underlayment

Tiger Paw™ Roof Deck Protection

Help Protect Your Home From Damaging 
Moisture With Premium Roof Deck Protection

Premium-Quality Roof Deck Protection Can Protect And Beautify At The Same Time!

Premium-quality roof deck protection should protect your home by providing a critical extra layer of protection between your shingles and your roof deck. It helps prevent wind-driven rain (or water from other sources) from infiltrating under your shingles and causing damage to your roof structure, or to the inside of your home. In addition, premium-quality roof deck protection will:

• Help reduce damaging moisture that can become trapped on your roof deck
• Provide longer-lasting leak protection than conventional “felts” 
  (which can rot or become brittle before your shingles reach their useful life)
• Help your shingles lie flat and uniform, for a better-looking finished roof

WHY SHOULD YOU USE TIGER PAW UNDERLAYMENT ON YOUR ROOF?

There are many components to a roofing system. A complete roofing system includes field shingles, starter shingles, hip and ridge shingles, underlayment, leak barrier, pipe flashings and proper ventilation. There are many different options for each of these key components of the roofing system. Roofing underlayment is critical to the roofing systems longevity and overall effectiveness.

Urbach Roofing Inc. has installed virtually every type of roofing underlayment on the market in San Diego County and surrounding cities. After our many years of experience we have found our favorite underlayment, GAF’s Tigerpaw Synthetic underlayment. Tigerpaw Synthetic underlayment is not only superior for its application on the roof, but its much easier on our installers as well. Here are some of the features of the underlayment.

• Safer for Installers: It’s specially designed surface helps provide excellent walkability for installers versus conventional felts, or typical synthetic underlayment’s.

• Special Moisture Control Design: This helps remove nearly twice as much damaging moisture from your roof deck as the leading synthetic non-breathable underlayment.*As per ASTM D570-modified.

• Stronger: The synthetic non-woven construction provides at least 600%, or at least 7 x’s greater tear strength than standard #30 felt.

• Lightweight: At 40 lbs. per roll, it’s approximately 33% lighter that a roll of #30 felt.

• Installs Faster: The 10 square, 48” wide roll installs up to 33% faster than conventional felts.

• Roll Length: 250 feet; Roll Width: 48”; Total Area: 10 squares (1,000 sq. ft.); Roll Weight: 40 lbs.

A quality roofer  will always use a roofing underlayment on your home when performing a re-roof. Do not settle for a fly-by-night roofer re-using the old underlayment in your new roof system, or cutting corners by not using underlayment at all.

Make sure you verify your contractors credentials before you hire or sign a contract to verify that they are a safe choice for your project. Contractors State Board, check a license.

Check out what our customer are saying about us on Yelp!!
For more information on complete roofing systems or to request a free re-roofing estimate visit our websites Contact Us page or call 760-471-5065.

Common Roofing Issues and the Ways We Resolve Them

Your roofing system is a significant investment that you don’t want to fail prematurely. Unfortunately, it’s a common problem when your roof is old or was handled by inexperienced installers. With over 44 years of experience, Urbach Roofing is well aware of the common problems that homeowners face. We focus on three common causes of premature roof failure and provide the ways we deal with them.

1. Poor Installation

Ensure the proper installation of your residential roofing in San Diego County by hiring a contractor who is certified or otherwise acknowledged by the manufacturer as an installer of the product you’ve chosen. Otherwise, you may experience issues and not have any way of getting them resolved except at your own expense. Proper installation starts with great care when putting everything in place; all seams should be sealed correctly. Urbach Roofing makes sure we get things right the first time. Each step of our installation process comes with comprehensive quality checks to avoid any hassle and we only install products we know and are trained on.

2. Faulty Materials

Great roofs require both a conscientious installation and great materials. Urbach Roofing takes pride in our certifications from some of the best names in the roofing industry. We carry products from GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, ASC Metal Roofing, DaVinci, Boral, Eagle, and more. These are among the most durable, aesthetically pleasing, and long lasting products today. Combined with our exceptional installation process, these products will free you from worrying about premature failure.

3. Trapped Moisture

With coastal humidity, sometimes moisture problems affect many homes in San Diego County. While Urbach Roofing certainly provides timely and effective roof repairs throughout the County, you can deal with this problem through proper insulation and even reflective coating. With first-hand knowledge of the specific climate conditions in our area, Urbach Roofing will make sure your roof is free from unwanted moisture.

