With the seasons changing, it’s a great idea to get a brand new roof replacement if your roof has undergone extensive storm damage from past hail or rain storms, and/or if your warranty is expiring. A roof replacement is the best way to ensure you, your family, and the rest of your house’s structure are protected. Our Amstill Roofing crew in Houston offers three kinds of shingles to Houston, Katy, and Sugarland, as well as other neighboring suburbs. Read on to learn the differences between each type in order to make an informed decision about which kind you should use for your roof replacement this fall.

Traditional 3-Tab Shingles for Proven Roof Protection

3-tab shingles are by far the most common and basic type. They are what comes to mind when you think of rooftop shingles. They are made of fiberglass, which is lightweight and inexpensive, and are covered with granules on top which creates a natural, multi-tone appearance on your home. These granules not only add a nice appearance, but they also provide an extra layer of protection, so when a hailstorm or heavy winds take place, the granules become your roof’s first line of defense. These will typically last 20 years. Keep in mind that their lighter weight makes them prone to blowing away when faced with strong winds, such as the ones we experience during Houston’s hurricane season.

Laminate Shingles for Layered Roof Protection

Laminate shingles are much like 3-tab shingles, but they are enhanced with an extra layer or two of thickness. This means they can withstand rougher weather conditions for a longer period of time, about 30 years, actually. This makes them a more enticing option.

Architectural Shingles for Ultimate Roof Protection

Architectural shingles are of the highest-end options. These are thicker and heavier labs, which is the key to longer-lasting protection. Additionally, they are made to look very intricate in design, which creates the most aesthetic appearance for your roof. Architectural shingles typically have a warranty of about 50 years to life.

Amstill Roofing Offers a Variety of Houston Roof Replacement Shingles for Your Needs

If your rooftop warranty is about to expire or you’re worried about the damage your roof has sustained from hail or rainstorms, please contact us so that we can complete a free inspection. After the inspection, we will advise you on what type of shingles meet your needs for safety and appearance.

If you read our blog about how Houston’s upcoming winter weather can affect your rooftop, then you may be wondering how your current shingles are holding up. Most roofs last ten to fifteen years, but this also depends on the type of rooftop shingles you use. You will want your roof to be in tip-top shape so you don’t need to undergo an early replacement. The best way to do this is to schedule a seasonal inspection.

Get Your Roof Inspected Between Seasons to Avoid Early Roof Replacement

Our trained roof inspectors recommend free inspections at least twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, since the weather is more mild at this time. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t still inspect your roof for free during the summer and winter.

We understand that some may prefer to slightly prolong an inspection, just to ensure that nothing occurs between an early inspection and the colder temperatures that await us in the late winter. However, this is counterintuitive. If you prolong your inspections, you may allow once minor issues to become severe and even dangerous, eventually leading to greater problems such as multiple leaks, mold, and rotting plywood. If this is the case, then a replacement is absolutely necessary to protect you and your family. To avoid this, it’s best to get a roof inspection as early as possible and as often as you feel comfortable.

Protecting Your Investment

Although regular professional inspections are necessary, we also recommend you keep an eye on your roof from afar. No need to climb onto your roof–that’s what our inspectors do. However, you can still keep an eye on your shingles from below and check for any curling. We also recommend you keep an eye out for cracks and buckling as the weather becomes colder.

Contact Our Houston Roofers for a Free Roof Inspection Today

We take roof integrity seriously here at Amstill Roofing, which is why we offer free roof inspections whenever you need them, so please contact our experts for your next inspection. We will ensure your roof maintains its integrity so that the rest of your house can as well.

As we move closer to winter, we want to make sure your Houston roof provides the level of protection that you, your family, and the rest of your home require. You want to be completely sure that your roof is doing its job well, which is why we recommend you get a seasonal inspection before winter officially begins. While some of our customers may not feel the need to worry about Houston's mild weather, the truth is that even our winters can bring water, hail, and wind damage that can compromise your roof.

How Houston's Winter Weather Affects Your Roof

Our winters may not bring blizzards, but your roof can still experience water, hail, and wind damage.

Water and Hail Damage

Freezing rain may not seem like much, but it can cause some serious damage. As rain becomes icier on the colder days, it can set on your gutters and create blockage, which gets in the way of the water your gutters are meant to re-direct away from your roof and siding. On days when Houston experiences heavier rain, it can weigh down your roof and cause cracks in your shingles. As water melts, it could potentially flow into your shingles and cause severe leaks and mold.

