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It is that time of year again, the weather is getting a bit cooler as the fall and winter seasons begin. Dropping temperatures will inevitably affect energy costs. So as you look at ways to keep your energy costs down, remember to consider your roof.  

Steps to reducing energy costs:

* Find drafts and seal them

* Replacing old insulation

*Checking your vinyl siding and windows for wear and tear

These few steps will help but without a good roof they may be futile to keeping your energy costs under control.

* NEW ROOF

If your roof is old and worn out your efforts to heat your home may be going through the roof. Just as a hat keeps you warm in the winter your roof functions in a similar way.

The value of a New Roof can be most beneficial.  Replacing your roof is an investment, helping to cut your energy costs and increase the value of your home. So if your roof is old and worn out  remember the benefits could be just what you need to reduce your energy costs through the winter and summer months and give you that peace of mind that your money is not floating out through the roof. If you are interested in replacing your old roof contact one of our Service Writers and we will be able to come out and help you with your roofing decisions.  Midwest Roofing Services is going green one step at a time and wants to help us all benefit from Eco friendly thinking.

Published in Residential

Residential roofing is typically made up of a multitude of materials and surfaces.  The primary purpose of your roof is to maintain a barrier between the outisde and interior from the weather.  The most pervasive and difficult weather element to control is water. Roof flashing is usually the last line of defense in the battle against water penetration.

The most common locations for roofing flashing are at the valleys, chimneys, roof penetrations, eaves, rakes, skylights, ridges, and at the roof to wall intersections. Flashing must be configured to resist the three mechanisms of water penetration: gravity, surface tension, and wind pressure. To achieve this, flashing can be lapped shingle style, sodered or sealed to function as a continuous suface or can beconfigured with non- continuous profile to defeat water surface tension.

Flashing materials must be durable, low in maintenance requirements, weather resistant, able to accomodate movement, and be compatible with adjacent materials.  With properly installed flashing in the correct areas, flashing for your roof can help extend the lifetime of your roof as well.  Midwest Roofing Services can help determine which type of flashing is need as well as correctly install flashing to help maintain the lifetime of your roof. If you have flashing that is damaged and needs repair Midwest Roofing Services has certified Service Writers who can help you with the decision to either replace or help with any repair that you may need.  So give Midwest Roofing Services a call for your roofing needs. 

Published in Residential
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

How to Maintain Your New Roof

All roofs should be checked periodically to be sure they are free of debris and drains are clear. A quarterly roof inspection will help to keep your roof maintained.  The best preventative maintenance is to inspect and identify problems as they occur.  Roofs get more abuse from the elements and preventative maintenance is a key element to saving money on your roof by providing a longer service life.

How to check and maintain your new roof.

*     Clean debris from the surface of the roof. This includes debris that has gathered behind HVAC units, pipes and pitch pans. Debris has a tendency to hold water, and water will advance roof deterioration, especially if the roof is asphalt based.

*     If your roof is starting to collect moss or algae, install some zinc or lead control strips. Keep all algae off the roof surface.

*     Check all flashings and make sure they are not deteriorated and there are no holes in them.

*     Replace any damaged shingles.

*      Keep all gutter free from debris. Make sure downspouts are draining properly by water testing them.

*     Trim back any overhanging tree branches.

*     Check all caulking and sealants. Scrape and remove any caulking that is weather cracked and damaged. Clean area before applying new polyurethane caulking.

*      Check the mortar on chimneys in between brick and on top.  If it is damaged or deteriorated, have it tuck pointed.  Any mason can perform this work.

 

Quarterly checking of your new roof will help to extend the lifetime of your roof.  Midwest Roofing Services is always here for any additional needs that may arise from wind damage to hail damage or anything in between. Our certified Service Writers are here to assess and help you with your roofing needs. Midwest Roofing Services wants to help you maintain and extend the life of your new roof.

Published in Residential

With weeks of high temperatures.  Midwest Roofing Services began looking at how to Conserve Energy and Costs. We found some simple tips to reduce energy usage and potentially save on electric bills.

Simple Tips to stay cool, while reducing energy usage and saving on electric bills

1. Keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level (78 degrees) when at home. Programable Thermostats are great  to set temps at a higher level when not at home. Lowering themostat setting below the desired temperature will not cool the home faster.

