Texas Roofing Deductible Law

The new Texas law has caused a lot of people stress.  Getting a new roof can be expensive!

Lowry Roofing has a finance solution to help!

Call 469-412-4364.  

Feel free to check out our Google Reviews and see what our clients say about us.  
Also, our website is: www.lowryroofingco.com

How To Understand What The Adjuster Finds

The adjuster just left your house after examining your roof, fence, windows, garage doors, and gutters.  You see marks but you don't know what they mean.  

Jon from Lowry Roofing is showing you how the Adjuster maps out what they find.  

Your Adjuster Appointment: What to Expect

You believe you have hail damage to your roof.  What is the next step?  

After you call your insurance company, they will send out an adjuster.  Jon will walk you through the process and tell you what to expect and what they look for.  

Lowry Roofing would love to work with you every step of the way.  Please call 469-412-4364 and we'll be there to help you!

7 Insider Secrets Reputable Roofing Contractors Wish You Knew

Texas is an incredible place to live!  There’s great southern hospitality, the world’s best barbecue, football, and belief in God, family, and country - the Lone Star state has it all!  Unfortunately, the Lone Star state has also been leading the nation in hail storms for the past several years.  And the “everything’s bigger in Texas” seems to apply to the hail and wind, too.  In fact, the latest estimate is that 300,000 roofs are replaced in Texas each year.

Knowing that the Dallas area is often hit means that you may end up needing to hire a roofing contractor.  Unless you know someone personally who has a roofing business and that you trust and know will do a great job, finding a roofing contractor may be a huge pain.  It will mean doing a little research - calling friends, checking online, and eventually contacting the contractors and then talking to them, getting bids, and determining who you are going to hire.

It can be daunting!  Following are some insider secrets to help make the process, hopefully, a little easier.

  

1- Maintenance Pays - Most roofing contractors suggest inspecting your roof at least twice a year, especially in locations that experience extreme weather conditions.  It’s a lot more cost effective for the homeowner to catch a problem before it gets too bad.  Additionally, it can mean the difference between a roof repair and a roof replacement.  It’s estimated that the average roof is being replaced a minimum of 7 to 10 years premature in the marketplace.  If you are not comfortable climbing on your roof to do an inspection, it’s a good idea to call a professional roofing contractor.  This is important even if your roof is fairly new if you live in the Dallas, Texas, area.  Assuming your roof has not been damaged my hail when it has, could really cost you later.

2- Insurance companies are not always looking out for your best interests - Regardless of how long you may have been paying for insurance on your home/roof, your insurance company may not want to give you as much as you think it should.  Your insurance company is also looking out for their best interests and will often pay as little as possible towards your damaged roof/home.  It’s really important to have an experienced and reputable roofing contractor meet with the insurance adjustor - even during inspection, if possible, and point out the various areas of damage.  Often, if you have an experienced roofing contractor, they can help get your best coverage value.

3- The lowest estimate may not be the best deal - It’s important to know the reputation of your roofing contractor.  Are they local?  Do they have excellent recommendations?  References?  Do they use high quality products?  Is their workmanship professional?  Are they licensed and insured?  Know the answers to all of the above questions because if your roof happens to be damaged by a severe storm, there are plenty of fly-by-night roofers who will come through and give you the low bid, but you end up getting what you pay for, or sometimes you just get taken.  On the other hand, if you have an excellent roofing contractor, local, who happens to have the low bid, that’s great!

4- The high estimate doesn’t always mean the best quality roof - Again, here it is important to be familiar with your roofer.  Ask the same questions as above.  Sometimes roofing contractors will ask more because they know they can get more.  Their workmanship and materials are not necessarily any better, it just ends up costing you more.

5- Product quality and workmanship are extremely important - Your roofing contractor should know how to install your roof using the specific products being used on your roof.  Often, if things are not done precisely to company specifications, your warranty can be void or may not extend as long.  Additionally, poor workmanship - or a product not properly installed - can definitely impact the soundness of your roof.  Be sure you hire a reputable roofing contractor.

6- Your roofing contractor should know city and HOA code/requirements and take care of all of the permits - If they are not familiar with any of this, you should be concerned.

7- If a roofing contractor cannot answer your questions, you should also be concerned - A reputable roofing contractor knows his product, knows the city/county/HOA requirements, knows his workers, and knows how to communicate with his customers.  He should be able to answer all questions to the customer’s satisfaction.

