Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, & Beyond!
Tweet
Find us on Google+ (240) 793-5867
Unlike many other projects around the house on the Eastern Shore, roof shingling is an entirely different beast. Most other projects can be puzzled out on the spot. Window replacement, door hanging, trim installation--all share similarities with other home remodeling projects.
That's why most Maryland and Delaware homeowners choose to hire a professional roofer to replace their shingles. Apex Construction is the roofing professional of choice on the Maryland and Delaware coast. However, we encourage all home owners to do their own due diligence on roofing basics so they don't have to take our word for it.
Apex Construction encourages all home owners to know some basics of roofing shingles and the roofing installation process itself before calling that first roofing company on your list.
As long as the existing shingles are relatively flat and not too wavy/curvy/warped, and as long as their underlayment is sound, you most likely can install new shingles over the old shingles.
That holds true mainly for composite or asphalt shingles. Wood shingles present more of a problem, as it is impossible for any other shingle to be laid on top of them.
How many layers of composite shingles can your roof support? As a rule of thumb, three layers of shingles are about the maximum that a roof can support. Three layers of composite shingles is about equal to one layer of slate shingles. Apex Construction does not recommend more than 3 layers of shingles to our customers.
Delmarva homeowners who want to re-shingle their roof--that is, laying down multiple layers of shingles without removing existing layers--often think that they are saving money. This may or may not be the case, let us explain.
You need to consider two things: 1.) Stripping a roof of existing shingles is a fast process. Most roofers can strip a roof of shingles in a half-day. 2.) Laying down shingles on top of existing shingles presents its own problems. Besides the weight factor mentioned above, subsequent layers of shingles can repeat the waves, bumps, wrinkles, and other imperfections of the first layer. By stripping the roof, it is possible to make quick repairs that will allow the layer of shingles to lay down flat and smooth.
Roof shingling has traditionally involved the installation of the familiar asphalt or composite shingles. But with the advent of newer materials, it is possible to purchase rubber shingles that look amazingly like slate or wood.
While it is true that composite shingles tend to be cheaper in the short term, concrete and fiber-cement shingles are other roofing options that equalize in price over the long term.
And don't be afraid of real slate shingles. Real slate has come down in price dramatically over the years and is available to the average homeowner who is intent on installing a quality roof. GAF's TruSlate line is one example of consumer-grade slate shingles. Apex Construction is a certified installer for GAF roofing materials.
Finally, did you know that you don't even need shingles on your roof? Metal roofing, in long sheets, works well because its fewer seams present less of an opportunity for water to come through. Not only that, metal roofing can be recycled when its lifespan is over. To see a recent metal roof project performed by Apex Construction like HERE.
Contact us for any roofing related or other general contracting questions you may have. We offer free consultations and encourage you to bid your next project with us!
Apex Construction was contacted by this Ocean City, MD condo association to replace the asphalt roof of their entire condo complex. The entire condo complex’s roofing shingles were removed, surface was cleaned / prepped, and new shingles were installed all in under 2 weeks. If your Ocean City condo association is considering a new roof contact Apex Construction today for a free estimate and consultation!
Maintaining a sound roof literally tops the list of crucial condo association repairs: It keeps you and your neighbors warm and dry, along with everything within the contents of the building itself. Any damage or signs of wear call for immediate action to keep water from seeping under the shingles and rotting the wood sheathing beneath. Ignoring a problem—even what appears to be a small one—will accelerate the need to re-roof and can add thousands of dollars to the cost of a new roof on a condo complex.
Apex Construction is quickly becoming the Eastern Shore’s leader in Residential and Commercial construction and contracting services. Our competitive pricing bids, speed of completion, and our specific focus on total quality management practices set us apart from the competition. Contact us today to find out more on how you will be better served by Apex Construction!
The owner of Apex Construction, Juan Franzetti, offers some tips for success to fleet managers interested in setting up an in - house maintenance program for their construction vehicles:
1. Be sure to create a sound preventive maintenance program that takes into account all of the systems and equipment on your residential and commercial construction fleet vehicles. Furthermore, be consistent about its implementation. Juan has a checklist that is used routinely to ensure comprehensive check-ups.
