Must a roof be replaced, or can it be repaired? What materials can be used that are safer for the environment? How will we dispose of the scraped materials?

Repairing over Replacing

A key contributor to landfill waste is the replace mentality prevalent in our culture. Often times, we don’t consider that something might only require repairs.

The same mentality exists in the roofing industry. Many roofing contractors may push the replacement of a roof because it is a larger, more lucrative project.

As a qualified roofing contractor, I believe that up to 80% of roofs that are replaced are candidates for repair. We want our customers to get the most out of their roof.  There is simply no need to replace a roof that can be repaired and our unbiased consolations will evaluate what is best for you, not us.

Offering Eco-Friendly Products & Services

When a roof is in need of replacing and repairs are not an option, considering longer lasting options or energy saving products such as metal roofing or lighter colored roof coverings can help decrease cooling costs. In addition, adding extra insulation to a flat roof provides significant energy savings or the life of the roof system.

All of our Van Martin consultants are well-educated on the latest and best ways to outfit your home with energy saving materials.

Proper Disposal of Materials

By now, we’ve all been taught the importance of recycling. What first comes to mind is a person separating recyclable materials from general trash for garbage pickup. But we at Van Martin Roofing like to think of recycling as a mentality rather than a specific activity.

Roofing waste makes up over 20 billion pounds of waste in the United States landfills annually. On the bright side, the asphalt being laid down for new roads and patching older roads is largely made up of recycled material. Studies have shown Recycled Asphalt Shingles are as durable and reliable as standard asphalt mixes.

Recycling asphalt helps decrease environmental impacts dramatically and lowers the burden on landfills, which is why Van Martin is proud to recycle our asphalt shingles from every roofing project.

Ultimately, Go Green is a great opportunity to provide our customers with home improvement services that add value to their homes while their values. For Van Martin, it’s easy being green.

The post What it Means for a Roofing Contractor to Go Green appeared first on Van Martin Windows and Roofing.

As we approach the midway point in the nomination process, we are not slowing down. We want everyone in the Miami Valley to have the opportunity to nominate someone, and that means continuing to push the word out. We’re treating this just like any other project, where we give 100% and we hope to motivate others to follow suit.

As the 3rd most philanthropic city in Ohio, we Daytonians know how to support a good cause. We at Van Martin are honored to lead the charge for No Roof Left Behind in our area because we have seen firsthand how our community readily embraces philanthropy with open arms.

To nominate someone you know who is in need of a new roof (even if that someone is you), please Click Here. All it takes to complete the form is a few minutes of your time, and if your nominee is selected, we can guarantee that they will have a quality installed roof over their heads. The form below is taken exactly from the website. Simple and Easy!

As with every major undertaking, this outreach program is helped along thanks to great partnerships. Mueller Roofing and CertainTeed have both graciously offered to provide materials for this charitable event.

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Van Martin Roofing – Your Oakwood Roofing Contractor

We train our Oakwood roofing contractors to inspect the inside and outside of your home, investigating all aspects that could be problematic during the span of the new roofing system or repair being performed. Our thorough inspections give our customers invaluable peace of mind that our work on their homes will be comprehensive. A job worth doing is a job worth doing well!

Van Martin’s Go Green commitment entails using ecofriendly procedures and roofing systems to ensure a brighter future for Oakwood.

Honoring Oakwood’s History and Tradition

We are deeply familiar with Oakwood’s specific zoning laws that restrict major changes to homes.

For every Oakwood roof we repair, we take into careful consideration the rich variation of traditional architecture when evaluating projects, keeping in mind that every Oakwood home is unique in size, style, and age.

Through the duration of the project, we ensure that your gardens are protected from falling debris and inspect the home’s perimeter for nails with a metal detector.

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A Pleasant Experience from Start to Finish

-We keep the noise at a minimum throughout the repair.

-We wear clean uniforms and are contentious of children by using family-friendly language.

-We provide a roofing solution that matches the identity of your home, not one that takes away from your home’s character.

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Why Should Gutter Maintenance and Repair Be on the “To-Do” List?

The reality is that gutters are one of the most under-appreciated yet important features of the home. Regular upkeep prevents a range of problems from sagging gutters to problems with a home’s foundation.

Gutters act as the first line of defense to water infiltrating the home. Gutters in need of repair will often allow water to collect around the foundation.

When to Conduct an Inspection

Check the gutter line 1-2 days after a heavy rain.

Keep on the Lookout!

Search for places where water has pooled. These pools of water could indicate that there’s a leak in the drainage system.

Examine the spikes to ensure they go through the gutter, the fascia board and into the rafter behind it. You may be surprised to find these spikes miss the rafters completely because the spikes have, over time, worked their way out of the holes. It might be time to invest in new spikes. The Van Martin team can help.

