Orange County

Welcome to our Orange County Roofing Company Blog. Our goal is to not only offer you the highest quality roofing solutions in Orange County, but also to educate you on best practices, offer roofing contractor tips and inside secrets that only a professional roofer would know. We hope you find this information helpful and invite you to comment and ask questions.
Mar
17

Better Than a Bucket

In one sense, sloping roofs have it made. Because of their angled position, they allow water and other forms of moisture to run straight down their sides. Thus, water damage is minimized. Unfortunately, this form of water defense is not an option for the flat or slightly-sloped roof. The positioning of these roofs creates little opportunity for effective drainage. Instead of running off, water tends to puddle on the shingles. If you have one of these roofs, there is a solution. A reliable Orange County roofing company can address the deficiency by installing a built-up roof. Not addressing the issue leaves your home vulnerable to shingle deterioration and leaking caused by accumulated water.
 
A built-up roof is one that utilizes a layering system to prevent moisture accumulation and penetration. An Orange County roofing contractor will install it in four basic layers. Base sheets form the first layer. This is followed in succession by roofing felts, cap sheets, and a top layer of asphalt.

Built-up roofs often are used for business structures, so commercial roofers commonly are called upon to install them. Many homes, however, have flat or low-slope roofs; therefore, built-up roofs often prove beneficial to them, as well.

As previously stated, the major advantage of a built-up roof is its natural ability to prevent water damage and intrusion. But the benefits don’t stop with waterproofing. Because of its sturdy layering, a built-up roof also defends against the penetration of damaging ultra-violet rays. And busy homeowners certainly will appreciate the low-maintenance requirements of this type of roof. There just isn’t a lot to take care of once it’s in place.

If you have questions about built-up roofs, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer in Corona Del Mar and surrounding cities, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing and commercial roofing need. No matter where you live in OC, you can count on Luke Roofing for the most efficient, reliable roofing solutions.

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Jan
17

Helping Your Shingles Stand the Test of Time

You probably practice preventative maintenance on your car as well as on yourself. A qualified Orange County roofer can do likewise for your roof. As with changing engine oil and eating wholesome foods, the preventative maintenance of your shingles offers many benefits.

The biggest of these benefits is extended roof durability. The longer those shingles remain sound and strong, the longer they do their job -- protect against the intrusion of external elements and help regulate internal temperatures. This extended duty translates to fewer roof replacements. Thus, the added longevity will save you a tidy sum over the years.

When an Orange County roofer performs roof maintenance, this professional typically focuses on common problem zones. Various forms of debris, constant sunlight, strong winds, and pouring rain all vie to wear down shingles and compromise their integrity. For both residential roofers and commercial roofers, roof maintenance involves the thorough inspection of shingles for these causes of deterioration.

If problems reveal themselves, your Orange County roofer generally will recommend some sort of action.  Don’t worry. The recommended action doesn’t necessarily bode astronomical expense. In fact, proposed solutions typically involve minor, relatively inexpensive repairs and adjustments. For instance, the Orange County roofing company simply may need to remove a clump of debris wearing down asphalt granules. These granules, of course, form the protective layer that inhibits moisture and other intrusive elements.

An Orange County roofing company usually takes inspections beyond the realm of shingles. Also looked at during these critical examinations are roof system components such as flashings, gutters, and downspouts. These can exhibit various forms of damage, including leak-inviting holes. Should action such as debris removal be necessary, a qualified professional can handle it without a hitch.

If you have questions about roof maintenance, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer in Huntington Beach, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing and commercial roofing need. No matter where you live in OC, you can count on Luke Roofing for the most efficient, reliable roofing solutions.

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Nov
28

When is it Time to Change Your Roof?

Approximately twenty years … that’s the average length of time a roof will last. Once two or so decades have gone by, you’ll likely need to call an Orange County roofing company to perform a replacement. Of course, many factors influence the durability of your rooftop. Wind, rainfall, abrasion, and other potential damaging elements can play a critical role in reducing the useful years of even the sturdiest shingles. And speaking of shingles, certain kinds generally outlast the competition. For instance, slate, clay tile, and various metals usually can endure beyond the twenty-year average. If your shingles are composed of these materials, it’ll be quite some time before you call an Orange County roofing company to perform a replacement.