2. Ensure that your equipment operators are constantly trained in the most up - to - date procedures, technologies, and test equipment. Training of your construction crew never stops. It is your responsibility as fleet manager to provide them with the tools that they need to do their jobs.
3. "You get what you inspect, not expect," Juan says. Create accountability in the organization from top to bottom. Use internal audits to hold employees responsible for their use and service of the equipment. Apex uses a time card method to help identify problems that need solutions. Mechanical productivity reports provide information by vehicle, branch, and location. Other reports allow for review of mileage, fuel, oil usage, and miles per gallon. Juan's reports enable the company to track costs by current month, year-to-date, and life of the construction vehicle. "In the future, we expect to use electronic pads to record our own data processing at a central facility in mid-town Ocean City," says Juan.
4. Evaluate your employees regularly. At Apex Construction, equipment operators are re-certified on preventive maintenance inspection quarterly.
5. Roll out your program in the areas where you have your largest concentration of construction vehicles first.
6. Respect your equipment operators as competent service technicians.
Juan emphasizes competent equipment operators. "A good, well-trained individual will always be employed," Juan says. "The knowledge that today's operators must acquire in regard to vehicle systems, tools and testing equipment is overwhelming," says Juan.
Apex Construction was hired to perform the commercial renovation project of this Dunkin Donuts franchise location in Seaford Delaware. Our skilled construction tradesman completed the framing, applied a Dryvit exterior finish insulation system (EFIS), and installed a brand new duro-last flat roof. The work was completed under budget, prior to deadline milestones, and beyond the satisfaction of our customer. Apex Construction is a complete construction contracting firm serving Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Contact us today to discuss you’re next residential, commercial, or industrial construction project.
The custom-fabricated, single-ply Duro-Last commercial roofing system is ideal for any flat or low-sloped application. Extremely durable and easily installed by authorized contractors without disrupting building operations, the Duro-Last roofing system is also watertight, highly reflective, resistant to chemicals, fire and high winds, and virtually maintenance-free.
Dryvit Outsulation Systems, EFIS, are the ideal exterior cladding choice for all types of construction, providing peace of mind for all involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings in the 21st century. Outsulation Systems are cost effective and design flexible with a greater environmental benefit than other claddings. With the unique DryvitCARE program, exterior finish insulation systems are easily maintained, can be restored to a new finish look, and are used extensively to renovate numerous other claddings. Whatever the requirement commercial or residential — Dryvit offers a long term, cost effective solution that will help maintain and increase property value.
Apex Construction replaced the roof on this historic Wattsville, VA Church. Multiple layers of the old church roof were removed, new plywood installed, and then a brand new asphalt roof was nailed down. This was a neat project for us because of the historic nature of this building. Allow Apex Construction to bid your next roofing project, call us anytime for a free consultation!
Below is a brief history of the Wattsville United Methodist Church.
Historic Wattsville United Methodist Church began by accident, when two Methodist preachers came to the door of David Watts seeking shelter after their boat was destroyed in Chincoteague Bay. This occured in 1795, making this one of the oldest Methodist Churches on the Eastern Shore. From this accidental meeting, Watts' house became a meeting place, and eventually a society formed. They built two meeting houses before this one, which was dedicated on Aug. 10, 1919.
The church was first organized into the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in the 1840's, the congregation withdrew and entered the Methodist Protestant Conference, the first church to do so on the shore. They would remain a Methodist Protestant Church until the 1930's when they became simply the Methodist Church, and evntually in the 60's the United Methodist Church.
The building, located in Wattsville, Accomack County Virginia is a typical eastern shore country church, a white frame building replete with stained glass windows and bell-towers. The church has been officially named Wattsville since the dedication of this building in 1919, but was at one time known as Friendship Church. That name is preserved by Friendship United Methodist Church, located on the other side of the town, which was created in the 1860's by the African American members of this church.