Although hail damage is more common between May and September, hail actually forms in storm clouds when those clouds are at or below freezing, which can easily occur during the winter months. Keep in mind that hail only needs to be the size of a quarter to cause substantial damage to your roof.

Wind Damage

Not many Houstonians look forward to the harsh, cold winds we experience at times. If your shingles haven’t been thoroughly checked on, these winds can find their way beneath shingles that have loosened or weakened over time and then blow them off of your roof. One lost shingle creates a chain reaction, and soon the neighboring shingles may also come loose and blow away, compromising the integrity of your entire roof.

Free Roof Inspections Are The Best Measure You Can Take To Extend Your Roof's Life

All of our inspections are free, so you can get them whenever you want as often as you need them. Please contact us so that we can carefully assess your rooftop’s integrity. Our experienced inspectors will determine whether your roof can handle the Houston winter weather, and they will also catch the more subtle signs of aging or damage so we can help ensure your family’s safety.

Houston may not be the windy city, but we do get our fair share of aggressive winds during the fall when storm season takes place, as well as in the winter when it gets colder outside. These occasional fall winds, though, can be very damaging. Here’s how.

How Can Wind Damage Your Houston Roof?

When it comes to wind damage, most of it has to do with debris. Strong enough winds can toss around garbage and your seasonal lawn decor, which can end up on your roof and puncture it. A punctured rooftop also allows outside air to seep into your home, which will leave you with a hiked up energy bill.

Some of our customers overlook the fact that excessive wind can make shingles more prone to coming loose and blowing away. Once one shingle is lost, it’s quite easy for the neighboring shingles to blow away as well, and missing too many shingles exposes your roof to structural damage, water damage, rot, and even mold.

Weaker winds can blow leaves and twigs onto your roof that collect in your gutters, weighing them down and clogging them. Gutters are meant to collect rainwater so that it can flow away from your home. When gutters are clogged they can’t do their job, and instead, the rainwater settles and creates a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. To make matters worse, if the water level gets too high, then it will have no choice but to flow back into the roof shingles, which can very quickly cause buckling, breakage, and leaks.

Get a Free Seasonal Roof Inspection

A sure way to find out if your house has sustained wind damage is by contacting us for a free roof inspection. When we conduct our inspection, we will carefully check the integrity of your roof and determine if a repair is needed.

Amstill Roofing Is Here for all Your Roof Repair Needs

If after we complete a roof inspection we determine that a repair is necessary in order to keep your roof lasting for years to come, then we will discuss financing options and schedule a repair day. With our experienced crew, we can complete most repairs within a single day. 

It seems this fall is one of the colder ones the greater Houston area has experienced, and we have also had quite a fair share of strong storms. It's safe to say that this year, Houston weather has wreaked havoc on its homes. As it gets colder, it's a good idea to look back and determine how long you've had your roof for. With holiday season approaching and lights and ornaments going up on your roof soon, you'll want to be sure it will withstand the season's decorations and colder weather.

Is It Time For A Houston Roof Upgrade? Get A Free Inspection

On average, your roof can last about 10 to 15 years, but it can last even longer, depending on which shingles are laid over your rooftop. If it's been about 10 years, then it's likely time for a roof replacement and for you to get a roof inspection. At Amstill Roofing, we offer free roof inspections whenever you need them. When we inspect your roof we will take a close look at the integrity of your shingles and take note of any loose, weakened, curling, buckling, or missing shingles, and even damaged chimney flashing. If we find your shingles are exhibiting extensive damage as a result of aging and the rough hurricanes we have had in the last few years, which bring heavy winds, hail, and debris, then we will recommend a full replacement.

Why You Should Replace Your Whole Roof Rather Than Just Some Severely Damaged Shingles

Many times our customers ask if they can get away with replacing the shingles that are most damaged instead of their full roof. More often than not, a full replacement is absolutely necessary. This is because once a few shingles are compromised, the neighboring shingles will quickly follow suit. Because shingles are all nailed together, the moment one goes missing, you can very quickly lose more at a time.

Without enough shingles, or with severely weakened shingles that are left unaddressed, you will not only allow outside air in, which can raise the cost of your electric bill, but you will also let in severe leaks that will inevitably put the rest of your family and your structure at risk. Additionally, if we just replace the shingles that are most damaged, then we are forgetting about the shingles that are well on their way to becoming just as big a problem.

Amstill Roofing Completes One-Day Roof Replacement

If you've had your shingles for 10-15 years, please contact our roofing team so we can complete our initial inspection and offer an estimate. We will also discuss financing options, and then we will bring the replacement roofing material and complete the job, usually within a day. Let us keep your home and your family safe this holiday season.

