A new roof is a substantial investment, typically involving thousands of your hard-earned dollars and lasting for decades – if it’s correctly installed and there are no material defects. Hiring a reputable roofing company with a proven track record is your best warranty against problems with your roof. But as with any big investment, a warranty can give you additional peace of mind that, in the event of a problem, your roofing in Surrey will be repaired with no extra money out of your pocket.

As we touched on in an earlier blog, there are two categories of warranty that apply to roofing: the manufacturer’s warranty on the roofing product, and the contractor’s workmanship warranty which covers installation of the product. Let’s take a closer look at these kinds of warranties.

• Manufacturer’s warranty. A manufacturer’s warranty guarantees that shingles or some other roofing product will be free of defects for a specified length of time. During this period, in the event that you experience a material defect on covered components, the manufacturer will provide you with replacement materials and may or may not pay the cost of labor to install them. Fortunately, defective shingles are a rare occurrence among top manufacturers.

• Workmanship warranty. “Workmanship” is the original installation of the roofing materials by a contractor. Studies indicate that more than two-thirds of the problems that people experience with their new roofs are due to the contractor’s workmanship, not the roofing materials. That’s why you should entrust a factory-certified roofing contractor like Crown with the installation. Some roofing warranties provide replacement materials, but not the labor to install them.

Crown Residential Roofing proudly participates in the GAF Golden Pledge® Ltd. Warranty, the first manufacturer’s warranty to cover both material defects AND the contractor’s workmanship (see warranty for complete coverage and restrictions). GAF will stand behind Crown’s workmanship up to 20 years! This warranty is available only through factory-certified GAF Master Elite™ contractors, and even includes an inspection by independent inspectors after your new roof has been completed to ensure proper installation. It is the strongest, safest warranty available in roofing today.

Contact Crown Residential Roofing for a FREE estimate on a quality roofing system at (877) 907-3066. We can provide warranty pricing when we give you a quote for your new roof.

Harsh cold and winter storms can take a big toll on the exterior of your home and its surroundings. With temperatures beginning to rise, spring is the perfect time to survey roofing in New Westminster for any damage that may have occurred over the winter months. Here are four important items to include on your spring roof maintenance checklist.

1. Inspect your shingles. Most roof damage is not easily visible from the ground, so get out a ladder and perform a close inspection of your shingles. Should you find shingles that are buckling, curling or missing, you will need to have them repaired or replaced to avoid leakage and damage to the roof deck and interior of your home.

2. Repair loose or cracked flashing. Strong winds and heavy snow can loosen flashing around chimneys and skylightsand leave your Richmond roof vulnerable, so be sure to tack it down to prevent leaks from spring rains.

3. Clean your gutters. Overflowing gutters can cause expensive water damage to siding and your home itself, so it’s important to routinely clean your gutters. Scoop out leaves, sticks and other debris and be sure that the entrance to the downspout is clear.

4. Clean soffit and fascia vents. Birds and small animals love to nest in these warm areas, so inspect and clean soffits and fascias at the same time as your guttering. Unwanted guests can cause significant damage over time.

Now is the best time to do an end-of-winter check to be sure your roof is in order and ready to protect you from spring storms and the upcoming summer. For help with any of these tasks, or for a free estimate on roof repair or replacement, call Crown Residential Roofing today at (877) 907-3066.

It is important to note that there are two categories of warranties that apply to roofing: the manufacturer’s warranty on the roofing product, and the contractor’s workmanship warranty which covers installation of the product. Here are other important roof warranty terms to understand.

• Limited warranty. A warranty with certain conditions and limitations on the parts covered, type of damage covered, and/or time period for which the agreement is good.

• Prorated warranty. A prorated warranty diminishes in value over time. It does not cover the full cost of roof repair or replacement. Instead, a prorated warranty reimburses a percentage of the real replacement cost in an amount that declines over the length of the warranty.

• Non-prorated warranty. A warranty that holds its value throughout the life of the warranty term. This type of warranty is not discounted as the roof ages. Keep in mind that in the case of a non-prorated 30-year shingle warranty, this means that the shingle manufacturer warrants the shingles to be free of defects for 30 years. This does not necessarily mean that the shingles will last 30 years, or that the installation will last 30 years. It only means that they are guaranteed to be free of defects.

• Labor. In warranty terms, labor means the labor costs to remove and reinstall defective materials. This does not always include the original installation. If leaks are due to workmanship errors with the original installation, “labor” may not cover this problem.

• Workmanship. This is the most important warranty term to understand as a property owner. “Workmanship” is the original installation of the roofing materials by a contractor. With a workmanship warranty from the shingle manufacturer, any manufacturing defects on the shingles AND any installation errors will be covered for a certain length of time. This is true peace of mind.

