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How to Know When It’s Time to Replace Your Old Roof

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Your roof is the first line of defense between you and the outside elements. So, it’s very important to take good care of it.

But most residential roofs last only but so long. And most people don’t have metal shingle roofs, which are known to last longer than asphalt.

old roof with asbestos

Rather than waiting for your roof to begin leaking or crumbling away, you should replace the shingles in advance. But how do you know when it’s time to update your old roof? Here are some telltale signs to help you determine this.

You Have an Old Roof

If you were around when your home was first built or the roof was replaced, you should know the answer to this. As a rule of thumb, asphalt roofing tends to last between 20 and 25 years.

This will also be determined by whether you have a single layer of shingles and proper ventilation. In the event you have multiple layers of shingles and it’s more than 20 years old, then your old roof needs replacing.

Shingles Are Curling

Now, when you begin to see your shingles buckling and curling, it’s time to upgrade them. Just look at the slopes of the roof to see if you notice this. Or if there is a loss of granules. These are sure signs you’ve reached the life expectancy of your roof shingles.

Some of the Shingles Are Missing

Here is a sure sign that your old roof is beginning to fall apart. This is caused by the hot sun, mixed with wind and rain. Over time, your shingles will fly away during storms and windy days.

Shingle Granules Are Found in the Gutters

Check inside of your gutters to see if there are granules inside. At the end of your shingle’s life cycle, granules will begin to chip away and wash into the gutters.

Another sign is the granules are becoming darker in color in certain areas of the roof. This means the granules are becoming worn out.

Roof Boards Are Bouncy

If you’re not afraid of heights and have experience being on your rooftop, check this out for yourself. If the roof boards feel bouncy or spongy, then they’re growing weak from moisture.

Also, get into your attic space to see if there’s sunlight seeping through.

Cracks Are Showing on the Shingles

Again, your shingles can be very telling of whether your roof is in need of repair. Cracks in your shingles mean they’re growing old and need replacing. So, the more shingles you see cracking, the quicker you need to have work done.

Moss or Algae Is Covering Your Roof

Now, this isn’t so much a structural issue as it is a cosmetic one. However, you will have to worry about it spreading along your roof and onto the side of your home. And, if there are cracks, it could even seep into your attic.

What you don’t want to do is to try power washing the roof on your own. This will only risk granules falling off and causing damage to the shingles.

Is It Time to Replace Your Old Roof?

Then you need to hire an experienced contractor. At Over the Top Roofing and Construction, we have an expert team of roofers. We offer an assortment of services, which include roofing, construction, insulation, masonry and repairs for gutters and chimneys in Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls.

So, if you’re looking to have your roof replaced or inspected, then don’t hesitate to contact us. Free estimates are also available, so give us a call today!

5 Signs You Need a Chimney Rebuild

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Your chimney is part of your house that you probably don’t give much thought. So, when is the last time you thought about the health of your chimney and whether or not it needs repairs?

Probably never, right?

man on roof inspecting tuckpointing

Chimneys are sturdy, but they still need care now and again, and if it’s been too long since the last time yours got a little TLC, it may be time for a complete chimney rebuild.

How Often Should I Check my Chimney?

In Milwaukee, it’s a good idea to give your chimney an annual check. A great time for this is as summer approaches and the fireplace is starting its season of disuse.

You’ll also want to give it a good once-over after any severe weather, like hurricanes or hail storms.

So, here are the 5 signs to tell if your chimney needs a rebuild.

White Bricks

Water is the worst enemy of pretty much everything in your house. And while bricks may seem immune, even the best masonry will eventually be overcome by water damage.

This kind of damage is called efflorescence, and it’s the result of water seeping into the bricks and pulling the natural salts and minerals to the surface. The water evaporates, leaving the minerals behind.

The white staining washes off easily. Soap and water will usually do the trick. But the damage isn’t so easy to fix. If you notice efflorescence on your chimney, it’s time to call in a professional.

Damaged Crown

Your chimney crown is one of the most vital pieces of masonry on your chimney. It protects the rest of the piece, keeping out weather and water damage.

Unfortunately, like any first line of defense, it tends to take the most damage, and if you don’t keep an eye on it, the damage will spread down, necessitating a complete chimney rebuild.

Crowns can crack or degrade over time. This can be due to shrinking and expansion during changing seasons, or just normal wear and tear over many decades. Either way, once a crown is damaged, it will begin letting in water and the elements.

No Chimney Cap

This isn’t a piece of actual masonry, and it isn’t necessarily “damage” either. Some chimneys just don’t have a chimney cap or haven’t had one for so long that no one knows where the darn thing went in the first place.

Either way, if you haven’t had a chimney cap for some time, it’s likely that your chimney has sustained some damage. The chimney cap acts as a line of defense even before the chimney crown, and if yours isn’t present, you may want to call for an inspection before the damage gets too bad.

Spalling

Spalling bricks are an obvious sign of chimney damage and the need for a chimney rebuild. Water is the culprit here again since spalling happens when bricks have been saturated with water.

