If you can tell there’s a soft spot on your roof, this most likely means that the substrate below the roofing material is damaged and deteriorating. This can be a result of the plywood sheeting becoming wet from rain above or from moisture not being able to escape from below and leading to mold/mildew growth on the wood. If there is inadequate ventilation, the probability of moisture buildup and then mold/mildew growth is much higher. This can result in rotting substrates and cause your spongy soft spots on the roof.

When we roof a house, we use a plywood substrate rather than particle board — it’s stronger and more resilient to such occurrences, so keep this in mind when making decisions on your own roof.

This photograph shows the process of replacing the substrate and installing proper ventilation (added holes, or bird block vents, in the beams to let the air pass through). You can see the rotted particle board & insulation in the top left photos, Miguel drilling holes for ventilation, properly battened insulation (cardboard material to keep insulation from blocking airflow) and then your finished product in the bottom right.

Shingle damage can definitely be an indicator of a roof reaching its final days, but it’s best to have a roof inspection done before jumping to any conclusions.  If you are noticing any torn shingles or if they end up in your yard after a storm, that’s a strong indicator that it’s time to get a professional opinion on the state of your roof.

Attic insulation baffles are forms, typically made of cardboard or plastic, that create a gap between the attic insulation and the roof sheathing, allowing air to flow from the soffit vents into the attic itself. Baffles are secured to the roof sheathing near the eaves. They effectively prevent the attic insulation from covering the soffit vents, promoting airflow from the soffit vents across the roof sheathing to the ridge vents. Without the baffles, you can have blocked airways and trap in unwanted air and moisture.

Proper attic ventilation is essential to the preservation of the roofing materials and roof sheathing. In the past, gable vents and static roof vents were the norm. In modern construction a combination of soffit vents and ridge vents are considered much more effective, and without being baffled, the insulation has a tendency to render your properly vented roof system useless.

The older gable vents (or cross ventilation) require outside influence to create airflow through the attic. Also, because the gable vents are typically installed about the mid-point of the attic, hot air is trapped at the apex of the attic. Static roof vents (or box vents) allow some hot air to escape, but like gable vents, allow hot air to be trapped under the roof ridge.

Ridge vents and soffit vents create airflow by utilizing thermal convection. The hot air rises and escapes through the ridge vents. This creates an area of negative air pressure, which pulls air into the attic from the soffit vents. The air is drawn directly across the roof sheathing, bringing it closer to the outside temperature. Problems with this system arise when the soffit vents are blocked, and the flow of air is impeded, usually by attic insulation. The problem is solved by installing insulation baffles, which are essentially a tube through the attic insulation, through which air can freely flow.

When water stays on your roof, as a general rule of thumb, that’s a bad thing. Any standing water leads to a higher probability of it finding a way to create a leak. When installing flat roofs, we typically construct a positive drainage system which keeps a constant and slight angle to insure that water finds its way off of your roof. Helping water to travel safely down and off your roof is of the utmost importance when considering your roof’s construction.

In moist areas, such as the Pacific Northwest, moss can and will grow on shingles. Although the moss doesn’t necessarily ruin your shingles it can have negative effects. Moss can divert the path of water draining off of your roof, it can discolor the shingles, separate or lift your shingles, and it can retain moisture on your roof.

While moss isn’t the most serious issue, proper maintenance and preventative care can truly help the longevity and appearance of your roof. Moss can be brushed off, or if needed, can be sprayed off or treated with a moss-killing chemical.

Installing a roof over the top of an existing roof is possible, however, it’s not recommended. Some manufacturer’s warranties will not guarantee their product when it is installed over an unacceptable substrate. We believe that your roof is only as strong as its’ weakest link, and therefore prefer to accept responsibility for the craftsmanship of your home and start the re-roofing process from the actual structure.

Like any building component, roofs degrade at different rates depending on a large number of factors: The quality of original construction, the level of abuse, weather, the level of maintenance, appropriateness of design, material used, etc. So how long should a roof last? A poorly installed roof may show signs of failure on the first rain. There are also well-crafted roof systems that use durable materials and, if well-maintained, have lasted decade upon decade (for example, some of the natural slate roofs found in the Swiss Alps have lasted over 100 years *see picture). Most building owners, roofing contractors and designers feel 25-30 years is an acceptable service life.

In 1971 Dale Chihuly, Anne Gould Hauberg, and John H. Hauberg founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington. Pilchuck is a glass education center that has a reputation deserving of it’s international student-base and acclaim. 

The Hot House, a traditional barn-style structure, is Pilchuck’s signature building and needed to be reroofed with the care and style of its original craftsmanship. Jorve is extremely proud to have been the chosen partner in this magnificent reroof.

Pilchuck’s Hot House is truly unique and its’ barn-style shakes definitely contribute to its’ inimitable nature.

These shakes are custom hewn to 52” in length, as opposed to your houses’ standard 24”, and are installed over an open-frame timber building without a roof deck (picture to the right). An open-frame means that the shakes are the only layer of roofing material keeping rain from falling inside the building. With this in mind, to keep the Hot House waterproof, the shakes are double-coursed to stagger the space between each shake and usher the rain off the roof.

