I received a phone call this morning from a lady who said mold had begun forming in their attic. Now, that isn't uncommon, but the way she said it made it seem as though it was a lot of mold. She said it had just started recently and was quickly getting worse.

So, as usual, I set a time to meet her at the house and look at the problem. To her and her husband (he's been in the attic to see the problem), it appeared that there was a roof leak; and through this roof leak, mold had formed on the underside of the roof decking (1/2" plywood). When I went into the attic, what I saw was bright gray and greenish-gray mold growing on the plywood. And it wasn't a little spot, it was the whole front of the house. I've been in thousands of attics, literally, and I've seen mildew and mold on plywood, but this was one of the worse.

Now came the obvious question: What was causing it? Was it a roof leak? And if so, where was the water coming from and why was it causing that much condensation? Again, I've seen tons of leaks in attics and they don't cause this much mold, not even really bad leaks.

Upon further inspection, and after some general questions, I discovered that they had new vinyl windows installed about 2-3 years ago. Also, I realized that there was no ventilation in the attic and the soffits were wrapped in vinyl and vented poorly. So basically, the moisture that used to be able to flow out naturally was being trapped in the house and attic with nowhere to go. It is equivalent to taking something steaming and wrapping it in a plastic bag.

The house was suffocating.

Ideally, when the windows were installed, the contractor would have informed the homeowners of the downside to air-sealing a home, and either fixed it or referred them to someone who could. Think about it: the moisture from taking a bath and doing dishes and washing clothes has to go somewhere. Now don't get me wrong, new vinyl windows are an excellent idea, but make sure you have proper ventilation all around the house or they can cause major problems.

What did we do to fix this ladie's problem? You'll have to wait....I'll post the solution soon.

In the meantime, check out this post I wrote earlier this year, titled, "Ventilation is Vital to the Life of Your House."

Roy Bauer

If there is one thing that I like about my job more than anything else, it is getting to know an old, downtown, South Carolina home. I’ve had the privilege of walking through the attic of houses that were well over a hundred years old, and have seen some interesting things. From 60 year-old newspapers to beams (or trusses) that were made out of logs –milled from the trees that were on the property—and still had the pine bark on them.

Maybe I’m just a nostalgic, but I think that’s fascinating.

This house, in downtown Columbia near the river, is a beautiful house that the homeowner was fixing up. When I measured the house and went through the attic, rotten wood was found around the chimney on the front and throughout the house in different spots. On an old house, more often than not, you are going to find broken and split boards, due to years of heat and moisture.

The front of her house has a chimney that is nearly at the bottom of a steep valley. It had been leaking for years, causing serious damage to the inside. From the initial pictures I could see where roofer after roofer had tried to fix the chimney with all kinds of remedies, but it wasn’t until we got the shingles off that we could actually tell what needed to be done and how. We ended up custom making a “cricket” that would shed water in three different directions. You’ll have to look at the pictures to understand.

Also, the vinyl siding that had been installed years before didn’t have any soffit vents cut into them. Obviously, in order for the house to breathe, it must have intake and exhaust. When the existing siding was taken off, it was discovered that it had been leaking and a good bit of the fascia was rotted. We removed the old siding and installed new siding that was perforated all the way around. Now, the eaves can provide the proper air-intake allowing the ridge vents do function at maximum efficiency.

Once last thing that we did was remove two old windows in her kitchen and install a giant garden window. This window was roughly 6'6" wide and 4'6" tall. It was custom made with a Corian bottom, side windows that open and a wire shelf in the middle.

As for the shingles, the homeowner chose to go with a CertainTeed Landmark 'AR' architectural shingle. The color that was chosen was Hunter Green and it was a perfect choice for this particular brick and trim color.

Take a look at these pictures. If you are interested in having a new roof installed, give us a call at 803-955-0374 or click here to have a representative get in touch with you

One of the biggest catch phrases going around right now is “going green”. But, what exactly does that mean when it comes to roofing and how does it affect you as a homeowner?

Typically, most houses here in South Carolina have an asphalt shingle roof on them. Asphalt shingles are basically the worst type of roofing for “green” conscious homeowners as they come. Why? Because they are susceptible to hail damage, absorb heat, hold on to that heat for a long time, are rarely recycled (because it is difficult), heavy and typically last 12-18 years. If you add up that combination, it spells environmental disaster.

Having said all of that, asphalt shingles are the most popular because of their cost, which is low. Let’s face it, we, as homeowners, will overlook the bad parts of something if it is cheaper. That doesn’t make it right, that is just a fact. But when it comes to roofing our homes, we need to start developing a different mind set. A paradigm shift, if you will. We need to start thinking long term and not, “What is best for me now, I don’t care about 10 years from now.”

