Ron Williams Roof Doctor

Journeyman Roofers

2011-12-16T19:55:00.000-08:00

A roofing contractor in my area posted this wild text and it bears review. Although similar in name,

IT IS NOT ME!!!

No other Roofing Contractor in Northern California inspects more roofs, solves more roof leak problems, repairs more roofs, or issues roof certification on more homes than ROOF DOCTORS. Roof repairs on your home are professionally performed by our license-quality repairmen who must exceed our rigorous roof-repair-quality standards before they are allowed to work on your roof. ROOF DOCTORS never uses any untrained, inexperienced, or unsupervised laborers, nor any apprentice or journeyman roofers to work on the roof of your home which is the common practice among other roofing companies.

And we should be thankful that it is a common practice. As far back as I can remember, my Dad and my Uncles all spoke of journeymen card holders with the deepest respect. As I grew up, I learned that it was actually easier to become a licensed contractor than a journeyman tradesman. At any rate, being a contractor and operations manager, whenever I was lucky enough to run across an actual journeyman roofer I hired them instantly because they are so rare and valuable.

But don’t take my word for it.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

In modern apprenticeship systems, a journeyman is a man who has a tradesman certificate that required completion of an apprenticeship. In many countries this is the highest formal rank (that of master having been eliminated) and allows them to perform all the tasks of the trade within the area where they are certified, to supervise apprentices and to become self-employed.

In the United States, employment in the building trades, such as an electrician or plumber or carpenter, usually requires that a person holds a state or local (city or county) license as a journeyman or master. The journeyman license certifies that the craftsman has met the requirements of time in the field (usually a minimum of 8000 hours) and time in an approved classroom setting (usually 700 hours). A journeyman has the responsibility of supervising workers of lesser experience and training them, in addition to having the qualifications (knowledge and skills) to work unsupervised himself. A journeyman is commonly expected to have a wide range of experience, covering most fields of his trade. For example, a non journeyman worker of some 20 or 30 years experience may have most or all of his experience in only residential, commercial or industrial applications. A journeyman however, has a broad field of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

And so for these reasons, I do not understand the pride the above individual seems to take in not using any journeyman people.

The only logical explanation would have to be that he does not know what the term means.

While we are on the subject of terminology, what exactly is a “license-quality repairman”? If this is not a made up classification , It would be truly surprising.
And where do all of these people come from? This would mean that this company has gained access to an endless supply of people that could have a contractor’s license if they wanted but would rather work for them. An amazing accomplishment that no other roofing company anywhere has ever been able to achieve.

That sure seems like a lot to swallow from a three sentence paragraph.

What do you think?

Are Sole Proprietors Incompetent?

2011-11-29T23:30:00.000-08:00

I recently saw this writing on a publication and could not resist a comment.

First there is this:
"The business has always been built on a foundation of honesty and integrity.
We have no need to insult our competitors"

Then proceeds to insult the majority of the contractors in the state of California with the following:

LIMITATIONS OF SOLE PROPRIOTER ROOFING COMPANIES

The limitations of some sole-proprietor Roofing Companies are: answers their own phones; does what little marketing they can; criticizes their competitors who they know nothing about; has to perform their own inspections because they don't have anyone else in their company competent enough to do them; performs their own roof repair estimates; prepares their own paper work; buys their own roofing supplies; oversees any office staff; directs their roof repair crews or roof replacement crews; completes their own repairs; hires workers with little or no experience; has to be onsite to manage every job because they can't leave their inexperienced workers unsupervised for fear they will make mistakes; deals with customer complaints and relations; follows up on leaky roofs that they had repaired; comes to rely upon the roof inspection fee, which they charge up to $100 or more for, as their primary source of income since they perform very few actual roof repairs; and, the list goes on and on.

