California Roof Certification Standard

Don't buy into the line that there is no standard for roof certification in California. The fact that there is a term for it means there is a standard.

The standard for roof certification in California is:

First, a licensed roofing contractor performs an inspection of the roof.

Second,  from that  inspection, a roof inspection report is delivered. It would point out things like the type of roof, degree of slope, approximate age, quality of installation, condition of components, structural defects etc.  and most importantly whether or not the roof is certifiable.

The reason it is so important to have a licensed contractor perform the inspection is that the inspector is relied upon to assess any and all potential defects and so must be duly qualified to do so. A licensed roofing contractor has not only worked on but also managed numerous different types of roofing projects from beginning to end. He will be knowledgeable in all areas of the trade and his inspection should be informative, offering a prospective buyer a measure of protection from potential future pitfalls.

Normally if the roof  is not certifiable in it's current condition, in the report the roof inspector will  make any recommendations for repairs that would bring the roof's condition up to a certifiable state.

Once the repairs are completed, the roof certification is issued. A roof certification should cover the entire roof, but normally will not cover  damages resulting from a roof leak(s).

It is not unusual to have certain items excluded from a roof certification. Normal exclusions would include things like:

Damage to the roof surface or lack of normal maintenance such as cleaning excessive amounts of debris, HVAC units etc. that's about it. Bear in mind that normally the inspector is only allowed to do a visual inspection of the roof's surface and cannot reasonably be held accountable for hidden defects.

This is where the range, quality and level of experience of the particular inspector really comes into play. For example, over the years I have seen literally thousands of cracks in roofs. Some are obviously roof leaks while some appear to be minor surface cracks,  I know with certainty that if an ant or ants crawls out of a roof crack, that it has progressed all the way down to the structural wood. Without the years of field study it would just be an ant and I could name at least a hundred other such instances.

 Eighty percent of the time when I arrive to do a roof repair estimate, I have already diagnosed the problem based on information the customer submitted while requesting the estimate, I am just there for confirmation.

I'm not bragging and I hope it doesn't sound like that, it took me 40 years to gain this knowledge. I am just pointing out that there is no comparison between us contractors who have actually paid our dues on the roof and all of these so called "roof inspectors" running around today.

So, don't be fooled into thinking that there is really any such thing as a "trained roof inspector" because for all practical purposes there is not.

Roofers are not qualified roof inspectors.
Repairmen are not qualified roof inspectors.
"License quality repairmen" are worst of all because that is just a term someone made up to make them sound qualified.

Buying a home is already a daunting experience. When I bought my house I paid upwards of $1,000.00 for inspections because I knew the value of truly qualified inspectors, and still things got missed.

To all home buyers, do yourself a big favor and hire the best roof inspector you can find and make sure that the person who actually does the inspection is a licensed contractor. 
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Metal Roof Repaired With Liquid Rubber Coating (Edmonton, AB)

Liquid Rubber Roof Coating

Photos of Liquid Rubber Coating to Metal Roof in Edmonton, Alberta



Our roofers were on Keiwit facility this week in Edmonton repairing a metal roof at industrial facility. Snow was removed from roof, roof was cleaned, fasteners and seams prepared, and roof was sprayed with liquid rubber application.

Roofers cleaning snow and ice off metal industrial roof.

Liquid rubber repaired this roof.

Mid way through roof coating.

Article Topics: liquid rubber, roof coating, roof repair, liquid rubber roof Edmonton, metal roof repair, industrial roofing, Edmonton Roofing

Roof Flashing - A Key Component On The Roof

A Closer Look-Flashing

With sloping roofs irregardless of the application or type of flashing used, the use of flashing is to aim the flow of water that leaks into the intersection down and away from the interior of the structure to the topside of the roofing material. In every case, the top edge of the flashing passes beneath the underlayment, the uppermost pieces of flashing step over the lower pieces, and the lower edge of the flashing in every instance passes over the top of the roofing material. In such a fashion, the flashing at no time directs the flow of water to the bottom side of the underlayment, never putting it in proximity with the wood structural panel sheathing.

