When you have major damage to your home, the first thing you are likely to do is call your insurance company. And while most of us would like to think that the insurance company is on our side, the truth is, homeowners are at a major disadvantage when it comes to filing a home insurance claim.

For one thing, your insurance company knows the policy much better than you do, and insurance companies will go through exhaustive processes ? requiring extensive paperwork from you ? which are designed to drag the claim process out for several years in some cases. The hope is that you, the homeowner will get worn out and give up.

As ASAP ROOFING, a national roofing company with offices in Aurora, Co., Dallas, Tx, and Indianapolis, In., sees this situation all too often, they suggest the following three things homeowners can do to get the most out of their insurance company:

1.aBeware of insurance checks that are marked ?full and final settlement?.aInsurance companies often try to deceive homeowners with checks that are much less than the final settlement amount, but are marked ?final settlement? to avoid paying the full amount. Once you?ve cashed a check like this, there is often nothing you can do.

2.aDon?t sign a release on your home insurance claim.aInsurance companies will often ask a homeowner to sign a release of liability, stating the ahome owner assumes responsibility for all future liabilities. Signing such a release removes the insurance companies from any responsibility for future damages. Do not, under any circumstances ever sign one of these.

3.aAsk for a local adjuster.aWhen large natural disasters hit, often insurance companies will bring in out of state adjusters who are not familiar with local costs. In this case, your insurance estimate could be much lower, and not reflect the true cost of your repairs.

ASAP ROOFING also believes that no homeowner should settle with their insurance company simply because they are exhausted. ?It is at this time that we can usually be the most helpful to a homeowner,? shares, Igor Kublitskiy, co-owner. Clearly, ASAP ROOFING is not taking the insurance process lightly, as they have a team of experts who specialize in insurance claims. ?While we are very good at handling insurance companies, there are still some things homeowners can do to protect themselves and make the process easier,? continues Kublitskiy.

And making the insurance claim process easier would certainly ease the mind of any homeowner. For more information on ASAP ROOFING, or to have one of their qualified adjusters help you with your home insurance claim just visit http://asaproofing.com/

Written by Nick Dorotik

nick@asaproofing.com

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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

• Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roofing is a popular alternative to traditional EPDM roofing materials for flat roofs. Over the past two decades, the use of TPO roofing increased to the point that it now outsells all other kinds of flat roofs combined.a

  Property owners and contractors like BRAX Roofing and have sought out the best materials for flat roofs for a long time. The rigorous demands placed on roof membranes are self-evident, especially in areas where temperature and weather extremes are a part of life, like Montgomery County. Flat roofs must withstand repeated cycles of expansion and contraction. The material used must remain pliable and resilient for years. Add water, ice and an occasional hail storm to the mix, and it is evident that a roof is always under assault. Furthermore, bright sunshine contains ultraviolet rays that can further weaken some kinds of flat roofing.

  TPO Flat Roof Advantages

  A TPO flat roofais an attractive solution for a number of key reasons. Seam strength is often several times of that found in EPDM roofs. The rugged single-ply material is also puncture and tear-resistant. It is popular in Green construction because plasticisers are absent and because it resists the deleterious effects of ultraviolet light.

  Although flat roofs were traditionally black, modern TPO roofs come in black, gray and even white. The high reflectance of white roofing material significantly reduces heat absorption, often reducing cooling costs in the building. Check out the photographs of one of our white TPO flat roof installations here.a

  Independent Study Compares TPO Products

  Although the overall advantages of this type of roofing are evident, some products outperform others. Anindependent study by Structural Research Inc. (SRI) highlights the similarities and differences in various types of TPO roofing. For the testing, researchers too more than 400 samples from 45 rolls of 60 mil roofing material manufactured, including 60 mil GAF EverGuard Extreme. The 50 mil version of GAF EverGuard Extreme was also tested. In fact, it was the only 50 mil roofing material included in the study.a

  Samples of TPO roofing were subjected to heat aging, weathering and other comprehensive tests.

  SRI's key findings include:

  • All samples exceeded ASTM D-6878 minimum standards.a
  • Top performers in the aging tests were the 50 mil and 60 mil GAG EverGuard Extreme TPO products. Neither thickness showed any signs of failure during the first 190 days. All other membranes failed at 112 days or less. Failure was defined as observable cracking in a highly specific test.
  • Aging of TPO membranes can lead to weight loss, which increases the chances of erosion and membrane failure. The two products that demonstrated the smallest amount of weight loss were, once again, the 50 and 60 mil products from GAF.
  • The independent researchers discovered that membrane consistency varied significantly by brand. Once again, GAF products were among the most consistent.a
  
  

  In one test after another, GAF's EverGuard Extreme TPO emerged as the top performer. The 60 mil variety is also backed by a 30-year warranty, and the 50 mil version includes a 25-year warranty. a

  A properly installed TPO roof creates a seamless, impervious barrier to the elements, making it an ideal solution in many commercial and residential applications. As the cited study indicates, GAF EverGuard products resist weight loss and cracking, so moisture protection remains intact for many years. aFinally, a TPO flat roofaoffers aesthetic appeal, creating crisp, clean lines that add modern appeal to your property.

  At BRAX Roofing, we are proud to offer superior GAF roofing to our flat roof customers. Whatever your flat roof maintenance, repair or replacement needs may be, we can help. Pleaseacontact usaat your earliest convenience to arrange for a complimentary consultation and estimate.

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The International Roofing Expo was held in New Orleans on February 24-26th. aThe show draws about 9,000 visitors and has 450 exhibitors throughout a 3 day period. aThis is THE roofing show.

The IRE is a great place to see new products and stay current with the industry. aBelow are a few pictures of my time there:

SRCA

SRCA stands for Slate Roofers Contractor Association. One of the primary goals of the SRCA is expanding education to the next generation of slate roofers. Chris Paulin and Barry Smith are in charge of a training course and more information can be found here. aI filmed aavideoaof Chris Paulin (pictured) replacing a piece of slate using this mock up.

Wuko

In this picture are the owners of Wuko, Lucia and Perti Hakula. Wuko is a brand that is picking up traction in the US with their dedication to high quality sheet metal bending and cutting tools. 3 days of demos keeps those forearms Popeye like.

Cool Products

This is a Schlebach RBM machine. This machine can curve a panel that already has a profile on it with no marks. A hefty $27,000 is attached.

This is a picture of a drone that has a GoPro attached to it. The purpose is to scope out a roof without ever leaving the ground. Very cool.

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The IRE is also a great place to catch up with contacts and discuss industry happenings. I want to thank everyone that we do business with who I met at the show and look forward to moving forward together. aDon?t forget to check out the Stortz website for new products.