Along with weather conditions and various natural factors, many other variables can impact the durability of a roof. One of these variables is the overall design of your roofing system. Many times an Orange County roofing contractor must replace a roof that suffers from design deficiencies.

Roofing professionals also may be called upon to address problems stemming from poor maintenance. To maintain a roof properly, you must conduct periodic inspections of shingles, flashing, rain gutters, and other critical components. Both commercial roofing contractors and residential roofing contractors recommend performing these vital inspections twice yearly. Neglecting this important step in roof preservation leaves you open to hidden issues that ultimately could reduce the useful years of your shingles. In the long run, discovering problems early will prove far less damaging to both your roof and your wallet.

If you have questions about roof durability, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer in Los Alamitos and surrounding cities, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing and commercial roofing need. No matter where you live in OC, you can count on Luke Roofing for the most efficient, reliable roofing solutions.

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Nov
14

Keep the Downpour Outdoors

If rainwater or other moisture is trickling into your happy home. If droplets plop onto your head as you dig into a bowl of granola, then you’ve likely got a leaky roof. In which case, you’ll need to contact an Orange County roofer to solve this little problem. Of course, chances are good you could have avoided the problem altogether with a few precautionary steps. Among these steps, one of the most important is checking out two key problem areas – shingles and flashing.

Depending on what type of structure you’re dealing with, it’s a good idea to call in a commercial roofer or residential roofer to have a look at your shingles. Tapping into their expert abilities and experience, they can identify shingles that are well past their prime. This condition is usually evidenced by shingles that are badly worn, curled, cracked, or split. Once these signs are noticeable, shingles are no longer effective barriers to moisture. Compromised in this way, they allow rainwater to penetrate their outer surface. They can even be torn away by wind gusts. Either way, water will be entering your home uninvited.

Equally important to the dryness of your home are flashings. These are sheets of material placed at strategic points to guard against moisture penetration. A qualified Orange County roofer can examine your roof flashings, ensuring every one of them provides a tight seal around chimneys, vents, skylights, and other vulnerable zones. These inspections should take place two times each year. By taking this simple precautionary step, you'll uncover potential problems well before they become major headaches.

If you have questions about faulty shingles and flashings, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer in Midway City and surrounding areas, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing and commercial roofing need. No matter where you live in OC, you can count on Luke Roofing for the most efficient, reliable roofing solutions.

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Nov
07

Why Branching Out Isn’t Always a Good Thing

Often, Orange County roofing companies must repair damage caused by an unexpected source. The source, believe it or not, is an ordinary tree. That’s right. The front yard Spruce might provide aesthetic appeal. It might even cast a cooling shadow during the summer months. But if it’s anything like the average tree, it also could be inflicting serious harm to your roof. It’s too late once the damage is discovered. You’ll need a qualified Orange County roofing company to set things right. 

The longer the tree limbs, the more likely the roof damage. And the sooner you’ll need the intervention of an Orange County roofing contractor. That’s because lengthy tree limbs can scratch and gouge rooftops.

You may be thinking to yourself, ‘no limbs are touching my roof. I am totally in the clear.”  This is all well and good. But don’t be fooled. If the limbs are close enough (as they commonly are), a few wind gusts will whip those limbs across the sturdiest of shingles. And they’ll definitely leave their mark.

If the wind intensifies, so will your woes. Major gusts snap branches quicker than lightning. Sometimes those snapped branches will plummet to rooftops, puncturing once-pristine shingles. All this points to one, simple solution – trim those trees.

Business owners must be especially careful, as the tree count of a commercial area typically exceeds that of a residential property. Before you summons a commercial roofing contractor to deal with the damage, simply call in a tree trimmer to prevent it.

If you have questions about protecting your roof from tree damage, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer in Mission Viejo and surrounding areas, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing and commercial roofing need. No matter where you live in OC, you can count on Luke Roofing for the most efficient, reliable roofing solutions.

