Check Out Our New Video!

We now have our new Diamond Certified video! They did a great job and we are excited to be able to share it with you all! Enjoy!

Hope you have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Sincerely,
Roofmax
www.roofmax.net

Please Spread the Word!

Dear freinds,
Please vote for Roofmax! We’re thrilled to be nominated for the Best Roofing & Gutters! Make us #1 in The Bay Area.

Just follow this link: http://baylist.sfgate.com/roofmax/biz/148731?refer=911875&utm_source=baylist-sfgate-com&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=businesscampaign

Thanks all! We will let you know the results!

Tara Thornock
www.roofmax.net

Late Spring Rain

Dear Roofmax friends,

It is raining…again! Please let us know if you have a leak. We’d be happy to come and give it a professional repair. And, early spring is a great time to get your roof replaced before the business of summer begins! Hope we can help you in any way.

Here is the map from www.weather.com

Sincerely,
Roofmax

www.roofmax.net

A Great Refrence From One of Our Customers

We got this letter from one of our customers today and it was really nice. So I thought I would share it with you.

“To Whom It May Concern:

We recently had a new roof put in our house by Roofmax. They were very prompt in coming out to give a quote and explain to us how the roof would be installed and the warranties that they can offer. They completed our roof in two days and the gutters in a matter of hours. Although we did run into some issues with the contract and some major issues as the roof was being installed, they stood behind their work and fixed everything in the end. We were very happy that a manager took the time to come to our house and address things with us in person and not just on the phone. We love our new roof and gutters. We know and trust that Roofmax will stand behind their work if any problems should arise and I would recommend them to neighbors and friends who are looking to have a new roof installed.

Sincerely,

Cindy & Cole James

May 6, 2010″

Thank you so much for the James family for this wonderful note of our work! To view more testimonials, please visit our website at www.roofmax.net/testimonials.

www.roofmax.net

The Yearly Meeting…Starting off 2010 with a great start!

Roofmax employees held their annual yearly meeting at Marie Callender’s last Friday. It was a great meal! Good pie! But, far more exciting was looking back at 2009′s triumphs, challenges, firsts, and growth. We have set new goals and are determined to continue to bring you the best service possible. We are so grateful for our past customers and are excited to help and work with new people this year. Roofmax is committed to being the best roofing contractor, best at roof repairs, and best solar installer in the industry. New customers, new products, and new technologies, here’s to a great 2010 to you and to Roofmax!

Tara Thornock

www.roofmax.net

More rain ahead…

Dear friends,

It seems like more rain is coming. We have already had about 5 calls with leaking roofs and are expecting many more. It’s roof repair season! So if you’re experiencing something like this…

or this…

you may need a roof repair, or gutter/downspout work. Roof leaks can damage insulation, flooring, foundations, etc. etc. We’d be happy to help. The link to the weather channel online is http://www.weather.com/?from=gn_logo_welcome if you are experiencing a leak and would like to know how much more water to expect.

Wishing you a warm, dry storm,

Tara Thornock

Roofmax

www.roofmax.net

A really funny FAKE photo!

We thought this was hilarious and thought we would share: Merry Christmas everyone! Please don’t fall off your roof! And Merry Christmas to you all from Roofmax!

The original accompanying text is quoted below:

“Well, there is good news and bad news about my Christmas decorations. The good news is that I truly outdid myself this year. The bad news is that I had to take them down after only two days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down. First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by. Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the ladder and almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn’t realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). She was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn’t take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard. I think I made him too real this time. But it was fun while it lasted. Kerry”

Hope this gave you a good laugh. Merry Christmas from Roofmax.

www.roofmax.net

How to Hang Christmas Lights From Gutters

I found this article this morning and thought it might be helpful to everyone who puts Christmas lights on their house. It explains that it is very easy to put up lights by connecting them to your gutters. Enjoy and Happy Holidays from Roofmax!

“Attaching Christmas lights to your home can be quite simple if you use the correct approach. There are quite a few light holders on the market that make it very easy to attach your Christmas lights to gutters, roof shingles, siding and even fences. Most of the Christmas Light Clips are generic and allow you to hang the lights from many different types of materials.

