5 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Roof

Posted by Kelly Burbank on

The snow has pretty melted away, though we have been witnessing some April snowstorms, depending on your elevation and so you are beginning to be able to spend more time in the yard, it’s high time to assess the state of your roof. A basic spring roof cleaning is in order, but what else does your roof need to look good?

It’s a big part of your house and of first impressions. One of the first things seen by friends and potential homebuyers alike. It should look good from all angles.

If your roof is in a less-than-ideal condition and dragging down your property’s appearance, you’ve found the right article.

Keep reading to learn five great spring roof cleaning tips.

  1. Clean Away Debris

Gutters full of leaves, pine needles and parts of shingles will make your house look a lot worse.

During the fall and winter, a lot of debris will collect on your roof and in your gutters. When the snow melts away, it becomes a painful sight to behold. There’s a nice-looking roof underneath which should be seen.

Sweep off the roof and clean out the gutters. When all the leaves and debris are gone, your house will look presentable.

Keep in mind that roof cleaning can be unsafe, and may also cause damage to shingles. Be careful when you’re working on the roof.

If you find a lot of dirt and dust, it’s wise to get help from a professional roofing expert.

  1. Get Rid of Moss/Algae

In moist climates, both roofs and walls can suffer from a gradual overgrowth of moss, algae, and mildew. If your roof is old and your house is surrounded by trees, this problem is more likely.

They don’t just look horrid, they can also damage the shingles. Cleaning these parasites off your roof can take time, but it’s an easy process.

Mix water and bleach and give the roof a gentle scrub.

It’s a temporary solution, and if you want a permanent fix you can have zinc or copper installed to hinder the growth.

  1. Repairing Edges and Eaves

Edges and eaves become very noticeable when people get closer to the house.

Take a closer look and determine how they look. Do you notice uneven or frayed shingle edges? Is there pain flecking off the eaves?

Repairing your eaves and dealing with worn out edge shingles should be part of your annual roof cleaning. Replace, repair, and repaint until it looks fresh and presentable.

Take a look at your flashing too. If it’s rusting or crooked, consider replacing it.

Your roof edges should always look straight and neat.

  1. Replace the Gutters

Gutters are among the most visible features of your roof. If they’re sagging, crooked, or rusty, your house will look bad.

The good news is that repairs and replacements are simple procedures. It makes a nice “facelift” for your property.

Installing modern copper gutters both improves water drainage and makes the house look better. You can also opt for stylish designs and replace downspouts with chains.

  1. Replace the Shingles

If your shingles are starting to look damaged in general, consider a full replacement. It may be worse than you think.

See it as an opportunity. The color of your shingles will affect the whole appearance of your property.

Replacing faded old shingles with new ones that better match your house and general preferences will make your house look incredible.

Roof Cleaning is a Smart Investment

Now you know how to clean your roof and make it nice and spiffy for the summer. Keeping a roof clean and free from leaks can be a big task if you’re living in an old house.

If you see any signs of major damage, you need more than a spring cleaning.

Contact us here if you need help.

Hot News: NEW Federal & State changes that greatly affect how ANY roofing/remodeling/contractor companies and even you the “Do It Yourselfers”!

Posted by Kelly Burbank on

Attention: Property Owners/Real Estate Investors/Contractors
NEW Federal & State changes that greatly affect how ANY roofing/remodeling/contractor companies and even you the DIY “Do It Yourself” Dispose of material in ANY demolition project. SWCAA Regulations 476, specifically SWCAA 476-050. This new regulation went into effect February 1, 2018.

If you don’t follow these new regulations you will be are at risk for immediate stop-work orders, citations, and substantial penalties for both property owners and contractors.

If your home is having a new roof installed or you’re having your kitchen remodeled or removing an old vinyl floor and other areas of remodeling, this new regulation affects you and the contractor. Before any work can be performed there must first be an asbestos test performed. Then if only 1% asbestos is found in any of these areas, you are mandated to hire a certified asbestos removal company.


Washington State Department of Labor & Industries – (Source)
Keep asbestos pitfalls from plaguing your real estate investments by doing the following BEFORE any construction, demolition, or remodeling work begins:

Learn the basics about asbestos, including where it could be present at potential investment properties and how it can cause harm.

