SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — Installing a solar system on your home can be a great investment, but before you commit, there’s one thing you should consider: the age of your roof.
If you have an older roofing system, installing solar panels might not be a great decision. Why? Both roofing materials and solar panels have a similar life expectancy. If you install new panels on an older roof, the roof will need to be replaced sooner than the panels. And with those panels in the way, the job is likely to be more expensive.
Ideally, you should replace your roof and install a solar system at the same time—that way, you’ll get the most value out of both. It’s also a good idea to have both jobs performed by the same contractor. Having one contractor handle your roof and solar panel installation simultaneously will help streamline the project thanks to seamless planning and communication.

A Consideration for Installing Solar

Learn crucial tips before installing solar panels to maximize efficiency and cost savings. Make informed decisions with insights from trusted experts.

A Consideration for Installing Solar by Carlos Rodriguez

By Carlos Rodriguez of {BR} Mr. Roofing, Inc.

Avoiding Water Intrusion Issues with Steep and Flat Roofs

How to Remove and Prevent Roof Moss

The Importance of Roof Ventilation

Video: Consideration for Adding Rooftop Solar



If you're thinking about installing solar panels on your home, one thing you should consider is the age of your roof. Today, we're in South San Francisco with diamond certified expert contributor Carlos Rodriguez of Mr. Roofing to learn more.

Solar is a very smart decision to put onto your property, and the most common place you're going to put it on is on your roof. One thing we see though is a solar company installing solar onto an older roof system, and that might not be the best decision because the roof is not going to last as long as the solar panels. So, it's going to cost you more to change your roof eventually.

Ideally, you replace your roof and install solar at the same time, and ideally it's by the same company. That way, the manufacturer can stand behind the whole project, as well as the roofing and solar company.

To learn more from local top-rated companies, visit our diamond certified expert reports at experts.diamondcertified.org.



Video: How to Remove Roof Moss

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If you have moss or algae growing on your roof, you'll want to know the proper way to remove it and prevent it from returning. Today, we're in South San Francisco with diamond certified expert contributor Carlos Rodriguez of Mr. Roofing to learn more.
One question that we get asked often is, how do I clean moss, algae, or lichen off of my roof? And there are two common solutions. One is the installation of a zinc strip at the ridge line of your roof, and that'll naturally leach out electrons that kill and eliminate moss, algae, and lichen. Ideally, you do that when you install or replace your roof system. The other solution is the installation or application of a cleaning solution, and that cleaning solution is usually one part like bleach and one part water. Or, if you want a more environmentally friendly solution, you would do one part like a potassium fatty solution with one part water, and you spray that on your roof. That will naturally eliminate the lichen, algae, or moss. Make sure you stay away from power washing or abrasive brushing of your roof because that'll do more harm than good. And remember, safety first. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, call a local licensed professional roofing contractor, and they can take care of it for you. 
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To learn more from local top-rated companies, visit our diamond certified expert reports at experts.diamondcertified.org. 
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Video: Increasing the Lifespan of Your Roof

While most roofs tend to look alike, what really determines the lifespan of a roof are its components. Today we're in South San Francisco with Diamond Certified expert contributor, Carlos Rodriguez of Mr. Roofing, to learn more.

In the San Francisco Bay Area and San Mateo County where we work, there are predominantly two types of architectures: there's a steep slope roof and a flat roof. And when you look at my roof and someone else's, another company's roof, it's going to look the same because it might be the shingle you're looking at or the tile. However, what really determines the lifespan of, let's say, a steep slope roof, are the components that are inside.

So, a couple of things to look out for, are things like the underlayment. Nowadays, there are premium underlayments that really help assist a roof system last a long time. One thing that most roofing contractors don't include is something like this leak barrier. The leak barrier is what will keep the property dry, let's say in wind-driven storms, which is what we get a lot around here. It's important in the critical areas like the valleys, skylights, chimneys, all of those areas that are prone to deteriorate within three to seven years.

And then, I think something like there's a study that shows 98% of homes in America don't have proper ventilation. So one thing to look out for is some sort of ventilation system for your shingle or steep slope roof. This here is a ridge vent where you notch out at the peak of the roof or the ridge because hot air will naturally rise, and then you want it to escape somewhere. The other components important is on the bottom of this, there's an intake vent that kind of blows the wind or the air through there.

So these are a couple of things to look out for to make sure that your roof lasts, you know, 20, 30, 40 years versus just three to seven years. And, the other type of architecture that's in our area is a flat roof. And the most important thing to make sure with a flat roof is that the water is draining properly because if it's not draining properly, it provides an extra load where the structure can actually collapse or, you know, leaks can occur if the drains are clogged, etc.

The important thing there is to make sure that it's being looked at or maintained, and one of the things that you know as a consumer regarding your roof, you should have something like a checklist, a maintenance checklist that's something that we provide for our clients to help them stay on top and make sure they have a lasting roof system.

To learn more from local top-rated companies, visit our Diamond Certified expert reports at experts.diamondcertified.org.

Video: The Importance of Roof Ventilation

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If you're planning for a roof replacement, one thing you should discuss with your contractor is ventilation. Today, we're in South San Francisco with diamond certified expert contributor Carlos Rodriguez of Mr. Roofing to learn more. Ventilation is a critical component to all roof systems, especially for the longevity of the roof and also to keep everyone healthy inside the property. If you don't have proper ventilation, condensation starts to form and drip literally, and mold and mildew can start to grow - that will affect or deteriorate the roof system as well as affect people's health, causing asthma, allergies, etc. There is a clear-cut formula on ventilation - there has to be a balance of cool air intake and exhaust so that air can circulate and keep things from growing, also to keep hot air out so it doesn't prematurely deteriorate the roof materials. If your roofing professional is not talking about ventilation, it should raise a red flag for you because it's very important for the longevity of the roof system and the health of the inhabitants. To learn more from local top-rated companies, visit our diamond certified expert reports at experts.diamondcertified.org .

Carlos Rodriguez: Close to Home

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