The autumn season is almost upon the Annapolis and Southern Maryland area, and now is the time to get your home and your roof prepared.

Before you start working around the home, there are some very important roof maintenance tips every homeowner should consider.

Read on to learn about some ways you can practice good care and maintenance for your roof as fall arrives.

Keep Trees Neatly Trimmed

As the wind starts to pick up during fall, dead or old tree limbs can easily fall onto your roof. The best thing you can do to prevent this disaster is to get the trees trimmed well before fall arrives.

Pay special attention to any branches that are close to your home, and trim them back as soon as you can. Not only will trimming your trees protect your roof from possible damage, but it will also reduce the number of falling leaves that can clog your gutters later.

If you’re not experienced in tree trimming, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional. Trimming trees can be extremely dangerous, so always ask a pro to come and assist you.

Get a Roof Inspection

Fall is the perfect season to have a professional roofing company come and do a thorough inspection. They can look for potential red flags that could cost you a lot of money and heartache later if they’re not corrected.

Some signs that your roof is in trouble include damaged or missing shingles, signs of mold, or dips in the roof itself, which could indicate a leak. An experienced roofer can determine where the issues are and make recommendations to fix them.

If the integrity of your roof is compromised, it could lead to leaks and other problems down the line. Look for things like damaged gutters and discoloration of the roof to determine if it needs repairs.

When you have a professional roof inspection done in advance, you can have peace of mind knowing your roof is in good condition. Get any issues corrected as soon as you can, so your roof will be able to handle the harsher conditions of winter.

Take a Look Inside the Attic

When it comes to good roof maintenance, many homeowners forget to go inside the attic and take a closer look. If you miss a leak before winter sets in, it could make matters a whole lot worse later.

Go up into the attic and make sure you have ample light so you can see clearly. Look for any signs of water damage on the plywood and underlayment, and keep an eye out for dipping or bowing sections of wood, which indicate a potential problem.

A great way to check your attic for leaks is to perform your inspection on a rainy day. This way, you can easily see where the problems are since the leaks will happen in real-time!

Other things to look out for include mold or mildew, warped pieces of wood, and stained insulation. If you see any of these things, call in a professional roofing company to give you an estimate and make repairs before winter sets in.

Fall Roof Maintenance: Don’t Forget the Gutters

As the leaves begin to change, they’ll start to fall off and land in your gutters. Clean gutters are absolutely imperative to keep the flow of water moving in the right direction and away from your roofline.

If your gutters get clogged, water will splash onto your roof and lead to cracking, mold, and all kinds of damage. Make sure your gutters are clear and clean of any debris including twigs, leaves, and other organic material.

Even if you clean the gutters thoroughly, you’ll need to keep a close eye on them throughout the autumn months just to make sure they don’t get clogged with leaves again. A good way to combat this issue is to install gutter guards.

A gutter guard can reduce the time you spend cleaning your gutters — not just in autumn, but in all seasons. The small holes in the guards still allow water to flow, but they filter out any larger debris. These guards are fairly inexpensive and definitely worth the investment to extend the life of your roof.

When you clean your gutters, use your hands and a good pair of gloves to scoop out all of the debris. A garden trowel is another handy tool to help you “dig out” any excess mess. After you’re done cleaning out the gunk, rinse the gutters clean with a garden hose.

As you rinse the gutters, pay attention to how the water is flowing. You may need to readjust some things or take a closer look at your downspouts to make sure everything is flowing in the right direction.

Be Prepared This Fall

With a few simple and easy roof maintenance tips, you can rest assured that your roof will handle the autumn season with ease. Be on the lookout for any signs of possible roof damage well in advance so you can get it corrected sooner rather than later.

Trim all dead tree branches and keep limbs as far away from your home as possible. Call a professional roofing company for a full inspection, and check your attic for any signs of leaking.

If you’re in the Southern Maryland area, contact us today for all of your roofing, siding, window and door needs and much more.

More homeowners are calling up their roofers. According to research, sales increased by 14% last year. So why the increase?

Most people choose a traditional pitched roof (a roof with two slopes at more than 10-degree angles to make a peak). There’s another option not enough people consider, though.

Many people are starting to see the benefits of flat roofs in Southern Maryland. If you’re thinking of raising (and flattening) the roof yourself, keep reading!

Here are the top five benefits of flat roof homes.

1. Expenses

One of the most noticeable benefits of a home with flat roofs in Southern Maryland is the expense.

From start to finish, the entire process becomes a lot cheaper. That includes everything from choosing roofing materials to building and installing the actual roof.

When your roof is cheaper to install and build, maintenance and upkeep become cheaper as well.

