Orange County

Interested in New Roof Tax Credits in Orange County?

Are you considering replacing or repairing your roof in 2016? Or did you make some improvements in 2017? If so, you might qualify for tax credits from either your federal or state income taxes.

Not all home improvements are eligible for tax deductions or credits, but many that make your home more energy efficient are. Here’s what you need to know about possible roofing related tax credits if you’re considering hiring an Orange County roofing contractor to make energy-efficient roofing improvements this year.

Federal Tax Credits

In 2016, you can claim 10% of costs--up to $500--or a specific amount from $50 to $300 on certain ENERGY STAR products. You must make the repairs or upgrades on your existing home, which must also be your principal residence. Vacation and rental homes, and new construction homes don’t count.

For roofs, the tax rebate applies to metal roofs with certain pigmented coatings, and asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules. You can also include costs for items like weather stripping, spray foam, house wrap, and caulk to seal air leaks.

Here's 5 things to consider when picking your shingles

If you’ve decided to reshingle your roof, you’ve got a lot of decisions to make, though you might not know it yet. Not only do you have to decide on the types of shingles you’ll use, but you’ll also have to choose the color of your shingles. Since your roof covers a large part of the outside square footage of your home, you’ll find that it’s a great way to make a statement.

Put some thought into choosing your roof’s color, and you can really make a statement. Not sure how to go about choosing a color--especially if you might want to vary greatly from the current color of your roof? Take these five tips when choosing the shingles your Orange County roofing contractor will use on your new work:

Let’s say you’re selling a home in Irvine. In that case, you might need the assistance of reliable Irvine roofing services. The reason is simple: a faulty roof often is a stumbling block to a sale. Should an appraiser notice you need a new roof, he or she probably will include this in the report: “contingent on roof replacement or acceptable roof certification.”  Which means the buyer likely won’t get a loan until the matter is taken care of. So no matter what OC city you reside in, the sale of your home may depend on the skilled intervention of an Orange County roofer.    

When faced with such a contingency, homeowners obviously need to call in a recognized Orange County roofer to conduct a roof inspection. No matter which commercial roofer you involve, remember that 100 % perfect predictions are impossible.  Estimating the exact moment a roof will be completely worn out and beyond repair is an educated guess. One commercial roofer may say your roof is good for a year. Another may believe it can last two or three more years before leakage commences. Despite the divergent opinions, however, you can count on most estimates to be fairly accurate.

Remember, your Orange County roofer likely will be extremely careful during an inspection, as he or she must be aware of even the subtlest hints of potential problems. In most cases, however, evidence of wear and tear is fairly simple to spot.

If your roof is completely worn out, repairs probably aren’t an option. In that case, you’ll want a dependable Orange County roofer to install a new roof. Don’t expect buyers to foot the bill for the installation. They want neither the expense nor the hassle involved with the job.

If you have questions about roof inspections, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established commercial roofer, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Irvine or anywhere else in OC, Luke Roofing is an Orange County roofer you can count on.

If your home is like many in Orange County, California, it has a tile roof. These roofs have many great advantages, including added insulation and the ability to stand the test of time. They can last for fifty years or more without being replaced. But, eventually, nearly any roof will wear down and need replaced. When you’re considering replacing your clay or concrete tile roof, you’ll need to take several factors into consideration, including the following:

Repair or Replace?

The first question to ask your Orange County roofing contractor is whether your roof can be repaired cost-effectively, or if it should be replaced. Like shingle roofs, clay tile roofs can be replaced fairly easily by the right professional. Individual tiles that are cracked or worn can be replaced on their own.

With the way that many commercial buildings are put together, roof leaks can be difficult to see. Proper maintenance and inspection can help you avoid roofing leaks or catch them early. But sometimes, they just happen.

Leaks tend to look a little different on commercial roofs than on residential roofs. And they’re even harder to spot if no one regularly visits the attic of your commercial building. So it’s important to understand and know how to look for signs of a leaky commercial roof. Here are the 5 most common signs and symptoms to be on the lookout for:

1.Bubbling: This sign is most relevant for flat roofs finished with a solid material. In this case, bubbles can be a sign of moisture trapped inside the roofing material. When these bubbles form, your roof will be more susceptible to wind-related damage. You usually can’t see bubbling from the ground, so it’s important to check for this particular sign regularly from the roof itself.

Whether you’re replacing or renovating your roof, you might be ready for some upgrades. Roofing upgrades, when installed by a licensed Orange County roofing contractor, can not only add to the value of your home, but also make it more comfortable and energy-efficient. And we don’t just mean spending thousands moving from asphalt shingles to clay tiles. You can actually take smaller steps to upgrade your roof, including these five options:

1.Improve the ventilation

One of the best ways to improve the overall efficiency of your home, especially in warm climates like ours, is to improve the ventilation in your roof. Proper roof ventilation allows heat to escape out of the roof, rather than collecting in your attic and slowly warming the floors below it.

