Orange County

Whether you’re looking to replace your roof, do some minor repairs, or subcontract the roof of your new-build home, you need to take some specific steps to find a great contractor. The contractor who does your job can make all the difference in the world. A great Orange County roofing contractor can make for a smooth, easy process of getting your job complete. But a bad contractor can result in not only headaches along the way, but shoddy workmanship that costs more in the long run.

So before you rush into signing a contract, follow these five tips for finding an excellent roofing contractor:

1.Go local

Your best bet when it comes to hiring a contractor is to go local. Local contractors, more than large companies or even installation crews from big chain hardware stores, understand the local markets. They’re more likely to understand what materials and techniques work best in your area. Plus, they’ll follow the current trends, so you can be sure that your roof looks up-to-date if you’re going for a replacement.

Also, local contractors are more likely to offer personalized, in-person service. This can make the whole process of getting your roofing project completed much easier.

2.Check for licensing and insurance

In Southern California, roofing contractors should be licensed by the state. They should be able to provide you with a license number, and you can cross reference that with the state database to ensure that the license is up to date. While not all licensed contractors are necessarily excellent, this is a good baseline to begin with.

So it’s time to replace the old roof on your home? Or maybe you’re doing a new build, but can’t decide what type of roof to put on your home.

With all the options on the market today - from metal to asphalt to clay and concrete tile - it can be difficult to pick a roofing material that will work best for you and your home. Luckily, a few steps can get you through much of the choosing process up front. Here are the steps you should take to eliminate some roofing materials right off the bat so that you can do your due diligence and choose the roof that will work best for your particular needs.

First, eliminate the impossible

The first thing you should do is eliminate any roofing types that are completely unsuitable for your home and the Southern California climate. On this second point, most types of roofing material can be made to suit the climate in SoCal. However, you’ll see cedar shake shingles less often here because the dry weather and sun exposure may weather them more quickly.

You should also look into the types of materials that your roof can support. Heavier materials, such as concrete and clay tiles, take a stronger supporting structure and underlayment than lighter options. While you can often retrofit a house to support these materials, this could add significantly to your costs. So ask your Orange County roofing contractor whether your current structure will support all types of materials, and you may be able to eliminate some options off the bat.

The moment an Orange County Roofing company begins servicing a roof, the team invariably knows whether or not someone else has been there first. And that someone usually is a homeowner intent on solving a problem without the assistance of an Orange County roofing contractor.  Not necessarily a bad move – provided said do-it-yourselfer has the requisite skill, knowledge, and time to do a creditable job. If this sounds like an accurate description of you, then, depending on the complexity of your roofing needs, you might be qualified for a DIY job – like cleaning leaves out of a rain gutter.  Anything more complex than that really does require the skills of a commercial roofing contractor.

Think about the investment you’ve made in your beautiful Orange County home, say in San Juan Capistrano. Would you really want to risk jeopardizing the investment by tearing into the roof, relying on your wits alone? Doesn’t it make more sense to call in a San Juan Capistrano roofer to tackle the assignment? In most cases, the answer will be a resounding ‘yes’.   
 
It’s not unusual for an Orange County roofing company to be summonsed for a roof rescue. These typically occur when homeowners have started something they couldn’t finish – at least, couldn't finish without risking their safety or the future performance of their roof tiles. The dollars these homeowners had hoped to save now will spent in increasing amounts, mainly to cover any damage caused by their efforts, as well as service costs. In the long run, DIY roofing services likely will set you back more than originally anticipated.

So think before you tackle a roofing assignment. Because, in all likelihood, you’ll pay tomorrow for whatever mistakes you make today.

If you have any questions about doing your own roof servicing, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County Roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Brea or anywhere else in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

Part of maintaining your roof is actually keeping it clean, as odd as this might sound. But debris built up on your roof can cause some serious problems, from leaks to backed-up gutters. Just like you need to clean your gutters regularly, you’ll also need to regularly clean your roof.

How often you’ll need to clean your roof depends on a variety of factors, including the type of roofing material that’s on your roof. Talk to your Orange County roofing contractor about whether or not your roof needs cleaned regularly.

If you can see debris

Built-up debris from tree leaves and other things on your roof can cause some serious problems. Debris can itself start rotting, which can cause certain roofing materials to do the same. But even if rot isn’t a problem, debris can stain your roof, causing your property values to lower. Or debris can keep your roof from functioning as designed, since it can block the flow of water from your roof into your gutters.

