What We Look For During A Roofing Inspection

Looking for leaks, buckles, and workmanship

When you give Grussing Roofing a call and ask us to come out to give your roof, sidding, gutters, or windows a free inspection, we're looking for all sorts of different things.

For this Minneapolis home, Guy noticed some poor workmanship from the original roofing contractor when they installed the roof back in the 1970s. Some of this poor workmanship has lead to leaks and other damages. You can see for yourself how the shingles are cracking and falling off as well as some buckling in the shingles.

Takes a moment and walk around this roof with Guy.

If you're concerned about your roof or think it might be time to have a roofing contractor take a look—give us at call at 952.935.0557. We're committed to serving the greater Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods with professional and honest roofing advice and services.

The Easiest Way To Recycle Your Asphalt Roofing Shingles in Minnesota

Your asphalt roofing shingles Belong in the recycling

Photo from Dem-Con in Shakopee, MN.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, asphalt roofing shingles, for both new homes and roof replacements, make up almost two-thirds of the roofing market in the United States. One report from the EPA estimates that each year in the US the tear-off shingle waste and installation scraps weigh in around seven to ten tons. That’s the same weight as male elephant! 

If asphalt shingle waste isn’t recycled properly, you can almost always guarantee it’s headed straight in the nearest landfill.

The encouraging news is asphalt shingles hold a great potential for recycling. Since asphalt roofing shingles are generally kept separate from other kinds of waste, they are easy to isolate and bring to the correct recycling plant.

the easiest way to recycle asphalt roofing shingles in Minnesota

At Grussing Roofing, when we replace an asphalt shingle roof on a home or commercial property, we take care of bringing all the asphalt shingle waste directly to the recycling plant. We choose to work with the guys at Dem-Con Companies—a locally owned and family operated recycling and waste processor in Shakopee, MN. 

We trust Dem-Con Companies because we know they are committed to meeting the strict quality demands for recycling asphalt roofing shingles. Plus, they are just great to work with!

If you have more questions about how we take care of recycling your old roof shingles, be sure to ask us over the phone or in-person during a project estimate.

Roofing Inspection: Is It Time To Replace My Roof?

Common roofing inspection questions

When Minnesota folks contact us at Grussing Roofing for a free estimate, the most common question we hear is: Will you take a look at my roof? We’re not sure, but it might be time for my roof to be replaced.

To ensure the greater Twin Cities community receives the best professional and honest roofing advice possible, Guy Grussing, the owner of Grussing Roofing, will personally come to your home, climb up on your roof, and take a look around.

Have you ever wondered what a roofing contractor is looking for as they inspect the roof? Here, Guy will show you! To give you an idea, we persuaded Guy to take a short video of a free roof inspection he did a couple weeks ago.

Take a look!

Here are 5 signs that mean it may be time to replace your roof

1. Marks or indents in the shingles from removing the snow and ice off your roof with a shovel. Often, when home owners remove the snow and ice themselves, this can leave marks and add to the aging of your roof.

2. Granules from the shingles are falling off

3. Darkening of the shingles

4. Nails popping through the shingles

5. Stress fractures and cracks in the shingles. Stress fractures are caused by previous contractors using too aggressive of a shingle adhesive. When the house moves, the shingle isn’t able to adjust with the house, so this can lead to the shingles to cracking.

Considering this roof's age and the wear and tare it's taken over the years, the best use for this homeowner's money is to get their full roof replaced. There's no use in repairing or patching up certain areas of this roof because enough of it is already in pretty tough shape.

If you want us to come and take a look at your roof, give us a call today.

Highest Quality Roofing Installation Award: St. Louis Park Commercial Roofing Project

Highest quality roofing installation

After we finish a commercial roofing job, the manufacturer who sells the roofing materials we installed will come by the job location, get up on the roof, and inspect the quality of our work. Since the manufacturer’s roofing materials come with a long and trustworthy guarantee, the manufacturer wants to see if the roofing contractor installed their material correctly.
 
For a St. Louis Park commercial roofing project, we used GAF’s roofing materials. Once we finished up, GAF came by to complete their own inspection of our workmanship. A few days later, they sent us this:

GAF gave our Grussing Roofing team a double thumbs up! This certificate is only presented to roofing contractors who demonstrate the highest quality roof installation.

Whether we're doing commercial or residential roofing projects, we're committed to giving our customers the very best!

Care For Your Roof Like An Expert In 3 Easy Steps

Caring for your roof like a pro

We see this happen all the time: a homeowner pays a good chunk of change for a new roof and then completely and utterly forgets about it. In fact, most homeowners don’t think about the health of their roof until there’s a big problem.