Jorve is proud of a job well-done and special recognition goes out to our crews on the job, veteran cedar shake specialists William Mejia, Eliseo Mejia, Adolfo Flores, Orlando Rodas, and Andres Hernandez. The job wouldn’t have been the same without custom copper and sheet metal fabrications by Mike Harvey and Antonio Munoz. This project was a chance for us to show our industry-leading abilities, attention to detail, and capacity to be flexible; we’re proud to say that this was achieved and the reroofed Hot House looks fantastic!

Chad Champion is the foreman in our carpentry and handyman services division and we’re real happy to have him on our team. He loves to work and enjoys seeing a project through to its completion. Any project you can conjure Chad can do, so feel free to call him up for a hand.

Chad was born and raised in Seattle, but loves to get out into the country with his wife and family. When given the chance, Chad will break away to Mt. Adams in the winter for some snowmobiling.  Thanks for doing so much Chad!

When our neighbor down the street, Stewart Lumber and Hardware, called us for a roof we were happy to come down and swing a hammer. We admire Stewart not only for their excellence in the industry, but also for their hometown values and 93 year history of service to the community. They’re a perfect example of your local hardware store combined with an immense amount of knowledge and personal care for their customer’s projects… a trait we hold dear at Jorve as well.

Stewart Lumber began in 1918 and was handed over to Bill’s grandfather in 1926. He added the hardware store and, two generations later, the same store is being run in nearly the same fashion. We love their “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality and some of their old-fashioned systems of operation even more. For example, they still use a mechanical cash register rather than one of the newer computerized models. “Ding!” They also showed us an antique crimper they use in the back for duct work and the like. Swing by yourself and say “hello” sometime. Check them out for yourself and check out the new roof on the warehouse, too!

That young man on the forklift is Jorve’s official Jack-of-all-trades: Ieng Uth. When asked what his position at Jorve is, Ieng replied, “That depends on what hat I’m wearing.”  A regular renaissance man, Ieng also studies Network Communications Management at Devry University; which means that at one moment he may be solving a mechanical problem on one of our trucks, then he’s on the forklift unloading a fresh batch of shingles, and back inside to help out with a computer problem.

When it comes to hobbies, Ieng loves the outdoors — whether that means being out on the beach for a long walk or with a shovel in hand to dig up some clams! With eight years strong at Jorve, we’d like to say thanks for contributing so many valuable skills to the team– Ieng, you are the man!

Check out the video on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/Jorve.Roofing

Jorve celebrated the opening game between our Seattle Sounders and the L.A. Galaxy for the 2011 MLS season opn Wednesday. It was rainy, but what else was to be expected here in the Emerald City. One of the tweets received throughout the day said something to the effect of “forecast for the game is rain, hope Beckham brought enough hair gel to hold!” — haha! We got a kick outta that one (no pun intended). A little rain wasn’t enough to stop some 36,433 fans from standing on their toes and screaming from the depths of their chests: “GO SOUNDERS!”

It was quite the fight,  but only the Galaxy were able to put one in the net, and when they did, the crowd roared with anger. Depsite the scoreboard, the match was awesome and it seemed that at any moment Seattle would slip one by the keeper. We look to be in good-form and Emeral City Supporters (ECS) have much to be excited for.  

Our fans are strong and they are loud; the conviction and vigor displayed throughout the game should be ample to support our favorite team, the home team, the Seattle Sounders. This season will be a true test of spirit and strength as the Portland Timbers have entered the MLS Division for the 2011 season. Tradition has shown that Sounders and Timbers may be neighbors, but on the pitch they are nothing less than foes. Fans from both sides are teaming with excitement for what could be the biggest rivalry in the MLS.

This is Tim Bowman, one of the exemplary members of the Jorve team. Tim has been our Project Manager for over 18 years; he knows everything about the jobs we perform and is the first person our crews or customers call with any questions. Extremely knowledgeable, organized, and helpful, Tim is one of a kind; for three years now, he been a volunteer for Washington German Shepherd Rescue and has fostered dogs at his home to give them a loving place to stay. On Sundays he helps the Humane Society to keep things clean and orderly at the kennels.  Tim believes in a bond that goes even beyond “man’s best friend” and he treats these dogs with an impressive degree of love and respect. Sometimes, when it’s sunny, Tim has a dog with him here at Jorve and will take several breaks throughout the day to walk and play with them so they aren’t left at home for too long. Tim’s amazing connection with these animals is a beautiful thing and we’re truly happy that he lends himself to their needs. Thank you Tim for your commitment and help here at Jorve, the animals you care for, and the content customers you consistently create!

In an age of over-the-top holiday expenditures that can sometimes eclipse the loving-spirit, Jorve was looking for a way to celebrate with some sort of warm heart activity. Jake suggested and organized a card-making party here at the office and set-up our big table with everything from markers and crayons to stickers and candies. You could say that the kids came for the card-making, but stayed for the candies!