Ensure, as the owner of the property (or as the building owner’s agent), that an EPA-certified, AHERA building inspector conducts a required good faith inspection (GFI).

Provide a copy of the GFI report, or a written statement that meets requirements, to any contractor or subcontractor before they are hired; and post the report or statement on site so it is always visible to any individuals involved in repairs, renovations, demolition, or any removal of materials that could contain asbestos.

Use only certified asbestos-abatement contractors to remove any asbestos on site (please see Jenny Jones Group, LLC on this list). They are specially trained to follow all applicable safety requirements, including job notification to L&I, employee safety training, and certification, use of appropriate personal protective equipment, proper work practices, and clearance testing.

Doing your part to ensure asbestos is reliably identified and disclosed enables others to take the required actions to stay safe from harm while working with or around asbestos and prevents asbestos from being spread to vehicles, homes, and other workplaces.

Asbestos Testing Service: Jenny Jones Group are Certified AHERA Asbestos Building Inspector – Call: 360-936-2703 if you have any questions & or need pricing information.

Columbia Resource Company States:
To protect the health and safety of our employees and customers all loads of construction, Remodeling and demolition waste brought to Columbia Resource company transfer stations are screened for materials that may contain asbestos. GFI form is required or all such loads of waste that potentially contain asbestos.

Asbestos Notification Forms

Asbestos Facts

Breathing in asbestos fibers has been linked to cancer and other diseases. When asbestos-containing material is disturbed or damaged it releases tiny fibers into the air that are too small to be filtered by a dust mask. There is no safe level of exposure, so contact with any amount of asbestos can be harmful.

The best way to handle asbestos-containing material is to hire a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to perform the work. Most home repair or remodeling contractors do not have an asbestos abatement license or certified workers who are trained and equipped to work safely with asbestos.

Protect yourself and your family from the dangers of improper asbestos removal. Call the Southwest Clean Air Agency at 360-574-3058 to get more information and advice before you remodel, hire a contractor or attempt to handle asbestos yourself. If you think you have been exposed to asbestos and want to learn more about mesothelioma, click here.

What is Asbestos? (Source: http://www.swcleanair.org/asbestos/faqs.asp)

Asbestos is a mineral that can be broken down into very fine fibers that are heat-resistant and extremely durable. Because of these properties, asbestos was widely used in construction materials.

Depending on its condition, asbestos in your home may be hazardous to your health. As long as asbestos is not disturbed, damaged or worn, or the material is sealed, it is not considered a health hazard.

If you’re thinking of buying a house that needs remodeling, or planning to remodel your current home, hire a qualified AHERA inspector to survey the house for asbestos before you buy or remodel. Improper handling of asbestos-containing materials can be expensive.

Does your house have asbestos-containing materials?

Note: The following list does not include every product or material that may contain asbestos. It is intended as a general guide to show which types of materials may contain asbestos.

  • Cement pipes
  • Cement wallboard
  • Cement siding
  • Asphalt floor tile
  • Vinyl floor tile
  • Vinyl sheet flooring
  • Flooring backing
  • Construction mastics (floor tile, carpet, ceiling tile, etc.)
  • Acoustical plaster
  • Decorative plaster
  • Textured paints/coatings
  • Ceiling tiles and lay-in panels
  • Spray-applied insulation
  • Blown-in insulation
  • Fireproofing materials
  • Taping compounds (thermal)
  • Packing materials (for wall/floor penetrations)
  • High temperature gaskets
  • Laboratory hoods/table tops
  • Laboratory gloves
  • Fire blankets
  • Fire curtains
  • Elevator Equipment Panels
  • Elevator brake shoes
  • HVAC duct insulation
  • Boiler insulation
  • Breaching insulation
  • Ductwork flexible fabric connections
  • Cooling towers
  • Pipe insulation (corrugated air-cell, block, etc.)
  • Heating and electrical ducts
  • Electrical panel partitions
  • Electrical cloth
  • Electric wiring insulation
  • Chalkboards
  • Roofing felt
  • Base flashing
  • Thermal paper products
  • Fire doors
  • Caulking/putties
  • Adhesives
  • Joint compounds
  • Vinyl wall coverings
  • Spackling compounds

