James Hardie fiber cement siding products lead the market in Tacoma, WA. With their climate engineered lap, panel and shake products you cant go wrong trusting Hardie products on your home or business. Below is a simple show case of their primary products. 

Color Plus Hardie Plank 

Are you preparing to have your roof replaced? A very critical aspect of roof replacement is making sure the attic is vented properly. Over the years we have seen really good roofers make the huge mistake of replacing roofs with perfect technical installation skills but fail to properly address attic ventilation calculations. You will see in the diagrams below why proper attic ventilation is so important. 

As you can see in diagram 1 when an attic is not properly vented the hot air from your home gets stuck in the attic. The heat trapped in the attic in turn over heats your home. Not only does this "cook" the roof and reduce the life of the shingles and roofing system drastically, it also causes your energy bill to skyrocket due to the cost of running the air conditioner more to keep the temperature down. 

In diagram 2 you will see possibly the most destructive side effect of improper venting.  Everyday household activities such as showering, cooking and heating the house releases heat and moisture into the attic. Its very common to see an attic that is not properly vented take on moisture and begin to condensate. Condensation can be the worst nightmare of a building structure. The damp atmosphere and water damages wood and other properties compromising the framing, insulation and other items. 

To avoid the issues shown above make sure you or your contractor addresses the ventilation of your home. They should get into your attic to make sure your insulation is not blocking the eave/soffit vents. You should also make sure your exhaust, which is typically AF-50 vents or ridge vents meet recommended calculations. Here is a simple and common attic vent calculation (please check local codes which always supersede principals): 

From the GAF website: 

Use this calculator to help determine the proper amount of attic ventilation based on U.S. FHA 1/300 guidelines.

• Proper attic ventilation consists of a balance between air intake (at your eaves, soffits or fascias) and air exhaust (at or near your roof ridge).
• The U.S. Federal Housing authority recommends a minimum of at least 1 square foot of attic ventilation (evenly split between intake and exhaust) for every 300 square feet of attic floor space.
• Always have a balanced ventilation system. In no case should the amount of exhaust ventilation exceed the amount of intake ventilation.

NOTE: The 1/300 rule is a general rule and does not apply to all situations. Local building codes, when stricter, take precedence. Always consult a design professional for cathedral ceilings, insulated roof decks, etc.

Thank you for reading our Reliable Contractors Network blog! Do you have some critical information to add to the post or a preferred method of venting? Please comment below. 

For those of you that are thinking about having your roof replaced in the near future you likely have a thousand questions and concerns. You are sure to experience a wide variety of companies and sales personalities as you interview them all to see who is the right fit. In the last few decades we have seen a shift in the contractor base. They way business is operated has changed, from the warranties, systems, technology to the tools that are used to install new roofing systems. One of the items that is now playing a major role in roofing contractor service offerings are "manufacturer certifications." Im sure if you have interviewed a few roofers you have heard this phrase or seen their certificates. So what exactly does this mean?

It is quite interesting really to see the shift in generations in the industry. There is a group of old school roofing contractors that have been around for a long time that are not interested in contractor certifications and upgraded system warranties. Those things did not exist for the first 30 years they were banging nails on roof tops. It was a hand shake, a pick up truck and their crew, oh yes and a napkin to scribble out a quick agreement. Its a completely different ball game in the current landscape. Manufacturers such as GAF, IKO, Malarkey, Owens Corning and CertainTeed have created certified contractor programs where they partner with great local roofing contractors all over the Nation and equip them to provide top notch service. Here are a few reasons why hiring a certified roofing contractor is a good idea: 

This largest and perhaps most important difference for you the consumer when you hire a certified contractor is the warranty offerings. Here is a very simple breakdown to help you understand the gap in warranty offerings. 

Non Certified: Provides limited lifetime shingle, first 10 years non-prorated against material defects only. From year 11-50 the value of the warranty coverage goes down every year. 

Certified: Provides approved system and a 50 year non prorated warranty against material defects. The warranty does not pro-rate within the 50 year time frame. 

If you are ready to replace your roof a certified roofer is the only way to go. Contact us today by filling out our contact form on the link below and we will connect you with award winning, pre-verified roofing contractors in your area. 

Are you considering a home remodel project in the near future? Whether you are planning to create a more comfortable living space to enjoy in your forever home or updating to increase the value of your home for a sale in the near future, its important to know just how much return you are going to get on your investment. Below is a chart generated from http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2017/pacific/ that shows the National average cost for each type of remodel and the return you can expect. 

