Whenever a new roof must be considered, careful deliberation must be given about all available options. Replacing a roof is a very costly venture and for this reason, the choice is often made to have an overlay done in order to save time, labor and disposal costs. Of course, whether or not this is possible depends on the shape of the roof deck and how many layers already exist.

Tear-Off Indications

While it is often thought that an overlay is like putting a new dress over an old one or putting on make-up over an unwashed face, such comparisons should not be the only reason for removing a roof. Following are some things to consider which, if applicable, may indicated a need to replace the entire structure.

• Ice Damming ? In areas where the temperature goes below 30 degrees, an old system that does not have water or ice protection membranes and is prone to ice dams may may require removal. Even structures that are twenty years old without such protection but no prior problems could likely experience damage when cold weather hits.
• Building Code ? Many times it is not up to a contractor but is actually a building code requirement to remove an existing roof if there is more than one layer present. It is important to contact a local building inspection department to be sure whether or not a new roof can be installed over an old one.
• Severe Damage ? If the existing roof is not in overall bad shape but has specific areas of aging or damage such as crooked rows or severly curled tabs, little doubt remains that the entire roof must be removed and replaced.
• Decking Deterioration ? During an inspection, if sagging between trusses or rafters is noticed, that is a sign that a deck may be damaged or is deteriorating. This could be caused by a fungus and if not properly treated, may have spread across the entire deck. If such is suspected, then serious consideration should be given to replacing the entire roof.
• Inappropriate Shingles ? If lightweight shingles are being covered with heavyweight shingles, a structural expert should be consulted to determine if the existing structure can handle the additional weight of new shingles. If considering replacing current shingles with lighter weight ones, the outcome is generally not good as bumps and ridges are often visable.
• Shorter Life Span ? Although this is simply a theory, many roofing experts agree that putting a new layer of material over an older layer can shorten the lifespan of the roof by approximately ten to twenty percent.

If any of the conditions mentioned above are evident on a roof, a complete tear off is probably the best solution. For anyone who is unsure about which option is the right one to select, the wisest decision to do is consult with a reputable roofing company to get professional advice on such an important project ? and leave any re-roofing unsure thoughts in the hands of expert roofers!

Call Schulte Roofing to Repair or Replace Your Roof Houston TX!

Do you have a roof Houston TX that needs some work and you are unsure whether to tear-off or cover the existing material? Call Schulte Roofing at 800-367-7663 who can help all greater Houston area customers decide whether a roof should be a complete torn off and not!

A leaky roof can cause significant damage to both your roof and your home. Don?t panic just yet! Leaks are a common problem and can be fixed rather easily, as long as you catch it early. Here are some simple things you can do when you find or suspect that you have a leaky roof.

Find the Location of the Leak

It is important to confirm that the leak is in your roof, and not a busted pipe inside your home. In order to find a leak, climb up into your attic during a rainstorm and bring a flashlight. Scan the inside of your attic with the flashlight until you see water reflecting back at you. If you don?t want to wait till the next rainstorm, have a buddy run a hose on your roof to simulate rainfall.

Small Leak? No Problem

If you see the leak, and it seems like a small patch is needed, you can patch it yourself. Make sure that you understand the proper way to patch a small leak; otherwise you are setting yourself up for a roofing disaster. Always remember to wear safe shoes, use a sturdy ladder, and have a friend watching to make sure you can get on and off the roof safely.

Call a Professional

We witnessed some pretty interesting events this past year of 2012. We saw Obama and Romney go head to head in the presidential election, we saw Johnny Manziel ?Johnny Football? from Texas A&M win the Heisman Trophy, we found out that the Mayan Calendar just repeats itself and did not mean the end of the world, and finally we saw Hurricane Sandy wreak havoc from Florida through New England. So, say goodbye to 2012 and welcome the new year of 2013 by making and meeting resolutions with your roofing maintenance, repair, or purchase.

New Year Resolutions

There?s nothing like celebrating the New Year by making 2013 New Year resolutions.a A new year is what you make of it, and like many Americans, it is too easy to fall off the wagon and not meet your goals. So how do we make sure we stick to losing that weight, staying on the diet, finding that new job, or saving on energy costs? Regular Roof Maintenance is an important habit that most Americans tend to forget about, and this can save on energy costs. In order to get on the right track with your roof maintenance or repair you have to create habits, so here?s how to stick to your resolution:

• Step 1: Create a roofing plan

Putting your goal down on paper and writing dates and results of your roof inspection is important. How much money are you trying to save on energy? Write down your goal. It is more likely you?ll reach your goal if you have a plan.

• Step 2: Replace bad habits

Take notice what order you do things in on a daily or weekly basis. Replace bad habits with habits that are helping you reach your goal. Be aware of punctures you make when adding satellite dishes, repairing shingles, and be careful every time you get on your roof.

• Step 3: Check your progress

Keep a chart, a list, a graph, something- anything! Keep up with your dates and roof inspection log for your College Station Roofer. Track how much money you are saving on energy after making roof repairs. This will help monitor how effective your plan is, and help you re-organize as needed.

