I have believed for a while now that most people want the security of an excellent warranty on anything of value they may buy.  In roofing, here is the problem, the manufacturer is willing to warranty the materials used but the actual installation would have to be warrantied by the installer.  How good the labor portion of the warranty is depends on the ethics of the company doing the warranty.  What does a five or ten year warranty  really mean if the company simply does not honor it or worse, goes out of business?

I have found a way to overcome these potential problems.  Certainteed Roofing has developed a material and installation protocol that, if followed by the installing company, can be warrantied for 10 years by Certainteed for material, labor and removal.  We work with Certainteed to be sure we follow the installation protocol to the letter using only the approved materials.  Not every roofing company is qualified to offer this extended warranty.  Freedom Exteriors has been trained and tested by Certainteed and we offer this opportunity to all our clients. 

How this affects you is now you have the full support of one of the largest manufacturers in the world.  We do all the paperwork and you will receive your documation direct from the manufacturer.  An added bonus is the installed roof looks just great! 

Call today for more information

Bill 

I get a lot of calls from clients trying to determine if they have hail damage on their roofs.  I would like to spend a few moments visiting with you about how to know if your roof is damaged or not.  The first question to answer is how large and how much hail has to fall to cause damage to your roof?  Today's roofing materials are very resistant to damage but not damage proof.  The hail that falls must be larger than your thumb nail.  Damage does not occure with normally with hail this small or smaller.  A good way to determine damage is look at your yard.  If you see green leaves on the ground everywhere, you probably have a damaged roof.  What happens is the hail will knock off the leaves.  If the large leaves on your outdoor plants have holes in them, you need your roof checked.  Look at the wood trim on the side of your house the hail came from.  If you see dents or knocked off paint, you probably have damage.  If you have dents in your metal fascia, you probably have damage.  Even with all these signs, your roof will still need to be inspected.

Some of my past blogs we have talked about picking a company.  Go back to those entries for more information on this.  I want to share with you some danger issues to avoid.  If you have someone come to your door uninvited that ask if he can inspect your roof for hail damage, beware.  What he will most certainly say when he comes down is you, infact, do have damage.  He will tell you to call your insurance company for an inspection. There may or may not be damage.   If you have not ask this company to inspect your roof, don't let him go up!  How do you know he is insured?  How do you know if he is local (most local companies do not use this method of finding customers).  Find a licensened local company with good references to inspect your roof.  You will most likely get the truth.

Notice I have not given information on what hail damage looks like.  If the hail stones are large, it will be easy to see the damage on the shingles and metal parts of the roof.  Sometimes the damage is very hard to determine and experience is needed to make the call.  Remember, it is up to the insurance company to accept the responsibility to replace the roof so don't contract with a roofing company before you get the go ahead from the insurance company.

Call me at 501-912-4603 if you have a questions.

Bill

The year is pretty much over and always I think about the past and the future.  For those who are past customers of our company, I say "thank you!".  This year has been the best even with a less than best economy.  We try every day to be our best for you our customer.  We always are looking for new materials and better ways to complete our repairs and new installations.  Still, none of this matters without you.  Our wish is that for everyone we cross paths with this year to have a wonderful 2010!

Bill

 

Freedom Exteriors has been working with other roofing companies, manufacturers, and suppliers  in our area to found a professional roofing association.  I believe the first order of the day is to develop a code of ethics.  It needs to be something that property owners and managers can use to gage a companies intent.  Just the other day I was contacted by a local television station about a roofing company that did not honor their obligation to a homeowner.  Although they charged a very high price to replace a roof, when it leaked, they did not respond.  The television station investigated and found this company was not insured nor had a state license.  The roofing company owner, in fact, had a felony which disqualified him from getting a license.

This started me thinking about a way to protect the property owner from this risk.  Freedom Exteriors is working to help found a local professional group that will offer the public a way to reduce their risk when choosing a roofing company to work on their property.  I believe the first order of business is to offer a code of ethics.  The following is a partial list of issues I would like to see addressed.

1.  We must agree to constantly seek to provide the highest value to our client, and prove it.

2.  We must follow all manufacturer's installation protocols and use only the correct materials.

3.  We must always give our clients a complete and accurate proposals for the project.  This proposal must be detailed and include all materials and processes used along with an accurate price.

4.  We must show proof of our licenses and insurance.  The insurance must be both general liability and worker's comp and in amounts that are reasonable for the project.

5.  We must follow all state and local requirements including bonding, permitting, and quality.

6.  We must pay our suppliers and offer our clients proof when ask.

7.  We must follow all OSHA safety rules on all project.

8.  We must convey and honestly explain any and all material or labor warranties.

9.We must, at all times, protect our clients property as if it were our own.

This is a beginning, if you have any comments or questions, call me or comment on this blog.

