Wind-Resistant Materials
The tropical climate of Florida is no stranger to hurricane winds. Choosing a new roofing material with superior wind resistance is a great way to invest in your home. Asphalt shingles are affordable and visually versatile. However, this standard option only provides protection against winds near 70 miles per hour. Metal roofs offer greater wind resistance, reduced maintenance, and grater durability. A metal roof is also less likely to be damaged by wind-powered debris. Similarly, the weight of tile roofing materials provides reliable service under vigorous wind pressure.

Skylights and Features
A roof upgrade doesn’t have to be purely about maintenance. Take the opportunity to add a cosmetic upgrade as well. Skylights add an elegant, natural light to a room that can’t be reproduced by any interior lighting strategy. The right placement of a skylight can even add value to a home that you are planning to sell. Utilizing an ample source of natural light can also reduce your dependence on electrical lighting during the day. Additional upgrades like automatic moisture sensors allow homeowners to enjoy the breeze from roof windows without having to worry about sudden showers.

Contact Hercules Roofing of South Florida at (561) 955-9889 to learn more about upgrading or replacing your roof.

• See how to spot leaky areas in a roof and how a shingle roof leak is repaired on this page from HowStuffWorks.com.
• Visit Dummies.com to learn how roof leaks aren’t always where you’d expect them to be, and how to better locate them.
• Check out this page from AskTheBuilder.com to learn about metal roofing, an incredibly durable material that can last a century.
• Get valuable tips on choosing a quality contractor on this page from ConsumerReports.org.
• Take a look at how one home makes a statement with a gorgeous copper roof on this page from HGTV.com.

Contact Hercules Roofing of South Florida, (561) 955-9889 for further information on these topics.

• Flanges, Joints, and Flashing: Roofing that is aged or wasn’t properly installed can be predisposed to leaking near flanges, around joints, or within the flashing. By today’s standards, these areas would be reinforced by a qualified roofing contractor. Double check these problem areas on older roofs that have weathered several years’ worth of seasons.
• Gutters: Gutters in disrepair or that haven’t been cleaned tend to harbor areas of moisture buildup and standing water. Over time, this moisture will seep inside and begin working away at the roofing material. Eventually, this can evolve into a leak.
• Weakened Spots: The most common leak locations are anywhere your roofing materials have been weakened. Storm damage, previous leaks, and torn shingles are all examples of weaknesses where water can get in and start a leak.

Spotting a Leak

The quirk of roof leaks is they aren’t always directly where moisture is beginning to infiltrate your home. Discolored walls or ceiling panels indicate where water has accumulated from a leak, but water often runs down the inside of a roof for a ways before it drips to the attic floor and then into the ceiling or walls of your home.

The best way to treat leaks is to call a qualified roofing contractor and have a thorough inspection and repair performed. These professionals can spot leaks and potential problem areas and address them accordingly.

Hercules Roofing of South Florida can take care of all your roofing issues. Visit us online to learn about our comprehensive roofing services or call (561) 955-9889 to schedule a consultation with us today.

Roofing Materials

If you’re simply doing repairs to your home, then you likely want to use the same materials in order to mask any work done. However, if you’re planning on replacing the entire roof, now is the time to take your exterior aesthetics in a new direction. If you would like to potentially increase your home’s value, you might consider a high-end tile roof or other types of aesthetically-pleasing roofing materials.

The key advantage to any new roofing material is that it is going to be newer in terms of construction and technology than your old roof, offering increased energy efficiency, a wider selection of colors and textures for appeal, and renewed longevity. Consult with your roofers to explore your options in full.

Roofing Contractors

The most important part of your re-roofing project is your roofing contractor. Always choose a reputable roofer based on these factors:

• The roofer is local and has been serving the area for many years.
• The roofer is experienced, with state-of-the-art equipment and trained personnel.
• The roofer can offer customer references upon request from past projects.
• The roofer is licensed, bonded, and insured.
• A quality roofer will be willing to provide customer references and readily answer all of your questions. They will work with you throughout the project, keeping you updated on their progress and provide you with a timeline so you’ll know exactly what to expect.

At Hercules Roofing, we care for our customers. Let us help you with your re-roofing for the best end results. Call us at (561) 955-9889 to schedule a consultation today.

Hercules Roofing has had many customers in the past few months choose a Spanish tile roof. These tiles can give a house a more elegant feel and a “Southern” look. We work with all of the major roof tile manufactures to help our customers find just what they are looking for. For more information, contact Hercules Roofing, the leading South Florida Roofing Company.

Hercules Roofing recently finished this roof replacement (see photos below) in Boca Raton, Florida. This house had an old faded Terra Cotta concrete tile and the owner was looking to make a bold change. The homeowner chose a Hanson Roof Tile Chalet Shake in a Midnight Color.

The customer also made two other major changes to the outside of their house. The first they painted their house with colors to match the new look of the house. Painting a house is a great way to give your house a whole new look and feel without structural changes. The second change was the removal of a chimney that was originally built through the flat roof. Chimneys and the fireplaces that they lead to are rarely used in the South Florida climate. The fewer details on a South Florida roof the longer that roof will last in South Florida. We have repaired chimney caps numerous times and each time the homeowner will ask why they have a chimney anyway.

