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Do you really need 3 estimates for a roofing job?

May 29, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

You’ll need to get as much information and knowledge about the process when looking to replace your roof. You need to weigh your options for roofing materials, their cost, and learn as much as you can about the local roofing companies that will be doing the work. In particular, your goal should be to find the best work for the best value.

Conventional wisdom, and also your insurance companies state and push that you should get three estimates from your local roofing companies and choose the median. Why? Supposedly, a drastically lower estimate may indicate cost-cutting measures that could result in shoddy workmanship, while the highest estimate could wind up costing you a pretty penny for average durability.

Meanwhile, if you’re replacing your roof due to an insurance claim, your insurance company may be stressing that you obtain at least three estimates. However, the three-estimate rule is not a hard-and-fast requirement for insurance claims, nor is it a necessity for your own decision-making process

So how many estimates do you really need?

The thought process behind requesting multiple estimates is solid. replacing a roof is a major undertaking that costs you a good deal of money and stands to make a lasting effect on your home’s weatherproofing, durability, and resale value for years to come. Of course, you want as much information as possible so you can feel comfortable proceeding. You also want to make sure the local roofing contractor you choose provides high-quality materials and high-quality installation and the best way to make that determination is to compare them to other local roofing companies that offer the same service.

However, do you really need three estimates? Not really. In this case, the “right” number of estimates depends completely on you. Get as many, or as few estimates as you need in order to feel comfortable with the roofing company you choose and their pricing.

Insurance companies are in no way required to get three estimates. All roofing contractors receive payment following a third-party system designed to set industry standard prices. Your insurance company will pay your area’s best roofers in Albany the exact same amount as it pays the worst roofers in Albany. Gather as many estimates as you feel comfortable with and choose the best company, just as you would if you were footing the bill on your own.

How do you go about choosing the best company? Ask these questions aside from the affordability factor to determine the best roofer in albany for your job.

  • Have they performed work in the area? Ask for references and addresses. There’s no better way to get a feel for a company’s customer service and workmanship than by speaking with former customers.
  • How experienced is the crew? It’s a good sign if your roofing company has been in business for decades and has great reviews. However, make sure to ask about the experience level of the particular crew that will be performing your work; a long-lasting company can easily hire a crop of newbies that may not have any more experience than you do.
  • How can I reach out during the process? Asking this question, in particular, gauges the company’s customer service. Their willingness to answer questions, guide you through the process, and remain available speaks to how smoothly the process will go on install day.
  • Ask about any certifications that the roofing company may have, having certifications backs up the work that is done by the company and it would guarantee that they have the best training necessary to be working on your roof.

There is no number of “right” estimates that you would need to get, go with what you think is suitable for you. Infinite Roofing can provide you with a free estimate for your insurance company with a detailed inspection of your roof. Our certifications, reviews and our highly trained crew will guarantee a happy and easy going roof installation.

Filed Under: Gutters, Hail, insurance, Metal Roofing, Repair, Roof, Roof Replacement, Roof Shingles, Siding, Skylight, Tips, Wind Damage Tagged With: professional roofing, roof leaks, roof maintenance, roof repair, roof replacement, roofing, roofing companies, roofing materials, roofingcontractors

A homeowners guide to protecting the exterior of their house during a roof installation!

May 24, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment


Sometimes during a conversation with the customer, it can be pretty obvious that they care about their garden and landscape. It’s these jobs you’ll know to take extra precautions with, but concerns about landscape don’t always come up in the conversation. Its always wise to maintain a clean job site, as it won’t cause problems post-install, and a clean work site is a safer site for your crew, the homeowners, and any neighbors or visitors.

When homeowners sign a contract with local roofing contractors, usually their main concern is that their roof installation is done properly. Unfortunately, the most common complaints about local roofing contractors is the occasional mess that is left behind after a job, and in some cases, the landscaping around the house can be damaged.



We at Infinite Roofing and Construction follow a “Never There” policy, as professional roofers in Albany we know that in the residential roofing business leaving the work property clean and undamaged is a priority for almost every homeowner, so we don’t take any chances. We always protect the landscaping, and we perform a magnetic sweep of the area after every workday to make sure all nails are picked up.  

