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Thankful in Tampa Bay

 

You may have noticed some people using their Facebook status every day to tell you what they’re thankful for. It may be the love of family or the birth of a new grandchild. It could be good news related to their health or a job offer finally came through. Whatever the reason, we hope November has been a month with many good things happening for you too.

As the holiday season starts making demands on you and your time, it’s possible you haven’t taken a moment to consider what you’re thankful for. But if you get started, you may find your list grows quickly as you pause to think about each area of your life. You could start with your family, move on to your work and then continue on to your community.

Family
Do any of the following apply to you?
I’m thankful for my spouse.
I’m thankful for my children.
I’m thankful for my parents.

Work
Do any of the following fit you?
I’m thankful for steady employment.
I’m thankful for a satisfying job.
I’m thankful for being able to pay my bills.

Community
Can any of these be added to your list?
I’m thankful for good neighbors.
I’m thankful for the peace in my city.
I’m thankful for excellent resources nearby.

As one of those nearby resources for home and business owners, Arry’s Roofing is thankful for our valued customers who rely on us in a time of need. Whether they are dealing with a roof damaged by a storm or needing to replace one due to aging, each decision maker’s choice to begin working with Arry’s allows us to provide a residence or commercial building with an exceptional roofing system in Tampa Bay. Our commitment to roofing excellence is only possible due to the customers who entrust us with installing the most important system of protection for a home or business.

Many of these customers have acknowledged their gratitude in writing and we’ve shared those thoughts on our Reviews page. Others have told us on camera why they trust Arry’s Roofing and return time after time. For their time and effort to share their experiences, we are thankful. All year long.

 

The Wave of Warnings in Tampa Bay

Photo by Alissa Vinoski

As Debby reminded us recently, hurricane season can bring plenty of problems to Florida. The first kind of trouble, directly related to the storm, was most visible in the widespread flooding. For residents still dealing with the impact of that tropical storm, the aftermath is the second kind of trouble. But it’s not restricted to damage to property and home. In disaster areas, the trouble can come in the form of people who offer clean-up and repair services.

Luckily for many homeowners the wave of warnings came quickly after the arrival of Tropical Storm Debby. With word that scammers were flooding the area, equipped with broken promises to deliver, vigilant homeowners were spared the expense and humiliation of paying for repairs that never happened. Unfortunately, with any weather-related event of this size and scope, inevitably someone fell prey to one of the people looking to make a quick buck.

As a homeowner or property manager in Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater or surrounding areas, it’s likely you’ve been through this experience before at least once. Hopefully you didn’t get burned then. If so, you learned your lesson and haven’t repeated it since then. But there a great many people who will experience property damage and act quickly to restore their homes and return their lives to normalcy without realizing the people they’ve chosen to do business with lack experience, expertise, and legitimacy in any way.

As a veteran of the roofing industry in Florida, we’ve seen these types of unethical folks pass through here countless times in the last 25 years. Some of them travel great distances to get their hands in your pockets. If you’re not hiring local, reputable, experienced contractors only, you could be one of their next victims this hurricane season or next.

Satisfied Customers Say It All about Arry’s Roofing

The Tampa Bay Home Show at Tropicana Field in June gave us an opportunity to meet many new potential customers. Some of them will be calling on us to repair and replace roofs at their Gulf Coast homes this summer. But we’re especially pleased and grateful to be able to hear the appreciation of customers we have served in the past.

These customers were quick to share with our own Matt Housh the joy they experienced having Arry’s Roofing provide expert installation, high quality materials and exceptional customer service. One customer even pointed out that he’s hired Arry’s to handle roofing projects at four different homes.

One enthusiastic woman complimented our insulation work, calling it “impeccable.” She went on to say, “You were not messy. You did not crack our drywall ceiling.” Sometimes it’s the things you don’t do that impress a customer most.

Gary Lewis, board member of Sun Ketch Town Homes, is another pleased customer we chatted with at Tropicana Field. He explained, “Arry’s started a project for us in November re-roofing 13 of our buildings.” Mr. Lewis had plenty to add right away. “They did a beautiful job,” he said. “We’re really happy with the outcome. The crews were fantastic, and we really appreciate the work that Arry’s did for us.”

Palm Harbor’s Shane Schwarzkopf also shared praise for Arry’s Roofing commenting on the entire process, from the initial estimate through completion. He said, “They did a fantastic job. They did what they said they were going to do, and I was very pleased with the overall product.” We’re glad we kept you smiling, Shane.

