We are just a month into hurricane season and we are beginning to watch for potential tropical storms. This time of year, many of prepare for storm season by making sure we are prepared with flashlights, water, and non-perishable food. Often the most important things are forgotten such as making sure your home is able to protect you and your family. During a hurricane your roof can be exposed to winds in excess of 155 mph. These winds have the potential to pull off roof shingles, tiles, or even the underlying roof deck. This is why we suggest checking the condition of your roof before a storm happens as well as after. A well-maintained roof is your best bet against hurricane winds.We have some tips to make some you and your home are prepared for the potential storms.
 
1. Get a Professional Roof Inspection
Contact a roof specialist to help you inspect your roof. A specialist has the knowledge and experience to find faults in the roof and determine whether it can handle a hurricane. The contractor will inspect the interior to determine whether the roof has been weakened by moisture and molds. He will also check for loose shingles, leaks and cracked caulk. You will then receive a detailed report after the inspection. The report may include his recommendations, life expectancy estimate and the cost of repairs.

2. Survey Fascia and Soffit Boards 
Take the time to walk the perimeter of your property and survey the fascia boards and the soffit boards. Fascia boards are located just below the metal trim of the roof and soffit boards are located below the roof overhang areas. Any signs of rotten wood in this area may indicate a potential problem during a hurricane. Making sure these roof areas are repaired will help secure the structure from possible wind damage at the eaves.
 
3. Fix Any Loose Shingles 
To reduce the chances of losing shingles by high winds, it is best to give attention to any missing, damaged, or loose shingles as these will increase the likelihood of water penetrating deeper into the roof.
 
4. Clean Your Gutter and Drainage Systems 
The drainage system plays a major role in mitigating storm damage. A hurricane comes with rain capable of causing serious damage. You want to make sure your gutters and drainage systems are free to conduct water effectively in the event of a storm. Get rid of all the debris from the drainage systems. Ensure the gutters are clear so that the rainwater can flow through them easily. You may need a roofing contractor to help you clean the gutters effectively.

5. Secure any Loose Yard Furniture 
Your furniture and yard decorations can easily become flying projectiles that could damage your roof. We suggest tying them down or moving them indoors to the so they don’t get loose and damage the roof.
 
6. Trim Any Low Hanging or Dead Branches 
High winds can break even the largest of tree limbs as easily as snapping a toothpick in half. It may seem obvious to trim the trees that overhang your roof, but it is also a good idea to have all off the trees surrounding your home trimmed just in case.
 
7. Have Repair Supplies Ready 
After a storm, roofers run into a major supply shortage. Tarps are a rare find during this time and unfortunately, they are a major necessity. Your best bet is to purchase tarps before the storm that way you are prepared. This will also allow you to patch your roof in the event that it gts damage and there are more days of the storm to come. 
 
8. Review Your Insurance Policy 
​You need to review your insurance policy and make sure it will cover the full cost of construction in case you lose the house in a hurricane. Make sure the insurance covers up to the cost of roofing. Some insurance companies do not cover residential roofing, so you need to check with your provider first. Apart from roofing insurance, you need to determine if you are covered by floods. Some people cover their houses against hurricanes and ignore the flood that usually follows.

Like any other system in your home, such as your plumbing, you want to schedule regular maintenance to ensure all is working efficiently and correctly. A roof inspection can prevent large-scale damage that results in costly repairs. A roof inspection should be included in your list of routine maintenance your home needs, but this is often not the case. By adding an annual roof inspection to your home’s maintenance schedule, you can prevent significant damage. If you are worried about the height or making a mistake we would be happy to help. 
 
Roofing Inspection Checklist 
Protect your home from any unnecessary damage by contacting us or carefully climbing up a ladder yourself and completing the following checklist:

• Cracked or missing caulk 
• Buckling, curling, blistering, or missing shingles
• Cracked or worn rubber boots around ventilation pipes 
• Unsealed ventilation pipes 
• Missing or damaged portions of the chimney, especially the cap
• Signs of mold, moss, or lichen
• Nail pops 
• Unsealed flashing 

 
Roof Repairs 
We don’t recommend doing these repairs yourself. When repairing a roof, it is extremely important to know how to properly preform the repairs. It is easy to further damage the existing shingles and roof accessories when doing repairs if you are not a trained professional. Call Mill Creek Roofing if you believe you have damage and want to have one of our team members come take a look at your roof and proceed to making sure you and your family are safe and comfortable in your home. 
 
Call Mill Creek Roofing at 832-840-1400 to schedule your free roof inspection today!

The 86thTexas Legislature Regular Session came to an end yesterday, May 27, 2019, and with this, two very important bills were passed that will surely affect roofing practices in Texas. These two bills include HB2102 (Prohibition Against Waiving of Deductibles) and HB2103 (Prohibition Against UPPA). 
 
