The most common and most affordable option for roofing is asphalt shingle roofs. This reliable and cost-efficient option has been around for a long time. Over time, asphalt shingle roofs have had modifications, so your roof can withstand more of what nature throws your way. Installing an asphalt shingle roof will keep you and your family protected for years to come.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Proper Roof Maintenance: 5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Roof
Posted byYour roof’s main purpose is to protect you, your family, and your home. A roof is a necessity, but it’s an investment. You can take precautions to ensure that this investment is protected and lasts for the entirety of its useful life by practicing proper roof maintenance.
More Than Just Another Roofing Company: the McFall Difference
Posted byInstalling or repairing a roof sometimes feels like a necessary evil. But a high-quality roof keeps you and your family protected and ensures that your home is more than just four walls.
That’s why at McFall Roofing we make your experience the best it can be. You deserve the best roof and the best service before, during, and after installation, because it is a necessity.
Seven Advantages of a Metal Roof
Posted by
When choosing to add a new roof to your home, it’s important to consider what type of roof you want. Metal roofs are a great option and offer many advantages.
Five Ways to Increase the Energy-Efficiency of Your Roof and Attic
Posted byTips and Tricks to Make Your Roof More Energy Efficient
Are you frustrated with high monthly electric bills? Are you tired of Googling, “Ways to cool down my home?” Or, are you just looking to make your home more efficient? Having an energy-efficient roof and attic is one of the best ways to help solve these problems. Not only will you see a decrease in your energy costs, but you can also expect your roof to last longer when it’s cooler and more efficient.
So, how do you achieve it? We recommend five techniques to increase your roof and attic’s efficiency so that you can start saving on your utility costs and living more comfortably in a cool home.
Five Ways to Increase Your Roof and Attic’s Efficiency
We all know heat rises—which explains why top floors are always warmer and why attics can be unbearable in the summer months. One of the best ways to keep your home’s temperature cool is by decreasing the temperature in your attic. A cool attic is a key to energy efficiency. Don’t worry if you’re unsure how to lower your attic’s temperature. Below, we’ve compiled five effective ways to improve your roof and attic’s efficiency to keep your attic—and overall home— cool.
1. Dark and Light Colored Shingles
If you have ever worn dark clothing outside in the middle of July, you know that dark colors and the sun don’t mix well. Dark colors absorb much more heat than lighter colors, as they absorb more light. On the other hand, lighter colors tend to reflect light more effectively, reducing the heat built up under sunlight. Roofs work similarly with heat retention. With 10+ hours of sunlight year-round, dark roofs harbor heat, which easily increases the temperature in your attic and home if they’re not adequately insulated.
Dark roofing compared to light-colored roofing could have a 25-degree temperature swing during peak temperatures, especially in Florida. This heat difference can make your home substantially warmer during peak hours, causing your air conditioning to run harder and longer. Investing in lighter colored shingles can help improve your home’s efficiency, protect your air conditioner, and allow you to save on your energy bills. To learn more about the different options available for your roof installation or replacement, explore our top roofing recommendations.
2. Attic Insulation
Typically, the attic is where homeowners can find some of the most considerable missed opportunities related to energy savings. The EPA estimates that typical homeowners can save 15% on their heating and cooling costs by installing insulation in their attic, crawl spaces, and basement rim joists, amounting to roughly 11% of total energy costs. Most homes in the U.S. tend to be under-insulated, leaving these valuable savings wasted.
When adding insulation to your home, you don’t have to use the same type that is already there. We recommend the following three types of attic insulation for homes in Florida:
- Open-cell spray foam
- Blown-in cellulose
- Fiberglass batts
To learn more about the three best types of attic insulation above, call our roofing team, and we’ll gladly walk you through the best choice for your home.
3. Attic Ventilation
Attic ventilation is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to help cut energy costs. Just as you inhale and exhale, your attic should be able to do the same easily. With the year-round Florida sun beaming down onto your home, hot air builds up quickly in your attic throughout the day.
For optimal energy efficiency, ventilation is needed, so cooler air can enter the attic and push out the warm air. Installing ridge vents helps the warm air escape. At McFall Residential Roofing, we recommend on-ridge shingles over on-ridge ventilation. This method involves venting heat from the peak of the roof. Because heat rises, the heat trapped inside your home and attic has an effective way to escape at its peak.
4. Metal Roofing
Whether you’re building a new home or re-roofing an existing one, installing an energy-efficient roof is a valuable investment. Metal is a great roofing choice for Florida homes because it repels heat from the sun rather than absorbing it. With a metal roof, you can save up to 40% in air conditioning costs! We recommend investing in highly reflective metal roofing panels for ultimate efficiency.
5. Radiant Heat Barrier
A radiant heat barrier is also a highly recommended way to keep the heat out of your attic. This method involves applying recycled tinfoil material to the plywood underside to keep heat out of your attic and reduce temperatures. There are several methods to apply a radiant barrier. However, we recommend the spray method because of its ability to coat more evenly and precisely.
