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Tag: licensed roofers in Tampa

Introduce Light to Dark Gulf Coast Homes

Posted on by Matthew Housh
Photo courtesy of VELUXUSA.com

Where is the darkest spot in your home? It could be a corner of the living room or the entire dining room. Perhaps it’s a guest bedroom that spends most of its time as a large storage closet. Homeowners will spend considerable time and money attempting to light these areas with varying degrees of success, often neglecting a prime source of light that’s free to use.

Here along the Gulf Coast, our tremendous number of sunny days makes skylights a terrific option for introducing light to a dark home. Whether you’re in a decades-old home in St. Pete or a brand new one in Clearwater, skylights from VELUX and installed by Arry’s Roofing, can be a quick and easy way to bring in natural light and lower energy costs incurred by the need for frequent flips of the light switch throughout the day.

Thanks to options for VELUX blinds, the flow of sunlight can be managed as necessary in each home. At times, you may desire less light or no light and VELUX can accommodate that wish. For example, direct sunlight may produce a glare on the computer screen in your home office and diffusing it with a light diffusing blind is easier than changing the location of your work space.

VELUX provides options for traditional skylights and tubular skylights, and Arry’s Roofing can discuss what best serves your needs and your home. These no-leak skylights come with three layers of water protection and glazing options. Flat and low-sloped roof options are available too.

As veteran roofers who have earned multiple excellence awards from GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, we know all about improving the appearance and function of Tampa Bay roofs. Let’s talk about how we can help yours. Call Arry’s Roofing at 727.362.2230 for a free estimate. You can also learn more about us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @ArrysRoofing.

“Greening” Your Roof for Earth Day

Posted on by Matthew Housh

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.

Finding Your Promising Start in Tampa Bay

Posted on by Matthew Housh

You don’t need to be a baseball fan to revel in learning the New York Yankees fell three times in a row to the Tampa Bay Rays. The sweep at home for the Rays included a win for 2011’s AL Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson who also celebrated a birthday. It’s a good time to be a Rays fan, but a promising start as a new homeowner in Tampa Bay takes more than three consecutive good days.

A first-time homeowner has plenty to think about once the move-in is complete. Unpacking and decorating is a given, but finding the perfect painting to hang in the living room is not a critical issue. What becomes critical is the ability to effectively maintain the home over the period of time you plan to live there.

Let’s take a look at five areas to consider as a new homeowner. This won’t be a comprehensive analysis. But it will give you a chance to give some thought to important topics and issues you’ll potentially face in the coming years.

5 Areas for a First-Time Homeowner to Consider

1. Maintenance Costs
The expense of maintaining a home should be part of a monthly and annual budget. This includes cleaning areas such as the roof or a fireplace.

 

2. Hidden Surprises
Whether it’s a new home or a home that’s new for you, every home has hidden surprises. It could take you weeks or months to discover them. Anticipate a time when some issue about your home, such as hot or cold spots in a particular room, reveals itself.

3. Repair Resources
Repair needs are inevitable. Accidents, storm damage and other events will send you scrambling to find reputable professionals. Before the need arises, make a list of the key types of contractors you’ll need, including roofers, plumbers and electricians.

4. Energy Efficiency
Energy savings is a hot topic, and you can find numerous ways to reduce energy consumption. Newer appliances, better insulation and replacement windows and doors are just a handful of options.

5. Market Value
Sure, you just moved in but treating your home as an investment is aided by remembering that someday you may want to sell it. Whether that day will come five or fifteen years from now keeps you focused on ensuring every area of the home is in tip-top shape.

Arry’s Roofing is an award-winning GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor, serving Tampa Bay for more than 25 years. For a free inspection and estimate, contact Arry’s at 727-938-9565. Also, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArrysRoofingServices and follow us on Twitter @ArrysRoofing.

Arry’s Roofing Receives Excellence Awards Once Again

Posted on by Matthew Housh
Becky and "Arry" Housh receive Triple Excellence awards at the March 2012 GAF conference in Nashville

For the third year in a row Arry’s Roofing has once again earned a trio of Excellence awards from North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. GAF named Arry’s Roofing as one of the recipients of Consumer Protection Excellence, Training Excellence, and Installation Excellence at a conference in Nashville, Tennessee. “Arry” and Becky Housh attended the conference to graciously receive the honors, including the sixth time the company has earned the Consumer Protection Excellence award.