Prohibition Against Waiving of Deductibles
This bill is especially important for the future of the roofing industry in Texas. Steve Badger, a partner at the law firm of Zelle LLP explains the importance of this bill and the affects that it can make in his recent article. Below is an excerpt from his article that explains the significances of the bill:
 
“The waiving of deductibles has been improper in Texas since 1989. Unfortunately, due to a poorly worded statute, many contractors ignored the prohibition and the waiving of deductibles has become common in Texas. Reputable contractors who refused to break the law could not compete with the “deductible eaters”. Homeowners were lured to sign contracts with shady contractors with promises of “A Free Roof!” And homeowners were duped into committing insurance fraud when they failed to advise the insurance company in submitting a request for replacement cost holdback that the deductible portion of the claim had not been incurred.  HB2102 fixes all of these problems by making it crystal clear that deductibles must be paid. Plain and simple. A contractor commits a violation of the new law if it pays, waives, absorbs, rebates, credits, or otherwise declines to charge or collect a deductible. Contracts must also contain a disclosure statement that insurance deductibles must be paid.  Finally, an insurance company may request “reasonable proof” that the deductible has been paid before making a replacement cost holdback payment. This important legislation will both protect Texas consumers from illegal fraud schemes and ensure that reputable contractors who collect deductibles are on a level playing field in competing for business.”
 
Badger’s explains that this is not only to make the competition within the roofing industry fair, but the importance of protecting homeowners from the possibility of getting in legal trouble due to the misinformation that is fed to them by fraudulent contractors. If you would like to read the bill for yourself, it is available here. 
 
Prohibition Against UPPA 
This bill also is important to ensure that ethical practices are used not only in the roofing industry, but in all industries that public adjusting is associated with. Steve Badger once again explains the significance of this bill, as he states 
 
“Section 4102.163 of the Texas Insurance Code enacted in 2013 prohibited the unauthorized practice of public adjusting by “roofing contractors”. Since that time, we have seen the UPPA problem spread to other types of contractors as well, particularly in water damage claims and with some so-called “general contractors”. HB2103 simply deletes the word “roofing” from the existing statute to broaden the scope of the UPPA prohibition to all contractors. Also, new language is added to the statute clarifying that a contractor cannot use an assignment of benefits or power of attorney form to avoid this prohibition. This will ensure that Texas never experiences the assignment of benefits crisis that Florida has been dealing with for many years (until passing new legislation this month).”
 
To read the bill in its entirety, click here. 
 
We would like to thank RCAT (Roofing Contractors of Texas), NTRCA (North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, and TAPIA (Texas Association of Public Insurance Adjusters) for their work to get these bills passed and to improve our industry. These groups are effecting change and leading by example. We encourage all homeowners to continue to uphold their standards and to choose reputable contractors within the roofing industry and all other construction industries. Participating in ethical practices betters all those involved and results in high quality professionals and work. 
 
If you have any questions contact us at contact@millcreekroofingtx.com or leave a comment below!

The Greater Houston Area was recently hit by a wide-spread hail storm. The hail size from this particular storm reach 3 inches in certain areas. We highly recommend that if you believe you received hail or are located within the highlighted areas above to get a professional to look at your roof. Roofing specialists will be able to identify hail damage that may qualify for replacement via your homeowner’s insurance. 

We offer free, professional roof inspections to homeowners with no obligation. We at Mill Creek Roofing strive to provide a reliable professional opinion among the confusions that comes with an inundation of less than reputable storm chasers. We are a local company who want to help homeowners protect their home and families. 
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Call us today to schedule your free, no obligation roof inspection at 832-840-1400!

CertainTeed is a wonderful company that gives back to the community in a number of ways. This year they are offering a $250 Cabela's gift card after the installation of a CertainTeed Integrity Roof System for members of the military. We are a proud SELECT ShingleMaster roofing company and can fulfill the requirements of installing your roof and registering your SureStart warranty! This is a great opportunity to not only get a quality roof replacement for your home, but also a gift for yourself! 

Please follow the steps below to receive your gift card:
1. Have a CertainTeed Credentialed Contractor install an Integrity Roof SystemTM with SureStartTM PLUS warranty coverage on your house between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
2. Confirm that the contractor registered your SureStart PLUS warranty with CertainTeed.3. Fill out this form completely and provide the information required in the box below.
4. Attach a copy of the contractor’s invoice for your Integrity Roof System.
5. Attach a copy of your Active Military I.D. or another form of Military identification.
6. Mail everything to: CertainTeed Roofing, 272 Brodhead Rd. - Suite 100, Bethlehem, PA 18017Attn: RWB by January 31, 2020. Allow 3 to 6 weeks for processing of your gift card.

