Whether to nail shingles by hand or using a nail gun is an argument that has been raging amongst roofing contractors for as long as nail guns have existed. There are an extensive number of contractors on both sides and they all have good points.

First Things First

Be aware that both options are approved by all shingle manufacturers and that the truth is that it comes down to preference of the contractor. Using one method over another will not void your warranty as long as your roof is installed properly.

Hand Nailing

Hand nailing proponents argue that the only proper way to maintain consistency and accuracy is to hammer each nail by hand and is the mark of a true craftsman. Hand nailing slows the process a bit, but an accurate hand-nailer will ensure that each nail is in the correct place and not under or over-driven.

Nail Guns

Modern nail guns maintain the accuracy of depth as long as the equipment is kept up to date and maintained properly. Nail guns also increase productivity and allow more of your roof to be completed in a day. A quality roofing contractor who cares about their customers will ensure that their equipment is in top shape and ready to handle any project thrown at them.

For more information on hand-nailing versus nail guns, call us today.

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If your building has rooftop equipment such as HVAC units or other mechanical items, you should only trust your roof to a trained professional. Rooftop equipment requires special skills to roof around properly, and in most cases, leaks on these roofs are caused by improper flashing of equipment.

Fully Qualified:

Your roof is probably not going to throw anything at us that we haven’t seen before, and we will quickly develop a plan to roof around or under any equipment that may reside on your roof. We have access to the equipment that will be needed to effectively move or lift equipment so that the roof installation can be completed properly.

We May Need a Crane:

In some cases, very large rooftop equipment may need to be lifted and moved out of the way in order to properly install your new roof, or repair a leak. In this case we will work with a crane company to plan to have the on-site to safely lift the equipment out of the way, then put it back in place when that portion of the roof is completed. As every scenario is different, we will need to see the project, so call us today to find out all that we can offer.

The post Roofing Around Equipment first appeared on Mastercraft Roofing & Construction - Free Inspection.

Avoiding Ponding Water

Ponding water on a low-slope roof can lead to premature degradation of the roofing material, and structural damage from the weight of the water standing on the roof. A ponding water situation should be addressed as soon as it is discovered because a leak is most likely to occur exactly where the water is ponding.

What Causes Ponding Water?

While your low-slope roof was likely designed with a slight pitch to drain water, over time the building settles and lessens the effectiveness of the slope.

How do We Remedy a Ponding Situation?

Every roof is completely different and we will need to see yours in order to devise a plan to keep it from leaking and remedy the ponding situation. Don’t hesitate to call us today for a free inspection.

The post Why Does My Roof Leak Long After The Rain Ends? first appeared on Mastercraft Roofing & Construction - Free Inspection.

Improper drainage from your roof can cause catastrophic roof failure and/or damage to your building’s structure. A gallon of water weighs over 8 pounds, and if your roof is not displacing a majority of the water from a rainstorm, your roof can very quickly become an enormous burden on the structure of your building.

Proper, Positive Drainage:

Low-Slope roofing is designed to have a positive drainage in one or more directions so that water has the ability to leave the roof. Water may drain directly to a gutter system, or if your building has parapet walls, through a system of scupper drains prior to draining into gutters. Should any of these items become clogged by leaves, debris or ice, the resulting trapped water can tear the roof membrane or worse.

An Inspection is Needed:

Every building with a low-slope roof should be inspected for proper roof drainage regularly. We are happy to take a look at your roof system to ensure that as your building has aged, it has not shifted to a point that water no longer drains properly. Also, you need to be certain that your gutter system is capable of displacing the water from your roof by regularly cleaning downspouts and gutters. Call us today to schedule an inspection and we will check the entire system for you and devise a plan before it is too late.

The post Proper Roof Drainage first appeared on Mastercraft Roofing & Construction - Free Inspection.