12 Questions You Should Discuss with Your Contractor before Beginning your Re-roofing project

The roof of your home is of primary importance in protecting it from the elements. When re-roofing becomes necessary there are many things to consider. Here are some important questions you should discuss with your contractor before beginning the project:

  • How should I prepare my family members and pets for activity and noise caused by this project?
  • What preparations need to be made outside my home to make way for construction to begin?
  • How long should I expect this roofing project to take?
  • Do my rain gutters, solar panels, satellite dish, etc. need to be removed for roof installation? If these items can’t be done by the contractor, who needs to do it?
  • Do I need to be at home while this project is underway? What parts of my home does the contractor need access to?
  • What is the protocol if needs for additional repairs, that are not part of the contract, come up during course of the roofing project? Will those things be discussed along with additional charges before moving ahead?
  • Do I need to prepare the inside of my home for my roofing project? (Removing pictures from walls, protecting furniture from dust, etc.)
  • What consequences will roofing have to the inside of my home, such as cracking sheetrock? Does your contractor take care of those occurrences as part of his contract?
  • What will the condition of my property be when the project is finished? Will clean up of debris be complete or should I expect to find pieces left on my lawn and in my flower beds? Does your contractor use a magnet to pick up nails/ staples from lawn, driveway and flower beds?
  • Will my roof look and perform its best as soon as it is installed or should I allow a period of time for roofing material to seal and conform to the roof with the heat of the sun?
  • What happens if it rains while my roofing project is underway?
  • When is my final payment due? Will I be provided with an itemized invoice and warranty information?

Good communication between you and your contractor will go a long way in assuring a successful outcome for your roofing project.

Infographic: Eco-Friendly Portland Roofing

Eco-Friendly-Roofing-FinalThree Great Eco-Friendly Portland Roofing Options you Should Know About

It’s important to protect your home from the elements, and the roof of your home is of primary importance in making sure to keep the weather out and keeping heating and cooling in. If you’re considering a new roof, there’s a wide variety of eco-friendly Portland roofing options on the market, many of them designed to last 50 years or more.

Recycled Metal Portland Roofing

Recycled metal roofing products provide many attractive advantages. They are beautiful, durable and shed snow buildup. Recycled metal roofing systems protect your roof from wind-blown sparks and embers, leading the way in home fire protection, and often netting discounts from insurance providers.

Many of the recycled metal roofing products also come with a high-tech coating which creates a cooler, more efficient home due to the special reflective pigments embedded in the finish. Homeowners with recycled metal roofing products have reported saving up to 20% or more on their energy costs and many of these products are Energy Star rated which translates into nice tax savings.

Recycled Rubber Portland Roofing

Sustainable roofing products made from recycled rubber tires are a beautiful and practical choice in the Pacific Northwest. These products are rain, wind, hail, impact and fire-resistant. As an added bonus, many homeowners comment on the difference the product has made in keeping their homes cooler in the summertime, and also about the superior sound-deadening qualities these products have to offer.

Recycled rubber roofing was developed with the goal of diverting and re-purposing the tremendous deluge of used tires ultimately destined for the landfill. Between 600 and 1,000 rubber tires are used in the production of a roof for an average sized home. Once the roof has reached the end of its life it can be once again recycled. Scrap material generated during the installation process can be collected and recycled again, virtually eliminating environmentally harmful waste from entering the landfills.

Recycled Synthetic Portland Roofing

Whether you are in your home for two years or 30 years or more, recycled composite products can add to the resale value of your home with excellent performance. What make these roofing products so durable are the reclaimed materials used to manufacture the shingles including post-industrial plastics, crumb rubber from tires, and natural fibers, creating durable and environmentally friendly building material. These products are generally resistant to warping, rotting, cracking, and blistering, and can be installed over plywood or skip sheathing. These products are also resistant to hail, moss, mildew, and insects, making them ideal for the weather conditions in the Pacific Northwest region

Advancement in recycled roofing materials and demand in the Portland, Oregon marketplace has made eco-friendly roofing a viable option for homeowners. If you’re interested, contact a roofer specializing in these products to find out if eco-friendly roofing materials will suit your project.

Portland Home Show-Renovation & Remodeling Show

Portland Home Show-Renovation & Remodeling Show – March 11th thru the 13th at Portland Memorial Coliseum

2011 Portland Home & Garden Show

Portland Home & Garden Show – February 23rd thru the 27th, 2011 at the Portland Expo Center

2011 Portland Build, Remodel & Landscaping Show

Portland Build, Remodel & Landscaping Show – January 7th thru the 9th, 2011 at the Oregon Convention Center

The Future of Roofing is Here

Published: 10/1/2008, Portland Homes Magazine

Now available in Oregon and SW Washington.

In today’s convenience-driven society, it is no wonder that Enviroshake® composite-engineered roofing is quickly becoming the future of roofing. With an Enviroshake® roofing system, homeowners will enjoy a roof that simulates the classic look of an antique cedar shake roof with many additional benefits that make it an ideal product for homes in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

It will not warp, rot, crack, or blister like other roofing materials, and can be installed over plywood or skip sheathing. Resistance to hail, moss, mildew, and insects makes it ideal for weather conditions throughout the area. You can walk on it without risk or damage. making it safer for homeowners who need to work on or clean debris from the rooftop. It also comes with a 50-year, non-prorated transferable warranty, ensuring your roof will be maintained the entire time you reside in your home or be passed on to the next lucky homeowner.