These roofers do not have the financial resources to hire competent workers to whom they can delegate responsibility or leave unsupervised. Therefore, it isn't any wonder that when it gets just a little bit busy, that these roofing companies are: unable to answer their phones; will never return phone messages; will return a phone call days or weeks later; they don't show up when they had promised; they can't take on any more work because they are scheduled out for weeks in advance; and, when they do show up, they charge up to $100 or more for roof reports that contain expensive or unneeded repairs, or they call for an immediate roof replacement. These types of companies do such a low business volume, have such inexperienced workers, and are so understaffed that they become overwhelmed when there is even a slight increase in business demand. As a result, they become unreliable and are unable to properly assist their customers that are in need of immediate service.

Are you serious? If you are a sole proprietor you cant afford competent help?
Do you actually believe this? Better yet, do you actually think anyone else does?.
Second when did it become a negative to :

Do you own inspections

Oversee your office staff

Direct your crew

Manage your jobs

Deal with customer complaints and relations

And, if you do not do any of these things yourself...what do you do?

And while all of us lowly sole proprioterships in California may not possess the honesty or integrity or the vast corporate recources that you do, as for my company, we do manage to have our own name on the door at both of our shops and list our home address as well. We are not listing any vacant properties, other peoples offices or mail box stores as our big time corporate offices.

Who To Call For Roofing Related Issues In Citrus Heights

2011-09-21T23:26:00.001-07:00

Some Homeowners when looking for help with their roofing related issues are just rolling the dice when looking for a roofing quote. I recently performed and inspection and estimate for some dry rot replacement on a pretty nice home. The Homeowner told me she had a bid for $250.00 and was using that quote for comparisons.

Our cost was over $250.00 She had recently had some other dry rot work done (and not happy with) by the same people.

Now I understand money is tight, but we have to perform up to certain standards for both ethical and legal reasons and cannot use whatever materials they might happen to have available at Home Depot that day (I love Home Depot but sometimes they do not carry the appropriate materials for the job!) as I know many do.

If you want quality you can depend on call Ron Williams Roof Doctor at 800 409 4910.

Composition Shingle Roofing in 2011

2011-09-21T06:25:00.001-07:00

Hi, It's Ron at Ron Williams Roof Doctor.

In my opinion, properly configured the composition shingle roof is by far the best value on the current roofing materials market.

Composition shingles have come a long way. Now fiberglass reinforced, and laminated with multiple layers, composition shingles are available in a multitude of colors and styles. When coupled with the right combination of attic insulation and attic ventilation the composition shingle roof cannot be beat for shedding the weather, durability, longevity and therefore value.

At Ron Williams Roof Doctor we strive to achieve the highest levels of quality and customer service.

Our in house sheet metal shop assures you will get the finest flashing products as well.

Call 800-409-4910

Thanks

Do You Have Loose Trim Tiles On Your Roof?

2011-09-21T04:56:00.001-07:00

Something we run across on a fairly regular basis is loose trim or rake tiles at the gable areas on tile roofs. This not only can leave the structure exposed to weather damage but also creates a potentially dangerous condition. These tile weigh approximately 10 lbs. each, and when falling from a roof will almost certainly cause substantial damage to whatever they happen to strike when they land.

This condition is usually created by a fundamental design flaw in which the barge rafter is set approximately two inches too low, causing the nails that are supposed to secure the trim tiles to barely catch the top of the barge rafter, or miss it completely.

The result is usually missing and broken tiles, dry rot at the roof edge, and sometimes damaged property.

At Ron Williams Roof Doctor we have a permanent solution to this condition, so if you have loose trim tiles give us a call or visit http://www.roofdoctor1.com

Tile Roofing and Repairs - So Misunderstood.

2011-09-21T01:27:00.001-07:00

By: Ron Williams / Roof Doctor

Tile Roofing Maintenance, Part 2

I would like to address the myth and popular contention that on a tile roof, it is the felt or underlayment that protects your home from moisture and not the actual tile. The underlayment is one or two layers of #30 asphalt saturated felt that is applied directly over the wood roof sheathing and then the roof tiles are installed over it.

I have personally repaired thousands of tile roofs and at least 90% of them were leaking because of a failed flashing or tile. Once water gets under the tile the roof is going to leak, the felt is actually more of a vapor barrier than a waterproofing and there are thousands of nail penetrations in the felt as well as unsealed corners etc.

