Author Archives: Thompson Roofing and Reconstruction

How to Know When to Replace Vinyl siding?

vinyl siding yellow door

Does vinyl siding make house warmer?

Vinyl siding has been around for decades, since the 1960s in fact. Vinyl siding companies began appearing everywhere for many years, and today, there are companies and independent contractors offering vinyl siding or fiber cement installation, along with energy efficient windows. It would be safe to say that more homes today have either brick façade or vinyl siding. 

Vinyl siding with insulation will improve your home’s curb appeal, make your home warmer in the winter, and cooler in the summer. While making your home look good, it is an energy saving measure too, helping your budget and the environment. 

For an existing home that is having new installation of vinyl siding without sheathing, insulating it will be different than a new home with vinyl siding that has installation.  There are two options for insulating  these homes: 

  • OPTION ONE: AIR-PERMEABLE INSULATION

Typical when doing a gut rehab of an old home where the walls are opened up on the interior and new plumbing, new wiring, and new insulation are installed. The use of air-permeable insulation / rigid foam is popular choice that creates the air gap needed for an air barrier. 

  • OPTION TWO: SPRAY-FOAM INSULATION

The use of spray-foam insulation for walls with no sheathing provides added benefits like sealing air leaks. 

Installing vinyl siding on existing walls doesn’t necessarily require sheathing unless  the old siding is being stripped off, then sheathing is required, and insulation can be added then as well. This will provide the energy efficiency desired while keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, along with providing some sound proofing too. 

Does vinyl siding help insulate a house?

Yes, but if your home is a colder climate where the temperatures drop to 40 degrees and colder, vinyl siding may not be the best option for your home.  Chilly weather can be frustrating for installing vinyl siding because it becomes difficult to work with. The colder the temperature gets; the easier vinyl siding will buckle and crack. 

Having vinyl siding installed during warmer temperature and include insulation, then yes, vinyl siding will help keep your home warmer in winter months. However, it still becomes hard and will crack easily if hit with balls (a likelihood when you have children). It is because of these type of issues that most professional contractors experienced with vinyl siding will recommend choosing a different siding material that can withstand colder temperatures. 

Do I need house wrap behind vinyl siding?

Depending on where your home is located, wrapping under vinyl siding may be required, but any contractor will tell you that there isn’t any logical reason not to wrap your home before installing vinyl siding.  Wrapping your home is beneficial as a water repellant, wind barrier, sealing any air gaps, and provides another layer between you and the environment. 

vinyl siding on house

Is thicker vinyl siding worth it?

Vinyl siding thickness is an important factor in how much heat is kept inside during the cold or out during the summer.  There are different grades in siding thicknesses, with the thicker grades being the most durable with a longer lifespan. The different grades of vinyl siding are:  

  • Builder’s grade –  Ideal for the tight budget with a thickness of .40 mm, providing a limited insulating benefit with a low level of protection. 
  • Thin residential – A thickness of approximately .42 mm, an inexpensive choice, making it popular like asphalt shingles, providing adequate insulation and protection. Not a high level of resistance for penetrative heat. 
  • Standard residential – Thickness of .44 mm, a common choice for homeowners that provide a balance of insulation, sturdiness, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Thick residential  – A thickness of .46 mm provides a bit more adequate insulation than the standard residential and still cost-effective.
  • Super thick – At .50 mm thickness, this is more expensive, but the level of protection is more than keeping warm in during cold weather, it is better level of protection from rain and strong wind too. 
  • Premium grade –  Thickness ranges between .52 and .55 mm, this is the most expensive vinyl siding on the market and provide a high level of insulation and protection on all accounts. 

For warmer climates,  a thin vinyl siding is recommended due to heat and moisture retained can overheat a home and leads to mildew and mold. 

A concern for many homeowner is what happens if water gets behind vinyl siding? This is why regular walk around inspections are recommended. You can find possible issues with your vinyl siding and make repairs as needed so that water leaking behind the siding won’t be an issue. 

