Knowing Who to Call for Roof Care is Helpful!

July 11, 2018

 Let us ease your fears about Roof Care – Leak Repairs, Wind or Tree Damage or Roof Cleaning.  We can help ease any fears you have about what to expect when you call us, our trained staff and techinician can offer information and insight.  Call us for a Free roof review and Complimentary  estimate. Here is an insight to our process…

There are many different ways you can initially contact Northwest Roof Maintenance, phone call, e-mail, third party websites like HomeAdvisor, an estimate request form on our website, etc.. No matter what method you use, one of our friendly and professional office staff will be your first contact. They’ll gather the information needed to contact you again, and then get some information about your roof. Once this information is gathered they will set up a time to have one of our consultants out to take a look at your roof.

Our roof consultants have experience inspecting and accurately diagnosing a variety of roof types, pitches, problems, etc.. They will always come physically inspect your roof in order to accurately assess what your roof needs. Their goal is to best help you determine what will be best for your specific roof and they will never try to push something you don’t want or don’t need. If you have a leak or attic issues we will ensure you are home so our consultant can get inside. But if all the work is exterior we make it easy on you and can do the inspection without you home so you don’t have to rearrange your schedule! Once they have inspected the roof they will send you a written version of the estimate via email (or if your prefer hard copy in the mail). This is to ensure that there is no miscommunication that can happen with verbal estimates. If at this point you have any questions or concerns, you can easily reach the consultant who looked at your roof via phone or e-mail!

Once you’ve had any questions answered and had a chance to make a decision, if you want to get the work scheduled you just let us know! We will let you know how far out we are and then you can just sit back. We will keep an eye on the weather, find an optimal day to get your work done, then we will call you to confirm that date works for you! 

Then comes the work itself. On the day of the work you can expect one of our crews to arrive ready to get to it! They’ll let you know they are there, will perform the work efficiently and professionally, then let you know when they have finished. If at any point the crew determines additional work is necessary due we will ALWAYS check with you before doing something that will change the estimate amount. Once the work is complete the crew will provide you with a copy of the invoice. We want payment to be easy for you, so we accept either check at the time of service or any major credit card!

The next business day or two you will get a call from our office, following up to make sure that you are satisfied with the work done. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction and we want to give you the chance to provide feedback or ask questions! If for any reason there are issues with the work done, we will work with you to get things resolved quickly! At this point you are left with a roof that is better than it was before!

So there you have it, the simple outline of our process from first contact to final product! Of course different situations will call for slight variations in this, but roughly, you are now ready to call us for your Complimentary Estimate! Contact us at 503-740-4808 or  360-910-8938 they both ring in our office, OR email us at office@northwestroof.com !

An Outstanding Roof Cleaning Experience!

May 2, 2018

April Showers bring May flowers, unless you live in the pacific northwest, then April showers just bring May showers. Sometimes we are lucky and we get that nice, warm, sunshiny spring full of flowers and butterflies and warm breezes. Either way those April showers promise us one thing – Moss. The green monster on your roof brings with it shingle deterioration, risk of lifting and loosened shingles, and the threat of water leaking into your attic and your home. Taking care of cleaning your roof isn’t the only thing we do here at Northwest Roof Maintenance, but it is one of the things we specialize in!

We care about your roof, and we care about you! Our mission is to provide you with outstanding roof maintenance service every single time you interact with us. That service includes your interactions with our office staff, our consultants, and our technicians. It also includes the actual servicing of your roof. We strive to provide the best care your roof has ever had! This means we have to know not only how to get rid of moss, but how to do it in a manner that is gentle and safe for your roof. It starts from the very beginning of our relationship with your roof.

We’ve had people ask why our consultants have to get on their roof if they are only wanting a cleaning done. Can’t they see the moss from the ground? Well, yes, they can see the moss from the ground, but what they can’t see from the ground is the condition of your shingles, the thickness of the moss, and any other surprises the technicians might run into. By visually inspecting the roof we are doing two things. 1) we are ensuring that we are offering you a service that will be beneficial for your roof, in its current condition. 2) we are respecting you. By ensuring we know what we are getting into we can better provide you with a price that will not change the second our technicians get on the roof and we are ensuring that you are fully aware of the status and condition of your roof. We earnestly believe that as the homeowner you have the right to know what’s going on with your roof! In order to provide you with that knowledge and information it is key that our consultants be up to date on the safest, most efficient methods of moss removal as well as know the different ways to treat and prevent moss. This is why many of our sales consultants start out as technicians – so they get that hands on, actual experience training, before they diagnose your roof!

