Infinite Roofing & Construction Roofing Blog

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Thinking about what to do with that tax return? Here are 3 projects homeowners are taking on with their tax return!

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Tax season just passed and with that many of you got the benefit of getting a tax return. According to the IRS, Americans receive up to $3,000 on average in their tax return check. While some people may spend that on luxuries, a vacation, or a clothing spree, many Americans are opting to put their money where their heart is: their homes.

When a person invests any money in their home, whether it be adding decorative touches like backsplash tiling in the kitchen, new lighting fixtures, or large projects like completely reflooring their home or installing a pool, every upgrade means an increase in the overall value of the house.

Knowing what improvements to make depends largely on how long you intend to stay in the home. Regardless of your intentions, the prevailing opinion by experts is to focus on the exterior of the home in the form of large-scale projects over more superficial additions like decoration-centered remodeling. If you have nothing that needs immediate fixing on your home, the most popular home improvement options that most people are choosing this tax return season are the following:

#1. WINDOWS

If eyes are the windows to the soul, as many believe, then the windows are the eyes of the house. Your windows can be functional and stylish at the same time, providing anything you might wish for, but there are many things to take into consideration when selecting a window concept for your home but most importantly: are you replacing the whole window plus frame entirely or just the glass and working parts?

While replacing the frame of the window entirely is more expensive than just the glass and “innards” of a window, the frame can incur significant damage over time and often gets overlooked. Window sills, particularly, suffer damage the most but are rarely attended to during a replacement process. If you are considering gutting the whole window and frame and replacing the entire unit, make sure to use a professional roofing contractor.


#2. SIDING

Whether you just want your home to have a face-lift or you are repairing damage (warping, mold, dry rot, peeling paint, etc.), purchasing new siding for your home is a major decision and there are many factors to consider. Like windows, siding is potentially both an aesthetically pleasing choice as well as a functional one.

Many feel a fresh coat of paint is just as good, but this is not true. Siding is far more durable and will last for a much longer time than paint, which can chip and wear down over time from inclement weather. As an investment, it’s one of the best. You can recover approximately 93% of what you spent on the project when selling the house.

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that beholder might be your Homeowners’ Association (HOA) and let your professional roofing contractor know about the restrictions. Make sure to check bylaws and statutes for your neighborhood when picking siding material and color in case there are any rules against certain hues. There are some neighborhoods that have a specific palette from which to choose. It’s harder to ask for forgiveness rather than permission when making a major change to your home like siding.

Many professional roofing companies like Infinite Roofing and Construction offer siding installs too, We are James Hardie and, CertainTeed certified to install siding on your house.

#3. ROOFING

Of all the home repairs and upgrades listed, the roof is the most important, which is why it is last on the list. While most people will not have friends and neighbors over when they replace their roofing by a professional roofing contractor to show it off, it is a vital part of the home. If you doubt its significance, try to imagine your house with a leak in the roof and you understand immediately why it’s so important.

Replacing a roof adds significant value to the home and a roof’s age is often the deciding factor for people when buying a house; knowing you have to replace a roof within a few years because of its advanced age would make anyone wary about purchasing a home. Get a free estimate from your local roofing contractors to get an idea of how much you may be expecting to spend when getting a roof replacement.

The region you live in is the most important aspect when selecting roof material because certain areas require certain roof characteristics. The most common types of roofing are:

Asphalt Shingle

This is the most cost-effective option and generally can last a long time. A drawback many homeowners find is that it looks flat and unattractive and, if a dark color, can heat up quickly in the sun, making the house too hot.

Wood Shingle

where asphalt is relatively inexpensive and low on the beauty factor, wood shingles are the total opposite because they tend to be higher priced but definitely more pleasing to the eye. Someone who lives in an area with a danger of fire damage should never choose a wooden roof, due to its combustibility.

Slate

This is an extremely high-end and visually appealing option with a price tag to match. It is also very heavy and slippery to walk on, therefore hard to repair when damaged.

Composition slate

These are synthetic material tiles and a green option with 95% of its composition being recyclable materials. This option is gathering popularity because of its sustainable properties, durability, and it’s lightweight.

Metal

Also very durable, metal roofing can come in a variety of materials from aluminum to steel to copper to zinc and mixed-metal alloys. While it is more expensive and requires a specialist to install or repair it, it is a highly durable (making them cost-effective) and attractive option on any home.

If you choose to use your hard-earned tax refund on a roof this year, make sure to call Infinite Roofing, the leading roofing contractors in the Albany region for new roof installation or a repair. Infinite Roofing and Construction has single-handedly been making customers smile with quick and professional service backed by a 10-year in house warranty. Call or SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE ONLINE to talk to our expert about starting a plan for a new roof today


Did a hail or wind storm just affect your neighborhood? Will your Insurance cover the damage to your roof?

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Your insurance typically covers roof damage, and any structural damage caused by a covered peril. Roof damage to your garage or other structures of the property are also covered under this section of your policy.

However, not every cause of roof replacement is covered under your policy, and roof damage can happen in a multitude of ways.

If your roof has been neglected over the years and deteriorated because of that cause, the damage to your roof may not be covered by your insurance company, and your claim can be denied. You may also be out of luck if your roof was damaged by an earthquake, flood or mudslide unless you have additional coverage for those perils.

Damage caused by wind, or hail are typically covered under a standard insurance policy, but it is common for insurers to require separate deductibles for those perils.

Does homeowners insurance cover wind and hail damage to my roof?

A standard home insurance policy usually covers Wind and hail as these are two common causes of roof damage. However, in states like Kansas and Oklahoma which experience these hazards more frequently than other parts of the country, insurers are more likely to increase the cost of their policies to reflect the high risk and recurring claims.

The severity of the damage may also determine how much and if you would qualify for your insurance company paying for the damage. For example, if a few shingles on your roof had slight nicks in them after a hail storm, your home insurance company may classify it as “cosmetic” damage, which is a common dwelling coverage exclusion. As a matter of practicality, it may not be worth filing a claim for aesthetic roof damage anyway, as the deductible may end up higher than the total damage cost.

Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks?

Your home insurance company will cover a roof leak if:

The leak was caused by a peril that’s covered in your policy, and the damage was swift, sudden and didn’t accumulate over a number of years.