All too often, roofs aren’t properly ventilated when a home is built. This causes the attic to act as a furnace when the weather is warm, adding to your cooling costs. To keep your attic cooler, as your Orange County roofer to add soffit vents. These vents go in the soffits under the eaves, and draw cooler air into the attic. Then a vent in the top of the roof allows hot air at the peak to escape. This ensures airflow through the attic, keeping it at a cooler temperature when the weather gets hot.

2.Add insulation

Another option for adding to the efficiency of your home is to add insulation to your roof or attic. The easiest option here is blown-in insulation - a thick layer of the stuff on the attic floor. Talk to your roofer about other possible ways to add insulation that will keep the attic’s heat from warming up the rest of the house.

One possible caveat here: make sure the insulation doesn’t negate your ventilation efforts. You may need to use shields or ducts to hold back the insulation around vents, so that it doesn’t block up the vents and render them useless.

3.Opt for lower-maintenance gutters

If you’re replacing your roof, why not go ahead and look at the gutters, as well? If your existing gutters aren’t properly aligned or just need a color change and upgrade, opt for a lower-maintenance option. The latest gutters include built-in hoots, which make them practically maintenance-free. With hoods to keep debris out of the gutters, you won’t have to worry about cleaning out your gutters a few times a year.

4.Reflect the sun

In sunny SoCal, one of the best choices you can make is a roof that reflects the sun. Reflective options include galvanized metal and light-colored roofing shingles. These materials bounce the sun’s light back away from your home, helping to keep it cool.

There are a myriad of high-efficiency sun-reflecting options on the market today. Talk to your Orange County roofing professional about the options available for your particular roof. This can be one more step to keep your home cool in the hot summers, which can, in turn, add value to your home as a whole.

5.Add some texture

What if you’re looking for a visual upgrade that will boost your home’s curb appeal? The easiest way to achieve this goal with your roof is to move from a flat surface - like a traditional shingle roof - to a surface with some interesting texture. Again, there are plenty of options that will achieve this goal.

Metal roofs may remind you of backwater shanties without much curb appeal. But that’s really no longer the case. New manufacturing techniques have made metal roofs incredibly interesting and attractive. This roofing material now has a lot to offer consumers. While metal roofs aren’t the best choice for everyone, you should certainly consider a metal roof when it’s time to replace yours. Here are just ten reasons why:

1.Weight

Metal is one of the most lightweight roofing options available, which makes it a good alternative to a clay or concrete tile upgrade. If your home was originally built for an asphalt shingle roof, it may require additional support to be added if you’d like to upgrade to a tile roof, which adds much additional weight. Since metal is often lighter even than asphalt shingles, you won’t have to worry about this issue.

Siding makes a huge contribution to a home’s overall appearance. But as this Orange County roofer knows, it also has a more basic function – protecting properties from the unwanted entry of water. Siding, of course, is like any other part of your house – it’s subject to normal wear and tear. Along with lowering your home’s aesthetic appeal, such deterioration invites leakage, especially near windows, doors, and corner moldings. Fortunately, homeowners can steer clear of trouble by conducting their own siding inspection. Here’s what to look for:

Caulk – Time can be brutal to caulk. Check yours for cracks or signs of loosening -- both open invitations to water leakage. If you notice either of these warning signs, re-apply caulk as soon as possible. For best results, choose a warm, dry day. Caulk adheres best when temperatures exceed 65 degrees.

Cracks and Chips – Both are very common with siding that’s past its prime. For wood, telltale signs are chipped or peeling paint, as well as cracks in boards and trim. This applies whether the material is pine, spruce, cedar, redwood, or fir. Equally vulnerable is stucco, which can develop its own cracks and chips over time.

Brick Siding – The big giveaway here is crumbling mortar joints. If you see evidence of this deterioration, repairs will be necessary.

Good News for Homeowners

A thorough cleaning can help preserve siding, thereby saving homeowners from premature repair and replacement costs. Basic equipment for the job is a bucket of warm, soapy water, and a scrub brush. Once the scrubbing begins, commercial roofers generally recommend going from bottom to top. This prevents streaking. Depending on your siding’s square footage, the cleansing job can take one or two afternoons. So don’t plan on going anywhere for awhile.

If you have questions about home siding, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established commercial roofing contractor, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Offering roofing services from Dana Point to Tustin, Luke Roofing is your trusted Orange County roofer.

So you’re noticing a drip from somewhere around your roof whenever it happens to rain? Luckily, many roofing leaks are easy to fix. Sometimes, it only takes a professional Orange County roofer a few minutes to a couple of hours to fix a leak. On the flip side, it can sometimes take hours to figure out exactly where that leak is coming from.

The first step to figuring out where the leak is coming from is to identify the leak in the first place. All too often, leaks can start out silent, and you won’t even know they’re there until they’ve caused lots of issues. For instance, your roof could be leaking into the attic, but it takes time for the leak to trickle down to the ceiling where you can actually see it.