Asphalt shingles are by far the most popular roofing material today. They are relatively cheap, they last for a long time (sometimes with 30 year warranties or more), and roofers don’t mind working with them. Asphalt shingles have become more attractive over the years. No longer are you limited to the standard black or gray asphalt shingle. Now, you can find asphalt shingles that look like wood, slate, and even like…asphalt.
There are two ways to roof a house with asphalt shingles. The first way is by completely removing all the existing shingles. The second way is to lay a second layer of asphalt shingles on top of the existing layer. There are arguments for and against both methods. The main argument against laying additional layers of asphalt shingles is that the roofing materials can get too heavy for the underlying roof framing. And this can be a real problem, especially for older houses. In fact, it is often said that a triple layer of asphalt shingles is equal to a single layer of slate roofing materials. And if you know slate, you know this is pretty heavy. The main argument against stripping off the existing layer and then laying down a new layer is that you’re adding more work to the process. Not a real problem if roofing professionals are tackling the job—they can strip most roofs in a morning—but if you’re doing the job yourself, it can be rough.
One other problem with shingling over existing shingles is that you are essentially repeating some of the surface irregularities that may already be there. If you’re contemplating putting on a new roof, there’s probably a good chance that you may have bubbles, bumps, and waves that you need to get rid of. Putting new shingles over that doesn’t do much for the aesthetic aspect. One way to minimize this problem is to go over the old roof and correct as many problems as you can. It doesn’t take much more than a hammer, some roofing nails, and a handful of shingles to correct the problem of bumps, gaps, and protruding nails.
Stripping shingles from a roof can be a very anxiety-provoking activity. You need to make sure that you’re doing this at a time of year when there is no chance of rain or snow. Even the slightest sprinkle can destroy your attic insulation, walls, and flooring. To name a few. This is another reason why you want the professionals to do your roof. A large band of experienced roofers can strip and put up a new asphalt roof on an average-sized house in two or three days. Apex Construction can install a new asphalt roof for you, just give us a call for a free consultation.
Apex Construction recently replaced the deteriorated asphalt shingle roof of the Ocean City Baptist Church located downtown on Baltimore Ave & North Division Street. The old tired shingles were removed, decking repaired and prepped, felt and ice/water shield applied, and brand new asphalt shingles installed.
The Ocean City Baptist Church was originally built around 1896 for the Presbyterian congregation that formed in the resort town of Ocean City, MD. The title was transferred to the Baptist Church in the early 1960. Apex Construction is proud to have been a part of this historical renovation of the Church’s asphalt shingle roof.
Economical to produce, relatively easy to install and widely available, asphalt shingles are today’s most popular roofing material—not only because they’re less costly than wood, wood shakes, tile, metal or slate, but also because their guaranteed life span pits them favorably against competitors. At least a dozen major U.S. and Canadian building-product manufacturers market asphalt shingles, including GAF, CertainTeed and Owens Corning.
Contact Apex Construction to begin your next residential or commercial roofing improvement project. We are more than happy to answer questions and provide a free consultation and quote.
Apex Construction was hired to install a new 30 year asphalt roof using Gaf architectural shingles on this West Ocean City, MD residential property. The chimney was demolished and removed prior to installation of the new roof. We are certified installers of Gaf/Timberline commercial and residential roofing systems in the Ocean City, Delaware, and Eastern Shore regions. Apex Construction is the roofing expert of choice in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Contact us today to start your new roofing project!
For most of us the roof is an afterthought — at least until it starts to leak. Then we realize how critical that surface of our house's exterior really is. Yet, as well as keeping the house dry, the roof contributes greatly to the look of the house, so when building a new house, adding on, or re-roofing, it may pay to consider the options. Right now there are more options in the marketplace than ever, so choosing one is tough. The choices range from asphalt shingles to wood shakes and clay tiles, from steel panels to rubber lookalike slate. The most important trend to note, however, is that as with home-construction materials in general, there is an increasing move towards engineered roofing materials. This change is being driven by a few different factors. One is simply the high cost of wood. The second is that in many cases, codes now mandate the use of fireproof construction materials. And third, people understandably want to build with materials that not only look good but also are very long-lived.
