Log Cabin Homes invoke nostalgic images of a place of safe and cozy refuge nestled in the woods or by the lake or river. It sounds like a warm and comfy inviting retreat.

Whether you are building a new log home or re-roofing an existing home you need to know your options.

The roof is the first line of defense against the weather. It is the primary source of protection against the elements. The decision as to what goes on the roof should be carefully and thoughtfully made and evaluated. What are your best options for your log home long- or short-term?

First, and Most Frequently Chosen, Option

The asphalt shingle. It is definitely the most frequent choice but NOT because it is the best option. It is chosen because it is the least expensive way to go. Asphalt or composition shingles are a petroleum-based product. They are not great choice if you are attempting to be environmentally friendly.

Log Home with Asphalt Shingles

The product is made by producing a large roll of paper, felt, or fiberglass mat which is then saturated in limestone and petroleum followed by a final top-coating of ceramic granules in various colors.

These products begin to break down due to the elements as soon as they are installed on the roof. They are exposed to the summer sun and winter conditions. It is just a matter of time before the roof needs to be replaced again. Here in New England life expectancy is about 15-17 years.

The pros of an asphalt roof: Cheap, easy, and quick to install.

The cons: Poor environmental choice; they will end up in landfill; problematic in the winter months due to ice dams; not a very attractive roof. Maintenance required. Typically has a 25-50 year limited factory material warranty, with exclusions that end up in reality boiling down to a 10 year warranty. Workmanship / labor warranty terms depend on the contractor doing the installation.

Second Option: Cedar Shakes (Wood)

Log Home with Cedar Wood Shingles

This is a classic option for your log home in this writer?s opinion. What a great look. The installation of wood shakes takes more time to install than just about any other roofing material, so expect to pay a premium.

Then there is the choice of which cedar to pick. The most common cedar woods for roofing are Western Red Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Both are good choices; however, the Alaskan Yellow is a very tough tree and is among the hardest and most durable, known for its longevity. Both are relatively comparable in cost. Most of the cedar today is from new-growth trees rather than old-growth trees. This is the big reason that cedar does not last as long as you would expect. Most of the old-growth forest was depleted in the 1940s. These trees were several hundred years old and provided a much more stable, rot resistant, and stronger wood product than the new younger tree stock that grows more quickly and is less dense. In our experience, we expect the average life of these wood roofs to be around 15 years.

If you live in a forest fire prone area you may want to consider not putting wood on your roof. Some states have actually banned wood roofs where risk of wild fires exist.

Do you currently have a wood roof on your log home? When you have it removed to install your new roof, pile it up in the back yard; it makes great kindling.

The pros of cedar shake roofing: They are beautiful. (But that is subjective.)

The cons: Expensive, not a very sustainable product, short life, and a fire hazard. Maintenance required. The factory warranty is virtually non-existent, when you read the exclusions. Workmanship/labor warranty would depend on the contractor doing the installation.

The Third Option: Metal Roofing

Log Home with Standing Seam Aluminum Metal Roof

Have you noticed that most of the Log Home Builders? and manufacturers? brochures and pictures on the web display their homes with beautiful metal roofs? There is a good reason for that. Metal roofing is the proven choice for log cabin style and timber frame homes. Not only does it look terrific, but some of them have a life expectancy of close to 100 years.

When we refer to metal roofing for residential installations, we are referring primarily of aluminum metal roofs. Zinc and copper are great options as well, but only for those with no budgetary restrictions. Aluminum is by far the best choice for longevity, energy efficiency, the environment, sustainability, and beauty. Most of the aluminum roofing today is made from recycled aluminum. If you have ever returned aluminum beverage cans to be recycled, there is a high probability those cans went into manufacturing our roofs. All of the aluminum roofs we install are Energy Star rated. These roofs are also ideal in wooded areas where fire threats exist. They have a Class A fire rating. These roofs also have the highest hail impact rating.

