Inevitably, every house’s roof will need to be replaced, begging the question, replace it with what?   There are more roofing changes available than ever.   However, much of the decision process can be narrowed down by what roofing material is already on the roof.

Sometimes, there is an advantage to staying with the same type of roofing material that is currently on the roof.

This is mainly because of the type of sheathing required for various types of roofs.   Composition shingles require a flat, solid decking surface, while cedar roofs should have skip sheathing (strips of sheathing with gaps between for adequate ventilation) and yet tile roofs can require a unique mix of flat surface with battens extending out.  Additionally, some types of tile are very heavy and require extra roof reinforcement to ensure the structure meets code.  The cost of converting the decking can often reduce the cost of switching to a less expensive material.

Generally speaking, homeowners most commonly convert towards composition shingles if they decide not to proceed with either another cedar or tile roof.

Not only is it the most affordable roofing material, it also requires the least effort in converting the sheathing.   For example, a roof being converted from cedar to composition only requires plywood being installed on top of the existing skip sheathing wear as if a similar roof was to be converted from composition to cedar, the solid sheathing would need to be torn off before installation of the skip sheathing installed.

All this being said, we believe it is critical to consider the original style of the home when making the decision of what type of roof replacement to pursue.   Some homes were designed with a certain roof type in mind and a change away from this, while possibly offering some modest short-term savings, might impact the overall look of the home and affect its future salability.

If you would like help in reviewing your roof replacement options, one of All Surface’s skilled estimators would be happy to consult with you.

How to Find the Best Portland Roofers.

When you are searching for Portland roofers, whether online, in the newspaper, yellow pages or any other media, all you really know about them is what they tell you.   One area that tends to get overlooked is the issue of what or who is behind the guy who comes to your door.   Let me elaborate.

The best Portland roofers you will find!

Two Portland roofers come to your home and give you estimates.   Let’s assume they both propose very similar things about your roof project.   You feel the same level of confidence with both individuals.   So, where do you go from here in your decision making process?

While there are many additional factors, for this discussion let’s just focus on company size.   I propose that there are negatives to both too small and too large of a company.   The large company, with 100 plus roofers, has more obvious negatives.   It is easier for the homeowner to become lost in the shuffle.   Many employees are just seasonal temps with lower skill sets brought on to help slam out jobs fast.   Personal attention is usually very low.

However, the company that is too small presents even more detrimental factors.  Some homeowners get sucked into the presumed attractiveness of having the owner/estimator/manager being the one “pounding the nails.”   If the Portland roofer you choose to hire is basically a “one man show” who runs his own crew with a couple of helpers,” you are at great risk in a couple of areas.   Essentially, there is no backup if ANYTHING goes wrong.

If the owner has any problem (injury, employee related, financial) you project might be greatly delayed.   If he were to get injured in the middle of your project it would sit half completed.   Do you really want to try finding other Portland roofers to finish your exposed roof on short order?   If you make it through your project OK, be aware that all future support and service throughout the warranty are still dependent upon this one person’s capabilities.

Then consider that a small, one person business is usually less financial capability.   Why should you care?   Because a lack financial strength manifests itself in forms such as requiring high deposits (in order to finance the job) and the risk possible liens against your property if they can not pay their suppliers.  Simply put, when you hire too small of a roofing contractor, the fate of your project and all future service are tied up with a single individual.   That is not a comforting thought.

If you want Portland Roofers who are big enough to get your job done promptly and be there to protect you in the future yet without treating you as just a number, it’s time to call All Surface!

More and more, we are encountering attics and roofs in the Portland area that are under-vented.   Some of the sign of this are immediately obvious, such as mold and mildew forming on the attic surfaces.   Others, however, are not visible to the eye.   They are visible to your pocketbook!   Heating and cooling cost can be greatly exaggerated as a result of a poorly vented roof-attic system.   Finally, your very expensive roof is slowly having years taken off it’s life.

An excellent intake vent - The Edge by Air Vent, Inc.

A combination of proper measures with both the roof and the attic are required to work in conjunction with each other.   Your roof needs to have a balance of intake ventilation and exhaust vents.   Without this, air will not properly move through out the attic, removing trapped hot air in summer and allowing more even heat distribution in winter.   Even temperature distribution in winter helps prevent ice dams, one of the more frustrating roof problem you might ever face.

On the inside, there are also important tasks to be taken into consideration.   Insulation, if improperly extended over the eave vents, can nullify an air movement plan that looks correct from the outside.   Baffles might need to be installed to keep insulation away from vents.   Additionally, the design and shape of the attic area needs to be reviewed.   Sometimes, attic spaces that include several sections at different elevations or that are partially obstructed might need to be treated as unique areas and individually enclosed.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms noted above, today is the day to call All Surface for your free review and evaluation.