This can be an area of contention in home insurance policies, though, as a leak that came as a complete surprise to the homeowner may be perceived as an instance of neglect to the insurer.

For example, if you live in a wintry climate and your roof gets layered with snow every winter, you may not notice its gradual deterioration until that big storm hits and a large section begins leaking. Even though the event that triggered the leak was a big storm, your insurer may view the damage as gradual and deny your claim.



Can my claim be refused by the insurer if my roof is too old?

After you sign your homeowners’ insurance application, the insurance company will send out an insurance adjuster for your roofing insurance claim to make sure everything you claimed in the application checks out and determine if coverage adjustments are needed. It’s not just about coverage limits though, the insurance company wants to know if you’re even worth insuring based on how likely you’re going to be filing claims; they’ve been known to deny applications post-inspection.

The roofs quality and how old it is; is one of the key structural components of your home that they inspect. If the roof age has eclipsed 20 years some insurers refuse to renew existing policies without passing inspection first from a roofing company in the roofing insurance claim process.

Other insurers simply won’t write new policies for homes with roofing that’s 15 to 20 years old, and if they do, they’ll specify that it’s only covered under an actual cash value policy. Which means that, if your roof gets damaged or destroyed, the company only pays out whatever the value of your roof is after 20+ years of depreciation.

Replacing a roof can get expensive, contact a roofing company to get quotes on how much it would cost to have your roof replaced, While the costs provided by the roofing company may seem expensive, you may not have much of a choice if your roof is ancient, as doing nothing could mean having no homeowners insurance policy at all.

Filing a roof replacement claim

Contact your insurance company immediately if you suspect that your roof was damaged after a storm or got attacked by an army of squirrels. Always take pictures of the damage done to your roof to provide evidence of your roofing insurance claim process.

Usually, before and after pictures tend to do the trick, but even pictures of just the damage after the storm or the incident can help the claim and help the roofing company in your area determine how much it would be to repair or have a roof replacement without coming out to your house.

Provide evidence of your claim

Schedule an insurance claim inspector to come by and survey the damage

The damage needs to be repaired as quickly as possible, find a local roofing company to give you an estimate and do the repair for you. Not only does having a leak or hole in your roof provide unwanted access points in your house, but you’re also risking further damage to everything inside.

Infinite Roofing and Construction gives free estimates for roof repairs and replacements, we can deal with your insurance company to get you the best roof replacement that your house deserves with the best roofers in Albany to do the job for you.








Roof Replacement: Professional vs DIY

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Aerial view of new roof shingle installation
Professional roof shingle installation | Infinite Roofing & Construction

When it’s time to replace your roof, you may be looking to do it yourself and save money, but roofing can be a dangerous task. The height, lack of safety knowledge, lack of specialist equipment and the fact that a roof can become unstable during replacement are just a few major reasons why replacing the roof yourself can be dangerous. However, roofs get damaged over time, you may see a leak in your roof, it could be damaged in a storm or it is just plain getting old. Then your roof will need to be replaced or repaired. The question is how do you know if you should be hiring a professional roofing company or doing it yourself?

Hiring a Professional

If you want to know that your roof will be replaced or repaired correctly, then hiring a professional would give you that peace of mind. Professional roofing companies have access to all the right materials and tools for the job. Plus, they have years of experience to do the job correctly. Professionals are also able to inspect the property and advise you if there is anything else wrong with the roof that would need to be repaired. Let’s say a few shingles knocked loose in a storm, and you hired a roofing company to replace the shingles that knocked loose. Any other damage done to your roof by the storm may have not been visible to your untrained eyes, but a professional roofing contractor would be able to tell after an inspection. This does not mean that your roofing contractor will spring surprise costs on you. A good roofing contractor will offer a thorough quote or estimate before beginning any work, so you know exactly how much the services cost and why these repairs are being done.

A great bonus to having a professional roofing company is that their replacements are usually covered by warranties. These warranties can offer you peace of mind in case anything goes wrong within the time span outlined in the warranty agreement, and will potentially save you money if something does go wrong. Most warranties are only valid if installed by a professional.

Putting yourself in danger is one of the last things that a homeowner wants, getting on the roof yourself can be very dangerous, by hiring a professional company to replace or fix your roof will save yourself the trouble of putting yourself in danger.

Doing it Yourself

Replacing or fixing your roof yourself comes with some caveats. Firstly, as mentioned previously, it can be a very dangerous task for someone who is untrained to replace a roof. Roofers are up and walking around on roofs every day and are trained to do so safely. They know how to navigate around any dangerous situations and they know how to keep themselves out of danger. Besides being up high on your roof, there are other construction-related safety issues to be concerned about. Another downside to replacing your roof yourself is that you probably do not have the experience or know how to get the job done correctly. Your roof is such an important part of the infrastructure of your house and you want to make sure that a repair or replacement is stable and durable. If a small leak is not fixed the right way, it could escalate into a much bigger problem.

Small repairs might be the only situation that might work out in your favor when doing it yourself. For example, it may be easier and more cost-effective than hiring a professional if you only have a shingle or two to replace, or if you have a small leak that just requires sealant.

Summary

When debating whether to hire a professional to fix/replace your roof or whether to just do it yourself, there are many factors to take into consideration. Overall, you want to make sure that your repair or replacement is done right so that your roof can last, and not cause any problems in the future. The professionals at Infinite Roofing have the experience and expertise you need to get your roof replacement done right.

10 Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Roof

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Severe roof deterioration
Damage to your roof can only get worse over time

It is important to pick up on the warning signs of a failing roof, but what are the characteristics that you should be looking for? Listed below are the signs that you should be looking for when inspecting a roof. If any of them pop up it is very likely that your roof needs to be looked at by an Albany roofing company that can determine if you need a roof replacement.

1. Curled or Buckled Shingles

Curled or Buckled shingles are a huge sign that your roof has some age on it and it may be time for a roof replacement. The moisture in the attic space can force nails to push up and out of the roof’s decking, causing the shingles to buckle. This can cause a lot of problems. It can leave your house exposed to the elements outside and it increases the chances of shingles blowing off during a storm. Shingles are hard to replace so calling an Albany roofing company to give you a free estimate would give you an idea of how much it may end up costing.