The roofing material we all see the most of these days — the one that covers the roofs of a great majority of houses across America — is the standard three-tab asphalt shingle. One of the least-expensive roofing options, asphalt shingles are available in a dozen or so different colors both solid and blended. The shingle products being made today are usually guaranteed for 20, or in some cases 30 years, making them an excellent value. Value is the principal advantage of this roofing material, which explains it's commonality. The disadvantage, however, if there could be said to be one, is the fact that it is so common. The next upgrade from a standard three-tab is a thicker variation called an architectural shingle. These shingles are built up to be about twice as thick as a normal shingle with the layers staggered to give them a heavier, more substantial or "architectural" look. In some colors they resemble slate, and in other colors wood shakes. We used architectural shingles on the Lexington ranch house. With only a modest upgrade in cost and up to a 30-year guarantee, architectural shingles also represent an excellent value with an added touch of style; Shingles or Shakes...
For looks, it is hard to beat a wood shingle roof. Over time it weathers out to a gray or soft silver that seems to root the house to the landscape. Several species are used: Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar and Eastern White Cedar. Shingles are relatively smooth and cut to a uniform thickness, although they vary in width. Wood shakes are thicker and rougher, being split rather than sawn from the logs. Wood roofs are meant to breathe and should be laid over a substrate that allows air to circulate behind them: skip sheathing — wood strips or battens nailed directly to the roof rafters — is the traditional method of installing a wood shingle roof. About 10 years ago we began using a plastic matrix product that is something like a scrubby pad, which allows air to circulate behind the shingles. This product can be laid on top of a building-paper-coated plywood roof deck, making it ideal for a retrofit. Another method of getting air circulation behind the shingles is to lay them on pressure-treated lattice. For all their great looks, shingles and shakes are expensive to install and do require some periodic maintenance, typically in the form of washing to remove any mildew or moss, and then re-oiling with a clear wood finishing product. On a current Shingle-style project in Ocean City, Maryland, we're using a wood shingle that is new to us: pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine, which grays out in a few years to resemble cedar and is said to require no maintenance at all. A properly installed and maintained wood roof should last at least 30 to 50 years. In fact, we have seen roofs on which the shingles were still good after 25 years or so, but the galvanized nails were finally rusting, so be sure to use a high-quality stainless-steel nail!...And Fakes
Originally, our Craftsman-style bungalow in Dewey Beach, Delaware, would have been clad in a combination of wood shingles and shakes, because the building needed that shaggy rough-hewn appearance to look authentic. However, because of fire danger, local codes now require all roofing materials to be fireproof. Accordingly, we used a heavy architectural asphalt shingle on the roof, and a cementations shingle manufactured to look like a wood shake for the side walls -- although they are suitable for use on the roof as well. Use of these "fake" shakes is rapidly increasing, both because they satisfy the strict fire codes in the West and because they are long lived and require no maintenance.
In the Mid-Atlantic Region slate was a traditional roofing material for high-end houses and municipal buildings. It is beautiful, lasts for generations, sheds ice and snow, and is very expensive. Because of its cost and weight, which requires a beefier roof structure to support, slate is not often used these days. Yet on Salisbury Maryland project, rebuilding a burnt-out family home, we wanted the slate look. Again we turned to an "engineered" product, this time a slate lookalike fabricated from recycled rubber and plastic. At only about one-third the weight and cost of slate, these shingles can be installed using standard tools and techniques. From the street, the discerning eye might be able to tell the difference between engineered and the real McCoy, but most of us would be very house-proud with one of these roofs on our homes. Plus, these shingles are guaranteed to last for as long as 50 years.
