When the economy is slow many contractors lower their prices to gain jobs. Yet at the same time contracting costs keep increasing. Just one example, recently, over 200,000 Florida employers received their unemployment tax notices for 2011.  These rates are nearly triple the 2010 rates.  This follows a rate increase in 2010 of three times the previous rate. The combination of these two rate increases add up to a nine-fold increase in just over one year. Imagine something that used to cost $200.00 a year ago, now costing $1800.00.

Just a side note, only government agencies could get away with such exhorbent price increases, private businesses would be shut down.

Don’t Get Caught With A Warranty From A Contractor Who Is Positioning Themselves To Go Out Of Business.

Unfortunately many contractors when faced with these types of price increases either cheat the system or try to absorb the cost. Both of these options will eventually catch up with them and could force them out of business leaving you without a warranty.

Homeowners will receive large price differences when gathering bids. There usually is a reason for both the low or high prices. The challenge homeowner’s face is determining those reasons. My experience has been that the age old adage “You get what you pay for” is seldom true when buying cheap. When buying cheap, while the investment may be low, one seldom gets their money’s worth. However, we’ve found “being uninformed” puts one at risk regardless whether they choose the lowest or highest bid.

Contact us and request a free list of things you should look for when choosing a contractor.

Find a Lead-Safe Certified Firm near you.

Sonshine Roofing has just recently completed the mandatory class that is required for all roofing contractors to become Lead-Safe Certified. We are now in the process of getting everything setup and in place by 2010 year end so our neighborhoods and families we serve will be best protected for the hazards of lead.  Read on to learn more about this program and why it is important for you to choose the right contractor who is Lead-Safe Certified.

A new rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates that all renovation and repair contractors working in pre-1978 homes, schools, and day care centers who disrupt more than six square feet of lead paint are required to become EPA Certified in lead-safe work practices. Contractors are required to take a one-day training course and firms must send a short application to the EPA. If not, they could face tens of thousands of dollars in fines in the future.

Steve Owens, Assistant Administrator of the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said there is a simple reason for the new rule: protecting people’s health, especially children.

“Childhood lead poisoning is a preventable disease, and our goal is to eliminate it,” said Steve Owens.

Many contractors think the issue of lead paint poisoning went away years ago, or that they are doing all that needs to be done to avoid it. But lead paint poisoning isn’t just about eating paint chips, and even contractors who think they are doing a good job may not be working in a lead-safe manner. In fact, new research shows that contractors like plumbers, electricians, painters and window replacement experts can inadvertently expose children to harmful levels of lead from invisible dust disturbed during jobs they perform every day.

“The greatest risk is for young children living in homes during renovations,” said Owens. “One study found they were 30% more likely to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood than kids in homes where renovations were not occurring. So it’s very important that contractors learn how to work lead-safe and that families hire lead-safe certified contractors.”

A pregnant woman exposed to lead can transfer lead to her fetus. The irreversible damages of lead poisoning can lead to a range of effects from memory loss and diminished motor skills to behavioral and learning disabilities.

Those who work on pre-1978 homes, apartments, schools, day care centers and other places where children spend time, from large and small contractors to building services professionals, will have to take the necessary steps to become lead-safe certified. Firms must register with the EPA and pay a fee. Individuals must take a one-day training course from an EPA-accredited training provider to become a certified renovator. Renovator training is also available via e-learning. This option allows trainers to provide much of the course content online, making it more convenient for many renovators. EPA certification is good for five years.

“Getting lead-safe certified is it the right thing to do for contractors, their customers, and their employees, and especially for the children who spend time near spaces that are being renovated,” said Owens.

Steve Owens says that the EPA is mindful of the small added costs that may result from complying with this important rule. To that end, he said the EPA is launching a consumer campaign designed to raise awareness of the dangers of lead paint poisoning, and encourage consumers to choose only contractors who are Lead-Safe Certified.