Bill

The last few days I have been receiving information on roofing new products.  CertainTeed Manufacturing is now offering a reflective shingle that qualifies for the $1500 tax credit.  Before, the only color that was reflective and "cooler" was bright white.  Their new product is reflective and yet you can get it in many of the most popular darker colors.  I am hearing about a shingle that will be introduced soon that will generate electricity.  You will be able to assist your energy needs with this roof product.  I have not heard what the price is or the payback time.  When I do, I will let you know.

I began to think about how quickly innovation is changing our lives.  Who would have thought, only a few years ago, that a roofing company would be able to have a live radar at every job site.  We use wireless internet. I can't tell you the times I have called one of our foremen to let him know rain was moving his direction.  Who would have thought that we would be able to look at a roof system while on the phone with a customer and talk about issues with them in real time.  We look at and measure many roof systems with an internet system we now have the rights to.  New improved felt, nails, starters, venting, it goes on and on.

The one thing that has not changed, or ever will if I have my way, is the personal care we take when replacing a roof.  All the things I have shared with you above mean nothing if we do not have the skill to install the materials properly.  The heart of a craftsman is required for you to get the best roof system.  Our making sure that the materials are installed correctly and your home or business is protected from damage.  We all tend to look at the big picture but it is really a multitude of little steps that determines the outcome.  As I write this on a overcast, rainy morning, I am pleased to report our phones are not ringing with unhappy customers who's new roofs have leaks. 

Reward enough!

Bill

 

When homeowners began to think about having work done on their home, usually several estimates are ask for.  Many times they are left more confused than before.  The problem is that every person they talk to gives them different ideas, protocols for installation, and pricing.  The big question is how to compare the quotes on an equal bases.  Certain roofin companies will only give you basic information.  Remember, if a company is vague with what they are going to do and how they are going to do it, it is usually to their advantage, not yours.  The best way to compare companies is to use the following thoughts.

1.  If they don't say they are going to use a material or perform a certain function, they are probably not going to.

2.  If you ask if they are going to use a certain material or do something special, they will usually say yes, because they now know it is important to you.

3.  If they don't offer proof of insurance and State Licenses, they probably don't have them to offer.

4.  If they don't offer references first, they don't want you to talk to their clients.

5.  If they don't share the name and manufacture of the materials they are going to use, they are probably going to get by as cheaply as they can.

Just listen to what they have to say and what they dont say.  You will learn as much that way as by asking questions.  We at Freedom Exteriors are proud of our credentials, they cost a lot of money and more importantly, it is the right thing to do.  We are proud of the installation protocol we use, and we are proud of the high quality materials we use on each job.  I believe that any good company would be and work hard not to be vague.

All we ask is that when you get your 2 or 3 estimates, allow us to be one of those 2 or 3 companies and let us prove how good we can be for you.

Almost everyday I visit with homeowners, and I have become convinced that our job at Freedom Exteriors is to, as much as anything, help protect our homeowner clients from costly mistakes. Information and education is the key.  Because of this, we spend a lot of time covering the details of each client's project.  If you go to buy almost anything, you probably will get some idea of the product's features and how they will benefit you.  Why is new siding, windows, or roofing any different?  Although each of our products have different features and benefits, they all must be aproached from the same point of view;  what are you getting and how will it be installed.

Let's talk about installation for a moment.  Here are some things to know before you allow a home improvement company to work on your home. 

1. Are they a local company? 
2. How long have they been in business? 
3. Do they belong to the BBB? 
4. Do they have supplier references? 
5. Do they have customer references? 
6. Can they prove they are licensed with the State of Arkansas? 
7. Can they show you their General Liability insurance limits? 
8. Can they show you their Worker Comp insurance and limits? 
9. Can they give you addresses of completed work? 
10. Do they have a business address (not a home address) and a business phone number (not a cell phone number)? 
11. Does their contract have exactly what they are going to do for you and the names of the material they are going to use?  (if the details are vague, there is a reason and it is not in your favor) 
12. How do they look, are they wearing company identifed clothing, is their truck identified with company information, were they on time? 
13. Did they ask what you are wanting to do? 
14. Did they spend time looking at the issues in question? ( inspect the roof, measure the siding, inspect the inside seals of the windows, etc) 

If a company can't respond to the above questions, you have to ask if they are the best company for the job.  It is important for me that homeowners get the necessary information to be confident in making that important decision about who is going to do the work.   If you have questions of any kind, let us know and we will get you the correct information you need.

Over the next few months, I will be sharing additional thoughts about these and other issues in this forum.  Call me, let me know what information you need and I will share it with all who view this site.

Bill Gentry

With the help of Little Rock web design company 1011 Web Solutions, Freedom Exteriors is proud to launch our new website. The new site contains information about the latest technologies and home exterior services that we offer such as roof installation and window intallation. We would love to hear your thoughts on our new site.