Aluminum metal roofing is available in many colors and profiles. The two most popular styles are standing seam and the Rustic shake. Both are ideal choices for your log home.

The cons: It costs more money initially.

Summary

The aluminum metal roofing option for your log cabin home gives you durability, beauty, color options, environmental friendliness, and a good return on your investment. What?s not to like?

Log Home Entrance with Rustic Aluminum ?Shake? Roof

It seems that sustainability is the trend and with government programs such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Design), the US Green Building Council?s certification for sustainable buildings already in practice, it is no surprise that those interested in home siding have also looked to greenness when it comes to restoration or replacement. At ASAP ROOFING, sustainability has always been important, as has been educating consumers about sustainable choices in the market.

So let?s take a look at what we can do when it comes to home siding the green way.

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So what are the ?good? options?

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1. Masonry: Masonry production bears relatively little impact on the environment, being composed of brick, natural stone, and manufactured stone (a cement-based product poured into molds and finished to look like real stone). Because it is fire resistant, and durable, masonry takes little to maintain. To improve the sustainability of this choice even further, look for salvage or recycled brick or stone.

2. Stucco: Because stucco today uses what is known as EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System), a synthetic stucco applied over foam insulation boards on the outside of the house, it results in a significant energy savings. Additionally, it typically does not ever need repainting, and is less likely to crack than traditional stucco, and provides good resistance to fire.

3. Wood: Woods like cedar, redwood, and cypress have a great resistance to moisture and insects, use less energy to manufacture,a are made from a renewable resource, and result is relatively no waste as other industries can always use scrap wood. While scrap siding can often be reused, wood siding does have some drawbacks. Requiring painting every five to ten years, maintenance requirements can be high, and the harvesting of trees does cause environmental damage. To protect these precious forests, your best bet is to choose Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified siding, or reclaimed wood siding, which is typically milled from lumber salvaged from old buildings and other structures.

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As always, the professionals at ASAP ROOFING would be glad to help you find the most sustainable siding option for your home. Just visit them atahttp://asaproofing.com/.

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Written by Nick Dorotik

nick@asaproofing.com

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What are the options if an insurance adjuster denies my roof damage claim.

I was recently asked by one of my new clients, ?If everyone of the roofs on my block is getting replaced, what is the chance that mine is the only one that did not sustain damage? My adjuster said it did not have enough damage to replace the roof.?
My answer was to allow us to inspect it to determine if the tree coverage or angle of the home was such that it prevented his home from damage. As it turned out, his roof had obvious damage. We suggested that he call the claims office for a reinspection by an insurance representative in which we would be present to discuss and document the damages along with the adjuster.

It?s Time to Get a Re-inspection of The Roof

He decided to call his insurance carrier back, who readily agreed to send another adjuster out to inspect it. This time we were there to look at it together. The weather conditions were good, and the new adjuster documented the damages and totaled the roof.
A common practice is to count the number of hail marks within a 10 x10 square. Depending on the selection of slope or exact location in which they choose to place their square, the results can be skewed. It has been our experience that most adjusters want to be fair to the insured,a but at times we encounter the one who refuses to be reasonable and finds the only 10╫10 area without enough visible damage so they can deny the roof. Usually we get calls from clients after this meeting has taken place without our representation. Either way, if you or your roofer feels that the roof damages that were overlooked, it is better to call the claims office for a rein spection. Please read the next section to make sure that your roofer is qualified to make the assessment of whether or not you really do have damage to your roof. If you really have damage than a second inspection is in order.

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Make Sure that You Really Have Functional Damage

We recommend for homeowners that are workingawithaa roofing company in Denver or Colorado Springs to make sure that the contractor hasaroof inspectors that are certified by Haag Engineering. This organization is the forensics expert in the insurance storm restoration industry. There is not another organization that has as much experience as Haag. These are the guys that have helped to developed many standards in the roofing and insurance industry. For instance Haag helped in developingatesting measurements to determine if a shingle is able to withstand hail impacts. They routinely bring in different shingles from various manufacturers to test these shinglesaand metal productsaby propelling ice balls at highaspeeds and examining the shingles and metal panels for damage. It?s important to work with a roof inspector that can truly identify real hail damage. For some contractors every roof has hail damage. All because you have missing granules or a few shingles are missing it doesn?t justify a total roof replacement. A roof repair might be all that?s needed and the cost of the repair may be less than your deductible. If the repair is less than the deductible we?d recommend to not call for a re-inspection.