Increasing Your Roof and Home’s Efficiency
It’s no secret that the summer months in Florida are hot. With the sun casting on your roof for over ten hours a day, it’s essential to keep your attic cool and your roof protected. With these five tips, you can keep the temperatures in your home cool while keeping your energy costs low.
Whether you’re looking to replace your roof altogether or are exploring how to improve your home with energy-efficient upgrades, McFall Residential Roofing can help. Located in Gainesville, Florida, we work to implement sustainable green initiatives in homes throughout the North Central Florida area, including Alachua, Newberry, St. Augustine, Starke, and more. To learn more about how we can help improve your home and roof efficiency, contact our residential roofing contractors today.
Hail Damage Repair to Condominium Community in Gainesville, FL
Posted byMany Gainesville residents have found themselves in need of roof repair since the hailstorms that passed through last spring. In Florida as of May 2011, insurers must pay to replace an entire roof if more than 25 percent of the existing roof is damaged. If you suspect your roof is damaged you should call McFall Roofing for a free at home estimate. If there is indeed enough damage you can then call your home insurance company and place a claim repair the hail damage to your roof.
McFall Builders is beginning work on Timberway Village condominiums in northwest Gainesville to repair roof damage due to hailstorms that passed through the area last spring. McFall Roofing obtains all of the necessary permits prior to the beginning work. The job will begin by removing all of the old asphalt roof shingles, underlying felt paper, roofing nails and staples. Once the old roof covering has been removed the underlying plywood decking can be inspected for structural damage. Any damaged plywood will be removed and new plywood decking along with the existing decking will be re-nailed in with 8d galvanized ring shank nails per Florida Building Code.
In order to increase the lifetime of the roof, a synthetic underlayment will be applied to the decking instead of the previously used felt paper. Synthetic underlayments have a manufacturers warranty, providing additional coverage that traditional felt roofing paper lacks. In addition, a peel and stick underlayment will be applied to all penetrations, valleys and transitions. Once the basement layer of the roof is done a lifetime, architectural algae-resistant shingle will be installed. These shingles offer a 70 mph wind resistant warranty.
As work continues with this project we will provide updates and pictures showing the progress of the work. If you need any additional information about how to repair hail damage to a roof, fill out our free estimate form.
Hail Damage in Lake City & Gainesville, FL
Posted byHail Damage
Rough weather bringing hail damage swept through the Gulf Coast region from eastern Texas to Florida throughout Saturday March 24, 2013 and on into Sunday. Large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes were reported throughout the area.
The storm brought hail sweeping across Florida from Lake City to St.Augustine Beach. An estimated 22,300 house were hit by the hailstorm. The maximum hail stone measured was 2.75”
If you suspect your home may have been damaged in Lake City or Gainesville, FL by hail. For an inspection of hail damage to your home call McFall Residential Roofing. Also read over our post What to do if Your Roof has Wind or Hail Damage.
Does Your Roof have Wind Damage or Hail Damage?
Posted byWind Damage & Haile Damage
It is common for large storms to sweep across the Ocala, Gainesville, & Lake City area. These large storms bring heavy rains, strong winds and even hail. Roof repair for Wind damage and hail damage is covered under your homeowners and business owner’s property insurance policy.
If you were around during the hailstorm and have an idea of the size that fell, it will give you a basis for what kind of roof hail or wind damage to expect.
Less Than 1 Inch: Hail smaller than an inch, or about the size of a quarter, may inflict damage to asphalt roofing. Most often though a hail damaged roof at this size can be more difficult to identify. You may require the assistance of a trained roofing inspector to accurately identify any hail damage.
1 Inch – 2 Inch: Hail size between 1 and 2 inches, or between quarter and egg size, usually damage will be more easily found on the asphalt shingles themselves as well as any soft metal on the roof.
Greater Than 2 Inches: Hail greater than 2 inches will almost guarantee some level of hail damage to an asphalt roof. If this is the case, contact your preferred roofing contractor for a full assessment of damages and notify your insurance company.
Roofs & Insurance
Most of the time insurance companies do the right thing. Some times they don’t.
Common strategies to deny claims have include:
- Sending out an engineer who writes a report that says there is no or little damage.
- Agreeing to pay for only a portion of the roof. Florida law requires that if 25% or more of the roof is damaged, then the insurance company must pay to replace the entire roof.
- Saying that the roof has deteriorated because of age when, in fact, the roof never leaked until a severe wind or hail storm. Most shingle roofs in Florida should last at least 20 years.
- Saying that the problems are due to installation, design or construction errors.
Don’t be afraid to consider litigating these issues, even against some of the largest of insurance companies. After a storm has passed through, it’s always a good idea to get a trusted, licensed, and reputable roofing company out to your home to assess your roof for wind damage, hail damage, or any other storm damage.