Metal roofs, in the form of corrugated, galvanized sheets, have been a standard feature of barns, sheds and other agricultural and utility buildings for years. This type of roof is cheap, rugged, long-lasting and easy to install — perfect for a utility application. On the other end of the spectrum is a copper roof, elegant enough to grace the country's finest mansions and public buildings. Graceful bay and bow windows are often roofed with sheet copper soldered at the seams. Larger expanses of roof are covered using the "standing-seam" method, in which one sheet joins with its parallel mate via an interlocking, water-tight seam. Metal is a great choice for a house in Ocean City, as well as in the surround agricultural Worcester and Sussex counties. Fortunately, in terms of products available, there is much to choose from between the galvanized low-end and the copper high-end. On our Milton Delware project, we used a formed-in-place, standing-seam steel roof on the workshop addition to the barn. While not as dear as copper, this roof was expensive — and beautiful. There are a variety of powder-coated steel roof "systems" on the market, some very cost-effective variations on the galvanized sheet-steel theme. Others are factory-built standing-seam roofs, custom made to your house or barn and installed by a roofing contractor. The advantage of these systems is that they require no special fabricating equipment and can be installed by any qualified contractor. In addition to standing-seam roofs, several types of metal shingles are also available. One, an interlocking tin shingle we used on the roof at a Fenwick Island project I have never seen anywhere other than in the Florida Keys. Another variation commercially available nationwide is an interlocking copper shingle. Regardless of the style you choose, in general, a properly installed metal roof should last you at least 50 years.
Ceramic tile roofs are found throughout the Mediterranean and Levant — and of course in the Mediterranean-Revival-influenced architecture of Florida and California. Barrel tiles, the most common type of ceramic tile, resemble half cylinders about 16 inches long. In the old days they were individually made by hand, their tapered shape achieved by forming the clay over the top of the thigh. We actually used some of these handmade tiles on our renovation of a hurricane-damaged Mediterranean-Revival house in West Ocean City. And more recently, we used high-quality reproduction barrel tiles on our South Point project. Tile roofs are quite heavy, so the roof framing must be stout enough to support the load. Waterproofing is achieved via a waterproof membrane laid directly on the roof sheathing. Then the clay tiles are laid one by one in a pad of mortar. Tiles turned upside down form a trough, which is then covered by tiles laid right side up. The whole process is quite labor intensive, which makes an authentic tile roof quite expensive -- about $1,000 per 10x10-foot square, or about three times the cost of a standard three-tab shingle job. In addition to barrel tiles there are a number of variations of clay roof tiles. Some are shaped like thick shingles, some like slates. A high-quality tile will be hard-fired and will not absorb moisture that could fracture the tile when frozen. Thus such tiles are suitable for northern climates. All high-quality tile roofs are expensive, both in terms of the material and the installation, and so clay tile roofs are fairly rare. Yet in the long run the most expensive might be the most cost effective, since you can expect to get 60 to 80 years or even more out of a well installed tile roof.
Apex Construction is in the process of installing a new standing seam metal roof on the popular seafood restaurant ‘Just Hooked’ in Fenwick Island, DE. Using state of the art technology we construct the metal panels on site allowing for quick, precise, and customized panels for a smooth installation process. Apex Construction has quickly become the area’s leading roofing contractor capable of any Commercial, Industrial, and Residential roofing system.
Below is a video of our on site panel construction process.
There’s no better way to protect your home or business than by keeping a good roof over your head. At Apex Construction, we’ve been professionally installing and repairing roofs on the Delmarva Peninsula for over a decade. A correctly installed roofing system will keep out wind and water that might damage your eaves, walls, inventory, personal possessions, and more. We are capable and experienced in all Commercial, Industrial, and Residential roofing systems.
Save your home or business now from costly repairs later - Call us today to schedule a free roof inspection and consultation. Each roofing system provides different challenges from the material construction of shingles, pitch of roof, gutter system, and number of valleys to name a few. You can rest assured that Apex Construction can get the job done!