Obviously if you don?t have legitimate damage on the roof than it doesn?t make sense to pursue a re-inspection. However if the roof has legitimate damage that has been validated by a single certified inspector than it?s worth pursuing the second inspection. I need to clarify this point. Even if you have many roofers that stop by and make a claim that your roof has sustained damage it doesn?t mean that you actually have damage. The only way to know is to have an inspection performed by an ethical inspector certified by Haag Engineering. Please ask them to provide images of the actual damage on the roof. Ask them to clarify with you what the damage is and if the roof has real functional damage that has even created punctures or tears that may create a leak. Another type of functional damage is when the roof systems like expectancy has diminished significantly because of the hail impacts. If your roof has significant wind damage similar principles will apply. The inspector will follow guide lines that have been established by Haag and will let you know the true condition of your roof.

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Appraisal Process May be Invoked if the Adjuster Can?t See the Actual Damage

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The appraisal process is typically invoked as a final resolution to a disputed claim. Some Denver roofing companies may have appraisers that are willing to hire themselves out in a disputed case between the adjuster and roofer. The appraisal process is continually changing and what was law yesterday may be different tomorrow. The appraisal may or may not address scope, pricing and the cause of damage. The policyholder would have to read the appraisal clause to determine what their rights are. In addition, a policyholder should contact their insurance carrier to discuss their rights. They may need to go past their agent and contact a manager in the claims department to determine their rights under their current policy.

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Find a Roofing Company in Denver That is Qualified to Work With Your Insurance Company

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The hiss of the coffee pot awakens Mike. He?d fallen asleep at the table. His left hand falling inches away from the brim of his bowl of Frosted Flakes. He shudders awake, checking his teeth with his tongue. He?d been having that dream again? where his tooth is loose and he wiggles it with his tongue until it falls out into his palm. He hates that dream. Hates how real it feels. Hates the control it has over him that makes him verify his molars are still in place after he wakes up.

He shovels in the last few spoonfuls of now soggy Frosted Flakes, dumps the hot coffee into his to-go mug, and heads out to his truck.

The morning is beautiful. It?s January, but the air is warm.aIt?dabeen raining all week, but today there?s sunshine. The grass is a vibrant green, the air smells like tea leaves. He spots the Water Tower in the distance, the sun reflecting off the surface as it rises. He thinks of his sister and brother-in-law in Wisconsin. The poor suckers were hit with a snowstorm again this week. Their morning there would consist of a long defrost cycle, raw fingers from scraping the ice from the windows, and a white-knuckle drive through the slippery roads. Mike is grateful he?s stayed in Texas all these years. There was a time where he debated leaving for a while, maybe try out California for a bit, but now he can?t imagine ever leaving. It?s home.

As he drives down his street, he goes over his schedule in his mind: first appointment at the Ackles, shingle samples in tow.aHe?s gotta check in with Mike on the Palmer?s order, return a few calls he put through to voicemail.aSecond stop is Mr. Mavis??a tricky one. What was described by the customer as a ?major crisis? was actually water leaking into his home office. ?It ruined my framed diploma!? he?d barked. Mike was pretty sure the college could send him a new one, but he didn?t tell him that. Sympathy he showed, and sympathy he had, in all honesty. Mike watched as these homeowners shelved over twenty and thirty grand for new roof. For a man who knew what it was like to eat rice and beans four days out of the week, who had to skip butter when his budget wouldn?t allow for it, thirty grand was a fortune. At the same time, the customers had to understand that things happen. But for thirty grand, they argue, they shouldn?t.