I have literally hundreds of photos of tile roof leaks caused 100% by either debris build up, failing flashings or tile with debris build up the major cause.

So with debris build up being the most prevalent cause of leaks to tile roofs, let's take a look at what actually happens.

First debris accumulates in a valley, chimney, or pipe flashing. Since the part of the flashing that carries the water is under the tile, like a dam the debris diverts water over the flashing that is under the tile and onto the felt.

Are The Tiles Loose On Your Roof?

2011-09-16T10:58:00.001-07:00

The result is usually missing and broken tiles, dry rot at the roof edge, and sometimes damaged property.

At Ron Williams Roof Doctor we have a permanent solution to this condition, so if you have loose trim tiles give us a call or visit http://www.roofdoctor1.com

Roof Maintenance Program for Public Facilities

2011-09-09T00:02:00.001-07:00

Roof maintenance and repair(s) on public facilities can be a daunting task. Not to worry, Ron Williams Roof Doctor is here for you. We offer personal and friendly service and we have the solutions for most roof maintenance issues. The combination of our in house sheet metal shop and Ron's unique roofing experience makes us the perfect solution for your roofing maintenance needs.

Its Hard To Get Good Help (I guess?)

2011-07-31T00:02:00.001-07:00

It's Hard to Get Good Help

I recently responded to request from a customer who was complaining about some horrendous behavior by another contractor. In this particular case there are several legal issues pending.
To describe just one of the issues that the customer is having us look at, the contractor had replaced damaged shingles on the roof. Now even most homeowners know that the proper procedure is to pull the nails from the shingle above, remove the shingle below and slip a new one in then re nail. This contractor pulled out the old shingle without pulling any nails, cut the new ones short and shoved them in then drove nails right through the face of the new shingles leaving the nails and nail holes exposed and left the customers roof like that.
According to this local self proclaimed big time corporate roofing contractor, this work was done by one of his "field workers" who is "professional, qualified and experienced."

Coincidently, several of his customers have received such terrible roof inspections that they called us for a second opinion.
Actually, on 2 of them his highly trained, trustworthy professional inspectors inspected the wrong properties, so all of the information was wrong. One of the customers called us, and one called him to tell him that after first missing the original and second appointments, when they did show up they inspected the wrong house. When contacted by the customer he promptly scheduled a re-inspection for the following day then failed to show up again.
When he finally did issue a second report (the customer never could figure out when he actually came either time) he incorrectly identified the number of layers of roofing for the second time. (But hey, at least he is doing LOTS of them!)
Since this determination is child's play for even an apprentice level roofer, I think I might tone down the bragging about the workers.

And secondly, how can you even make a single mistake with so little information on the report?

This same contractor publicly states that it doesn't matter how long you have had a contractor's license, but that what's most important is how many jobs and inspections you can do right now. (And now I believe
that he actually thinks that!)
Then goes on to suggest that if you have had your roof inspected by someone else, you should call him for a second opinion!
Wow.

Are You Looking for A Free Roof Inspection?

2011-05-30T02:49:00.000-07:00

I realize that free "roof inspections" have their place and do serve a purpose. Say if you are selling a home and just want someone to say everything is ok to get the deal done. But really that's about it.

If you actually want to know what's happening with your roof, a free "inspection" is not what you want and I'll tell you why.

A.
At least 80% of the time, a free roof "inspection" will be performed by someone who has absolutely no credentials other than the fact that their boss is calling them an inspector. (I guess my cats are inspectors too then.)

B.
In 40 years of roofing work I have yet to see two identical roofs, but since I started checking about 6 months ago, I have seen several perfectly identical free roof "inspection reports". They are vague, uninformative and in my opinion, worth what was paid.

At Ron Williams Roof Doctor, we are a roofing and roof repair company who offers roof inspection and certification services, primarily because of Ron's problem solving background.

When we are hired to do an inspection, our focus is to provide all pertinent information regarding the roof, regardless of certification conditions. If you don't want the information, you don't want us.

