ASK SCOTT: Q&A FOR CUSTOMERS

Ask Scott: Q&A For Customers

What are some signs that you may need a new roof or roof repair?

If your roof is 20 years old or older it would be a good time to evaluate its condition. There may be an opportunity to do some minor repairs to extend its serviceable life for a year or two and allow you to plan for replacement.
Seeing excessive granule loss in the gutters or at the end of your downspout is a good indicator of a roof that may need to be replaced.
Looking down on the shingles and seeing fractures in the asphalt suggests a breakdown with the product. This will be more noticeable on the south and west exposures that get more sun.
Looking from the ground and noticing lifting and buckling shingles should create a concern. I have seen this happen from fasteners backing out of the roof deck and lifting the shingles. Both of these issues should be repaired immediately to prevent water damage to the interior.
Also looking from the ground and noticing damage to the flashings, vents, gutters/downspouts or missing shingles should be repaired immediately to prevent water damage
A build up of sediment such as moss or lichen especially on the north side of your home should be repaired before it damages the shingles.

What are some main concerns a consumer should consider when choosing a roofing contractor?

I can acknowledge the fact that consumers don’t understand the processes, products and proper installation practices needed when creating a roof system that lasts as long as the roofing products. Here is a list of questions that can help you pick the right contractor.

Ask about the products being used and the manufacturer warranties they are able to provide. Understanding what type of warranty the contractor is providing you is extremely important to ensure you have protection if there is a product failure. It is also important to ask about an install warranty which typically ranges for 8-12 years depending on the company. This will protect a homeowner from any install failures within the next few years.
Ask about the history and longevity of the company. Look for a contractor with proper licensing and certifications.
Upon appointment make sure the contractor does a proper inspection of the roof top to determine the deck condition, flashing conditions, exhaust venting, low slopes/flat roofs, trough areas and skylights/solar tubes. These are all important to make sure that your new roof lasts its full serviceable life. Also evaluating the existing attic is important as well to make sure there is proper ventilation and insulation.
Make sure the contractor provides you with a detailed contract, including a warranty and type of products being used.

What is the importance of having proper insulation in the attic of your home?

Proper insulation in the attic of your home is essential for maintaining a healthy roof and energy cost savings alike. 90% percent of the attics that J&B Construction Co. inspect do not meet the U.S Department of Energy recommended R-values (resistance to heat loss) or ventilation guide lines. Having proper insulation is extremely important, especially in our part of the United States. 40% of heat loss in a home is lost through the ceiling portion of a home. Having your attic insulated to an R-value of 49-60 as recommended by the U.S Department of Energy will not only make your home more comfortable, but will save you significant dollars in heating and cooling costs. Please give J&B Construction a call today, for a free, no hassle attic evaluation. Family‑owned for over 68 years and three generations, J&B Construction has been protecting local homes from Mother Nature with trusted roofing, siding, gutters, skylights, and attic insulation. We’d be honored to share our experience and earn your business.

What is the importance of having proper venting in your home?

No matter how well you’re insulated, ventilation is just as important. Note that there are several different types of exhaust vents you can choose and some of them you should not mix. Ventilation is essential to reduce attic condensation in the winter and excessive heat in the summer. An overheated attic is the #1 cause of premature shingle deterioration. A healthy attic temperature should be as close as possible to the exterior temperature. To assist in this you need to draw-in exterior air through your soffits and allow stagnate air in your attic to exhaust through the roof venting areas. Note that there are several different types of exhaust vents you can choose and some of them you should not mix. You are not trying to heat or cool your attic, think of it as nothing more than equalizing the attic’s interior temperature with the exterior temperature. Family‑owned for over 68 years and three generations, J&B Construction has been protecting local homes from Mother Nature with trusted roofing, siding, gutters, skylights, and attic insulation. We’d be honored to share our experience and earn your business.

What can happen if you have improper attic insulation and ventilation in your home?

When heat loss occurs through your walls, windows and doors it exhausts to the exterior of your home, causing no harm or damage to your home. Without having proper attic insulation and ventilation, the heat transfers to the attic space and can cause an increase in temperature resulting in the melting of snow on the roof. This process can cause ice damming in valleys, eaves and the potential increase of condensation in your attic. Condensation in your attic can cause premature breakdown of your roof decking as well as potential mold growth on framing and sheathing areas. During the summer months, improper ventilation will cause a pre deterioration of your asphalt roof and shorten its life expectancy due to elevated temperatures in the attic space. These are just some of the reasons ventilation is imperative to complete a healthy attic system. For a complete evaluation of your attic please call J&B Construction Co.

What is Ice damming and how can a homeowner prevent it from happening?

Ice damming is a build up of ice at the eves and valleys of your home. The ice blocks the melting snow from draining off your roof causing it to back up under your shingles and leak into your home. Don’t forget that shingles are not waterproof, but water shedding. Adding additional ice and water in certain areas of your home will not prevent ice damming but it will help with the existing problem. Ice and water shield does not change the existing circumstances on why your attic is having ice damming issues. When selling a new roof system to a customer that experienced bad ice damming in the past it is important to evaluate both the attic insulation and ventilation. The temps of a healthy attic should be as close to the existing outside temperatures as possible. Resolving an ice damming issue is a correlation between insulation and ventilation. Family‑owned for over 68 years and three generations, J&B Construction has been protecting local homes from Mother Nature with trusted roofing, siding, gutters, skylights, and attic insulation. We’d be honored to share our experience and earn your business.

What to consider when doing work on a flat roof?