Mike makes a mental note to save his energy for that appointment, stop in to Dunkin Donuts for a caffeine pick-me-up before making the trek out there.

Mike turns up the music on his truck when he hits HWY6 , hoping it?ll wake him up a bit. Luke Bryan sings about some party and some girl and Mike drums along at a stoplight. When work slows down a bit, he tells himself, he?ll get ahold of his buddies. They?ll plan a trip somewhere?camping at some lake?or maybe Cancun. He could use a beach and a margarita, wouldn?t even be embarrassed by his farmer?s tan. He would love to rock to sleep in a hammock with the waves crashing in the distance and the smell of sunscreen and sweat surrounding him.

?Now, I don?t have my own HGTV show, but if you want my professional opinion, I?d go with the stonewood. Browns and reds are the most popular and this one here is real sharp, goes with any style house.?

It?ll slow down, Mike knows. But should he want it to? Is it right to complain about lots of business? They?ve been swamped lately. Every roofer booking jobs they can?t get to for a month or two. There?s a ton of demand for roofs right now and simply not enough time to do them all. He hates to turn down the customers. Hates to shoot down a client who may come back when they need business. When the inevitable slow-season rolls around. So for now, he works. And he likes it. The job is rewarding?the before and after he can see, the progress he can feel. Sure he?s no surgeon saving lives, but a reliable roof over a family?s head, that?s something to be proud of. Helping eradicating the belief that all contractors are lazy scam artists, that?s a bonus too. He works hard, does good work, and people notice.

Still, a little reprieve would be nice. Give him some time to spend with his wife. Spoil her with fancy steakhouse dinners and nights out. Who knows, he might even give in andalet her get him on the dance floor. Watch her hair sway to the music, her eyes all lit up with excitement.

He knows he?s at the Ackles? house when he sees a cluster of balloons tied around the mailbox, mostly deflated and tiny, bouncing on the grass. The youngest of the brood had a birthday party last weekend, they?d had to move the service appointment since a crew was coming to set up a moon bounce and poor Mrs. Ackles was way over her head. She has five boys, all under the age of eight, and each with enough energy to charge an entire Kindergarten class for a day. They spent every second running and screaming and wreaking havoc. They were polite enough kids, curious things. The first time he?d stopped in to scope out the extent of their roof repair, they?d poked their heads in one by one to inquire what he was doing and how he would fix it.

Mike rings the doorbell and with it comes a deluge of sounds. Their husky begins to bark and barrel towards the door, his nailsaclackingaon the hardwood floor. A bevy of voices immediately follow, all the boys streaming, ?Mom!? and ?Door!? at the top of their lungs. When Mrs. Ackles answers the door, Mike expects her to look overwhelmed?eyes manic and hair disheveled, her arms full of toys and bottles and apple slices?but instead she greets him perfectly poised, thriving in the chaos that has become her life.

?Hello Mike!? She remembered his name. That wasn?t always the case.

?Good morning, ma?am. Beautiful morning.?

?That it is. I promised the boys we?d rake up some leaves for them to jump in. I told them we?d start as soon as you arrived, and look at that, you?re early!?

Mrs. Ackles red-hair gene was passed onto all the boys. Each one fair skinned and freckled, they?re hair a vibrant red. Mike had heard somewhere that natural redheads would phase out in a few decades or so, but the Ackles were single-handedly keeping them from extinction.

Mike patted his pockets looking for the samples he?d brought. ?Mrs. Ackles, I have your color options here.? He presented the stack to her and she took the pile from him, slipping on her glasses.

?Now, I don?t have my own HGTV show, but if you want my professional opinion, I?d go with the stonewood. Browns and reds are the most popular and this one here is real sharp, goes with any style house.?