2. Tar Streaking or Algae Growth

Bacteria is another leading cause of roofs failing. Tar streaking and algae growth are caused by bacteria eating away at the shingles weatherproofing properties. Some cheap manufacturing companies use limestone fillers to keep the cost of the shingle production low. Limestone isn’t the greatest when it comes to protection against algae. The algae will eat through the limestone and cause your roof to have black streaking which will compromise the weatherproofing properties causing you to have an entire roof replacement done.

3. Missing Granules

Missing granules are a sure sign that your roof is dramatically losing its weatherproofing properties. To check to see if you are missing granules, check your gutters for granule build up, if that’s something you are unsure about how to do, always give your Albany commercial roofing or residential roofing company a call to come and look at. You can also check your downspout splash pan for granules or sometimes you can shake it and if you hear a rattling this is another sign that your shingle’s granules are falling off.

4. Moisture and Mold

Ventilation in the attic is very important, warm air in your house rises and if not vented out properly, the warm air can get trapped in the attic. When that happens, condensation develops on the inside of your roof. This can cause rusty nails and eventually mold buildup if it has not been looked at by a professional Albany roofing company. Unfortunately, if left long enough the plywood would rot out and you’ll be stuck having to get a full roof replacement. Even if you have a new roof, don’t think this problem isn’t something that you need to worry about. This can happen with new or old roofs as some people may over insulate their homes to prevent from getting high energy bills but that also ends up blocking the vents. Just like a car, a home needs an appropriate intake (soffits) and exhaust (ridge vent). Mold is an extreme health hazard, so if that is something that you came across, do not try tackling it yourself. Seek out an Albany roofing company to take care of this situation with their expertise and the right equipment. You should act now to prevent the extra costs of having to replace all the affected wood as well. Mold, if not acted upon in a timely manner, could end up costing you an entire roof replacement.

5. Missing Shingles

Missing shingles are the biggest and the easiest one to figure out when it comes to knowing if you need a roof replacement. If you have missing shingles that allows anything a pathway into your house. Contacting an Albany roofing company to inspect the situation as soon as possible would be the best advice.

6. Daylight Coming Through Roof Boards

Is there light coming in through your roof? The best way to check that would be to go up to the attic and turn all the lights off to see if there are any holes that are letting the light in. If that is the case you may want to call a commercial roofing company to get a roof replacement.

If you see light streaking from the roof’s decking, you may have a big problem as this means the nails have fallen through or the corrosive materials used have lost their weatherproofing properties (i.e. flashing, collars, and step flashing).

7. Attic Temperature Different From Outdoor Temperature

Your attic temperature is supposed to be very similar to the outdoor temperature as your attic should have enough ventilation that lets air circulate in and out of the attic. If the ventilation system in the attic fails to do this job and the attic is warmer than the outside temperature, then there is a possibility of ice dams forming. Your home is prone to ice dams. You may also see signs of blistering/peeling of exterior paint due to poor attic ventilation.

8. Ice Dams

If you see huge icicles forming at the edge of your roof, it’s an indication that you need a roof replacement. Things that you would need to ensure to prevent this situation would be:
a) Proper Ventilation
b) Adequate Insulation
c) Ice & Water Shield

9. Leaky Chimneys

Your roof and chimney should be properly flashed so that your home is sealed away from the elements. Making sure that your chimney has been flashed correctly is crucial so if you see any water leaked around your chimney that would indicate that the chimney hasn’t been flashed correctly and is no longer performing. You want to make sure your commercial roofing company has used a leak barrier to provide protection against leaks in vulnerable areas, and on all areas of your roof including eaves, rake and side walls.

10. Excessively High Energy Bills

High heating and cooling bills can be from energy escaping due to poor ventilation and insulation in your home, especially in your attic and roof. If you notice you have high energy bills in addition to any of the warning signs listed above, it could be because your roof is under-performing and getting in a commercial roofing contractor to come and inspect the roof would help solve that problem.

Summary

Thinking that you just had a new roof done a couple of years ago and that nothing could happen to it is a misconception. People usually think that a roof lasts about 10 to 15 years but if there is misapplication or sub-par materials were used, the age means absolutely nothing. Use the tips above to always keep an eye on your roof and make sure it is functioning properly and lasts the full lifespan that it is meant to.

If you think your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, contact us today for a FREE estimate at 518-444-ROOF, and as your local Albany roofing company, we will be more than willing to come out to your house and take a look at the problem. We will provide the best service to fix any issues and get your roof looking and functioning as good as new!


4 Ways Roofers Will Rip You Off

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At Infinite Roofing we are very experienced when it comes to roofing and dealing with the mess left behind by other roofing contractors. This experience did not come easy and unfortunately roofing is a mostly non-reputable industry. There are out of town storm chasers looking to collect checks and never come back, contractors that will request more money before the job is done, roofers that do not have the manpower and end up leaving roofs half open over night when rain is coming and properties are extensively damaged from them not properly “drying in”. Roofing companies that will intentionally quote for quality materials and then use the cheap stuff. Home owners tell us all sorts of horror stories about their previous roofing contractors. Hopefully this will help to inform you about some red flags to look out for.

Many of us here at Infinite Roofing started out working as laborers years ago for some other not so notable roofing companies, doing all the hard graft like carrying shingles up and down ladders. Over the years, we’ve seen it all. We have learned all the ways other roofing companies will try to rip you off!

1. Plywood Replacement

Most roofing companies will offer a select amount of pieces of plywood replaced for free and then offer additional pieces of plywood replaced for an additional cost to the homeowner. The problem that can arise in this situation is that most homeowners are not home while the roofing project is being completed. So when the roof is torn off and a non-reputable roofer sees that there is only 2 sheets of plywood that needs replacing, he will add additional sheets and tell the homeowner that 12 sheets were replaced. The current market price of pieces of plywood are replaced at anywhere from $40 to $75. If someone is charging you for 10 sheets of new plywood but only replaced 2, then they have ripped you off $400-$750 and you would never have any way of telling because you were not present during the install.