Summer is the busiest time for home builders and realtors, as many homeowners try to sell their houses at that time of year so they can move to a newer, smaller, or bigger home. For roofing companies like ours, though, late summer and all throughout fall are the busiest times of year because of all the storms that take place in Houston. Have you recently moved to a new, upgraded home in the last few months and experienced a leak?

Poor Shingle Installation

Usually, when you move into a house that used to belong to someone else, the previous owners make sure to update it in some way or another. If they lived in it for ten, fifteen, twenty, or even thirty years, they will likely replace the roof right before listing the house. This is especially true for Houston homeowners, who are all too familiar with the crazy storms we get between summer and fall.

However, there have been instances where our customers move to a new home with an updated roof and experience a leak shortly after settling in. This is usually due to poor shingle installation. Don't worry though, our Houston roofers at Amstill Roofing can fix it.

Get a Free Roof Inspection by Amstill Roofing After a Storm

If you notice a leak in your new house's roof during a storm, be sure to deal with roof leaks ASAP. We will stop by as soon as we can and complete a free roof inspection. During our inspection, we will climb onto your roof and take a careful look at your shingles. We'll keep an eye out for any shingles that were improperly installed and let you know what we've found. Afterward, we will schedule another day to come by and complete the necessary repairs and/or replacements.

Amstill is Available For All Your Houston Roof Repair Needs

Our experienced crew can complete any necessary repairs or replacements within a single day. We'd also like to recommend that once your roof is fixed, you regularly clean out your gutters, trim any nearby trees that hang over your roof, and get regular roof inspections completed by our highly-skilled eyes at no charge. Please contact us if you suspect your roof shingles were poorly installed so that we can keep you, your family, and the rest of your home safe and secure.

The debris that floats onto your Houston roof, such as leaves and twigs, may seem small and insignificant, but the truth is that even these seemingly harmless objects can put your roof at risk. So, how exactly does debris affect your roof? It usually damages it as a result of not adequately maintaining the roof structure, especially during Houston's storm season.

It Clogs Your Gutters

When twigs, leaves, and grass start piling up onto your roof, your gutters will be your first line of defense. Over time, accumulated debris will weigh them down and clog them.

Houston is well-known for the severe storms it can face every year. When a rainstorm hits, the water will glide from the top of your roof and into the gutters, but if they're clogged, then the rainwater has nowhere to go and settles instead. Three things can occur as a result of this settled water.

• The built-up water combined with Houston's humid and warm weather invites bacteria and mold to grow in your gutters and even on your roof

• If the water level is high enough, the water will have no choice but to seep back onto the shingles. This can weigh them down, causing buckling and even roof leaks.

• Gutters and downspouts are meant to keep accumulated water away from the rest of your house. If they're clogged, water trying to escape will instead flow down the siding and potentially cause more water damage.

Contact Amstill Roofing Today to Check on the Integrity of Your Roof

The debris that builds up on your Houston roof will eventually accumulate and, before you know it, you will be in need of an extensive repair or even a full roof replacement. 

If your roof has a lot of debris from any of the past storms we've had, then we recommend you contact us for a free roof inspection. We will climb onto your roof and sift through the debris to check on the integrity of your structure and determine whether you are in need of a simple repair or if you will need a replacement. We will also recommend ways to protect your roof so it lasts as long as it possibly can.

We’ve already had a cold front come into town, and Houston is notorious for multiple cold fronts before the temperature stays low for a while. As the weather fluctuates and you adjust the thermostat, pay attention to how the house feels and see if the temperature setting is adequate. If it isn't, then it may be time to repair or replace your Houston roof.

If your house doesn’t feel as comfortable as it should once you’ve adjusted the temperature a number of times, your roofing typically ends up being the culprit.

How Your Houston Roof Affects Your Home’s Temperature

Your roof protects you and your family from the outside elements and serves to help insulate your home.

If you're missing some shingles, if your shingles are cracked, broken, or buckling, or even if your chimney flashing is loose, then you are leaving space for leaks to make their way into your house and into the insulation that is meant to maintain the inside temperature of your home. If the insulation just beneath your roof gets wet, then not only is it inefficient, but it's also very dangerous. Wet insulation can lead to rapid corrosion of roofing materials such as fasteners and studs. Over time the moisture may compromise the structure of your home by causing bowing and warping, and the build-up will encourage mold and bacteria growth.

