Shingles and other kinds of roofing

Shingle repair, tile repair and shake repair

As recently as 2014, asphalt shingles accounted for the biggest share of roofing demand. Shingle repair is fairly easy to replace, but they are easily damaged or knocked loose. Check regularly for blistering, buckling or curling. When you check your roof gutters, look for shingle granules.

What usually causes a leak in a tile roof isn’t the tiles themselves, but the felt underneath them. That felt becomes brittle with age, and may begin to crack. If the tile itself is cracked or broken, of course, it will need to be replaced. In either case, tile repair should be done by professional roofing contractors, especially if this is a historic roof and you want to preserve its appearance as much as possible.

Shakes made of cedar and redwood are fairly rot-resistant when laid down on lathing strips. If set on felt, the same waterproof quality that makes felt so good at keeping water out of your attic also lets moisture build up under the shakes, leading to mildew, fungi and in some cases actual moss growing on your roof. To prevent this, have your roof cleaned regularly. Your roofer can tell you when to have it done.

Shingle and tile repair by Charlotte’s best roofing company

If you need someone to repair your roof, Charlotte and Concord, NC’s best roofing company is Advanced Roofing and Exteriors. This family-owned company is also an Owens Corning preferred contractor and a member of the Home Builders Association of Charlotte. Their experts can repair your roof and tell you how to keep it in repair. They will bring the new materials themselves. Call today for a free estimate.

Answering your metal roofing questions

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Metal roofing Q&A

What effect will a metal roof have on heating and air conditioning?

In the summer, it should lower your AC bills by reflecting heat more than most forms of roofing. In the winter, it won’t make any real difference if your roof is insulated properly.

Is a metal roof more likely to be hit by lightning?

Metal roofing conducts electricity, but isn’t attracted to it, so a metal roof is no more likely to be hit by lightning than any other roof. If it does get hit, the lightning will either be dispersed safely or conducted into the ground by way of the lightning rod. Either way, you don’t have to worry about it.

How much noise does a metal roof make during bad weather?

Many people worry that a metal roof might be noisy. Not everyone likes the sound of rain on an old tin roof, especially if they’re trying to watch the news. Fortunately, metal roofing set flush against a wooden deck makes very little noise — especially with proper installation, a layer of insulation and the right texture.

Get metal roofing from Charlotte’s best contractors

The exact price of the roof depends on the metal and type of roofing. Advanced Roofing and Exteriors are Charlotte’s best roofing contractors, and they offer a 30 to 50 year warranty on their metal roofs. They have won the Angies List Super Service Award twice. If you are interested in a metal roof for a building in Charlotte or Concord, NC, call today.

Local roofers are the best

Think locally, shop also locally

You should choose a local roofer to work for you. They live or die by their reputation in the community. They approach every job knowing that it will either improve their company’s prospects for survival and growth, or endanger it. They drive past any number of previous jobs on the way to every new one. This is even more true of family-owned companies.

The people doing the work may be people you know personally. If you have a problem, you stand a good chance of being able to take it directly to the owners, instead of being shunted aside to deal with somebody whose job it is to make sure nobody important is ever disturbed by upset customers.

Of course, you want to pick the right local roofer. Look for a company that’s been in business ten years or more. Since reputation is so important to a local roofer, ask about the reputation of any roofer you are thinking of doing business with. Look for testimonials on their previous work. Check their rating with the Better Business Bureau. Go online and check their licenses and certification, and make sure they have enough liability and workman’s comp insurance. Look for a roofing company that offers free estimates, and avoid those that ask you to hand over a large down payment.

Charlotte and Concord, NC’s best roofer

Advanced Roofing and Exteriors are the best roofer in Charlotte and Concord, NC. They’ve been in business over twenty years by creating positive experiences for roofing customers in the area, and have won the Angie’s List Super Service Award twice. Call today for a free estimate.

