Are you tired of having to replace your roof once every couple of decades? Has your previous roof lasted less than 10 years? If you want to invest in durable materials for roofing Barrington homes, the following options should help you out:

• If you’re on a budget, it might be a good idea to limit yourself to architectural shingles. These shingles won’t last much longer than asphalt shingles, but they are superior in craftsmanship, require less maintenance, and still have a slightly longer lifespan.

• Metal roofing is great if you want something more modern and unique. Metal is also extremely practical and energy-efficient, and some types of metal roofing products are not too expensive either. Most importantly, a metal roof can last for up to 75 years without needing too much maintenance.
• Finally, it’s a good idea to try natural slate if you want to go all out. Not to be confused with faux slate, since the difference between the two is staggering, natural slate is the single most durable and reliable roofing material in the world, easily lasting more than 100-120 years and outlasting its synthetic counterparts.

Even if you don’t have enough money to buy an exquisite copper roof or a durable slate roof, you can still consider a few other durable roofing materials. These include steel, concrete, terracotta and clay.

First Posted on: The Most Durable Roofing Materials That Can Last for Decades

Roof damage is bad in itself – the leaks that appear disrupt your daily life, the repairs are costly and take a long time to complete -, but unfortunately roof damage does not stay on the roof only, it causes problems in other areas of your home as well. Here are a few of the problems that damaged roofs cause in areas of the house other than the roof:

- Water damage traveling downward – a damaged roof will let rainwater seep through the roofing structure into the attic and then even lower, into your rooms. Seeping water can cause damp patches on your ceilings, it can cause harmful and dangerous mold and mildew to appear and is also a safety hazard that affects the electrical appliance in your home, increasing the risk of a house fire;
- Wall and foundation damage – if the rainwater is not properly directed into the ground, it can make your walls damp and it can also seep into the foundation, causing it to crack;
- Decreased property value – roof damage takes away a lot from the selling price that you can ask for your property and it also makes potential buyers more difficult to find.
Make sure to contact repair roofing Crystal Lake contractors for all your roofing needs.

Originally Posted on: How Can a Damaged Roof Further Hurt Your Home?

Every business has its scammers and roofing is no exception. While scams are infuriating in any season, when your roof is affected by storm damage, leaving your home exposed to the elements and you are vulnerable, falling victim to a roof scam is even more devastating. Here are a few tips to help you avoid scammers:

- Unsolicited services – the most common roofing scam is one in which a stranger knocks on your door right after the storm, telling you that he and his team are doing some roofing work in the neighbourhood and they can fix your roof, too, for a discounted price. If you let the man in to show him the damaged roof, he will probably tell you a few things about the repairs you need, then he will ask you for money to go to the nearby store for supply. If you give the man the money, you will probably never see him again;
- Free inspections – this scam is usually directed against older homeowners who cannot go up on the roof to check its condition. The scammer will climb to the roof, then tell the victim that the roof is in really bad shape. If the victim agrees to hire the scammer, he will probably do some work up there, but the repairs are usually of poor quality and unnecessary.
No legitimate roofer will ever coerce any client into hiring him, what’s more, most good roofers are very busy after storms. If someone comes to your door, offering his services for very low rates, he is likely to be a scammer or a very poor roofer, so just say no and send him away.
For the best storm damage repair roofing in Crystal Lake IL, contact Gold Standard Restorations.

