If you sustained damage call your insurance carrier immediately and report it.  Once they have inspected for damage they will provide you with an Adjusters Report detailing the damages and what they are allowing in terms of payment.  Many homeowners are told “DO NOT SHOW ROOFING CONTRACTORS YOUR ADJUSTERS REPORT.”  This is because many will attempt to take all of the funding provided by the insurance carrier even if the cost to re-roof is less.  Get several quotes from reputable Roofing Contractors for what it will cost to complete your re-roof.  Once you have selected a contractor it is imperative that you share the Adjusters Report with them so that they can comply with the scope of work that the insurance carrier is authorizing.  In many cases since the storm we have helped homeowners re-roofing their home by pointing out things that the Adjuster missed.  Yes, missed!  Many independent Adjusters are not from the State of Florida and do not understand our building code.  They miss things or intentionally do not provide funding.  Often they require that you submit for a supplement on something that they should have authorized in the first place.

In some cases Insurance Carriers attempt to deny claims outright.  This is a shame! One Insurance Carrier will account for everything included in the damage and pay out where another Insurance Carrier will flat out tell you there is no claim.  Working with an ethical Roofing Contractor to look for issues or omissions is in your best interest.  In some cases homeowners choose to contract with a Public Adjuster.  Gold Star Adjusters in Jacksonville is among the best!  They know how to deal with Insurance Carriers that intentionally try to not pay out what they should. Yes they charge a fee but you have someone fighting for you that is well versed in the Insurance Carriers tactics.  Did you know that they can even work with you after the claim is closed?  They have the ability to correct things that were missed and gain the funding you deserve for your repair.

Be savvy and go with your instinct.  Check your contractor out with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).  What rating do they have? Are they accredited? Consider Roofing Contractors that are Master Elite or Platinum.  These Contractors are backed by the shingle manufacture, receive immense training and build a large quantity of roofs.  A Chuck in a truck that isn’t licensed, insured or competent will never be around to warranty any issues that could come up.  They will build a roof here or there and be unresponsive when you need them.

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Preferred Roofing will inspect your chimney for potential leak areas.  The chimney has flashing at the base that prevents water from penetrating into the structure.  Over time the flashing can/will rust and allow water to penetrate.  When having your roof replaced we will remove the shingles around the chimney and inspect the flashing for integrity.  Flashing found to be structurally sound will be covered with the new shingles. The flashing is installed under the shingles and also under the chimney siding or stucco.  Flashing found to be defective must be replaced which will require that the chimney siding is removed. Chimneys with stucco require removal of the stucco at the base and reapplication of stucco after being flashed.  The removal and replacement of siding is not covered in the roofing contract and is at an additional charge.

Chimney Cap:

Chimney Cap

Chimney caps protect your chimney surface from the elements.  Water and sun can wear on the unprotected surface of the chimney causing a breakdown and ultimately a leak. The most common metals for chimney caps are Galvanized Metal, Copper when near salt water or stainless steel.  A flat chimney cap will tend to hold (Pond) water and potentially corrode.  Spark Arrestors extend through the cap and attach to the chimney flue.  Extended water ponding on a chimney caps can result in corrosion at the entry point resulting in a leak.  Chimney caps installed over stucco wrapped chimneys can corrode and cause a leak into the stucco.

We measure and fabricate chimney caps to the exact size of your chimney.  The cap is attached with a variety of fasteners depending on the chimney substrate,  Chimneys are commonly build with brick, stone, stucco, T-111 siding and Hardi Lap or Sheet siding.  Ensuring that your cap and spark Arrestor are in good condition will prevent potential leaks.

Spark Arrestor:

Chimney Cap W/Spark Arrestor

Spark arrestors are fitted to the top of a flue (or a chimney pot) to prevent floating embers from a fire (particularly one burning wood) setting light to a flammable roofing surface (shingle, thatch, or bitumen-felt) or falling onto combustible material on the ground. Such a spark arrestor typically consists of a double layer of metal mesh, which catches the ember and allows the flue gas to escape.” These types of caps also keep debris and unwanted animals out of the flue, along with protecting the system from rain entering.

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The shingles you choose for your new roof will be one of the most important decisions you will make on the purchase of your new roof.

Many contractors are more worried about a low bid proposal to be left with the homeowner rather than a product that will perform beyond the expectation of the roof. Always look for the workmanship warranty offered by your contractor, this usually coincides with to quality of the products that are being installed. Our workmanship warranties are from 10-25 years depending on your shingle choice.

GAF Timberline shingles are the only manufacturer that has been awarded a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. This was achieved by including uphill water test that no other shingles offer. This is really important in Florida due to the heavy rain and winds associated with tropical storms and hurricanes.

The secret to a shingle having a strong bond and sealing against each other is the amount of tar associated with the tar line on the bottom of the shingle. NO other manufacturer has the amount of tar that is present on the Timberline shingles.

Lifetime warranties: Most warranties are claimed due to a leak, this is what most shingle companies are looking for prior to any claim being submitted. GAF covers granule loss and discoloration in all of their standard warranties. Like any warranty there is a proration period that will reduce the amount of coverage on your shingles. They do not cover the large expense of your new roof which is the labor and underlayment. GAF DOES offer extended non-prorated 50 Year warranty. This includes removal and reinstallation of your roof, others simply give you a voucher less depreciation for the shingles only.

The reason GAF is the leader in this industry is from years of experience and being the only manufacturer that uses diamond shaped granules that interlock to prevent the loss of granules. This keeps the weight on the shingles and prevents wind damage and discoloration.

