Question & Answer: Can I re-shingle my home in the winter?

By Dave Locklear
dave@arrowstarroofing.com

One of the more common seasonal questions we receive in the roofing business here in Oklahoma City has to do with the seasonal limitations of roofing. Specifically, people regularly ask, “Can I re-shingle my home in the winter?”

The short answer is yes, you can… but certain guidelines and precautions should be followed by homeowners to ensure a proper roofing installation. Although roofing can be done almost any time of the year in Oklahoma (in dry weather, that is), December through February can be particularly tricky for contractors. Here are a few tips and guidelines for homeowners to ensure their projects are being completed properly:

1. When your material is delivered, take time to read the back of one of the shingle packages. Here you can find installation instructions, including best installation temperature and other relevant seasonal information. Keep an eye on your contractor as the job is being completed, and make sure they are following the instructions to the letter.
2. Each shingle has a sticky tar strip on its back that helps adhere it to the shingle below. This requires heat. In spring and summer, the adhesion process may only take a few hours. Obviously, in the winter, this may take several weeks. If you are roofing in extreme cold, a small daub of caulking cement may need to be added beneath each shingle to ensure proper adhesion.
3. Nail placement on shingles is critical in winter months. If nailed too high above the shadow lines, shingles can easily blow off during gusts of wind.

NOTES: As a rule of thumb, winter roofing projects are best completed when the temperature is 40°F or rising. Also, because roofing companies tend to be slower in winter months, homeowners can typically get better deals on their projects. If you are looking to save money on your roof and are willing to carefully monitor a contractor’s work, the choice to re-roof in wintertime can prove very advantageous!

My, How Roofing Has Come A Long Way

By David W Locklear, Owner
Arrowstar Roofing & Construction
www.arrowstarroofing.com

Ahh, how the roofing industry has come a long way since my family began roofing in 1942.

My grandfather, Harley Locklear, recalled that he and my grandmother, Nellie Locklear, completed their first commercial roof in 1942 when they melted tar (asphalt) in a barrel behind a building in western Oklahoma. According to the stories of my youth, they burned firewood under a barrel before carrying the black, boiling tar up a ladder in buckets.

My Father, Bob Locklear, later began helping his father in the roofing business, I can remember our first 2-ton truck was an R.E.O. truck.

Between the ages of 12 and 14, I began helping my dad in the hot tar business at a time when the firewood and barrels were gone and we utilized a small tar kettle with a kerosene burner, melting the tar before hoisting it to the roof with ropes and pulleys.

Our first “pumper kettle” came in about 1968. We really thought we were “up town”. In those days, a hail storm would hit a small town in Oklahoma and our company would go there and usually do every commercial building in town because there were few roofing companies in those days.

I can remember doing an entire school system in Leedy, Oklahoma. The Superintendent happily allowed our entire crew sleep in the gymnasium until the job was complete. A Day before we were to go home another damaging hail storm hit and we re-roofed the same area that we had just completed.

In those days we mopped on with hot tar. one ply of 30-pound perforated felt and flood coated the top. This was all the insurance companies would pay for.

When the mid to late 1970s came, modified bitumen (also known as rubber roofing) came along. Many roofing companies refused to put it on because it “was too good”. Hail could not penetrate it, which in turn caused you to lose repeat customers.

In those days the only shingles were 25year, 3-tab, mostly white, green, and red. The wealthier folks put on wood shingles… LOTS of wood shingles.

Most residential homes had 3, 4 & 5 layers of shingles on them because insurance companies never paid for tear-offs.

Yes, the roofing industry and insurance companies have camea long way. All for the better I might add.

The Frog Blog: The lighter side of being a roofer…

By Dave Locklear
Owner, Arrowstar Roofing & Construction

Not that this has anything to do with roofing, but last week we started the process of re-opening our family’s swimming pool for the summer.

With months of no chlorine and foreign debris floating in the pool, it was a painstaking job to say the least!

With rain falling 20 out of 21 days, frogs seemed to have taken over our pool. The croaking at night was becoming unbelievable.

We started adding chlorine and shock. No effect. Nothing seemed to keep these new family members from their concrete-and-tile oasis… and from taking over the Locklear family’s pool!

For a while, the frogs would jump in without realizing they couldn’t get out. We felt it our duty to rescue them with the skimmer net to save their lives, but time and again they jumped right back in.

One night while standing by the pool, my wife said, “Look Honey, that frog is letting that other frog piggy-back rided on his back! He’s trying to save his life by getting him out of the pool!”

We both started thinking about what we had witnessed, amazed at experiencing this rare occurrence of nature and full ready to give the bottom frog a ‘Valor of Bravery’ award.

