The importance of giving back

The importance of giving back

Posted by Texas Traditions on

Help us provide Thanksgiving dinner to families who need help.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, we wanted to share a little bit about why we believe it’s so important for us to give back to those in need in our community. Our families have been blessed to be able to run a successful roofing business that continues to grow. We’ve always been happy to be involved in the Community Restore program, donating our time and workmanship to those in need. We think it’s time to do more.
The importance of giving back
We are now in our fifth year of business and as we celebrate our ‘5th Year of Roofing Excellence,’ we realize we wouldn’t be where we are today without the trust and support of our local community. The folks in the greater Austin and Georgetown, Texas markets have believed in our business and our people, allowing us to install new roofs and repair existing ones.
Family is very important to us and there is no better time of year to build memories of time spent with our families than the holidays. We envision a table filled with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and all the fixings of a nice holiday meal. But there are people right in our very own community who struggle every day to put a meal on the table and just don’t have the means to prepare a large Thanksgiving meal for their family.
That’s why this year, to celebrate our fifth year in business and to give back to the community we are adopting 5 families and will deliver all the ingredients they need to make their Thanksgiving a family-filled, special holiday with many memories created.
We are asking for your help to let us know who out there needs help. Please visit our website and complete the nomination form. Five families will be selected on November 15, 2018 and we will contact them to make arrangements to deliver their holiday meal ingredients.

Giving Back is What We Do

Giving Back is What We Do

Posted by Texas Traditions on

Our team pitched in to provide a complete new roof and other exterior repairs to a Georgetown, Texas homeowner through Community Restore.

Community Restore was founded in 2009 to organize youth and other volunteers to help homeowners in the Georgetown, Texas area who had a need for exterior repairs but didn’t have the ability either financially or physically to get the work done.  In 2010, Mike Pickel, our co-founder, became the director of the board for the organization and he organizes a project each summer. Volunteers range from 13 to 86 years old and have a strong heart to help.
Giving Back is What We Do
The 2017 project included an entire roof replacement with new plywood decking, exterior repairs, painting and yard cleanup. When the work was completed, the home looked as good as new, and was in a condition to provide many more years of shelter for the homeowner.
One of the core values of our business is to give back to the community. By volunteering with Community Restore, we are able to use our skills to help repair and restore homes of those who can use a hand. It’s always a privilege to be able to help our neighbors.

As Featured in ROOFING Magazine

As Featured in ROOFING Magazine

Posted by Texas Traditions on

We were thrilled to share our story about the ‘Snowstorm in the Gym’ at Summit Christian Academy.

Yes, a snowstorm inside the gym in July. In Texas. Our very own Mike Pickel is our commercial roofing expert and he was able to detect the problem and help the school administrators solve this mysterious problem. He recently had the opportunity to share the story with Chris King, Editor of ROOFING Magazine.
As Featured in ROOFING Magazine
CLICK HERE to read the full article.

October is National Energy Action Month

October is National Energy Action Month

Posted by Texas Traditions on

Here are 5 tips to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

President George H.W. Bush proclaimed October to be Energy Awareness Month and in 2012, President Obama updated that proclamation to rename it Energy Action Month. He stated that this is a time when Americans are called up to work together, “to achieve greater energy security, a more robust economy, and a healthier environment for our children.”
October is National Energy Action Month
What kind of home do you have? Is it as energy efficient as you think? Here are some things you can do to help your home perform better.
1 – Adequate attic insulation. This is especially important if your home is older. Your home was built to the codes and recommendations that were in place the year it was built. In more recent years, recommended insulation levels have increased. You may not have enough insulation in place. ENERGY STAR® recommends that most attics insulate to R-38, or about 10 – 14 inches, depending on the type of insulation. While checking the insulation, take a look at the openings for pipes, ductwork and chimneys to be sure any gaps are sealed.
2 – Proper attic ventilation. While it is important to be sure you have the right amount of insulation in your attic, it’s just as important to ensure that your attic is properly ventilated. Effective attic ventilation provides year-round benefits, creating cooler attics in the summer and drier attics in the winter. This leads top better performance of your roofing system as well.  Be sure to ask us how a solar-powered Attic Breeze attic fan can keep your attic properly ventilated without using electricity.
3 – Inspect heating and cooling equipment. If your equipment is more than 15 years old, it might be time to invest in an upgrade to a more efficient model. Check the filters in your furnace and be sure to replace any that are old or dirty.
4 – Check for air leaks. Walk around your home and look for gaps around doors and windows that can be sealed with weather stripping or caulk. Check your electrical boxes on exterior walls and ceilings. Consider adding an insulating pad to keep hot and cold air out. According to FamilyHandyman.com just a 1/8” gap around six electrical ceiling boxes is the equivalent of cutting a four-inch hole in your ceiling!
5 – Consider cool roofing. When it’s time to replace your roof, consider a cool roof shingle. These asphalt shingles contain a layer of highly reflective granules that reflect sunlight back off the roof and can prevent heat build-up. Cool roofs can help reduce energy use which, in turn, reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
At Texas Traditions Roofing, we’re happy to talk with you about energy-efficient roofing and ventilations solutions for your home. Schedule a free assessment today.

What are Those Black Streaks on My Roof?

What are Those Black Streaks on My Roof?

Posted by Texas Traditions on

The black streaks on your shingles don’t mean you need a new roof.

Black streaks running down your roof are a type of roof algae knowns as Gloeocapsa Magma. These pesky bacteria tend to cluster in groups and locate themselves typically on the north side of roofs where the lack of sun can stimulate their growth. They like to feed on limestone – a key filler ingredient in asphalt shingles.
What are Those Black Streaks on My Roof?
For the ones that are exposed to sunshine, they have a unique method of survival. According to the microbe wiki at Kenyon University, when exposed to strong sunlight, the bacteria forms a black/dark green sheath around itself as a form of protection from ultra-violet rays. The pigmented covering is what shows up as dark streaks on the roof.
You may have noticed that the stains don’t appear below any copper- or zinc-coated metal flashings that you may have on the roof around chimneys or vents. This is because the coating is toxic to the algae. Each time it rains, trace amounts of the metal are washed down the roof, preventing the growth in that area.
The bad news is that if your roof is plagued by algae, it’s not going to go away. Cleaning will remove the stains but they usually return. Repeated cleaning can actually cause damage to the shingles if harsh chemicals and power washing is used.
It is important to note that while these streaks are not pleasing to the eye, they do NOT affect the performance of your roofing system. We’ve heard reports that there are some not-so-honest contractors knocking on doors telling homeowners they need to replace their roof because of the streaks.
The good news is that shingle manufacturers have begun making shingles that are resistant to these algae. We offer GAF StainGuard Plus shingles with powerful algae resistance and a 25-year ltd. warranty against discoloration.  Since studies show that your roof can account for up to 40 percent of your home’s curb appeal, when it’s time to re-roof, consider choosing an algae-resistant shingle.
At Texas Traditions Roofing, we can advise you about options and systems that can meet your home’s needs. Schedule a free assessment today.