Don’t fall victim to these avoidable problems. Let Urbach Roofing provide you with roofs from the best brands, and an installation you can depend on. Call us today at (760) 471-5065, and we’ll be more than happy to help you find the perfect solution to your roofing needs.

Summer Roof Maintenance 101

SUMMER ROOF MAINTENANCE 101

SUMMER WEATHER CAN MEAN ROOFING ISSUES, KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR!

Most homeowners believe that once winter, fall and spring have passed their roofing worries have as well. That’s not entirely the case however, high summer temperatures can cause roofing problems and when not taken care of they will only become worse once winter and rainy seasons approach.

 During these hot summer days ventilation is a key component. During the summer, excess heat will build up in your attic which in turn causes high energy costs in order to cool your home. Along with this homeowners need to worry about moisture build up that is produced in the home. If that moisture that is being trapped in your attic is not released it may cause insulation and construction damage.

KEY AREAS TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN.

1. Inspect your roof with a complete walk-around from the ground, looking for shingle lift, missing shingles, cracked or dented shingles, moss or any other type of fungal growth, debris that has gathered in corners or roof valleys and roof damage of any kind.

2. Inspect the flashing (metal strips) around the chimney, skylight, vents, satellite dish, or any other roof protrusion. Flashing often loosens during harsh weather or can deteriorate over time.

3. Check the underside of eaves for debris that may have gathered and remove it. Be careful since this is a favorite spot for stinging insects to build nests.

4. Check for loose gutters. It’s common for storms to loosen them. Tighten all bolts, making certain the gutters are properly angled and aligned to divert water away from the house.

5. Clean out gutters, downspouts and roof drains. You’ll be surprised at the amount of flower blossoms, twigs, seeds and other debris that gathers in them during the spring. After cleaning the gutters, test them by running water through them using a garden hose. If the water flows freely through them with no leaks, you’re good to go.

WHY IS SUMMER ROOF MAINTENANCE IMPORTANT?

Because summer brings with it high temperatures, humidity, and sometimes strong Santa Ana winds it is vital to inspect and maintain your roof regularly. By doing this you can deter serious problems from happening as well as ensure the quality and life of your roof, which in turn can save you money.

If you come across any roofing issues during your summer maintenance and are in the San Diego County area of California contact Urbach Roofing, Inc. today. We are Master™ certified contractor through GAF and Tile Roofing Institute Trained and Certified. We have been providing our region with expert commercial and residential roofing services for over 40 years. We provide services in San Marcos, Escondido, Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Encinitas, Del Mar, La Jolla, Fallbrook and all of the surrounding San Diego cities.

Call for your roofing estimate: 760-471-5065

Or send us a message on our Contact Us page of our website: http://www.roofingsandiego.com/contact_us_.html

Get Involved In Your Community!

GAF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – COMMUNITY CONTRACTOR PROGRAM

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

Habitat for Humanity International was founded over 34 years ago by Linda and Millard Fuller in a small community called Koinonia Farm in Georgia, USA. In 1968 the Koinonia community began to build homes and sell them to families who were in need at no profit and no interest. This in turn lead to what we know today as Habitat for Humanity.

Today Habitat for Humanity has built over 400,000 houses and shelters more than 2 million people in more than 5 continents and 3,000 communities world wide.

GAF and Habitat for Humanity have teamed together to develop a program that benefits both the community and the contractor who participate in the program.

 HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

• Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses with families in need of affordable housing
• GAF provides roofing materials
• GAF Master Certified™ and MasterElite™ contractors provide labor
• Contractors will be recognized for their contribution and may present themselves as “local partners” in the GAF Habitat for Humanity Community Contractor Program
• GAF donates a System Plus ltd. warranty for each new roof installed under this program

 

There are three ways to earn your certification…

• Install roofing on two new Habitat For Humanity homes per year OR
• Install one re-roofing project per year that includes a tear-off OR
• Donate labor on two non-roofing projects per year (only when roofing is not needed locally)

URBACH ROOFING, INC JOINS THE COMMUNITY CONTRACTOR PROGRAM

Every year Urbach has the opportunity to partner with Habitat for Humanity to provide a local family in need with a new roof. This album features our crew and the outstanding community service they provided in installing a new GAF roofing system in San Diego County, CA.

“Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.” habitat.org