Summer is a terrific time to experience what these satisfied Arry’s Roofing customers are talking about. With hurricane season in place, there’s no better time to ensure your roof isn’t unnecessarily vulnerable. Plus, Arry’s Roofing is offering a summer promotion of Six Months Same as Cash. Call us today to get your roof repairs or replacement project started.

A Roof Replacement Plan During Hurricane Season

Nobody rings in hurricane season. It doesn’t arrive with fanfare and fireworks, like New Year’s Eve. It quietly slips in and goes unnoticed, except by the news media which uses the season’s arrival to cheerfully tell us the names of the storms that could end up destroying our property and altering our lives.

Hurricane season is underway and we’ve gotten a taste of it quickly. Less than a month after it started, Tropical Storm Debby arrived to give Florida plenty of weather action to stay busy. Strong winds may have ripped shingles off your neighbor’s home. Heavy rainfall may have flooded some of the areas you planned to drive through. But hopefully, you remained safe throughout the experience.

Photo by Chris Zuppa, Associated Press

We’re a long way from the end of the Atlantic hurricane season which ends on November 30. How you prepare for the next potential disaster between now and then is of the utmost importance. After all, your roof is your home’s most important system of protection so if your roof goes, everything else could easily follow.

If you believe your roof is not functioning at its best, for whatever reason, replacement timing becomes critical. Your roof’s ability to withstand severe storms, the kind generated by tropical weather systems, is a must during hurricane season. A compromised, weak and vulnerable roof provides no true protection and getting it replaced quickly could spare you property damage expense later on.

There is time to address and remedy those roofing concerns in Tampa Bay. By calling Arry’s Roofing, a 25+ year veteran of the industry, you can get an expert on site to evaluate your existing roof and make a recommendation. In some cases, repairs may be all that’s necessary to return your roof to tip-top shape. So make the call now before the next potential disaster finds its way to Florida.

Congratulations to Tampa Bay’s Graduating Seniors

In the month of June, many Tampa Bay high school seniors will be bringing to a close one important chapter of their education. Whether those students and their families gather at Spronger Field, Ruth Eckerd Hall or Bayside Gym, there celebrations will be great ones. But the reality is, the future challenges will be even greater.

These graduating seniors, many earning academic and athletic honors for outstanding achievements, are now preparing to move forward with plans to continue their studies, enter the workforce or serve their country. Some may take the summer off; many may work during the next two and a half months in order to pay for school or other expenses.

The reality of reaching a point of freedom will begin settling in, if it hasn’t already. We wish each one of them the opportunity to safely pursue their dreams. May they be guided by wise parents, professors, mentors, friends and employers. May they learn from each challenge along the way.

For those graduating seniors in Tampa Bay who aspire to run their own businesses someday, may they learn to do so with integrity. May they remain ambitious in learning all they can to continuously improve their companies. May they deliver their service at the highest level of excellence possible.

Arry's Roofing Earns Its 7th Super Service Award from Angie's List.

No successful path in life is created alone. Role models shape and influence our development in any field, and finding strong role models now can create momentum in a career that takes today’s graduating senior to levels not yet reached. May these role models be available to the young minds who need them most.

Arry’s Roofing wishes graduating seniors in Tampa Bay all the best in transitioning from this accomplishment to the ones that will follow. Keep your standards high, your mind open, and your inner fire burning. We look forward to serving you when you need us and relying on your expertise when we need you someday.

“Greening” Your Roof for Earth Day

A celebration of Earth Day isn’t limited to April 22 as the annual occasion has become a multi-day event in many parts of the country. The scope of Earth Day has also expanded in recent years, with more active corporate and community involvement. One entity supporting the mission this year is GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. As a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor, Arry’s Roofing wants to share the GAF tips to “greening” for Earth Day.

GAF Tips for a “Greener” Reroof Project

1. Recycle. The average roof is many thousands of pounds of material—the weight of several years’ worth of household trash. Most roofing material can be easily recycled by your contractor. Find out where to recycle at http://www.shinglerecycling.org—it’s an easy way to make a big difference.

2. Energy audit. A home energy audit is a professional evaluation of the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency. The start of your reroofing project is a great opportunity to make energy-efficiency improvements to your structure. When the roof is off, your contractor can work from the top down and improve attic air barriers, seal around can lights and bath fans, make sure there isn’t wind wash around soffit vents, and check the overall energy performance of the home. It’s not uncommon to save double-digit percentages on utilities after these improvements. Find qualified auditors at http://www.resnet.us/directory/raters.