Article Source right here: Avoiding Roof Scams during Storm Damage Season

The state of Illinois has always celebrated the July with exciting events for young and old and with spectacular fireworks – here are a few of the best places in the state to celebrate July:
- Chicago – Independence Day and the days preceding it are celebrated with food festivals, dance festivals, and an exciting music festival in Grant Park. The best place to watch the fireworks from is on the Navy Pier – you will surely love it;
- Aurora – located at a 40-mile distance from Chicago, Aurora also knows how to celebrate the July in style. This year again, visitors can take part in patriotic events, listen to military bands, explore the extraordinary, rich, local culinary scene and enjoy the numerous other entertainment opportunities offered;
- Peoria – the city boasts the biggest fireworks in the entire state and is also proud of the music events it hosts on and around Independence Day;
- Rockford – the state’s third largest city celebrates America’s birthday with patriotic concerts, the traditional parade, artwork exhibitions, fairs and an amazing show of fireworks in the evening;
- Kewanee – the small town celebrates the July with cultural events, with culinary offerings from vendors with different ethnic backgrounds, a tractor show and arts and crafts classes for kids and adults.
Whatever your plans include, have a happy, safe, fun summer! And please remember to call us, a
locally owned Algonquin roofing company, for all your roofing needs.

First Posted here: Celebrating July in Illinois

Chicago is an exciting metropolis with lots of exciting things to do and see and with lots of secrets as well – here are a few things that you probably didn’t know about the Windy City:
- The nickname – Chicago is called the Windy City, but not because the weather is windy, but because in the past the city had lots of boastful politicians;
- The river – the Chicago River is the world’s only water that flows backwards. Until 1900, the river used to flow into Lake Michigan, but then it was reversed to prevent sewage water from being poured into the lake;
- Panoramic views – if you climb up to the top of the skyscraper formerly called Sears Tower and named Willis Tower today and you look around, you will see not one or two, but four neighboring states;
- Dinosaurs – the city’s Field Museum is home to the world’s largest T-Rex skeleton;
- Numbers – Chicago has 552 parks, 200 theaters, almost 7,500 restaurants, 200 art galleries and the city hosts over 36 parades annually;
- Firsts – the first open heart surgery was performed in Chicago in 1893 and the first televised presidential debate was also broadcast from here in 1960.

Chicago is a great place to live! Contact us, exceptional Crystal Lake roofing companies, for all your roofing services. We love it here as much as you do!

Originally Posted right here: Things You Never Knew about Chicago

Faulty gutters – pipes that are clogged, cracked, sagging or have sustained other kinds of severe damage – are among the principle causes of roof damage.

The most important role of gutters is to collect the water that runs down the side of the roof and to direct it away from the roof and from the walls and into the ground. Any fault of the gutter, especially clogging and cracks, decrease the ability of the gutter pipes to divert the direction of the water coming from the sky. Gutter faults cause water damage to the wall and to the lower roof areas where the gutter pipes are fastened and they let the water seep into the attic as well. If the area in the attic or in the areas directly underneath the roof becomes too moist and the excess moisture cannot escape the space because of poor ventilation, the condense that forms up there can damage the wooden support structures of the roof and can also lead to the appearance of rot or mold in the attic area.
Gutter faults can have serious consequences, but if you notice them in the early stage, they are not difficult to remedy. To avoid roofing problems, schedule roofing Barrington gutter inspections, and clean your gutter pipes regularly – it is the easiest and best preventive measure.

Originally Posted over here: Can Faulty Gutters Damage Your Roof?

To be able to address roofing issues in a timely manner, you first of all need to be aware of them and to find out about them, you need a trained eye. Roofing damage can come in many shapes and forms, from hairline cracks to large discolored patches easily visible from the ground, from cracked flashing to algae infestations and all of them aggravate if you don’t fix them in time. Strong storms are especially dangerous for roofs – they not only cause new roofing problems, but they also aggravate pre-existing problems. However, hiring Gold Standard Restoration professional roofers to inspect your roof after storms can save you from all the trouble caused by roof damage – here is how:

- Your roofer has the knowledge and the equipment to perform roof checks that are not only professional and efficient, but safe as well;
- Roofers are trained to notice the smallest, most insidious signs of damage, so with their services you can make sure our roof will never need more than a few cheap and minor repairs;
- If your roof has sustained storm damage, your roofer can perform a professional inspection and then he can also document his findings and record them in the form accepted by your insurer if you want to file an insurance claim.