All the kids had a great time making cards for friends and family. At one point several kids started requesting that we play some music. The volume went up on our old FM radio and so did the energy level of those kids –singing and dancing in the Jorve conference room!  Hilarious.

Well, Valentine’s Day came and went, and so did the children from Kids R Us Daycare. We’re looking forward to the next time we can have another party with our neighbors!

“Anyone’s life truly lived consists of work, sunshine, exercise, plenty of fresh air, and a happy contented spirit.” — Lillie Langtry

This week on the Blackmore job in Seattle, Jorve is installing a custom 14 panel ridge-over skylight with operable panels as a part of the roofing project. When completed, our work will result in not only a great roof, but plenty of interior sunshine, fresh air and a happy contented homeowner spirit.

Interior daylighting can include standard skylights with finished shafts, custom structural units, skywalls and even simple light tunnels such as Solatubes*. We’ve never met a customer who didn’t love having made the decision to bring natural light into their home; let the sunshine in! 

* for more information on Solatubes, check out www.solatube.com

“I know what professionals look like, and the crew on my roof right now – they’re professionals.” — Bob, Matthews Beach, Seattle.

Bob is originally from Long Island, NY and is now renting the house his daughter (who lives up the street) owns here in Seattle. Bob used to do carpentry work on boats, in his day, and stated that he definitely has an eye for quality work and professionalism. He’s a very outspoken man and was more than willing to share his feelings about the current project that Jorve was in the midst of. He’s seen a lot of construction work done; he’s done a lot of construction work; and as he said outright: “I know what professionals look like, and the crew on my roof right now — they’re professionals.”

He was so pleased with the work he was seeing, that he began documenting the process with his camera. He even decided that it was something everyone should know about and be able to see as he saw, and gave us a copy of the pictures to use as we saw fit. Feel free to peruse Bob’s photos that were taken while William and his crew tore off the old roof and put the new one on!

These snowmen were holding on to what little cold lingered in the Leschi air down by Lake Washington. The snow hit us hard on Tuesday night, but didn’t put up much of a fight to stick around. Nonetheless, it provided some excitement, definitely gave the newsroom something to talk about, and managed to cover most everything in the greater Seattle area. Hope everyone’s roof held up — let us know if we can help at all.

This is Norm Hoglund … he’s hilarious, really nice, and seems to become friends with just about everyone he meets. He also happens to be Jorve’s top representative, which is possibly due to his likeable demeanor, but also his commitment to excellent service and personable relationships; with Norm you know you’ve met a guy who actually cares about you, your family and your home. You’d be surprised how often Norm provides a simple service or repair free of charge just because it’s in his nature to help. He is a fine example of Jorve’s commitment to doing every job right and with the customer in mind. Thorough inspections and honest answers are where things get started with Jorve.

Here’s another interesting story involving Norm from a little while back, check it out:

http://www.mygreenlake.com/2010/08/cats-roof/

There was a lot of anticipation for the events of Friday the 17th. All week long we had been preparing for the daycare next door, Kids R Us, to come over and help us decorate some gingerbread houses. Rather than baking off pounds and pounds of cardboard-like gingerbread to construct houses, we used actual cardboard (matter-of-fact, we used corrugated fiberboard, as we were briefly educated by the industry-specialists — there’s a difference, cardboard is solid while corrugated fiberboard is fluted hahaha…) We got a 5-gallon bucket of royal icing from Delite Bakery up the street and a bunch of candy from Costco and neighboring grocery stores. By the time all the candy was set out, the frosting in individual bags for each kid, and the houses were ready to go, I started to realize that I may actually be more excited than the kids for this whole thing to happen. But as soon as they walked through the door, I could tell that wasn’t true. It was like each kid had one of Willy Wonka’s own golden tickets…big eyes, candy cravings, and plenty of ideas for sticking sweets to a house.

The kids were a lot of fun and brought a lot of creativity, positive attitudes, and even manners! Such a polite group of little kids, “sirs” and “pleases” and “thank yous” were all mixed into the candy-fueled conversation. Kids at heart and actual kids alike bonded over the common interest of candy and good fun. It was great to see Stacy, Scotty, Hillary, Dale, Ted, and Luliia, as well as Ted’s kids get their hands a little sugary and their blood-sugar levels spiked.

I’m pushing for this to be a new company tradition…I don’t think I’ll have to push very hard.

One of Don Everett’s sons is a superstar football player. Apparently, it runs in the family because Don is not only a superstar here at Jorve, but grew up playing pretty much every sport under the sun. The other day he picked up a soccer ball laying on the ground and started juggling it in the air like a Seattle Sounder.

Back to Don’s son though, Mikell Everett, who is an All-State football player, excelling in both the offensive and defensive team for Kentwood High School in Covington. Mikell has his sights set on college and hopes to have some good plays in front of scouts this year.

Good luck Mikell!

Here’s the team photo (Mikell is #2, right smack dab in the middle):