When we arrive at a site, we have been paid for the inspection and don't need to sell anything beyond that.

Our inspection is not solely for the purpose of our certification evaluation, as is stated on other "reports".

Our inspection is for the purpose of giving the customer all available information pertaining to the roof and may be used for any purpose.
If you want to know all about your roof, you can't beat an inspection report done by Ron Williams Roof Doctor.

If you don't really want to know, but still need an "inspection" then the free route may be for you.

Composition Shingle Roofing / Ron Williams - Roof Doctor

2010-07-30T19:18:00.001-07:00

The composition shingle roof is an excellent value in roofing material. Currently, in California the minimum slope requirement for a composition shingle roof is 2-1/2" in 12", or 2-1/2 inches of vertical fall for every 12 inches of horizontal run. Although this is a minimum requirement, it has been my experience that the thicker composition shingles (30 to 50 year) do not perform well on anything less than a 3" in 12" slope or "pitch", as it is called in the industry. We see leaking shingle roofs all the time that leak because they were installed over a surface with 2-1/2" or less slope.

2010-07-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

These Velux skylights were leaking for years and no amount of mastic or caulking was fixing the leak.

Right: Ron Williams Roof Doctor ordered new flashing kits from Velux and installed them. We also had to manufacture a custom piece of channel for the center because the skylights are so close together.

Ron Williams / Roof Doctor

2010-06-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

Ron Williams Roof Doctor provides the very best in roof maintenance, inspection, certification and repair.Lack of proper roof maintenance can lead to premature deterioration of your roof, which along with improper installation are the greatest causes of roof problems. This is particularly true of relatively low-sloped roofs, as they are in general more susceptible to leaks.

Roof Repairs - Weathering
Your roof is exposed to the weather all year round. This exposure causes your roof materials to deteriorate. All types of roofing materials may be damaged by wind. Excessive or in some cases even minimal debris build up is also a common causes of roof leaks.The Roof Doctor has extensive experience in repairing all types of roofs, and we are here to help you with your roof repair or maintenance needs. Whether your roof is Tar and Gravel or Built Up, Torch On or Modified Bitumen, EPDM or Single Ply, Composition Shingle, Wood Shingle, Wood Shake, Lightweight Tile, Concrete Tile, Ceramic Tile, Steel Tile, Metal, or a Mobile Home Roof, Roof Doctor can help you.

Re Roofing

2010-05-27T09:32:00.001-07:00

Re Roofing - With Ron Williams Roof Doctor:
The most common re roof scenario that we see here on the West coast is a shake conversion, where as the term implies, a shake roof is converted to a composition shingle roof. Most proposals for this type of project will look something like this:
1. Remove existing roofing and dispose.
2. Install a layer of 1/2 solid wood roof sheathing over existing spaced sheathing.
3. Install a layer of roofing felt over new wood.
4. Install new 30 year composition shingles.
5. Install new roof top flashings.
6. Remove all work related debris.
** XX Year Warranty On All Work **
NOTE: Any additional work (dry rot etc.) is $xxx.00 per hr. + materials cost.
OK, number one, good.
Two, you should know if you are getting OSB (chip) board or plywood. We use plywood unless a homeowner wants the cheapest possible, because the cost difference is minimal and it is a far superior product so this translates into a better value.
Three, you should always get and we always use #30 felt (twice as thick) as opposed to #15.
Four, good.
Five, make sure ALL roof metal is included! Heat and plumbing vents, perimeter trim metal, and shop formed chimney flashings, HVAC flashings. These last two are almost never done because they are costly. We have in house sheet metal fabrication and always include these.
Six, good.
Also, when you convert your shake roof to composition shingles, it is absolutely critical that the attic ventilation be upgraded. A balanced ventilation system will make your roof last, help the comfort level in the home and keep your materials warranty from being voided.
I think most companies will provide the majority of these items, but I also see new roofs almost every week where a lot of the items (mostly number five) were not specified and then not included. That is usually when we are called out to fix them.
You can't go wrong using Ron Williams Roof Doctor on your re roofing project. 800 – 409 - 4910