Reputable roofing contractors go to great lengths to meet the needs of their customers and to provide excellent service as well as a high quality finished product.  The stress here is to to be sure you are hiring someone who is reputable.  Professional roofing contractors do not like to see people taken advantage of and left with sub-par work, or worse, money taken without any benefit because it reflects poorly on all roofing contractors.  Be sure you’re hiring someone who can and will deliver top quality products and service.

Texas' New Roofing Laws - Protecting You From Storm Chasers & Scammers

We see it all the time on Social Media.  There are news stories about roofing companies signing up clients, taking their money and disappearing.  It's scary.  We don't blame people for being nervous about hiring a roofing contractor here in North Dallas.

The new Texas law should help weed out some of those scammers or storm chasers.  

Texas State Roofing Laws

The new state law came into effect September 1st detailing how roofing companies should deal with insurance deductibles. You may wonder how this affects you. Well, it’s simple.

After a storm has blown through an area, roofers and scammers are quick to arrive on the scene. Some may offer sweet, too-good-to-be-true deals, promising a cheaper, sometimes practically free, option: waive the insurance deductible and let the insurance company pay the rest. It may seem like a good idea. Who doesn’t love a free roof? But truly, it’s insurance fraud.

These types of contractors may ‘absorb’ the cost of the deductible by cutting corners in their work. They will use lower-quality products and inflate the bill they send to the insurance company to make up for their loss of income. It’s not worth the ‘free roof’ to buy into the scam. 

What’s the Difference?

Scammers and low-quality contractors offer a shiny deal. Don’t let shoddy roofs, bad contracts, or any other issues into your life. Choose a local contractor you can trust to do the work.

The state has recommendations for how to avoid these types of scams. Get written estimates on company stationery, have confirmed references and clear contact information for your roofing contractor, that way you can make sure the job is done right.

Avoid Roofing Scams

When you hire a roofing contractor, be sure to check their references and read online reviews. If someone is selling their services door-to-door, or are based in a different area, be wary of them. Don’t pay up front and be sure not to pay the final payment until the work is done. Some scammers will take the money and run.

Check out their Google Reviews.  Read them specifically and see what is said about them.  Google Reviews say a lot about a company as they can't be altered and are written testimonials.  

Hire a local company, someone whose presence in the community is readily apparent. Any company whose business is legit will have clear evidence of their work. If they’re hiding, they’re probably lying too.

Lowry Roofing Co has a clear history of providing outstanding work in the North Dallas Texas area. If you need work done on your roof, you can trust us. Call for your free roof analysis today.  

469-412-4364

What Can I Expect to Pay For a New Roof?

Roofs are not something most people spend much time thinking of unless they know a major, severe storm - with large hail or strong winds - is going to hit their area, or there is some indication they may be needing a new roof.  Either scenario is not pleasant.

Additionally, living in North Texas seems to give us more of an opportunity than most to contemplate these happenings.  Texas leads the nation in severe storms, and that leads to an average of 300,000 roofs in Texas being replaced annually.

So, if you're one of those who know you are in the market for a new roof, you're probably wanting a ballpark figure of what you can expect to pay.  Keep in mind, a ballpark figure is only that.  There are a lot of variables that go into the price of replacing a roof.  That being said, here is the ballpark figure of the cost to replace a roof:


Average Cost to Replace a Roof per House Size

House by Square Foot	Roof by Square Foot	Re-Roofing Cost*
1,000	1,054	$4,000 - $5,500
1,100	1,160	$4,200 - $6,000
1,200	1,265	$4,500 - $6,500
1,500	1,581	$5,500 - $8,000
1,600	1,687	$6,000 - $8,500
1,700	1,792	$6,500 - $9,000
1,800	1,897	$6,700 - $9,500
1,900	2,003	$7,000 - $10,000
2,000	2,108	$7,400 - $10,500
2,500	2,635	$9,000 - $13,000
3,000	3,162	$11,200 - $16,000

*The rates are based on the total to install architectural shingles ($350 to $500 per square) for a pitch of 4/12 on a single-story home.

You'll notice that these estimates are for a single-story home with a pitch of 4/12.  You should also be aware that the square footage will not match the square footage of your home as the roof has overhangs.