3. Proper attic ventilation. Attics should maintain a temperature as close to the outdoor temperature as possible, with vented areas along the eaves (the underside of the overhangs of the roof, in what is called ‘soffit’) bringing in cooler air, which is then vented along the ridgeline of the roof. This steadily moving air keeps your attic from heating up, and clears out any moist air from the living space that does make it into the attic through the ceiling. Many homes were designed without enough of this ventilation; increasing this attic ventilation during your reroof helps make your roof system more effective and helps improve the energy performance of your home.

4. Solar readiness. Most residential solar installations go on the roof. Putting the solar panels up on the roof gets them out of the way, optimizes exposure to the sun, and keeps them close to utility connections. However, it is very common to find a plumbing vent or fan running right through that perfect southern exposure. Even if you’re not having solar PV or solar thermal put on as part of this reroof project, think down the road and get your roof ready by moving this “clutter” to other parts of the roof. You can also add additional leak barrier — the peel and stick self-sealing membrane material that is used in high-stress areas of the roof — in the areas where penetrations for utility connections would go. Making these changes when the roof is being replaced will save additional hassle and cost in the future.

5. Cool roofing. Some options, including Timberline® Cool Series Lifetime Shingles, preferentially reflect the infrared spectrum — the non-visible, heat-carrying portion of the light spectrum. This means your roof can be an attractive, medium or dark color, but still reflect more heat away from your home than conventional roofing. In many parts of the country, for air-conditioned homes (and especially those with A/C ducts that run in the attic), cool roofing can save enough energy to justify the extra expense — and you’ll be doing your part to reduce the urban heat island effect. Learn more about GAF’s Timberline® Cool Series Lifetime Shingles and use GAF’s Roof Wizard to see how these shingles will look on your house at http://www.gaf.com.

6. Last but not least: a durable, efficient, properly detailed roofing system. The number-one job of the roof is to keep the rest of the home dry. It’s tempting to think that you can just get new shingles, but it’s the entire roofing system—consisting of leak barrier, flashing, underlayment, and shingles together—that works to keep the home dry. That’s why a complete roofing system is so important. GAF is the only roofing manufacturer to offer a Lifetime Roofing System warranty. Make sure that your roofing contractor is knowledgeable about all of the proper components of a full roofing system—selecting a factory-certified contractor is your best way to ensure this. You can find a factory-certified professional at http://www.gaf.com simply by entering your zip code.

In Tampa Bay and surrounding areas, rely on the expertise of Arry’s Roofing for your next roof replacement project. With more than 25 years of award-winning service and a team of licensed roofers, Arry’s is ready to handle your roofing needs, no matter how big or small. Call 727.362.2230 to schedule a free roof estimate, and be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @ArrysRoofing.

From Home Improvement to Community Improvement

A new survey about curbside recycling reveals that only one-third of Tampa residents actually use the service. That may or may not surprise you, depending on if you’re one of those people who use it. Perhaps you live in South Tampa or southwest Tampa, areas with the highest recycling rates, according to the Tampa Tribune. But those not participating may need some convincing on how simple it is to get started.

Why is a roofing company talking about recycling? Perhaps it’s because roof tear-offs account for millions of tons of landfill waste every year. There’s movement in the industry to increase recycling efforts involving used roofing materials. But even more important are the efforts we can make on an individual level to reduce, reuse and recycle items within our daily reach.

5 Ways to Start Recycling Today

1. Start with a spot.

Pick a place in your home that provides easy access and room to store a container for recyclables. The kitchen is ideal since it’s where most glass, plastic and aluminum items tend to collect.

2. Start with a routine stop.

Leftover plastic bags can be taken back to the grocery store during your weekly (or daily) stop there.

3. Start with the mail.

Place junk mail, flyers, and unwanted correspondence (that doesn’t include personal information) in your chosen recycling spot before setting it down on the closest flat surface. Newspapers and magazines can be collected around the house too.

4. Start with old technology.

Donate or recycle cell phones, PDAs, chargers, and batteries. Cell phone service providers are among the numerous drop-off locations, and recycling one million cell phones saves enough energy to power more than 185 US households with electricity for a year, according to the EPA.

5. Start with the family.

No, you’re not recycling the kids or your spouse. Sit down with them and plan a recycling strategy that involves everyone. Instruct your children to recycle that paper they bring home weekly in the form of assignments, reports and classroom activities.

Everyone Knows It’s Windy

Photo from TBO.com/Courtesy of Wayne Staples

The 1967 pop song by The Association may have been on your mind on Sunday as windy conditions swept through Tampa Bay. But this “windy” wasn’t the carefree kind described in the Oldies classic. This one came with the straight-line wind variety and downed power lines, toppled trees and created a mess for residents all over the area, including occupants at the Armenia Village condominiums who lost a roof.