When our technicians step foot on your roof you can rest easy that they are prepared to handle your roof specifically! From bringing appropriate supplies, to knowing the condition so they can safely and gently access it. Everything our consultants note about your roof gets passed on to our techs. We are constantly pushing our technicians to learn and grow, so you can know that they are up to date with exactly how to best care for your roof. They don’t take the easy way out, or skip the areas no one will ever see, they do exactly what we tell you they will do, how we tell you they will do it!

Let’s talk about that for a second – how we do it! Some companies will try to tell you that’s it completely fine to do a pressure wash of your asphalt shingles, the reality, however, is that a pressure wash can hurt you in more ways than one. Pressure washing, be it high pressure or low pressure, can loosen the granules on your shingles causing premature failure and can vastly shorten the life of your roof. Pressure washing asphalt can also void many insurance policies and warranties! So even if it seems like a more efficient or cheaper option in the moment, the long term costs can cause you big ticket problems. That’s why we brush off, blow off, and treat asphalt shingles. By gently loosening the moss and removing it from the roof we ensure that your shingles stay in tact and functioning as well as when we started!

What about cedar and tile though – can’t those be pressure washed? Yes, in general! But that comes back to ensuring you aren’t just getting a one size fits all cleaning of your roof. Our consultants and technicians ensure your roofing materials are in a condition of a material that won’t be damaged by pressure before we suggest that as a recommended method.

No matter what method of cleaning we recommend for your roof, you can know our technicians will do it with care and professionalism. Once the job is done, our office staff will connect with you again to make sure you are satisfied! We stand behind our values, and ensuring your experience with us is a good one goes beyond the end of the work. If we didn’t live up to our end of the bargain we do what we can to make it right! If at any point, from first call to a happy ending, you can reach out to our friendly office staff at any point, we are here for you!

New Year – New Roof

January 3, 2018

We’ve all heard the mantra “new year, new you!” It’s a good thought, while different people would argue how to achieve that or what exactly it means, not many people would disagree with the idea. Now, what if you changed it to “new year, new roof!” I’m not talking about a total roof redo (most people probably don’t need that), but rather, a mindset shift of how you view your roof.

When someone talks about a “new you”, they are very rarely talking about undergoing an intensive plastic surgery to get a whole new face. More commonly, they are talking about getting rid of bad habits, spending more time taking care of themselves, learning new skills, etc… While it’s not exactly the same, these ideas are good ones when it comes to your roof. Too often people don’t think about their roofs until their roofs fail, be it leaking, not passing a home inspection, or something as drastic as caving in! If instead they a) got rid of bad roof “habits”, b) spent more time taking care of their roofs, and c) learned new roof “skills”, they could prevent those roof failures and prolong the life of their roof!

Don’t worry, I’ll explain what I mean!

1. Get rid of bad roof “habits”.
   
   One of the most common bad habits people develop regarding their roof is assuming that if it’s not failing it’s thriving. I’ve heard more people than I can count say “If it’s not leaking, don’t fix it” or something along those lines. The problem with this bad thinking habit is that often times those major issues like leaking are the result of a smaller, more easily fixed problem that hasn’t been addressed. Wind damage, exposed nails, or rusted out flashings are just some of the smaller items that if unrepaired can lead to a larger issue. In order to prevent it though, you have to change your thinking from “it’s fine until it’s not” to “ensure it’s fine so that it stays that way.”
   
   Another common bad roofing habit is letting moss thrive. Whether it’s because you don’t realize how damaging moss can be or because you are too busy to schedule a cleaning, letting moss make its home on your roof can cut years off the life of your roof, cause leaks, and diminish your curb appeal drastically.
   
   The third roofing habit (though there are many more we don’t have time to address) is the habit of skimping. This is most often seen in the form of hiring someone purely because they are the cheapest option, instead of because they are the best option. Unfortunately there are many handyman’s and roofing companies that cut corners or provide temporary fixes while telling the homeowner owner it is a long term fix. They charge less, making the homeowner think they are getting a good deal, when in reality they are not truly fixing the roof and the homeowner will only find themselves with a much worse problem down the road. So while you think you are saving money you are really just setting yourself up for a bigger expense. Change this bad habit by being willing to invest in your roof (arguably one of the most important parts of your home) with both time and moneye. Research a company before you choose them, be willing to pay more for a company that is above board and knows what they are doing, and be willing to pay for preventative care and repairs now even if it’s not “a problem” yet. Believe me, your wallet and your roof will thank you!
   

