An Old Leaky Roof Caused Hidden Structural Damage

An Old Leaky Roof Caused Hidden Structural Damage

BEFORE

The Problem

Wauwatosa homeowner, Meg, was looking for a contractor to replace her nearly 30-year-old roof. It was leaking intermittently for multiple years to the point where they had removed sections of drywall to allow it to dry and breathe.

Wanting to prevent any additional damage to her home, Meg sought out a company to replace the old roof with a new one. Because she and her husband both worked full time, she became frustrated with how much time it took to collect multiple estimates. Meg explained “We wanted to be able to trust this person to put us in a good position for the future. We didn’t want to have to make repairs on our roof and we hope this is the last roof we put on.”

The Solution

Selecting Guardian to install a standard roof system was an easy choice. She explained, “Patrick was very knowledgeable about every aspect of roofing that we needed detail on, which inevitably made us trust him. He provided us an education on this project and we wanted to be as informed as we could when spending this kind of money. Guardian did cost more than most, but it was a risk we didn’t want to take. There was no sales pitch and the process was purely educational. My husband and I appreciated that he didn’t try to sell us on any particular option but gave us pros and cons to each option that made us find the right project for our home.”

AFTER

The Result

The project, which was originally quoted a 12-16 week timeframe, was completed in 4 weeks. Meg was made aware of the possibility of delays due to material and supply availability.

When we asked her thoughts on the result, she explained that the “Workmanship looks great, Guardian pays excellent attention to details. They uncovered hidden, concealed water damage, immediately brought it to our attention and repaired it. We had some areas of major structural damage and Guardian handled these unforeseen damages quickly, concisely and with the utmost respect. Reviewing the photos with our Project Manager, I am grateful the issues were found and addressed.”

The Incredible Restoration & Rejuvenation of Cedar Shake Siding

The Incredible Restoration & Rejuvenation of Cedar Shake Siding

BEFORE

The Problem

Mike and Maryanne’s home was looking tired. The shakes were falling, cracking and dirty. Without the equipment needed to repair and clean the siding themselves, the duo set out to find a contractor who could. The problem was finding a company who would work with what existed on the house, rather than push to replace the old with completely new siding, since the majority of the cedar shakes truly just needed to be restored to its former glory.

According to Mike and Maryanne, “Most of the contractors we met with suggested replacing most of the old cedar with new growth cedar shakes, which in our research we found were not as hardy as the shake our home was built with. Most of the cedar shake on the house was in decent condition and just needed a cleaning to restore it to its former glory.

In their case, replacing all of the siding simply wasn’t necessary.

The Solution

When Mike and Maryanne called us, we were happy to work through their concerns and goals with them.

“Patrick listened, probed and aligned himself with our vision of our home. He gave us a range of the options available to create that vision. He also talked through very specific details about the restoration process, identifying the specific areas for cedar shake replacement and included one window that needed aluminum installed. Patrick showed a real commitment to making sure we got exactly what we wanted. We knew Patrick took our concerns seriously; we wanted to RESTORE and not replace. He did not try to sell us on replacing all of the cedar shake and he gave us the solution to restoring the house.”

It was concluded that their home would have the necessary repairs and replacements made and the dirty shakes would be cleaned, sealed, and restored properly. The job had to wait until the season changed and weather permitted for an effective rejuvenation process.

When the project began, Mike and Maryanne were out of town. “They kept us posted on the progress, the entire time we were away, which made us feel completely at ease with the work being done in our absence. When we arrived home after our trip, we could not believe our eyes. The transformation was so impressive, we could not be happier that our house has been restored to its original state.”

AFTER

The Result

A rejuvenated siding was the result of this project.

“We absolutely love how the repair, cleaning, and restoration has breathed new life into our home. The cedar looks brand new and shines morning, noon and night. When we originally signed on with Guardian for our project, we had hoped that the house would look better –we had not entertained the thought of it being completely restored. We absolutely love coming home, sitting by the pool, and no longer have to look at the tired, dirty cedar. It looks absolutely fantastic. If anyone we know is looking for a contractor for cedar shake restoration, Guardian is the only recommendation we will make.”

Flat Roof Fix for Mitchell International Airport

Flat Roof Fix for Mitchell International Airport

BEFORE

The Problem

The FAA Building at Mitchell International Airport was to install new, larger, air conditioning units on their roof. Due to the size of the new units, the roof needed additional support installed while keeping the integrity of the TPO roofing system.

Initially, they were looking for a contractor that had HVAC and roof work both in house but were unsuccessful in the search, so the next goal was to find two separate contractors that would work in tandem to avoid any delays, as the equipment housed in the building was temperature sensitive. It was crucial that the work be completed in a timely manner.

The Solution

Guardian was selected for a few reasons: top ratings, exceptional warranty, and the willingness to work alongside the HVAC company.

“I am not sure if Guardian always sends a sales manager out to their sites, but it was a nice change to have someone onsite who had extensive product knowledge and the apparent experience that we expected to see on a project of this magnitude.”

