Roofing

Although in many instances a recover is allowed, it is not always wise.

A recover should only be performed under the most ideal conditions.

Weight is a huge consideration. Care must be taken to assure that added weight to the structure will not cause settling, low spots, etc.

Rotted wood is a huge concern.

Probably the worst thing you can do is to nail new roofing to an old, rotted structure.

When in doubt, call us! We’ll always give you solid, honest, information, and will always have your best interests at heart.

When it is time for a new roof, it is sometimes difficult to choose between all of the various products now available. Keep in mind though, that this is one of the times that you, the consumer, are at their most vulnerable, from a marketing standpoint. The following suggestions are offered to provide guidance to you in this difficult decision time:

Do you like your current roof style and type? Or, do you hate it? 

Obviously, if you are comfortable, the safe choice is to keep something similar to what you have now.

Conversely, if you don’t like the current look at all, then perhaps you should consider a change.

What should I change it to?

This is where things get tricky. Marketing people, from all companies, want to turn your purchase into an emotional experience, often upselling the price, rather than looking at things practically.

For example, a tile roof sometimes can be beautiful, when views in the photos from a glossy sales ad. However, when the same material is installed on a totally different structure, oftentimes it can look very obtrusive and somewhat out of place.

Conversely, the same can be said when switching from a tile roof, to an aluminum or asphalt shingle roof.  It is very difficult sometimes to visualize the end product.

How to choose a style:

My first suggestion is to take the process very seriously, Keeping in mind that once that new roof is on, it is permanent. There is no going back.

Take the time to look. Find houses that are similar to yours in appearance and structure. Note the type of roofing material used, then determine whether that look is desirable for your home. 

Take photos, noting, for future reference, the address, etc, and whether you like the appearance. 

Obtain samples of the various roof types. Take them home. Look at them in the light of day, if possible, in close proximity to your home.

Try your best to be practical. Try to take away the emotion.

Finally, talk to us, at RL Roofing and Solar. We can provide lots of information and guidance during these very difficult decision making times.

Which is better, an electric, or solar powered fan, or ridge vent, combined with intake ventilation at the bottom of the slope (passive ventilation)?

The good news is that they both work!

My feeling is that this can be looked at in two ways, first from an existing roof standpoint, then from a standpoint of re-roofing.

Probably, if the existing roof is staying, I would recommend attic fans, either electric or solar powered. They are normally controlled by a thermostat, and engage when the attic temperature reaches a pre-set level. Installing fans to an existing roof is easy, economical, and if installed professionally, cannot cause a roof leak.

In the case of a re-roof, my belief is that passive ventilation, ridge vent, along with intake at the bottom is better, simply because there is an opportunity to properly install both, while the roof is open. The passive type creates a “river of air”, entering from the bottom of the slope, then exiting through the ridge, continually moving passively, continually drying and cooling. Additionally, because this type is indeed passive, it can never break down or need repair, a problem to which the fan type of ventilation is subject.

Of course, the main thing is to properly ventilate. Your licensed roofing contractor, (hopefully Raneri and Long), can provide proper guidance and assist you in the right choice to best suit your needs.

Raneri and Long, the roofing name you can trust!

Satellite dishes are becoming more and more popular as the technology continues to progress.

CAUTION: Please do not allow the satellite company to bore holes through your roof!

There are much better ways, such as mounting to fascia boards, banding to chimneys, or using available flashing systems, which any qualified roofing contractor can supply, and roof in properly.

Remember, it makes no sense at all to drill your roof full of holes, then have to rely on a “handyman” to caulk the penetrations.

Save yourself a lot of hassle and future expense… when making alterations to your roof, do it right!

Raneri and Long will always guide you in the right direction.

Well, that depends. Something to remember: a manufacturer’s roof warranty is not an insurance policy. Most roof warranties cover a certain portion, usually on a pro rata basis, of the cost of replacement of the actual material which has failed, and that has actually caused a leak. If a manufacturer determines that the leak is not due to a material failure, the leak repair will not be covered under the warranty. For example, if, after a roof is installed by a La Mesa Roofer, a new a/c system is installed, or other types of repair work have been performed causing new penetrations to the roof, it is not the responsibility of the manufacturer, but in fact is the responsibility of the a/c installer. If, on the other hand, a shingle should crack, or delaminate, or lose granules prematurely, causing a leak, such leak repair would be covered, in most cases.