Heavier debris, such as sticks, can also puncture your roofing materials, causing holes and leaks in the roof. Of course, this is a problem you want to avoid at all costs!

Your roof is one of the most important components of your home, since it protects the rest of your home from wear and tear. Even the best-installed roof from the best materials will need replaced eventually. But you can mitigate the need to repair or replace your roof by establishing and following a maintenance plan early on. Here’s how you can establish and keep track of your roof’s maintenance plan.

1.First, understand the whys

Before you’ll take time to follow a maintenance plan for your roof, you’ll want to know why you should do such a thing. Talk to your Orange County roofers about this, and they’ll tell you why it’s important to actually follow a roofing maintenance plan.

You need to change the oil in your car to keep larger problems from cropping up down the road. The same thing goes for your roof. Though you don’t need to replace the oil, you do need to be sure your roof is in good repair on a regular basis to avoid more expensive repairs down the road.

Every Orange County roofing company understands that you want to keep your roof in good working order and completely leak-free. That is, unless you prefer the pleasure of water droplets steadily plopping your head or possibly on the new sofa. Which is why this Orange County roofing contractor recommends preventative maintenance for your rooftop.

The good news is, you needn’t call in your local commercial roofing contractor to carry out a preliminary preventative maintenance program. Much of the basic work easily can be done by you, members of your family, and if you bribe them sufficiently, perhaps neighbors and friends.

If Orange County is your home, you may not be particularly concerned about roof leaks. So why bother with maintenance? After all, rainfall is minimal in this neck of the woods. True, but when the rains do arrive, you’re roof is as vulnerable as those in the moister regions. So don’t think you’re invulnerable if you live in a place such as San Clemente. You may not have to call in a San Clemente roofer. But you will have to do some looking around … at least, for the preliminary stages.

No matter where you live in Orange County, one of the first places to do your looking is not necessarily on the roofing material itself. No, it’s the chimney (assuming, of course, you have a fireplace.) Believe it or not, chimneys are among the top leak zones. So make sure yours is properly sealed. If not, you’re inviting rainwater into your home. You’ll also want to check out your skylights, as these also are major leak sources. You see, water can get trapped behind skylights. Therefore, make certain the flashing is in good shape. And don’t forget, the skylight material itself can crack or puncture, allowing moisture inside.

If you have any questions about preventative roof maintenance, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in San Clemente or anywhere else in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

If you’re considering the purchase of a vintage home in OC, this Orange County roofing company strongly recommends you look closely at the rooftop. Aging roofs may be and probably are severely worn. Unless, of course, a reliable Orange County roofing contractor recently has performed a roof replacement on the residence you’re considering. Then you have little to worry about except the plumbing. But that’s not our department.

Vintage homes abound in Orange County. Laguna Beach definitely has its share. If you’re considering the purchase of classic residence in this community, you’ll want an evaluation from a qualified Laguna Beach roofing company such as Luke Roofing. This will alert you to any potential problems well in advance.

What are some of the possible problems commonly associated with worn roofs? Among the most common encountered by commercial roofing contractors are pest invasions, water damage, and deteriorated insulation.  Should any or all of these issues be discovered after you move in, the price tag for correction and repair will be a small fortune. It’s much wiser to get an advance opinion of a qualified Orange County roofing company.

You may be able to spot some of the telltale signs of roofing problems yourself. Obvious ones are missing or broken shingles, crumbling rooftop cement, bent gutter, ongoing dampness in the attic (assuming the home has one), water spots on walls and carpet, and yes, even a lurking creature or two residing comfortably in the attic. Clearly, it’s best to get a roof inspection than to discover furry uninvited guests after you hang your hat.

If you have any questions about roofing issues associated with vintage homes, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Dana Point or anywhere else in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

When considering an Orange County roofer for the job of installing a new roof, one thing on your mind will be the material utilized.  There is a diversity of roofing materials to choose from, each offering its own benefits. What you ask your Orange County roofer to install will depend largely on your personal preferences.

For durability, nothing stands the test of time like slate shingles. Roofs made of this material are among the longest lasting on the market. Some slate roots are more than a century old. And believe it or not, they’re still doing their job superbly, keeping water out and the heat in as needed.