AFTER

The Result

The job moved quickly and smoothly. Guardian cut the roofing, set the new curb and re-flashed into the existing roofing with TPO Flat Roofing materials as scheduled to ensure that the A/C units could be installed the same day.

“When it comes to customer service, we were very satisfied with Guardian. From the start when the sales manager personally came to the site to develop a plan, to the project manager who was onsite throughout the process to ensure there were no issues, it was a very pleasant experience throughout. Guardian even noticed some other issues while they were out that had nothing to do with the work they were conducting and notified us right away, giving us options on what kind of repairs could be done to resolve the issues, preventing an emergency situation in the future. Because of that, we are looking into getting some more work completed with them in the near future.

I would recommend Guardian to anybody that is looking for commercial roofing repairs as well as residential. The way our commercial project was handled from start to finish gives us the confidence to recommend them for residential work as well. We were kept very informed and at no point felt as if we were just another paycheck for them. Instead we felt that our opinions were taken into consideration and we were an important part of the process.”
– Mitchell International Airport Representative

Deteriorated Cedar Siding Replaced

Deteriorated Cedar Siding Replaced

BEFORE

The Problem

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Racine homeowners, Pam and Pete, were in need of a full siding replacement as their home’s cedar siding was extremely deteriorated. Furthermore, the back addition had fiberboard siding that was also failing. They wanted to update their exterior with new siding that was low maintenance and did not require painting.

While shopping for a company to hire for their siding replacement project, Pam and Pete were simply looking for a company that was reliable and delivered on their promises. It seemed like a seasonable request. However, it turned out to be much more difficult than they had expected to find a company that would accommodate their busy schedule. “We work different schedules and it was hard to get someone to come out when both of us were available. Many were not accommodating to our scheduling issues,” said Pam.

The Solution

After reading reviews online, Pam and Pete reached out to Guardian. “Guardian worked around our schedule,” Pam explained. “They made us actually feel like we were valued customers before we even decided to go with them.”

“They also gave us several choices of our options and their respective costs. We were in control of what we were purchasing, down to the last detail.”

“We were treated like human beings, working class people on a budget.”

Pam and Pete chose to reside their home with new vinyl siding. However, once the project was started, it was discovered that a portion of their roof needed to be fixed. It turns out that this defective area of their roof was the cause of a persistent leak in their kitchen.

Upon the discovery of this unforeseen repair, Pam shared, “when we were told that a portion of our roof also needed to be replaced and we would incur more costs, it was a blessing in disguise because we finally knew where the leak in our kitchen was coming from. Now it leaks no more. We were given the option to replace just the portion of the roof that was leaking so it didn’t break the bank.”

AFTER

The Result

Their home now has new vinyl siding and there are no longer leaks in their kitchen. They explained that the project went great and they appreciated how efficient, punctual and exceptionally the project manager communicated with them. When asked if they had any additional comments to share about their experience with us, they said:

“We are so happy with our homes facelift and that we no longer have to worry about a leak in our kitchen. We look forward to Guardian coming out to complete the rest of the roof for us next year and now that we know that Guardian deals in solar panels we are looking into having those put on our home!”
– Pam and Pete, Racine, WI

Properly Fixing a Recurring Leak that Other Companies Could Not Fix

Properly Fixing a Recurring Leak that Other Companies Could Not Fix

The Problem.
Waukesha homeowner, Gerry, had a leaking chimney and needed the problem permanently fixed. The leak was a recurring problem. Over the years, several contractors came to repair the leak, but none of them were successful at completely stopping the leak.

“I had several contractors come look at it over the years, and none were able to completely stop the leak,” stated Gerry. “I was concerned that I would be charged again for repairs that did not completely solve my problem… many contractors had attempted to solve the problem, failed, and still charged me for the work.”

The Solution
Gerry contacted Guardian and we conducted a thorough inspection. Additionally, based on the problem at hand, they determined that a water test needed to be conducted to fully establish the root-cause of the recurring leak.

Based on the findings from the inspection and water test, Guardian concluded that the proper solution to permanently stop the leak was to reconfigure and replace the valley and re-side the chimney. Ultimately, the valley was the root-cause of the leak.

Gerry explained, “the damage to the chimney was more extensive than we had anticipated, but Matt L. informed us every step of the way. As soon as he discovered more rotted wood underneath our siding, he brought it to our attention so we could address it. He also explained in depth why the valley was the root cause of our leaking issues. The drainage from the valley was directly diverting water underneath the “cricket” (designed to divert water) installed on the chimney. The valley was not installed properly when we had our roof done years ago. We had not heard this before from any contractor, and it was good to finally get an answer.”

The Result
With the cause of the leak fixed and the damage repaired, Gerry can finally find relief in knowing that his roof is fully and properly repaired. Gerry expressed gratitude for the constant contact and communication throughout the project, “everyone was in constant contact. If I had a question, I could call a number of people for an answer.”

“The experience couldn’t have been better,” added Gerry. “Guardian guarantees their work so at the off chance that the chimney leaks again, at least I know they will be back to fix it without charging me again.”