Spalling bricks will chip, deteriorate, crumble, or even pop out of the masonry. If you see this happening on your chimney, call a professional right away.

Shaling

If water has seeped into the gap between your chimney and flue lining, you may begin to see shaling flue tiles. You’ll notice this without ever going outside since the shaling flue tiles will start to fall into your fireplace.

Do You Need a Chimney Rebuild?

It’s tempting with any house problem to let it be or ignore it, hoping it will go away on its own. After all, chimneys are strong affairs, right?

Left untreated, chimney issues can cause dangerous CO2 buildup or even house fires. If you suspect a problem with your Milwaukee chimney, give us a call today.

Why Your Chimney Might Need Tuckpointing

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When was the last time you thought about the condition of your Milwaukee chimney?

Chimneys provide a great design element to your home. Tuckpointing ensures stability and longevity through tough winters and rainy springs.

chimney smoke rising from chimney

Like any structural component in your home, a chimney will begin to show wear and tear and need maintenance. Because the outside of a chimney is always exposed to the elements, it will deteriorate more quickly.

Now, you may be asking yourself what exactly tuckpointing is. This is the process of replacing old and damaged mortar between bricks or stone.

Read on to learn why your chimney needs it.

Maintaining the Structural Integrity of Your Chimney

Mortar used in masonry chimneys usually lasts about 25 years. After that, it will begin to break down due to  exposure to moisture and freezing temperatures. If this is not remedied, the result could be a collapsed chimney and the need for a costly rebuild.

Old mortar joints will eventually allow water to enter the chimney, and this water can even work its way between the chimney and flue lining. Water coming in through your chimney can cause damage to the surrounding ceiling and walls.

Because brick holds up much longer, replacing the mortar will return the chimney back to its original condition. This is the most cost-effective way to maintain the structural integrity and appearance of your chimney.

To give you a better idea of what takes place during tuckpointing, let’s take a look at the process.

  • The old mortar gets routed at a consistent depth.
  • Red mortar added to the newly routed grooves improves stability.
  • New grooves get added by cutting small strips in the red mortar.
  • Mortar of the desired color adds the appropriate aesthetic.

Signs Your Chimney Needs Tuckpointing

The repair and maintenance history of your home’s chimney will be a big indicator of whether it’s time to have it serviced. But there are ways to tell if tuckpointing is necessary even if you don’t have this information.

If you can access the chimney from the roof, look for cracks or separation between the bricks. Take a screwdriver and try scraping the mortar. If you can easily scrape or break it away, it’s probably time to have it replaced.

Look for small pieces of mortar around the base, where the chimney meets the roof. This is an indication the masonry is deteriorating and slowly crumbling.

Do you notice dripping water in the fireplace while it’s raining? Do you have water damage on the walls or ceiling around the fireplace? These are both signs that the mortar may no longer be structurally sound.

Chimney Repair and Restoration

Due to its location, problems with the outside portion of your chimney can go unnoticed. It’s important to examine the condition of the masonry and be aware of the warning signs that the mortar is deteriorating.

If you suspect that repairs are necessary on the exterior of your chimney, a qualified professional needs to diagnose the issue. We provide residential chimney and roofing services in the Milwaukee area. Contact us today.

4 Reasons Not to Overlook Roof Gutter Cleaning

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Did you know that your gutters can begin to deteriorate and lead to devastating consequences from a lack of attention? And you may not even know there’s a problem until it’s too late.

Keeping your gutters clean and in working order all year long can feel like a hassle. But the results of neglecting your gutters are even more of a hassle. Let’s take a look at four reasons you should not overlook roof gutter cleaning.

senior male cleaning out gutter outside house

1. Abundant Mold

Mold just loves damp places. And few places are more appealing to mold growth than gutters filled with moist, decaying leaves warming in the sunshine.

The best way to get rid of mold growth is to stop it from ever beginning. You can do this by cleaning out your gutters whenever there’s a storm, as well as periodically throughout the autumn season.

2. The Nesting of Birds, Termites, and Other Insects

If there’s ever praise you need for neglecting your gutters, it will easily come from birds and insects. They just love the cozy little spots they can create in a gutter full of sticks and leaves. And they’ll thank you for it by leaving “affectionate” gnaw marks on your gutters or pools of excrement down the sides of your home.

You can avoid these unsightly consequences by keeping your gutters clear of debris.

3. Water Damage that Leads to a Leaky Roof

When you routinely clear your gutters out, you’ll work to prevent water damage to the fascia around your home. During cold months, water that collects in your gutters can turn to ice and cause still more harm to your roof through added weight or cracking of your gutters. This type of water and ice damage can lead to a leaky roof, which brings a whole new set of problems with it, including expensive repair bills and irritating drips inside your home.

Keeping them clear of accumulated leaves will allow your gutters to dry out sufficiently before the next rainfall. On your next fall checklist, make sure to include roof gutter cleaning to avoid having to deal with the hassles of a leaky roof.