We also hang tarp on the eaves of the house to prevent felt paper from blowing back and damaging the siding. The bottoms of the tarp are tied down to a tree or trucks so they are tight and any debris slides away from the house. We will move the grills away to prevent any damage. Our customers appreciate this attention to detail around their home.

We take our  “Never There” policy seriously, and even though with our roofing company you wouldn’t need to worry about your landscaping, extra care is never harmful, and It’s essential for you to protect the exterior of your home from any possible damage due to a roofing job.


Here are some important guidance for protecting your home exterior during roof installation and repair.

Secure any items hanging on the exterior portion of your home. Protect your at-risk items like patio furniture, potted plants, grills, and gardening tools with tarps and/or plywood, prior to starting roofing work.

You should relocate vehicles, falling within your home’s boundary to protect them from damage, and this includes vehicles parked in the driveway. Also, ensure to cover and protect valuables stored in your attic.

Prune back trees that are present close to the roof line, prior to beginning the roof installation process. This allows proper roof access to the local roofing contractors and prevents damage to the fresh roof.



Mow down your grass to the minimum height possible to prevent the nails from getting concealed, after falling into the long grass and ensure to shut your automatic sprinkler systems down, a day or two prior to beginning your installation to minimize any possible damage.

Secure your flowerbeds or landscaping surrounding your home by screening them with tarps or plastic by protecting them from dust and trash. You should also move out any hanging plants during your roof installation.

Damage to your pools, spas, and any nearby expensive equipment from debris and nails can be prevented. Cover the pools using a tarp and the spas with polypropylene to ensure your property’s protection before starting roof job.

Infinite Roofing and construction will make sure that any and all damage is prevented, and that the customer doesn’t worry about the aftermath of a roofing job, but little extra measures will only help and put your mind at an ease.



Filed Under: Gutters, Hail, insurance, Metal Roofing, Repair, Roof, Roof Replacement, Roof Shingles, Siding, Tips Tagged With: exterior, professional roofing, roof, roof maintenance, roof replacement, roofing companies, roofing contractors

5 Most Amazing Roofs in the World!

May 17, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment



While most roofs your see constructed and completed by your local roofing companies may not strike the eye that much. They may seem just like any other roof in your town, something you see every day. These typical roofs are constructed to weather the elements and help regulate temperatures. There are times when you get to travel the world or even just in your home country and you get a chance to see the amazing architecture around, and some of those buildings have the more interesting designs that contain unique architectural features hyper-functionality or fantastic panoramic views, qualifying them as tourist attractions. When it comes to roofs with a high degree of visual appeal, here are some of the most amazing roofs in the world.

Cube Houses

Cube houses are a set of innovative houses built in Rotterdam and Helmond in the Netherlands. They are based on the concept of “living as an urban roof. These cubed roofs are tilted on a  conventional house 45 degrees and are rested upon a hexagon-shaped pylon. His design represents a village within a city, where each house represents a tree, and all the houses together form what may seem like a forest. The central idea of the cube houses around the world is mainly optimizing the space, as a house, to a better distribution of the rooms inside.



Brazilian Leaf House

Just outside of Rio de Janeiro, sits a beautiful little house by the amazing blue water,  with a flowering roof that protects and shades like a tropical banana leaf. The open-air abode designed by Mareines and Patalano is meant to encourage interaction and connection between man and nature. With verandas and open spaces in between rooms and no corridors, the tropical beach house is perfect for parties and social gatherings. The open layout also takes advantage of trade winds that blow in from the sea which provide natural ventilation and passive cooling.



Grand Palace

The king of Thailand has some pretty sweet digs, Located in Bangkok, Thailand this palace grounds span about 2.35 million square feet. These images portray the top of the throne hall (known as Phra Thinang Dusit Maha Prasat). The adornments are extremely complex and beautiful, but each one is chock full of symbolism pertaining to Thai history and Culture.

Sydney Opera House

The curvaceous shapes atop this opera house in Sydney, Australia makes this structure unique throughout the world, East of the “shells” are concrete panels covered by over a million Swedish tiles. 14 years of work and around 102 million Australian dollars were put in creating this majestic and very famous roof.



