3 Tips for Choosing a Quality Roofing Contractor

One of the most important upgrades that you can never live without in your home is a roofing upgrade. The problem is that choosing a roofing contractor is not often the easiest thing to do. Roof repairs and an upgrade are often costly, but it’s one of the reasons that you have to ensure that your roofing contractor of choice is trustworthy, qualified and works to a high standard.

Replacing the roof of the home is a big decision, so finding the best contractor for the job should be a top priority. However, how are you supposed to know what to look for if you’ve never had to choose a contractor before? Most of the time, you only need to replace the roof once in a lifetime, so you should make sure that this is a job well done from the start. Choosing a roofing contractor is as much an investment as anything else in the process and below, we have three tips for choosing a roofing contractor with integrity.

Ask About Experience

Experience is the first thing that you should ask about when it comes to choosing a roofing contractor. There is no way you would hire a mechanic to do a job without knowing that they knew what they were doing first. You wouldn’t allow a doctor in training to operate on your brain, either. So, you should be asking for the track record of the roofer who is going to service your roof for you. You want someone who has a decent track record of producing high quality results, and a lot of the time it’s your budget that will dictate this for you. As you know, you get what you pay for and if you choose a bargain basement roofer, you’re going to get a bargain basement job. It’s an unfortunate thing to know, but rogue traders are very real. You can avoid falling for a scammer by ensuring that you work with a company that has a great reputation behind them.

Checking Paperwork

All roofing companies must be licensed and insured to complete the work. Roofing is dangerous work – if it wasn’t, you would be doing it yourself! You need to have the right tools and safety equipment to get your roof to its best, which is why a reputable roofing contractor is the way to go. The right one will hold the right licenses and paperwork to show that they are legally qualified to fix your roof for you. A roofing company that is professional will also carry insurance for the contractors on site, covering them and the public in case someone is hurt during an installation. If a contractor cannot provide this paperwork, it’s better to avoid working with them.

Reviews

Reputation is everything to a business who knows what they are doing, and one of the best ways to tell whether a roofing company has a good reputation is looking at their reviews and testimonials. You can tell which businesses are proud of the work they do because they proudly display the work that they have done and the opinions of past customers. Look for reviews and ask around with the people that you trust.

When it comes to metal roofing, there are a few different options that you have. Some are more suitable choices for particular projects, but it is always a good idea to understand what options you have and what is involved. It doesn’t matter whether there is a residential project that you have, light commercial or even a commercialized building that needs extra durability and strength against bad weather. With that in mind here are the types of metal roofing that you can choose from. 

Hidden fastener metal roof

Hidden fastener metal roof, also known as a “standing seam” roof is one of the most common choices to have when it comes to a metal roof. This option has no exposed screws. Which makes it one of the most weather tight and maintenance free systems you can have. A hidden fastener metal roof is a great option for commercial projects or even a high-end residential project. However, be mindful that having a hidden fastener metal roof means that you need a skilled professional to fit the system for you. Which might mean more labour charges or a higher price in terms of your overall budget. 

What options do you have when it comes to a hidden fastener metal roof? Here are the ones you might want to consider:

• Snap lock system – perfect for residential and light commercial projects. 
• Nail strip system – high standard seam performance. 
• Mechanically seamed – superior strength with high durability. 

Exposed fastener metal roof

The next option to consider would be the exposed fastener metal roof. This system uses a specifically designed fastener with a sealing washer that fastens through the panels. These sorts of panels don’t require as much labour and installation time. Which means they can be a more cost-effective option for residential properties or even light commercial projects. 

Options to consider include:

• Entry level panel – durable design. 
• Double ribbed panel – a more traditional look.
• R-Panel – open-span framing and low slope roofs. 
• Corrugated panel – a rolling rib exposed fastener panel. 

Stamped metal roof

If you are wanting to have a metal roof that can give the visual look and feel of slate, shingles and barrel tiles, then a stamped metal roof would be a good option for you to consider. This is likely to be a great option for a residential project. This is because it can give a more polished finish to a roof. 

What options do you have when it comes to a stamped metal roof? Here are the options you might want to consider. 

• Steel shingle – designed to look like dimensional shingles and slate. 
• Barrel tile – made from aluminum alloy.
• Shake panel – concealed clip with four-way interlocking panel.
• Four-way interlocking shingle – the ultimate in wind performance. 

Depending on the type of project you are looking for, either residential or commercial, there is always going to be a metal roof option to suit the project that you have to. Let’s hope sharing your options will help you to find the right metal roof for you. 

Outdoor metals need to be well-protected against environmental hazards since exposure to moisture can cause metals to corrode and rust. Painting remains one of the best solutions to prevent the wearing out of your exterior metal and adds a protective layer to help slow down the effects of degradation. Here’s your ultimate guide on painting metal siding gutters.

How to paint the metal exterior surface

Steel

Homeowners must do all they can to get rid of water and air from tampering with their steel. Here are the four best ways to protect your steel with a strong barrier of paint. 

• Before painting or repainting steel, use a wire brush to clean up rust on your steel surface.
• Obtain a rust-resistant primer from local stores and apply two coats on your steel. Dry in between to create a much stronger protective barrier.
• Apply good paint such as 100% acrylic latex paint or oil-based paint. For steel, spray paint is usually recommended. Follow all the instructions that are written on the can and try to get an even finish. DTM paints are formulated for use on metals without a primer.

Aluminum and aluminum siding

If your home is located in a harsh climate, your aluminum siding may wear faster. Therefore, refresh your home by painting the exterior metal. Clean up the surface of the metal (remove stains, dirt, and grease). All metals should look neat and dry and remember to cover areas that you don’t want the paint to contact.