Current Remodeling Inc. samples, tests, and submits AHERA good faith surveys for all projects. This sampling is done before the project is started, so every homeowner is protected under this new regulation. Call us today for a FREE Estimate 360-608-9560 or visit www.currentremodeling.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Removal Services

5 Winter Roof Maintenance Tips for Your Vancouver/Portland Home

Posted by Kelly Burbank on

 

Maintaining your roof in the winter is key to increasing your roof’s longevity. Here are 5 winter roof maintenance tips you need to know for your Vancouver/Portland home.

Winter roof maintenance is essential if you want your home to retain its value. While Vancouver isn’t among the coldest cities in the US, it’s not uncommon for temperatures to drop to 20 degrees and normally hover around freezing during the winter months and last year we had significant snowfall that did impact multiple roofs in our area.

For that reason, you must take proper precautions when maintaining your roof during the winter. Follow these winter roof maintenance tips to avoid paying extra money for repairs once the spring comes.

Stay On Top of Snow Accumulation

While snowy roofs are a staple of the holiday season, they can also lead to excess accumulation if you don’t stay on top of it. You probably don’t need to roof rake after small snow storms, but make sure to get out there after big ones.

Too much snow on your roof can lead to leaks, and if you’re not careful, a whole section could collapse. The melting and refreezing of snow can also lead to ice dams.

Use a roof rake to clear the snow, as your traditional grass rake and other tools could cause more damage to your roof.

Keep Your Gutters Clean

Before the winter hits, make sure your gutters are clean and ready for the cold weather.

Gutters that are full of leaves and debris can lead to ice dams, which have the potential to cost you thousands of dollars in damages. If you see that your roof is leaking during the winter, ice dams are the most likely culprit.

Make sure your gutters are clean before the snow comes to prevent costly repairs.

Insulate Your Attic

If your attic is properly insulated, there’s less of a chance of massive heaps of snow and ice building up. Roof raking can be quite a chore, but roof installation might prevent you from ever having to spend time on this chore.

Repair and Maintenence

Inspect your roof to make sure it won’t need any repairs for the coming winter. It’s best to make these repairs before the winter hits, but if your roof is dry, you can handle the repairs anytime by hiring a reputable company.

Tackle these issues as soon as you can, though, because damaged shingles and chimneys can lead to leaks and more costly damage.

Inspect After a Storm

Significant winter storms are often accompanied by strong winds — even if it didn’t snow that much. After the storm passes, go outside and take a look at your roof.

If any shingles came loose, or if any tree branches fell off and did damage, you need to fix them before the next storm hits. Make sure the conditions are stable because you don’t want to get on top of an icy roof.

Avoid Roof Damage by incorporating Winter Roof Maintenance

While they might not seem as treacherous as some of the other locations in the country, Vancouver winters can take a toll on homes. You must complete proper roof maintenance if you want to prevent damage that will cost you thousands of dollars.

Need roofing assistance in the Vancouver, WA area? Take a look at our roofing section for more information!

 

Does Your Roof only need a Simple Repair Or Perhaps is It Much More Serious?

Posted by Kelly Burbank on

Are you currently discussing whether you’ll need a new roof or simply a roof repair job? Should you have a leaky roof following each and every rain storm and find portions of your homes roof in your neighbor’s backyard following every wind gust, you need to talk to Current Remodeling 360-608-9560 .

It may seem to be a logical decision and cost-effective to just have a patch job completed yet, however if your roofing is getting ready to go bad, a patch jobs can turn out to be far more expensive in the end.

However in case your roof is in reasonably good shape a roof repair can prolong the life span of your roof and help you save money.

So how would you determine exactly what you should do in regards to the health of your roof?

You might not have the ability to actually go up on the roof to perform an assessment, however, you can tell a great deal from the interior of your house of what is going on with your roof, which will help direct your decision.