Hercules Roofing has had many customers in the past few months choose a flat concrete tile. These tiles can give a house a more modern look while still being true to the architectural designs in South Florida. We have found that many customers are looking to make their house their home. We work with all of the major roof tile manufactures to help our customers find just what they are looking for. For more information, contact Hercules Roofing, the leading South Florida Roofing Company.

- Gil

I’d just eaten my Thanksgiving dinner when I came across this article “Take Care of Your Roof; Save Your Home” from TheStreet.com, which contains some common sense advice for maintaining your South Florida roof, including inspecting your roof for: checking the roof framing structure, inspecting the gutters and making sure they are fastened correctly, check the valleys of the roof for debris or leaks, etc.

Of course, if you’re not comfortable checking your roof, you should contact a qualified, expert South Florida Roofing Company to do it for you.

- Gil

For people that aren’t roofers, shingles seem to be all the same – they think “a shingle’s a shingle.” Well, this is not exactly true. Although roofing shingles all serve the same purchase, they each possess different nuances in the way they’re manufactured, their overall durability, etc.

Standard Asphalt Roofing Shingles

Throughout recent history, these have been the standard type of roofing shingles, mostly because they’re cost-effective and easy to install. On the down side though, they tend to erode and curl easily, and their lifespan is only about 20 years – maybe less if they are subject to severe weathering.

Architectural Roofing Shingles

A relatively recent type of shingle on the roofing scene, architectural shingles are very popular on newer homes. Architectural shingles are wind resistant, aesthetically pleasing, and they tend to have a longer life expectancy than standard asphalt shingles.

Fiberglass Roofing Shingles

Although these shingles have a small amount of asphalt in them, they’re mostly constructed out of fiberglass (as their name suggests). They don’t curl like standard asphalt shingles, and they weigh less than their traditional counterpart, as well.

So, if you’re looking for an immediate, cost effective roofing solution, it looks like standard asphalt shingles are your obvious choice. However, if you’re definitely looking to spruce up your home’s aesthetic, while saving money in the long run, architectural or fiberglass shingles are the way to go.

For more information about roofing systems, be sure to contact Hercules Roofing, your top notch Florida roofers!

Simply put, the main secret to avoiding damage to your roof is to be proactive about the health of your roof. Being attentive to the needs of your roof is easy, you don’t have to do it all that often, and it will save you a great deal of money on repairs from professional roofing contractors.

There are many things that can go wrong with your roofing system: shingles can curl or fall off, flashing can be bent, etc. All of this can lead to roof leaks. A leaking roof can be a very inconspicuous thing. Often times, you won’t notice it until it’s too late.

Inspect your roof

Get up on a ladder and carefully walk on your roof, searching for missing shingles, lifted flashing, warped wood, etc. If you don’t have experience doing this, please be sure to call your local roofers.

Check wooden beams for moisture

If you do happen to find signs of moisture, this doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a problem with the beam itself, water might flow across the beam from another particular source.

Use a flashlight to inspect cracks

While up on the roof, shine a flashlight down at the roof surface. Have someone go in the attic to look for that light shining through. If the light can be seen from the other side, you may be able to just squeeze silicone gel inside the crack, and let it cure to a hardness that will prevent a leak.

Check your asphalt shingles

If you notice that your asphalt shingles are curling, they can usually just be glued down, if several asphalt shingles are missing, you might want to have a professional roofing contractor replace them.

Do what you can

All in all, there are small roof repairs you can do yourself to keep it healthy and looking good. Remember though, if you notice some severe damage, call your roofer immediately.

If you’d like to learn more about DIY roof repair, or you’d like a roofing inspection by a Florida roofing contractor, don’t hesitate to contact Hercules Roofing. We’re your premier Florida roofers!

Hurricane season is almost here in Florida, and many people seem to brave the brutal winds every year, without properly protecting their roofs. Since your roof is one of the most important elements of your home, why would you take this risk? Preparing your roof for a hurricane is vital, especially when you live around the Florida coast. Here’s some things to look into:

Building codes

Local building codes are put in place by experienced professionals, who have seen the extreme damage that can be done to roofs and buildings in general, in the face of a catastrophe. Make sure your roof is up to code by talking with a local building code official. Also, ask them what else you can do to make your roof even stronger.

Shingles

Unfortunately, shingles are usually not made to withstand hurricane winds. If you want to achieve greater wind resistant shingles, have a qualified Florida roofing contractor inspect the shingles to make sure their locked into places and that their adhesive has not worn off. After the inspection the roofer should be able to secure any loose shingles and replace ones that are on their last legs.

Gabled Roofs

A gabled roof is a standard slanted roof on two sides, that meets at a peak in the middle. If a gabled roof isn’t properly braced, it can take a serious beating during a hurricane. In order to secure your gable end wall, attach an eight foot long brace to the bottom chord of the gable truss and the adjacent trusses. The brace should be perpendicular to the truss. Also, tie back a gable truss with at one eight foot long brace, along the edge of the roof, to several of the interior trusses.

Hurricane Straps

Purchasing hurricane straps is a great way of lessening the blows of an intense hurricane on your roof. To install hurricane straps and clips, remove the roof sheathing around the perimeter of the roof in order to expose the top of the wall. If your roof has trusses, be sure that you tie them to the wall by anchoring to the top plate, and then the top plate, to the wall stud.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to secure your roof for a hurricane, or if you need roof maintenance in Florida due to a hurricane, don’t hesitate to contact Hercules Roofing, your top Florida roofing contractors!