What is the extent of coverage?

Normally, coverage is limited to the supply of the failed material, again, on a pro rata basis. Pro rata simply means that a certain amount is deducted from the actual cost of the material, to cover the amount of life that has already been gleaned from the product. It’s kind of like buying a tire. If the tire is warranted for 50,000 miles, but you only get 30,000 miles, you normally won’t get the dollar amount of a new tire, but rather the amount due after the 30,000 miles of use you have already gotten is deducted. Additionally, roofing warranties will not cover interior damages due to leaks, etc.

Probably, if your contractor is legitimate, and offers his warranty, his will be the best. He will already have knowledge of your job, and the way your materials were installed. He will be able to determine, with certainty, the cause of developing problems, and offer the best solution, whether it be his workmanship, or, indeed a material failure.

We at Raneri and Long offer the best workmanship warranties in the industry. Where most State Law requires a 4 year labor warranty, we at Raneri and Long extend that mandated warranty to 10 years, in most cases.

Bottom line, the answer to the question of whether or not a warranty is valid, is yes. The truth of the matter, though, once again is to remember, A WARRANTY IN NOT AN INSURANCE POLICY. Not every issue, every time, will be covered. Our simple advice; read and understand your warranty, before you are in the position of having to rely on it. Doing so, could save you a lot of time and possible disappointment.

David Hancock

President

Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar

Many, many times I’ve been called to a job because of a suspected roof leak, only to find that, in fact, the water intrusion is coming from another source; skylights, mortar cracks around chimneys, windows, stucco walls, etc.

The single most important aspect of leak repair is to determine exactly the source of the intrusion.

Once the determination is made, the proper steps must be taken to fix the problem. They can involve skylight replacement, repair of mortar, re-caulking of windows, sealing of cracks in stucco, or whatever the true cause of the intrusion may be, the operative word being “true”.

So, how is the determination made?

Well, you should call a licensed roofing contractor, who in most cases will be able to pinpoint the problem, no matter what it is in relation to the roof. Once the actual cause is determined, your contractor will be able to estimate the cost of the repair, or, if is other than the roof, he’ll be able to recommend the right person to call to mitigate the problem.

Finally, once all has been said and done, make sure that the repair is warranted.

Remember, for all types of roofing repairs, maintenance, etc. call Raneri and Long. We’ll tell you the truth, and treat you right!

For years, manufacturers of various roofing products have often blamed a roof’s failure, if it does indeed fail, on the lack of proper ventilation.

So, what is proper ventilation?

Ventilation is measured in NFI (net free inches) of ventilation.

The main purpose, surprisingly enough for ventilation is not cooling, but rather, drying. When you attain adequate air movement, you greatly lessen the chance for mold and mildew formation; mold and mildew flourish in moist environments.

Secondly, of course, comes cooling. As the sun heats the air, and the hot air has little, or no chance to escape, it can actually “wick” downward, trapping the heat, permeating the ceiling, and causing higher temperatures inside the structure.

To attain proper ventilation, it is necessary to view it in two parts, the first of which is exhaust. Exhaust is created when warmer air rises, then through either turbine, gable, or dormer vents, and more recently ridge vents, that same air is allowed to escape.

Exhaust is good, but in order to attain optimum ventilation, attention must be given to intake ventilation which is created at the bottom of the slope, by either “bird holes” drilled above the baring wall, thru the fire block, or low profile roof vents, which are a manufactured product and which are installed at the bottom of the slopes, again above the baring wall.

Intake ventilation is crucial. Ideally, the net free inches of intake to exhaust ventilation should be about equal. If, however, for various reasons, that is not possible, the intake, rather than the exhaust, is the more important of the two.

Although, as roofing contractors, we are not scientists, most of us would agree that there is validity to the science. Our goal is that, when a question does arise, Raneri and Long will be your trusted source for information.

Question: I currently have a tile roof. I need to re-roof but do I have to go back with tile? 

A: Well, that’s a good question. I think the first step is to determine if you are very very comfortable or not so comfortable with your roof appearance as it stands now. We are all, at times, tempted to kind of redecorate. It’s crucial to remember, however, that it is sometimes hard to visualize the end result of that new decoration. Having said that, many people indeed do change the roof type. It’s interesting, but it usually only comes to mind while one is in the re-roofing “shopping stage.” You should keep in mind also, the community standards, HOA, CCR’s, etc. which will definitely govern what kind of change you can make to the exterior of your home.