Clearly if you’re discovering roofing materials on the ground following a wind storm and you can stand outside the house and see aspects of your homes roof coming up using binoculars, you are most likely looking at a roof that requires more than merely some Tender loving care.

From your interior of your house you can perform an assessment beginning with the attic space for those who have one. In the event the ceiling is moist, discolored, or otherwise damaged, examine how extensively. Is it just within a portion of the roof or has it spread into a significant portion of the attic ceiling?

If water is leaking in from a damaged flash or uplifted roofing shingle it’s going to most likely pool in one place. Look at your walls in your home for dampness, blistering and water damage Should your wallpaper be peeling or perhaps you have mold on the wall space you might have a source of wetness feeding behind the wall space coming from a roof leak.

Once again if the damage is restricted to a single area of your house you might simply have to take care of a roof repair job. More predominant damage almost always is an indication of the necessity for a new roof.

For the BEST results, you should contact Current Remodeling and we can make all of these suggestions a reality!

Let’s Get Started Today 360-608-9560
Vancouver’s Best Roofing Contractor
Are you looking for a simple roofing repair or a total new roof? Rest easy and take advantage of our expert contractors, you will get the best roof solution from a reliable and knowledgeable company.

Are you a victim of the leaky roof syndrome?

Posted by currentremodeling on

When you have a continuing drip from your ceiling, locating roof leaks can become your obsession. Roof leaks can disrupt your sleeping (no one enjoys listening to the noise of drops falling in to a pail). Most importantly, it may harm your flooring and wall surfaces, therefore reducing the value of your home. While it seems like it would be simple to determine the place where a leak is originating from, it can really be quite challenging. Regardless of whether you’ve got a flat roof, or one with shingles, you have to taking action immediately. Frequently, the location in which the leaking is coming from doesn’t correspond to the location where the actual hole in the roof is. You’ll have to investigate to discover the source.

Potential Trouble Spots to Check

Chimneys
Bricks and mortar equally can pass water, and quite often lots of it. The situation here is the same as with the crown- the freezing and thawing all throughout the winter with the producing damage which in turn causes leaks inside your home. Hunt for holes around your chimney but not just the base of the chimney but also the bricks themselves. Also check out the Chimney’s flashing, the flashing is what keeps water from entering the place where the brick structure comes through the roof. There is usually a fairly large gap between the bricks and the roof and water will pour through that hole if it’s not sealed properly.

Skylights
Commonly skylights are probably the very first places to look simply because they may not have the same sealing strength as your roof. In case your skylight opens up, examine that it’s completely shut, and that weather seals are in great condition. Additionally, consider whether or not the leak happens only in the winter months, in fall, or when there’s compacted snow or ice on the rooftop. If you do, take a look at the rear of the skylight for leaves, ice, snow or other debris that could be obstructing the down hill flow of water and resulting in it to backup underneath the roof shingles.The first step in checking your skylight for any leaking problems is to identify the source of the leak with a thorough inspection. You’ll want to make sure the leak is not just excessive condensation that has moved along the underside of the glass and dripped down the side of the interior. This happens more frequently in cold climates, in single-glazed skylights, as well as in moist places like bathrooms and kitchen areas.

Pipe Vents
All of the plumbing fixtures in your residence require air supplied to the drainpipes for the liquid to flow correctly, and also the pipes poking through the roof exist to provide it. Every home is required to have a minimum of one plumbing vent above the roof, and many have several. If the vent pipe does not have a flashing boot or has been sealed with tar or black mastic caulking, it also may become a source of a leak on your roof. Also make sure that all the pipe connections in your homes plumbing vent system have been correctly made and sealed. Especially with plastic piping it is possible to have an installer to push vent pipe sections together while failing to remember the glue. If you reside in region vulnerable to substantial snowfall and/or ice they could very easily tear a plumbing vent right off the roof, risking both roof leaks and plumbing vent condensate leaks into the roof’s structure or other parts of your home.

Flashings
Flashings are the transitional components of material that connect your roof to the rest of the house. They are typically made from materials that occasionally corrode or rust, and therefore are subject leaking. Particularly, should they have recently been repaired close to the same time you began observing the leak, a bad repair job might have left these flashings more prone to leaks. Look at these areas for holes to make sure they are definitely not the culprit.

