Orange County

Selecting the right color for roof shingles is similar to choosing hues for other parts of your home.  You should consider many factors before making a decision. In our experience as an Orange County Roofer, we see three factors as particularly important when it comes to selecting shingle shade. We strongly recommend you keep them in mind before settling on a roof color.

The Safe Choice. You almost never can go wrong by selecting a muted shade for shingles. (emphasis on ‘almost never’.) The reason? As with clothing, your basic grays and blacks go with just about anything. Dark colors seldom clash with siding and landscape. Remember, however, to consider neighboring properties. If light-shaded shingles are the rule, going dark could make your home stand out like a sore thumb.

Some Things Never Change.  Sure, siding is one of the standout features of your happy home. Nevertheless, you should consider the other influencers of roof color, such as your home’s more permanent features. Case in point is brickwork, which likely won’t be changing any time soon. A shingle shade that matches brick décor could be your most sensible, aesthetically-pleasing choice.

Natural Selection. OK, you’ve considered all the color options. Deliberated the possibilities with your family members until you’re bleary-eyed. And you still can’t settle on a shingle shade. If you’re stuck in the mud like this, this commercial roofer strongly advises you look to nature for inspiration. Check out your surroundings and take note of the trees and other landscaping. What color is all that flora? Matching roof shingles to your natural surroundings might be your answer. 

If you have questions about roof color or are considering roof repairs or upgrades, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established commercial roofer, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every need and situation. Offering roofing services from Midway City to Dana Point, Luke Roofing is your trusted Orange County roofing contractor.  

Chances are that your roof takes up quite a bit of the overall square footage of the outside of your home. In fact, it could be up to half of what people see when they pull up on the curb, depending on the design of your roof. So one of the simplest ways to add curb appeal to your home is to add some appeal to your roof.

There are plenty of ways to do this, including upgrading to a tile or slate roofing option, or choosing a roof in a unique color. But one of the best options for upgrading the look of your roof is to talk to your Orange County roofing contractor about architectural shingles.

When it comes to the exterior of your home, some problems can be let go for a while. Maybe your home needs a good cleaning, but you want to wait until next summer. No problem. But when it comes to your roof, there are plenty of issues you definitely don’t want to wait on fixing.

Remember, your roof protects the rest of your home. So when there’s damage to your roof, you’re putting your entire home at risk. No, roofing repairs aren’t necessarily the things you want to spend money on. But without a solid roof in excellent shape, you stand to lose much more in your home.

Your roof is a huge part of your investment in your home, since it protects literally every other part of your investment. So you want to take extra time and care when repairing your roof, and making decisions about roof repairs. On that note, here are five things to avoid when it’s time to repair your roof:

1.Hire a cut-rate contractor

It may seem tempting to hire a less experienced contractor, or one who quotes a too-good-to-be-true low price. Cheaper contractors - especially those who don’t give a solid reason for being significantly cheaper than your other quotes - are often cheaper for a reason. These contractors might cut prices by hiring less experienced laborers, or by using lower-quality materials. None of these things are good for you or your home!

Instead: Shop around and get quotes, but choose a contractor who offers the most value for your money. Experience counts in this business, so opt for a more experienced contractor who has a crew of well-trained workers. You’ll save money in the long run.

As the environment and environmental concerns come to the cultural forefront - especially here in California - more homeowners are asking how to go green with home renovation and repair projects. One great place to begin going green is with your roof. But which roof is the most eco-friendly? And how green can you get with your roof? We’re here to answer these questions and more.

What does “green” mean for a roof?

When it comes to your roof, there are plenty of ways to go “greener” than you already are right now. One of the most eco-friendly options is probably a truly green roof, which grows heat-deflecting, oxygen-producing, air-cleaning plants on the roof. But you don’t have to get quite that out there when choosing a greener option to replace your home’s roof. Instead, just think about these factors:1.Energy savings

No homeowner likes to hear that they need a new roof. Roofs, after all, are expensive. So it can be tempting to skimp on roofing costs. A little here. A little there. What can it hurt?