• Step 4: Talk to roofing experts

If you are talking to others about your goal or progress, it creates a sense of community and responsibility to achieve the goal. Check out the other Education Articles at Schulte Roofing?s website, on NRCA or contact a roofer at Schulte Roofing.

• Step 5: Create rewards

Create a reward (a positive or constructive one) to accompany your new habit. This helps motivate you when you are feeling bored or tired of the same routine. Set aside time to take your family to a movie, to dinner, or make a night of playing board games with them. Look at your finances and measure the benefit you are getting from purchasing a new roof, repairing, or maintaining your roof.

It?s an exciting new year, but there?s no reason to delay a proper roof inspection. There are only a few quality professional roofing companies that will give a quality inspection of your roof and give you an honest assessment. Take advantage of this kind of service from a professional College Station Roofing Company like Schulte Roofing.

A roof leak can be downright scary.

Scarier still, however, is the consequential damage, the downtime, the slip-and-fall hazard, and gulp the bill youll ultimately get to fix everything if you let an obvious problem with your commercial roof go untreated for too long.

Timely intervention with roof matters is always the way to go. Spend a little today on a modest repair and save the much larger costs of a catastrophic situation down the road.

If you detect any of these common roofing anomalies, contact your roofing service provider right away and have the situation addressed.

• Ponding water
• Large amounts of debris

• Vegetation
• Gravel displacement

• Ballast system problems
• Ridging

• Unsecured membrane
• EPDM Button Punctures
• Slipped Flashings

Addressing issues in a timely manner help extend the life of your roof, minimize repair costs and lessen the headaches you experience as a facility manager.

DOW Chemical has been one of the leaders in a solar application; solar shingles or Building-Integrated Photovoltaic System (BIPV). Backed by a $17.8 million dollar tax break, Dow launched a product that is so well designed that it seamlessly integrates with existing shingles and roofing systems. Dow is not the only company launching solar solutions that are integrated into the building or home either. Many other manufacturers already have launched solar shingles, tiles, and even windows. And, College Station roofers are installing them across the Brazos Valley.

A Difference in Design

Most business and home owners are very familiar with the traditional solar roofing system, which includes the solar collection arrays, DC current to the inverter box, and then AC current to run household devices.

Solar Structure on a Roof | NAIT

According to several roofers in College Station, the familiarity is due to the same reason many homeowners elect to pass on solar installations; ?it looks clunky?. What many are referring to is the mechanical framework and scaffolding that supports the solar system. The bulky look is there to support the weight of the photovoltaic system without compromising the structural integrity of the roofing system.

However, as homeowners become increasingly interested in investment opportunities in their own properties and the effect of property values, demand for a more integrated solution has dramatically increased since Dow?s 2009 initial launch.

The Strength of Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Systems

Besides a cleaner or more integrated look, solar shingle installations have many advantages over the traditional solar systems.

1. Lighter

Because the shingles themselves are individually wired for electrical storage, there is no need for the bulky support structures. This lightens the load on the roofing system and less prone to damage.

2. Can be Applied Over Existing Roofs

Integrated Solar Shingles | West by West

Many homeowners that have previously installed or currently have an asphalt roof, especially due to initial cost savings, can extend their current savings because solar shingles can be installed directly onto the existing shingles, be seamlessly integrated into existing clusters of shingles, or used as the shingle itself.

Application of the photovoltaic materials is also just as easy as normal roofing materials. The solar collection components are actually integrated in the shingle itself, which means applications allow for multiple adherence types: adhesive strips and nailing.

*Attachment and installation of roofing materials to structures have to follow municipal guidelines to meeting building code and basic safety requirements. Be sure to check with the City of College Station to make sure your roofer is following local building code.

3. Variety of Roof Types

In addition to access of multiple lines of solar shingle types, colors, sizes, and manufacturers, homeowners also have their choice of different roof types. BIPV roofing systems also come in lots of tile types. The solar tiles can also be applied much in the same way as the solar shingles; on-top of existing tiles, integrated into clusters, or used as the primary tile in reroofs or new roofing.

A Cost Effective Solution

According to Dow, small clusters can save homeowners anywhere from 40-60% on their energy usage. Even after the electrician?s installation work (electricians are required by code to handle the electricity connection to the grid) BIPV roofing systems are affordable when all costs are considered.

In addition to costs dropping dramatically over the 5 years since initial launch, Federal tax credits will reduce the price of materials by 30%, state and local credit combined with insurance rebates can bring these roofing systems down to the price level of traditional roofing.

Beyond all of the savings between various agencies, BIPV roofing systems also allow building and home owners to sell electricity back to the grid, when not in use or during low usage times. This creates extra savings and in some cases, even cash back, turning your home or building into a revenue generating source.

Schulte Roofing is a College Station roofer with over 20 years of business in College Station. Familiarity with building code, material costs, and the latest technology and installation processes have made Schulte Roofing the #1 Roofing in the Brazos Valley for the past 5 years (The Eagle Newspaper, Bryan Broadcasting, The Navasota Examiner). Contact Schulte Roofing today for more information on solar shingle installations that look great and save you money!