Apply anti-rust primer on the metal; priming will create a gentle surface for strong adhesion. Wait for the full dry time to elapse and a rust-preventative enamel to the layer followed by more thin coats. Finally, wait for everything to dry up completely.

Three things to note when painting aluminum and aluminum siding

• Chalking can occur when the coating is weathered. To see if you have chalking, place your fingers on top of the siding — the appearance of white substances means that chalking has occurred. When that happens, use sodium triphosphate to clean it.
• A flat or satin finish is ideal for aluminum siding. This paint is capable of hiding small imperfections on aluminum, such as dents.
• When spray painting, consider the wind’s direction and avoid over-spraying. 

How to paint metal gutters

A homeowner who wants to improve his home environment’s appearance may also choose to paint their gutters. While it’s relatively easy to paint gutters, you don’t want to apply the paint directly on the surface. This attempt will lead to the paint falling off and frustrating you.

Like siding painting, you need to scrub your metal gutters and free them of chalk and other residues. Add a primer to ensure that the paint will adhere to the surface of your gutters.

RPS Metal Roofing & Siding offers the fastest turnaround time in Florida. Having served the Florida residents with metal roofing, fasteners, and other accessories for over 20 years, we have a variety of high-quality building materials to help you redesign the home of your dreams. Get in touch with us if you need suitable quality roofs for residential, commercial and agricultural purposes.

While metal siding is significantly more durable than other types, and much less likely to crack, break, or pull away, there is one type of damage they’re a little more susceptible to. Dents in your siding can appear from time to time and they can result in making it vulnerable to corrosion that can spread. Thankfully, those dents can also be repaired relatively easily. 

Metal siding can be damaged by all manner of things, from thick pieces of hail falling from the sky to an accidental bump. But here are the steps you need to follow to get it back in shape.

What do you need?

• A drill
• A flat washer
• A sheet metal screw
• A pair of pliers
• A putty knife
• A sander or sandpaper
• Body filler (such as Bondo)
• A high-quality metal primer
• Paint designed for the metal primer

The step-by-step

• Using your drill, make two holes of ⅛ inches in width in the dented area of the siding.
• Fit a sheet metal screw with a flat washer and then screw it halfway into one of the holes drilled. The washer is to make sure you don’t scratch the metal with the next step.
• Use your pair of pliers to pull out the screw, which should pull the dent out with it, popping it back into place.
• Use the body filler that you have prepared and mixed, making sure you have enough to fill the dent. After taking out the screws, use a putty knife to fill in the holes and the dent with the filler.
• Make sure that you have applied the body filler evenly along the surface and that it dries evenly, too. You might need to apply multiple coatings in order to cover the dent wholly. If so, make sure that a previous coating dries entirely before you move onto the next one.
• Once you have filled the dent in, it has dried, and you are happy with how it looks, you should then grab your sander or sandpaper. Then, evenly and carefully sand the whole surface until it is smooth.
• Take your high-quality metal primer. You should be able to apply an even coat of primer using the spray function. Make sure that the area is covered to prevent rust and corrosion.
• Apply two coats of the paint you have chosen for the siding. Make sure you know what material your metal siding is and choose a paint is specifically designed for it.

And there you have it. You should have one dent-free and great- looking metal siding once again. Be sure to allow the paint to dry before you touch it to check that the repairs have worked completely. A professional can help you repair your metal siding if you need them to, but you should bear in mind that it’s going to be more expensive than if you had done it yourself.

Hopefully, with the help of these do it yourself tips, you should be able to make those repairs yourself with little issue.

In the words of Lord Eddard Stark, “Winter is coming”.

When we know that the harsh Winter weather is on the way, it is important to take time to make sure that your property is secure and safe from the elements. 

There are plenty of things that you should be doing to protect your home – clearing out the guttering and drains, fixing any gaps in brickwork and around doors and windows and cutting back any trees in your yard. One thing that many people do not consider, however, is their roof.

Your roof is what protects you from the weather. If there are holes or broken tiles, you can find that the structure of your property is severely compromised, and this can end up being very expensive, not to mention the inconvenience that goes along with it.

This is why you need to consider metal roofs, and the benefits that they have in ice, snow and other harsh winter conditions. 

What are the advantages of metal roofs in ice and snow?

It keeps your home warm

We all want a toasty, comfortably warm home when there is ice and snow on the ground. When properly designed and installed, metal roofs can keep the temperature between the attic or loft and the exterior air. This prevents condensation from building up which can reduce the effectiveness of the insulation in the loft. 

In turn, this keeps the heat in your home higher for longer, as warm air is no longer able to escape through your ineffective or damaged roof. This results in lower energy bills and is much more environmentally friendly. 

Winter is no barrier for the installation

Special precautions need to be taken when installing a shingles roof in colder temperatures. However, it does not matter how cold it is, a metal roof can be installed. This is great news if you have left it until now to think about having a new roof!

The snow and ice will not damage your roof

If snow and ice pile up on your standard shingle roof, the weight can damage your roof and guttering. However, the snow and ice will slide straight off a metal roof, preventing ice dams which can cause irreparable damage both to the interior and the exterior of the building. 

Many people worry that because the ice and snow slides straight off the roof, it can damage the areas below it. However snow guards and heating elements in the attic can ensure that the snow and ice melts slowly and safely, protecting everything below it. 

If you want to know more about the advantages of metal roofs in ice and snow, or want to inquire about having one fitted to your house this winter, get in touch with us today at RPS Metal Roofing and Siding Inc. We are Florida’s premier metal roofing company with almost 20 years of experience in installing the best quality metal roofs for ice and snow. Call us today and get your free quote.