Lyons Roofing

Roof Replacement and Repair Contractor Louisville, KY and Indiana

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Louisville: (502) 689-0338
Indiana: (812) 294-3595

Roofing Claim and Homeowner’s Insurance

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Have you ever experienced roof damage of some kind? You may wonder, is it time for a repair or full roof replacement? You may even be considering filing a roofing claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy.

In order to get the most out of your homeowner’s insurance policy, Lyons Roofing will help you get informed and take a few necessary precautions.

No need to be surprised by unexpected loopholes! We at Lyons Roofing want to do our best to make sure all of our customers and readers are well prepared.

 

Will your Insurance Company accept your claim?

roofing claim 

Most people assume that that their roof damage will be covered under your insurance policy, hire a contractor, and then be surprised later when their claim is denied.

No one likes to be stuck with that unexpected expense of a roofing claim. Asking your roofing contractor or insurance company questions ahead of time can help you avoid the headache and drama. Reasons for a denied roofing claim can vary, but could include any of the following:

  • The type of roofing materials you use,
  • A full roof replacement instead of a roof repair,
  • Homeowner negligence,
  • Improper prior installation
  • Everyone’s favorite “this damage is caused by age”(sometimes granule loss can be age related).

 

Accept Bids From High Quality Roofing Contractors

 Lyons Roofing Truck with New Wrap

Your insurance company may insist that you receive multiple roofing estimates from a wide variety of contractors. You are in no way obligated to do this. You are also not obligated to use a particular roofing contractor. Trust your insurance companies opinion though and at least vet out the contractors they endorse. There is a reason they are endorsed, these are contractors they know are knowledgeable and wont leave the customers with a subpar product..

Some Insurance companies have been known to only approve the lowest bid, which could leave you with a sub-standard roofing job. So make sure you do your homework and fight for the contractor you feel the most comfortable with. After all, you do pay premiums. Make sure you get the final product you want and deserve.

 

Do not Think The Leftover Claim Money is Yours

 Throwing-money-RF

Some homeowners assume that if they can get a roofing estimate lower than the insurance company’s estimate, they will be able to pocket the remaining money. In truth, the insurance company will only pay the final charges on the roofing contractor’s bill. Taking a lower bid could only put you at risk for a subpar job and years of headaches.

 

Do your own research and you will be able to successfully file a claim for roof repairs on your homeowner’s insurance. If you have any questions, you cannot find the answer on. Feel free to contact Lyons Roofing and if we cannot answer it, we will contact the insurance company for you to get your questions answered.

Why do you Need a New Roof?

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Why do you need a roof? What type of roof do you need, 3-tab, dimensional what is the difference? How long is a shingle warranty, how long is the roofing contractors warranty? Should I pay them a portion up front, to “buy materials”?

new roof

No wonder you as a homeowner are pulling your hair out trying to figure these little things out. Is there not a way to make this whole roof replacement thing easier?

Sorry, but no. It is a complicated process and a huge investment that you as a homeowner want to be involved in and want to be very vigilant of potential frauds.

Why do you need a new roof?

 Most people wait until a storm, have their insurance company come out, insurance company recommends a company and bam. Job done, everyone is happy and we all move on with our lives. That sounded like an easy process, but be careful, contractors even those “recommended” by your insurance company, can still pull fast ones on you.

Make sure the shingles they are installing are the type you requested, instead of a cheaper brand. Make sure they are doing everything they told you and the insurance company they would do.

What type of roof do you need?

 What is the difference between 3-tab and dimensional and which one should you choose on your home?

The best and easiest to understand explanation without me going in depth can be found on roofpedia.

From experience and longevity of the systems, for most we recommend going with a Owens Corning Duration Dimensional Shingle. With a great warranty on their product and a strong company that stands behind their product, its the way to go and price is not much higher than a standard cheaper 3-tab shingle.

Should I pay a Contractor upfront?

Old, red van in summertime

That is a pure judgement call on your part. Now, there are good companies out there with good intentions that just don’t have the overhead needed as they are smaller startups. I know you are like most and have heard the horror stories, “I paid Buck in the Truck half of my roof cost and never heard back from them?!” yes, be vigilant of this and use your best judgement.

We recommend, payment upon completion and satisfaction of the work. We are aware that isn’t always normal practice. Just ensure you protect yourself, family and home.

How long is a shingle warranty, how long is a roofing contractors warranty?