Aside from internal damage, during the unpredictable temperature changes Houston experiences, a damaged roof with even the slightest of openings will allow your inside cool or warm air to escape and for the outside air to enter. When this happens, you will want to make the house significantly cooler or warmer for longer periods of time just to stay comfortable inside. As many of us know, this will hike up your energy bill.

Contact Amstill Roofing Today For A Free Roof Inspection

The first step when dealing with inadequate temperature settings is to contact us for a free inspection. Our well-trained inspector will determine whether a simple repair or a full roof replacement is necessary. Doing this not only helps us pinpoint the cause of the problem, but it will also help you save you money on your energy bill, as you will no longer need to make the heater work as hard. Most of our roofing jobs are completed in a day, so you can be sure you'll quickly be warm and protected once again.

While Houston is better known for its scorching hot and humid summers rather than its mild winters, that doesn't mean our winters can't still wreak havoc on your roof. It's a good idea to understand what exactly your roof undergoes during the winter, now that the colder temperatures approach us.

Water and Ice Damage

Although it may not seem like it, freezing rain can seriously damage your Houston roof. The reason for this is that as it freezes and becomes icy, it can build up in your gutters, which blocks them and prevents them from doing their job. Their job is solely to allow for proper water drainage away from your roof in order to keep your shingles in-tact. 

Although our winters don't bring excessive rain, we can still get heavy showers at times. In the event that your area does experience heavier rains during the colder months, this can bring damage to your roof. Even though the rain may be solidified, once it starts melting it can potentially flow under and in between your shingles, especially if your gutters are blocked. This can lead to leaks and even mold growth under your roof and inside your house, putting your structure and your family at risk.

On days when Houston experiences freezing temperatures, it's easy for rain to turn to ice and weigh down your roof. If your shingles haven't been inspected in a long time, they could already be compromised and you wouldn't know it until the ice led to your shingles cracking and/or breaking. What's more, if your shingles aren't in-tact during the winter, you will notice your house isn't staying as warm, which will cause a spike in your energy bill.

Wind Damage

We very rarely have snow days, but we definitely have windy days. Cold, harsh winds in the winter can blow underneath loose and old rooftop shingles and blow them completely off of your roof. It becomes even more damaging when this wind is paired with hail or sleet.

If you read our post about hailstorm damage, then you'll know that even small pieces of hail can damage your roof. When paired with sleet that lands on your shingles, they can become weighed down and weakened, making it easier for them to be blown away by the wind.

Get Your Houston Roof Inspected Before Winter

It's extremely important that you get your roof checked right before winter, which is why at Amstill Roofing we offer free roof inspections. We will climb onto your roof and carefully assess the integrity so you can rest assured that your roof will protect you during the colder season. If you haven't received an inspection, please contact us today so we can schedule one.

It's time to establish why you should get regular roof inspections. Inspection is the best preventative measure you can take to ensure your roof is in good condition, especially now that we are slowly nearing colder weather. You want to be sure your roof is providing the protection you, your family, and the rest of your home need. In addition, getting a free roof inspection by Amstill will save you money in the long run, not only because it doesn't cost you money, but it will also help us catch any signs that you may need repairs before problems become costly, both in terms of money and in terms of your safety.

Inspect Your Houston Roof AT LEAST Twice a Year

A good rule to follow is to get a free roof inspection by our trained roof inspectors at least two times a year. We recommend you get your roof checked in the spring and in the fall, as these times of year offer milder conditions. By having us check on your roof during the mild seasons, we can ensure it will be ready and reliable for protection against the harsher climates of the summer and winter. Just because we don’t typically get snow in our Houston winters doesn’t mean you should skip out on your fall inspection, as the weather can be unpredictable. On top of that, temperatures tend to drop during the night, so ensuring your roof is in good condition will ensure your house is well heated and your energy bill won’t be higher than it should be.

Complete Regular Roof Check-Ups In Between Inspections

You may think that getting a free roof inspection twice a year is enough, but the truth is that you should regularly monitor your roof in between our inspections. Now, you don’t have to climb onto your roof–and you shouldn’t if you don’t have the proper training–but keep an eye on your shingles, gutters, and downspouts from the upstairs bedroom windows or from the driveway or backyard. This is a very useful habit to have and will only further protect your investment. Keep an eye out for cracks and buckling, especially after a weather threat occurs, such as a hurricane, hailstorm, or the rare snowfall we get.

Contact Our Houston Roofers For a Free Roof Inspection Today

All of our inspections are free, so please contact us for your next roof inspection so we can ensure your structure maintains its integrity and protects you. If you are afraid you won’t catch the more subtle signs of aging or damage, rest assured our trained experts will.