In order to protect yourself from being ripped off this way there are a few things you can do. One would be to stay home and count the amount of plywood that has been torn off and replaced as the job is taking place. Another would be to go up in your attic or crawl space and look at the ceiling or bottom of the roof. If it is unfinished with no sheetrock then you should be able to see the plywood decking. Any new plywood will look significantly different from a plywood material that is over 20 years old. The new plywood will usually just be a brighter color. It can also be different makes such as OSB and the difference in appearance can be easily recognized against plywood.

2. Only Three feet of Ice and Water Protection

When most roofing companies write a contract, it will include six feet of ice and water barrier along the bottom edges of your roof to prevent ice damns from causing leaks in side your house. To achieve six feet of this protection, roofing contractors will install two courses of a three foot roll. Ice and water barrier is an expensive underlayment and the difference in cost between installing one course and two courses can be at least a few hundred dollars depending on the size and complexity of the roof. Many roofing companies that offer you the lowest price to complete your roof will not want to factor in this cost and will usually end up only using one course of ice and water.

Most roofing companies in the Albany NY and Saratoga Springs area, know that six feet is required but will choose to install three. Most local building codes call for 24″ of ice and water protection installed past the warm wall. The problem here is that most roofs have a 18″ – 24″ overhang at the eaves. This is why we prefer to and will always go above and beyond the code. Infinite Roofing backs up our work with a ten year warranty and we do not want to be responsible for a leaking roof. Once the ice and water is installed over a 24″ overhang it only leaves 12″ above the warm wall. This will cause the roof to leak after the ice continuously melts and refreezes again causing ice dams that causes water to be pushed up under the shingles further and further every time it melts and refreezes. One course of ice and water will eventually cause leaks. The roof may not leak the first year but could last 10-15 years before the leaks start damaging the plywood decking, framing, Sheetrock and finish trim. This will either be a very costly roof repair job or it might just make economical sense to replace the whole roof prematurely and losing out on at least a few good years of roof life expectancy. The only way to prevent being ripped off in this manner is to stay home during the roof replacement and watch to make sure that two courses of ice and water are installed.

Here at Infinite Roofing, in most situations we will have the old shingles completely torn off the house by 10 am. By 12 o’clock noon, the whole house should be covered in underlayments. So sometime in between 11am and 12 would be a good time to take a walk outside and peak up at the house to ensure two courses of ice and water have been installed. This will look like 2 courses of a 3′ roll along the bottom edges of the roof. It is usually black with a granular type surface. The courses installed on top of the ice and water will be a synthetic underlayment and will usually be a different color making it easy to tell the two apart. Reputable roofing companies will include the cost of this in their contract and will have enough work so that they do not need to cut corners to make more profit. This is why it is important to make sure you’re comparing “apples to apples” when comparing bids. One roofers bid may come in $1,000 less but will only last 17 years due to cheap underlayments and not enough ice and water installed. A higher bid will include name brand quality underlayments and six feet of ice and water.  A roofing system with name brand shingles and better underlayments will generally last a good few years longer than a roofing system with cheap shingles and underlayments. This is why it is important to consider the cost of the roofs life more than the cost of the roofs install. A roof that cost less today will most likely cost a lot more in the future.

3. Step Flashing wasn’t included!?

When roofing companies give an estimate, they can sometimes leave out small details like step flashing replacement. Step flashing is a part of the shingle roofing system and should be replaced when a new roof is installed. Step flashing can normally be a tricky thing to include in estimates because sometimes the step flashing is nailed to the wall behind the siding making it impossible to replace without completely removing and reinstalling large sections of siding. Removing and reinstalling siding can cost hundreds more than most people will not want to pay when they have a cheaper bid. This cheaper bid will most likely not include step flashing. Once the roofing contractor shows up and rips off the roof you may get a call saying “your step flashing needs to be replaced and it’s going to cost $700 more”. Or worse even they will not communicate this to you until the job is finished and then you will be stuck paying for something that should have been included. Many low bid roofing companies work this way. This can be avoided by making sure that step flashing is clearly defined in the contract. When the step flashing is nailed to the wall behind the siding we will give the home owner the option of leaving the old step flashing or performing the siding repair to be able to get the old flashing out. Leaving the old flashing in is fine in most cases as it will last the lifetime of the house when installed correctly. Step flashing only leaks when its made of a corrosive material and rots out after 30 years. Step flashing that is made of aluminum or galvanized steel will only ever leak if installed improperly by a low bidding roofing company.

Step flashing is not to be confused with apron flashing. Apron flashing is usually one continuous piece of flashing that is installed horizontally along the bottom wall of any dormers, additions, or any wall to roof transitions such as porches or overhangs. It is fastened to the wall under the siding and usually protrudes about 4 inches over the top course of shingles. This flashing is typically not included in most roof replacements because it is attached directly to the sheathing on the wall and would need the siding to be removed to be replaced. Unless this is called for on an estimate it will not be included in the job and the roofing company will just re use the old flashing as it is made of a non corrosive metal and will last the lifetime of the house if installed properly. To prevent an issue from arising about step flashing, just make sure that all the roofing companies you are requesting bids from have included step flashing in the quote.

Counter flashing is also a gray area on most contracts. Many roofing companies will not include this in a quote. The counter flashing is a part of the chimney and therefore does not fall on the roofers scope of work. Infinite Roofing will include an option to replace chimney flashing at an additional cost if it is needed. We started installing counter flashing due to our customers having a real hard time finding a chimney specialist to provide a quote for the work. Counter flashing is something that must be done by a very experienced roofing contractor as it requires a high level of craftsmanship. Be very weary of roofing companies that say they will include this for free. They are looking to do whatever it takes to sell the job and can not possibly provide the attention to detail that replacing the counter flashing requires for free.

4. Wrong materials

Shingles – Some of the worst roofing companies will quote you for a top quality shingle such as GAF and then actually use a far less quality shingle saving themselves about a $1,000 for an average sized roof. These roofing companies will get away with this for a while because many times the shingles are delivered to the top of the roof by a boom truck. When the shingles are delivered to the rooftop, the only way you can tell what kind of shingles are being used is to go outside and look for the name on the packaging when the used shingle wrappers are tossed off the roof to be put in the garbage.