2. To reduce heat and moisture during warmest part of the day, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or evening hours when it is generally cooler outside.

3. Keep shades, blinds, and curtains closed.  About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply drawing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat to your home.  Awnings are even better  and can even reduce heat gain by up to 75 percent.  Window coatings and window film can reflect as much as 80 percent of direct rays from the sun.

*Keep doors to the outside, garage and attics keep firmly closed to keep cool air in and hot air out.

*Use fans to evenly distribute cool air and reduce the air conditioniner's "on" time. Ceiling fans use much lower levels of electricity compared to air conditioners.

*Place window air conditioners on the north or shady side of the house to avoid overworking the unit in the hot daytime sun.

4.Turn off lights and electronics not in use. These devices not only use extra electricity, but they add heat to your home, making air conditioner work harder.

5. Keep the doors to refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible.

We are all trying to stay cool and save and hopefully these few tips will help you stay cool and save energy too!

Midwest Roofing Services Going Green One Step Time!

Published in Residential

 Proper Ventilation can help reduce air conditioning costs.  Some regular ridge vents can reduce air conditioning costs with additional vents and a properly vented attic does lower the attic temperature, the only way to dramatically lower the attic temperature is with a power vent.  

Should you install a powered vent?

Powered vents use a fan to force air throught the vent. There are powered roof gable vents available. Some use electricity and others are solar-powered. Most thermostatically controlled, set to run when the attic temp reaches a  defined temp and stop when the air cools by a predetermined amount . (Usually a 15 degree increase)

Power vents do have both benefits and drawbacks. If you are having difficulty cooling your attic with passive vents due to architectural design, lack of venting options, and or too many problems are causing heat to enter the attic.  Powered vents are a good option and possibly your last resort without making drastic changes to your homes design.

Types of Vents

Intake Vents in modern homes are typically located in the soffits under the eaves. Older homes may have been been outfitted with either starter vents or circular vents

Starter Vents are installed when the eaves a top at the wall ad do not overhang to allow for soffits to be installed.

Circular Vents are installed when eaves exist without room soffits. These vents are installed directly into the blocking between the exposed rafters.

Outlet Vents allows the air to escape from your attic and are installed at a higher elevation. Roof vents, ridge vents, and gable vents are used as outlets in the attic.

Roof Vents are water tight units made of light gauge metal or plastic and are installed directly into the roof system. The common various styles and colors and range in size.

Ridge Vents are installed along the top of the ridge of your home, where the two slopes meet, capping the top courses of shingles. A sufficient opening should be made in the sheathing to allow the vent to work without compromising the water tight integrity.

Ridge Vents are the least conspicuous of all venting solutions, they are usually the smae color as the shingles and are held back fromt he gableendsof the house to provide the best aesthetic look and to protect them from wind driven rain. While a lower profile ridge vent may be chosen for aesthetic reasons, it should be chosen to ensure the best air circulation first and foremost.

Gable Vents are installed in the attic at each end, or gable of the house. It is typically a louvered vent cut and installed directly into the siding.  

Drawbacks to powered vents will need to be weighed before a final decision is made.  

After Roofing company installs the correct type of venting of your home. You will need a licensed electrician if you plan on installing electrical powered vents, and your electric bill could increase.

If you do not have a air tight attic, the vent may pull warm air  up from below, increasing heat in the winter in your attic which can cause snow melt faster near the top of the roof . The snow melt can than refreeze near the end of the roof forming an ice dam. 

Midwest Roofing Services would be glad to look at your roof and to help you make decision on what type of ventilation would be beneficial to your homes needs

Midwest Roofing Services Going Green One Step at Time!

Published in Residential
  • Credentials: Midwest Roofing Services has partnered with the top manufacturers in the industry. Midwest Roofing has been awarded the prestigious certification of Master Select by the largest roofing manufacturer in North America, “GAF Materials Corp.”. This certification is reserved for the Top 2% of the roofing contractors nation wide. Midwest Roofing is also certified applicators for the following manufacturers. Versico Roofing Systems, Certainteed Commercial Roofing and Topps Products, Inc. This partnership allows us to provide the following types of roofing applications with extended manufacturers warrantees. Thermoplastic (PVC and TPO), Thermoplastic Fleece Back, Epdm, Modified Bitumen, Built up Roofing, Roof Coatings, Metal Roof Restorations.

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