The actual terms of a roofing warranty will differ by company and the roofing material you select. Always ask for a copy of the warranty being offered before signing a contract, and educate yourself about the exclusions and limitations in the warranty. No other BC roofing company offers you more warranty choices for your new roof than Crown Residential Roofing. For the best protection for your home, call our Vancouver roof experts at (877) 907-3066 to schedule a free, in-home consultation.

Spring storms are often accompanied by one of the most dreaded forms of precipitation – hail. In addition to battering plants and vehicles, hail can cause serious damage to asphalt roofing in BC. The damage caused by hail can be aesthetic, where there’s some granule loss but the integrity of the shingle is not compromised, or functional, characterized by significant granule loss, cracking or puncturing of the shingle. In the case of functional damage, leakage and a shortened life expectancy of the roof may result.

It’s important to have a roofing professional examine roofing material following a hailstorm because hail damage can be difficult to detect. According to the Canadian Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers Association (CASMA), there are several factors that impact how roofing shingles are affected by hail.

1. Size and density of hailstones. Large, heavy stones will cause more serious damage.
2. Shingle age. Because asphalt within a shingle hardens and becomes more brittle with age, older shingles can’t absorb impact energy as well and are more susceptible to damage.
3. Angle of hail impact. Hail which strikes at a 90° angle is more likely to cause shingle fractures, while hail that strikes the roof at another angle is more likely to result in spots of granule loss.
4. Temperature. Fractures are more likely in colder temperatures as the asphalt will be more brittle than in warmer weather.
5. Roof deck conditions. Solid roof decks on moderately spaced trusses offer better support to the shingle surface in resisting hail damage. Shingles on rotted or flimsy decking can be more easily fractured.

Should your roofing in BC get hit by a hailstorm, call the professionals at Crown Residential Roofing at (877) 907-3066 to schedule a free, no-obligation roof inspection.

You expect the best roofing companies to use the best materials and installation techniques available. That’s why Crown Residential Roofing proudly installs GAF and Owens Corning roofing products, and has worked hard to become certified by the manufacturers we represent. Our ongoing certifications are an important benefit for our BC roofing customers. Here’s why.

A key part of any roofing project is the manufacturer warranty that comes with the roofing system. You want to be sure that your roof is protected against defects or problems that may occur in the next five, ten – up to 50 years! But quality roofing manufacturers, like GAF and Owens Corning, will only honor their warranty if the installation is completed by a factory-certified roofing contractor. Even if a non-certified Vancouver roofer acquires and installs GAF or Owens Corning roofing materials, they will not be able to offer you the same kind of warranty protection you’ll get from Crown.

Don’t settle for less than the best when it comes to protecting your home and the investment you make in your roof. Trust the professional, certified BC roofing contractors at Crown Residential Roofing for reliable repair or replacement of your home’s roofing system. Call us today at (877) 907-3066 for a FREE estimate.

Protecting your British Columbia home from the elements is the #1 job of your roof. It’s a complex system of interlocking components that must all work together to create a powerful barrier against rain, snow, ice and wind. At Crown Residential Roofing, we treat your roof as a complete system, from the bare decking up to the ridge ventilation – even the gutters! Knowing about these and other important components of a roof will allow you to better understand your project and what to expect of your roofing contractor in Vancouver.

• Decking (also known as sheathing). Made from wood material such as plywood or OSB, decking covers the rafters and acts as the base for roof coverings. Only seasoned wood can be used for decking, otherwise the result will be a warped, buckled roof base.
• Underlayment. Rolls of roofing underlayment, most commonly black felt paper, are used on pitched roofs as a secondary layer of protection for the roof. When a home is under construction, the underlayment acts as protection against the elements while shingles are installed.
• Flashing. Flashing protects vulnerable areas of a roof from leakage, such as around chimneys, dormers and skylights, or where there is heavy water runoff. Flashing is made from a number of materials, the most common being galvanized metal.
• Ridge. The ridge runs along the top of the roof where two sides meet to form an angle. The ridge must be shingled or capped to prevent water leakage into the attic. Vented roof caps are often installed along the length of a ridge to allow hot air to escape from the attic and improve ventilation.
• Gutter. The trough running along the eaves of a roof that channels water to the downspouts.

Now that you know more about the basic components of your British Columbia roof, you will be able to better communicate with your roofing professional and ensure a successfully completed project. For the most experienced, reliable service in Vancouver, call Crown Residential Roofing at (877) 907-3066.

Today’s roofing materials are engineered to be more durable than ever. Yet, over the years, the elements combine to take a serious toll on your roof. Here are some signs to look for in an aging roof to help you know to contact a roofing contractor in Vancouver for repair.

Asphalt shingle roofs
As shingles age, the rough granules on their surface are lost. This results from both hardening of the shingle, and abuse by weather. Wind and rain will push loose granules down the roof and into the guttering, so check your gutters for excessive amounts of granules. While it’s natural to find some granules, if your gutters are quite full, it’s a good sign that your shingled roof is in need of replacement.