As we tell everybody, on every job, roof replacement is definitely major construction. Once that construction is completed, it is not possible to change it. 

So, probably the best thing to do is to ask us for some addresses showing the materials that you’re interested in. We’re happy to provide those and they will allow you to drive by and check out the materials yourself. Bottom line, as in everything else in life, the changing of the roofing type or style should be taken very seriously. Raneri and Long, your roofing professional, will be happy to provide guidance. 

Remember, once it’s done, it can’t be undone!

Give us a call for any help you need. We’ll be happy to assist! Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar will always do our very best to help you make a good decision. Whether it is roof, solar, windows, patios or gutters, you can always count on us!

Tile roofing is unquestionably not a DIY undertaking! Whatever type of material you choose whether concrete or clay you should always have an experienced San Diego Roofing Contractor who has the knowledge about handling these kinds of materials and the precision they demand during installation. The process involves selecting underlayment that is suitable for the particular kind of tile and taking measurements of the rooftop and tiles before purchasing all of the materials. At that point, roof tiles should then be introduced in a particular example so as to guarantee that the tiles will remain set up and the rooftop won’t leak. The pitch of your rooftop likewise is a large factor in whether a tile roof is compatible with your home as they should not be used on rooftop pitches beneath 4:12.

An auxiliary specialist will likewise have the option to distinguish whether your rooftop confining will bolster the heaviness of a tile rooftop in any case. These materials are especially overwhelming: While a common black-top establishment weighs around 230 pounds for each square, a tile rooftop can go somewhere in the range of 500 to over a thousand pounds for every square!

Introducing concrete or clay on the rooftop likewise may involve spending more cash on extra encircling materials to reinforce the rooftop and enable it to help the additional weight. Also, the installment of a tile roof commonly takes longer than a customary shingle rooftop, which can climb work costs.

A Word on Maintaining a Tile Roof

In spite of the fact that tiles are incredibly solid and will keep going for a considerable length of time or hundreds of years, the material under the tiles will require some support, particularly when utilizing concrete tiles. The underlayment material should be inspected and renewed every ten to twenty years, which includes expelling the tiles, supplanting the underlayment, and after that reinstalling the tiles.

Studies show that about 85% of a homes heat loss is literally straight up through the attic area. Houses built before the energy crisis in the early seventies may only have a small bit of fiberglass insulation and empty spaces between the support beams. “Either way, the house is presumably wasting energy and the homeowners wasting their money”, says a San Diego Roofer

The amount of insulation that the material has is going to be measured by what is called an R-value. The greater the number of the R-value the more efficient the insulation is. Houses built prior to the seventies most likely have an R-value of 11 or even less, but today the measures call for R-values as great as 38 or more, depending on the homes geographic location.

Some houses may still have gray material put between the ceiling joists. If it is an older home, this could be a type of mineral wool. Newer homes are expected to have blown-in cellulose insulation. Either way, it can be left alone and insulation can be added over it.

A San Diego Roofing Contractor suggests that when handling insulation you should always wear gloves, eye protection, and a good dust mask, especially when handling fiberglass.

In some aspects, rigid foam insulation is a bit easier to work with, but fiberglass insulation is normally easier to get up into the attic. Have no fear if the fiberglass batt insulation at the hardware store looks to be too thin as it will expand.

To cut a batt to the size you want, lay it on a flat piece of plywood. Next, put a short piece of 2×4 at the location where you want to make your cut, put your foot on top of the 2×4 and lean over on it to push down the fiberglass. After it is compressed, it is much easier to cut with a box cutter or utility knife.

If you currently have 6″ of insulation and you’d like to get to the recommended R-38, you can add what’s called an “attic blanket”. It too is made out of fiberglass, but there is no paper backing on it. For installation, simply lay it over the joists. Continue adding layers until you achieve an R-38 rating.

Look around for the new and innovative no-itch poly-wrap insulation. You will be glad you did as it is much easier to manage and it is safer, making it deserving of the extra cost.

CALL RANERI & LONG TODAY AT (619) 561-3110

We hope this blog gave you some things to consider and makes you want to take the next steps to make sure your insulation is at a sufficient level. Adding insulation is not a DIY project for everyone and that is where we come in to the equation. We have had the satisfaction of making many homes and businesses safer and look forward to improving yourstoo!