Shingles, brands, styles just like roofing contractors carry their own standard warranties. This is an important question to ask your contractor when selecting shingles and contractors. Most contractors are moving towards a longer warranty as most shingle products carry a longer warranty, (limited lifetime warranty).

Owens Corning

We hope as a homeowner these questions and answers bring you some peace of mind during a complex situation. As always if you ever need assistance or just have a question, reach out to us. Even if you are not in our service area, we are happy to help!

 

 

Curb Appeal

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We all know the basics of curb appeal, your flowers, trees trimmed etc. What about home improvements? What are a few options you have that can be friendly to your budget and also benefit you and your home in the long run.

If you are planning on staying in your home for a lifetime, or getting ready to put it on the market, here are a few options for the look and feel of home.

curb appeal

Curb Appeal and the Benefits

First of all for those of you that do not know what i mean on curb appeal,  the  “Merriam-Webster” dictionary says it best.

So what are the benefits of curb appeal?

First of all, not only does the home command more value if placed on the market but can behold faster than those without good curb appeal.

Homes with curb appeal on average command thousands of dollars more than those without. Basic things even on a budget can improve your homes look. Paint, washing siding/gutters, general lawn maintenance etc. So what about big projects? what are some ideas or concerns if you do plan on selling your home?

  • New vinyl or cedar siding, if your old is just to worn out and oxidized.
  • Professional landscapers (they know how to handle their type of work best, i have no idea what flower or bush will look good with my front door)
  • New roof or a roof cleaning.

out of those three a roof and siding will provide two things.

  1. a huge investment
  2. a huge return on investment

Every potential buyer wants to know that the roof is a huge expense and they of course want to buy a house and not have to worry about it. If you haven’t looked into getting your roof replaced and you’re going to be selling your home, you may want to reconsider.

curb

Budget Friendly Curb Appeal

So how can you make your home look better on a budget?

  • Paint your doors and shutters, on most homes this can be done for less than a $100
  • Install fancy new house numbers. (Just spend the money for the fancy ones). Under $100
  • Upgrade or install outdoor lighting, if you do this yourself then you can keep the cost low
  • Weed your flower bed and mulch, depending on the size of your flower beds this can be a cheap but painstaking process ( I recommend buying your mulch in bulk instead of bags, much more mulch for a much smaller price.)
  • Buy some outdoor bleach and spray the house down ( follow the manufactures directions). make the siding and gutters shine like they are brand new! Under $100

 

 

DIY Roof Leaks

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The goal of Lyons Roofing is to be your first line of defense when it comes to the elements and to protect your greatest asset from roof leaks. Water, in whatever form, (rain, snow, sleet, or hail), has a way of finding any weak spots in a roofing system.

damaged plywood in attic

 

Lyons Roofing has two goals, one to install a system that will stand up to the wear and tear that the weather brings year after year. To assist when roof leaks occur and to make you the happiest person under your own roof.

 

While so many roofs leaks can be simple to repair, determining the source of the leak is often the hardest part. When customers notice a drip on their ceiling, they often assume that the leak is coming from right above spot on the ceiling. However, a leak can travel down a rafter or can even be condensation from another system in your home.

 

Roof leaks can be caused by anything.

  • Missing, cracked or loose shingles, tiles or seams
  • Ponding water
  • Wind driven rain
  • “Tips” in Valleys
  • Improper installation of valleys, flashing, shingles, collars, etc.
  • Damaged or deteriorated flashing, seals and caulking
  • Exposed nail heads
  • Built up debris, which can trap moisture and accelerate deterioration
  • (My personal Favorite) Brick and mortar

 

Now the fun part memorize, you get to try to remember all of those potential hot spots for leaks! Just to make it a little bit easier, I will give you a short description of the cause of each, what to look for.

 

Missing, cracked or loose shingles, tiles or seams

This for the most part is self-explanatory. You will more than likely notice any missing shingles from the ground. To look for any cracks, you will have to spend a little time investigating on the roof. As always, if you do not feel comfortable, or you cannot do it safely. Do not climb on your roof. Cracks can be big problems in certain areas, if you find any in a valley (where two pitch changes come together) call a contractor and have it addressed immediately. It could be a minor crack or something more substantial that could be a major threat to your home.

cracked-shingle

 

 Ponding water

Ponding water is a big issue on flat roof systems. Your water should have areas to drain from the structure. If not this could cause problems with added weight to the structure and if water sits long enough it will more than likely find a way in.

ponding water

Wind driven rain

For the most part this will be a “freak thing” Maybe a storm comes in a certain way, or the wind just happens to blow rain in a vent. There is nothing in particular to look for. The only way to tell if this is an issue or not is if it is a small leak and does not re-occur.