The highest return on investment comes in the form of attic insulation. Recently the required R insulation value for homes in Washington State was increased. Adding blown in insulation to your attic gets the A+ grade for ROI because of its energy savings ability. Increased insulation keeps your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the Summer reducing the need to use your heater and air conditioner. Less energy use keeps more money in your pocket making this home improvement project the one of only three on  the list with over a 100% ROY (122.8%) return in the Pacific Northwest. 

At number two on our ROI chart is manufactured stone veneer. Stone veneer can be used to accent pillars on your porch, siding or used on your entire entry way. It adds a rich and rustic look to your home and yields a whopping 106.7%

Coming in at number 3 on our ROI list is replacing your entry door with a steel option. The durability of steel doors is second to none. They also offer great energy efficiency and some models come with fire rating as well. By providing a 101.3% ROI at a low cost this is a project that should be seriously considered if your renovating to increase your property value. 

Reliable Contractors is not only committed to connecting consumers with top rated service professionals, we are also passionate about educating consumers and helping you to make wise choices for your projects. Stay in touch with us for more home improvement tips by following our social media outlets and home improvement blog. In the near future we will also be providing a monthly newsletter that will provide remodel tips, DIY hacks and special coupons for services offered by our partner contractors only accessible through Reliable Contractors. 

If you are planning on having any type of contractor work done on your home or business make sure you take the proper steps to verify they are right for the job. We hope this tool helps you!

If you would like to connect with local reliable contractors fill our our estimate form by clicking on the link below!

Educational Consumer TipsChoosing a Roofing CompanyAuthor: Better Business Bureau 

Published: 3/17/2015

Article Hosted On BBB: http://www.bbb.org/upstatesc/industry-tips/read/tip/choosing-a-roofing-company-102/

BBB General Advice When Choosing A Roofing Company 
​
A legitimate roofing company should be able to provide the following: 
· Local references and roofing testimonials 
· Business License 
· Roofing credentials 
· Workers compensation insurance 
· General liability insurance 
· Written manufacturer warranties 

· Deal only with licensed and insured contractors. Verify the track record of any roofer, builder or contractor you're thinking of hiring. Ask for a list of recent customers and call them. 

· Get recommendations from friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, insurance agents or claims adjusters. Also check with the local Better Business Bureau and Home Builders Association to see if complaints have been lodged against any contractor you're considering. 

· Take your time about signing a contract. Get a written estimate that includes any oral promises the contractor made. But remember to ask if there's a charge for an estimate before allowing anyone into your home. Ask for explanations for price variations, and don't automatically choose the lowest bidder. Get a copy of the final, signed contract before the job begins. 

· Resist dealing with any contractor who asks you to pay for the entire job up-front. A deposit of one-third of the total price is standard procedure. Pay only by check or credit card - and pay the final amount only after the work is completed to your satisfaction. Don't pay cash. 

· Be skeptical of contractors who encourage you to spend a lot of money on temporary repairs. Make sure there's enough money for permanent repairs. 
· Ask a knowledgeable friend, relative or attorney to review a home repair contract before you sign. If you get a loan to pay for the work, be cautious about using your home as security: If you don't repay the loan as agreed, you could lose your home. Consider asking an attorney to review the loan documents, as well. 

· Be careful of any company that uses door-to-door sales or leaves a flier on your doorknob or in your mailbox, promising insurance compensation for repairs. 

· Phrases to watch out for: "insurance companies are compensating" and "most homeowners are unaware of the storm damage on their roof." 
· Make sure to get verification of a hailstorm in your neighborhood. The National Weather Service or your neighbors are good independent sources.
 
· If there was a storm, find out how large the hailstones were. It usually takes hail at least 1¼ inches in diameter to cause damage, with golf ball size or larger causing serious damage. 

· The homeowner should be aware of which way the storm was moving. Many homes have roofs with various angles or pitches, which means that the angles facing the storm would receive the most damage. 

· Hail damage is random. Unscrupulous repair companies may use a teaspoon, small rocks or hammers to fabricate damage. 

After a storm: 

• Do not be rushed into signing a contract with a particular company. Get business cards and ask for written estimates for the work. 

• Beware of a company that puts emphasis on how the homeowner can get a new roof paid for by the insurance company. 

• Talk to your insurance agent and ask for advice on how to proceed in getting repairs made. Keep receipts for temporary repairs. 

• Investigate the track record of any roofer or contractor you consider hiring. Look for companies with a good reputation in your community. Call your Better Business Bureau for help, get references and do not give anyone a deposit until you are sure they are reputable. 

All roofing companies are required to have a roofing license from the Labor Licensing and Regulation Board (LLR). 