So you use less expensive materials, or hire a contractor at a cut rate. What difference does that really make, in the long run? This is especially tempting if you’re not planning to stay in the home for more than a few years anyway. You’ll never see the return on investment for a more expensive roof, or so you think.

But when it comes to roofing, it’s one of the biggest and most important investments that you’ll make in your home. After all, a roof is what protects and covers the rest of your home, which makes it a pretty important part of the whole.

Most of the time, homeowners think of their home’s roof as nothing more than a utility. It’s just something that has to be replaced once in a while to be functional. But depending on your roofline, your roof could account for nearly half of what people see when they walk or drive past your home. That’s some serious real estate for the eyes, and you want to be sure that it looks great!

Luckily, adding curb appeal with a new roof isn’t that difficult, especially with all of the options on the market today. Here are a few ideas for updating your roof to create more curb appeal:

When it comes to southern California roofing, the primary choices are shingle and tile. Both options have their advantages, and the most important thing is to ensure that you’re using the best Orange County roofing contractors for the job.

But if you’re wondering about the major differences between these two types of roofing, we’re here to help. Here are the main differences between shingle and tile roofs:

1.Eco-friendliness

These days, many Californians are looking for eco-friendly home options, including roofs. As far as eco-friendliness, tile roofs win hands-down in California. Shingles can actually be better in some colder climates, but concrete and clay tiles are generally more energy-saving with our warm weather.

You look up in the spring and notice that the shingles on your roof are looking a little curled-under or wavy. That’s not good! If your shingles look like that, or if you’re missing lots of clay tiles, it may be time to replace your roof.

This is a project no homeowner looks forward to. But tackling your roof replacement sooner rather than later may actually save you money. If you can replace the roofing material before the underlying plywood is damaged, you’ll save a ton!

The actual cost of replacing your roof will depend on a number of factors. And only a qualified contractor can tell you exactly how much your roof replacement project will cost. The best Orange County roofing company will be up front with a quote, and will detail exactly what goes into that final cost.

Replacing a roof isn’t cheap. That’s why it’s important to repair your roof - rather than replacing it - whenever possible. Unless the shingles or tiles on your roof are completely worn out, repairs are able to fix many issues you might be having - including leaking. Orange County roof repair often addresses a group of very common problems. Here are some of the most common repairs that we do:

1. Damaged flashing.

Flashing is a piece of metal that adds extra protection to your roof’s extra vulnerable points. It’s found around skylights, around chimneys, and sometimes in the valleys of your roof where two surfaces meet. These areas are more prone to leaks, and are harder to get shingles and tiles into properly.

If you’ve been experiencing leaks, or just know that your roof is in need of some TLC, you may be wondering how much the repairs will cost. Who doesn’t want to know the bottom line, right?

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to give an online estimate - even a ballpark - of how much it will cost to repair your roof. It’s easier to give a ballpark cost for roofing replacement, actually. At least then we know we’re starting from the studs up, and can give you a ballpark idea of the cost of replacement per square foot of roof.

But when it comes to roofing repairs in Orange County, there are just too many factors influencing the cost of your repairs to give you a solid idea of your actual costs. What we can do, though, is tell you a bit about the six major factors that will influence the cost of repairs for your roof. That way, you’ll be educated enough to know when you’re getting a great deal with an Orange County roofing contractor.

Here are the six main factors that influence the cost of roof repairs in Orange County:

Tile roofs are some of the most popular options in Orange County, California - and for good reason! They’re long-lasting and incredibly energy-efficient in hotter climates. Plus, they’re a classic look with the area’s typical Spanish-inspired architecture. (But they also look great with more traditional types of architecture.)

Orange County roofing companies install many of these types of roofs each year. And the best roofing company will walk you through all your available options when it comes to a tile roof. While you’ve got many choices to make when it comes to your new tile roof - from style to color - the first and most basic choice is which type of tile you’ll use.

