Congratulations American Metal Roofs!

One of our leading dealers was recently recognized by Inc. Magazine as number 766 on their list of the 5000 fastest growing businesses. That company is American Metal Roofs based in Flint, Michigan.

At American, Frank Farmer and his team have developed very exacting systems for selling and installing our residential metal roofing systems. It is great to have them on our team!

Marketing in one of our country?s most ?roof-brutal? climates, American has achieved tremendous growth and success despite Michigan?s economic woes of recent years.

We at Classic Metal Roofing Systems, congratulate and thank American Metal Roofs while wishing them continued success!

Tags: American Metal Roofs, frank farmer

Continuous Home Improvement

Have you heard of the term ?Continuous Improvement?? Chances are that this phrase is not completely foreign to you. We hope though, that the phrase ?Continuous HOME Improvement? is NOT one that you regularly use ? unless, of course, you?re binge watching ?Tim The Tool Man? re¡runs.

However, many of us, as homeowners, do find ourselves in a continuous cycle of fixing this, repairing that, improving these, replacing those. If that has ever described your life, then you will agree that the corner of ?Home? and ?Repair? is not a fun place to live!

While home maintenance is a ?necessary evil,? there are often ways to make significant improvements to your home that lessen or even eliminate the need for future repairs. Thousands of homeowners each year discover that a Classic Metal Roof is their way to permanently end the vicious cycle of repairing and replacing their roofs. Like so many other items in our homes, we find that a metal roof is a way to make a single larger investment and avoid the hassles and total expense of many smaller investments over time.

One of our Core Values here at Classic is ?Continual Improvement.? The concept is: ?We are dedicated to continual improvement through relationships that encourage and act upon input from customers and team members.? We realize that, through this Core Value, it?s never good enough to be ?holding your own? ? we must always be striving to be better in terms of quality, product innovation, and customer service ? all to better and more fully meet the needs of our customers.

?Continuous Improvement? is a fairly common term in manufacturing today, with roots going back to the 1950s. While we saw the Japanese initially grasp and make use of this concept, it has since spread to the US and other countries as well. We want to share a bit on the history of Continuous Improvement:

After the US defeated Japan in World War 2, General Douglas MacArthur sent several American experts to Japan. These experts were supposed to instruct the Japanese about the best way for them to rebuild their country. Among these professionals was Dr. W. Edwards Deming, a statistician who specialized in working with censuses. Though he traveled to Japan to help the Japanese with a census of their own, he noticed how new industries were struggling and decided to focus more on advising them.

Deming began regularly visiting Japan in the mid-1950s and instructing the Japanese to concentrate on improving every detail of their manufacturing processes rather than simply looking at the results. Over the next couple of decades, a variety of Japanese businesses adopted Deming?s practices. One of these businesses, Toyota, developed its own practices such as Just In Time (JIT) and Total Quality Management, or TQM.

It was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s that American and European organizations noticed the advancements in Japan and embraced similar practices. These practices, known as kaizen (change for the better), share a fundamental belief in continuous improvement and continue to influence American manufacturers today.

As we think about the work of Dr. W. Edwards Deming and its impact on us, we want to share the following three quotes from him which we hope you enjoy:

?It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best.?

?No one knows the cost of a defective product ? don?t tell me you do. You know the cost of replacing it, but not the cost of a dissatisfied customer.?

?If you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing.?

We hope that, for you, ?Continuous Improvement? means adding products to your home that will save you time, money, and aggravation. If you have any questions we can help with, please email our own nationally recognized metal roofing expert, Todd Miller, at todd@asktoddmiller.com or browse our website. We are happy to help you with questions pertaining to roofing, ventilation, insulation, and other things.

1) Place a New Shingle Over the Existing Shingles

This is just about the worst thing you can do when you are looking to patch a roof. Some building codes say that it is an acceptable fix, but you should consider that it is a temporary fix that can cause big issues long term. There may be rot under the shingles that needs to be stripped away and replaced, but you wouldn?t know unless you strip off the old shingles to properly inspect the leak.

2) All Asphalt Is the Same

Older shingles are nothing compared to the new asphalt shingles on the market today. Today?s shingles are laminated, reinforced with fiberglass, and more durable than ever before. Purchasing higher quality asphalt shingles that won?t deteriorate as quickly can prevent roof leaks.

3) A Small Leak Can Be Repaired DIY

Sometimes homeowners want to save some cash and repair a leak by themselves. If you are particularly handy, you may be able to repair a leak on your roof. However, with particularly severe roof leaks, you may want the eye of a professional. They may be able to see other issues with your roof that you haven?t noticed before. Your small leak may look small but have bigger costly issues.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, managing gutters and downspouts is an almost constant struggle. It?s all fun and games in the Summer. But if we?re not prepared for Fall, clogs, misaligned downspouts, and other problems can sneak up, requiring hasty repairs to get ahead of the bad weather.

If you plan ahead for the rainy seasons this year, though, you could enjoying a little something extra: the soothing sound of rain rushing down the chains you?ve used to replace your downspouts.

Rain chains have been used in Japan for centuries, but they?ve recently been catching on in the U.S. as an attractive downspout alternative. Some use actual chains, but many different shapes are available, like cups or bells that ring as the rain travels down them. Rain chains can improve your home?s curb appeal and sound lovely, but if you?re thinking of installing them, it?s important to do it correctly. When in doubt,aask a professional for help.

An improperly installed rain chain can lead to the same problems you may have with any downspout. Poor drainage leads to standing water around the home?s foundation, which can contribute to mold and mildew and invite insects. Too much water can even start to break down the foundation directly. Meanwhile, the yard can become a soggy, muddy mess.

Disadvantages of Rain Chains

When using rain chains, being proactive about drainage is even more important. They are less sturdy and can?t handle the same amount of water as a traditional downspout, so you?ll want to consider installing a backup downspout for heavy rainfall. Wind can also make a rain chain less effective in directing water, so there again you have cause to install a backup.

You also need an effective collection system. Downspouts can be used to direct the stream of water away from your home, but a chain can?t do that. You?ll need a barrel or possibly a water feature to catch the water and prevent damage to your home.

Advantages of Rain Chains

The great thing about rain chains, of course, is that they so much more attractive than regular downspouts. You can choose from many different styles and finishes, including copper, which will develop a beautiful weathered look over time called ?patina.? Some rain chains also make musical sounds, which can be a lovely complement to the rain.

Installing rain chains can be relatively easy, but if you?re not comfortable working on your roof it?s best to hire a pro for help. If you?re worried about high winds, anchor the chain to keep it in place, and remember to inspect it regularly to ensure it works well. As long as you?re working on the gutters, it?s the perfect time to inspect them, remove debris, and attend to any broken or damaged sections.

Now that you know how to make rain chains work for your home, you can now go out and choose the style you love! If you need any help, don?t hesitate to give us a call!