Roof Leaks – Not all are caused by the roof!

Not all roof leaks are the result of the roof itself failing.   Sometimes a roof has no chance for avoiding a leak when the roofing contractor or possibly some other contractor does not adhere to the best practices available.   This roofing video show a leaky roof that was caused by a gutter downspout.

Whether you have a leak or if you would just like to have your roof reviewed, give us a call today for a free inspection.

Warranties provide security and comfort.   Particularly with a roof, since so much of your house’s well being is dependent upon a proper roof protecting the rest of the house.   But what if that security blanket doesn’t really exist?

You dont want this to happen to your roof warranty.

Here is a brief review of some items to be aware of, each capable of voiding your roof warranty.

1. An improperly ventilated roof can void your roof warranty.   Normally, we might get bothered that an attic area is too hot but not consider what else is going on.   Lack of ventilation not only prevents the 3-4 gallons of moisture a typical family creates every day from properly escaping the house, but it also leads to the “baking” of your shingles.   They are already faced with a huge amount of heat exposure and when temperatures from their bottom side get too hot, the roof will eventually start to lift or blister.  A properly ventilated roof should allow a bare minimum of one square foot net    free ventilating area per 150 square feet of space ventilated.   Improper attic ventilation is becoming one of the most common causes of premature roof failure.
2. How about a stray nail?   Yep, that could do it too.   Shingles come from the manufacture with very specific installation instructions.   One such instruction is for all nailing to occur within an exact zone.   Even a nail or two outside of this area could give a manufacturer an out for honoring a warranty.
3. Improper installation of anything installed through the roof (decorations, dishes and antennas) can also be a cause for voiding a warranty.   Penetrations to a roof system need to be done by an experience roofing professional to ensure they are correct and not subjecting the surrounding roof to potential leak damage.
4. Improper installation or non-standardized use of flashing.   Flashing are a critical part of a roof system and the lack of necessary flashing or the inappropriate usage of it (directing water in a way or to a place it should not be) can put your roof at risk.
5. Excessive debris accumulation, especially here is the Portland Oregon area, can be a prime cause of roof failure or voiding a roof’s warranty.   I often joke to customers not to use their roof as their compost bin.   That is the wrong way to go about “green roofing!”
6. Don’t store materials on your rooftop.   OK, I agree, that is not my first choice on where I would stare my spare stuff, however we do see in on occasion.   Commonly is will be spare roofing materials that no one has ever felt like going up and getting.   More common is when there might be a flat roof section involved.   Also, old toe boards from past repairs sometimes get left there, possibly in anticipation of future problems (I prefer to be a little more optimistic, myself!)
7. Certain manufactures won’t warranty or will offer a shortened warranty if a new roof is installed over an existing old roof.   This needs to be taken on a case by case basis.   Even if warrantied, a recover, as it is commonly called, will not last as long as the same exact roofing material being installed directly on top of new decking and underlayment.
8. High pressure power washing.   There are better ways to approach moss removal on most roofs.   I say most because there is the occasion roof where that is the only option.   Additionally, not all power washing is the same.   A power washer is a tool and like all tools, it can be used in different ways.   Using one as a high water volume rinsing tool is considerably different that using it at high pressure, treating a roof like it was a concrete driveway.

These are a lot of potential infringements upon the security of your roof’s warranty.   As always, it pays to look before you leap.

If you would like us to help you with taking that look, just contact us All Surface Roofing today!

There are many small problems that can cause a roof leak. Vents and pipes are always some of the most common. Additionally, many unique things get done to roofs and their components over the years. This roof leak in the short video is from a roof pipe that was previously deactivated and sealed off. Eventually, the pipe boot seal deteriorated and leaking started. The homeowner decided it was time to have it fixed right and we just sealed off the old exposure correctly.

Regardless of what the specific problem might be with your roof leak, get started towards fixing it today with a quick call to Portland’s most trusted and reputable roof repair company!

Gutter Installation and Replacement is a Common Need in the Portland Area.

There comes a time when all gutters will need to be replaced, particularly in an environment like Portland’s.   Gutter installation is one job definitely best left to the professional.   The most common problems encountered with gutters requiring replacement involve either rust or damage for pulling away.   Oh, and on very, very, rare occasion, an over ambitious homeowner with a drill!

There are better ways from keeping your gutters from overflowing that by negating their original purpose entirely (see our GutterFlow system that carries a 20 year No Clog Warranty!)