If your home didn’t escape the damaging winds, hopefully you’ve been able to get through to a reliable contractor to get the repair process started. We’re fortunate to have many reputable roofers in Tampa Bay. Choosing one of them is preferable to randomly picking a name out of the Yellow Pages or Googling “Tampa Bay Roof Repair.” 

It’s also a good time to remind residents from Tampa to St. Pete to Clearwater and beyond that weather events, like the one yesterday that knocked out power in places such as Lakeland and Apollo Beach, tend to draw out those undesirable types of home improvement contractors. These are the ones who often go door-to-door, come equipped with no references and no license, and may ask to get paid up front and never return.

Let’s be vigilant in these times as friends and neighbors and make sure that those so-called roofing and other home improvement contractors don’t profit off of our hard work. If someone like that shows up at your home, politely ask them to leave and then let your neighbors know what’s going on. If you have an elderly person or couple living nearby, take the time to make sure they didn’t get a visit from someone posing as a contractor.

As a veteran of Florida’s wild weather, Arry’s Roofing is here and plans to stay here to mend roof damage quickly and professionally and guide homeowners through the roof replacement process when that becomes necessary. Get acquainted with our services anytime online at www.arrysroofing.com. For immediate attention, call us now at 727-938-9565 to schedule a free roof inspection.

Get House-Fit in Tampa

The news that Men’s Fitness ranked Tampa as the fifth fattest city in America may startle you. You would think the comfortable climate year round and surplus of fitness centers around here would make indoor and outdoor exercise easy to get, but so many factors go into these types of surveys. The amount of fast food restaurants has something to do with it, but we’re not judging your dietary habits. Blog-reading with a glazed donut in hand is sort of a national pastime.

Fitness seems to get a lot of attention these days. Whether it’s about personal fitness or financial fitness, someone is telling you how to improve your health, your wealth or your life every day. So we might as well jump in and talk about getting house-fit. Don’t sweat it if you haven’t heard that term. It might be made up.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your home’s fitness? 10 means your home is in top physical condition. If it’s closer to 1, you might want to put on a hard hat before continuing to read.

You might think a new home is instantly a 10. Not true. Maybe you haven’t heard the stories about the failures of new construction, including roof replacement that became necessary less than a year after installation. That can happen to a homeowner who relied on a less-than-adequate contractor who lacked a) experience b) expertise c) quality materials d) all of the above.

Just like it takes time to get in shape, returning your home to a high level of fitness won’t be accomplished overnight. Beginning a regimen of maintenance of all areas, including your roof, will help. By keeping an eye on the exterior and interior components of your home, you can avoid the financial burden of having to face multiple repair or replacement projects simultaneously. Not only will your bank account be better protected, so will you by a more secure home.

As for Tampa’s place among heftiest cities, maybe we could all agree to avoid fast food restaurants for a month. Or a week. Or how about just for today?

ROOFS FOR TROOPS

Our military servicemen and women have seen sights that most civilians can’t even imagine. They’ve been to countries torn apart by war, endured climates that feel unbearable at times, and faced the harshest of conditions while far from the comforts of home. When they return to their families and homes, they deserve in be in a safe, comfortable environment, and that’s why we want to introduce the Roofs For Troops program from GAF.

The program is intended for active military, veterans and retirees anywhere in the country, and provides a $300 rebate for a Lifetime Roofing System when installed by a GAF Factory-Certified Contractor. Each qualifying individual is entitled to one rebate between now and the end of 2012 for use on homes in the United States only.

As a GAF Factory-Certified Contractor, Arry’s Roofing is ready to help our Gulf Coast homeowners who qualify for the rebate. There are a few steps necessary once your new Lifetime Roofing System is installed, and they all involve the usual paperwork for these kinds of rebates. You’ll need:

  • The rebate form
  • Contractor’s invoice
  • 4 UPCs from the products installed

The rebate form is available for downloading on the GAF website. If you want to mention Roofs for Troops to a qualifying friend in outside of the Gulf Coast, go ahead. The site makes it simple for your friend to find an approved contractor in his or her area.

You can get acquainted with the Lifetime Roofing System on the GAF website, then call Arry’s Roofing at (727) 938-9565 for a free, in-home consultation. Our team of licensed roofers will install your new roof with the same high standards for workmanship that earned us the privilege of being called a GAF MasterElite Contractor.