Don’t Forget the Downspout…if leaves and debris are clogging the downspout, water can’t adequately drain, and you’ll end up with sagging gutters. Be sure to examine the rivets. They’ll often be loose or will have dropped out completely, which is a simple fix with the help of a rivet gun.

Giving The Gutters a Good Wash

After the inspection, you can clean the gutters by spraying them with a pressure washer. Follow the instructions that come with the washer to the letter; usually, the washer can be used with garden-hose water or some type of cleaner. A pressure washer won’t hurt the gutters provided you’ve secured the gutters with screws or new spikes.

Repairing Vinyl Parts

Many of the gutters in use today are vinyl, which means replacing individual sections is simpler because new pieces can snap right in. It’s critical, of course, to get a tight fit when replacing those worn out pieces of gutter, and the area around the repair should be inspected after the next rain to ensure that the area is draining properly.

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You may picture a glossy “barnyard” look that clashes with the home.  Or hear the loud tap of rain splatter the roof. You may even believe they are reserved for industrial buildings and Medieval architecture.

So why do you see more and more of them covering the residences of neighbors, friends, and family. The truth is that Americans aren’t warming up to metal roofs for their Dayton homes for no reason.

Mother Earth and Metal Roofs might as well be friends on Facebook

Metal roofs live up to the “green” mentality sweeping the nation. They often consist of 30-60% recycled materials and can save homeowners money on their energy bill. They can also be installed right over your existing roof, eliminating your carbon footprint along with reducing your waste removal and labor costs.

Beauty isn’t just “shingle” deep

Being Eco-friendly is great, but the reality is most of us need more to be sold on the idea. In particular, we need to know we won’t cringe every time we pull up to our home. Thanks to new technology, metal roofs have outgrown that barnyard appearance.

You’ll find a wide variety of designs, colors, and textures are now available, making metal the most versatile roofing material on the market! Metal shingles (whether they’re copper, galvanized steel, or aluminum), can be made to look like slate, wood shake, and even tile.

Tough as the nails that fastened them

Looking for little to no maintenance for at least half a century. You’re in the right place. It’s common for metal roofs to outlast 50 year warranties, as they’re resistant to shrinking, cracking and erosion. Metal roofing can withstand severe weather and resists hail storms, heavy rain, snow and wildfires. The interlocking systems allows for protection during strong wind. The copper roof atop the Hildersheim Cathedral, installed in 1280 A.D., survives to this day!

The commotion about the perceived commotion is unwarranted

There is a myth that metal roofs are louder than other types of roofs during a rainstorm. As long as the roof is properly installed with correct underlayments, (the Van Martin crew ensures this happens), it won’t be any louder than an asphalt roof. We can’t guarantee you’ll look forward to rainy days, but you won’t dread them…at least not because every drizzle sounds like golfball-sized hail.

There’s so much to gain

On top of energy savings and limited maintenance, many insurance companies see the benefits of metal roofing and offer their customers discounts on their homeowner’s insurance policy. Property values can increase up to $1.45 a sq. foot. We may not be a brokerage firm, but we know a sound investment when we see one.

Now that you have the facts, please don’t hesitate to call the guys at Van Martin Windows & Roofing at (937) 222-7855.

The post Time to (Re) Consider a Metal Roof appeared first on Van Martin Windows and Roofing.

Through storm damage or just normal life deterioration roof replacements are big ticket items homeowners must deal with at some point.  Paying for a roof is no small task and can often be offset by incorporating savings through energy reduction, something that is often overlooked.

The problem:

Over time, insulation can compress and lose its insulating properties.  Cellulose and wood fiber insulation creates a potential fire hazard.  The Department of Energy recommends much higher insulation levels, measured in “R-Value”, than required by building codes.

The benefit:

Increasing attic insulation R-Value can easily pay off the investment in just a few years, and then pay for the roof over the next 20-years.  Homes with “hot spots or cold spots” become more comfortable with the correct insulation amounts.  By increasing the insulating properties of a home the mechanical equipment will run less frequently, thus extending the life of heating and air condition systems.  Owens Corning, one of the largest manufacturers of insulation in the world, estimates that by increasing an attic’s insulation levels to R-38 will save at least 20% on heating and cooling expenses.

The reason:

By including attic re-insulation with a reroof application installers are able to remove roof decking and enter the attic from above, saving on labor costs and ensuring even the hardest to reach areas are insulated properly.

Talk to Van Martin Roofing contractor about the advantages of attic reinsulating.  You’ll be glad you did.

To learn more about Van Martin Roofing’s Attic Insulation services please view our Insulation page.

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Story: Earlier this month, a local home improvement contractor, Van Martin Windows & Roofing, attended their metal roofing supplier’s annual dealer meeting. Van Martin Windows & Roofing visited Kassel & Irons’ corporate headquarters for a week of training on how to best serve customers in their region. The agenda included world class training on sales, marketing, and customer service, as well as time to network and share with the country’s best home improvement companies.