To their credit, shingle manufacturers are doing something to try and make their shingles more “green”. They have developed what is called “cool colors”, which is a shingle that has a higher reflective material in it. Most of these shingles are being developed in California because of their strict regulations on “energy efficiency”. Title 24 is strongly encouraging shingle manufacturers to create more “cool” shingles, or they could find themselves, in the not too distant future, not being able to sell shingles in the largest state in the U.S.

But, no matter how reflective the “rocks” on top of the asphalt shingle are, it doesn’t change the fact that it is very bad in a hail storm, heavy, and virtually non-recyclable.

Fortunately, there is a product that offers both longevity and “green” friendly features, and that’s metal roofing.

Metal roofing, if you get the right type, is made from 98% post consumer recycled material, is 100% recyclable, is the most energy efficient roofing available, installs over existing roofing material (eliminating costly tear-off and dump fees), will not rust, rot or crack, never needs cleaning and will last a lifetime.

One of the only draw backs I’ve heard to metal roofing is the look. I’ve heard from homeowners that they don’t want their house to look like a Pizza Hut or a bank. And many “Coventry Laws” in subdivisions don’t allow commercial looking, metal roofing. But, there are some fantastic looking options out there for metal roofing that simulate a “wood shake” or “shingle” look. And, if you are in the right area of South Carolina –along the coast or in the country— there is still still the “standing seam” metal roof option.

When it comes to roofing your home, the most energy efficient, storm protected, longest lasting option, is a metal roofing system by Bauer Roofing. The advantages are enumerable.

We know that cost is an issue with every homeowner. The right metal roofing system will obviously be higher than a standard architectural asphalt shingle. If you have questions about metal roofing, whether it is the look, energy efficiency or the cost, give us a call and let us help give you the resources you need to decide what the best roofing system is for your home.

If you live in South Carolina, please give us a call at 803-955-0374 or fill out our simple Request an Estimate Form and a representative will call you back.

royb

NEW PICTURE UPDATES AT THE BOTTOM: 5/20/09

There are certain parts of Columbia, South Carolina where the houses are all 60+ years old and typically have leaks and broken boards. We, as a company, make it a policy to inspect the attics whenever we go to a house. I want to know whether or not the wood is in good shape, whether or not the insulation is okay, and whether or not it is leaking and, if so, where. As a homeowner, it wouldn’t do any good to have a roof installed that should last over 30 years if the wood it sits on is in critical condition.

Upon inspection of the house, we found multiple places in the attic where water was getting in and rotting out the wood. Both chimneys had issues as well as the steep valley over the front door –where three roof lines converged. Also, on the back was a small flat roof that had standing water on it –something you definitely want to avoid. The last thing we noticed was that the bathroom vents weren't vented to the outside. They were just sitting on top of the ceiling joists, collecting moisture.

We started by removing the shingles, old tar-paper and the old nails. We then went through and fixed the broken and rotten boards. Next we installed a liner in all of the valleys and covered the house in a fiberglass underlayment –instead of that old #15 or #30 felt.

In the front where the three valleys came together, we installed an angled valley to run the water off, as opposed to it just sitting there and causing problems, like it was before.

Around the big front chimney, we removed all of the old flashing material and installed both step and counter flashing. Black counter, or cap, metal was used to blend in with the color of the shingles. Most roofers around here, for some reason, use regular silver aluminum and then paint it. After a couple of years it looks horrible. Luckily for homeowners, we have found a much better looking way to install it.

As for the small flat roof in the back, we installed new rafters to put a slight slope to the roof and then installed a very heavy grade modified underlayment. Next we will be installing a rubber roof. (in progress)

To ventilate the house, we installed AirVent ShingleVent II ridge vent, which features external baffles. To help homeowners better understand ventilation and what type is best for their house, I’ve written a post,  What Type of Ventilation is Best For Your House. Check it out.

To vent the bathrooms, we simply cut in a vent from the outside and plugged the bathroom vent hose to the bottom of it from the attic.

As you can see, the homeowners picked the perfect color for their house and the finished product is turning out great. I’ll post more pictures as they come in.

If you live in South Carolina and would like for a representative from Bauer Roofing to take a look at your house, please give us a call at 803-955-0374 or fill out our simple Request an Estimate Form and a representative will call you back.

royb

PICTURE UPDATES:

Like a person, when a house can’t breathe bad things happen. Or you may say it is more like a car: it has intake and exhaust and if one or other is broken the engine shuts down. Quite often we take for granted the “breathing” ability of our house. It isn’t something we think about much.