Mrs. Ackles nodded and shuffled through the samples, giving it ample thought. He couldn?t blame her?this was something she?d have to live with for the rest of the time she lived in this house, but he wished she?d hurry along. Mrs. Ackles was more indecisive than his average clients. Usually, they picked quickly. They knew if they wanted light or dark and instead got hung up on whether to go with traditional shingles or metal, but the color was easy. Not Mrs. Ackles. This was his third trip to the house.a He?d completed all his paperwork, the whole order, but just had the color option left to fill out. They had to get the order submitted though, or the work would be delayed, which is why he came prepared with popular samples?not too many to overwhelm, but enough to cover all the bases. He could see evidence of her indecisiveness around the house?the living room dΘcor a mix of rustic and classic; a breakfast table spread consisting of four different versions of Cheerios; on his first visit to the house he caught her hanging curtains with three packages ofacolor-optionsasitting unopened on the window seat, likely returning the ones she didn?t like.

?You really think this one is best?? Mrs. Ackles asked, holding the sample an arm?s distance away as if envisioning it on the roof.

Mike fumbled for his iPad. ?I do, ma?am, but here, I?ve got a picture of a house we just finished up. The style is similar to yours. They even have the same shade of red on the front door.? He swiped through a few images before settling on the image he wanted. ?There, see how nice that is? That?s the same shingle as you?re holding in your hand?stonewood.?

?Wow that is nice.?

The oldest son sauntered into the room. His nose dripping with snot and his eyes red from tears. ?Mama,? he said so softly Mike was surprised she heard him, ?I can?t find Cassie. She didn?t eat any of the food I left out, and I even brought some milk and she didn?t come.?

The oldest son sauntered into the room. His nose dripping with snot and his eyes red from tears. ?Mama,? he said so softly Mike was surprised she heard him, ?I can?t find Cassie. She didn?t eat any of the food I left out, and I even brought some milk and she didn?t come.?

She turned to Mike, ?Cassie is a stray cat that comes around. We can?t have them in the house since Paul is deathly allergic, but the boys love her.?

Mike nodded and smiled. To the boy he said, ?Have you tried ham? My cat growing up would come running from any room in the house if anyone had a slice of ham around. She loved the salt.?

Jake looked up to his mother, eyes wide. ?Do we have any??

?We?ll get some at the store this morning, but first we have to pick a color. Now you tell me, I?m only asking you because you?re the oldest. I have it narrowed down to two choices?do you like stonewood or aged oak better??

Jake didn?t hesitate. ?That one,? he declared, pointing.

Mrs. Ackles turned to Mike, ?Well, stonewood it is.?

Mike had just fastened his seat belt, paperwork for the Ackles submitted and the repair scheduled, when his phone rang.

?Hi, this is Mike.?

?Mike, this is Tom Richman. Eric Reynolds gave me your number, said you helped him out of a bind with his roof last year??aThe man seemed panicked, like he was at a bank during a heist and had a gun to his head.

?Yeah, I know Mr. Reynolds,? Mike offered. ?What can I do for you??

?Ahh, It?s bad. Got a real situation here with my roof, I guess. Or at least I think it?s my roof. Water?s coming in, I?m not sure where from. It?s supposed to rain tonight so?? He spoke fast, rapid-fire sentences. It was like a 911 call and his car was filling with water.

?I?m worried about the walls,? he continued, ?the mold? my son, he?s got asthma and this is just, oh man, a recipe for disaster. Could you stop by and take a look??

Mike was waiting for that question. Of course, he knew where this was going. He had another job in an hour. His stomachagurgledaas if on cue, eager for an early lunch. If he hit the drive-thru on the way to his next appointment, he might have thirty minutes to spare, maybe, depending on where this guy lived. He wanted to say no, he really had no time and his next job was going to be a tough one, but the guy seemed so panicked.

?Uh, I?m real booked today. Not sure I?d be able.?

?Please, you gotta help me. I have to get this taken care of. If you can just tell me if it?s really bad, maybe I can fix it myself. I just don?t want to have just anyone do it. Eric said you guys were great. I?m embarrassed to say I?m begging.?

Mike put his car in drive, headed out of the Ackles? neighborhood. ?What?s your address??