So, when does vinyl siding need to be replaced? In general, vinyl siding has a lifespan up to twenty years if maintained and cared for. After that 20th year, it has lost its effectiveness so energy saving, and it is better to replace it now or you’ll continue letting money escape as you cool and heat your house. Four indicators that your vinyl siding has retired: 

  1. It has melted in spots. 
  2. It has algae, mildew, and mold growing. 
  3. Structurally damaged, buckling, bulging, etc.
  4. Insect infestation damage.

Thompson Roofing & Reconstruction is your source for quality vinyl siding replacement and installation in Osage Beach and Lake Ozark, MO. Call us today at (573) 789-8367!

How Long Does a Foam Roof Last?

foam roofing

How Long Does a Foam Roof Last?

Commercial foam roofing is universally discussed in the roofing industry for it’s advantages. Yet it’s also important to consider exactly how long such foam roofs last. If you have a great roofing company that is able to come in and administer repairs as appropriate, your foam roof could last as long as fifty years or more. Maintenance is key with foam roofing.

Are Foam Roofs Any Good?

Each kind of roofing material, regardless of how strong it is, has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. According to leading roofing experts in the industry, foam roofs boast the advantage of being durable, dependable, affordable, and easy to maintain and repair. If you have a flat or low-slope roof, it is pertinent for you to be able to select a roofing material that will be relatively easy to maintain and repair. You will need to invest in maintenance every ten to fifteen years depending on the type and amount of coating that is installed. During such periods of maintenance, your capable roofer will clean, prime, and recoat your foam roof.

What is Flat Foam Roofing?

If you don’t already know what flat foam roofing is, it is pertinent for you to have more information at your fingertips. Foam roofing is spray polyurethane foam roofing which is sprayed in a liquid form and it expands as it is applied to a roof. This roofing is created at the location of it’s application. The chemical reaction is conducted by mixing a polyol or resin and an isocyanate. After the two separate chemicals are pumped through a high-pressure hose, they are mixed with a spray gun. Flat foam roofing can reinforce an existing roof or be used to create an entirely new roof.                                

What is a Built Up Flat Roof?

Have you ever been on a wide expanse of roof that is covered with gravel? If so, you will likely have been on a BUR roof. BUR stands for Built Up Roof, which is a time-tested roofing system that is usually composed of hot tar and gravel. As a matter of fact, there are many layers of hot tar and gravel when it comes to the overall composition of a BUR roof. While foam roofing is one of the newer roofing materials in the industry, built up roofs have been around the longest of all the flat roof options available.

What is Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing?

If you haven’t heard of SPF roofing, now is the time for you to learn more. SPR stands for Spray Polyurethane Foam. This material is sprayed as a liquid and then it expands into a foam. When sprayed appropriately and thoroughly, it will create a solid layer across an existing roof. As a good roofing company can attest, spray foam roofing can be utilized in any climate, and when it is maintained and repaired over the years, it can last over a half a century.

Is Foam Roofing Worth It

Are you wondering if foam roofing is worth it? If so, please review the following list to discover more of the advantages.

  • Potentially lower energy bills. Foam roofing has great insulation properties and will potentially lower your heating and cooling bills.
  • Waterproofing. Foam roofs are essentially seamless. 
  • Installation that is flexible.
  • The structural integrity of your roof is maintained.
  • You can use foam roofing to direct rain to your drain.

Foam Roofing for Commercial Building

Do you have a commercial building? If so, it will be pertinent for you to understand that you do, indeed, have many different roofing options. As previously alluded to, installing spray foam roofing will be easy for a qualified roofing contractor, which means that it will also be quite affordable. In addition, when you have a foam roof installed, your daily business operations will not be interrupted. SPF roofing supplies thermal, air, and moisture barriers to provide the highest R-value per inch. This translates into better insulation for the building.

Foam Roofing for Mobile Homes

Mobile homes deserve to be represented appropriately in the roofing industry, and foam roofing should always be in the discussion. Accordingly, aluminum roofs are also a popular option for mobile home roofing. While it is true that metal roofing and installation has a higher cost to install, an aluminum roof can also last half a century, like foam roofing can.

foam roofing

Foam Roofing vs. Bitumen

If you already have a foam roof or a bitumen roof and you’re looking to make a switch or an upgrade, there are options available. If you live in an area of the country that is moist, then the roof may mildew if you have foam roofing. That is why it is pertinent to get a roofing material, such as bitumen, that will stand strong in the face of continuous moisture if that is a factor. 

