Slipping shingles. Common causes include using too few fasteners, overdriving and underdriving the fasteners, and driving fasteners (especially staples) at odd angles. More
Hurricane Katrina reminded contractors that price increases -- sudden, unavoidable, and steep -- could easily be brought on by product shortages arising from a natural disaster. And with the price of vinyl, asphalt, and other materials associated with exterior remodeling projects rising, no specialty contractor anywhere escaped rising product costs in 2005. More
More than 11 million tons of asphalt shingles enter U.S. landfills yearly. One source suggests that roofing debris may make up as much as 10% of U.S. landfills. But the difference between asphalt shingles and much of what otherwise goes in those landfills is that shingles don't decompose at the same rate. They're stuck there. More
Seen mostly in commercial applications now, “green” roofing systems have the potential to revolutionize residential roofing. Cities like Seattle and Chicago are starting to specify the systems, which create rooftop vegetation, on city-and government-owned buildings. More
Wondering how the economy might affect your business this year? If you were counting on a roaring revival to lift sales, think again. More
For a long-lasting roof on the coast, be meticulous, use wind rated shingles, and... More
As Minnesota remodeler Marty Schirber points out, a homeowner thinking of selling might solicit 10 bids from 10 roofing companies and go with the cheapest. More
For John Miller, co-owner of Waldenwood, Shorewood, Minn., the first upsell when it comes to roofing is a new roof for the whole house when he's putting on an addition."If clients want asphalt, Robb suggests architectural asphalt, a product two to three times the thickness of ordinary shingles -- and more expensive. More
Escobar and Robb Services of Potomac, Md., uses a leased real estate and property tax database to pinpoint prospective clients. The full-service remodeling company also repairs and treats cedar shingle roofs (see www.cedarsave.com).Using the leased Criss+Cross Plus Real Estate directory on CD, which is sold by Haines and Co. of North Canton, Ohio (www.haines.com), the company researches older neighborhoods with cedar roofs. A similar, but costlier, online database, for 1,385 counties in 48 states, is offered by First American Real Estate Solutions (www.firstamres.com). More