Tile roofs come in two basic options: concrete and clay. So what’s the difference between the two? Here’s an outline of the basic differences between these two types of tile roofs:

Cost

First, let’s look at the bottom line. Typically, clay tiles are more expensive than concrete. The average cost per square (100 square feet) for clay tiles is $700-$1,000. The average cost per square for concrete tiles is typically $400-$900 per square.

Of course, when comparing costs, it’s important to ask the Orange County roofing companies you’re vetting about the total costs of each type of roof. Also, ask which brands and types of tile they offer in each option. The goal should be to get an idea of overall costs - including installation - and not just costs for the raw materials.

Asphalt shingle roofing is one of the most popular options nationwide, and with good reason. It’s cheap, easy to maintain, and simple to repair. But this doesn’t mean you’ll get good results from your asphalt shingle roof - even the high-end kind with a warranty - by leaving it completely alone.

Proper roof maintenance will ensure that your roof lasts as long as possible. So whether your asphalt shingles are brand new or several years old, here are five tips for keeping them in top shape as long as possible:

1. Know your warranty.

This isn’t a maintenance tip, per se, but it’s still essential. The best Orange County roofing company will be up-front about any warranties for your new roof. Hang on to any paperwork surrounding your warranty, so you’ll have it in case a problem arises.

The best roofers in Orange County know a thing or two about clay tile roofs. After all, they’re some of the most popular roofs around this area. They fit right in to the Spanish-inspired feel of many Orange County homes. But clay tile roofs can work well with many other home styles, too, and they have tons of advantages.

Getting ready to replace your tile roof, or thinking of a switch to tile from another type of roofing material? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions the best roofers in Orange County are asked regularly:

1. Isn’t tile expensive?

Yes and no.

The answer to this question is yes because, on the front end, tile roofs are more expensive than their asphalt counterparts. Typically, concrete tiles cost about three times more than high-quality asphalt shingles, and clay tiles cost a bit more than that. This type of roofing is much less expensive than the increasingly-popular slate, however.

The Pros and Cons of Orange County Roofing Materials

Until you build a custom home or re-roof your existing home, you might not even think about all the types of roofing materials that are available today. But take a cross-country road trip through America, and you’ll see many different types of roofing materials - metal, asphalt shingles, clay, cedar shake shingles, and more.

Orange County homes can use any of these types of roofs, but before you choose your ideal roofing material, you need to know the pros and cons of all of your options. Here are the pros and cons of the most common Orange County roofing materials:

Asphalt shingles: Because they’re easiest to install, about ¾ of American roofs are covered in asphalt shingles. They come in a variety of colors, and they’re less expensive than other types of roofing materials, costing between $50 and $150 per 100 square feet.

3 Telltale Signs that Your Roof Needs Replaced

Has it been a while since the roof on your home has been replaced? Do you think it’s time to replace your shingle or tile roof in Orange County? Here are 3 signs to look for that will let you know if your roof needs to be replaced:

1. Signs of water damage or leaking

If you don’t have an attic - or if you use your attic as living space - this one will be obvious. You’ll suddenly feel a drip or see water coming down the ceiling or into the walls. But if your only in your attic twice a year to take down and then put away your holiday decorations, you might need to check out that attic.

Roof Repairs in Orange County

Most homeowners prefer to DIY fix at least some of their home repairs. After all, doing simple repairs yourself can save you lots of money. But when it comes to your roof, there are certain repairs you simply shouldn't attempt on your own. 

While you may be able to repair a small leak yourself, here are X common roof repairs in Orange County you should leave to the professionals:

1. Fixing faulty installation. If your roof was improperly installed in the first place, it’ll be more likely to leak. And the lifespan of your roof could decrease dramatically. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell if your roof was installed improperly, or if the problem is more localized. If you suspect your last roofing guys did a number on your roof, call a professional to assess and fix the problem.