Home is where your heart is. It’s where our loved ones, treasured memories, and most valued possessions go to be sheltered and find comfort, not just a place to lay our heads at night. When it comes to protecting your home, the support structure is important, weatherproofing matters, and even the windows you choose can have a big impact. Even more important than most of your home’s construction is a feature often overlooked or disregarded: your roof. Where a solid foundation and weatherproofing measures help protect your home from damage underneath, your roof does the same from the top down. But did you realize that your roof does more than simply prevent rain or leaves from landing on you in your sleep?
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Your roof does so much more than simply cap off your home and add that extra layer of curb appeal. The primary goal, as you probably imagine, is to offer protection against the ravages of wind and rain so you and your family can sleep soundly knowing you’re not going to get a surprise soaking or have a branch from your old oak conk you on the head. But your roof does more than protect against those obvious attackers; it also provides protection against smaller issues that your home could otherwise face. A well-built roof will help keep your home insulated, so it stays cool during the summer and warm in the winter without a huge cost in utilities. It also serves as one of the primary levels of defence to help your home last. Without a good roof, the internal structure of your home would wear away at a much faster rate—to the point that you’d be repairing walls and floors constantly, or very nearly that often. Your roof helps stop prevent damage to your home’s interior structure, which in turn means your home as a whole will last longer, assuming you keep your roof in good repair.
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Think back to those science classes as a kid, and what you learned about the effects water and wind can have on just about anything in nature. A slowly trickling stream can eventually carve away silt, sand, and even dense rock to form a riverbed that will, over time, grow to a canyon. Add in wind, and that process speeds along even more quickly. Now, imagine what would happen to your home if water could seep into your walls and get under your floors every time it rained. The wood and insulation used to create the walls are a great deal softer and more porous than rock, so without protection, it would all wear away quickly, leaving you with little more than a foundation and some siding.
All of the modern materials used on the exterior of a home—whether we’re talking siding, windows, doors, or roofing materials—are designed specifically to protect your home as much as possible from the gradual wearing that happens just from natural effects. Add in home improvement projects gone wrong, and your kid’s exuberance for practicing for the baseball team and, well, your home needs all the help it can get to stay strong and protected. The multiple layers of your roof are designed to provide a watertight barrier so moisture and pests cannot find their way into your home’s internal structure. In fact, even the way your roof is shaped and put together is done in such a way that it prevents as much as possible from getting in.
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There are a few things to consider specifically when it comes to protecting your Charleston home from the climate and weather we experience here. The local climate should always be taken into account when choosing roofing materials, so you know your home is protected against what it should be. And, let’s face it, blizzards aren’t exactly a huge concern. Taking climate into account is a way to balance what your home needs for protection as well as a way to save money by cutting out unnecessary costs.
On average, Charleston sees 119 rainy days a year. While we don’t see a ton in the way of freezing temperatures, that’s nearly a third of the year that will be wet—and as we mentioned above, that moisture can rapidly have a negative effect on your home if it isn’t properly protected. Of course, anyone who has lived in the area for more than a year or two understands that rain isn’t the only problem. Your roof should not only be able to withstand the wet, but also the wind. While no roofing company can guarantee a hurricane-proof roof, there are methods to help your roof better withstand the high winds, rain, and batterings from high-powered storms.
Sadly, it’s not just those high-speed winds that cause major issues. South Carolina rates as one of the states that sees the most hail storms each year. We know, it’s not something we really want to be known for. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that it happens, so whether you’re choosing materials for a new roof or you’re replacing your aging one, be sure it’s prepared for all the hail! At Kramer Construction, we have been helping Charleston residents with their roofing needs for more than twenty years, so we know how to focus in on those local weather concerns that are most likely to impact your home.
Unless you’re finally building your dream home, and you’re paying attention to every tiny detail, odds are good you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your roof. As long as your roof was well built, that isn’t necessarily a problem. After all, your roof was theoretically built to last for years, if not decades, depending on the materials used. However, if it’s been a few years since you last took a close look at your roof, it’s probably time for a roofing inspection at the very least. Of course, not all roof repair needs make themselves known as obviously as a gaping hole from a fallen tree branch. These are a few of the most common signs your roof needs some attention:
With any roofing issues, we know you can get up on the roof yourself and take a closer look. However, we strongly recommend you call the professionals. There is a greater potential for damage and personal injury on a damaged roof, so leave the inspections to the professionals. The team at Kramer Construction offers a free roofing inspection and estimate for homes in and around Charleston, so contact us today if you want to learn more about what’s happening with your roof before you commit to repairs or replacement.
One of the questions we get asked most often is, “Do we need a full roof replacement, or can you just repair that spot?” As experienced roofing professionals, the Kramer Construction team understands that the hassle of fully replacing a roof is more than just financial; it can create a pretty big disruption in your day-to-day routine while we do our work. If you can avoid all that hassle and disruption, we are more than happy to help you do so. Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick and easy metric for when a roof needs to be repaired versus replaced entirely, which is why we offer a free roof inspection and estimate. We want you to fully understand what is happening with your roof and why we suggest what we do.