Let me give a little history of the problem by starting with a statement I hear from homeowners, “Why do I need to ventilate now, the house is 40 years old and it’s been fine all this time?” When houses were built pre-1970’s or so, they could breathe naturally. The windows were drafty, the doors were drafty, the attic was drafty; air moved throughout the whole house and vented everything and no one really thought much about it. But when the “siding and windows” craze started in the 1980’s, all of a sudden all that air movement was cutoff. No longer could the house breathe naturally because the windows were airtight, the doors were airtight and the attic was airtight. A house that had been venting naturally was wrapped so tight that all of the moisture that used to go out through the windows and doors now rises up through the sheetrock into the attic. So what is happening, is the attic space is now required to vent the entire house and has to be modified to do so. If you live in a newer home the modifications have more than likely been made, otherwise you’ll need to make sure they are when the roof is redone. 

So what I see, quite often, when I go into an attic is moisture, in forms of mildew or mold. And if you have a cathedral or vaulted ceiling, the problem is compounded a hundred fold. Why? Because the air can’t move up the cathedral ceiling and out the attic vents because of insulation crammed in there. If you have a very low attic space (usually a ranch-style house falls into this category) then you need to pay special attention to the ventilation system in your attic. And if you have a FROG or cathedral (vaulted) ceiling anywhere in the house, then you need to be extra-specially careful about venting your attic space. Again, because of the lack of air movement.

The following pictures are examples of houses that weren’t vented properly:

So, the questions are, what can be done to fix it and how do I know if I have a problem? First of all have a contractor look through your attic spaces thoroughly. I know that very few roofers actually go into the attic and look around to see if there is a problem, but insist that they look and make sure that everything is ok. The last thing you want to do is put a new roof on your house, spends thousands of dollars, and still have the same problem 4 years down the road. It would have been much easier and cheaper in the long run to just get it all fixed at the same time. Secondly, sit down with the contractor and have him explain everything in detail. There are options out there that work and some are cheaper than others. Spend some time getting to know your options. The more you know up front the better prepared you’ll be when it comes down to choosing the right specifications and contractor.

As far as the options go, it depends on the style of house you have. If you have a vaulted or cathedral ceiling than you may need to install baffle vents. If you have a mansard or gambrel style house, you may need baffle vents but you’ll also have to make sure the vents can feed into the main attic up top. Depending on whether you have a gable-style house or a hip-style house, ridge vents or power fans can be used.

The important thing is to make sure that when the house is finished, it can breathe and that air can move fluidly from the intake vents in the soffit out through the ventilation up top. If it can, then it will cut out the chance for mold, mildew and rotten wood.

Find a contractor willing to go over the specifics with you. If he/she doesn’t have the time to make sure you understand exactly what is needed up front than they definitely won’t be around to help you if there is ever problem with the roof they install.

If you live in South Carolina and would like for a representative from Bauer Roofing to take a look at your house then please give us a call at 803-955-0374 or fill out our simple Request an Estimate Form and a representative will call you back.

Roy Bauer

"Home repair and remodeling complaints rank among the most frequently filed with my office's Consumer Fraud Bureau. ... I urge consumers to make sure they're informed and ask the right questions before they hire a contractor in an effort to avoid this type of fraud."  Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan

“Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars on good and services, some of which are never delivered, even when there is a signed contract. Home repair work is no different - property owners may sign a contract for work to be done or services provided, but the contractor fails to deliver.” cityofchicago.org 

“The need for guidance and protections for consumers extends beyond the disaster zones. [Hurricane] Katrina brought to the surface widespread dangers that can threaten consumers throughout the nation’s quarter-trillion-dollar-a-year home repair industry.
Despite its immensity, the home repair industry consists mainly of thousands of tiny firms that engage in millions of small transactions annually.” National Consumer Law Center

“...Warm Spring weather usually brings a jump in home repair activity and complaints… springtime usually brings a few vicious scams run by out-of-state traveling con-artists. He said such "fly-by-night" perpetrators typically knock on people's doors and offer to do a job at a bargain price, usually saying they have material leftover from another job, such as paint or asphalt for driveways…” Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller

“Having your own home is the American dream. It is your own little corner of the universe. Don’t trust its construction or remodeling to just anybody. As much time and attention should be spent interviewing and researching a prospective builder or remodeler as would be spent searching for a home or automobile or employee… While most residential contractors operate honest businesses, the number one complaint filed with the Attorney General’s Consumer Affairs Division is regarding home repair fraud.” Home Builders License Board, Alabama.