Finding a good residential roofing company in Charlotte

Choosing a residential roofing company

Late spring is a good time of year for work on the roof of your Charlotte home. Warm weather helps the self-sealing strips self-seal. Don’t wait for a storm to have your roof inspected. After a storm, the legitimate contractors are busy and the storm chasers are on the prowl. Be proactive in seeking out a residential roofing company with a good reputation to inspect your roof, and repair or replace it if needed.

When looking for a residential roofing company, ask other people you know if they’ve had roofers work on their houses, and which ones they would recommend. Make sure you find a residential roofing company with general liability, good workers compensation, commercial vehicle and professional roofing insurance. The most important rule is never to pay for a roofing job up front.

One way to learn the reputation of a residential roofing company is to ask about their business license and liability listing, and their reputation among other contractors. You should also check their BBB listing and see if they’re members of any professional organizations. Ask to see the last few jobs the roofing company did, and talk to the customers if you can.

The best residential roofing company in Charlotte and Concord, NC

Advanced Roofing and Exteriors, a family-owned company, is the top residential roofing company in Charlotte and Concord, NC. They’ve been in business since 2010 and have won the Angie’s List Super Service Award twice. Call today for a free estimate.

To reroof or to replace

When your roof begins to crumble

If you have an asphalt shingle room, and you’ve checked your roof gutters and found gritty whitish stuff at the bottom, those are granules from your asphalt shingles that have slowly eroded off. The granules reflect sunlight, and as a shingle loses them it becomes darker and more likely to curl in the sun. A few shingles damaged by heat, wind or rain can be replaced, but if the damage is spread over much of the roof it is probably a better idea to have the entire roof replaced.

If the roof is to be replaced, first the old shingles are removed, along with their nails. This ensures that the new roof can be laid on a completely flat surface. A good roof installer will do this without leaving any mess lying around. Before nailing in the new shingles, the roofers will lay a water shield over the deck to keep rain from getting in through the nail holes. All this should take one to three days.

Charlotte’s top roof installer

Advanced Roofing and Exteriors are the best roof installers in Charlotte and Concord, NC. They have won the Angie’s List Super Service Award twice. This family-owned company is also an Owens Corning preferred contractor and a member of the Home Builders Association of Charlotte. They will plan their schedule to fit your own, and provide the materials themselves. Whether you need a new roof or need to repair an old one, call today for a free estimate.

Roofing contractors to avoid

Frauds and mediocrities

Finding a good roofing contractor is very important. To avoid the true frauds, look for a company that has been in business for ten years or more. Less than one tenth of one percent of contractors are able to stay in business for this long, and dishonest ones are the first to go. They usually come back later, so if you do decide to go to a new business, carefully check the background of the owner. Don’t hire “storm chasers” who show up at your front door right after your roof has suffered damage from the weather. Above all, never do business with a roofing contractor who only accepts cash or demands all or most of the payment up front.

To find a contractor who will do a better than mediocre job, try a local, family-owned company — they depend on their reputation. Ask your neighbors, friends and family in the area for recommendations. Get bids from six or seven roofing contractors, and ask for details on the work, materials, cost and terms of payment. If in doubt, go with one of the bids in the middle. Check every contractor for licenses, permits and insurance.

Charlotte’s best roofing contractor

Advanced Roofing and Exteriors are the best roofing contractor in Charlotte and Concord, NC. This family-owned company is also a member of the Home Builders Association of Charlotte and an Owens Corning preferred contractor. They will plan their work schedule to suit your needs, and provide all the roofing materials themselves. Call today for a free estimate.

Shingles, shakes and tiles, oh my

Shingles and shakes

If you’re building or renovating a home in Charlotte or Concord, NC, you may be trying to decide what you want your roof to be made of. Asphalt shingles are lightweight, inexpensive and easy to repair. When they wear out, they can be recycled into building material. They’re also easy to replace — which is good, because a lot of things can damage them. When you check your gutters, look for loose granules at the bottom — they’re a sign your shingles are wearing out.