“Tips” in Valleys

Being one of the most common issues a roofing company will see, it is the easiest to diagnose. If you are willing and able to climb on your roof, look at your valley, is the top layer cut and sitting on top of another layer that runs under? If so lift up the top section slightly, if you see any points on the upper layer of shingles running in line with the cut, those need to be trimmed back. You could try this yourself, but it is always best to have a professional do any work, that way you are not on the hook for any damage.

Improper installation of valleys, flashing, shingles, collars, etc.

This will be up to a professional contractor to decide. No offense, but unless you do it every day. You will not know if it is right or wrong. Granted, if something is obvious, your vents are upside down and backwards, and then yes, you will be able to diagnose this problem.

This is something you will have to look closely for, if you have exposed counter flashing look for any breaks in the sealant. On your pipe collars, look for any signs of dry rooting. This is normally only a problem after 7-8 years, in some cases never a problem.

 

Exposed nail heads

Look around your roof, any vents or flashings or even on the shingles. If you see any nails that are not covered by silicone, then a small dab to cover the nail is a good temporary fix. A final fix is removing the nail and sealing under the shingle it penetrated or replacing the shingle as a whole.

 

nail heads

Built up debris,

Look around your valleys, look along walls or behind any chimneys. Any debris left in these area can present a huge problem. A dam if you will hold water and allowing it to become your nightmare.

 

roof-leaks

(My personal Favorite) Brick and mortar

Something you would never realize could be a problem, but we at Lyons Roofing see it all the time. Chimneys are beautiful but can require a good amount of maintenance. If yours happens to be brick, look at the mortar, are there chunks missing? If not does it have the appearance of a sponge? If any of these are true you would need to get the mortar tuck pointed or the brick sealed.

damaged-mortar-crumbling-chimney-and-bricks

If none of these are issues, or you don’t feel safe climbing around on your roof. Contact Lyons Roofing for a free estimate. We are here to help you protect your greatest investment, your home.

Roof Underlayment?

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So why do you need a roof underlayment? Whether it be felt, tar paper or a newer underlayment system like Rhino. Not only should a consumer know the purpose of the roof underlayment, but also the best type for their home or business.

You would think all roof underlayment is the same. you would be right for the most part, but wrong just a little bit.

Types of Roof Underlayment

  • Tar paper
    Tar paper is made exactly how it sounds, it is a heavy duty paper impregnated with tar to produce a solid underlayment product for your roofing system.

     

  • Roof Felt
    Roofing felt is constructed in a very similar way to tar paper. This is a heavy duty paper that is impregnated with asphalt vs. tar.

     

  • Synthetic Underlayment (Rhino)
    Synthetic underlayment, just making a huge move on to the home improvement scene is a woven synthetic product. (almost like those sweaters grandma used to make, just better looking, sorry grandma).

So what is the best type of underlayment for your home and why do you need it?

Now in the opinion of Lyons Roofing Co. Synthetic is the way to go. Synthetic underlayment like Rhino or Tiger Paw, is leaps and above the old tar and felt papers of the old days. Don’t get me wrong, the old tar and felt papers are very reliable products and will protect your roof for years to come. rhino roof underlayment

Have you ever paid attention to your own roof replacement. Or how about seen a new construction home with torn and blown off felt paper. What about seeing a roofing contractor walking on the felt and it ripping under his feet? Synthetic underlayment provides not only a safer work surface but also a more durable one. No more worrying about it blowing off if a little wind kicks up or tearing under the feet of a contractor taking his afternoon stroll across your open roof.

So what is the purpose of underlayment, why do you need it?

Any type of underlayment you choose for your home or business will be beneficial. This is the first step of a new roof and a very important one. Underlayment provide the first basic layer of protection for your home. Underlayment, even though nailed through provide a basic barrier for weather and moisture. Hence the importance. If wind blows rain under your shingles, then a solid underlayment will help funnel water down your slope and if all goes well out of your gutter or to a point where the water will stop and dry when the sun comes out.

So yes, felt is a very important sub surface of your roof. If at all possible make sure you have it as a good starting point. There are other options for protection like an ice and water shield, which we will address at a later time.

Just remember, you want and need a good roof underlayment product and make sure it covers all of the gaps and isn’t ripped or torn in big sections. its not waterproofing, but it is water resistance.