For certain Orange County residents, slate roofs may be just what they’re looking for. How would you go about getting one? Well, let’s say you lived in Tustin. The first thing you’d do is call in a Tustin roofer to provide an estimate. During this estimate, the commercial roofer will present you with an overview of the roof type, pointing out its advantages.

The Advantages of Slate Shingles

As mentioned already, slate shingles are highly durable, with their useful lifespan ranging from 80-100 years. Along with longevity, slate offers tremendous water-resisting power. The reason for this resistance is its position on the water absorption index, which is .4%. Yeah, very little gets past it. Not surprisingly, the material also is exceedingly strong, providing substantial protection should the winds kick up.

On the aesthetic side of things, slate has a very unique appearance that sets it apart from the crowd. If you’re looking for that ‘special look’, slate shingles could be the way to go.

If you have any questions about slate shingles, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Foothill Ranch or anywhere else in OC, you can definitely count on Luke Roofing.

Are you hiring an Orange County roofing contractor to put a new roof on your home? Maybe your main goals is to increase your curb appeal and the value of your home, or to replace a worn out roof. Either way, you’ll find that the re-roofing process requires some preparation on your part.

Whether your roofers are working on your home or your business, you’ll what to take certain steps to prepare yourself for the process, and to get through it well.

Keep in mind that you may need to move out of your home or shut down your business temporarily, especially during the early phases. Re-roofing can be messy and even dangerous at times. It’s best to talk to your roofing contractor ahead of the process to see if they have advice on whether or not you can stay in your home.

Does your Orange County roof have a slow leak?

Sometimes, especially in sunny SoCal, your roof will have no signs of a leak. A home that looks to be in perfect condition, though, could be hiding insidious problems with its number one form of protection: the roof.

Whether your roof is tile, asphalt, or metal, if it wasn’t installed properly, it could have a slow leak. But here’s the thing: with a slow leak, you may never know you have a problem until it’s too late to avoid replacing the entire roof, and maybe even some beams and rafters.

The danger of a slow leak is that you may not notice it for months or even years. This is especially true if you rarely go into your attic. But these types of leaks can cause serious damage over time, including rotting through your roofing underlayment or causing mold.

So what should you look for as signs of a slow leak in your roof? And how will an Orange County roofing contractor fix the problem? Or even help you prevent it? Here’s what you need to know.

Signs of a slow leak

A regular roofing leak is pretty easy to spot. It comes with a drip-dripping during sudden storms. You may even notice holes or missing shingles or tiles from the outside of your home. The signs of a slow leak, though, are more subtle. They include:

You know they have something to do with leaks. But Orange County roofers do much more than patch holes. In fact, commercial roofers are known for a wide range of abilities.

What if you lived in Costa Mesa and were considering a new roof. What kind is best for your home, your budget? Can you answer these questions comfortably and accurately? A Costa Mesa roofer certainly could. When you call in one of these Orange County roofing companies, you’re connecting with a group of professionals who know the territory inside and out.

And quite a territory it is. Roofing can be made of any number of materials, with the list growing rapidly as new technologies impact the industry. A commercial roofer must know them all – tar, asphalt, gravel, rubber, thermoplastic, metal, and shingles. The list goes on.

Any one of these materials can safeguard homes and other buildings, making roofs virtually impervious to moisture -- even if it’s raining like a monsoon. Without this protection, water damage would ruin ceilings, walls, and furnishings.

With a proven Orange County roofing company, you get experts who know which of these materials offers the best protection for your home. Equally important, these professionals are trained to recognize subtle signs of deterioration in these materials. When commercial roofers spot these signs on your own roof, they give you advance warning. You’ll know in plenty of time whether you should repair or replace those worn shingles.

In order to practice their craft with acceptable proficiency, many Orange County roofing contractors go through some serious training.  Some receive their education through intensive apprenticeship programs, which include on-the-job training, as well as classroom instruction.

If you have any questions about what Orange County roofers do, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Costa Mesa or anywhere else in OC, you can definitely count on Luke Roofing.

Orange County roofers know the importance of a well-functioning roof. Of course, sometimes those functions go beyond the typical ones. Indeed, we Orange County roofing contractors are aware that roofs can have a variety of unique uses.