Wood takes the form of either shingles or shakes, which have a more natural, rough-hewn look. Given time, it weathers to a shade of gray. It lasts 30 to 40 years, although shakes last longer than shingles. Whatever form it’s in, wood has to “breathe” — that is, it needs air circulating around and behind it, and also needs to be washed and oiled occasionally. If this is done, wood will resist rot and insects surprisingly well. Unfortunately, it can sometims catch fire.

Slate and tile last even longer and are highly water-resistant and fireproof, but are more expensive than asphalt or wood. In addition, they are a lot heavier than asphalt or wood, so you’ll need strong beams to support them.

Shingle repair by Charlotte’s best roofing company

If you need someone to repair your shingle roof, Charlotte and Concord, NC’s bestroofing company is Advanced Roofing and Exteriors. They have won the Angie’s List Super Service Award twice. Call today for a free estimate.

You might need a little residential roofing repair

Checking your roof

If you haven’t examined your roof in a while, you probably should. You’ll need to climb a ladder to the roof.

Check the overall shape of the roof. Look at the framing structure on the attic side and check the outside for signs of sagging. While you’re doing this, look at the roof valleys and make sure there isn’t any debris blocking them. Look over the shingles and see if any of them are cracked, warped or losing granules. If anything looks wrong, call a residential roofing company to fix it.

Check the roof gutters for clogs and leaks. Small leaks in the seams can be fixed with a caulking gun. Look at the metal flashing around the chimneys, skylights, pipes and vents. if it looks damaged or insufficient, call a professional. If you do need a residential roofing company, ask around about a good company that has does roofing work in your area for a long time. Check the BBB rating of any company you’re considering hiring.

The best residential roofing company in Charlotte and Concord, NC

If you need repairs done, Advanced Roofing and Exteriors, a family-owned company, is the top residential roofing company in Charlotte and Concord, NC. They have won the Angie’s List Super Service Award more than once. They can deal with all aspects of building, maintenance and repair. They will plan their work schedule to suit your needs and provide all the materials themselves. Whether you need a new roof or need to repair an old one, call today for a free estimate.

Best SEO in Charlotte and Beyond

Best SEO in Charlotte or a scam?

Does a company offer the “BEST SEO IN CHAROTTE” or is it a scam?  There are so many people offering SEO, website design, social media marketing and online marketing on the internet today- who do you trust? Which ones are just novices- fresh out of class- just wanting your money? It’s rare that I get really upset about something, but there are so many deceitful people in the SEO and online marketing industry- sometimes I just need to vent …and, it’s important to teach you how to protect yourself from these people! If you’d like a copy of my ebook on Internet Scams- click here. The most recent scam I have experienced is a man, out of England, who teaches an online class. He tells his students to list themselves as “experts” near the end of class, encourages the students to all leave fake references for each other on LinkedIn (which they copy onto their websites!)

This particular student:

• Backdated the founding of their business, by using an old business name- now claiming, on day ONE, six years of experience

o    The funny part, with this is that she said she founded her business 3 years before the teacher founded his business (that taught her the class!)

• Posted the fake references from fellow students on her website.

o    How to check this- just go to their LinkedIn profile and click on the reference- you will actually be able to make a list of students that just finished this man’s course

• Used the words “Best SEO in Charlotte” in her keywords, and “SEO Expert”

This sort of business, based on false promised, lies and deceitfulness will never be successful long-term; lying is never an option to begin a legitimate business….Simply unbelievable.

What to look for in a legitimate company:

• Years of experience
• No contracts! You use their services as long as you are satisfied.
• References. (Genuine, real references from clients who have received services from that company.)
• Exclusivity. Companies that offer their services to everyone in your market will never help you get ahead.