For additional information on lead paint’s poisoning affects, visit www.epa.gov/lead or call 800-424-LEAD today.

What are those black stains on the roof?

Those black stains are Algae. Algae appear as dark stains on shingles that usually cover more area on the lower section of the roof and taper as they reach the ridge.

How does a roof get algae?

Algae spread from one infected roof to another via air born spores. These spores land randomly on a roof and take root. A protective sheath creates the dark color the algae forms to protect itself from UV rays.

How does it grow?

Algae require moisture and proper temperature to grow. Dew is the primary moisture source. Algae are found predominantly in the southeast, but it can and will grow nationwide. The algae generally grow on Northern exposures of the roof since this exposure generally receives less sunlight. Algae are well adapted to extreme conditions.

What Solutions do I have?

1. Install Algae resistant shingles, such as GAF-Elk’s shingles which have a specially formulated granule that inhibit algae growth, keeping your roof looking new for years to come.
2. If a new roof is not an option, GAF-Elk recommends cleaning the roof with a special mixture. That mixture is: 4 gallons of water, 1 gallon of bleach and 1 cup of TPS (tri-Sodium Phosphate- or acceptable phosphate-free substitute) found at many home centers. Apply this mixture with a garden sprayer, let sit on the roof surface for up to 20 minutes, and rinse with low pressure water. Be sure to protect any shrubs below. Remember, the roof surface will become slippery when wet, be careful!!!

What not to do!

Do not power wash the shingles to clean them. Some roof cleaning companies offer this service. However, it is not recommended as it may dislodge granules, which can lead to premature shingle failure.

Where can I get more information?

Your shingle manufacturer’s Technical Service Department can assist you with these and other questions you may have regarding your new roof installation.

Most shingles we install are GAF-Elk. Their Technical Service Department can be contacted at 800-ROOF-411 (800-766-3411). Also, the GAF-Elk website is a great resource for just about any question you may have or for additional information you may require. That site is at www.gaf.com.

Properly identifying the cause of the problem is your critical first step. Many dollars are wasted in an attempt to resolve problems when the real cause is not properly identified. A professional roofing contractor will address your roof situation much as a doctor diagnoses a physical ailment. Doctors always qualify before they prescribe. For example, if you told your doctor you have a headache, to which the doctor responds, “Fine, let’s do brain surgery,” you would know you had a doctor that attempted to find a solution before knowing the facts, indicating your need to find another doctor. In the same way, your roofing contractor should properly identify the cause of the problem before making recommendations.

You should allow a minimum of sixty to ninety minutes to sit down with each roofing contractor you consider. You will be surprised at how many options and questions you can discuss. Using this step alone can save you hundreds of dollars.

Once the causes of the problems are properly identified, you are ready to take the next step, to select the best solution.

• Does the thought of hiring the wrong contractor worry you?
• Are you concerned about your ability to identify the difference between high quality and cheap materials?
• Does hiring a contractor without proper insurance worry you?
• Are you concerned that your contractor may do poor quality work? How will you know?
• Are you concerned about having the perfect condition for mold growth in your home?
• Does the rising cost of “Homeowner’s Insurance” concern you?
• Are you concerned if your roof will withstand hurricane-force winds?
• Do stories of contractors taking advantage of their customers during construction projects scare you?
• Are you concerned how you will afford another roof if the project fails prematurely?
• Does the thought of having unskilled laborers working on your roof, worry you?
• Are you worried about how to decide if the price is right? How will you know if your roofing investment will yield your greatest return?

Save Your Time

Before you read further, if you answered “No” to the above questions, then save your time as this information will likely not apply to you. However, if you answered “Yes” to one or more then this information will identify steps you can take to reduce and eliminate situations that cause the above concerns. There are many great resources of information and many knowledgeable homeowners out there. This is the basic starter course…. the kindergarten course, the stuff that is often missed. It assumes you know nothing about roofing and roofing systems.