Labor is even cheaper because contractors are less at risk when they install a flat roof. The work is also faster and less stressful.

If you want to install solar panels, that’s cheaper, too!

Installing solar panels on a flat roof house can save you electricity and future expenses.

Flat roofs also offer architectural appeal at a lower cost. As long as you maintain your roof, a flat roof is an economical option. They’re also easier and less time-consuming to install, meaning you don’t have to wait as long to move into your new home!

Other future expenses can include damage and repair costs. Your roof is bound to experience some wear and tear over the years. Severe storms can also cause some damage.

However, these damages won’t become as expensive to fix.

2. Fewer Damages

If you do experience damages, they’re still not as expensive or common compared to sloped roofs.

According to Home Advisor, roof repairs cause an average of $830 in the United States. Most homeowners spend anywhere between $351 and $1,348.

The repairs you need could range from a leak to missing granules.

Other common repair needs include:

• Sagging roof repairs caused by wear and tear or rot
• Leaking roof flashing repairs to redirect water and protect the roof
• Bad/leaking pipe flashing
• Chimney/skylight step flashing
• Valleys, which are little gutters along the interior of your roof
• Ice dams
• Inadequate roof pitches
• Blown off or missing shingles

If your flat roof home does require repairs, it’s easier for a contractor to get the job done.

A flat roof is also more stable than a sloped roof, especially if the building is smaller. This makes it easier for the contractor to pinpoint the problem and get to work.

Repairing a slanted roof requires a lot of time, material, and effort. In addition to being more costly, that also means you need to schedule a big chunk of time out of your life. In the case of a flat roof, however, some repairs can get done in a single day.

Don’t try to deal with these roofing issues on your own. Instead of taking the DIY approach, read over this list of risks. Hiring a contractor instead can keep you from ruining your roof and dealing with repairing those costly mistakes.

3. Extra Outdoor Space

If you don’t have a giant front or backyard, don’t let that stop you! Flat roof homes offer the option of expanding your space. Now you have access to useable space—not in your yard, but up above!

Whether you’re dreaming of creating an outdoor lounge, setting up a garden, or using a corner to barbeque, you have the room.

Remember, there’s also enough space for you to set up solar panels. Designate a different corner of your roof to different uses. It’s up to you!

The possibilities are endless. Let your imagination soar and discover new ways to make the most of the additional outdoor space.

Now, you don’t have to let limited yard space or a narrow lot narrow your opportunities.

4. More Versatile Indoor Space

A flat roof home doesn’t just expand your outdoor space. It can also give you more room to work with inside as well.

What will you do with your additional interior space?

Without the sloped walls limiting your space, there’s more room to work with. For example, you can consider creating a top floor apartment or finished attic. If you have a big family or want to rent out a room, a flat room home is ideal.

You might also decide to add an air conditioning unit in your roof instead of in the ground. With a flat roof, you have the space to have solar racking installed.

5. Easy Clean-Up

Remember when we said flat roofs are easier to access than slanted roofs?

That means they’re easier to clean, too!

If you need to clean out your gutters, you won’t have to struggle to find the right spot for your ladder. Meanwhile, hiring someone to clean your roof for you becomes far less of an expense.

Flat roofs are easier to maintain. They’re also safer to inspect. In addition to making it easier to clean gutters, you can also check your sidings or patch a hole without stress.

The next time you head up to your roof to patch a hole, you won’t need to worry about finding your footing. You won’t have to struggle to maintain your balance or keep from falling, either.

However, you might still have to worry about your fear of heights.

Raise the Roof: 5 Benefits of Flat Roofs in Southern Maryland

It’s time to raise the roof…or rather, flatten it. Make the most of these five benefits of flat roofs in Southern Maryland for your home. With these benefits, you can make the most of your space, cut down on added expenses, and experience an easier time cleaning up.

Need a little help with your next roofing project?

Contact our team today for a no-pressure estimate. We’re happy to help!

Roof repairs don’t come cheap.

For instance, the national average for repair work is $815 each time. However, according to the same source, the cost can reach in excess of $4,500 in serious cases.

That’s a lot of money, especially for an unexpected expense! Clearly, it pays to take the time to properly construct and maintain your roof.

The most common problems tend to involve missing shingles and leaks caused by bad weather conditions. Don’t repair it, and the problems can escalate! Thankfully, one way to prevent such leaks and minimize damage is with quality roof underlayment. The right underlayment can make all the difference.

But you might never have even heard of it! How on earth can you expect to know which is best for your home?

Keep reading to learn all about underlayment and how to choose it for your Southern Maryland property.

What is Roof Underlayment?