All rules and instructions can be found here!

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Replacing a roof is no small task. You need to hire a contractor, select products and choose colors. It can be an overwhelming process, but the right contractor can make this process short and easy. Mill Creek Roofing’s project managers are here to do just that- make it easy. Before you even make the choice to call us, you might have questions on shingle warranties. This is understandable, not all warranties are created equal and close attention is needed to choose the product that is covered by the best warranty. There are many misconceptions about shingle warranties and what they cover, we want to clear everything up and give you a comprehensive understanding of how warranties work so you can make informed decisions and have greater confidence in your choice in products. 
 
I’m looking into buying a new roof and want to understand what a Manufacturer’s warranty means?
In a nutshell, manufacturer’s warranties cover you if there is a problem with your shingles due to an issue that occurred during the manufacturing process. This problem is often referred to as a manufacturing defect. These warranties are manufacturers standing behind their product for a specified amount of time. 
 
What do you mean by a manufacturing defect?
A manufacturing defect means that the shingle was not manufactured to product specifications or does not meet the manufacturer’s standards. Many manufacturers utilize state-of-the-art technology and quality control measures to ensure that their shingles are made to their specifications so that the occurrence of manufacturing defects are avoided. 
 
What should I do if I think my shingles have a manufacturing defect?
If you suspect that you have a manufacturing issue, please contact Mill Creek roofing at 832-840-1400 or at contact@millcreekroofingtx.com. We will be happy to inspect your roof. If the issue is in fact a manufacturing issue we can contact your manufacturer on your behalf and begin the process to a resolution. 
 
If it is determined that my issue is a manufacturing defect, what exactly am I covered for?
This is where it helps to understand the warranty coverage that comes with your shingles. Each manufacturer specifies different coverage details. Within each manufacturer there might also be different warranty options for each product. The most common shingle warranty might be worded as a “limited, lifetime warranty”. Most often this means coverage for as long as you, as an individual homeowner, own your home – NOT for the life of the home. This also does not mean the shingles will last a lifetime. The shingles’ life span can be diminished due to the impact and severity of weather conditions, freeze/thaw cycles, UV rays, etc. so it is very important to ask for the specifications of the warranty provided with the shingles you have chosen because the wide variance. 
 
How do shingle warranties differ between companies?
Each manufacturer has different specifications that must be met before they determine that they will replace the shingles. Some companies will only cover the shingles if the defect affects the shingle’s performance or has resulted in a leak. Others will cover the shingles if your roof is leaking or not through the entire warranty coverage period. 
 
What happens if there is a manufacturing defect with my shingles after the coverage period?
After the coverage period many manufacturers offer a “prorated coverage”. This means that you will only be covered for the shingles. You will receive a portion of the original purchase price of the shingles- a number that gradually decreases each month as the roof gets older. You would be responsible for the tear off of the roof, disposal of the old materials, and installation of the new shingles. 
 
If I sell my home is the warranty coverage transferable?
This depends on the warranty coverage that came with your shingles. Many warranties are transferable, but not all. Pay close attention to this when choosing your roofing products. 
 
Do all warranties come with a lifetime warranty?
No, warranties vary by manufacturer and product. Most shingles carry the similar type of warranty coverage but some have less 
 
Are extended warranties offered?
Yes, most manufacturers offer extended warranty options. These options can be discussed with your project manager. 
 
These are a the most frequently asked questions and we hope that this clears up some of the confusion about manufacturer warranties. If you still have questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at 832-840-1400 or contact@millcreekroofingtx.com. 

​It is important to protect you, your family, and your home and unfortunately this means watching out for scam roofers. In Texas, since there is no need for a license to perform roof projects there is often an influx of people who take advantage of homeowners need for repairs and replacements after a large storm. To avoid these scams there are a few questions you can ask before working with a contractor. 
 
Do You Have Proper Insurance?
Insurance should always be present regardless of what home improvement project is in progress. Coverage descriptions often differ, but it should always include liability insurance. Liability insurance covers accidental property damage that protects you from being held liable. We are happy to provide our proof of insurance at any time. 
 
Do You Have References?
Sampling a contractor’s past work, is the best way to ensure that the contractor performs quality work. Reputable contractors should have no problem providing a few references from recent customers. We recommend that if you have any concerns you ask us for a reference list and then personally look at their roofs. 
 
Do You Have a Physical Location?
Online interactions have become so common that it’s easy to forget the importance of a physical location. Contractors with a physical location provide the security that in the case of a warranty claim, the contractor is less likely to run out on you. 
 
Do You Offer Workmanship Warranties?
The ideal roofing warranty should cover workmanship and materials. Workmanship warranties are especially important because many companies do not offer this. We not only offer manufacturer’s warranty on material, we also include a workmanship warranty through Mill Creek Roofing with every roof replacement. 
 