Marina Bay Sands

Opened in 2010, the SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is truly a roof with a view. This rooftop oasis, complete with tree and flower garden paradise, stands over 650 feet in the air and is constructed from 7,000 tons of steel.



Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: homeowners, professional roofing, roof, roof maintenance, roof replacement, roofing companies, roofing contractors, roofing materials

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

May 14, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

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.








Filed Under: Hail, insurance, Repair, Roof, Roof Replacement, Wind Damage Tagged With: hail damage, insurance claim, repair, roof replacement, wind damage

10 Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Roof

April 4, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment


  • 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!


Filed Under: Roof, Roof Replacement, Tips Tagged With: ice, leak, mold, roof replacement, shingles

Why Fall is a Great Time to Replace Your Roof

October 23, 2018 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Roof, Roof Replacement Tagged With: roof maintenance, roof replacement

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

October 17, 2018 by Infinite Roofing 2 Comments

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

Infinite Roofing and Construction

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.

Filed Under: Roof, Roof Replacement Tagged With: roof replacement, roofing materials

Can Roof replacement be tax deductible?

October 10, 2018 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Infinite Roofing and Construction

While this topic is a little bit clearer when you are operating a property as a business owner (for example roof replacement capital improvements for commercial and investment properties), it’s still a big question for homeowners who are improving the condition of their home.

Roof replacement process - Infinite Roofing
Roofers delivering materials on home re roofing project (Infinite Construction crew)

So can you deduct roof replacement costs on your taxes?

Generally speaking, as with any major home improvement (like replacing your HVAC system or making an addition), roof replacement cannot be deducted in the year that you spent the money on the roof.

However, if you keep track of the expenses, you generally can reduce your taxes when you sell your house.

We are not accountants, so please talk this over with a certified public accountant if you’re looking to use a roof replacement as a deduction. We’re only providing this information as a general guideline based on our experience as roofers. You will also have to ask about any significant changes from the 2018 overhaul of the tax system.

Understand the difference between repairs and capital improvements

We have another article about capital improvements you can read in further detail to determine this, but the brief version is this: the cost of improvements are generally items you can subtract from the sale value of your home (to reduce taxes), but repairs are not.

Improvements are items that improve or better the quality of your home. Repairs maintain the existing value of the house. Sometimes the difference between the two can be tricky and we encourage you to give our other article: “Is Roof Replacement a Capital Improvement?” a read.

Generally improvements qualify as things like: putting an addition on your home, adding new seamless gutters, or adding in storm windows.

However actions like painting a room, fixing the gutters or repairing a small section of the roof qualify as repairs and are not deductible.

How does roof replacement work to reduce my taxes when selling my home?

As of this writing, the first $250,000 of profit on a sale of your primary residence is tax free for individuals (and $500,000 for married filing jointly) so long as you’ve lived in the house for at least two to five years (in other words, it’s not a fix and flip).

Because losses you take on the sale of personal residences are not tax deductible, you’re going to want to make sure you keep a good record of all of the improvements that have been made to the property while you’ve owned it to avoid any unnecessary extra taxation because of an inflated home value or other circumstance.

What if I operate a business out of my home?

In cases where you operate a home office, or operate a business out of your home legitimately, then parts of your expense can be written off as part of the business expense. For example, if the whole house is being re roofed, then the portion covering the home office can be tax deductible in that year.

Additionally, if you rent out part of your home to a tenant, then the part where the expense occurred could also be tax deductible.

Other methods of saving on tax credits while having a roof replaced

An often overlooked part of the tax game for homeowners is tax credits – usually in any given year a portion of your improvements can be written off using government tax credits usually geared towards green or clean energy improvements. Examples of this can include: skylight installation, solar panel installation and even “cool roofs.”

Filed Under: Roof Replacement Tagged With: roof replacement

Is Roof replacement a capital improvement?

October 3, 2018 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Infinite Roofing and Construction

No secret about it: roof replacements are a significant expense to homeowners and property managers. When we’re on an estimate for a new roof one of the most common questions we get is whether or not this investment counts as a capital improvement.