Rust is the number one enemy of gutters in Portland.   The constant moisture kept at the bottom eventually gets the best of the metal.   Of course there are aluminum options to prevent the rusting.   Whenever possible, we recommend aluminum gutters just for this reason. Then the gutters only have to be defended against damage caused by either falling branches or pulling away from the facia board and twisting.

Gutters just don’t decide that they want to pull away.   They do it because of excess weight accumulating.   Both sitting water and debris add weight beyond what the gutter system was designed to hold.   When All Surface installs gutters, we guarantee that the grade will be correct.   A mild slope is required to run the water towards the downspout for prompt evacuation of the rainwater.  After ensuring the proper grade, we then water test all gutter installations to be certain that all water flows out of the system.

Foundation settling is a common occurrence in the Portland area, with certain areas having softer soils and the occasional earthquake.   Then, even gutters that were originally well graded may lose their proper slope.   For these reasons, periodic review of your gutter system is recommended.

When it comes to roof and gutter debris, there are choices.   You can risk life and limb and waste your valuable time trying to clean them yourself, hire a company like our cleaning division to affordably handle the job for you, or consider our GutterFlow System to keep your gutter interiors from needing cleaning.   We think the last two options are the wisest!

Let’s talk today about how we can help you with your gutter problems, whether you need a new installation, replacement, cleaning or a protection system.

I’ll be the first to sing the praises of duct tape.   I’ve often said that two of my favorite products of all time are duct tape and WD-40.   Why?   Because they are versatile, actually work and often exceed expectations.   Now that I think about it, that kind or reminds me of All Surface, but I digress!

That being said, even these wonderful products have their practical limitations.   No more than you would use WD-40 as motor engine oil for your car, you should not use duct tape as a part of a roofing and skylight installation.   Unfortunately, while it may sound like I am writing this for the benefit of the amateur Do-It-Yourselfer, the job shown in the photo was done by a contractor!

Some shoddy workmanship that we were hired to correct.

We were called out to this house for a leaking skylight.   Upon being hired for the leak repair project, we were amazed with what we found.   The original installation had been done with a slathering of tar and duct tape!   It is a wonder it was ever waterproof at all.   As you can see from the photo below, we came in and corrected the area using proper roofing materials (in this case, a water and ice barrier material was determined to fit the need.)   Note: The photo below shows the repair in process – it was finished off with more roofing being reinstalled over the barrier and flashing.

Properly Repaired Skylight Leak in Process

There is a reason that we encourage our customers and prospective customers to ask the question “Who Should You Trust To Roof Your Home?”

If you are in need of some roofing help, it’s time to contact the “Never Have A Leaky Roof Again Company!”

When faced with a roof leak, any worthwhile solution will take into consideration the need to keep the leak for reoccurring.

Sometimes it isn’t the roof that is the problem but rather the design. We encounter some designs that are asking quite a lot of the roof to stay waterproof. Take a look at the photo below.

A difficult design for a roof to maintain integrity

With some roofs, it is almost inevitable that sometime during its life it will leak just due to the design.

In this case, there are two roofs forming a valley that empties right into the siding. That is really pushing the limits of the roof and siding structure to eventually not be overcome with a leak. Add into the mix some moss or snow that impede and dam the normal flow of the rainwater and a leak is not far behind.

The good news is that with enough patience, expertise and the right materials, any leak can be fixed. Repairing leaks in Portland, we often find ourselves using over-sized flashing and a wonderful material generically called water and ice barrier. In flatter sections of roof or areas highly prone to water backing up underneath the shingle, shake or tile, this barrier provides another layer of protection.

If you find your roof needing a leak repair and want to be sure it won’t happen again anytime soon, check in with Portland’s leak repair experts!

Home Roof Repair – When you can wait and when you need to act fast

Here is a pretty good rule of thumb to use with roof repairs:   If something looks out of place on your roof, it is likely wise to have it dealt with promptly.    Below are a couple of recent roofs that we inspected where the homeowner decided that they could still wait a little longer before correcting the problem because it had not yet started to leak.

Waiting too long to repair your roof

Don't wait too long for needed roof repairs

Maybe some folks are just bigger gamblers than I am.    There are not many signs of needing roof repair that are more obvious than when shakes and shingles are starting to come loose and slide down the roof,.   In cases like these, you are one high wind and a little driving rain away from having an unwelcome visitor in your home – RAINWATER!

Now, no one wants spend money they don’t absolutely have to, but you need to also consider the cost of potential damage for not taking prompt action.  Many repairs can be done in a very spot specific manner.   All that may be needed is a few shakes or shingles replaced in the most sensitive areas to tide you over until you can afford a new roof.

We are ready to stop by and take a look at your roof, no charge. Call us today!   503-598-7404.

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