Arry’s Roofing is proud to be among a small percentage of roofers nationwide who have earned the status of GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor. In fact, only two percent of roofers in the country have this certification. The designation underscores the Arry’s Roofing commitment to high standards for workmanship, materials, customer service and ongoing training.

As part of our mission, our company is dedicated to educating roofing customers in Tampa Bay about roofing systems, warning signs of leaks, the importance of gutters and other roofing-related topics. Helping consumers make informed decisions when considering options for contractors is another aspect of that education. We actively promote the idea of carefully researching all home improvement contractors and relying only on licensed contractors with a proven track record in their respective fields.

When you’re ready for roof replacement, or in need of roof repairs, maintenance or cleaning, we welcome you to rely on Arry’s Roofing. We keep our website stocked with helpful information, such as signs you need a new roof and insurance/mitigation. We also provide free hurricane damage inspection and assessment.

Discover why Arry’s Roofing has earned a solid reputation among your neighbors and accolades many times over from GAF. One call to 727-938-9565 is all you need to schedule a free roof inspection and estimate. Be sure to like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArrysRoofingServices and follow us on Twitter @ArrysRoofing.

Tampa Bay Tweets Big Time

Posted on by Matthew Housh

Twitter seems to be the great equalizer of society. Anyone and any business can use it. Then, you can follow anybody you choose to, including celebrities. At any given time, you can read the thoughts of @piersmorgan (he tweets constantly), @charliesheen (almost 7 million followers despite less than 1000 tweets), and @WilliamShatner (Captain Kirk is currently on tour). You don’t even need their permission to follow them, and you can mention them in a tweet if you want. They may or may not respond.

@WilliamShatner, tell you Tampa Bay friends to call @ArrysRoofing.

Yes, Arry’s Roofing is on Twitter. It’s likely that Bill Shatner isn’t following us yet. We still have fewer than 200 followers right now. But we know Tampa Bay is using the social media site so we’re aiming to increase our numbers, with your help of course.

For Arry’s Roofing customers who consider themselves Twitterers or Tweeters (we won’t judge you for picking one over the other), we invite you to follow us and share your comments about the roofing work we did at your Tampa Bay home. Feel free to throw in an acronym or two, if you like. LOL. For homeowners who are shopping around for a roofing contractor, follow us and let us know how you found us initially. Whether it was word of mouth or a Google search, we’d love to hear what moved you in our direction.

We’ll collect the best comments and roll them into a future blog post. If you have pics to share, posting them on Twitter is a great opportunity to illustrate whatever points you make in your comment. Just be safe taking those pics; there’s no reason to attempt an aerial shot of your roof if it’s potentially dangerous.

For the 90% of you reading this blog who only found us because of our mentions of Piers Morgan, Charlie Sheen and William Shatner, tell you Tampa Bay friends to check out the rest of the site. Arry’s Roofing has been satisfying customers for more than 25 years and we’re among a small fraction of contractors in the nation who have earned the status of GAF MasterElite Roofer. One call to 727-938-9565 is all it takes to set up a free inspection. Shatner, use the phone; your Star Trek communicator won’t get a signal in 2012.

Cyberloafing Monday in Tampa Bay

Posted on by Matthew Housh

Some say the day after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday. Football fans won’t argue against that idea. But apparently Tampa Bay residents, and anyone else affected by the switch to Daylight Saving Time should be more concerned about the Monday after we Spring Forward. Experts say the change in our sleep times can leave us more tired as the workweek begins if we go to bed at our normal bedtime instead of an hour earlier to match the change.

The exhaustion that you may feel on Monday could lead you to spend more time “cyberloafing”, a term that is pretty self explanatory. Apparently, the more tired an employee is, the more time he or she spends browsing the web. It’s supposed to be a big deal on Monday so don’t be surprised if productivity is down in your workplace.

Certainly lost sleep is a serious issue in any workplace, but especially in one that demands strict adherence to safety procedures. A warehouse where employees work on and around forklifts, for example, is a place where exhaustion can be not only counterproductive but also hazardous. Even driving to and from work, or driving for work, can be lead to increased risks with more sleepy people on the streets and highways of Tampa Bay.