Infinite Roofing | Albany, NY
Top rated Albany roofing contractors – Infinite Roofing

While a homeowner can certainly qualify their new roof replacement as a ‘capital improvement,’ when it comes to the popular buzz phrase on increasing “curb appeal,” it’s a different ball game if we’re talking about how to handle it in your taxes to take the most advantage over the costs paid on the job.

Who does this topic most commonly apply to? Owners of commercial or investment properties primarily. Usually those who are able to write off their property as part of a business expense. If this isn’t you, or if you’re unsure, we advise talking with your accountant to see if this kind of write off can apply to you.

We aren’t accountants, so the below information is meant as a general guideline and talking points to ask your CPA.

Part of understanding when a roof qualifies is understanding the difference between “maintenance” (an expense) and “capital improvement” (a capitalization).

When Roof replacement is a repair expense – know the difference

Typically when only a part of the roof is replaced, the job is going to trend towards a standard repair expense because you aren’t “improving” your asset (your property), you’re maintaining it’s value.

Maintenance costs are normally expenses related to “routine actions” to maintain your property value. Plus maintenance work has a very specific definition: “routine and preventative maintenance that is performed to restore an asset’s physical condition or operation to a specific standard, prevent worsening deterioration, replace or exchange a component at the end of its “useful life.”

Temporary repair or patch work, or inspections for continuing maintenance also fall into this category. You can check out our recommended top tips for roof maintenance here.

What qualifies as a capital expenditure or improvement?

Capital expenditures, improvements and the like are all actions that are designed to increase the value of an asset. Usually this means it has to be boosted beyond the original value. So for example, if you were to replace an entire roof with metal instead of asphalt shingles,  you would be increasing the original value, not performing a necessary step to maintain the original value.

Roof Repair | Infinite Roofing
Partial Roof Repair Service at Infinite Roofing and Construction

It’s important to note that repairs can turn into  capital improvements. For example: let’s say during the course of repairing a roof leak it becomes discovered that the damage is more extensive than can be simply patched and repaired. In that instance, where more than 50% of the roof has to be replaced, the expense becomes an improvement versus maintenance.

The first step is to ask yourself a couple qualifying questions (and to bring these questions and your reasoning for them to your accountant). What you’re doing is applying the “betterment” standard.

How can I correctly classify my roofing project as an improvement or repair?

  1. Why is your roof being replaced?

If a sudden storm came in and damaged the roof and you’re looking to fix the sudden damage, generally this is not making the asset “better” it’s restoring the original value, so this is not going to qualify as a capital improvement if you are going to use the same materials.

You can more obviously “improve” the original value by changing grade of materials (for example going to a metal roof instead of a shingle roof or PVC instead of EPDM on the commercial side), but you can also improve on the original value by enhancing the grade of material beyond the original value. A great example of this would be going from standard grade shingles to GAF architectural shingles.

2.) How long has it been between the purchase of the property and when work was done on the roof?

In many cases, if you have to do significant work on your roof and it’s been within about two years of you buying the property, the work can qualify as betterment because you’re correcting defects or pre-existing conditions. If it’s been a significant amount of time, e.g. 5+ years since you bought the property, then generally “betterment” won’t apply.

3) What was the roof material before?

If you use materials that significantly improve the life span compared to the original roof, then you can generally claim it as betterment. For example, a shift from standard asphalt shingles that last 20 years to slate tiles that last 50+ years is a betterment because you’ve increased the quality of the building.

Expert Metal Roof Installation | Infinite Roofing
Metal Roof Installation – Infinite Roofing and Construction

A subset of this question is: did you use better or “improved” materials because the original material wasn’t available anymore or technology has been enhanced? For example, if you had a BUR roof (built up roof) and replaced it with EPDM, this doesn’t necessarily mean a betterment because it’s not practical to use the BUR style these days. Additionally, if the original roofing material performs worse than the standard set by the industry for the building type, it’s not going to be a betterment.

4) Did you get the roofing job done because the building was expanded (e.g. additions)?

If this is your situation, then yes the part of the roof as part of the addition qualifies as a capitalization, and this may extend to the rest of the roof replacement work depending on the questions above.