Spring and summer is the best time of year to make sure your roof is in tip-top shape. Since we don’t want you to be one of those “typical” homeowners who never thinks about their roof, we decided to put together a three-step checklist for you. These three easy steps will help you take care of your roof like a pro.

1. Keep an eye on your gutters

During the summer, when gutters become clogged with branches, leafs, or other debris, there's a good chance water will get sent up, under your roof. And while you're up on the ladder checking for debris, take a minute to make sure your gutters are firmly attached to the house, too. It's common for gutters to come a bit loose during a storm. Simply tightening a few gutter bolts can greatly reduce the risk of roof damage. Clogged gutters, during any season, have the potential to cause damage to your roof, so the best option is to simply keep a close eye on your gutters all year 'round.

2. Trim tree branches near your roof

Since we live in the Midwest, we're bound to have a few rough storms throughout the summer season. The best way to proactively protect your roof from storm damage is to prune overgrown trees so they don't present as a potential risk during the next summer storm.

3. Snap a picture

Put that smartphone in your pocket to good use! If you know your roof is in excellent shape, take a few pictures from every angle. Now you have a fool-proof way to keep track of any changes to the health of your roof.

We share this roofing care advice with you because we know if you are able to complete a yearly maintenance check up on your roof, you can really save a good chunk of change.

If you don't feel comfortable climbing up on a ladder and doing this roof inspection yourself, don't hesitate to give us a call, we are more than happy to talk with you about what your roof needs.

Photo credit.

3 Tips For Getting Your Moneys Worth Out of Your New Roof

Make the most of your new roof

You just got your roof replaced. Now, depending on what roofing material you chose for your roof, a new roof should last your home 20+ years. Our local Minneapolis clients often ask us:

“ Are there ways we can help our roof reach it’s maximum lifespan?”

We love hearing this question. We always tell folks the best, basic ways to care for their roof (read all about them here), but for you homeowners who are serious about getting your money's worth out of your new roof, here are our top three tips for making your investment in your roof last as long as possible.

1. Check your attic ventilation

Without proper attic ventilation, there's a pretty good chance your roof might start aging prematurely—no one wants that! During our usual hot and humid (and typically mosquito-infested) Minnesotan summers, the temperature in an attic with poor airflow can easily pass the 100-degree mark. Temperatures like this can be brutal for anyone to bear—the same goes for your shingles.

According to The Federal Housing Administration, they recommend a minimum of at least one square foot of attic ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic space. For example, if your attic is around 600 square feet, you'll need about two square feet of ventilation.

2. Roofing insulation makes difference

When you think it's hot outside, chances are, the temperature your roof is experiencing is much hotter. When your roof sits cooking in the afternoon, summer sun, the roof transfers radiant heat to objects below, like your attic. Insulation in your roof will not only help keep your entire house cooler, it will also help keep the heat down on the roof, thereby helping the roofing material last longer.

3. Invite a roof professional over

When was the last time you had your roof professionally inspected? To help prolong the life of your roof, mark your calendar, and have your roof professionally inspected every couple of years. Many roofing experts suggestion every two to three years is optimal for maintenance care. When you have your roof inspected every couple of years, you'll have the opportunity to have small roof repairs done, like resealing weak spots or replacing damaged shingles.

Are you living in Minnetonka, Edina, Eden Prairie, St. Paul, or anywhere in between? Don't hesitate to give us a call at 952.935.0557.

Is It Time To Replace Your Roof? 3 Roof-Repair Signs To Watch For

Is it time to replace your roof?

It’s been an extraordinarily long Minnesota winter, even for the toughest among us. But now that sunshine, clear skies, and warmer days are upon us, it’s the perfect time to pull out your trusty, stable ladder and climb up to take a good look at your roof. Think this winter was roughfor you? Just imagine how tough it must have been on your roof!

Three roof-repair signs to watch for

1. Curling shingles

Once you are up on that ladder, take a few moments to visually inspect your roof’s shingles. How do the shingles look? Are the sides curling at all? If so, this is a typical sign of roof wear and it’s a clear sign of roof wear.

2. Granule loss 

Next, take a peek in your gutters. Do you see excessive amounts of shingle granules sitting in the gutter? (Shingle granules look like large grains of sand). If you do spot some, this is another sign of advanced roof wear.

3. Leaky roof

Is there a spot inside your home were you experience consistent roof leaks? If this is case, this is something you’ll definitely want to get a professional roofer to take a closer look at.

If you have questions about whether it’s time to get a new roof, go ahead and give us a call here at Grussing Roofing. We’re happy to schedule a time to come over and take a look at your roof. We pride ourselves on providing friendly, professional, and honest advice.

Are you living in Chanhassen, Edina, Minnetonka, Golden Valley, or anywhere in between? Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 952.935.0557.

Photo credit.