Kassel & Irons President, Todd Miller, praised Van Martin Windows & Roofing, “Every year Van Martin Windows & Roofing sets an example for home improvement contractors across the country in their care for customers and quality installations.”

Kassel & Irons sells its metal roofing systems through a network of independent dealers across North America. Each year these dealers meet at Kassel & Irons’ facility in Piqua, Ohio for a week of intense training in order to better serve homeowners across North America.

Miller continued, “By attending our annual dealer meeting, Van Martin Windows & Roofing shows that they are a high quality organization striving to improve. This constant improvement makes them an elite organization that we are honored to work with.”

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The reality is much more like filing your taxes: The more prepared you are, the more you stand to gain.

Our goal at Van Martin is to educate every Miami Valley homeowner. Our work doesn’t begin until our customers are confident they understand the full range of options at their disposal so that they can make an informed decision based on our unbiased consultation. Here are a few rules to ensure you end up with quality built and installed windows.

RULE #1: Get all of the details.

- Seek referrals by asking your friends what company they used if they were happy with the results.

- Find out exactly how much the total installation will cost.

- Search for the windows installer online: Do they have a website? Is it thorough and up to date? How is the company rated on sites like Angie’s List? Does the company give back to the community?

- Determine whether or not the windows installer is independent or promoting only one product. Many installers cannot possibly offer the right solution for every home simply because they are paid to install one product.

RULE #2: Avoid falling prey to the borderline illegal tactics some companies will employ.

1. Bait & Switch Advertising

- Be wary of anyone claiming to offer less than $200 for a window, as they are likely concealing much of the costs.

2. Charging too much for windows

- Top-of-the-line windows don’t automatically entail spending upwards of $1,000. Windows manufacturers like Polaris and Marvin invest in developing the latest technology while other windows manufacturers often considered to be high-end will simply markup prices to afford a large marketing division.

3. High Pressure Tactics

- Don’t feel forced to sign anything before properly vetting the windows installer.

- Some installers might claim to offer a “deal” if you sign immediately, but you don’t want to rush into a contract: plain and simple.

The best advice we can offer when it comes to these practices is to trust your best judgment. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t make a commitment.

RULE#3: Know what kind of relationship you’re entering into with the windows company you choose.

- The good news is that most manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on all parts of the window. The bad news is that they don’t offer any labor to install the free parts. The worse news is that improper installation voids any manufacturer warranty.

- Make sure the windows company you choose is reputable, thorough, and offering a reliable warranty on labor. Any upgrade to your home is an investment. Protect it by making sure it has a quality warranty.

Good replacement windows, when installed properly, will make your home more beautiful, more comfortable, and more valuable. The added energy-efficiency of new windows can save you 20–30% on your heating and cooling bills. Your new windows will pay for themselves!

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Here’s what each option offers in terms of aesthetics, durability, and ease of maintenance.

James Hardie Fiber Cement

• Four Simple and Sustainable Ingredients: Water, Sand, Cellulose Fiber, and Cement

• Durable: Resists damage from wet, humid climates as well as cold, dry climates. Flame Retardant. Holds up against damage from impact such as hail. Consists of noncombustible materials.

• Longevity: Up to a 30-year limited transferable product warranty, as well as a 15-year finish warranty covering both paint and labor. Fiber cement can last up to a century.

• Retains Value: The replacement of existing siding with cement board siding (at an average cost of $5,000) would return 80 percent of your investment (on average) on resale, making it the No. 1 return on investment of any home remodeling project 7 years in a row.

• Wood Look: Fiber cement offers the look and feel of real wood without the maintenance.

• Excellent Soundproofing Capability: Because fiberboard consists of two properties (outer layer of cement and inner layer of cellulose) and because it’s 0.25-0.31 inches thick (much thicker than vinyl), it can soundproof a house against external noise.

Mastic Vinyl

• Popularity: Vinyl is the No. 1 choice for exterior cladding, 7 percent better than the second-place choice.

• A Variety of Options: Mastic’s extensive color pallet will provide you with a great ability to find the color that fits your home.

• Great Insulation: A Mastic insulated vinyl siding panel has an R-value* of up to 3.0 and will increase the R-value of exterior walls, even with existing cavity insulation.

• Green: NAHB green-approved and can help projects earn certification points in green building programs.

• Durable: Flame resistant, Limited Lifetime Warranty.

• Simple Maintenance:
  • Easy to handle, store, and install.
  • Easy to replace individual pieces if damage should occur.
  • Easy to wash with a hose.
  • Does not require removal of existing cladding unless it is damaged or rotted.
  • Never needs repainting.
  • Industry’s broadest range of coordinating siding profiles, accents and accessories.

If you know you need new siding or an inspection to determine whether or not you need new siding, please call Van Martin Windows & Roofing at (937) 222-7855. We will outfit your home with your choice of James Hardie Siding or Mastic Vinyl, both offer some of the best quality siding on the market.

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