Filed Under: Roof Replacement Tagged With: roof replacement

Should you have your attic insulation looked at while contractors work on your roof?

September 21, 2018 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Yes! There is no better time to have your attic insulation looked at than while your roof is being worked on. Especially if you’re installing rigid foam insulation (solid sheets of foam vs. the fluffy fiberglass particles common in most insulation work).

roof replacement and attic insulation
Roof Replacement Paired with Attic Insulation Saves You Up To $1,000 in Labor Costs Alone.

Benefits of improving your attic insulation include:

  • Lower utility bills by reducing heating and cooling costs (70% of home energy bills)
  • Safer and longer lasting home infrastructure (prevents gradual heat and moisture damage)
  • Better indoor air quality (outdoor pollutants usually enter through air leaks in poor insulation)

Plus, one of the biggest expenses of hiring a contractor is the time and labor costs associated with a project.

That means that while you’re having your roof replaced, if you also tackle your attic insulation, you’re going to save upwards of $1,000 on labor costs alone because most of the labor-intensive parts of the work are done at the same time.

But here’s the real question you’re probably asking: is the added cost of having insulation work done worth it?

There’s no way around it: adding on an insulation project to your existing roof replacement or roof repair job is going to make the bill start adding up, and honestly, a lot of the time in our experience when a customer is looking at a roof replacement, it’s out of necessity, not convenience and a lot of the time – it’s an unexpected inconvenience.

Here’s the thing: when we get a call, when any roofing contractor gets a call, usually it’s because a problem has happened with the roof already. Whether that’s an obvious leak, damage from a passing storm, or just plain old age with built up damage that needs attention in the near future.

Simply put: the roofer doesn’t get the call unless there’s a problem.

That problem is almost always related to water damage.

damaged attic insulation

Leaks…moisture build up…mildew… all very common problems we find or hear about when we get the call. Plus if there’s damage on the outside of the roof, and evidence of moisture damage in your attic, you can bet your bottom dollar that your insulation has suffered too.

Mold, especially, is a pain in the $#@ to deal with. Once it gets in, it spreads like wildfire throughout the house and if left unchecked it creates a whole different set of problems to deal with that cost a whole lot more to deal with. Nobody wants the guys in gas masks (to avoid breathing the air you’ve been breathing) coming in to remove mold.

So What’s the Best Thing You Can Do?

Take Action: it’s as easy as asking the roof estimator to also check out the insulation in your attic (just say “hey, while you’re there can you check the insulation for me too?”) and thoroughly inspect for damage inside to assess whether or not you should replace your insulation and whether you should do it right away or if it can wait.

A good estimator will tell you honestly whether or not it’s something that needs immediate fixing or if it’s in your best interest to wait.

But what if I’m told I need my attic insulation replaced, but I decide to wait?

Ultimately, the decision is on you, but here’s generally what’s going to happen:

  • Insulation continues to decline over time – meaning it loses it’s effectiveness.
  • When insulation loses effectiveness, heating & cooling bills go up (averaging $600 more a year!).
  • Vulnerabilities in insulation leads to quick spreading of mold, mildew and other contaminants.

What if an immediate fix is not in my budget?

Any reputable roofing company will have a variety of options to help you with that. The first place you should check is with your homeowners insurance policy (find out more about roof replacement costs here) to see if you have coverage to offset the costs (many times by 100%!). If insurance fails the next best option is to pair the insulation installation and roof replacement costs together in the same personal loan using financing. This means you have one payment, usually with 0% interest offers and terms that fit your budget, without having to put your home up as equity.

The final option is to make a plan to address it in the near future: but know that if it’s really a problem, on average, it’s going to cost an extra $1,000 to do it separately – rather than having the problem solved at the same time your roof is being worked on, and often the work can be completed together in a day or two, meaning your home life has the minimum possible disruption.

If you suspect that you have roof or attic insulation damage and live in the New York Capital Region, feel free to give our office a call at (518) 444-ROOF and we’ll be more than happy to have an expert inspector and estimator give you the best possible advice for your situation.

Alternatively, you can book an appointment directly by clicking here.

Filed Under: Roof, Roof Replacement Tagged With: roof replacement

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