Ice and Water – Ice and water comes in many different brands and qualities. In order to receive a GAF 50 year full coverage manufacturer’s warranty you will have to use high quality name brand (GAF) underlayments.  This complete roofing system is required by almost all shingle companies to receive their warranties. Shingle manufacturers do this because they know that their shingles will last a few years longer than roofs installed with poor quality underlayments. This means that if the roofers show up with a box of ice and water and the packaging doesn’t match the branding on the shingles. Your roof will most likely not be covered by a full coverage manufacturers warranty.  The low bidding roofing contractor will tell you that you’re getting a manufacturer’s warranty and then show up with underlayments that cost about a third as much as the name-brand materials, saving the roofer around 500 dollars on your average sized roof. The contractor will get away with this one a lot as well because there usually is no one home checking to see that the right materials were used. Most often home owners do not even know to look for the difference in these materials. Using a roofing company that is certified by a shingle manufacturer will help prevent the use of lower quality underlayments.  

A lot of these contractors will be sneaky with how their contracts are worded and will be sure to cover themselves if they are found out. If the specific materials are not called out in the contract, then these shady companies are not held liable for the roofing system they might have told you that you were receiving. This is why it is wise to make sure any and all materials are specified in the quote.

Precautions You Can Take

  1. Get a thorough quote.
  2. Say no to any contractor that asks you for all the money before the job is finished.
  3. Always ask for an invoice/receipt.
  4. Check the contract over thoroughly.
  5. Watch the materials that are delivered.
  6. Check the material brands listed on your quote/receipt against those that actually arrive.
  7. Count the plywood that arrives and count how much is actually used.



Summary

As you can see, the roofing trade can be a very cutthroat business. There are so many underhanded tactics a roofing company can use to extort money from you. By arming yourself with the knowledge of some of these nefarious techniques, you can make yourself a much harder target. Most importantly, get everything written down and never rely only on verbal agreements. Whichever company you go with, we wish you all the best. Nobody deserves to be scammed and those disreputable companies definitely do not deserve your money.

Choosing The Right Roofing Contractor For Your Project

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Why we are the right roofing contractor for you.

At Infinite Roofing & Construction, we know that the roof is one of the most important parts of any building. Be it a home, an office or an industrial building, it needs to have a solid structure and be secured against the elements. Whether it’s a repair or a completely new roof installation, choosing the right roofing contractor is absolutely critical. Every building needs a solid roof. In the case of your home — the “roof over your head” — it may well be one of the biggest investments you make in your life. Unfortunately, in many states there are very few regulations in place for roofing contractors and roofing installation.

This industry is full of roofing companies with amateur workers who lack the proper training to carry out the work they have been contracted to do. There are also so many people out to con you and charge you as much as they possibly can for even the most basic work. You need a professional contractor you can trust, who won’t deceive you and isn’t looking to rip you off. Someone who will carry out your installation in a reasonable timescale, with all due care and diligence, to a high professional standard. Otherwise, your decision could come back to haunt you in the future!

There are so many reasons why hiring a professional roofing company is crucial. The more experience a contractor has, the more you can rest assured that the job will be done right. The most experienced contractors will be able to provide you with a wealth of advice from the best materials to use to maintenance and care. They will absolutely not pressure you into making any hasty decisions or quote outrageous figures for the work. They will be able to justify every expense. They should be able to advise you on exactly what is required to provide you with the best longevity and value for money. They also need to have all the correct insurance, in case the worst should happen.

When approaching any roofing contractor, you must ask plenty of questions about how and when each stage will be completed, which materials will be used and what kind of warranty you will have if the worst should happen. You must ensure that they properly assess the project’s requirements. The more questions you ask the better. Any professional roofing contractor would be happy to provide you with any information you need to make an informed decision and give you peace of mind. A contractor that gets annoyed and frustrated at such questions is a contractor to be very wary of.

Here at Infinite Roofing & Construction we have over 20 years experience working on projects of every scope and scale from simple repairs to roof installations of a huge scale. We know exactly which materials to choose and where your money can be saved without compromising on quality. Our knowledge of roofs, roofing materials and all related tools and products is second to none. All our work is 100% guaranteed and we will do absolutely everything we can to ensure you are 100% satisfied.

Unfortunately, Infinite Roofing & Construction deals with cleaning up the mess left by rogue roofing companies on a regular basis. Sometimes people think they are saving money, and sometimes people take what their roofing contractor says on good faith and it turns out they were either being deceptive or they are incompetent. It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes, but the result is usually the same — critical delays and huge additional expense to a very unfortunate customer. Sometimes there can be additional damage to the building and personal property contained inside too, which then will require additional repairs or replacement.

Always remember:

1) Ensure your contractor has plenty of experience – The more experience your contractor has, particularly in regard to the type of work your require, the better.

2) Check out reviews – You can’t please everyone all the time, but you should be able to gauge a solid dependable roofing company from a company that repeatedly does poor work or lets people down.

3) Get a free estimate up front – Most good roofing companies will offer you a free, no obligation, written quote. Always get the estimate in writing to avoid any confusion, miscommunication or disagreements.

4) Price isn’t everything – Don’t just go for the cheapest option to save money, but don’t just assume “You get what you pay for!” and go to the other end of the spectrum as people will happily take your money. Costs should be justifiable.

5) Check licenses and credentials – Your roofing contractor will not need a state license to work in New York, however there are local licensing requirements. Make sure to check the local regulations before you begin work.

6) Check insurance and liability coverage – The company you hire should have General Liability Insurance to cover against injury and damage.

7) Ensure the contractor is financially stable – You do not want the roofing company you hire to take your money and suddenly declare insolvency.

8) Get all agreements in writing – For the protection of all parties, all agreements should be in writing. Don’t risk such expense on a handshake or verbal agreement.

9) Ask about the cancellation policy – What happens if you need to back out?

10) Ask about warranty – A reputable and reliable company would stand by their work and offer a clear warranty policy.

11) Ask the expected timescale – You don’t want the work drawn out longer than necessary.

12) Choose a company committed to health & safety – You want a company that looks after their workers and is keen to avoid any unnecessary accidents. A good roofing contractor will stay up to date with all the latest health and safety requirements.

13) Ask about cleanup – You don’t want your home to remain a building site after the work is done. A good roofing company knows that cleanup after a job is one of the most important tasks.

