Tag Archives: Illinois

Categories Local Roofers, News, Roofing Contractors, Roofing Safety Tips

Aloha Construction answers the question: My Roof is Leaking. Is It covered by insurance?

Every day, we get homeowners who call in saying: My ceiling is leaking water. What do I do? My roof is leaking. Is it covered by my insurance? Being bonded and trusted roofers, we felt it was our duty to give you a behind-the-scenes look of our inspection process.

When your roof leaks in heavy rain or you notice anything off, you should ask yourself the following questions:

Is your Ice & Water shield per city code?

Are your shingle rows straight?

Are water lines straight?

Are the shingles of the roof nailed in the proper location?

Are the shingles nailed per code?

Are the shingles laying down properly?

Is the ridge straight?

Is the ridge capped properly?

Are the ridge cap nails sealed?

Is there an overhang on rakes and eaves? Is it per code?

Is the rake double nailed?

Is the rake clean cut and straight?

Valley(s) installed properly?

Valley(s) clean cut and straight?

Lead stacks bent over properly?

Are PVC boots installed properly?

Is the chimney properly counterflashed?

Is the drip edge installed properly?

Are all exposed nails sealed?

Is everything painted? Stacks/Flashing

 

As always, don’t get caught with a major roofing problem that you originally diagnosed as minor. Call the experts!

Categories Local Roofers, Local Siding Contractors, News, Roofing Safety Tips

When a roof needs to be replaced? Why do shingles curl up? Local Roofing Contractors Aloha Construction provides some insight!

According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, research shows that four out of five homes use this type of Asphalt shingle roofing materials. With more than 12.5 billion square feet produced every year, asphalt shingles cover about five million homes annually.

In Illinois, we get much wider daily temperature swings, during both winter and summer, than most other places in the US. This is tough on all roofing materials, but asphalt shingles in particular. Although asphalt shingles are known for their durability, they may suffer from problems over time. Here are some common shingle issues that Bonded and Insured Roofers Aloha Construction, Inc. deal with on the job:

1. Blistering

Blisters are elevated sections on the shingles and rooftop. Tiny blisterss indicate aging. If the shingles are new and fresh, the blisters may be a manufacturer’s defect. Poor roof ventilation is also a cause here.

2. Curling

Curling is usually moisture-related. Moisture get in the shingles during the manufacturing process or because of poor ventilation. Problems that arise: The dimensions of the shingles may change when the moisture eventually escapes. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may need to call us to replace the entire roof.

3. Raised Shingles

Improper installation may lead to raised shingles that are not strong enough to resist wind uplift. This is one of the reasons it’s important to hire a licensed and certified Illinois roofing contractor  for a fullroof replacement or repair.

4. Premature Cracking

Surface cracking, which doesn’t split the shingles completely, is part of the aging process. Cracking may also occur because of stress, shingle movement caused by high winds, and deck movement.

5. Thermal Splitting or Tearing

Thermal tearing happens when extreme temperature changes cause the shingles to crack or split completely. When undetected, the cracks or splits may let moisture in through the shingles and other layers of the roof.

6. Granule Loss

Granule loss is typically a sign of the lifespan of your roof. Time for a check up!

Categories Local Roofers, Local Siding Contractors

Bonded and Trusted Roofers, Aloha Construction Inc, get together for their All-Company Kick-Off Meeting in Lake Zurich!

It’s already been such a busy start to the roofing & siding season that we’ve barely had any time to do anything other than check your asphalt shingles for leaks or your vinyl siding for hail damage. Long story short, finding time has been tough, but this past week we were able to get all the Claims Specialists and Field Supervisors from our Lake Zurich and Bloomington locations (even our sister company Community Exteriors) together for our annual all-company kick off meeting! Covering everything from our 9 point roof inspection guidelines to properly measuring windows, this sales meeting was a contractor’s dream…

Starting off with some food, our owner David’s Farbaky quickly moved to set the tone and get the meeting started. While a good amount of his intro focused on how we can be the most knowledgeable roofers in the construction industry and our upcoming year’s marketing strategy, the focus gradually became about our core values: Responsibility, Accountability, and relationship building.

While being solid local siding contractors is how we keep the lights on, we are always striving to build an internal company culture that endorses being upstanding all around good people within our respective communities. All of these values start at home and David’s point revolved around who our team members are 100% of the time. What their lifestyles are like. Are they healthy? Dependable family men?

We feel the only way to be the best roofers in the Midwest is by living with these ideals on our mind 24/7. Once we achieve these lifestyle goals, no one in life can touch us.

Thanks for your time…

Categories Local Roofers, Local Siding Contractors

Local Roofers Aloha Construction’s Homeowners talk craftmanship and reviews!

 

As local roofers, we LOVE to talk about our quality shingles, duty-free vinyl siding, and craftmanship. This time, we figured we’d let homeowners who have experienced our contractor work first hand to do the talking!