?I?m by the university, just past West Campus.?

?Ok, I?ll be there in 20 minutes.?

Tom met him at his truck before he?d even turned it off. ?Hey man, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.? He wore a button down and dry-clean only slacks. On his way to the office when disaster struck, Mike presumed.

?Not a problem, let?s have a look.? Mike had eyed the roof when he?d pulled up, it wasn?t new, that was for sure, but there weren?t any obvious problems at least from the street.

?Not a problem, let?s have a look.? Mike had eyed the roof when he?d pulled up, it wasn?t new, that was for sure, but there weren?t any obvious problems at least from the street.

?It does look like it?s seeping into the wall. Probably minimal damage if we stop the leak. Mind if I take a look up top??

Five minutes later, Mikeafound himself on the roof, eyeing the clock. He had to hurry. The view from the top was spectacular. He could see the railroad tracks and cars parked on University Drive. Mike craved a lawn chair and a beer, but he didn?t have time even to take in the sights. A quick inspection and he could easily deduce the chimney needed a repair. Some shingles were cracked around the base and there was a section that?d have to be ripped out to see what the root of the problem was. Nothing he could do today?this fix would require a specific chimney guy.

Mike wondered how bad it was for doctors telling their patients bad news. It had to be worse than telling homeowners they were in need of a costly repair, and that was never easy. Sometimes, they got hostile. ?Are you sure I can?t fix this? You?re not scamming me, right?? Mike doubted that doctors had to field the same questions, but maybe.

?Ok, here?s the story,? Mike started as soon as he made it back to ground level. He didn?t have time to ease him into the idea. ?You need a repair. Can?t say how much it?ll be or what the scope of the damage is since it?s definitely a chimney problem. Schulte Roofing doesn?t work on chimneys, unfortunately. So here?s what I?m going to do. I have another job I have to get to, but if you can buy a tarp I?ll head back here when I?m done. I?ll tarp the roof for you, keep you dry, it should get you through the storm. When I get back to the office, I?ll ask the other guys for a good name of a chimney guy who can fix this, I?ll give him a call and let him know what I think the problem is so it?ll maybe save you the trouble of having him come out here twice. We?ll at least keep you dry tonight.?

Tom nodded, taking all the information in. His eyes showed a mixture of shock and appreciation.

?I appreciate that. I have no idea where to start trying to find a chimney guy.?

?No problem, I have someone in mind, just need his contact info from the office.?

?Great, what do I owe you today??

Always the first question. Mike smiled. ?Nothing today. If you end up needing a roof repair too, you can hire us then. I just need you to head to Home Depot or wherever and get a big heavy-duty tarp, thicker than the one you got in your living room. Leave it out here on the porch and I?ll swing by and set it up for you.?

Tom sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, ?Wow, that?d be great. Thank you.?

?No problem, I don?t want to add more stress to you.? Mike reached for his card and handed it to Tom. ?Now I really gotta run, but here?s my number. Call me if you have trouble finding the right tarp, I?ll be back here in a few hours.?

Mike smirked as he headed to his truck, laughing at his super-hero exit. It was the right thing to do and Mike knew it was these small gestures that led to return business and referrals. He checked the time. If there wasn?t any lunch-time traffic, he could sneak in one drive-thru burger and some caffeine.

He?d need the caffeine for this job. He was hoping the client just had a fondness for dramatics and his description of the crisis, as he called it, was really minor and fixable. Mike crossed his fingers but if he showed up to this job and saw that all their work had only solved the problem temporarily and they were back at square one, he?d have to consider that maybe they?d diagnosed the problem wrong from the start.

The client, Roy Mavis, was a BBQ master in town. He owned a restaurant with the best ribsain the city, but he lived modestly. Although he could probably make a fortune marketing his BBQ sauce, getting on that show Shark Tank or something, he was content managing the kitchen at his one and only location, mingling with the customers. He was fair, tough, and reasonable, and he expected to be treated with the same decency.