14) If alarm bells starts ringing, do not use that contractor!

Always avoid:

1) Pressure/scare tactics – Never allowed yourself to feel rushed or pressured into agreeing to any work.

2) Unnecessary upsells – Sometimes a job can genuinely require much more attention than first thought, but any additional expenses must be well justified.

3) Large down payments, or all costs up front – A reputable company would never expect you to pay them huge fees up front.

4) Low balling – sometimes a popular tactic is to give the lowest quote, only to present the client with unexpected fees and expenses down the line.

Why choose Infinite Roofing & Construction?

Ranking as one of the top roofing contractors in the Capital District and surrounding areas, Infinite Roofing & Construction take great pride in our work at every level. From our many skilled tradesmen, to our foremen, advisors and management. This is our craft and our reputation means a great deal to us. We don’t mind you asking questions and testing our knowledge and skills. Whatever your concern, please fire away! Whatever it takes to put our valued customers at ease. We want you to know you can count on us!

Call us or fill out our online form to get your free, no obligation quote today!

How to Spot & Deal with Hail Damage on Your Roof

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How to spot hail damage and how it happens.

If you haven’t given our previous article on the quick steps you should take on getting the hail damage insurance claim process started, go give that article a read first!

As we mentioned before, as professional roofing contractors of over 20 years we’ve seen a lot: we know exactly how devastating hail damage can be to roofs. However, not all hail damage is the same, and the extent of damage is going to be based a lot on the wind speed and the hail size during the storm.

Wondering how much a roof replacement costs?

See, when a hail storm starts, the storm starts off high in the atmosphere as rain, but because of an air updraft, rather than falling to the surface like a normal rain storm, the water is carried back up into the upper level of the clouds (where temperatures are below freezing), which then causes the water droplets to freeze.

Then, the frozen droplets fall, and again, are carried upwards and refrozen, again and again until finally, they weigh too much to be carried upwards and fall straight down to Earth and onto your roof, puncturing any surface along the way.

In basics:

The more powerful the updraft, the bigger the hail. The bigger the hail, the faster it falls. The faster it falls, the bigger damage on impact.

On the other end of the spectrum that’s going to determine damage during and after the storm is the quality of your materials: lower quality materials are less durable and are going to suffer more damage than thicker, higher quality materials.

Thinner, lower quality shingles will increase the odds of your roof’s decking denting, which compounds the problem and leads to a greater chance of having to replace more and more pieces of the roof until a full replacement is done.

Quick Guide: Signs of Roof Damage on Shingle Roofs

The most obvious sign of major damage from hail is black “dents” on the roof. Also referred to as bruising – sometimes they are readily obvious (for example you see a black mark or grouping of black circular marks) embedded in your shingles. Other times they aren’t quite obvious either due to the original shingle coloration or because the damage was more subtle, hurting the underlayments more than the top coating with sheer impact.

Generally you’ll see many pictures of the clearer, black dents and bruises, but in many cases it’s the more subtle versions of the same kind that indicate hail damage.

One of the easiest ways to spot additional damage is to look at the edges of the roof or at any areas that “protrude.” For example, check the flashing for denting, check your siding, check the ridge cap shingles, check around air conditioners – anything that has an exposed surface that’s more easily dented. Check out a full list of roofing systems here.

Seeing the damage on the edges is often what helps professional roofing contractors find the more extensive damage hidden on the roof itself.

When hail is accompanied by serious wind storms, then cracking is a potential risk. This is going to happen most commonly between the shingles and this is where it seems like pieces of shingle seemingly go missing or pieces that should have been connected and overlapped are gone.


Cracks can, of course, be more severe depending on just how intensive the winds were (and how big the hail was). Click for more about roof repairs on our main page.

Quick Guide to Flat Roof Damage

Flat roofing overall is much harder to spot damage versus asphalt shingle sloped roofs. Membrane based flat roofs (like TPO) are rarely going to show signs of damage on the visible surface, which is why major damage done to these roof types often go undetected until there’s a catastrophic failure requiring the entire system to be replaced.

Inspecting flat roofs for significant damage definitely requires more of an expert eye to thoroughly detect where any damages are located, sources of leaks and potential future problem areas. Getting a professional inspection is usually the course of action here and often they come included in commercial roofing maintenance plans offered by roofing companies like ours.

If you must inspect yourself, then check around patch jobs or prior trouble areas, look for cracks and tearing, blistering or wrinkling.

Quick Guide to Hail Damage: Having Your Roof Replaced by Insurance Companies

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hail damage on roof shingles
After Storm Damage to Shingles

Want to know more?  Visit our comprehensive roof insurance page here.

Hail damage to a roof is a serious problem that leaves property owners feeling helpless at worst and stressed out at best. The past two years alone in the Capital Region have seen a tremendous increase in the amount of storm damage claims, calls for repairs related to storm damage and increase in frequency in hail related damage that we’ve inspected here at Infinite Roofing.

What throws off most property owners is the complication of the insurance claim process. Insurance companies are usually going to do everything in their power to avoid having to pay out on claims, so your timelines are going to be critical in order to maximize your chances for a proper claim.

I wish we could just give you a quick guide that gave you absolute, concrete steps that always lead to your claim being successful. Unfortunately, circumstances, guidelines and actual policy coverage are all going to vary widely from insurance company to insurance company. However, there are a couple tangible actions you can take to maximize your chances of a successful claims process regardless of your situation.

Roof Age Matters (A LOT!)

The driving factor that is going to determine your claim eligibility is how old the roof is. Most insurance policies use “RCV” or Replacement Cost Value. This means that every year of your roof, a certain value is depreciated for ‘age.’

What that means is you could have a roof that’s 10 years old and had an installation cost of $15,000. Now after a storm with a lot of hail damage and a $15,000 roof replacement cost, the insurance company only pays out ~$4,000 because of the ‘depreciation’ of the roof, which leaves you footing the bill for the other $11,000.

However, more and more insurance companies are offering an Actual Cash Value (ACV) method for covering roofs. This method means that there is no depreciation and if the bill to replace the roof is $15,000, then you’re going to generally receive $15,000 minus the deductible.

So check your policy (and if you’re signing up, ask the various insurance companies bidding for your business about ACV plans).