In this video, homeowners give honest feedback on our roofing, siding, and gutter craftmanship! All homeowners from Gurnee, Grayslake, Round Lake, Lake Villa, Mundelein, and Lake Zurich, Illinois areas!

 

Categories Giving Back, Local Roofers, Local Siding Contractors, News

Local Siding Contractors named Bloomington Thunder Co-Sponsors of the Year!

Last Saturday, we were recognized by our friends the Bloomington Thunder as their Co-Sponsors of the Year for our continued work with the franchise and we couldn’t be more ecstatic!! Doing roofing and siding everyday in Illinois, moments like these remind us life is bigger than just replacing asphalt shingles & vinyl siding…

That being said, we wanted to take this moment to recognize those within the organization who’ve made becoming more involved pain-free: Thank you to Gloria and Connor of the Bloomington Thunder!! Without your work behind-the-scenes, our plans for this partnership couldn’t have become ACTION. You’ve made this group of roofers extremely happy we decided to partner.

When we first reached out about this sponsorship opportunity, admittedly we only thought about getting our “Roofing Siding Gutters” logo on a high traffic area in the stadium. Then it dawned on us: With careful planning, we can maximize this partnership and get the children of the area involved. For those who don’t understand, any and all sports sponsorship opportunities typically come with an attached hospitality package for the group sponsoring. Meaning…we get a bunch of tickets – maybe a sky box. Most other companies simply use them for company outings, random nights out, and their staff.

We instead asked our girl Gloria: “What groups of aspiring kids can we give this hospitality package to? Let’s give back!” Her and the team thought of some ideas and we got to work immediately.

Point blank: This sponsorship has opened up so many more doors than we originally anticipated. Now, we are on the hunt for similar opportunities for our Lake Zurich team of roofers and siding contractors. With the Kane County Cougars on our sponsorship roster, we are in for a fun summer, but we are always looking for more!

That being said, if you or anyone you know, come across any local sponsorship opportunities in the Lake County area and it involves the kids; LET US KNOW!!

Once again, thanks to the Bloomington Thunder for this opportunity and we look forward to finishing the year strong!

Categories Local Roofers, Roofing Safety Tips

BE SAFE: Falling from Roofs account for One Third of all Construction Industry Fatalities

Getting on a roof is dangerous. Growing up, if you were the type to climb out of your bedroom window, chances are your parents scolded you with the lesson of “be weary of heights.” While this may seem just like a normal case of parental concern, the numbers support your parents. Climbing on your home’s roof is not something to be taken lightly. Shingle materials often don’t lend to standard shoe grip and, if there are any wet spots, it can be almost impossible depending on your angle. Considering tackling a roofing job on your own? Maybe it’s best to leave it to the bonded and insured roofing and siding experts.

According to a study done by the Center for Construction Research and Training Data Center, from 1992 to 2009, falls account for 1/3 of ALL construction industry fatalities. 6,591 people died from falling and, of that number, 2,163 of those people fell off roofs. Those 2,163 people accounted for a whopping 76% of all the fatalities in our beloved roofing industry and, to put it all in perspective, roofers are 3 times more likely to experience fatal work related injuries than any other construction worker type. Finally, to show how this applies to you – the homeowner, 34% of ALL FALLS happen at residential home projects.

Think about those numbers for a second. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE have passed away trying to simply tackle a roofing job in the United States. This post isn’t a sales plot. We urge you to take this seriously.

On that note, if you are planning to still tackle that project on your own, take a look at our Fall Protection Equipment Checklist:

All employees working 6+ feet above lower levels MUST USE FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

  • Acceptable forms of fall equipment include:
    • Guardrails
    • Safety Nets
    • Personnel Fall Arrest Systems (may consist of Full Body Harness, Deceleration Devices, Lanyards, and Anchor Points)
  • Harnesses are to be worn AT ALL TIMES on job site
    • Safety Harness Inspected
  • Inspect the Webbing
  • Inspect the Hardware
    • Inspect Ropes and Lanyards
    • Check your installation
  • Calculate Falling Distance
  • Safety goggles must be worn
  • Hard Hat Worn
  • Ladder in Proper Position

Hopefully, with this insider roofer’s safety list, you can take the necessary safety steps in your upcoming DIY project. Be careful. The moment you feel you are out of your element. Call the experts. We are just one call or click away should you need expert roofing assistance.

Categories Giveaway, Giving Back, News

Local Roofers send child with Congenital Heart Disease to Chicago Bulls Game!

We always look for more ways than being local roofers and siding contractors to engage and give back to our customers. This time around, as some of you know,we opted to use our Aloha Construction BOX SUITE at the United Center to do something more heartfelt. Anthony Lynch was a 12 year old boy who had already been through 5 open heart surgeries due to being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and well as other congenital heart defects. Who would have thought this opportunity to give back to our roofing, siding, and gutter fans would have become so much more. Instead of give the tickets away, we opted to allow him and 11 friends to enjoy the Bulls vs. Rockets game! His first time at the united center.