The next day my wife recounted the brave, life-saving story to her sister, who in turn told her brother-in-law.

He had a good hearty laugh.

“They’re were mating!” he said.

I like my wife’s and my version better, though. Don’t you?

Property owners urged to be ‘Patient’, says Oklahoma City roofing contractor

Arrowstar Roofing & Construction - Oklahoma Tornado and Storm Damage Experts

By David W. Locklear
Owner, Arrowstar Roofing & Construction

Due to the recent extreme wind and hail in various sections of the Metropolitan Oklahoma City area, Arrowstar Roofing would like to remind property owners to be patient in getting roof estimates from local contractors.

Our city has be inundated with out-of-town and ‘fly-by-night’ roofing companies, some from as far East as New Jersey.

These companies specialize in hailstorms around the United States. Some have unlimited advertising dollars, and many even rent local offices to provide more local legitimacy.

It’s important to deal locally, particularly when severe weather has residents in their most vulnerable, emotional states.

Key giveaways for spotting these ‘hail jumpers’ include out-of-state license plates on their vehicles, companies you’ve never heard of or companies in ‘close partnership’ with more local corporations, and – obviously – estimators’ accents that don’t quite seem to be Oklahoma native.

Most out-of-state companies will give from 3 to 5 year warranties, just like local companies. However, an important fact to remember is… when another hailstorm hits elsewhere in our great nation… these fly-by-nights will likely be gone upon hearing that first Weather Channel report.

What’s the downside to all this? You’re left with a worthless warranty… and often times a job that has used substandard (or used) materials or unqualified labor.

Remember to never pay more than one third to half of the total estimate as deposit prior to the work being started. Another good tip is to check area telephone books… a technique that allows you to assess whether or not the corporation has an established presence in the state of Oklahoma. Fly-by-night roofers almost never have Yellow Page or Business Directory ads.

Beware of Storm Damage Roofers

By Dave Locklear, Owner
Arrowstar Roofing & Construction

Arrowstar Roofing would like to remind home and business owners to beware of ‘fly-by-night’ or door-to-door roofing companies. These companies travel to hail storms around the country and present themselves as being a local company. Most will do a substandard job with their only intention being to get your money as fast as possible, then moving on to the next storm.

Some ‘fly-by-night’ roofing companies do acceptable work, however, if you have a leak or warranty issue 2 to 3 months down the road, the company can rarely be found as they have moved on to another location.

One giveaway of ‘fly-by-night’ salesmanis that they usually have an out-of-state phone number or an out-of-state tag. However, this may not always be the case as some large storm-chasing companies have the means to furnish their salesman with local phones as soon as they hit town.

Oklahoma is a key state for ‘fly-by-night’ companies because we do not require roofing companies to be licensed. Even though local companies have lobbied our state legislature to make roofing licensing mandatory just like plumbers, electricians and heating and air companies, the fact remains that Oklahoma has yet to act in this important matter. The sad part is, roof licensing in Oklahoma would eliminate homeowners from being taken advantage of.

Remember that Arrowstar Roofing is a family owned and operated company, with a continuous lifelong commitment to quality roofing in Oklahoma since 1942.

“Green Roofs” help students make the grade

Though we strongly advocate eco-friendly roofing systems, Arrowstar Roofing & Construction strongly advises against attempting to plant a large garden atop your roof due to the potential of severe structural damage if work is not performed correctly. However, we found this article interesting (to say the least) from a roofing standpoint, and it does make a few good points. Enjoy!

NAPSI – From starting school-wide recycling plans to cleaning up area parks, today’s students get high marks when it comes to helping the environment. Now a new program may help their grades go through the roof.

The initiative teaches students in grades 6 to 8 about green roofs—a roof that replaces traditional roofing with a living environment of plants and soil.

Among the benefits they offer, green roofs remove pollutants from storm water and reduce the amount of water that flows into sewer systems. The plants also store excess carbon from the atmosphere, lower radiant heat in the summer and create habitats for local wildlife. Additionally, green roofs provide extra insulation to buildings and last two or three times longer than traditional roofs.

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) runs the program, called “The Roof Is Growing!” It provides a lesson plan, workbook and an online interactive program designed to engage students on how green roofs cool cities, clean the air, create habitats and control storm water.

Funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the initiative is meant to inspire young students to think creatively and use their imaginations as future landscape architects or on any path they choose.

Of course, there are ways by which parents can get kids thinking green at home, too. Try these tips:

Make It Fun

Let your child decorate the recycling bins you have at home as you explain to her what items can and can’t be recycled. You might even arrange for you and your child to tour the area recycling facility.

Take A Walk

Take your child for a walk in the woods to help him gain a greater appreciation of nature. If he has a favorite animal or habitat (deserts, jungles, etc.), encourage him to learn more at the library, at school and online.