A roofing contractor should be a flashing expert as well.

Valley flashing protects the valleys where two roof planes adjoin. This material is accessible with a V- or W-shaped profile and is deployed over the top of the building felt before all the roof’s finishing material is installed.

Step flashing protects the joints between the roof deck and chimneys or dormers. Step flashing fits to each and every course of shingles and appears to “step” up the wall of the chimney.

Vent pipe flashing fits over flues or pipes. The profile of vent flashing is typically a cylinder with a wide flange at the base, which is lapped into the shingles as the roofing is installed.

Drip edges are strips of flashing material that run along roof eaves and rakes to avert water from seeping under the finished roof along its edges.

The bulk of roof leaks appear in locations where the plane of the roof is interrupted by a ridge, another roof intersecting at an angle, a wall or penetration. Even the simplest of rooflines has dozens of conceivable leaks sites due to chimneys, ridges, valleys, etc. Proper detailing about these areas, as detailed in the diagrams, is essential to block these leaks.

Metal flashing material is commonly soldered or brazed. akin to welding, the brazing approach bonds two pieces of metal into one single piece. In numerous cases, flashing elements have to wrap around corners or be spliced all together, and in these cases they may be soldered or brazed to certify a durable, dependable joint.

Also, bear in mind that both temperature and humidity can compel roofing materials (shingles, wood sheathing, flashing) to expand and contract with seasonal changes. The flashing materials will go on to be leak-proof if they can bear up against this movement of the roofing materials. Well engineered and accurately installed two-part flashing can contend with this movement with no burden. Two-part flashing systems consist of a base flashing—often step-flashing—that is laced into the finished roof material. The base is then covered by another metal flashing piece lapped over it. The second piece should not be anchored to the base, so the two pieces can move against each other alone when the roofing materials change with seasonal difference.

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Editor’s Note: This article appears courtesy of APA – The Engineered Wood Association. Check out more of APA’s building tutorials at www.apawood.org

Home Improvement and Roofing Contractors

Is the dilemma of roofing contractors a real dilemma? Not necessarily and not any longer. Anyway, deciding upon the right roofing contractor is of crucial importance. When you buy or decide to have a house built, if you need some repair work done to your roof or if you want to replace the old roof with another one, there are a few things you should know about how to locate and hire a roofing contractor.
Initially , you should be aware of what roofing contractors do. Actually, there are three basic things they do. You can rely on a roofing contractor to install new shingles, shakes, tile or flat roofing since they should have the expertise in putting up a new roof. Then, roofing contractors’ other specialty is to correct any of the problems that might occur related to the roof, improving things and making them more secure for you. And finally, they are also able to provide complete inspection services to prevent other possible contingencies from happening. Depending on the kind of job you are interested in, you will be able to look for the contractor that will be able to do it.
In case you are involved inlearning about roofing, about roofing work costs and about materials and equipment needed in roofing work, then the roofing contractors are the right people you can learn from. With their experience, they ought to have the knowledge to help you recognize the fundamentals, at least, of roofing.
Why is it so important that you get in touch with some roofing contractors when it comes to building, replacing or fixing a roof? Naturally because roofing contractors know a lot about the types of materials and roofing systems that exist and about the way these respond to thedifferent weather conditions. Most roofing contractors know very well the weak and strong parts when the weather conditions and area limitations are issues that might impact the roofing work you want done.
Just like in any other variety of job you have had done before, in roofing work you should alsotry to find other people who have had work done by the roofing contractors you are in contact with. In this way you have a chance that the results of those roofing contractors’ work are good. This is obviously the kind of homework you, the potential client of those roofing contractors, are supposed to do before signing the contract with them.
Finally, if you really need specialized workers and are going to hire a roofing contractor, there are some tips you should remember and use when the time comes. Check roofing contractors’ license; hire someone you feel comfortable to deal with; find roofing contractors that have done a similar job before; check and make sure there are not hidden materials or prep costs.

Journeyman Roofers

A roofing contractor in my area posted this wild text and it bears review. Although similar in name,

IT IS NOT ME!!!