Now that you have selected the right shingle you need to select the right contractor!

MASTER ELITE GAF

We offer 50 year non prorated all-inclusive warranties backed by the manufacturer.

Richard Revels
Roofing Professional

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• Wind Mitigation – This form is to ensure your insurance company knows you received a new roof system and for doing so are willing to provide you with a discount of around 10%.
• Lien Release – This is to protect you the homeowner and is required by law. This form states all parties used for your job including the supplier have been paid. Without this form it’s true your property can be leaned after paying your roofer in full.
• Paid Invoice – It’s important to have an itemized paid invoice to specify the materials used on your job and to show that no additional money is owed.
• Permits – Every new roof system requires a permit to be filled out and submitted to the county in which you live. Without this permit your job is being done illegally. Certain counties require additional forms to permit. We are aware of all requirements!
• Warranty Code – This code is from the manufacturer that will protect your warranties that were provided at the time you signed the contract. Be very careful of warranties and make sure your aware of what’s actually in your warranty. To receive a warranty code from the manufacturer you must be a Master Elite Contractor.
• Contract signing – Be sure that the contract you sign is very detailed and specifies the exact materials being used to do your project. We ask and make sure to answer all possible questions prior to the signing of the contract that way all our jobs run smoothly. (A contract is only as good as what’s specified in it). Be aware of all terms and conditions to protect yourself from dishonest contractors.
• Master Elite – This is a way to protect you and your home. We are backed by the manufacturer and able to provide you with non pro-rated warranty. Have you ever heard other roofing companies say they will give you a 25 to 50 year warranty? This is a sales pitch and dishonest! It is a pro-rated warranty and has very little value! Master Elite is the only way to have a non pro-rated warranty that is beneficial for you the homeowner. There are less than 3% of roofing contractors with Master Elite Status!

Preferred Roofing LLC is a Master Elite Company that will ensure all aspects of your job is being filled out and submitted properly. It’s important to feel protected and take the worry out of choosing your roofing expert. We will answer all your questions and provide you with the peace of mind you deserve!

Kevin Strickland
Roofing Professional

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Let me explain what most roofing warranties cover. Most shingle manufacturers have the same types of warranties. Why, because they are in business to stay in business. They have found that sweet spot where customers are protected from the gross negligence of a company but defers the cost of an aging roof to the customer. My response is, that’s fair. People today are looking for a freebie. This has fueled how salespeople talk to them. Most companies will tell you “If your roof goes bad in 25 years they will replace it.” Is this totally true? In most cases they will replace some of the roof, the question is, how much?

You have probably heard the old saying, “the big wording giveth and the small wording taketh away.” All warranties come with the both. Most of us see the big print and don’t read the rest. The rest is the real warranty. Most companies have a base warranty, 5-15 years where they will replace a bad roof due to their quality of manufacturing. After that, IT is prorated to the time specified. Now, what is IT? IT is the shingles. A roof is made up of more than just shingles. There are metal eaves, air vents, pipe boots, underlayment, labor, insurance, and dump fees. Most, if not all, are not covered under their warranties. The better companies have a portion of the labor included in the base warranty, but it drops after time. As for “lifetime shingles,” it is the same. But at a given date, there is a small monetary shingle allowance. This allowance usually consists of only a few hundred dollars.

In a roofing contract, leaks are also referred to as workmanship. So how long does the warranty protect from leaks/workmanship? It doesn’t. I can see your face now! “What?” Well, the only leak warranty you will receive comes from the roofing company, not the manufacturer. This is why a reputable roofing company is so important! Again, anyone can promise a 10 year or longer workmanship warranty but who’s is actually going to stand behind it? By the way, most companies only give a 3-5 year warranty. How do you get roof protection that covers the real cost of replacement? You have to pay for it.

There a many plans out there, but I prefer GAF protection warranties. There are a few warranties that GAF offers. The first is the “Systems Plus Warranty” which any certified roofing company is able to give. This system makes the prorated portion of your warranty non-prorated. It also pays for the replacement of other GAF materials not covered in base warranty. It doesn’t pay for the disposal and some other processes, but for under a hundred dollars you can get a faulty roof replaced at a fraction of the cost. As I see it, the only big shortfall is that there is no leak warranty included.

The best protection for your roof is the “Golden Pledge Warranty”. Only the best of the best can offer this warranty. When I say the best, GAF has chosen the top two percent of roofing companies in the United States to represent them and they are called, “MasterElite.” For residential properties, this warranty, will replace the roof at no cost due to the fault of the manufacturer for 50 years. Wow! In all “Act of God” situations, the homeowners insurance covers catastrophic damages. Occurrences such as hail damage, wind damage (above 130 mph) and objects falling from the sky, like meteors or tree limbs, are not covered by the manufacturer.

Unlike almost all warranties, the “Golden Pledge Warranty” covers workmanship (leak) issues. Not for one or two years, but for an oustanding 25 years. If you haven’t checked the cost of a quality repair lately, this is a huge plus. The price is based on the size of your roof and did I mention that the contractor has to be a MasterEllite? Well, they do. GAF can’t afford, nor can you, to stand behind the average roofing company. They need the best they can find to do the work and with confidence that is being done right. This warranty will give the homeowners piece of mind and one day, could prove to be one of the best decisions they’ve ever made.

A roof replacement is expensive and eventually, a necessity. Shouldn’t it be done right the first time? For a few hundred dollars, you can save tens of thousands of dollars and protect yourself from the unexpected roof events. Stay dry, my friends!

Michael Nobles
Roofing Professional

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