We really like using plastic light holders/clips because they securely hold the lights in place without damaging your home. In the old days folks used to nail, screw and staple lights to the trim of their home. Today, there simply isn’t a need to resort to those methods with all the generic plastic light holders being sold.

Easy Installation

Installing the light holders on gutters and roofs is really easy. The clips either snap over the top of the gutters front edge or you can slip the plastic holder under the edge of the shingles (it’s held in place by friction). There is a secondary clip that holds the string of lights. Most of the light holders will work with all kinds of Christmas lights including C7 and C9, mini, icicle, rope, specialty and LED’s.

Safety

If you’re planning on installing Christmas lights on your home this year we want you to be very careful. Each year there are countless injuries caused by people falling off ladders while hanging Christmas decorations. Be sure you use a ladder rated for the use and be sure to follow proper ladder safety precautions.”

View the article: http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com/hanging-christmas-lights-from-gutters/

www.roofmax.net

Roofing Companies: 4 Roofing Projects to Leave to the Pros

With so many building and home repair companies out there it’s hard to know who does what. Read on to find out what roofing companies do and what they can do for you.

Roofing Companies Install New Roofs

From residential roofing to commercial projects, roofing companies install new roofs. When there is new construction or a remodel, the roofing company will come in and install the entire roof. This can include everything from installing the trusses to framing the roof to laying the tar paper and installing the shingles. Though not many individuals have the need for complete roof installation, roofing companies that have the experience and knowledge to do so may be ones to look at when the time comes to research roofing companies for your own use.

Roofing Companies Repair Roofs

Roof repair is something all roofing companies do. Roof material will sometimes become worn or weathered, including warping, leaking, and missing shingles, and will require repair. Some contractors don’t like to do repairs. Many think that there is often the chance for continued decay or failure in a roof that requires repair in one place. For this reason some roofing companies may recommend replacement over repair. However, many residential roofing customers prefer repair over replacement for reasons of cost and expense. Good roofing companies can evaluate a roof to determine the damage and if repair or replacement is the best strategy.

Roofing Companies Replace Roofs

Roof replacement is the primary job of roofing companies. They spend most of their time replacing roof material on mainly residential roofing. They have many roof material options including a variety of shingles, tiles such as slate or ceramic, and even metal roofing. Because a roof is basically the umbrella that protects a home it is one of the most important parts of a house. Due to natural occurrences, such as hail, wind, and snow, and the debris that can pile up as a result of any of those, roof replacement is a common occurrence. Roofing companies also do roof replacement due to aging and wear and tear on average residential roofs. Damage from nature and age can cause leaks, and leaks can cause extensive interior damage and roof replacement is key to preventing them. Having a good and reliable roofing company evaluate your roof by doing a visual examination can help you decide if roof replacement is necessary in your situation.

Roofing Companies Can Install Solar Panels

Something relatively new to roofing companies is solar panel installation. Due to the recent concern for the environmental impact of conventional heating and energy sources, many people are turning to solar power for their homes. Roofing companies can install solar roof panels to residential roofing projects that can help generate enough energy to power an entire home. Though this type of project used to be done primarily by specialists, many roofing companies are now able to include solar panel installation into a residential roofing project plan.

Winterize Your Home

by Jennifer Berry

No matter if you’re bundled up in Des Moines or hitting the beach in Miami, ensuring your home isn’t wasting your hard-earned cash through inefficiency is a must-do, especially during the winter months.You may not know it, but your home is probably leaking a lot of that climate-controlled air that you’re paying so much to create every month.Before your thoughts of “not my house!” get too loud, chew on this: The average, unweatherized U.S. home leaks air at a rate equivalent to a 4-square-foot hole in the wall, according to the ” Solar Living Sourcebook” by John Schaeffer. And with the residential sector consuming 35 percent of available energy to consumers, reducing our use of this costly resource can result in big savings.So what should you do to prevent wasting your hard-earned cash on leaks? Check out our handy guide to weatherizing your home.

