Rats, squirrels, and birds, oh my! Are you housing unwanted guests like these on your roof or in your attic. Critters are becoming notorious for making huge messes when they break into homes through the roof. These animals can cause expensive damages to your roof as well as your insulation and/or electrical wires. Continue reading “Animals in the Attic”
To ventilate or not to ventilate? That certainly is the question amongst researchers.
Attic ventilation is a heavily debated topic. In the last several decades, building codes have demanded increased attic insulation yet there are still skeptics who say the benefits are overrated. The lack of agreement lies mostly in the fact that climates vary immensely, making it hard to find a solution that fits all areas. Continue reading “Importance of Attic Ventilation”
Understanding Roof Warranties
Just about everything on the market comes with a warranty these days. Limited lifetime warranty, extended warranty, system warranty: what does it all mean? And do we really need a warranty for everything? What we can tell you is that having a roof warranty in place is one of the best things you can do to protect your home from a worst-case scenario. Continue reading “Understanding Roof Warranties”
Much like the Fourth of July, New Years celebrations are commonly celebrated with fireworks. Although fun and pretty to look at, fireworks can be extremely dangerous and can pose hazard for your home and roof. This year, Gulf Western Roofing, a trusted local roofer, is offering the following suggestions to protect your home from damage caused by fireworks:
First and foremost, fireworks CAN set a roof on fire. Certain fireworks still burn once they hit the ground, and roofing materials made of wood are easily combustible. It is still equally possible for a roof to catch on fire even if it is not made of wood. If the roof is already damaged and there are missing shingles, the roof felt paper, which is easily combustible, becomes exposed.
When preparing for your New Year’s celebration, make sure to cut back tree branches. A tree branch that is hanging too low on your roof could quickly start a serious fire that will easily spread to the rest of your home. It is a good idea to remove these limbs anyway in order to avoid damage during a storm. Other debris, such as pine needles and leaves are also flammable, which is why it is good to get into the habit of keeping your gutters clean and free of this dry matter.
And finally, as fun and exciting as it may seem in movies, Gulf Western Roofing suggests that you not attempt to climb on your roof to watch the neighborhood fireworks. For starters, climbing onto your roof is dangerous. It is too easy to slip and fall. Not to mention, when you climb onto your roof you always run the risk of causing damage to the materials.
As always, if you have any concerns about the current state of your roof, call the professionals at Gulf Western Roofing. In addition to being licensed and insured, Gulf Western Roofing is locally owned and operated, doing business for over 17 years. We’ll always tell you the truth about your roof.
Happy New Years from our family to yours!
Imagine waking up on any normal weekday and starting your morning routine. Just then, you see it- a puddle of water in the middle of the hallway. You start going through the checks, not wanting to admit that your roof may be leaking. “The dog? Spilt water?” But then, a drop of water falls from the ceiling and lands right in the center of this puddle. Continue reading “What to Do When Your Roof Leaks”
Home ownership is one of the most expensive investments you will make in your lifetime. Why not take care of your home so that it lasts you longer? Your roof protects your family and most of your other assets.
In order to restore your roofing system to its optimal performance, it’s necessary to have a maintenance strategy in place. Studies have shown that a roof that is not regularly maintained will only last about half of its expected service life. Gulf Western Roofing and Sheet Metal’s Roof Assurance Maintenance Program (RAMP) was developed to help thousands of homeowners extend the life of their roof while preventing costly repairs or re-roofs. Having a scheduled maintenance plan in place to inspect the condition of your roof and act at the first sign of deterioration is vital to extending the life of your roof and saving money. Continue reading “Importance of Roof Maintenance”
Extreme weather can be unpredictable. This became especially clear in Saturday’s tornado, which touched down in Southwest Cape Coral. According to the National Storm Damage Center, there are 5 factors that determine storm damage:
The tornado that touched down in Cape Coral on Saturday evening was measured as an EF-2 on the Enhanced F-scale, creating winds that reached 132 mph. EF-2 tornado’s create winds between 111 and 135 mph, placing Saturday’s tornado at the top of the EF-2 classification.
Although the storm was only on the ground for seven minutes, it traveled 3.5 miles, spanned 182 yards at its widest point, and left considerable damage in its aftermath.
During a storm, your roof is one of the most vulnerable components of your home. Obvious signs of roof damage that can be seen from the ground include tree branches or other debris that have fallen on top of your roof, missing shingles that can be seen laying in your yard and bent, and missing or damaged rain gutters.
While you may think that any structural damage after a tornado would be obvious, unfortunately, that is not always the case. After a severe storm, roof damage may not be visible from the ground and such damage often only becomes noticeable once costly leaks have occurred.
Gulf Western Roofing does not recommend that any homeowner attempt to inspect their roof themselves, especially after a severe storm. To ensure your safety, we are offering free inspections for home and business owners who have been impacted by Saturday’s storm in Cape Coral. As a licensed general contractor, we are able to inspect the exterior of your home as well as your roof. Our experienced professionals specialize in inspecting your home and roof, documenting any weather related damage, and working with your insurance company to determine the best possible result for you.
If you are in the Cape Coral area and were impacted by Saturday’s tornado storm, contact us today to schedule a free inspection.
Rick Vaske, a Cincinnati, Ohio native and now Florida Full Time Resident since 2006.
Over the past several years Vaske has been working on developing solar education for students and the entire staff of Gulf Western Roofing, to help ensure safety and proper installation. His quest was to also be on the cutting end of industry-leading products as well as the sales staff to better educate customers.
This effort has resulted in Vaske to become a NABCEP Certified Sales Executive & NABCEP Certified Solar Installer and NABCEP Certified Exam Practitioner.
Taking solar education to a new level became Vaske’s goal as we rewrote the solar curriculum for The Department of Education. Vaske is the proud owner of The Florida Solar School where he teaches this curriculum at The Fort Myers Technical College for the Photovoltaic & Solar Thermal Design and Installation Course where they utilize Vaske’s Best Selling Solar Book: “Understanding The Power of Solar”.
Vaske believes that solar is truly making an impact in the world and it is his goal to leave this planet a better place for his young daughter, Mia. That is why sits on the Board of Directors for The SWFL Future Forestry Foundation, where Vaske works to plant a tree for every solar system installed.
It’s hard to keep Vaske from talking about sustainability and his passion for solar, so he has combined it with his original passion of radio. Catch Rick every Sunday morning as the host of Watts Up Radio on Sunny 106.3 WJPT.
Vaske has led Solar Install Companies to the following awards: six-time winner of the Lee Building Industry Association “Green Home of The Year” for Design & Installation, Parade of Homes “Best Upgrade” for Design & Installation of Multi-Solar System Install, two-time winner of Florida Weekly’s “Best Solar Company” and Vaske has been featured four-times in Florida Weekly’s “Market Pulse”.
With solar on the rise, many unqualified companies, sales associates and installers are joining the industry. This is putting homeowners and consumers at risk of being sold inferior products and receiving unsatisfactory installations. This along with copious amounts of misleading information on social media, and the Internet, Vaske felt it was important for homeowners and business owners who are interested in solar to get the TRUTH and the FACTS about solar, so they can make educated and cost-saving decisions.