Case in point is the roof garden. Why would you want plants growing atop your home sweet home? Consider this for a moment -- What if you lived in Laguna Beach and craved a larger garden? You step outside the door and realize what you’ve suspected all along – there just isn’t enough room for another crop of lettuce and tomatoes. But you’re far from out of luck. Laguna Beach roofers see a ray of hope headed in your direction. You can farm lettuce, tomatoes, and whatever other plant life your heart desires atop your very own roof.    

Also known as a green roof, a roof garden is a large raised-bed containing flowers and plants personally selected by you.  These gardens offer various advantages, starting with a certain aesthetic appeal. They just look good up there – assuming thoughtful design has been applied. And depending on what’s being grown, it may taste good, as well. A variety of farmable goodies, including lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots can thrive atop your home.

Getting your roof garden started is fairly straightforward. After your roof has been thoroughly prepared by a qualified commercial roofing contractor, your garden will be ready for planting. Essentially, there are two ways in which this can be accomplished. You can utilize either a modular system consisting of plant trays or you can layer the roof with soil and drop in plants or seeds, just as you would with a ground garden.

If you have any questions about roof improvements such as roof gardens, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in La Habra or anywhere else in OC, you can definitely count on Luke Roofing.

What will the roof of a house in Anaheim or any other Orange County community look like in the years ahead? What materials might Anaheim roofers utilize for this all important part of a home’s exterior?  While there is no definitive answer to this question, there are a number of innovative roofing possibilities looming on the horizon. More than likely, Orange County roofers will be making one or more of the possibilities part of their game plan.  Among the likely materials that will be worked into the repertoire of Orange County roofers is transparent solar films.   

If adapted in a large-scale capacity, transparent solar films will drastically alter the energy-saving characteristics of roofs. In essence, this material will make solar panels unnecessary.  In place of large, bulky gatherers of sun energy, there will be a roof coating incorporating transparent solar films. The coating could be installed by a commercial roofer, just as with any other kind of material.

Aside from being unobtrusive and essentially invisible, the roof coating described above offers several other huge advantages. First, the material helps block excess heat. The upshot of this, of course, is lower air conditioning bills. 

But the second, far more impressive advantage is the ability of transparent solar films to generate electricity. The coating does so by absorbing light and converting it into electrical power easily used for a variety of applications. Basically, it’s solar panels without the panels. Unlike solar panels, however, transparent solar films absorb only infrared solar light. Since infrared light doesn’t require dark colors for absorption, the roof coating can be clear.  

Transparent solar films promise to have other household applications, as well. In the future, chances are good that we’ll see windows and walls also coated with the electricity-generating material.  

If you have any questions about roofing innovations, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. Among the long-established Orange County roofers, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Anaheim or anywhere else in OC, you can definitely count on Luke Roofing.

As you might already know, the federal government often offers tax credits to incentivize eco-friendly improvements on your home. You can, for instance, get a tax credit for installing a solar water heater or a more efficient furnace. And in 2016, you can get a tax credit for an energy-efficient roof, too!

The details

This tax credit is a federal income tax credit, and it’s effective through the end of this year: December 31st, 2016. In other words, you must have the roof installed before the end of the year to claim the credit.

The credit is for up to 10% of the cost of your roof, not including installation costs. You can claim up to $500. So to get the full credit, you’ll need to spend $5,000 on roofing materials.

One item of note here: roofs installed on business and secondary properties don’t count. The roof needs to be on your primary residence in order to apply for this tax credit. Your principal residence is defined as a home that you own and that you live in most of the time. Also, the roof must be retrofitted to an existing home. You can’t claim the credit if you’re adding a cooling roof to a new construction home.

Once upon a time, metal roofs were merely sheets of tin tossed up over southern shanties and red barns. The corrugated metal looked attractive, in a rustic, woodsy sort of way. But metal wasn’t a material you’d use for most residential roofs, especially not if your house was of a certain style.

But today, metal roofing has expanded its repertoire. It’s now a versatile, good-looking option that can look like more traditional roofing materials for residences. Whether your home is a European-style Colonial, a contemporary home, or even a classic SoCal mission style, there’s a metal roof for your home.

But first, the benefits

Of course, other types of roofs will also work for these styles of homes. Colonials, for instance, are often roofed in wood shingles or even asphalt shingles. Contemporary homes typically use shingle roofs, though some other options are used. And on mission-style adobe homes, you’ll usually find slate or clay tile roofing.