Up on the Roof (part 1)

by Christopher Wittmann

A roof is one of the most important structural elements of any home, providing protection from the weather and keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the hotter months.  As a very visible part of your home’s exterior, it also enhances (or detracts) from your home’s curb appeal.

In general, when it’s time to remodel or spruce up, most homeowners are not thinking about the roof first.  Usually it’s only when there are leaks, missing shingles, or other deficiencies that the roofing contractor is called.  And even then, it’s fix it or replace it – there’s not a lot of time, investment, or excitement going into it.  But there should be.

Roofing is more than just nailing shingles down.  There are many things that go into roofing a house and perhaps the most important is getting a roof that is warrantied and installed by credible workmen.  A good roof has everything to do with how it is installed; 90 percent of roof failures are the result of poor installation.

Callen has achieved Master Elite™ status as a roofing contractor through GAF.  That means we receive training, testing, and certification to properly install GAF roofing.  Because of GAF’s stringent standards, only the top three percent of all roofing contractors have qualified as Master Elite™ contractors!  Choosing a GAF Master Elite™ contractor is your assurance that you’ll be dealing with a quality, reputable, and dependable professional contractor — not some “fly-by-nighter.”  Additionally, continuing training is essential to maintain our certification.  We must also prove through a 40-point field inspection by the manufacturer that we are installing the roof per their requirements.  As a result, you have a better warranty.

I have heard that there are many roofers out there who take a look at the roof from the outside, don’t meet directly with the homeowner, and send an estimate either by mail or by leaving it in the mail box.  Callen is not like that.  Our company’s reputation is built on communication and trust.  We have many clients tell us that once they understand the service, products, installation, and what the warranties will include, they trust us more than any other company.

Our process for a roof repair or replacement begins with talking to you about your house, its history, and any issues or concerns you may have.  We provide references so you can call others who have had work done by us and get a perspective of who we are.  We look in the attic to inspect the underside of the roof’s decking, insulation levels, and ventilation.  We inspect the roof from the ground and gutter level to assess its condition, drainage, whether it is flashed properly, and impacted by surrounding trees.  We then take measurements and photos.

Once we have that, we sit down with you to discuss the scope of work, discuss different products and options, installation requirements, and provide warranty information based on those solutions.  We are upfront about the price and payment options.  If you choose to have us do the work, we set up the installation schedule and you get the paperwork to sign.

Although some situations may involve only replacing a small portion of the roof or shingle, performing a complete tear off is the best solution.  It provides a complete assessment of the condition of the existing roof.  We take off all the shingles, all the underlayments, get to the roof decking and determine if there are any deficiencies or leaks.  If we see a problem in the skeleton of the house, we are able to take corrective action before any new materials are installed.  With a tear off, we are able to provide a base for a level and more sustainable installation.  We are able to install the proper underlayments based on our climate, which consists of a moisture barrier, metal flashing, updated ventilation, synthetic deck protection, and doing what will provide the longest sustainability – the shingle itself.

In contrast, while a nail-over has lower initial investment, it can reduce the life of the new shingles.  Heat buildup can migrate to attic and living spaces, which can lead to higher energy costs.  Moisture can also be trapped in between the numerous layers causing the roof deck to break down.  Because deficiencies are undetected, you may inherit other issues that will cost more to fix later.  Another benefit of a complete tear off is qualifying for warranties for the entire roofing system (shingles, underlying materials, and workmanship).  In a nail-over, you are not benefiting from all of that.

Our approach is to do the best for you and our warranties are the best in the business.  The GAF Golden Pledge® Warranty covers workmanship for 25 years and a lifetime warranty on shingles, underlayments, and certain flashings for as long as the owner is in the house.  There is a general misconception that if a person has a 25-, 30-, or 40-year shingle, that is how long the shingles are going to last.  What it really means is that the manufacturer provides a warranty on just the shingle against any manufacturing defects including cracking, splitting, and granule degradation, to name a few.

Pricing by any contractor varies by materials, scope of project, installation costs, and their level of service.  Contracting with the lowest and even the middle estimate isn’t always the best value.  Consider that you get what you pay for and a strong warranty is key to that bottom line.