In the U.S., the average, unweatherized home leaks air at a rate that’s equivalent to a 4-square-foot hole in the wall. Photo: Flickr/John Oxton

Simple Tests and Adjustments

Do an Audit: First, assess how much you’re spending each month in heating and cooling. Many electricity providers will provide you with a report that compares your energy usage with similarly sized homes in your area. ENERGY STAR also provides a similar service. Where do you fall? If you’re in the mid to high range, then there’s work to be done!You can also pay to have an energy audit performed on your house by a professional, taking the guesswork out of where you can improve your home’s efficiency.Make sure they conduct a blower door test, which depressurizes a home and can reveal the location of many leaks.  Without a blower door test, there are ways to find some air leaks yourself, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.If you don’t think leaks are a big problem, think twice: In California, the average duct system loses 30 percent of its heating or cooling to leaks. To detect them in your home, look to areas where different materials meet, such as between brick and wood siding, between foundation and walls and between the chimney and siding. Some of the main places in your home that you should check include: 

• Door and window frames
• Mail chutes
• Electrical and gas service entrances
• Cable TV and phone lines
• Outdoor water faucets
• Where dryer vents pass through walls
• Bricks, siding, stucco and foundation
• Air conditioners
• Vents and fans

You can also try these steps to help detect leaks in your home:

1. Shine a flashlight at night over all potential gaps while a partner observes the house from outside. Large cracks will show up as rays of light. However, this is not an accurate way to detect small cracks.
2. Shut a door or window on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out without tearing it, you’re losing energy.
3. Check the attic, walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space, like a garage or basement. The structural elements are usually exposed in these areas, which makes it easy to see what type of insulation you have and to measure its depth or thickness.
4. Inspect exterior walls using an outside electrical outlet. Make sure to turn off the power to the outlet before removing the cover. Then, shine a flashlight into the area, where you should be able to see if there’s insulation in the surrounding walls and, potentially, how thick it is.

If you find air leaks, check out DoItYourself.com’s guide to types of caulking and weatherstripping and where and how they should be applied to the various areas in your home.

Adjusting the thermostat by just two degrees is the equivalent of cutting 2,000 pounds of carbon emissions annually and almost $100 in energy costs. That’s the equivalent of driving a car more than 3,000 miles! Photo: Flickr/cocabong0

Check Your Thermostat: Set your thermostat between 65-68 degrees when you are home, and wear layers if you’re still cool. If you dread the prospect of rising to a freezing house, investing in a programmable thermostat is a great option. Set it to warm up the house just as you wake.If the initial cost of a programmable thermostat (about $115) deters you, keep in mind that it will save you $180 every year you use it. That’s $1,800 over 10 years, making the up-front cost feel like pennies.Other simple steps can include wrapping a water heater with an insulation blanket and replacing heating and cooling filters.

Save Money

Many cities are investigating and testing weatherization programs to help residents save money and increase home values.The Houston Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) provides about $1,000 to weatherize qualifying homes. Studies show that homeowners received dramatically reduced electricity bills after their homes were weatherized. On average, electricity usage was reduced by 12-18 percent each month.These techniques weren’t complicated or advanced, either. Basic measures included weatherstripping, window caulking, attic insulation and energy efficient light bulbs. In fact, during the summer months (when electricity bills are higher), homeowners witnessed reductions of up to 20 percent. So far, the city has weatherized more than 7,000 homes.But you don’t have to live in the Houston area to find huge savings on home weatherization. According to Matt Rogers, senior adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, more than $5 billion was appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to draw up a weatherization program across the country.“What we’re doing through the Reinvestment Act is both weatherizing homes, but we’re also demonstrating that this is a high-return investment for homeowners everywhere,” said Rogers. “You’ll put 20 or 30 cents back into [your] pocket every year for every $1 that you invest in energy efficiency.”You can see how much of this funding was awarded to your state on the Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Web site.

Jennifer Berry

Jennifer Berry is a staff member at Earth911.com.More articles by Jennifer

Bibliography: Winterize Your Home

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