This hesitation makes sense. After all, it can cost a lot to install or upgrade a roof, particularly one that needs to be strong enough (and warrantied long enough) to make the investment in solar technology worthwhile. Plus, your roof may be “doing fine” right now. So why not just defer making any modifications, until you really need to get them done?

Why Modifying Or Replacing Your Roof Still Makes Sense

First of all, before you add a solar system, do due diligence:

• Your roof must be strong enough to support it;
• The system should be south facing and should collect enough sun during daylight hours to generate significant power;
• The system shouldn’t violate building ordinances, condo regulations, etc.

If your roof meets these basic criteria, you must tackle the more delicate question of whether to install a new roof or tweak your existing one. Here’s the reality: solar roofing systems can last a long time – generally much longer than roofing, with a few exceptions, such as certain metal roofing systems. Odds are that your solar system will outlive the roof below it.

This means that, at some point, you will need to decommission the system, take it down, replace the roof underneath, and then rebuild everything. That whole process can cost a ton of time and money and disruption. One school of thought is: “Well, that may be a huge future cost, but if I can defer it for 5 to 10 years, by then, I will have enough money to pay for it easily.” This philosophy is similar to the balloon mortgage concept. It could work out for you.

In general, however, it makes more sense to strengthen/replace the roof now.

How the Process Works

Your roofing contractor will first take a look at the structure of your roof to make sure that it can handle the weight of the system. He or she will also recommend recovering the roof, repairing it, or re-roofing entirely; help install key structural elements; and protect those elements against weathering and other dangers.

For help with all aspects of this process — and to get a free, ethical, thorough estimate — connect with the Century Roof & Solar team today. We’re licensed, bonded and respected professionals. We will make sure that your roof is secure and that your solar investment is protected.

Most homeowners know that they need to “take care of” the home’s core structural elements — the roof, the foundation, the windows, the electrical, the HVAC system, etc. But you also must be mindful of your gutters.Even though our climate is not as severe as, say New England’s; the Bay Area gets its fair share of blustery, wet, and wooly weather. You need reliable rain gutters to prevent water from pooling, leaking, and creating the conditions for mold and structural damage.

When gutters break down or overflow due to clogging or mechanical problems, the water can cascade in surprising, yet devastating pathways. For instance, let’s say a clog forms in a gutter above your rec room. Water spillage driven by this constraint, over time, could saturate the wood underneath, giving rise to mold. The decayed, desiccated wood then becomes a target for termites or other pests.

Depending on where this “break down” occurs, you might not even notice the tell-tale signs, such peeling paint, musty odor, missing shingles or wall panels, discoloration, etc., until the structure actually fails or an electrical fire goes off and burns down your house.

That sounds like an extreme scenario, and it’s unlikely. But we want to illustrate vividly why you need to mind your gutter system and to do the installation and maintenance the right way.

Even if you are a hardcore “do it yourselfer,” consult with licensed, experienced experts before installing your gutters. The last thing you want is to spend days of hard labor, only to screw up the installation in some subtle but pivotal way.

For top-caliber assistance with your Bay Area roofing repair needs, get in touch with the team here at Century Roof and Solar for a free estimate. Our reputable professionals are standing by to help make your job simpler.

Unless you live in a dwarf house or you are a giant, you are likely going to need a ladder.

Adhere to the many (and many crucial) rules of ladder safety. Avoid wearing inappropriate footwear (e.g. flip flops, sandals, easy slipping shoes, et cetera) follow all safety instructions on the ladder itself. Avoid putting too much weight on ladder, standing too high (creates an imbalance), placing the ladder on a dirty surface, or getting up on a ladder in the middle of a rainstorm – particularly a thunder and lightning storm.

Hidden Risks, Surprising Resources  

Your gutters might just be full of fluffy leaves or pine needles or other soft materials. But you never know. The edges of gutters can be sharp, and they could cut your hands. Nails and other sharp debris blown onto the roof can accumulate in gutters and pose other hazards. You could even discover – horror of horrors – a dead bird or animal in the gutters. So wear gloves and use tools, like garden shovels, to scoop out the debris.

To avoid the whole “risking your neck on a ladder and combing through gunky mulch with your bare hands” thing – what we just talked about – you can utilize homemade ad-hoc tools or even purchase special gutter cleaning solutions at your local hardware store.

One intrepid blogger described a contraption that he built that turns a leaf blower into a gutter cleaner by attaching vacuum tubing to the blower to blast air through the gutter and knock out the leaves and debris. This is a nice fix to reduce ladder work or possibly eliminate it completely.

Watch That Back!

Lastly, pay attention to your own physical needs. Avoid straining your back (particularly the lower back); maintaining an awkward posture for an extended amount of time; working in extreme weather conditions (very hot, rainy, cold, etcetera); and doing extensive ladder work without a spotter nearby to help you if you get into trouble.

To avoid the hassle of cleaning your own gutters, connect with the Bay Area roofing professionals at Century Roof and Solar. For over 15 years, our team has won a reputation as the most trusted name in roofing, and we are proud to be the Bay Area’s leader in lightweight roof systems and gutters.

Call our team at 888-233-748 to get a free roofing quote – we serve the entire East Bay Area –