Have any questions or need more information? Call us today at 832-840-1400. 

As a trusted local roofer, Mill Creek Roofing can provide fast and wide-ranging emergency repairs. When mother nature strikes, don’t let your roof sustain any more damage than necessary. We are answering some of the frequently asked questions that homeowners just like you have. 
 
What qualifies as an “Emergency Repair”?
Any event where your entire roofing system is compromised qualifies for emergency roof repair. The most common instance is when inclement weather like a hurricane that could include high wind, heavy rain, or hail that causes secondary water damage. 
 
In cases like this, we can install an emergency tarp or temporary covering on your roof and wait until the bad weather ends. Once the weather has passed we will recommend appropriate repairs or a replacement to fix your roof. 
 
What Should I Do When My Roof Gets Damaged?
Don’t panic if your roof gets damaged. The damage has been done and it’s just a matter of documenting it for your insurance claims. We recommend that you call us before your insurance provider. We can provide an in-depth assessment of your roof and then advocate on your behalf to your insurance adjuster. 
 
When Is a Roof Leak Repair Necessary?
Any time that the roof is compromised and is vulnerable to water intrusion requires a roof repair. The roof can be compromised by not only heavy downpours but also high winds that often occur during the seasonal hurricane. These winds can lift the shingles or tear them off completely. The high winds can also cause branches to fall from trees and scratch and penetrate the shingles. These damages can also result in costly repairs in the interior of your home as well. 
 
If you have any questions or need a quote for damages call us at 832-840-1400.

​When searching for a roofing contractor exercising due diligence is required to find the right contractor for your roofing project. A huge part of that is reading online reviews from previous customers. According to a few 2017 surveys and research projects, more than 90% of consumers turn to online reviews to check out local businesses. Among those around 90% of consumers trust the reviews as much as a personal recommendation. These reviews are helpful in a number of ways including the ones discussed below.
 
Verifying Claims 
Believing every roofer is honest can cause a lot of problems. If you want to know about a prospective roofing company’s integrity, find out what others have to say about it. \A bad roofer might promise anything just to get your business. 
 
Checking out online reviews first is an effective way to know whether the claims your prospective roofers are making are true or not. If there is a disconnect between their words an those of their former clients, that’s a red flag. 
 
Avoiding Bad Deals 
As in any industry, there are less than trustworthy contractors. Avoid falling prey to dishonest roofing companies by reading online reviews and familiarizing yourself with them. Use the experiences of others to protect yourself from being led that isn’t true. 
 
Reading About Dispute Resolution Policy 
Even the best roofing companies make mistakes, but only reliable one will address them. The Better Business Bureau is perhaps the most authoritative source of the dispute-resolution history. An A/A+ rating doesn’t necessarily mean that the company is perfect, but rather indicates that customer satisfaction is reached even after a shortcoming. 
 
At Mill Creek Roofing, we are only as good as our past customers believe we are. We do everything in our power to ensure that customers are happy with the finished product. We strive to maintain customer satisfaction and our A rating on BBB. Call us at 832-840-1400 today to schedule a free inspection or for any other questions.  

Homeowners usually undergo home improvement projects with the expectation of upgrading their current space into something they have always wanted. Although homeowners sometimes expect that this upgrade will significantly add value to their home, most home improvement projects won’t add that much to the bottom line if you go to sell your home. With that said, there are home improvement projects that combine aesthetic upgrades with upgrades to your home’s value and a new roof is one of them! 

R.O.I Of A New Roof
Replacing a roof is a very expensive project that most homeowners avoid. Even though the cost can be an issue for homeowners, if a roof is damaged or needs to be replaced it can affect more than just a home’s overall value. It can cause increased energy bills, reduce curb appeal and may impact your homeowner’s insurance rates.

According to the Qualified Remodeler report, homeowners who replace or upgrade their roof see 109% return on their investment when they go to sell their home. That’s great news for homeowners! 

What makes the ROI of a new roof so high? To start, the roof of a home accounts for about 40% of the overall curb appeal. An old, damaged or ugly roof can negatively impact a home’s list price and the length of time it stays on the market. In fact, according to the Qualified Remodeler report, however, 32% of real estate agents claim that a recently replaced roof helped close the deal. 

In addition to curb appeal, a new roof often improves a home’s energy efficiency and can reduce overall insurance rates. Roofing materials today are far more advanced than they were even 10 years ago and offer superior  protection against leaks and potential damage. All of these benefits give homeowners peace of mind and that’s why homes with a new roof are sought after by home buyers.

Have questions or need more information? Contact us today at 832-840-1400 or email us at contact@millcreekroofingtx.com.