I met with a lady yesterday, here in Columbia, that was worried about choosing the right roofing contractor. She is a single mother of two who had been taken advantage of by another remodelor. Picking the right shingle and siding color wasn't, to her, as big a deal as picking the right contractor, one she could trust to do the right thing.

Countless times I've sat down with homeowners who have spent hours and hours visiting roofing supply companies and websites looking for the exact shingle and shingle color that they want. But when I ask them how they are going to choose the contractor, they say they called three people out of the phonebook and will just pick the cheapest one. Or either they say they don't know, that they haven't really thought about it. Does that sound familiar? I hope not. Think about it. You can pick the perfect product to be installed on your house, but if the contractor has no idea how to install it, or the company isn't viable and disappears in two years, what good is it?

I heard someone say that if we, as a nation, spent as much time planning our marriage as we did planning our wedding, the divorce rate wouldn't be anywhere near as high. Choosing a roofing company is similar. Make sure you spend a whole heck of alot more time choosing the contractor then you do the product. Because if you get the right contractor, he'll have the right product.

Here are some things to look for when choosing a contractor:

1. Do they have a permanent place of business?
2. Do they carry insurance and is the coverage adequate?
3. Are they a licensed, registered contractor and in good standing with the trade association and Better Business Bureau?
4. How long have they been in business as the same company? (a lot of roofers close down due to complaints and law suits and open up under another name)
5. What is their record for complaint resolution?
6. What is their workmanship warranty? (don’t believe a 10-20 year warranty when the company isn’t even that old)
7. Do they provide sufficient details for the project being performed?
8. How do they handle unforeseen or unknown extra costs?
9. Can they provide references for you to talk to?

Also, how do you know if the price you are paying is fair for what you are getting? Here are some things to look for when determing whether the price is right:

1. Has the contractor done work in the neighborhood? Nothing will spread faster through a neighborhood then someone ripping people off. If they haven’t worked in the neighborhood then talk to people, with a house like yours, that he has worked for.
2. Has the contractor done houses similar to yours? Here in South Carolina, like most areas, we have neighborhoods that are twenty-five years old and some that are a hundred. Make sure the contractor has a handle on the specifics of houses like yours or he could be estimating it too high or too low, both are bad.
3. Make sure you know what is included and what isn’t. Get a price per linear foot or square foot (whether it is a board roof or a plywood roof) up front so you know what to expect if they find something rotten around the chimney. Be leery of roofers who say all of the woodwork is included. Think about it…how is that possible unless they have a crystal ball? What happens if they find more woodwork than they expected? Basically you get screwed because he won’t be doing it.

For a full list of Things to Look For When Buying a New Roof, click here.

Obviously this doesn't ensure you get the right contractor, but it certainly will put you on the right path. If you live here in South Carolina and want us to take a look at your house, give us a call at 803-955-0374, or fill out our simple Request an Estimate Form.

Roy Bauer

THERE ARE UPDATED PICTURES BELOW FEB. 11, 2009

There are certain neighborhoods in the Midlands area where we have put a roof on what seems like every house on the street. The neighbors all know us because we put a roof on the most of their friend’s homes. Our current project, near Fort Jackson, is one of those neighborhoods. We were working down the street and were asked to look at this house.

The roof was about 20 years old and the homeowner wanted an evaluation. He indicated the plumbing vent pipe on the front had been leaking. So, when the Bauer Roofing representative got up on the roof to look at the shingles, it was evident that not only were the vent pipes leaking but the shingles were cracked and split, and had been for awhile.

We’ve only just begun working on this house but I’ve posted some “work-in-progress” pictures for you to look at.

Notice the Frost? Luckily, we don't get that much here in South Carolina.

[UPDATED PICTURES]

If you would like for a Bauer Roofing Representative to look at your house please give us a call at 803-955-0374 or fill out the simple form on our Estimate Request Page. 

Roy Bauer

If you Google bad contractors you will find about 11,100,000 (as of 12/22/2008) articles that relate to it. Scary isn’t it? Why is it that there are so many people who have had a bad experience with contractors? My accountant once told me that a lot of it had to do with the fact that there is a very low “barrier to entrance” when it comes to contracting in South Carolina. What that means is this: To be a doctor or lawyer or CPA you need years of school and many exams, but to be a contractor you simply need a hardware store close by and $10 for a hammer.

But what makes it even worse for homeowners is the fact that in the winter, the number of so-called roofers in Columbia doubles.