Quick Step 1: Check Your Roof Immediately

Check for obvious punctures and holes in your roof.

After a major hail storm, go out on your roof (or view from binoculars) and inspect it. You’re going to look for dark circles or punctures where the hail hit the asphalt and create round circles all over the shingles.

Additionally, check the interior attic area for any signs of leaks (this isn’t always going to be a drip, drip drip type leak – look for moisture inside). If you suspect damage, the first phone call you need to make is to your insurance company.

The quicker you make a claim for damage, generally the easier time you’re going to have in processing your claims. Don’t wait a week, two weeks or a month – you’ll only hurt your chances of a successful claim.


Quick Step 2: Call Roofing Contractors For Damage Inspection

Hail Damage isn’t always immediately obvious at first glance, which is why you should have a professional inspect.

Have a professional roofing contractor come out and inspect the roof and look at the damage. The professionals will be able to more accurately pinpoint the areas of damage and explain to you how and where the major problem areas are, in addition to what a scope of work is going to look like.


At this same time, the insurance company will be scheduling or sending an adjuster out to inspect the claim and report back to the insurance company about whether or not your claim is justified. While these adjusters are “independent,” remember that they’re paid to do the job by the insurance company, and at the end of the day, their primary motivation is going to be to support the insurance company over you.

Because of that, we advise you to bring a roofing professional to the meeting with the adjuster to have some additional support on your end and for there to be an extra layer of document review that is in support of you.

Quick Step 3: Document Everything Related to Your Roof

Document, document, document! Make sure everything you do, you keep records, pictures, everything in copies for your records to thoroughly defend your case in the event that the insurance company gives push back over paying out on the claim. The burden of evidence is on you, and always remember: the insurance company doesn’t want to eagerly pay out.

That’s all for now! Stay tuned as we release more information about hail damage and the insurance claim process throughout the next week!

Why Fall is a Great Time to Replace Your Roof

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Historically, many of our clients would often have their roof’s replaced in the middle of Summer, and specifically towards the end of July and into August. Most homeowners believe this to be an ideal time because generally speaking, the weather outside is warm, the replacement can be timed during a vacation or just plain seems easier to manage “outdoor” projects like roofing.

However, more and more homeowners are booking roof replacements during the Fall, specifically during September, October and November.

infinite crew working on roof

Why Summer Isn’t Always Great For Roof Replacements

Summer brings with it the biggest source of roofing related delays: rain storms. Nothing is going to stop progress on a roof, or cause more rescheduling to occur than a rainy day. You simply cannot put up a roof while it’s raining outside because one of the things your roof does is protect your house (specifically attic) from moisture damage from the outside.

All of the materials are built (whether that be asphalt shingles, standing seam metal or even slate roof tiles) primarily to be waterproof. Otherwise everytime it rains you’d be dealing with a build up of moisture damage leading to huuuuge problems including rot and mold.

So during the roofing process, your house is extra vulnerable to moisture (which is why a professional roofing company will only ever remove the same amount of the old roof as they can replace in a day, and if there is a cause for delay will have tarping to prevent moisture damage). As a matter of fact, it’s often drier to install a roof when it’s snowing outside versus dealing with the rain. Not that it’d be a particularly enthusiastic install while it’s freezing outside (and freezing temperatures make sealing more difficult), but nonetheless it’s still drier than rainy seasons.

Reason #1: End of Summer is the best time to inspect your Roof

There are two key times you should really inspect the condition of your roof: one, after winter has ended so you can see any damage from ice that may have been caused. The other is at the end of Summer after summer showers have passed. The extra wind and rain storms throughout Spring and Summer can leave just as hefty a toll on your roof, whether that be through hail storms, high wind events, debris being blown onto the roof and impacting it or plain ole’ moisture damage from an undetected break in the sealing.

At the end of the day, you’ll save money by booking a roof replacement when you’ve detected problems before they become failures. While the roofing contractors like us certainly are happy to charge for the emergency rush replacements and repairs (which often involve quite a bit of re-scheduling and priority material ordering), it’s really in your best interest to be able to have it scheduled appropriately so you don’t have to pay emergency expenses.

Reason #2: Fall has the best overall weather conditions for re roofing

The absolute best day to install a new roof is when it’s clear outside and the temperature is somewhere between 45 and 70 degrees. This is especially true for asphalt shingle installation because asphalt shingle’s have seal strips that will melt by themselves properly and create a strong seal when the temperature is in that range (known as thermal sealing). Plus, crews will be in a better mood because they aren’t at risk of heat stroke and you’ll be avoiding the proper sealing issues that can come with winter. In the winter extra steps have to be taken to properly ensure that there’s no issues with sealing due to the colder temperatures.

Reason #3: Any existing roof leaks or other problems only get worse in the winter

Minor problems have a way of becoming catastrophic during the winter time because the weight of heavy snows adds up. This causes any existing holes or leaks to simply get bigger and as a result, get worse. You’re then opened up to the danger of ice dams and end up with a disaster waiting to happen, putting you squarely back in the expensive “emergency roof repair” bracket.

Ice dams are easily the most common problem in roofing during the winter, and they’re caused by accumulating snow on a slanted roof. These usually happen when the insulation in the attic isn’t proper for the home. Essentially what happens is the warmth from the house comes up through and melts the snow on the roof.

However, because there’s usually more snow on top of the melted snow, what happens is the slushy stuff isn’t warm enough to melt all of the snow, so it simply flows down the roof, underneath the snow blanketing your roof.

Then, the melted snow enters into your eaves and gutters, the water freezes again and turns into ice all along the gutters. So if you see a ton of pretty icicles forming around the perimeter of your roof during the winter, that’s caused by ice dams. This means that the rest of the snow on the house can’t drain properly and ends up causing you leaks.

Summary: ice dams are bad. You don’t want them. You especially don’t want them when you have a known problem, such as a leak, on your roof.

Reason #4: Shingles get brittle in the winter

The colder it gets outside, the more brittle shingles are and the harder they are to work with and install properly. As we all know, living around Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga, it gets pretty darn cold in the winter.

Most shingle manufacturers (like GAF, Owens Corning and IKO) are going to recommend that their shingles be installed in at least 26 degrees Fahrenheit because it’s much easier to break a cold and brittle shingle while it’s being installed and fastened onto the roof.

