Is It Safe for You to Walk on Your Roof?

Roofers can walk on the top of the steepest roofs, and they rarely get injured. Although this is a fact, as most Orlando roofers are highly trained and experienced, not everyone is able to do the same as successfully. The fact is that, even though most roofers make it look easy, walking on a roof is rarely a walk in the park. 

Safety concerns associated with walking on your roof can include:

• Losing your balance and falling;
• Slipping on a slippery surface or a loose roofing element and getting injured;
• Risking injury while working on your roof because of poor balance;
• Some areas being too risky to reach because of the dangerous slope.
  

When you plan to walk on your roof, even just for the purpose of inspecting it for damage, it is very important to use the right safety measures, such as a sturdy ladder that can be locked into place and a durable harness that can catch you in case you lose your balance. 

Also, make sure that you’re using proper roofing shoes to avoid slipping, and that your ladder is placed on stable ground, so it doesn’t slip away when you try to get down. If even after taking all these safety measures, you’re still uncomfortable with being on top of your roof, then consider calling in the professionals to do the work for you.

How to Get what You Need from Insurance After your Roof is Damaged

In the aftermath of a storm, you may discover that your roof was damaged.  In this case, you will have to call your insurance company and start your claim process.

You will have to look for damage right away and assess the condition of the roof, but not by yourself: the best way to do this is to get in touch with licensed Orlando roofers, which will identify the damage and file a report that you can use in your claim process.

Allowing your roof to be inspected by a professional roofer besides the insurance company's adjuster will maximize your chances to get proper compensation, not to mention that some roofers may also be willing to act as your advocates, filing the claim, collecting relevant information and negotiating with your insurer. Not all roofers offer this assistance, but it does not mean that they do not do good evaluation work; it is simply not their area of expertise and it is common sense to admit it.

Alternatively, you can also contact a public adjuster, especially if your insurance company denies your claim.  A public adjuster will represent your best interest and get maximum compensation for you.

What Is a TPO Roofing System and Why Should You Get One?

If you’ve been doing some research on commercial roofing products, and searching for the most dependable and resilient roofing types available on the market, you probably already heard about TPO roofing. Short for thermoplastic polyolefin, TPO has long been used successfully in the commercial roofing industry as a strong type of membrane roof to protect various buildings from the elements.

Even though TPO sounds like it’s made of plastic, the material is actually closer to rubber. Thermoplastic polyolefin roofing is made from one of a number of different types of rubber, typically being associated to materials such as polypropylene and propylene rubber.

The great thing about using TPO for commercial roofing is that it’s easy to fix and quite resilient. Also, there are many types of roof coatings you can add as upgrades, even long after the installation of the roof was first completed.

Finally, another great advantage of using TPO is that a lot of different Orlando roofing contractors actually specialize in the installation of TPO roofs. As a result, not only will you be able to get a great price on your TPO installation, but you’re also far more likely to find dependable and skilled Orlando roofers who can install your new roof in record time and gain assistance with long term maintenance and repairs at a great discount.

Traditional Roofing Alternatives to Consider for a More Classical Look

Not everyone has the money to install a beautiful, natural slate roof or have a contractor get them a vintage, custom made terracotta roofing system at short notice. However, in this day and age of technological advancement, you’ll find that getting that classical look can be far more convenient and less problematic than you thought.

One of the best alternatives to slate and wood shake roofing is metal. The unique properties of metal make them suitable for mimicking natural materials quite well. With the right customization techniques and the proper paint work, roofing manufacturers can come up with just about any design, so that in most cases, people visiting your home will hardly be able to tell that you don’t have a genuine slate roof installed.

Another good alternative to consider is concrete. Although concrete is not the same as slate, and it doesn’t come with the same traditional roofing designs you’d get from a wooden roof, it can still be fashioned to mimic many of the traditional looks that you might have seen in old photographs of traditional designs, such as those used in Spanish colonial homes.

If you want to find out more about which types of roofing you can consider, depending on your budget and the type of home you have, consider contacting your local, friendly Orlando roofers to ask them all the questions you need answered, and to get a proper estimate.

The Most Common Materials Used for Florida Roof Replacement

If you are currently planning to reroof your building in Florida, there are a number of factors that you need to consider. The most common materials used in Florida are asphalt shingles with fiberglass or organic matting, clay and cement tiles, metal and built-up roofs consisting of alternated layers of tar or modified bitumen and gravel. While the price point is certainly one of the most important factors to consider when selecting the material, knowledgeable Orlando roofers suggest there are other factors that you should also have in mind:

-        Resistance to the elements – Florida is a region that gets lots of sunshine, lots of storms as well as lots of precipitation, so you need a material that can stand up to all these elements. If your building is located in a fire-prone area, you should also look at the fire-resistance rating of the available materials;

-        Durability – different roofing materials have different lifespans. Shingles can last for 15-25 years, metal roofs are warranted for around 40 years, while clay tiles can stay on your building for 100 years;

-        Energy-efficiency – the best materials for Florida roofs are the ones that offer superior thermal insulation qualities to maintain the stability of your interior temperatures and to lower your energy bills.