If you would like to discuss foam roofing in Osage Beach and Lake Ozark, MO, our wonderful team would be happy to help. Please reach out to us at (573) 789-8367 today.

Can a Handyman Repair a Roof?

roof repair

Can a Handyman Repair a Roof?

If you aren’t already aware, it is critical for you to secure a respectable, professional roofing company for your roof repair. The reason why this is recommended is that the integrity of your home is important. If you don’t get the right repairs, it can become a very costly mistake. A professional roofing company will have the capacity to repair slate, metal, wood, concrete tiles, and asphalt shingles. A handyman will likely have simple tools and will have to work extraordinarily hard to achieve the same result that a professional roofing company will be able to achieve in less time and with more expertise.

How Do You Repair a Roof?

Are you wondering how you repair a roof? In actuality, it is far harder than you might think. The first thing to be aware of is the fact that it is very dangerous to ascend a roof. Professional roofing companies have the benefit of having great insurance, which will help in case anything were to go wrong. The second thing to be aware of is that you will need the right tools and materials for the job. Depending on the prevailing roofing material of your home or property, you will have to make some very specific decisions about what kind of materials to use. It’s always best to consult with a roofing project manager.

How Do I Stop my Roof from Leaking Inside?

There are a couple of important considerations to keep in mind when you think about fixing a roof from inside the home. To begin with, the area must be dry in order to use the roof patch. Once the area is perfectly dry, you can apply a large amount of roof patch to the leaking area. A great tool to use for the process is a scraper. After the roof patch has dried, you can use caulking to cover the edges and any holes that may appear.

Does Flex Seal Work on Roofs?

Flex Seal is a popular product, but it is critical for homeowners to understand the limitations of this product. For instance, if you use it on your roof, it will void any warranties that you have. It may even cause premature rotting on your roof type. While Flex Seal may seem like a product that could help your roof, it actually causes more damage long-term than good.

What is the Best Roof Sealant?

Are you in the dark about which roof sealant to choose? If so, now is the time for you to examine your options. According to a leading home improvement website, there are some sharp contenders for the spot. Please review the following bullet-pointed list to discover more.

  • HENRY HE587372 – this type of roof sealant is an acrylic material that comes in a five-gallon container. It was rated very highly as an “all-around product.”
  • Dicor RP-CRC-1 Rubber – Another acrylic rubber product, this comes in a one-gallon size and is used for RVs.
  • Liquid Rubber – As the name implies, this is a liquid rubber product. It comes in a one-gallon size and covers between fifty to one hundred gallons.

Is Roof Repair Covered by Insurance

Are you wondering whether or not your roof repair will be covered by insurance? Many homeowner’s insurance policies do cover roof replacement if the damage is caused by a storm event or an act of nature. However, it is important to consider that if the roof damage is the result of neglect or wear and tear, then the insurance company will not cover the cost of the repairs.

Why Roof Repair

The reason why roof repairs are important is that getting annual roof repairs and inspections will make it clear what needs to be done to keep the roof in optimum shape. Your insurance company will grasp the amount of roof maintenance that has already been done if your roof has received storm damage, and you are seeking financial coverage.

How Roof Repair Leakage

Is your roof leaking? If so, it is a great idea to contact a reputable roofing company for emergency roof repairs. The reason why this is recommended is that water damage can be extremely detrimental to the architectural features of your home. The wood, drywall, and any other surrounding elements will be damaged, and the damage will worsen until great roof repairs are in place.

roof repair

How Repair Roof Tile

While homeowners may feel comfortable with a lot of suitable DIY projects around the home, the best people to speak with about your roof tiles is a verified roofing project manager. He or she will be able to discuss your options and help you move forward with alacrity.

If you would like to discuss your roof repair in Osage Beach and Lake Ozark, MO, please reach out to us at our phone number, (573) 789-8367.