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Oct
15

5 Things to Know About Skylights, Before Intstallation

Skylights can be a fun, helpful addition to your home. They can bring natural light into areas like bathrooms and closets where regular windows are less than idea. Or they can make rooms seem even larger, with an endless view up into the sky.

However, when not installed properly, skylights can do some real damage to both your roof and the interior of your home. So before you install a skylight, be sure you know these five things:

1.Placement is paramount

When you’re considering where to put a skylight, you should know that you can’t just plop it in wherever seems convenient. Sure, it’d be nice to be able to pick any spot on the inside of your home and stick a skylight there. But you can’t do that!

Skylights come in limited sizes for a reason: they need to fit between beams. You certainly don’t want to cut through your roof’s support beams to put in a skylight.

The easiest way to figure out where you can put a skylight is to look at your home’s official blueprints, which will lay out where all the beams in your home happen to fall. If you have attic access, you can also just look between the roofing supports to determine where your skylight can go.

Not sure where you can put a skylight in your home? Consult with a professional to determine the best course of actions.

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Sep
12

A Close Look at Asphalt Shingles

When an Orange County roofing company receives a request to install new shingles, it can offer many different types to customers. Despite the wide variety of available shingles, however, people tend to favor one material in particular. That material is asphalt. The typical Orange County roofing company installs this kind of shingle more often than any other type. So do other roofing companies throughout the U.S. Asphalt definitely is the people’s choice. Much of this popularity stems from the well-known durability of the material. It just seems to last and last.

At first glance, asphalt shingles are nothing more than that – a shingle made of this highly durable material. But there is more to this shingle than meets the eye. In actuality, asphalt shingles are available in two distinct varieties. One kind commonly installed by an Orange County roofing contractor is reinforced with organic felts. In use for a relatively long time, this type has a cellulose-fiber base. Manufacturers fill this base with asphalt and coat it with the fine mineral granules you’ve probably noticed many times.

Despite the proven durability of organic asphalt shingles, a newcomer now rules the marketplace. This newcomer is the fiberglass-reinforced asphalt shingle. For both commercial roofing contractors and residential roofing contractors, this type is requested most often. In terms of its structure, fiberglass shingles consist of a fiberglass mat covered by layers of asphalt and mineral granules.

Are you concerned that the reinforcing material will impact the looks of an asphalt shingle? Dismiss those thoughts immediately. Neither fiberglass nor organic reinforcements will significantly affect the natural appearance of an asphalt shingle. Both types appear smooth and textured thanks to the lamination that is standard for each.

If you have any questions about asphalt shingles, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer in Santa Ana and surrounding areas, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing need and situation. Wherever and whenever you need roofing services in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

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Aug
27

Why Your Roof Needs a Breath of Fresh Air

One of the most important jobs performed by the typical Orange County roofing company has nothing to do with leaks. It's the job of making sure roof ventilation is in good order.

Without some means of channeling air into crucial zones, heat and moisture often accumulate in places like attics. Once those problems take hold, the consequences typically are extremely unwelcome. For instance, moisture-ravaged shingles often buckle. Insulation doesn’t buckle – it just weakens.

A qualified Orange County roofing contractor can help identify barriers to proper roof ventilation. As part of the process, this hawk-eyed professional will make sure common passageways such as louvers, ridge vents, or soffit vents are sufficiently open to allow adequate air flow. Ventilation, of course, is important for both residential roofs and those used on commercial buildings. A qualified residential roofing contractor or commercial roofing contractor can determine if your roof meets the ventilation requirements.

No matter where you live or work in Orange County, proper ventilation is crucial to the effectiveness and durability of your roof. Don’t assume that an inland residence is invulnerable to the ravages of moisture. Dampness is a condition that occurs almost anywhere. If, for instance, you live in Costa Mesa, it’s best to get the opinion of a qualified Costa Mesa roofing company to determine the effectiveness of your current roof ventilation. If a need reveals itself, the company will offer appropriate solutions. This may include installing a vapor retarder beneath the insulation to prevent moisture from penetrating your attic.

If you have any questions about ventilation for your roof, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofing company, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing need and situation. Whether you need roofing services in Costa Mesa or anywhere else in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

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Aug
01

Moldy Roof - What to Do...