Lead By Example

Be sure to recycle and take steps to protect the environment on your own. Setting a good example at home can help build Earth-friendly habits in kids that last a lifetime.

For more information, visit www.asla.org/greenroof.

A new program teaches students about the environmental benefits of a “green roof.”

Brought to you by
Arrowstar Roofing & Construction

No Major Posts Today; Oklahoma City Yellow Pages; Artwork

Well, it’s been a rather dreary day here on the Web end of Arrowstar Roofing & Construction. Though I had intended to pen posts on shingle replacement, a new winter roof maintenance package here at Arrowstar (Stay Tuned for Details!) and commercial flat roofing, several other things popped up and I was not able to write our morning post. Here are a few random Arrowstar thoughts for the day!

Fortunately, however, I was able to meet with a fabulous representative named Diane Young from the User-Friendly Phone Book, the OKC Metro’s second-largest home and business directory with a distribution of 561,000… and from looking at the ads in the business section, one of the hottest ad buys on the market. I strongly recommend this publication, and can happily put any OKC business owner in touch with Diane if they wish to check into advertising for their own company. Just e-mail me for the information.

It was through her that I also learned about a great new Web site… oklahomacity247.com. I highly recommend checking it out.

Without giving too much away, I can only say that I walked away with an excellent ad package that I personally believe will bring about fantastic ROI. Be sure to look for your copy in March 2009 and check out our ads in the “Roofing” section.

From there, I spent most of the day drafting artwork ideas for our purchased space… wishing the whole time I would have bought a bigger ad. From what I have so far, however, I am more than optimistic that we will have one of the best ads in the book!

Despite hard economic times due to the smarty-pants on Wall Street, calls seem to have picked up here over the past couple days. Many thanks for that goes to the great Oklahoma City community newspapers that we regularly advertise in. When I was not busy with the marketing end of things, I was overwhelmed answering the phone. I personally look forward to a full economic recovery for our great nation by next year, but am pleased that Arrowstar is swamped with work even in the economic crisis of recent weeks.

Am also pleased that we have been working on even material certifications today, making a lot of progress in the products we will be able to offer to our commercial roofing customers.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow I plan to work much of the day on our Web site and you will undoubtedly see a lot of great roofing content.

I will be updating our LiveJournal, Twitter, Myspace and Facebook profiles, groups, and blogs shortly.

Marketing Staff
Arrowstar Roofing & Construction

OKC Homeowners: Is your roof ready for winter?

Your Central Oklahoma home’s roof is the first line of defense against rain, snow, cold air and harsh weather. To keep it in top shape, experts recommend performing a roof inspection twice a year.

Look for missing shingles or deteriorated flashing (the metal that seals bends and joints on skylights, chimneys, etc.). More than 90 percent of roof damage occurs in these two areas and catching it early can be key to preventing bigger problems. Try these additional tips:

When To Inspect

Check your roof in spring, and then again in the fall or winter, before the worst weather seasons set in.

What To Look For

• Examine the roof edge for wind damage or damage caused by driving rain and ice dams. The dams occur when water freezes and backs up under the roofing system.

• Inspect your roof for signs of mold, algae and mildew growth. Signs include dark spots and discoloration on the shingles.

Roof Maintenance

Leaves, sticks and other debris can cause water to back up and flow under a roof, so be sure to clean out your gutters and roof drains regularly. Also be sure to check that all gutters are securely fastened to the house and that downspouts are pointing away from your home.

If You Spot Damage

If your inspection reveals roof damage, be sure to work with professional roof contractors who are bonded, insured and use quality materials. They can keep you from having to spend money on costly future repairs and prolong the life of your roof.

Arrowstar Roofing & Construction is fully bonded and insured, offering free estimates for home and business owners in the Metro Oklahoma City and surrounding area. With over 35 years experience as third-generation roofing professionals, Arrowstar is more than capable of identifying key roof and structural problems that it can address through budget-friendly repair, maintenance and re-roofing options.

Inspecting your roof twice a year can protect your home from serious Oklahoma weather damage. If you’re not confident—or unable—to inspect your roof personally, Arrowstar Roofing & Construction also offers annual maintenance contracts. According to your needs, Arrowstar will come out yearly, biannually or quarterly to inspect your roof for damage. In addition to providing you with a detailed written report of your roof’s condition, we’ll also clear your roof and gutters of all debris and perform minor repairs as part of your maintenance contract… informing you if more serious work is potentially needed.

For a free estimate, or more information on Arrowstar’s annual maintenance contracts, log on to www.arrowstarroofing.com or call us today at (405) 365-6577.