According to WebMD, Congenital heart defect” is another way of saying your heart had a problem when you were born. You may have had a small hole in it or something more severe. While many can be treated with surgery, these are still very serious conditions. In some cases, doctors can find these problems during pregnancy. You might not get symptoms until adulthood, or you may not get any at all. In little Anthony’s case, this condition will prevent him from ever being able to play sports and, according to his mother, just a couple weeks ago he had an emergency trip to the cardiologist in which his EKG didn’t come back good; he’s got another battle ahead.

Hearing about people so young having to struggle so deeply motivates us to do more than replace shingles, vinyl siding, and downspouts. It motivates us to look for ways to give back to the children of our community in a massive and impactful way. How we will achieve this motivation systematically is still unclear…but we know we will help in whatever way we can. Although the Bulls lost, to think that something so minuscule to us was able to bring such positivity to someone who desperately needed it, has forced us to explore every angle we have to continue to do this.

For those of you interested in keeping tabs on Anthony, just stay tuned here. His mother and our team have promised to keep in touch as we plan on continuing to help in whatever way we can…if we can. We will give an update soon.

Categories Giveaway, Giving Back, News

Aloha Construction & The Bloomington Boys & Girls Club’s Youth of the Month!

Being a group of local roofers with two Illinois offices (Lake Zurich and Bloomginton) and with such a large local service area (Gurnee, Grayslake, Roundlake, Lake Villa, and Mundelein to name a few), we come in contact with some really great people from all over. Knowing this, our team of local siding contractors are always looking for ways to give back in unique ways. We believe it is our responsibility as adults to be as supportive and as positive to the children of our community; especially, those born into unfortunate situations. They are our future. The more supportive we are to them now – the more likely our world will be left in good hands when they are older.

In this specific case, our sponsorship and partnership with the Bloomington Thunder USHL hockey team allowed us to give back in a fun way! For those of you unfamiliar, the Bloomington Thunder are a 3rd year United States Hockey League team; the only Tier I junior hockey league in the country. Comprised of 17 teams divided into a nine-team Eastern Conference and an eight-team Western Conference, the USHL is a gateway to college hockey for a vast majority of the league’s players. In addition to serving as one of the primary feeding systems for college hockey, the USHL also helps develop emerging NHL stars. Each June, there are between 20-30 current USHL players who are selected in the NHL entry draft. Among those drafted last June were a pair of Thunder players.

Our partnership with this unique team puts us in the position to help these teens advance their dreams of professional hockey, but it also allows for us to help those outside of the team as well. The sponsorship came with a slew of perks. While we’d like to use these perks for our team and their families (tickets & box suites), as local roofers, we are unfortunately quickly approaching Illinois’ storm season and they were simply going to go to waste. During a quick call between Gloria/Donna of the Bloomington Thunder and our marketing director (Martin), it was brought to our attention that the Bloomington – Normal Boys and Girls Club were looking for an opportunity to bring a select group of their kids out to a game. We immediately jumped at the request, transferred the remainder of our season tickets, and hosted an amazing group of the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Month on 3/4/17!

As we always say, we know it isn’t much but at least we could provide a moment of joy and positive memories for this group of future leaders!

 Local-Roofers-help-Bloomington-Thunder  Local-Roofers-help-Bloomington-Thunder

Categories Vinyl Siding

Hire a local siding contractor or Do-IT-Yourself?

DIY or siding contractor?

If you have replaced old siding with new siding, then you may be both competent and confident enough to take this exterior restoration project on yourself. The Do it yourself path will most often save you money, but it can take longer to complete and there’s no guarantee your craftmanship will last. For instance, we offer a 10 year warranty. Also, this will take much longer than a weekend. Local siding contractors working full time can take only half the time to side a home depending on the size and the weather conditions. If an expert takes weeks to finish siding a home, your do-it-yourself siding project will most likely exceed that amount.

If you have had little to no experience putting vinyl siding on homes, leave it up to trusted local siding contractors. Siding installation may look relatively easy, but this is not for beginners. Working around corners, eaves, soffits and fascia, along with trimming openings like windows, screens, and doors; are all technical aspects of the project that can be easy to get wrong. If you choose to replace the siding yourself, you need to know the extent of the storm damage to figure out whether to repair or completely remove old siding.

Some other factors to consider: You need to know how to spot, repair, and replace where mold, water, or vermin have damaged it. Do you know how to attach frieze board and sheathing? Which method lends itself to the type of siding (alumnimum, vinyl, etc.) you selected. You must have the skill and tools to cut the siding planks to fit. When it comes to siding, it will benefit both you and your home to hire a professional.

Replacing siding can make your home a lot more attractive, giving it a look that adds character and curb appeal. It can also make your home more energy efficient by keeping heat in and saving on utility bills  Siding replacement has consistently been one of the best home improvement projects for adding value to your home and is one of the few projects that can show a direct return on your investment.

Know what you’re getting yourself into before you begin to DIY your siding project…

Need Help?

Aloha Construction Inc.