Tile roofs
Concrete tile roofs are one of the most durable roofing choices, and will last for decades with proper maintenance. The most common culprit of tile roof damage is UV rays that break down the calcium carbonate in the concrete, resulting in cracking and crumbling tiles. Another red flag is the growth of moss and algae on the roof. Roofing experts can treat a tile roof with a protective coating that guards against UV damage and organic growth, so don’t hesitate to call an experienced roofing contractor for a consultation.

Should you notice any of the above symptoms, it is important to contact an experienced roofing contractor in Vancouver for a prompt inspection before further damage occurs. If you are concerned about your roof, Crown Residential Roofing would be happy to schedule a FREE inspection. Since our founding in 1902, we’ve covered more homes than any other BC roofing contractor! Just give us a call at (877) 907-3066.

For the conscientious business owner, a new roof or roof replacement is a serious investment. It involves protection of your property and the people and contents within. Identifying roofing problems before they occur requires experience and an understanding of your system. Crown Roofing & Drainage has been serving the Lower Mainland since 1902, and provides unmatched experience when it comes to complete roof replacement, rapid repairs and ongoing maintenance for all commercial applications, including:

• Fiberglass & asphalt shingles
• Rubber & cedar shakes
• Flat roofing – torch or cold
• Green roofs
• Steel roofing & sheet metal
• Continuous aluminum gutters.

Crown Roofing & Drainage offers complete roofing, reroofing, waterproofing and repair services on flat roof systems, single-ply membranes and built-up assemblies (tar and gravel). We also fabricate and install custom sheet metal flashings in our full-service sheet metal shop, using available architectural colors.

Our experienced crews work on commercial, industrial and residential properties, satisfying the needs of owners and managers alike. Figuring out a problem is just as important as finding an effective solution. Not every blemish on a roof will lead to a leak, and similar problems may require entirely different solutions. Let us take the worry out of caring for your property. Call Crown Roofing & Drainage today at (604) 327-3086.

Satellite dishes are a common sight on residences throughout Vancouver, and you’ve probably noticed they are often installed near the roof of a house. That’s because the satellite receiver needs to be placed in a location where the signal will not be obstructed by the home, trees, outbuildings and other objects. But before you call a satellite company for installation, be aware that rooftop installation of a satellite dish can be a risky proposition. While you’re enjoying hundreds of crystal-clear channels, over years a satellite dish improperly installed on your Delta roof can quietly cause thousands in structural damage.

Many dish manufacturers recommend mounting a dish on the roof only as a last resort. That’s because several holes must be drilled through the entire roof structure, including shingles, underlayment and roof deck, opening a path for water to seep into your home. Sealants must be applied around the mounting bracket to keep moisture out, but over time sealants become dry and brittle and can’t be relied upon. And should the satellite dish be removed, there will be the issue of how to repair the exposed area.

If your satellite installer proposes rooftop installation, ask about alternative placement on a pole, wall, or even attached to the fascia board under the eaves – fascia can be replaced much more easily and is less vulnerable than holes drilled in the roof. If you’re not sure, contact Crown Residential Roofing for professional advice. We can inspect your roof and help you determine the best course of action to avoid expensive repairs down the road – and enjoy worry-free TV viewing! Call us today at (877) 907-3066.

As spring inches closer on the calendar, flowers won’t be the only thing popping up in neighborhoods around the Lower Mainland. This time of the year is also when home improvement scams begin to surface, with unqualified contractors breezing into town, offering Burnaby roofing and other services at low-ball prices. The Better Business Bureaus in the U.S. and Canada have warned homeowners to be on the lookout for such contractors, and offer the following tips to ensure you don’t need to file a future complaint.

• Compare bids. “Comparing cost before making a financial commitment toward any home improvement project is very important. In doing so, you should solicit at least two or three bids from prospective contractors based on the same building specifications, materials, labor and time needed to complete the project.”

• Think on it. Instead of pressuring you into making a snap decision, “a reputable professional will recognize that you need time to consider many factors when deciding which contractor to hire.”

• Do the research. The BBB advises homeowners to hire reputable contractors with a local business history. “Ask for references and check them out. Look into the contractor’s standard of work and his professional affiliations; verify his insurance; and check to see if he needs to be licensed.”

• Get it in writing. “Do not permit work to start without a signed written contract that includes all verbal promises that were made by the contractor.” Never pay for the entire job upfront, and never pay in cash.

For the complete BBB article about avoiding spring home improvement scams, click here. Since 1902, Crown Residential Roofing has provided dependable roofing services throughout southern British Columbia. For a complete inspection and a FREE estimate on roof repair or replacement from the area’s most trusted roofing professionals, call us at (877) 907-3066.