No other Roofing Contractor in Northern California inspects more roofs, solves more roof leak problems, repairs more roofs, or issues roof certification on more homes than ROOF DOCTORS. Roof repairs on your home are professionally performed by our license-quality repairmen who must exceed our rigorous roof-repair-quality standards before they are allowed to work on your roof. ROOF DOCTORS never uses any untrained, inexperienced, or unsupervised laborers, nor any apprentice or journeyman roofers to work on the roof of your home which is the common practice among other roofing companies.

And we should be thankful that it is a common practice. As far back as I can remember, my Dad and my Uncles all spoke of journeymen card holders with the deepest respect. As I grew up, I learned that it was actually easier to become a licensed contractor than a journeyman tradesman.  At any rate, being a contractor and operations manager, whenever I was lucky enough to run across an actual journeyman roofer I hired them instantly because they are so rare and valuable.

But don’t take my word for it.

Journeyman Status Part 2 or: "I have a bridge for sale?"

 PART TWO:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

In modern apprenticeship systems, a journeyman is a man who has a tradesman certificate that required completion of an apprenticeship. In many countries this is the highest formal rank (that of master having been eliminated) and allows them to perform all the tasks of the trade within the area where they are certified, to supervise apprentices and to become self-employed.

In the United States, employment in the building trades, such as an electrician or plumber or carpenter, usually requires that a person holds a state or local (city or county) license as a journeyman or master. The journeyman license certifies that the craftsman has met the requirements of time in the field (usually a minimum of 8000 hours) and time in an approved classroom setting (usually 700 hours). A journeyman has the responsibility of supervising workers of lesser experience and training them, in addition to having the qualifications (knowledge and skills) to work unsupervised himself. A journeyman is commonly expected to have a wide range of experience, covering most fields of his trade. For example, a non journeyman worker of some 20 or 30 years experience may have most or all of his experience in only residential, commercial or industrial applications. A journeyman however, has a broad field of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

And so for these reasons, I do not comprehend the pride the above individual seems to take in not working with any journeyman people.

The only plausible explanation would have to be that he does not know what the term means.

While we are on the topic terminology,  what precisely is a “license-quality repairman”?  If this is not a made up classification, It would be really astonishing. As a matter of fact, I will bet $500.00 right now that this person could not show credentials for 5 journeyman roofers in his employ let alone countless "license quality repairmen."

 And where do all of these people come from? This would mean that this company has gained access to an endless supply of people that could have a contractor’s license if they wanted but would rather work for someone else. An amazing accomplishment that no other roofing company anywhere has ever been  able to attain.

And in addition, please send me a copy of the "rigorous repair standards" manual, handbook or guide, by which all of your licensed quality repairmen are so strictly bound since by definition there must be one otherwise they are not standards. And how could so many rigorous standards possibly be enforced without one when after all: "No other Roofing Contractor in Northern California inspects more roofs, solves more roof leak problems, or repairs more roofs."

That sure seems like a lot to swallow from a three sentence paragraph. What do you think?

Uh Oh, the grammar police are out again! No, and not the physical address police either as was so eloquently put in a reply to me when I mentioned all of the vacant properties they are advertising as their business locations.

I am just pointing out that words have meaning and when the meaning is not in alignment with reality..... you tell me.

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Who To Call For Roofing Related Issues In Citrus Heights

Some Homeowners when looking for help with their roofing related issues are just rolling the dice when looking for  a roofing quote.  I recently performed and inspection and estimate for some dry rot replacement on a pretty nice home. The Homeowner told me she had a bid for $250.00 and was using that quote for comparisons.

Our cost was over $250.00  She had recently had some other dry rot work done (and not happy with) by the same people.

Now I understand money is tight, but we have to perform up to certain standards for both ethical and legal reasons and cannot use whatever materials they might happen to have available at Home Depot that day (I love Home Depot but sometimes they do not carry the appropriate materials for the job!) as I know many do.

If you want quality you can depend on call Ron Williams Roof Doctor at 800 409 4910.