When we come to inspect your roof, there are a plethora of different elements we’ll look for before making our suggestions. These include:
The difference between a repair job and replacement could come down to any one of these factors, or a combination of them. For example, if you have a patch with missing shingles on an otherwise new roof, we will likely just need to replace the shingles there and ensure the area is still water tight. However, if you have an asphalt shingle roof that’s over twenty years old, and you have a patch of missing shingles, this could be a sign that your roof has reached the end of its life span, and you may need to replace all of your shingles and exterior protective layer in order to ensure no damage happens to the support and underlayment. Or, if you noticed a patch of discolored paint that grows every time it rains, it could be a sign of a leak somewhere in your roof, or it could be an issue with your pipes. Whether you have a big dip in your roof or just a few missing shingles, the best way to know for sure is to have a roofing professional come out to your home and take a look. After our free inspection, we will walk you through any issues we find and suggest the best course of action based on your roof’s needs.
Let’s talk about the importance of layering. Your roof is not made up of just support beams and shingles—at least, we sincerely hope it isn’t! There are several layers to every roof, each of which is designed to offer support and protection with as little weight as possible. Each layer serves a distinct purpose, and all those layers should add up to a solid roof that helps protect against everything from a blustery storm to the smallest of seasonal allergens. Every layer plays an important role in combating moisture, winds, hail, and other natural effects that can damage your home.
The base structure of your roof is pretty much always going to be a wooden structure, just like the interior structure of your walls. From there, the outside of that wooden support structure is generally covered in wooden decking—again, material pretty susceptible to damage from water and ice, so it makes for a great support, but it definitely needs thorough protection from the elements. That protection starts with a drip edge, the aluminum edging that both helps attach decking to the support structure and also serves as step one to ward away water. On top of the decking, a layer of underlayment will be laid to help protect against moisture damage. Depending on your roof’s structure, especially in moisture-rich areas like Charleston, you may also have an ice and water protective barrier along the edges, just in case your gutters overflow; that water barrier prevents water from seeping upward and getting under the shingles. In addition, flashing is usually installed around the eaves and any places where something sticks up through your roof (like a chimney or ventilation), as an extra layer of protection around those particularly vulnerable seams. Finally, your chosen shingles or other roof covering goes on top, along with ridge and valley coverings. The idea, ultimately, is that a properly installed roof will not have any place that moisture or pests can get in, protecting the longevity of your roof. This is also why, if you see damage to your roof, it’s important to get it repaired as quickly as possible, before the under layers are weakened or ruined.
In terms of actually choosing which roofing materials to use, most homeowners don’t worry as much about the underlayment because none of it will be seen. The idea generally is, as long as it works, that’s the best option—and an experienced roofing company will know which options are best suited for your local climate. However, choosing that topmost layer of your roof brings in a few more questions, because curb appeal can be just as weighty of a characteristic as the durability and cost. When it comes to choosing that outer layer, the biggest questions that come up are durability, cost to repair or replace, and overall cost. The number of different roofing materials is a pretty extensive list that includes everything from the standard asphalt shingles you see most frequently to less-common options like wood shake shingles or slate tiles. At Kramer Construction, we work primarily with the following roof options: metal roofing, standard shingles, asphalt roofing, and CertainTeed Lifetime Shingles.
Here in the low country, hurricanes and hail alike sweep through and wreck roofs regularly. While we are happy to work with you and find the best roofing materials based on your budget and preferences, the options listed above are our preference for roofing jobs because they offer a balance between durability, cost, and ease at which a section can be replaced, rather than the entire roof. Click on each of the options below to learn more about the benefits of the different roofing materials we offer.
Hail can definitely be a hassle, and hurricanes are no laughing matter. With as frequently as we see damage to roofs in the Charleston area, one of the reminders we always like to give is to check up on your homeowners insurance policy. If your roof needs repairs or replacement because a hail storm recently swept through and took out half of your shingles, the good news is, you might not be on the hook for the cost of repairs. After all, it’s those scenarios that we cannot plan for or protect against that are why we invest in homeowners insurance—well, that and because it’s generally required by mortgage companies.
Often, the biggest issue homeowners have when making a claim for their roof, is proving the condition it was in before the damage happened. Generally, insurance companies will pay for the cost of roofing repairs or replacement, less your deductible. However, the caveat here is that most policies are written in such a way that they won’t cover the full cost of a brand new roof if your roof was twenty years old. Most policies cover a depreciated cost of your roof, so the older your roof is, the less they will pay, no matter the cause of the damage. Of course, if you can prove that your roof was in great repair before the damage was done, your insurance company is likely to cover a higher portion of the costs. In order to really get the most from your insurance coverage when you need it, and to prevent damage from growing before you notice it, we suggest routine roofing inspections. Keep the documentation with your other household paperwork so that, when damage does happen—and around here, it’s more a question of when, not if—you can easily show your insurance company that you’ve been diligent about keeping your roof in good repair.
The best way to protect your home without a major hit to your bank account is to invest in preventative measures, rather than waiting for damage to pop up or grow worse. Whether you’re looking to double check that everything is still in great working order or you think there’s a problem with your roof, let the roofing experts figure out what’s going on. One of our team will come out and do a thorough inspection. If nothing is wrong, we can provide documentation you can hold onto for insurance purposes. If we do find damage, our team can provide an estimate for the costs to repair or re-roof your home, depending on what the best course of action is for your situation.
At Kramer Construction, we serve Charleston and the surrounding areas. Fill out the form below to request an inspection and make sure your roof is in good repair. Or, if you have more questions, feel free to give us a call! Our team is happy to help you out and provide you with a high-quality roof with expert installation, for protection that lasts.
You work hard to put a roof over your family’s head. Here at Kramer Construction, our number one job and goal for each roof we work on is to make sure it’s a great one.
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Kramer Construction, is a fully licensed, bonded and insured construction company. Call us for your next home project.