4. Enhance the Value of Your Home

The frequency of needed roof gutter cleaning varies depending on a few factors, including the types of trees and how many trees you have near and around your home. We say “around” because you’d be surprised how far leaves can travel on the wind.

By keeping your gutters clear of debris, you’ll lengthen the life of your gutters significantly. You’ll prevent mold, birds, insects, and water damage from affecting the quality of your home, as well.

For the Best in Roof Gutter Cleaning

While you may love watching birds fly carefree around your yard, your roof will thank you not to have them nest in your gutters. You should remember to check on the health of your gutters periodically, especially during the autumn season. And, if you’re looking for help with your roof gutter cleaning, remember to contact us for an appointment. We offer the highest quality roof gutter cleaning in the area.

How To Hire A Roofing Contractor

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Hiring a roofing contractor is time-consuming, and can be a frustrating exercise. Whether you flip open the yellow pages, fire up Google, or call a friend, how can you have true confidence in your decision? The answer is to educate yourself. The more you know about roofs and especially how to hire a contractor that won’t rip you off, the better armed you are to make a good decision. When it comes to the process of finding and hiring a top-notch contractor you can trust, educating yourself as thoroughly as you can should be at the top of your to do list. At Over the Top Roofing, your roofing experts in Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls, we’re happy to share our expertise, and show you what makes us the right contractor for you.

No one wants to get ripped off, but we’ve all heard the nightmare stories of contractors disappearing with down payments, doing shoddy work or simply abandoning jobs altogether. A perfect roof replacement can be an expensive prospect on a good day. Throw in an unscrupulous roofing contractor more interested in your money than quality work, and that expensive roof can end up costing you even more with everything from sub-par materials and long delays to irreparable damage to your home, or even legal issues just to name a few things that can go wrong.

With all of the fun involved with choosing the materials and colors and the type of roof you want to see on your home, the most important decision you’ll make is the contractor you choose to hire. After all, that decision will ultimately govern the quality and actual craftsmanship of the roof you’ll end up with.

You take a lot of care in choosing a dentist for a cavity, a doctor for your health, even a lawyer if you have legal problems. But a contractor for your roof? You should take just as much time and care in choosing a contractor because if you think it’s just as easy as grabbing the Yellow Pages or Googling local roofers, you may end up a key player in one of those contractor horror stories floating around.

Purchasing a new roof is a big decision and hiring the best contractor you can find is the first and arguably most important step in the process. Your home is probably the most valuable financial asset you own. Why wouldn’t you be careful when choosing whom you will let work on it?

Have complete confidence in Over the Top Roofing as your roofing contractor!

In need of a new roof for your home? We’re ready to give you a FREE consultation and estimate today. Call us at 414-531-ROOF, or visit our website to Contact Us today!

All About Seamless Gutters

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In recent years, seamless gutters have taken the roofing industry by storm, as an easy, low maintenance and durable alternative to traditional gutters. Still, we often see confusion about the benefits of seamless gutters. At Over the Top Roofing and Restoration, we feel part of our job is to provide homeowners with the information they need to make confident decisions when choosing one of the many options available to them. As your gutters experts in Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls, Over the Top Roofing is here with all the information you need about seamless gutters.

Seamless rain gutters are just as the name implies – seamless. There are no breaks in the construction of the gutter. Seams cause leaks, and even tightly sealed seams will eventually leak. For this reason alone, seamless gutters are the most popular type of gutter available. This is why they are the most popular type of gutter today.

Seamless gutters are usually made from aluminum, but they can be made from copper. Over the Top specializes in seamless aluminum gutters. Aluminum is highly durable, won’t rust, is relatively easy to work with and inexpensive. Our talented gutter craftsmen will custom make your gutters to your home on-site with our seamless gutter machine, ensuring a proper fit that will last for decades.

Conventional gutters are formed from prefabricated sections of guttering that are pieced together to approximate the fit around your home. Pieced together with snap-in-place connectors, these gutters leave many opportunities for leaks, which certainly will develop after some time. The leaks don’t just cause inefficiencies in your gutter’s performance, they will eventually rot the wood adjacent to your gutters, causing large scale problems to your roof and soffit area. Seamless gutters ensure many years of leak-free performance, protecting your home and saving you money in the long run.

Another advantage of seamless aluminum gutters is that they are much more attractive, with a much simpler appearance than the cobbled-together look of traditional gutters. Your gutters should blend into your home and not be noticed, and seamless gutters excel at that feat. With a baked-on enamel finish, your new seamless gutters will likely never need painting. With many colors to choose from, you’ll find a perfect match easily, and you’ll love the lack of maintenance involved in maintaining their good looks. Perhaps best of all, seamless gutters go up quick. Most Over the Top seamless gutter installation projects take only one day.

Have complete confidence in Over the Top Roofing as your roofing contractor!

In need of new gutters for your home? We’re ready to give you a FREE consultation and estimate today. Call us at 414-531-ROOF, or visit our website to Contact Us today!