To roof with metal or not to roof with metal, that is the question. Let's be honest here, most people love the thought of truly not having to go through the hassle of roof replacement in Kent, WA for another 50 or more years. The problem is the sticker shock or perceived value of a metal roof vs. the value or cost of other less expensive roofing types that can save you money on the front end. In order to understand better why you should not just pass over the metal roof option due to the price tag we spent some time with a few local roofing contractors in the area that shared a few points with us including: 

• Metal roofing is a true lifetime roofing system that lasts for 50 years or more. 
• You will replace an asphalt roofing system 2-3 times in the life span of a metal roof. 
• Metal roofing has a higher solar reflectance than asphalt shingles, wood shakes, concrete tile and torchdown. 
• Metal roofing cools down quicker than other roofing products. On a hot day even though the temperatures reduce in the evening your asphalt shingles stay very hot keeping the temperatures in your home up. Metal roofing heats up and cools down very rapidly so when the temperature drops in the evening your metal roof will help your home to cool off. 
• The solar reflectence keeps the temperature of your home down as well reducing power bills. 
• Decades down the road when the roof does need to be replaced all of the material is 100% recyclable making a metal roof environmentally friendly. 
• Link Resource:  http://energy.lbl.gov

Checkbook an organization recently deployed secret shoppers to solicit project estimates from local roofing contractors. The contractors were tested and graded on many different credentials including professionalism, cleanliness and fairness of price. 

The results varied greatly when it came to pricing ranging at times from $5,400 to $20,000 on the same roof. Checkbook came out with a list of 48 roofers that were graded by the secret shoppers. You can view that list by clicking on this link: checkbook.org roofer ratings. 

For more details on the research check out Connie Thompson's article on King 5 News: http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/Customers-rate-local-roofing-companies--259156631.html

The Malarkey roofing shingle has long been toted one of the highest quality roofing shingles on the market today. Its hard to compete with the SBS technology that makes their shingles flexible, durable and easy to install. Other features that have attracted the architectural community and won the favor of most municipalities in the Pacific North West are the patented nail line and the 3M Scotchguard protection. Now Malarkey has taken the next step in their roofing shingle evolution with the recent release of the Windsor heavyweight roofing shingle. 

About The Windsor 
The Windsor roofing shingle is designed uniquely to fit into what most consumers know as the "presidential" shingle profile. It has a saw tooth look that gives it an authentic wood shake look. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Malarkey manufacturing plant in Portland, Oregon and learned the history of the company and the new shingle line. The Windsor is a project that has been in Malarkey's pipeline for many years. They feel that now is the perfect time to release the shingle into the market. 

Dont Miss The Official Unveiling  May 7th In Sumner, WA
The Malarkey Windsor is being introduced into the marketing at a co-sponsored event on May 7th at MacArthur roofing distribution in Sumner, WA. This event will feature the new shingle as well as draw the best installers in the region to take part in Malarkey's "Top Gun" fastest shingle nailing contest. For more information call 253-863-8860. 

The Process of Perfection
It was interesting to discover that in order to make sure the new roofing shingle was perfected for both aesthetic appeal, performance and installation Malarkey sought out the assistance of half-a-dozen roofing contractors from around the Nation that specialize in installing heavy weight shingles. Each group had the opportunity to install the shingle and note both the qualities and short comings of the new shingle. After all the contractors had reviewed the single it was revised until every technical point was perfected. As a result of this process Malarkey ended up with a shingle that is sure to make waves in the premium designer market in 2014. Lets take a look at some of the benefits of the Windsor for both the contractors and consumers.

Watch The Pros Install The Malarkey Shingle
The Windsor is not only easy on the eyes its also easy to install! It's designed to install from right to left or left to right. It cuts very easy and has alignment notches that make it easy to follow the installation pattern. Check out the install video below and get ahead of the market!

More information about the Windsor will be released soon by Malarkey. In my opinion this shingle will set the standard for presidential style roofing shingles in the market. What do you think?

This weekend marks the launch of GAF Roofing Corporations first NorthWest Roofing Expo. Over 400 attendees traveled from over 5 States and Canada to participate in the regions largest and most prominent contractor event. 

The event kicked off with a high energy breakfast meeting and continued throughout the day with breakout sessions. High level training was provided to equip contractors and empower them with the tools they need to succeed in our current market. The training included in house sales strategies, low slope installation, steep slope installation, mitigation, condensation training, technology education and more. The power packed conference ended with Nationally renowned inspirational speaker Chad Carden challenging the attending contractors to shift the way we think to maximize our potential and achieve our dreams. 

Reliable Roofing Contractors Of Washington would like to thank GAF for the incredible investment into our region.