Keeping yourself and others safe on Cyberloafing Monday is important. Sure, there’s not much damage you can do inside a cubicle, but even office jobs come with their share of risks anytime equipment is involved or you’re having to climb to reach top-shelf supplies. The goal is to make any work environment a safe one that day and every day.

As a GAF MasterElite Roofer with 25+ years in the business here in Tampa Bay, Arry’s Roofing understands the need for safety at all levels of the project. Our crews adhere to the highest standards of safety to protect themselves, the residents of that home and the home itself. Without safety standards in place 100% of the time—and only licensed roofers on the job—we’d be just another contractor. Give that some thought while you’re browsing the web on Cyberloafing Monday.

Everyone Knows It’s Windy

Posted on by Matthew Housh
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.

Champions Find Ways to Succeed

Posted on by Matthew Housh

The story of Derek Jeter’s early arrival in Tampa may have caught your attention this week. The Yankees captain showed up long before position players are scheduled to report on February 25. For a player already destined for a spot in the Hall of Fame, he’s not resting on his laurels. Even after achieving the rare feat of collecting 3,000 hits in 2011, the former Gulf Coast League player knows nothing in baseball (or life) is guaranteed.

Like Jeter, champions in every profession find ways to succeed. They don’t sit back and wait. They don’t make excuses. They don’t shift responsibility to others. They commit themselves to excellence each day, every day. When solutions for a particular problem don’t exist, they invent new ones.

Jeter’s love of the game hasn’t diminished nearly 20 years after his first spring training. On occasion, you’ll find a business owner whose love of his or her work matches that of the Yankee great. It’s recognizable in small ways: courtesy during phone calls and other communication, timely scheduling of appointments, and clarity in explanation of pricing. In an age when customer service in many industries seems inadequate at best, a champion never forgets about remaining a crowd pleaser, regardless of what tools and equipment he relies on to do it.

At Arry’s Roofing, we fill our roster with champions like Jeter. You won’t see them in Cooperstown someday, but the workmanship and expertise provided by these licensed roofing professionals could earn them a spot on any All-Star team. Also, our status as a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor is one more testament to our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in the industry.

When you need roof repair, roof replacement or roof cleaning in Tampa Bay, choose a champion who’s been satisfying customers for more than 25 years—without having to sign a single autograph. Learn more at www.arrysroofing.com. Then call us toll-free at 727-938-9565.

ROOFS FOR TROOPS

Posted on by Matthew Housh

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.

For Improvement in Tampa, Find a Leader

Posted on by Matthew Housh

The Bucs did it. After a dismal 4-12 season, which saw them allow more points than any other team in the NFL, they went out and found a new leader. Former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano takes over as head coach in Tampa Bay, and the front office staff and fans are hoping he can turn things around here in the same way he did for the Scarlet Knights.

Ten straight losses to end a season must feel like a never-ending path of punishment. But mercifully, the NFL limits the number of games to 16 before the playoffs begin. It makes you wonder how much longer the team could have lost before changing the man in charge on the sidelines.

You may have experienced a long “losing” streak of your own recently. It might have involved the malfunctioning of an appliance, broken windows or a leaky roof, one at a time or all at once. The cost of covering multiple projects, even if you work on them yourself, can add up quickly.

Many property owners often are focused on a quick fix and saving a buck, which is understandable. But cutting corners can cause them to overlook the lasting value of quality materials and superb workmanship. That’s the difference between and fix-it-and-forget-it philosophy and truly investing in your home maintenance and repair needs.

A home improvement leader will look at your home as a place that needs to be safe and comfortable. Also, a leader will understand the importance of protecting the value of a home. In addition, a leader will always conduct business in a professional manner, demonstrating both an expertise in the field and the courtesy a customer always deserves.

When you’re hiring a home improvement contractor in Tampa Bay, don’t settle for anything less than a true leader. For roof repair and roof replacement, Arry’s Roofing is that leader. As a GAF MasterElite Roofing Contractor, we’ve bring the highest standards to every project. Find out more at www.arrysroofing.com or call us at 727-938-9565 to schedule a visit and free estimate.

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