Other factors that determine cost are:

• Pitch (how steep your roof is)
• Number of slopes (See different roof styles below)
• How your roofing is installed on your deck
• Products and supplies
• Layers
• Code requirements
• Skylights, chimneys, or other features

After the roofing contractor examines your roof, they will know what problem areas exist, and these could further drive up the costs.  These could include:

• Substrate or deck damage
• Difficult removal due to previous installation
• Removing excess layers
• Leaking chimney or skylight flashing
• Pitch 

Ranch Style - Simple.  Less expensive.

Colonial Style - Has a few slopes, but not that hard.  A little more expensive.

Tudor: Has many slopes and eaves and can be troublesome, so it's expensive when compared to other types.

• Pooling water
• Gutter damage
• Fascia and soffit damage

Additionally, these estimates also do not include the cost to tear off the old roof.  Most professionals will include the cost of removal with the cost of the roof replacement project as it will be part of the roof replacement process.  This rate fluctuates depending on material, location, difficulty, and workload.  Tearing off an old roof is one of the hardest parts of replacing a roof.


Cost to Tear Off a Roof

The average cost of removing an old roof is $1 to $5 per square foot which translates to an average of approximately $1,000 to $1,500. If the contractor charges by the hour, it can run from $40 to $80 per hour.  Additionally, if the contractor finds rotting timbers or that your roof will need new supports for a heavier roofing material, you can expect to pay an extra $1,000 to $10,000, depending on what sort of repair or reinforcement it requires.

The average roof replacement quote is 40% supplies/materials and 60% labor.

A reputable roofing contractor will be happy to sit down with you and go over all of their findings as well as their proposal for replacing your roof.  They will also be able to answer any questions and give you a timeline for completion of each segment of the project.

Lowry Roofing Co would be happy to give you a Free inspection/estimate if you think you might be one of those in the market for a new roof.  Call (469) 412-4364.

What You Need to Know About Asphalt Shingles

So, you find yourself in a position of likely needing a new roof.  You also know that most roofs use asphalt shingles.  It's what your current roof has.  Where do you start? 

Types/Grades of Asphalt Shingles

Not all asphalt shingles are created equal.  It will help you better know what you want/need if you know a little about each type/grade of asphalt shingle.  The three main types are:

1. 3-tab shingles — also referred to as three-tab shingles, or the "good" product.
2. Architectural shingles — also referred to as dimensional or laminate shingles, or the "better" product.
3. Luxury shingles — also referred to as premium shingles, or the "best" product.

While all three kinds of asphalt shingles are made of similar materials, they are not, again, created equal. Here’s a quick overview to help you decide which asphalt roofing shingles will meet your needs.

The 3-Tab Shingle

The 3-tab shingle is the most basic and least expensive shingle.  The 3-tab shingle is made of a base of either a cellulose material or fiberglass which is then covered with asphalt and topped a mineral granule layer. They are also the most lightweight of the shingles which means they may blow off your roof easier.  They are rated for up to 60 mph-70 mph wind uplift - which means that if you get winds higher than 60-70 mph, you 
may lose some shingles.

Most 3-tab shingles come with a limited warranty provided by the product manufacturer; 10 to 25 years limited warranty is the norm for 3-tab shingles.

You can easily recognize this style of shingles by its simple 3-tab pattern. They have a nice, uniform horizontal look.  There are some options as far as color is concerned, but it will still be the basic 3-tab look.  With the new shingle technology, 3-tab shingles are currently used more with low-cost housing or residential rental homes.

Architectural Shingles

Architectural, dimensional, or laminate shingles differ from the traditional 3-tab asphalt shingle look because the actual shingle tabs have various sizes and shapes. These various sizes and shapes give a more “dimensional” look that can actually make a shingle roof look more like a shake roof.

Architectural shingles are also thicker (they are layered) than the 3-tab shingles, which makes them heavier - sometimes up to 50% heavier than the 3-tab shingles, which also means they will have a longer life span than the 3-tab shingles.  Most architectural shingles have a minimum 30 year guarantee - manufacturer ratings range from 20 - 50 years of limited warranty.  Most architectural shingles are also rated for 110mph – 130mph wind uplift.

They will cost more upfront, but with the longer warranty it's not a bad trade-off. 

There are also Impact Resistant Shingles.  The biggest threat to an asphalt shingle roof - beyond long term exposure to the sun - is impact, and that mainly from hailstones. Shingles are made with varying degrees of resistance to cracking from impact. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standard UL 2218 governs the criteria for resistance to impact and shingles are rated on a scale from 1 to 4 with 4 being the most impact-resistant.