Your roof is what keeps your home safe from the elements every day, right?

You already know that.

But you might not know that what’s known as the ‘underlayment’ plays a key role in that process too. This vital element is placed beneath your main roofing material (known as the shingle). It’s a semi-breathable waterproof (or resistant) barrier that gets laid directly upon the deck of your roof.

Think of it as an extra layer of defense. It protects you from particular harsh weather conditions when the shingle fails somehow. It also allows the house to breathe- humidity and air can still leave the roof as required.

You can’t afford not to have underlayment.

That’s especially true in places like Southern Maryland, where the weather can be particularly extreme. Likewise, it’s important to have the right type fitted.

Indeed, not all underlayment is created equal. Some are better than others for meeting specific housing needs.

The Different Types of Underlayment

Below you’ll find the different types of underlayment available.

Felt Underlayment

Also known as ‘felt paper’, this option is usually a cellulose-based sheet of felt that’s been coated in asphalt. Think felt that’s saturated in asphalt to provide a level of water-resistance. An adhesive coating on one side assists installation.

Felt was the go-to underlayment for many years.

Indeed, it’s generally inexpensive versus other types. But it’s thicker and heavier, and generally less water-resistant too. Water absorption can be a problem.

Synthetic Underlayment

Synthetic underlayment is a plastic sheet that combines polymers and polypropylene. It’s also saturated in asphalt to satisfy its waterproofing requirements. A fiberglass addition is sometimes included to increase its durability.

It’s more expensive. But it’s lightweight, better at resisting moisture, and generally offers increased water-resistance.

Rubberized Asphalt Underlayment

Combine greater levels of asphalt and rubber polymer to create this type of underlayment.

The most expensive option, compared to the aforementioned options, rubberized asphalt isn’t a ‘whole-roof’ design. It isn’t usually used to cover the entire roof. Instead, it’s best used in certain places. These include valleys and at roof bulges and bumps.

Rubberized asphalt is a fully waterproof and useful addition to homes in places that have extreme winters.

How to Choose the Best Underlayment

Now you know what it is and the different options out there. Let’s turn to 5 considerations when choosing it for your Southern Maryland home.

1. Speed of Installation

Sometimes you need to build or repair your roof fast.

In these situations, felt underlayment is a decent bet. Roofers can’t afford to leave it exposed to potential bad weather, so shingle is generally attached as soon as possible. Moreover, by nature, it’s easy to install and requires less labor than other types.

Indeed, synthetic underlayment is more challenging to install. That amounts to higher labor costs and general expense all-around.

2. Longevity

However, longevity should be of paramount importance too.

You don’t want to require frequent repairs and replacement.

And that’s where felt can let you down. It’s true that in the right conditions, quality felt can last over a decade. But that isn’t always the case.

If you have time at your disposal, then synthetic options are generally preferable. They fit better, are of greater durability and are less likely to struggle with inclement weather.

3. The Climate

Climate always plays an important role when deciding the best underlayment.

Synthetic materials tend to be suited to hotter areas, as well as those that receive large quantities of rainfall. Similarly, synthetic options offer good UV protection, which is a boon in sunny
climates. Heavy-duty felt is sometimes preferred in locations known for snow and wind.

4. Primary Roofing Material

The material of your shingles should also be taken into consideration.

This top layer has an impact on the effectiveness of the underlayment. For instance, metal roofing may demand synthetic styles of underlay. That’s because heat is trapped more easily and synthetic underlayment is known for its heat resistance.

Traditional shingles, such as tile, may be better-suited to felt.

5. Price

Housing costs are normally front and center of home-owner decision-making.

After all, housing repairs and construction never come cheap. If the price is your foremost concern, then felt is typically a better bet. Generally speaking, synthetic underlayment is the more expensive option. Rubberized asphalt is the most costly.

That said, rates do vary depending on the specific materials and the labor costs involved.

Likewise, a more expensive option upfront can save you money long-term. Going for an expensive underlayment that’s better suited to your location (compared to cheaper options) is an investment.
It will save you money in ongoing repair work down the line.

Time to Wrap Up

There you have it: a complete guide to buying the best roof underlayment for homes in Southern Maryland.

Roofing repairs don’t come cheap. It’s in the interest of every homeowner to take proactive steps in avoiding them wherever possible.

Of the numerous ways of doing that, fitting quality roof underlayment is of utmost importance. This protective barrier can make all the difference when the weather turns. Which, as we all know, can often be the case in Southern Maryland!

Hopefully, the information above will help you choose the best material for your particular roofing needs.

Want help with your roofing needs? Be sure to contact us today to see how we can be of assistance, and for a no-pressure estimate.