Tile Roofing, Part 2

2010-05-21T17:31:00.001-07:00

By: Ron Williams / Roof Doctor
Tile Roofing Maintenance, Part 2
I would like to address the myth and popular contention that on a tile roof, it is the felt or underlayment that protects your home from moisture and not the actual tile. The underlayment is one or two layers of #30 asphalt saturated felt that is applied directly over the wood roof sheathing and then the roof tiles are installed over it.
I have personally repaired thousands of tile roofs and at least 90% of them were leaking because of a failed flashing or tile. Once water gets under the tile the roof is going to leak, the felt is actually more of a vapor barrier than a waterproofing and there are thousands of nail penetrations in the felt as well as unsealed corners etc.
I have literally hundreds of photos of tile roof leaks caused 100% by either debris build up, failing flashings or tile with debris build up the major cause.
So with debris build up being the most prevalent cause of leaks to tile roofs, let's take a look at what actually happens.
First debris accumulates in a valley, chimney, or pipe flashing. Since the part of the flashing that carries the water is under the tile, like a dam the debris diverts water over the flashing that is under the tile and onto the felt.

I could literally show you a hundred pictures like this.
This will cause the roof to leak every single time because the felt is not a watertight system.
So let's quit telling homeowners that it's the felt that keeps the water out ok? It just isn't true. In almost every case, 30 lb. Felt is intended as a vapor barrier and nothing more.

Tile Roof Maintenance, Part 1

2010-05-15T21:33:00.001-07:00

By: Ron Williams / Roof Doctor

Tile Roofing:

Often we find broken tiles on a roof. Most people do not understand how to walk on a tile roof and sometimes it is apparent that the tiles were broken by foot traffic.

Other times there is not a readily apparent explanation and the homeowner will say "I swear, no one has been on my roof, how could there be broken tiles"?

Roof tiles can get damaged or be lifted by the wind (poorly fixed ridge tiles are especially susceptible to wind damage) or roof expansion movement as the roof heats up and cools down. So, on a daily basis your roof does absorb a lot of natural abuse expanding and contracting. As a roof expands and contracts the roof system moves, and during movement the tiles bind against each other. Quite often I go on a tile roof and see fifty or more "corner chips" these are caused primarily from this type of movement.

Another killer is moss. Shaded areas are perfect breading grounds for moss to grow. The moss will first cause several hairline cracks along the thin overlapping sections of the Tile.

The Northern facing surfaces of roofing generally get the least amount of the sun and in turn will take longer for moisture or dew to evaporate or run off. The steeper the roof pitch, the more moss will grow. Moss creates an additional problem with its root system by compounding the deterioration process further causing the tile to pit and crack.

Eventually, your roof will just leak and most likely cause damage inside of your home until its repaired or replaced.

If you really consider that you may have the equivalent weight of several Semi-Trucks parked on your roof. Any problems with your roof would be a serious matter.

Roof Maintenance

2010-05-14T23:04:00.001-07:00

By Ron Williams / Roof Doctor

Asphalt Shingles:

Composition shingles are probably the easiest of roof surfaces to maintain.

First off, the attic under them must be properly ventilated. If it is, then with regular maintenance the roof should last 20 to 40 years depending on the slope and the particular materials.

If it isn't, the roof will literally bake from the inside out and can burn out in the "hot spots" in 3 – 4 years. Inadequate attic ventilation can also (and often does) cause mold and fungus and or sheathing delamination.

Clean all debris from the surface of the roof. This includes debris that has gathered behind HVAC units, pipes and pitch pans, and any other roof penetrations. Debris has a tendency to hold water, and water will expedite roof deterioration, especially if your roof is asphalt based such as a built-up roof or asphalt shingles. If your roof is starting to collect moss or algae, install some zinc or lead control strips. Dab some roof cement under any loose shingle tabs. Clean all debris from the surface of the roof.