The majority of projects that J&B Construction Co. inspects has some form of a flat or low-slope roof system (Roof pitch under 3/12). Most homeowners grow frustrated with these areas due to performance failures. As a second generation owner with over 45 years of roofing experience most failures I have seen have been due to poor installation or short cuts taken by contractors. It is important to work with a contractor that has extensive flat roof experience. Many residential roofing contractors do very few flat roofs. When getting bids, let the contractor educate you on what your project needs. A comprehensive bid will help you understand what you need and why. Many times the installation of a flat roof will need other products such as siding, shingled roofing, rail systems and doors. Properly tying the new roof system into any of these is extremely important to its serviceable life or longevity. Family‑owned for over 68 years and three generations, J&B Construction has been protecting local homes from Mother Nature with trusted roofing, siding, gutters, skylights, and attic insulation. We’d be honored to share our experience and earn your business.

What are some tips homeowners should consider when getting a flat roof estimate?

Installing a shop fabricated metal edge detail and properly tying into a gutter will finish off the perimeter of a flat roof, reinforce the edges which are a weak point and extend the life of your new roof system.
If you have access to your flat roof and use it for outdoor living spaces; what you use for roof deck underlayment prior to the new roof being installed can have significant impact on the longevity and unforeseeable repairs.
If you have a code requirement to install a rail system on your flat roof you should know the type of rail you are going to install prior to installation of your new roof. Proper rail planning will allow the contractor to modify your new roof system for the installation of your new rail. Along with flashing details this is crucial part of your project to ensure code requirements are met and that you will not have any leaking caused by the rail system
With many flat roofs that J&B inspects, adding additional insulation can be a significant benefit. The fact that there is no access to inspect existing insulation (if any), adding insulation from the outside before the new roof is installed is an option.

Are there coatings/sprays that can extend the life of an asphalt roof?

For the last 10 years I have heard advertising on the radio about coating for shingled roofs that would extend the life expectancy. I don’t know of any similar products that are directly offered by any shingle manufacturer. Certainly manufacturers are not going to test products that ame on to the market to see if they have any ill effects on their shingles. To make matters worse, any foreign substance detected on their product would probably void any warranty claim. Be careful is what I consistently hear when talking with manufacturers about this topic. So think about it, if there was something discovered that would extend the life of a shingle, I would think that these multi billion dollar manufacturers would capitalize on it. For a complete roofing evaluation, contact J&B Construction Co.

What is the Importance of getting 2-3 roofing bids?

Many things have changed since I started selling roofing projects 45 years ago. Back then home owners depended on the contractor to inform them on products and what exactly their project needed. Unfortunately today most sales people are trained on closing the deal rather than having years of hands on experience. I have said many times that there is no substitute for experience, I am sure after a short encounter with a sales person you will be able to determine their concern and knowledge for the project. Every roof project is not dealing with the same issues, many homes I visit with premature failures expose details that were missed or ignored by the previous contractor. A comprehensive contract thoroughly listing each step of the process is crucial and allows you the opportunity to compare your quotes. Understanding the companies certifications, Products used and warranties is all important when considering a contractor. A certified contract will register the product information and the product manufacturer will send a warranty directly to you. Lastly, Do not be pressured by the sales person to sign a contract. 3 bids will give you the opportunity to compare project details and price to create a value.

Enjoy Peace Of Mind

The only complaint I have is when I have J&B do my roof in another 30 years or so, is Dave their sales man (a great guy) would not guaranty I could get the same great crew I had this time. They did a fantastic job. Much better than the last roofing company did. A nice bunch of guys. Did a very nice job cleaning up. I'd give them 10 stars but 5 is the limit. If you need a roof done this is the company you want to do it. One more point I need to make. The guys that did the chimney flashing are artists. I went up on the roof when they were done and was very pleased with not only the roofing job but the sculptured sheet metal work. It's kind of a shame it's on the roof and not hanging on the family room wall :). You get the point. Hire em. You'll like em.

Dave H

We live in a historic designated neighborhood and recently had our 30 year wood shingle roof replaced with another wood roof and new gutters. From Day 1 of the project to the final day, the entire team was responsive, professional, and very competent. When some minor changes were proposed by us they quickly and effortlessly complied. After going through this experience with J&B, I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a roof and gutter replacement, whether it be a simple or complicated project.

John Lamb

J & B did an amazing job from start to finish. The initial meeting at my home took place exactly at the time that was agreed upon and Scott was thorough in his explanations and transparent about costs. When the time came to begin the project, the team that showed up was friendly, professional and timely in getting the project done. The cleanup afterward was such that it looked like they hadn't been there at all. The roof looks great, there were no surprises and Scott came by to inspect the work and explain the warranty upon job completion. I would highly recommend them.

Kenneth Simons

My neighbor had their roof replaced and I was really impressed with the speed, carefulness and quality of the work I saw. Asked her for her experience and she told me she would highly recommend J & B. I called Scott to set an appointment. He showed up on time and was very thorough in his assessment, also letting me know about some other issues and advise on where to get help. J & B is a fantastic company to deal with - their people are incredibly careful about the work they do, clean up and leave the property in the same condition as when they started, were careful about plants and the house, and work very efficiently. The office staff is great about following up, checking in and very responsive to anything that comes up. I was happy with the price charged. If you are looking to replace your roof, you should be calling J & B to get the job done.

David W.

We had work done by the J&B team at a commercial property and were very pleased with the whole process. Their estimator met us onsite and communicated with us every step of the way. They went over the scope in detail and the work performed exceeded what we were expecting. They found some additional concerns during the installation that were quickly addressed and communicated to us and to our surprise, there was not an additional charge. Our tenants reached out to share how respectful the employees were during the installation and how clean everything was left afterwards. As the project was wrapped up, we were walked through the completion paperwork and provided the warranty information. Very impressed with the professionalism of this company and would not hesitate to refer their services or use them again in the future.

Jessie C.