Whether you are in the home for two years or 20 years, Enviroshake® dramatically adds to the resale value of your home with excellent performance. What makes this roofing so durable are the reclaimed materials used to manufacture the shingles, including post-industrial plastics, crumb rubber from tires, and natural fibers, which make it a durable and environmentally friendly building material.

Manufactured by Wellington Polymer Technology in Ontario, Canada, it has been recognized by the Canadian Plastics Industry Association as an example of how plastic based products are helping the environment. With the promise of a roofing system that is durable, earth-friendly, and a great investment. Enviroshake® is taking its place in the market as the standard in cedar shake roofing alternative. Most recently, it has not only become recognized by homeowners, but also neighborhood and homeowners associations.

The demand for the benefits and features of a product such as Enviroshake® will only continue to climb as more consumers come to expect more durable, low-maintenance, hassle-free, worry-free, and earth-friendly products, making Enviroshake® the future of roofing. Its custom molded ridge caps cedar-like appeal give any roof a unique beauty that sets it apart from the rest of the neighborhood.

Winner of Sunriver Getaway

Congratulations to Bill Weller of Seaview, WA. He is the winner of the Keith Green Construction, Inc./ 1190 KEX Fall Home Show drawing for the fabulous weekend getaway to Sunriver Resort.

Saving Our Planet

Published: 4/30/2007, Portland Homes Magazine

When it’s time for a new roof, we usually ask ourselves all the right questions. What kind of roof is best for my home? What color and style choices do I have and how long will it last? How much maintenance will the new roof require? Will it consistently keep my house insulated from the elements?

After discovering the answers to these questions, we may feel we’ve done all the research needed to choose a new roof. But there are some questions we now have the responsibility to ask that we may not have considered before. Will my new roof help create a cleaner environment? Is it possible to buy a roof that is environmentally friendly and cost effective?

Luckily for us, there is finally a roofing system that satisfies everything we are looking for. You can now purchase a roof that not only outlasts, outshines, and generally outperforms any previous one, it is also made from recycled materials and is completely recyclable. Finally, roofing systems for a greener world: EuroShake® and EuroSlate® by GEM, Inc.

EuroShake®/EuroSlate® is a roofing system consisting of environmentally friendly, lightweight, tongue and groove tiles that are made mostly from recycled rubber tires and plastics. The system comes with two style options: shake, in a variety of colors that are designed to produce the weathered appearance of cedar shake roofs, or slate, designed to emulate the classic stone tiles that so many homeowners love on their roofs.

Environmental Benefits

EuroShake®/EuroSlate® is one of the most planet-friendly roofing systems available, preventing tires from being deposited into our landfills.

EuroShake®/EuroSlate® is also almost completely renewable. When a roof reaches the end of its life, the tiles can be recycled into new roofing materials. The environmental benefits are clear: decreased landfill waste as production begins combined with renewable materials when the roof is finally replaced (half a century later) contributes to a cleaner, greener world.

Homeowner Benefits

This cost effective rubber roof is weather and fire resistant, and easily installed by certified distributors. It will not rust, split, crack, or lift.

EuroShake®/ EuroSlate® roofs can be walked on, yet are unusually lightweight at less than 4 lbs. per square foot. They require lower maintenance, and will last about four times longer than an average roof EuroShake®/EuroSlate® comes with a 50-year transferable manufacturer’s warranty, so the next owner of the home will have the security of knowing the roof will continue to remain strong, durable, and beautiful year after year.

When it’s time to sell your property, your EuroShake®/EuroSlate® roof increases your home’s resale value by adding to the design, beauty, and durability of your property.

Living Green Expo at OMSI

Published: 04/24/2006, SolarOregon

Living green means making choices in our day-to-day lives that enhance, rather than just reduce, our impact on the environment. KINK’s Living Green Expo is a two-day event held at OMSI May 12-13 that will feature more than 20 community partners offering information, ideas, resources, and motivation to live green and maintain a more sustainable lifestyle. The event is free with paid general museum admission and will run during regular museum hours 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day.

Exhibitors at this event include; Keith Green Construction, World Forestry Center, Energy Trust, Clif Bar, Chipotle, Classique Floors, Tri-Met, Metro Regional Government and Recycling, Clean Water Services, River City Bicycles, Pioneer Organics, Parr Lumber, Flex Car, Rose City Mortgage, E-Tech Recycling, Dry Cleaning Station, The Platinum Team Keller Williams representing Fieldstone Communities, Terra Clean, Milgard Windows, Mr. Solar, Oregon Environmental Council, Garden Pearls, Pro Grass, Sustainable Business Network, LivingScape Nursery, Green Print, SOLV (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism), and ECO Quest.

Additionally several workshops throughout the weekend will be offered to learn more about solar power, green building, volunteerism and the kid-friendly River Rangers program.