Aaron Roofing & Skylights Ltd. – Professional Roofing Calgary
Aaron Roofing & Skylights Ltd.,
Welcome to Aaron Roofing & Skylights Ltd. Website... my name is David Swartzenberger. You’re obviously researching roofing companies, or you’re researching roofing procedures. Following is good general information based on my fifty -plus years as an installer/manager.
Call Us Now: 403-830-6830
1. Install a complete underlayment before having the shingles installed:
- - The standard underlayment is 15lb. Plain Felt;
- - Feltex is a much better ‘tear and wrinkle resistant’ felt;
- - The best underlayment is an elastomeric, self-adhering membrane.
2. Install eaves & rake metal protective edging along the roof deck perimeter:
- - This will protect the wood deck from future ‘rot’ problems;
- - Galvanized metal, or aluminum edging is best, as vinyl sometimes warps over time;
- - This ‘drip edge’ will also help to guide water run-off into the eaves trough, and prevent ‘fascia drip’.
3. Install replacement vents & flashings wherever possible with the new roof:
- - Plumbing flashings and air vents are readily replaceable;
- - Flashings behind siding, stucco, etc. are not removable but ’shim flashings’ can be inserted;
- - When changing roofing product types, it is very important to pay attention to the fixed flashings.
4. Eaves-to-ridge attic ventilation is very important to roofing effectiveness:
- - Ensure that your soffits are properly vented to allow air to enter your attic space;
- - One-three-hundredth of your attic space should be vented—half through soffits, half at the roof peak;
- - Roof ‘turtle vents’ are the standard, and wind turbines are more effective, but ‘ridge venting’ is the best!
Extreme WIND has always been a problem for shingle manufacturers; excellent sealants have been developed to prevent blow-offs, but they don't always do the job. In addition to not being 100% effective, the warranty often covers the replacement cost of the shingles — NOT THE LABOUR COST!
If you have a roofing product with a manufacturer's 110-130 mph Wind Protection Warranty that you want to be compensated for, you must first make one (or more) calls to the manufacturer's warranty department. Then you will be sent forms to fill-out, and you will be required to take photos of the damaged area (s), and of the 'other' roof slopes that show the roof vents, of the attic space (in some cases), of the front of the building to show the address number, and whatever else they want photographic evidence of. Finally, you will be asked to ship to them two (or more) of the damaged shingles (at your cost of approximately $70), so that they can 'test' the shingles.
If the blow-off involved 1—20 shingles, you would only receive a certificate for a bundle of shingles ($25—$30) if everything went well, but you may have to have them installed.
Our ‘PLATINUM ROOFING PACKAGE’ includes…
- A complete elastomeric, self-adhering underlayment
- Lifetime warranty fiberglass/asphalt Laminate shingles
- Metal edge protection on accessible eaves and gable edges
- Replacement of all the Gooseneck vents & Plumbing flashings
- ‘Peak-of-the-roof’ Ridge Venting to give optimum attic ventilation
- Lifetime workmanship & Wind Protection Warranty… (incl. labour)
ALL ‘Aaron Roofing & Skylights Ltd.’ warranties are fully transferable.Click here for our Warranty pageRead More →
About Hail Damage – Roofing Calgary
Hail damages that are compensable through standard home insurance policies are often in dispute by insurers, roofers, and home-owners. Specifically, granular loss is in question. Ten-year studies have been done which involved thousands of severely 'hail pounded roofs'.
It is important to understand the composition of shingles in order to appreciate how vulnerable they are to hail trauma. Standard fiberglass/asphalt shingles begin creation as a glass-fiber mat that is coated with mixtures containing asphalt, limestone powders, and mineral fillers. Surface granules give the shingle colour and serve to block deleterious solar effects, and they give protection from the effects of wind, dust, rain, snow and ice build-up. These crushed stone granules are often coated with a ceramic material to add colour. The shingle weight is made-up from roughly one-third granules, a third asphalt, a third filler.
The two most common shingle types are '3-tab shingles' which give the roof a 'brick pattern', and the 'laminated shingle' which simulates a slate tile roof when installed. The typical hail damage caused to these shingles are punctures, tears and/or fractures, and missing pieces. Hail 'impact marks' show-up when granules become dislodged from the impact area to expose the asphalt/filler, and/or asphalt/filler is dislodged thereby exposing the shingle mat.
Many insurers will accept 'tears, fractures and severe impact areas that expose the mat' as compensable claims; but some insurers DO NOT! They quote studies which claim that granular loss (including asphalt/filler loss) does not affect the life and/or effectiveness of shingles. These insurers will dispute the argument that heavy granular loss affects the 'look' of the roof, even though they will accept that the same hail storm has affected the 'look' of fascia, siding, and/or gutters. When a claim has been denied, it is very difficult to acquire a determination reversal. It is in your best interest to acquire expert 'written' confirmation of hail damage prior to contacting your insurer… and offer their adjustor a copy of the report. The onus often rests with the adjuster; often claims are accepted because they wish to maintain 'good will with their customer'.
When home owners renew their home insurance policies, they should discuss this aspect of their policy, and they should always opt for a 'replacement clause' for wind/hail damage; after all, Calgary is known for it‟s hail storm activity. If possible, get a written response to this concern (from the insurer—not from your broker!).
It is my experience in the roofing field, that once a shingle roof suffers heavy granular loss, the shingles deteriorate very quickly. Mat shrinkage occurs, causing 'cupping & clawing, the edges & corners begin to curl, splitting & fracturing happens more quickly because the asphalt is more susceptible to 'drying out' due to loss of the UV protection offered by the granular coating. When 'shrinkage' takes place, the self-sealing qualities become compromised and the roof becomes much more susceptible to wind damage and 'blow-offs'.
Many insurance adjusters appreciate a well-worded and documented (with photos) roof inspection & replacement quote included with your claim. Photos should include close-ups of the vents & flashings affected, photos of all of the roof slopes, a photo from the ground showing your home address number. Adjusters will then have an idea of the validity of your claim, a general idea of the roof size and slope, etc.
Roofers willing to give a FREE evaluation of the roof condition, do so with the expectation that if their reports aids you with a compensatory claim, you will compensate them by informing your insurer that you have chosen them to be your 'contractor of choice'. All-too-often, home owners solicit FREE inspections & quotes, but then they allow the insurer to delegate the contractor (who often then 'subs out' the job to a crew who may or may not do satisfactory work). Often, the contractor being awarded this work by the insurer may not even be a local, established contractor. Sometimes, the contractor does hundreds of roof replacements and then closes-up their 'local' office and return back to their original location. This practice is very unfair to the established, local roofing companies, and very unfair to home owners expecting good 'after job service'.