Article Source on: Why Are Home Storm Damage Inspections Worth It?

Water damage can be tricky and insidious and it can come with signs that are hard to detect. Some types of severe water damage can be easily noticed – it is hard to disregard the huge damp patch on the ceiling –, but in other cases, detection takes lots of attention. Here is what to look for if you suspect your roof has sustained water damage:
- Ponding water – even if you don’t get leaks yet, roof areas where rain water accumulates can turn into sources of severe problems very quickly. Water gathers where the roof has started sagging and sagging roofs let water seep through, causing mold, rot and damaging electrical applications;
- Damaged roof covering components – missing, cracked, buckling or curled covering elements are not the result, but the cause of water damage in a building, so they need to be fixed as soon as possible;
- Gutters filled with shingle granules – roofing shingles are covered in a top layer of mineral granules for weather resistance. Strong winds can displace the granules and rainwater can sweep them into the gutters, leaving the shingles vulnerable to water damage;
- Damaged decking – most roof decking structures are made from wood, a material that is highly susceptible to water damage. Wood components that are soft or spongy indicate ongoing damage and need your immediate attention.
If you notice water damage, immediately contact roofing Crystal Lake water damage repair specialists to service your roof and avoid additional damages.

First Posted right here: Does My Roof Have Water Damage?

When faced with roofing problems, many homeowners just ask themselves “How difficult can it be?” In many cases, they are right when they decide to address the issue on their own, but there are many types of roofing operations that should never be attempted by DIY roofing enthusiasts because unprofessional interventions can only make matters worse. Here are some horror stories to back up the argument:
- Improper shingles and unprofessional installation – shingles that are not of the right size and type will make the roof inefficient and will decrease the roof’s longevity, while installation that does not take into consideration proper direction, spacing and is not done using the right tools and nails will inevitably lead to leaks, premature roof sagging, probably even to the complete collapse of the roof ahead of time;
- Water damage all around – improperly installed or repaired roofs can cause irreparable water damage to the entire house. A roof that is not sufficiently strong and intact because the installation has been done improperly will let water damage areas that should be otherwise protected by the roof, such as the attic, the exterior walls, even the foundation;
- Gutter disasters – gutter installation is often attempted by homeowners, but rarely with much success. Unprofessionally installed gutters fail to fulfill their role of protecting the walls of the house and the roof against water damage, so the few bucks saved on labor costs can turn into huge repair expenses very soon.
Use honest roofing Crystal Lake IL contractors to inspect and care for your roof. You won't be disappointed.

Original Post over here: DIY Roofing Horror Stories – Unprofessional Roofing Work and the Risks They Entail

Are you looking for a new roof design that will keep not only your household protected and healthy, but will also do the same for the environment? The following tips should help you find the best materials and take the proper measures for ensuring that:

1. First of all, you have to buy eco-friendly materials for your new roof. Metal and clay roofing systems are great for residential properties, but you can also consider a green or solar panel roofing system. You can also consider a green roof, or the installation of solar panels on your brand new metal roof.
2. The next step is to make sure your roof has proper ventilation and insulation. Ask your contractors about such issues as roof coating, decking repair and the measures they can take to ensure proper airflow in the attic.

3. Install gutters and gutter guards. Although these elements only indirectly help you with energy-efficiency, they play an important role. Gutters keep rainwater flowing easily, and they can prevent long term water damage. As a result, your roof will experience no harmful after-effects that can reduce its ability to keep your attic insulated and free of ventilation troubles.

When it comes to roofing issues, the best people to ask are your local bonded and insured Algonquin roofing company contractors. Make sure you call them and inquire about safe, energy-efficient and eco-friendly roofing solutions that can be installed for a lower price, and can also withstand the test of time.

Originally Posted here: Helpful Steps to Ensure That Your Brand New Roof Is Eco-Friendly