Call Ron Williams Roof Doctor at 800-409-4910 for of all of your roofing maintenance needs,

Or go to http://www.roofdoctor1.com

Basic Maintenance for A Composition Shingle Roof

2010-05-10T21:27:00.001-07:00

Asphalt Shingles:

Composition shingles are probably the easiest of roof surfaces to maintain.

First off, the attic under them must be properly ventilated. If it is, then with regular maintenance the roof should last 20 to 40 years depending on the slope and the particular materials.

Clean all debris from the surface of the roof. Including debris that has gathered behind HVAC units, pipes and pitch pans, and any other roof penetrations. Debris has a tendency to hold water, and water will expedite roof deterioration, especially if your roof is asphalt based such as a built-up roof or asphalt shingles. If your roof is starting to collect moss or algae, install some zinc or lead control strips. Dab some roof cement under any loose shingle tabs. Clean all debris from the surface of the roof, and try to keep the gutters clean too. Above all BE CAREFUL! If you are not skilled at walking on your roof then don't. It isn't worth it.

Call Ron Williams Roof Doctor at 800-409-4910 for of all of your roofing maintenance needs,

Or go to http://www.roofdoctor1.com

Roof Repair, Maintenance and Certification Part 1

2010-05-08T19:30:00.001-07:00

Did you know that most warranties require verifiable roof maintenance for the warranty to be enforced?

Roof Maintenance:

It does not matter if your roof is wood shake-shingles, comp shingles, tile, hot mop or whatever, your roof needs you.

Roofs get more abuse from the elements than any other part of the building, and preventative maintenance is a key element to saving money on your roof by providing a longer service life.

In the next few days, we will provide some general guidelines to help keep your roof in good working condition for as long as possible.

Be sure not to miss our upcoming roofing maintenance discussions!

Be sure to call Ron Williams Roof Doctor at 800-409-4910 for of all of your roofing maintenance needs, we are definitely a cut above the rest.

Or go to http://www.roofdoctor1.com

Roof Certification?

2010-05-07T13:14:00.001-07:00

Why home buyers should ask for a roof certification.

Because regulations in many California communities do not require that sellers replace failing roofs.

Roof certifications are separate from a home inspection. Home inspectors, for the most part, do not perform thorough roof inspections.

A qualified roof inspector will note the following:

1. Type of Roof

2. General Condition

3. Slope or Pitch

4. Installation Defects

5. Maintenance Needed

6. Serviceable Life Expectancy

If the roof requires repairs, after the repairs are performed, the roofing company will then issue the roof certification.

2010-05-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

Attic Ventilation – And Why It Is Critical
By Ron Williams – Roof Doctor

There are three reasons that your attic needs good ventilation. In summer, heat builds up in the attic during the day results in high costs for cooling. In winter, moisture generated from various aspects of everyday living such as breathing, laundry, showers etc. follows little air trails into your attic and collects there. And third, moisture condensing on the framing members and the inside of the roof deck can lead to the growth of mold, mildew and rot in the roof deck and framing. I have personally been inside an attic in the summer that was dripping wet throughout due to this condition.

The cooling effect of venting has two benefits. A) It makes living temperatures more comfortable during hot weather and reduces cooling costs. B) It helps get the rated life out of asphalt shingles. I have been on many roofs with under ventilated attics where the shingles have literally baked from the inside.

Research also shows a ventilated attic is slightly warmer on a clear, cold night than a un vented attic.

Most people believe that is that have lots of insulation they are ok, but attic insulation can actually cause increases in temperature as the insulation holds the heat long after the sun is gone, continuing to transfer it slowly through the ceilings into your living space.

I agree in principle with most of the general research and opinions on attic ventilation. I do not however agree on the most effective ways to correct existing ventilation inadequacies. Use of the Eyebrow vent is a practical and affordable solution to almost any attic ventilation problem. When properly used, it is relatively simple to achieve any amount of balanced airflow, and balanced airflow is what makes it work.

In Central California, call Ron Williams Roof Doctor 800 – 409 – 4910, or visit us at: http://www.roofdoctor1.com for all of your attic ventilation needs.

2010-05-07T11:01:00.001-07:00

I am just writing a test posting right now.