Apex construction was hired to demo an existing slate roof down to the deck and install a new standing seam metal roof on the entire Tanger Outlet retail shopping center in West Ocean City, MD. All the panels are site-formed, created from rolls of metal that are run through our mobile forming machines which crimp the metal into rigid panels. This project will be on going throughout the summer. Apex Construction is the contractor of choice for any commercial, industrial, or residential roofing project. Please give us a call today for a free estimate!
The small shed with the metal on it is a mock up that was done to select the standing seam metal color for the new roof at the Tanger Outlets in West Ocean City Maryland.
Not long ago, it seemed like your only economical option for roofing materials were asphalt or composite shingles. Few other options were available, and if you wanted a different roofing material, you had better be prepared to pay big bucks for it. Standing seam metal roofs were only a figment of the imagination in the minds of the average property owner no more than 5 or 10 years ago. Most of these roofs were confined to big pocket commercial buildings.
Asphalt and composition shingles do have their high points. For one, if you want to purchase a dead-cheap roofing material, asphalt and composition tend to be the way to go. One problem with asphalt is that, being derived from petroleum, prices of the shingles do vary. Another thing: if you have ever cleaned out your gutters (assuming you have asphalt shingles), you know quite well how these shingles have a propensity to slough off the upper mineral-based surface. After enough seasons of this, conventional shingles have literally been worn down to the core.
Standing seam metal roofs are a completely different animal. Not only is the material different but the size in and shape and installation method is different, too. Many homeowners find that the higher initial cost of this type of roofing will pay off in the end because of its greater durability and reliability. Before anything else, let's take a look at what this product is:
What Are Standing Seam Metal Roofs?
Not all metal roofs are standing seam; this is a particular type of metal roofing.
Origin of Term "Standing Seam": If you have looked at buildings in your area with metal roofs, they are probably of the standing seam variety. Continuous panels run from the ridge of the roof all the way down to the eaves. Between the panels are seams connected by fasteners which are raised above the level of the metal roofing. This is where we get the term standing seam, because the seam is raised or standing, as opposed to flush-mounted.
Seam Fasteners: These seam fasteners might be anywhere from 0.5" to 1.5" high. Because these fasteners are concealed, you only see a smooth continuous ridge extending from top to bottom.
Pre-Formed vs. Site-Formed: Roof panels can come either pre-formed or site-formed. Pre-formed panels are created in the factory off-site of the house. Site-formed panels are created from rolls of metal that are run through mobile forming machines which crimp the metal into rigid panels.
Composition and Width of Panels: 12 to 19 inches wide, panels are usually made either of Galvalume-coated steel or aluminum.
It should also be noted that metal roofing in general is considered a "cool roof" by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This is because metal roofing can be painted any color, including colors on the lighter end of the spectrum which will prevent solar heat gain.
Advantages
One great advantage of standing seam metal roofs is contained in the name itself: seams, the weak point in any roof and a potential entry point for moisture, are raised above the level of the roofing panel.
Because the metal panels run unhindered from the top to the bottom of the roof, not only are there no horizontal seams but in total the roof has a far fewer number of seams.
Finally, the look of standing seam roofs lends itself well to certain types of contemporary or country-style buildings and houses. Due to the sleek lines, these roofs give your building/house an "industrial" feeling, yet tempered by a modern flair. These are not the rippled tin roofs that you might remember from warehouses of the past.
Disadvantages
A fewer number of roofing contractors are willing to or able to install standing seam roofs than conventional roofing materials. This means that total project cost will be higher because competition in the market is lessened.
Standing seam roofs are not advisable for roofs with a pitch of 2:12 or less (2 feet of vertical rise for every 12 feet of horizontal rise).
As the saying goes, one man's ceiling is another man's floor. So the cool, industrial look favored by some owners may be a deficit for other homeowners interested in more traditional looks. Here, we should note that there are other types of metal roofs that mimic the style of shingle roofs.
Finally, standing seam metal roofs still offer only a limited choice of colors. If you are content to keep your roofing choice confined to earthen colors, grays, browns, forest greens, or earthy reds, then you may found find a match.