2. Spend more time taking care of your roof!

   You don’t have to get up on your roof with the loofah and lotion to take care of it. It can go a long way to take a few minutes every few months to visually inspect your roof. Look for moss growth, missing/lifting shingles, signs of moisture in the attic, or anything else that seems off. Doing this regularly will help you catch potential problems before they become major issues!
   
   

3. “Learn new roof skills”!

   What I mean by this is don’t be stuck in what you know. Be willing to ask questions and listen to professionals about the best options for you roof. Just because you’ve heard something or always assumed something about your roof, doesn’t mean it’s right. Be willing to learn and change your thinking to best take care of your roof. For example, many older tile roofs have nothing in place to prevent ponding (a water build up issue that cause rotted eaves and leaking). Sometimes this is discovered because of leaking and sometimes a consultant looking at your roof will recommend installing anti-ponding before leaking happens. Just because it’s never been on your roof before doesn’t mean it’s not an essential and helpful addition to your roof.

Make one of your resolutions “a new year, a new roof”! You don’t have to do it alone, Northwest Roof Maintenance is here to help! Trying to drop bad roof habits? We can have a consultant out to tell you what your roof needs and how you can best care for it! Don’t have time to inspect your roof yourself or can’t safely see all of your roof from the ground? We provide free roof inspection of your home, one of our professional and trained consultants will take a look for you! Unless there’s leaking, you don’t even have to be home! Plus we are always happy to answer any questions you may have and help you better understand the how and why of upkeeping your roof!

Happy 2018 and enjoy your “new” roof!

Two Layers is too Many

January 24, 2017

Not many people would argue with the idea that quality trumps quantity. Most roofers would agree that adding a second layer to your roof is NOT a good idea and cuts back on the quality of the roof. Yet we still run into homes with 2 or more layers on a fairly frequent basis. Why is this?

Unfortunately, many homeowners opt for adding a second layer of roofing because the immediate cost is much less than completely tearing off and replacing the existing roofing. What they don’t see, however, is the long term cost. While it may seem that two layers of roofing equals twice the protection, this is in no way true. Quantity does not equal quality. Here’s why:

A) Foregoing the cost of tearing off the old shingles means that you are also foregoing a chance to inspect the underlying materials. While shingles are the part of the roof we think about the most, a roof is not just made of shingles. Decking, underlayment, flashing, etc…all lie below the shingles and are just as important. When you fail to remove the shingles and inspect these materials when installing a new roof, you miss the opportunity to catch weak points. These weak points include rotting plywood, tears in the underlayment, or rusted flashing. All of which can cause unexpected, and costly damage. The longer they go unrepaired, the high the chance they will develop into leaks, cave ins or mold.

B) By adding a second layer it means that when leaks, soft spots, or other damage do occur, repair professionals have a difficult time finding and assessing what needs to be done. Part of the problem is that if water penetrates the first layer of roofing it may travel some distance before penetrating the second layer of roofing. So a leak in your living room may be originating at a weak point above your bedroom, but with a second layer it can be difficult to determine this. This difficulty in assessing needed repairs often means that either the company doing the repair will be unable to provide a warranty, or that your insurance will be unable to cover it. So if the original repair solves the area of the leak, but not the area of penetration, you may end up paying for multiple repairs out of pocket.

C) The third reason NOT to add a second lay is the weight factor. Roofs are only capable of holding so much weight, and adding a second layer of roofing materials pushes it that much closer to its threshold. While on an average day two layers of roofing may not be enough to cause your roof to collapse, in the event of heavy ice, snow, or debris, the extra weight of the second layer could very well be enough that you find yourself faced with a caved in roof. Unfortunately, many insurance companies will not cover this since they can put the blame on the extra weight and not on the elements themselves.

D) Finally, something to consider is sell ability. A time may come when you want to or need to sell your home. Per the reasons above, and more, a second layer of roofing materials is not a selling point to someone looking to purchase your home. In fact, depending on the building codes in your area, while you may be allowed to add a second layer per code while you own the home, you may not be able to pass inspection with a second layer. In many cases potential buyers either skip over the home altogether to avoid the hassle or demand the seller reduce the cost to cover a new roof.

So while it may seem like you are cutting costs by adding a second layer, make sure to take into account the long term costs. Be it unseen rotting plywood, difficulty assessing repair needs in the future, cave ins from too much weight, or trouble selling the home, in most cases a second layer doesn’t really save you anything in the long run!