The state of your roof can tell you a lot about your home, in general. Water stains may mean that you have backed-up gutters, for instance. And a roof that is waving or denting in places may have storm damage or underlying structural issues. One other thing your roof can tell you about: mold.

Mold under the roof is a less common issue in SoCal than in wetter areas of the country, but that doesn’t mean it never happens. After all, it only takes a little water damage for mold to crop up in otherwise sheltered areas.

So what should you look for to tell if there’s mold happening on or just under your roof? And when should you call an Orange County roofing contractor to take care of the problem? Here’s what you need to know about finding, dealing with, and preventing mold on your roof.

Signs to Look For

First, it’s always important as a homeowner to know what signs to look for as a problem might arise. When it comes to mold in or around your roof, you might notice actual visible stains and streaks that seem to spread on your roof, for instance. If your roof is poorly ventilated, mold can actually grow on top of the roof or just under the shingles, causing discoloration that seems to get worse as time goes by.

It’s more likely, though, that mold signs will be visible inside your home. For instance, you might notice cracked or peeling paint on your ceilings, or even water stains coming through to the ceilings. If you notice signs like these, you either have recent water damage or, potentially, mold.

Also, you should always be on the lookout for worrying physical symptoms in yourself, your children, or your pets. Symptoms of mold reaction can be subtle, and may look like cold, flu, or seasonal allergy symptoms to begin with. But if you notice family members who have increased respiratory issues, itchy skin, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, or sore throat on an ongoing basis, it’s a good idea to look for mold. Other mold exposure symptoms include rashes, headaches, or chest tightness.

If these symptoms are ongoing and out of the ordinary, you’ll want to talk to a doctor, of course. But you may also want to talk to an Orange County roofing contractor who can thoroughly check the top of your home for mold. This is especially true if you notice these symptoms in connection with other physical signs of mold around or outside of your home.

Dealing with Mold on Your Roof

When it comes to dealing with mold on your roof, it’s really best left to the professionals. Mold and mildew growth on the outside of your roof, such as between your tiles, is less likely to cause serious health problems for your family. However, you’ll want to have contractors take care of this unsightly problem before it does further damage to the roofing underlayment.

Usually, contractors will clean the roof thoroughly if exterior mold is the problem. They may use a bleach solution to kill the mold growth, and they may need to replace some of the more affected tiles or shingles, if necessary.

Mold growing under the roof can be a larger problem to deal with, and you may need to talk with a contractor who specializes in mold remediation.

Mold growing in the attic may be harmless cosmetic mold that can be scrubbed off or even left alone. But if the mold variety is potentially hazardous, you’ll have to decide whether to clean it up or actually replace the roofing underlayment.

Replacing underlayment is a costly venture, but could be more efficient than trying to scrub mold off of the wood, treat it, and then keep mold from coming back. Again, though, this is a question for an experienced contractor, and you’ll need to have them come to your home to scope out the problem in order to get a feel for this particular issue.

If you do decide to replace the underlayment, be sure to find out what was likely the cause of the mold growth in the first place. Take steps to prevent such an expensive issue from cropping up again in the future!

Preventing Mold on Your Roof

Preventing mold on and under your roof comes down to two things: design and maintenance.

Design is important because you’ll want to be sure that your attic has enough ventilation. Lack of ventilation traps humid air near the roofing underlayment, which can encourage mold growth. But too much ventilation can also be a bad thing for the health of your home, in general. This is why it’s important to consult with a professional when deciding on the layout of your roof and its ventilation system.

Maintenance is also important. The major cause of mold in and under roofs is leaks, which are often caused by lack of proper maintenance. If your roof isn’t maintained properly, it’s more likely to crack and have leaks, which can, in turn, allow for mold growth.

It’s important to have your roof inspected regularly by an Orange County roofing contractor who can catch small problems before they turn into major issues. During regular inspections, you may find minor issues that the contractors can fix quickly, thus preventing underlayment damage and costly mold problems down the road.

If you have any questions, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer in Villa Park and surrounding areas, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing need and situation. Wherever and whenever you need roofing services in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.

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