Living in our hail-prone area, it would seem that buying shingles with a class 4 impact rating would provide additional protection against cracking and failure of the shingle that can lead to leaks in the roof. There is also a possibility you may qualify for a home insurance discount by using these types of shingles.

For example, the Texas Department of Insurance provides discounts for hail-resistant roofing products, with the highest premium credit offered for Class 4 roofing.  (courtesy of home-style-choices.com).  

HOWEVER, these types of shingles will cost twice the amount as the regular shingles AND, with the size of hail we have been getting, they have not been able to withstand the hail stone damage.  For this reason, Lowry Roofing Co does not advise getting hail resistant shingles - with double the cost but not able to deliver - not worth it for our area.

Luxury Shingles

If you're going for the look, and money is not that much of a concern, luxury shingles are incredible.  They are designed to replicate natural cedar shake and slate roofs, but at a fraction of the cost.  They are also much easier to install.

However, luxury shingles are also heavier.  They are 3-ply thickness and can weigh twice as much as the 3-tab shingles.  That can be a problem for some houses and you may need to consult with a roofing expert or structural engineer to make sure your home's roof structure can handle the extra weight. 

Most premium shingles are rated for a wind uplift of up to 110mph.

One More Thing

Fiberglass-backed shingles have a Class A fire rating (the highest available) which is good if you live in fire-prone areas. 


When You're Ready For a New Roof

Call Lowry Roofing Co.  We are roofing professionals and we would be happy to come over, inspect your roof, and give you - either and estimate for repairs or a roof replacement.  No pressure (469) 412-4364.

Roofing Safety Precautions and Summer Heat

Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy the outdoors!  However, sometimes it can get pretty hot in Texas.  In fact, temperatures on roofs can reach 170 degrees Fahrenheit or more! That’s hard, not only on roofing materials, but also on the roofers who have to go up and inspect or fix them.

Some problems that heat can cause on roofs include: cracks, bumps, and other types of damage that you likely wouldn't notice until it starts to rain.  That's why, instead of roofs needing inspections every three years, in the southwest inspections are recommended every year.  A yearly roof inspection will catch heat-related damage before it can damage more of your home.

Of course, any intense heat can actually be harder on our roofers doing inspections and repairs than it is on the roofs.  We have to be careful and watch our team members for signs of heat stress, such as excessive sweating, red face, confusion, nausea, fatigue, and/or dizziness.  Heat stress can be very dangerous with intense heat.  To offset some of these concerns, we take the extra safety precautions of starting earlier in the day before the heat becomes so excessive, keeping our team informed of things they can do to keep from dangerous heat stress - such as keeping hydrated and taking breaks in the shade to cool off,  as well as having team members look out for each other so that they are aware of the signs in others and can make sure that no team member is reaching a critical stress.  We also take additional safety precautions.  We feel this is important and worth it to prevent accidents and to maintain our professional standards.  We want healthy team members and we certainly do not want to have to send a team member to the hospital.  We take these precautions seriously to keep our professional standards high. 

Other safety precautions we promote when working on roofs:

*Keep your work area clean and organized (free of dirt, tools, and debris as much as possible).  

*Block off work area to keep from children and pets.

* Identify and avoid all site danger areas such as power lines, underground hazards (cesspools and power lines), and unsafe roof access areas, skylights, etc..

*Do not remain on a roof when a storm is approaching.  Lightening can strike from as far away as 20 miles.

*Do not work on a wet roof.  They can be extremely slippery and are a safety hazard.

*Wear proper footwear.  Soft soled, thick boots provide the best roof traction,

*Protect from falls using safety-harness-lanyard, safety net and guardrails.

*Make sure the ladder is set on a stable base before climbing.

*Wear eye protection when working with nails, power nails, saws, etc.

*Protect your back – pick up heavy loads using your knees.

*Consider a lift system to get heavy materials to the rooftop.

*Take the time to learn to use all tools properly. Test your skills before getting up on the roof.

*Do not touch materials with bare hands if you are working in intense heat.  Doing so can cause burns.

*Do not use metal ladders near electrical wires.  Ever.  Electricity can leap, or arc, from a wire to a ladder several feet away.  Additionally, keep materials such as flashing and drip edge away from electrical wires.