Lyons Roofing

Roof Replacement and Repair Contractor Louisville, KY and Indiana

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Louisville: (502) 689-0338
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Leaky Roof?

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So there you are. Sitting in your kitchen enjoying a nice dinner, slow steady rain beating on your windows. The distant crack of thunder and flash of lighting makes you think, how much longer will this last. Then all of the sudden drip right on your kitchen table from that leaky roof.

leaky roof

When did we get a leaky roof?

 

The first logical thing you do is say a few choice words. Then walk outside and look up to diagnose the problem yourself. Hey, what do you know about roof problems and leaks you ask yourself? Then you make the dreaded call to your local roofing contractor.

 

You are in luck, or are you?

 

If you are, fortunate you just had your roof replaced a few years’ prior and it is still under warranty. You call your previous contractor and let them know the location and severity of the leak and they schedule a time to come look at the issue.

 

If you are unfortunate, you had your roof replaced a few years prior and call your contractor they do not answer or they are no longer in business. Maybe worse, you have not had your roof replaced or you just bought the house and are not sure if there is any type of warranty on the roof.

 

What is the problem?

 

If you happen to be, one of the fortunate ones and your roof was recently replaced, your roofing contractor is reliable and stands behind his work, and then you should not have a problem. The contractor will come out, assess the problem, and promptly resolve it.

Owens Corning

Chances are, it is something minor that can be addressed quickly. It may be a faulty pipe collar, or something damaged from the storm. Either way a reliable contractor will address the problem promptly and get you back to your family life.

 

If you are not one of the fortunate ones you have one of two options.

 

  1. Climb up and try to assess and fix the problem yourself.
  2. Call a Roofing contractor that knows what they are doing and let them worry about it.

 

Now you would think, this is a no brainer. Who would not call a contractor to fix a leaky roof? Well I am in no way against a DIY repair and if you can handle it I am ok with that. Let me warn you though, you could potentially cost yourself more money. You could go up there, throw a bunch of tar on it and call it a day. It may work, more than likely it wont on the long term. You then have to pay a contractor more money to fix the tar mess and the roof leak, not to mention any interior damage that comes from the leak.

leaky roof 1

I know, I know, you are saying of course a “roofing contractor” would tell me to call a contractor. I can do it myself and save myself some money. Do us all a favor, call a roofer and have it fixed right the first time. Save yourself money, the risk and ultimately the time, have it fixed the right way.

Gutter Problems

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So there, you are sitting on your front porch, enjoying a hot cup of tea watching the rainfall on a nice summer evening. Suddenly, off the front of your porch you notice water slowly start running over and quickly turns into a waterfall. You think, what the heck is going on, do i have gutter problems again?!

gutter problems waterfall

Common Gutter problems

So, what are the main areas of concern and how can you correct them? Well gutters tend to be one of the more simple systems when it comes to your home. First, water comes down, hits your roof, and runs into your gutter, down a downspout and bam on the ground.

 

See like I said, simple. Day is over wrap it up time to head to the house right? Wrong!

 

Yes, the process is simple but leaks in a gutter can be quite complex. Here are a few reasons your gutter may be leaking.

 

  • Clogged (I know simple)
  • Improper sloping
  • Sealant on seams and drops (if you have seamless gutters)

 

I know, these are all simple issues, but how do you address them?

 

Clogged gutters

gutter problem clogged

A simple item to address, whether you get up and clean them yourself or call your local roofing contractor to do it for you. Most of your issue will be right at your downspouts. Climb up a ladder and take a peak to see if there is any debris built up. Normally, one big item holds up the others and creates your problem.

 

Improper sloping

 

This is something that you will likely need to hire a contractor to address. You can take a couple different routed to see if this is your problem.

 

First- stand back and look at your gutters, is there a sag in the middle of the gutters? On the other hand, does it look like there isn’t enough fall, or slope towards your downspouts?

 

Second- climb up a ladder after a rain, is water just sitting in your gutters, this can also be an issue with sloping. Check and make sure there are no clogs first, this water sitting, tends to be more concentrated away from downspouts if it is a sloping issue.

 

Last but not least- if you have a 4 foot level, set it on the edge of the gutter, it should be slightly off level heading towards a downspout. If not, you will need to have a contractor look at your gutters and assess if you have enough fall (or slope)

 

Sealants on seams or drops

 

Sealant is something that will always need to be checked. Granted, not many homes have seamed gutters anymore but that does not mean you do not have sealant in them. Drops and corners are common areas for leaks and sealant. Climb up a ladder and look, is the sealant broke down and has gaps? If so, you will need either a high quality silicone based caulk to patch these areas.

gutter problems

This are all fairly straight forward and easy issues you can address your self. I would suggest, if you have an issue with the sloping of a gutter, call a local contractor. They have the knowledge and tools to make a daunting task an easy one.

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