?There he is,? Roy announced when he answered the door. ?The man of the hour.? He poked his head over Mike?s shoulder, glancing behind him. ?Forgive me,? he explained, ?I?m just checking to see if you brought your magic wand.? Roy laughed, enjoying his game, but Mike was unaffected.

?I certainly hope I did. I?ll do my best. Now, show me where the problem is.?

Roy took Mike around back where a ladder was already set up. A couple weeks ago they?d had a whole team of guys out there working on Roy?s roof. Mike booked the job though, he found the problem, offered a solution, so it was his guilt to bear if there was a residual problem. After just three minutes on the roof, Mike knew that his fears were justified. The roof was mess. Virtually all their hard work had come undone. He?d seen this problem before, time and time again. The chimney and the foundation had shifted. This happens when dry conditions suddenly become wet or when water gets in there and freezes. This causes leaks all the time. Thankfully, it wasn?t a craftsmanship issue. He couldn?t be blamed for this problem, it was the chimney?s fault. But how would he explain that to Roy?

?So Doc, what?s the verdict??
Roy asked as Mike made his way down.

Mike shook his head, ?It?s not looking good.? He explained the problem to Roy and the likely costs to fix it. The issue was with the chimney, not their work, and it was going to be a lot more man hours and labor costs than they?d expected. Roy listened carefully, but he?d prepared himself for bad news. When Mike was done with his apologies and explanation, Roy spoke:

Mike shook his head, ?It?s not looking good.? He explained the problem to Roy and the likely costs to fix it. The issue was with the chimney, not their work, and it was going to be a lot more man hours and labor costs than they?d expected. Roy listened carefully, but he?d prepared himself for bad news. When Mike was done with his apologies and explanation, Roy spoke:

?Look, you seem like a good guy, and I?m not knocking you, but the issue I have is that I was under the impression that you were going to fix the problem. I paid you to fix the problem. So you say the problem isn?t the work you did, but the fault of the chimney?am I supposed to just take your word on that or can someone else verify that??

Mike nodded. ?Yes, sir. Of course, let me call my boss and see if he can stop here. I don?t want you to just have to take my word for it.?

Ten minutes later, Mike was back in front of Roy. ?My boss is around the corner at another job so he?s going to stop by in ten minutes if that?s okay?? Roy nodded, ?Yes, sir.? He pointed to a chair across from him. ?Now take a seat, I?ve got a new chili recipe I?m trying out and you look starved.?

When Mike?s boss, Steven, arrived Mike had just finished the best bowl of chili he?d ever eaten and he let Roy know just that. ?Is that a bribe?? Steven asked as he eyed Mike?s empty bowl whileashaking Roy?s hand.aHe was joking. Steven had the untrained ability to read a room. He knew exactly when he could joke, when he shouldn?t and when he should be as direct as possible.

Steven cut to the chase, ?I don?t want to take any more of your time, but please catch me up on what I missed.? Roy gave him the same explanation he?d given Mike on the phone?the leaks, the damaged diploma, how Mike told him it wasn?t anything they did, but a deeper problem with the chimney that only became visible since the last freeze. Steven went up to the roof and surveyed the same damage that Mike did and his diagnosis was the same.

After Steven?s explanation, Roy spoke. ?Ok, so it?s the chimney. That makes sense to me how you explained it, and I trust you guys aren?t scamming me, I really do. My issue is that I was under the impression that I was getting a working roof. And yes, maybe the chimney you didn?t notice was a problem, but I paid for a working roof and I didn?t get that.?

Roy nodded slowly and reached out his hand to shake Steven?s, ?That seems fair. I appreciate your honesty, I truly do.?

Steven was aareasonableaguy and a great man to work for. So much of Mike?s customer services skills, he?d learned from Steven. Steven listened intently. He was upset that his company was being asked to take the hit on something they didn?t cause, but he only showed sympathy for Roy?s situation.