So what that means, is that rather than being able to rely on a faster-paced nail gun to securely fasten the shingles, they’re likely going to have to be hand nailed. Hand nailing makes the roofing process slower, more complicated and more expensive for you in labor cost.

If you’re wondering: “but winter is the slow season for roofers, doesn’t that mean I’ll get a cheaper price?” Not necessarily, while winter is always slow for any roofing company, oftentimes other projects take the place of roofing, such as more exterior siding projects or even insulation work. This is also a time when a lot of commercial work ends up being processed for completion. Plus, the more brittle temperatures are often going to come with an increase in labor cost or a trickiness in the scheduling because of pre-booked work (making it harder to schedule if it’s an emergency).

Reason #5: Re roofing in autumn means better insulation in the winter

A newly installed roof in the fall means that you’re prepared for the increased heating bills that come with winter. With the roof operating at peak effectiveness, you won’t have to worry about any of the before mentioned problems of winter, or major heat loss from holes in your roof and insulation.

That means you can start getting your money back on your roof right away.

Which roofing material is best? The top 5 long-lasting roof materials

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When it comes to the topic of roofing, no one looks forward to a five figure plus build. As a result, longevity plays a crucial role for most of the homeowners we do business with when it comes to renewing or re roofing their home.

It’s only natural to want to get the longest value for the money invested today, so we’ve laid out the top 5 roofing materials to get the absolute longest life span to help you make your decision.

Number 5: The Classic Composite Shingle Roof

Gorgeous GAF “Patriot Red” Shingles Installed by Infinite Roofing in Saratoga

Average Life: 15 to 25 years, depending on install and shingle quality.

There’s always a race between cost and longevity. Shingles are relatively cheap to manufacture and are quick to install and as a result have a great balance between how long they’re going to last and how much they cost.

As a result of this mix, shingle roofs are easily the most popular type of install you’re going to see across America. But this also means that if you’re looking to get the maximum life span out of shingles, you’ve got to invest a little extra into a more premium brand such as GAF, Owens Corning or Certainteed, who will usually back up their materials with up to a 50 year warranty.

Cheaply manufactured shingles on the other hand, could fail within as little as 10 to 15 years, and improperly installed ones can fail within 5 years.

You can increase the longevity of your shingle roof by investing in at least a medium grade shingle and by avoiding acts like power washing your roof (something that happens commonly when people are trying to remove moss), while also making sure to regularly inspect and perform basic maintenance on your roof.

You can check out more detailed information about asphalt shingles here.

Number 4: Wood Shake Shingles

Lasts anywhere between 35 and 40 years.

Beautiful Wood Shake Shingles

Compared to asphalt shingles at number 5, Wood Shakes last significantly longer on average because they are much thicker than the average asphalt shingle. The thicker the shakes the longer it will last and the more it will resist damage from the sun from harmful UV rays (which degrade materials steadily over time and are the leading cause behind materials degrading).

However, one drawback is you can’t really sit there and forget about your shake roof. It will require more maintenance and it has a tendency to like to be babied. You’ll have to regularly remove any debris that accumulates between shingles and eliminate moss as soon as it appears, plus replace any that happen to split immediately.

Number 3: Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Partial Metal Roof installed by Infinite Roofing Crews to add extra flair to the home’s exterior.

Average life: 40 to 50 years

Standing seam metal roofs have gained a lot of popularity because of their strength of build, long-lasting life, different look appeal (increasing home values) and the fact that many of them can be produced sustainably and are highly recyclable after the roof has worn out in half a century (versus taking up more space in the dump with a high degrade time like asphalt).

However, metal roofs come with a specialty kind of install and not all roofing companies are able to properly install standing seams, so you’re going to have to pay extra attention to your vetting process of your contractors and make sure they have proper credentials and a good history of installation.

Once a metal roof is in place, it doesn’t require as much maintenance as other options, though it will benefit from you walking on the roof somewhat regularly to check for any sealant failures and checking for any bent or damaged panels. Just make sure you don’t walk on the roof too regularly, because this can cause problems as well.

Number 2: Clay Tile Roofs

Spanish Style Clay Tiles

Average Lifespan: 100 years

Tile roofs have been used for centuries and are iconic to the southwest and there are many historic spanish tile roofs that have been standing for over 100 years that are still in good shape.

However, stylistically Spanish clay tiles often don’t fit much with the North eastern aesthetic (although there are shingle style options available), being more heavy on the wood, metal and steel architectural styles. Clay tiles are best suited for homes that are designed to be Mediterranean, Mission, Spanish-style or Southwestern style. Plus, they are a very heavy install – weighing much more than metal or shingles, this often means that you’ll have to invest a few extra bucks to reinforce the frame (add additional framing) of your home.

Shingle Style Clay Roof Tiles More Suitable to the Northeast.

The one real drawback behind tile roofs is that they can crack, which is what usually spells the end for the longevity (at least for the affected tiles). So you’ll have to keep on top of replacing cracked and broken tiles, and you won’t want to spend much time walking on them.

Number 1: Slate Roofs

Gorgeous Slate Roof

Topping the list is the iconic slate roof, especially if we’re talking about homes around the Capital Region. They fit the aesthetic of the area, are extremely well suited to Colonial, European and French Chateau designed homes and they have an extremely beautiful, distinctive appearance.

But the real kicker is you get all of that on top of the biggest benefit:

Average Lifespan is over 100 years!

Slate is so incredibly durable that it makes it seem like every other roofing material is like having a tarp over your head. There are still slate roofs working properly and in good condition from the 1600s!

That truly makes slate the only true “forever roof.” that currently exists.

One of the reasons why it’s so durable is that Slate roofs are actual real stones that are laid down very thickly on top of the roof.

However, just like with slate you will have to invest in extra framing to make sure that your home can support the tiles properly and not buckle underneath the added weight, which is especially important considering the extra weight that regular snow storms add to a given roof any given year around Albany and Saratoga.

The biggest disadvantage to a slate roof isn’t necessarily the materials itself, but rather the cost. It can easily be $600 a square in material cost, so a lot of the time it’s not well suited to a strict budget.

Follow this link to our main site to explore more Albany roofing options.