Not many of you know that I became interested in the online marketing business because I had several people ask me for help. They saw the work I had done on my own website, The Blended and Step Family Resource Center, and my years of work online, and they wanted help with their websites, social media and wanted to grow their businesses and practices. I was a best selling author, social media guru, and highly respected counselor- but would never have considered myself an SEO expert or would have the audacity to put “Best SEO in Charlotte” on my website. I helped two medical practices for free- then realized that I could found a business based on my social media, online marketing, and SEO skills- BUT, I knew I needed to offer the very best for my clients. I went back and took more classes, was mentored for months, THEN- I offered my services AT NO CHARGE to a medical practice. (Actually, I bartered with them for Lasik Eye Surgery for 3 months of online marketing.) I received fantastic care and 20/20 vision due to the expertise of Dr. Ivan Mac, and Metrolina Eye Associates received 3 months of my best online marketing skills. Here is the result: “We have been very satisfied with SCD Consulting Services online marketing services. We have seen impressive results and we are reaching our goals for the search engine rankings for our keywords. Her services more than pay for themselves.”  Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity Ivan Mac MD and CEO, Metrolina Eye Associates When you do an excellent job- and produce results- you don’t have to lie or deceive. Trust your online marketing, SEO, social media, reputation management and more to a company you can trust!  It doesn’t have to be my company, heaven knows there are enough large and small companies all over Charlotte and the United States. Some provide great services, and some, like the one listed above- just jumped into the industry as “Experts” – and want to cheat their way to your business. I challenge those companies to work your way to a legitimate business- it may mean giving some business way, or bartering- but prove your skills legitimately- don’t dirty my field of expertise with your lies. There are so many good companies out there that are legitimate.  

What you want from a roofer

Choosing a roofer

If you’re building a new home or business in Charlotte or Concord, NC, or renovating an old home or location, you need a good roofer. You’ll want them to offer free estimates and do the job on time, within the estimate and with a minimum of mess. Try to find a local roofer, since they rely on their reputation in their business area. A family-owned and family-run business will take pride in the quality of its work and strive to maintain its reputation. Another advantage of a small, local business is that if you do have a complaint, you should be able to take it directly to someone who can address it.

The roofer should handle all aspects of roof installation and repair, including chimney caps and gutters. They should be equally good at working with tile, shingles or metal. Above all, look for a roofer that has been in business for a long time. Less than one tenth of one percent of contractors last ten years or more. If you find one more than ten years old, you know three things — this company must have provided good service to stay in business so long, they have lots of experience, and if you need more work done later, they’ll still be around to do it.

Charlotte’s best roofer

Advanced Roofing and Exteriors are the best roofer in Charlotte and Concord, NC. They have been in business for over twenty years and have won the Angies List Super Service Award twice. Call today for a free estimate.

How to help your metal roofing last

Steps you can take for your metal roof

The advantage of metal roofing is that you might never need to worry about your roof again. A metal roof lasts as long as you are likely to live, never mind how long you’re likely to own your current home. Someone who lives in a Charlotte or Concord, NC home for a long time might replace an asphalt roof two, three or even four times, but not a metal roof.

There are, however, steps you can take for more surety:

• Some metals are bad for each other. Don’t let copper come into contact with aluminum or galvanized steel, for instance. Your roofer can give you more information. It’s best to make sure the screws holding the roofing in place are made of the same metal as the roofing itself.

• Clean your gutters regularly. Don’t let them become clogged — water pooling on metal roofing is no good for it.

• If possible, don’t walk on your roof. You may leave unsightly scuff marks, or even dent it.

Get metal roofing from Charlotte’s best contractors

Advanced Roofing and Exteriors are Charlotte’s top roofing contractors, and they offer a 30 to 50 year warranty on their metal roofs. This family-owned company is also an Owens Corning preferred contractor and a member of the Home Builders Association of Charlotte. These licensed general contractors will give you a free estimate, plan their timeline for work to suit your schedule and provide the materials themselves. If you are interested in a metal roof for a building in Charlotte or Concord, NC, call today.