Your home’s best defense is a solid, top-quality roof
By Patricia Nugent
An early springtime may signal homeowners to dust off the lawn mowers and yard equipment and take stock of how their yards have weathered winter. But when it comes to assessing the condition of your roof, damage or deterioration may not be visible to the untrained eye.
A local, family-run roofing company, Barbera Home Improvement (BHI) has served the greater Cleveland area the past 50 years. Thanks to its size—within the top 150 roofing companies in the country—BHI is nimble and can respond to requests for free inspections with the utmost efficiency.
“This spring, Houzz.com has registered a 50% increase in searches for ‘home improvement contractors,’” says owner Bob Potocar. “We’re also seeing an early uptick in people requesting an initial estimate from our website.”
Time to Inspect, Repair
In many cases, a thorough roof inspection by a BHI project manager can detect issues that need repair that could save you the cost of a total roof replacement. The sooner they are discovered and addressed, the better.
“Most roofing companies only do replacement jobs, but our highly trained techs are craftsmen who can inspect and repair any part of your roof,” says Bob. “No job is too small or too big for us. We look for ways to save a homeowner from having to invest in a new roof before it’s absolutely necessary.”
Selection to Suit Any Taste
As a Diamond Level Installer for Atlas Shingles, which has been featured on the “This Old House” website, BHI offers shingles to fit any budget and style.
“People are enjoying how customizable a roof’s appearance has become,” says Bob. “In the past, the colors were limited to black, gray or brown. Today there are many shades. We’re also seeing people choose two different kinds of shingles for a roof for a more dimensional, artsy look.”
He notes that from a visual perspective, the roof makes up about 50% of what’s seen, so it’s an opportunity to make an impact and boost your curb appeal.
“In terms of technological advances, the shingles we work with are highly durable and capable of retaining their color by repelling heat and sun,” he says.
Insurance Claims
Working with insurance companies to make a claim can be a hassle, but not with BHI. Their techs interface with the insurance company to make sure claims are accepted. They will even come to the home and meet with the adjustor to make sure he or she sees all the components of the roof involved in the job.
Timeliness matters. Bob reports homeowners have one year to make an insurance claim following the date of damage caused to a roof due to a hailstorm. Putting the work off later than that means you won’t be covered.
“As long as homeowners get on our schedule this spring, we can handle the volume of work,” adds Bob. “Our crews are composed of different sizes and specialties to fit each job. We can usually begin and end a residential roofing job in one day. Our roofers are seasoned professionals, most of whom have been with us an average of 15 years or more.”
Headquartered at 5376 Ridge Road in Parma, Barbera Home Improvement will go to homes and businesses throughout Cuyahoga, Medina, Lorain, Summit, Lake and Geauga Counties. Call 440-843-8987 or visit BHIRoof.com.
Total Home Improvement Solutions
As a full-service operation, the crews from Barbera Home Improvement have earned a reputation for replacement window installation, vinyl siding and gutter guard installation on homes throughout Northeast Ohio.
“With vinyl siding, the amount of styles has increased significantly over the last several years,” says owner Bob Potocar. “We’re seeing modern farmhouse exteriors with vertical siding that looks just like board and batten, as well as lots of faux stone styles and imitation cedar shake siding that are luxurious and high-end, yet affordable.”
Working with Polaris windows, they can build any size, shape or style to best complement your home.
“People like to think outside the box with window color,” he says. “A style we are installing in many homes is midnight black, which is striking against a lighter home. We’re also seeing a lot of natural-look wood grains for a more organic feeling.”
In addition to the boost in esthetics, he adds homeowners enjoy the cost savings that new maintenance-free Energy Star windows can account for.
And before the spring blooms start falling, now is the perfect time to add gutter guards to your home.
“We install two types of guards,” explains Bob. “One is made from patented, surgical-grade stainless steel micromesh and the other from a ribbed cover with diamond-shaped slots. Both allow water to naturally flow through the system while keeping out debris, which can clog your system and cause damage to the home.”