We can help you solve any of these potential roof leaks areas.
Call 360-608-9560 for your FREE roofing repair estimate.
Vancouver WA Roofer

How to Find a Good Roofer

Posted by currentremodeling on

Need a new roof? Ask Questions First

Fall is in full swing now as the days grow shorter and the rain and wind begin picking up steam. Maybe the weather has already affected your roof as you begin to notice leaks or discoloring on ceilings or walls. Once the damage has been identified, it may be time to call a roofer.

When it comes to your house – the largest investment most of us will ever have – make sure to take your time. To avoid making a roofing problem even larger because of shoddy workmanship, spend more time on your search for the right roofer.Vancouver WA Roofer

For starters, look for a local roofing company. They’ll know the type of shingles that are right for the area, are easily accessible, and can be contacted if any issues occur after the job is done. National companies may be well known, but may not send their employees, instead contracting out the work.

As is the case with any type of home repair, it’s important to make sure your roofer is licensed, bonded and insured. This ensures your roofing company has taken the time to learn the trade and made the effort to make sure their customers are protected. Essentially, if a job is not completed, nor done incorrectly, a customer can contact the business’ insurance company for reimbursement.

One of the best ways to make sure a roofer is right for you is to ask for references from other customers of the roofer. If your neighbors can vouch for a company, chances are you’ll be in good hands. This isn’t a full-proof way to choose a roofer, but a company with many references is a better bet than a roofer that has none.

Makes sure to get some kind of written estimate from any company you choose. Nobody likes hidden or surprise costs at the end of the job – or worse, during the middle of the work. Yes, unforeseen problems can pop up. Ask if your company has included a contingency plan in their estimate for such an occasion.

Finally, does your roofer offer a warranty or guarantee for their work? This can include the workmanship and the materials. Make sure to read the warranty and ask questions – there may be instances where the warranty could be voided if proper roofing maintenance isn’t performed on the new roof.

After all, your home is the largest investment you’re likely to make. Why not take the steps to protect it? Current Remodeling Inc., is fully licensed, bonded, and insured in both Washington and Oregon. Our roofing experts have the knowledge and experience and are ready to assist you with any roofing needs. Contact us today at (360) 869-9910 for a FREE roof estimate on any of your roofing needs.

inspecting your roof in vancouver wa

Inspecting Your Roof

Posted by currentremodeling on

It’s summer! Now take a look at your roof

When do you think about your roof? Falling leaves fill the gutters during the fall while wind, rain and even snow can give your roof a real beating during the winter.

But, don’t forget about the summer. With the sun in the sky and nice dry conditions, summer is the perfect season to do a little roof inspection.

One of the easiest inspections you can make to your roof is the gutter system. Never got around to cleaning out the last few leaves from fall? Any debris that’s allowed to gather in the gutters could cause problems. Dry leaves and twigs will begin to decompose, attracting pests such as hornets or yellowjackets. And if you have pests in your gutters, you’ll soon have them in your roof.

inspecting your roof in vancouver wa
With the sun in the sky and nice dry conditions, summer is the perfect season to do a little roof inspection.

Another thing to look at while scouting your roof is the ventilation system. Vents allow heat to escape the attic and helps keep your home cooler, so you want to make sure nothing is interrupting that flow. Look for any damage to the roof vents or any nests that might have been made during the spring.

One of the easiest, yet most important, inspections you can perform is to look for moss. Moss and algae spread quickly during the summer, so the sooner you can rid your roof of moss the better.

If you can, one of the easiest methods of getting rid of moss is to use a broom to brush off any moss you see. Don’t forget to clean your gutters afterward! While you’re up there, take a look around. Are there any missing or damaged shingles? Now is the time to take care of these problem shingles, before the fall weather and rain make these repairs more difficult.

But, if climbing around your roof is not something you feel you can do, feel free to Call or contact Current Remodeling, Inc. for a FREE Roof Estimate at (360)-869-9910. Our Repair Manager has over 25 years of experience and is ready to assist you with any roof maintenance needs.