Rain...again. What a natural reminder if you are in need of roof repairs, tear-off / re-roof / new roof. A. Jones Contracting can take care of your roofing needs. Whether you are in Wake Forest, Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Morrisville, Fuquay Varina or Holly Springs, we can help. We'll take care of your simple repairs all the way up to your new roof installation. 
Call us at 919-557-7988 to schedule your service today!

While cleaning the windows and gathering holiday decorations today, I was reminded that I needed to have some regular roof maintenance taken care of. I checked the dormers for leaking (in the attic spaces). Thankfully, all appeared to be fine, however, as I was cleaning the windows, I noticed that the nails at the flashing on the front of the dormers needed to be re-done. The old was cracked and created the possibility of leaking. I also took a look at all of the pipes that run up through the attic space to make sure water was not coming through.
Just a reminder, as you are gathering your holiday decorations in the attic, take a brief moment to check the attic space for staining on  the roof decking, check the pipe boots and any other penetrations for the possibility of leaking.
Since many are in a cash crunch - keep in mind regular roof maintenance and necessary repairs can go a long way to extend the life of your roof.
Take care...

Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. I know last week was certainly a reminder to take care of those pesky maintenance items. But, if you are truly needing a new roof, go ahead and get an estimate so you can plan ahead. Whether you are ready to purchase now or are needing to get some ballpark numbers, contact a professional roofer for an estimate. Make sure you specifiy any areas that are of special concern, ie: chimneys, skylights, dormers, etc.
Ask the roofer some key questions:
1) Do you remove the felt paper or do you patch it? Removing the paper allows the roofers to inspect the roof deck (plywood) to ensure a good nailing surface.
2) How do you handle weather and a tear off? At AJC, we don't mess with Mother Nature - we only tear off what we can put back in one day. Relying on felt paper doesn't always work and can get a roofer in trouble - and create some problems for you, the homeowner.
3) Do you hand-nail or air-nail? Although air-nailing is very common, it is not always the best method. There is always equipment maintenance and upkeep. Depending on the weather, the air compressor powering the nailers needs to be adjusted to accommodate the weather conditions (meaning someone needs to check it). Also, an air nailer applies a lot of force. When the weather is too hot, the force can push the nails completely through the asphalt shingle, too cold, it can cause cracking.
At AJC, we hand-nail. It eliminates all of these problems - and provides accurate nail placement. The roofer knows exactly where the nail is going and with just the right amount of force.
4) How many nails do you use to fasten the average shingle? Of course, they will always say '4' - or at least they should (unless you have selected a specialty shingle or are in a geographic location requiring more fasteners)! Hang out and watch the roofers - make sure you are getting 4 nails per shingle and that the nails are placed within the nailing strip - your roof's longevity depends on it.
5) Do you have General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance? Ask for the certificates prior to signing the contract. The certificate should come from the insurance broker's office - not from the roofer or the roofer's office. In slow times, some folks will cancel their insurance after having a policy issued and re-use the certificate to give the illusion of coverage. Also, make sure the roofer carries coverage designated as a 'roofer'. It is too easy for a painter to say 'yeah, I can do that', but not have the proper insurance coverage should something go wrong.
Just a few things to consider...

Has the recent rain reminded you of some roof leaks? Maybe you've given some thought to getting some roof repairs done. Did you discover a leaking pipe boot, box vent, skylight, chimney or valley? Maybe it's time to contact a local roofer to get the job done. In the last three days we have taken care of quite a few repairs. From a pipe boot repair in Raleigh to a sliding shinlge tab in Cary and a nail pop in Fuquay Varina. While you are enjoying the outdoors this weekend, walk around the house and take a look at your roof. Does the debris need to be cleared from the valley? Do the gutters need to be cleaned? Take a look around and get the work scheduled as you have the time -- before winter sets in.
Have a good weekend.

The forecast is calling for rain over the next few days. It's time to check for leaks in that roof. Of course, you'll always know there is a problem when a water mark or stain appears on the ceiling. To help prevent such surprises, you can perform a regular visual inspection yourself.  Items you should regularly check include: keeping valleys and walls clear of debris, inspecting for nail pops, checking pipe boots and box vents for signs of cracking or splitting, checking for broken or missing shingles and checking chimney and wall flashings for separation.  You can always contact A Jones Contracting for your roof repairs and roof assessments / roof inspections.
Don't forget to take the umbrella to work today...

Roofing is interesting - if you like that sort of thing. Today we are going to complete a handful of roof repairs. The tasks we will be performing cover anywhere from replacing a sheet of plywood that has rotted out to sealing exposed nail heads on a skylight flashing kit - traveling from Raleigh to Wake Forest and finally Cary. Some of the most common repairs we make are a result of poor roof installation (of others of course) to general roof upkeep.
You know rain is in the forecast for next two days - take the time to look at your roof, your attic space and at your ceilings to check for signs of roof leaks. 
Next time...

Well, as a first-time blogger, I hope this information is helpful. My name is Robbin and my husband (Alan) and I run a residential roofing company, A Jones Contracting, Inc. We perform new roof installations, tear-offs (or re-roofs), and roof repairs in the Raleigh, Wake County / Triangle area. We have been in business for over 8 years, but have been involved in roofing for over 14 years. We install asphalt shingles, tile, metal, slate and flat roofing materials.
I'm hoping that as I continue to blog I can offer homeowners and property owners information that they will find helpful in assessing their roof's performance and determining when a roofing contractor may be needed to help make repairs and/or an evaluation.
So, stay-tuned...more will follow.