You see, during the summer months and when new housing is at a normal level (right now as everyone knows, new housing is in a slump) there are between 150 and 200 roofers here in Columbia. But, right now there are a whole lot more. Why? Because every siding company, electrical contractor, plumber, kitchen and bath remodeler and builder is doing roofing right now to put food on the table. What does this mean to you? When a contractor is working outside of their core competency, they either have to sub-contract the work out (meaning you have know idea who is actually installing your roof) or they do it badly because they only do roofing a couple months out of the year. Either way, as a homeowner, you get taken. Not to mention they won’t be here in a couple of years if you have a problem. Also, because the vast majority of these part-time roofers feel like they have to cut the price in order to get the job, they offer customers inferior products and sub-standard specifications that will shorten the lifespan of the roof. Unfortunately, by skimping on quality and specifications, their roofs will only last 8-12 years, instead of the 30 they promised.

So what can you do? What, as a homeowner, can you do to make sure that you choose a roofing company that will a) install it properly and b) be here in 5-10 years to fix it if there is a problem?

There are some things you can look for. Some key points, that if followed, can greatly increase the chance of getting the right roof installed by the right contractor for the right price. No one wants to pay more than they should for a roof, but you definitely don’t want to pay too little either. Because if you do, you’ll be fixing it every time it rains.

Here are some of the topics discussed in the article:

1. How do you know if you need a new roof?
2. What shingle should you choose and should you tear off the old roof?
3. Is ventilation important and if so, why and what type?
4. Who should be installing my roof and how do I know they are the right company?
5. How do I know the price I’m paying is fair for the job I’m getting?
    

In the article, Things To Look For When Buying A New Roof, all of these questions, and many more, are answered in detail. Study it, and if you have any questions or would like someone to give you an in-depth evaluation of your roofing needs, call 803-955-0374 or go to our free estimate page on our website.

royb
 

We recently had the opportunity to talk with Todd Miller to get his take on what’s happening in the residential metal roofing industry. President of Classic Metal Roofing Systems, Todd Chairs the Metal Construction Association Roofing Council and is a founding member of the Metal Roofing Alliance. Let’s see what he had to say:

Q: Todd, in the current economic times, what is happening to residential metal roofing?
A: Actually, all indications are that the industry will show some good growth this year. The bulk of the residential roofing market in any given year is for re-roofing, And, what we’ve been finding with the decline of new home construction is that homeowners who care about the beauty and durability of their homes are choosing to re-roof with metal as a way to upgrade their home investments.

Q: Are there any particular geographic areas where metal is really taking off?
A: Not really, we’re seeing growth in virtually all markets right now.

Q: What are the top couple of reasons why people are choosing metal?
A: They really like its durability, and its energy efficiency. It is pretty meaningful for most homeowners if they can cut their summer energy costs by up to 20%. But, you know what? At the end of the day, when the roof has been installed and that proud homeowner stands in their yard and looks at it, the number one thing they usually like is the beauty of it.

Q: That’s great. We’ve noticed that as well. So, what challenges does the residential metal roofing industry face?
A: As an industry we have made great strides in getting homeowners aware of and interested in metal roofing. However, we need to catch up with that on the supply end. There are contractors and distributors out there who have sold metal roofing into the agricultural and commercial / industrial markets for years and they are just trying to shift those same products and practices over to the residential arena. That is leading to problems. We need more companies like Bauer Roofing that understand residential metal roofing and can meet the needs of homeowners.

Q: That’s interesting. What kind of problems have you seen?
A: One common problem we’ve seen is steel roofs being installed over battens instead of solid decking. While that can work with a large building has a lot of air exchange, it will lead to condensation and even mold problems on most houses.

Q: Any other issues you’ve seen?
A: Yes. Sometimes homeowners are not getting the products they think they are getting. They see websites full of beautiful metal roofs with different designs and all hidden fasteners but then they end up with a corrugated piece of steel that has exposed screws all over on it. That’s when the disappointment begins to set in and then it can really accelerate down the road if they have problems with those fasteners which are notorious for backing out and even allowing water infiltration.

Q: That’s not good. You keep mentioning steel roofing yet our company offers primarily aluminum. Care to comment on the difference?
A: Sure. I talk about steel because that is the bulk of the market. However, aluminum is a great way to go, especially if someone is in a coastal area. Once a homeowner has made the decision to invest in a metal roof, investing a little extra to upgrade to aluminum which will never rust, can be a wise choice.

Q: Very good. Thank you for your time today. Any parting words?
A: Again, it’s great that homeowner know more about metal roofing and they’re seeking it out. I just cannot stress enough how important it is for them to work with an experienced company like yours that fully understands and appreciates the nuances and intricacies of choosing and using a product that is right for them and their home. Otherwise, they run the risk of a significant investment with disappointing results.