?Alright,? he said, uncrossing his arms. Turning to Roy he said, ?I?m so sorry that this didn?t work out like you planned. You thought you were getting a solution, you paid for a solution, and you didn?t get a solution. My guys here did give you a working roof though, and once you get a chimney guy in here to fix his part of it, who we will help you find, you?ll have your solution.?

Mike could see that Roy was listening. Steven was being calm and rational and Roy wasn?t bothered.

Steven continued, ?So it?s just one more step. And yes, it?s not what we had in mind and it?ll cost you more money, but it?s necessary. Mike here did a good job on his part of the work. That being said, once the chimney issue is resolved, we?ll have some of our guys come out here and install some flashing to fill in the gap that?ll be there between the chimney and the wall. And we?ll do that free of charge.?

Mike nodded at his boss, quietly thanking him. ?I?m happy to take care of the flashing. I feel awful that we couldn?t spot the chimney issue. Had the weather been different that day, maybe??

Roy nodded slowly and reached out his hand to shake Steven?s, ?That seems fair. I appreciate your honesty, I truly do.? He turned to Mike and shook his hand as well. ?Don?t beat yourself up, kid. I don?t blame you for this. Now I trust you all know a chimney guy who won?t charge me an arm and a leg?? Steven smiled, ?Yes sir, we?ll make sure you?re in good hands.?

?Great.? Roy took Mike?s now-empty bowl of chili and walked it behind the counter where he set it in a bin of dirty dishes, ?I have to say, your attitude is very refreshing. I?ve dealt with a contractor or two in my day and they?re often sneaky and selfish and send you through hoops. Y?all are better. Fair. I won?t let your etiquette go unnoticed! Everyavisitorato my restaurant is going to walk out with a full belly and a roofer recommendation.?

Steven laughed, ?Well, careful now, don?t tell too many. Mike here is already overworked as it is!?

As Steven and Mike walked back to their trucks, Mike was all ready to apologize but Steven wouldn?t hearait. aStevenathanked him for his work. Told him this good-gesture flashing work would end up bringing in more money in the long run.a?Don?t worry about it. Nothing you could?ve done differently.?

Steven opened his truck door.a?You headed back to the office??

?No, I gotta head back South. I?m tarping a roof for this guy. Another chimney issue. Told him I?d get him through the storm and a referral.?

?No cost??

?Naw. Later though. I think he?ll book us for it if the roof ends up needing work too.?

Steven nodded and got into theadriver?saseat, showing his approval.

Heastartedathe engine.a?Now Mike, listen here. I know you?ve been working hard, and I know you won?t listen to me because you haven?t the last three times I suggested it, but will you please take a vacation!? We can survive without you, I promise. I can?t have you burning out on me. Work/Life Balance is important.?

Mike smiled and headed towards his truck, ?Alright, Alright. I?ll think about it?maybe.?

As he drove back to Tom?s house, thunder crackled in the distant. Mike knew he needed to hurry, poor Tom was probably pulling hisahairaout.aBob Marley was playing on the radio and it made him think of margaritas, coconuts, andacrashingawaves. ?Soon,? he told himself and this time he was 70% sure he meant it.

Signs You Need to Replace Your Gutters

The first things you need to know about gutter replacement are the symptoms that it is time to finally replace your gutters. Some signs are obvious, but others may be a bit subtle. Look for the following:

• Damaged gutters and downspouts
• Rust or physical damage to your gutters
• Multiple repairs in a short amount of time
• Puddles around the foundation of your home

If you notice any of the above, have one of our licensed roofers take a look at your gutters and determine whether you need repair or complete replacement.

Gutter Replacement Process

The first step in the gutter replacement process is to get an estimate. Most companies will provide an estimate for free and can help you choose a type of gutter that matches the character of your home. Your old gutters will be removed, and any repairs that need to be made will be completed. Then your new gutters will be installed. If your roof needs any additional repairs, the best time to make them is before your new gutters are installed. If you have questions about the gutter replacement process, talk with our experienced roofers.

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