It is all of our responsibility to make sure we do everything we can to pass on a beautiful earth to future generations. As members of industry this is a very important topic as many of the products and technologies that make life simpler and more convenient are often dangerous to manufacturer without proper oversite. It's a delicate balancing act to make sure that both economy and environmental protections are advanced with each other in mind. 

That is one of the reasons we appreciate Malarkey Roofing products! They are one of the key roofing brands we install due to the innovative and environmentally friendly process they use. 

Malarkey has a history of pioneering sustainable products in the roofing industry. They were the first to create the rubberized (SBS modified) roofing shingle known as the Alaskan. It was designed to survive in the harsh Alaskan terrain. It worked so well they extended the line to the super thick Legacy shingle and then eventually converted all of their additional shingle lines to rubberized products with their new NextGen modified asphalt. 

NextGen asphalt utilizes recycled content such as tires and milk jugs in the asphalt to help reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills. 

Malarkey also utilizes a special granule from 3M that sucks pollutions out of the air and transforms them into safe molecules that are clean and helpful for the environment. For the conscious consumer this is a great product that not only protects your home but also protects your family into future generations!

As a certified Malarkey contractor we have access to a new tool we are super excited about! They have created a calculator that shows us how much recycled content and the impact every roof we install will have on the environment. Let's use our office roof as an example. We installed the Malarkey Windsor roofing shingle on our shop. It's the heavyweight designer roof out of Malarkey's product offering. Check out the sustainability calculation below: 

This is an amazing opportunity to see how your upcoming reroof can impact the environment. If your interested in a free roofing estimate and having sustainable roofing calculations provided to you please contact us today!

​Today on this episode of myth busters we will tackle the issue of manufacturer warranty versus protection that comes from the longevity of the contractor. We live in a high-speed bells and whistles society. Warranties and upgraded warranties are available on everything, for a price. From toasters to electronics to construction materials you may purchase extra protection on your new item. While these warranties certainly have value, we would like to explain why working with a contractor that has been in business for decades has more value than most manufacturer shingle warranties. 

Upgraded System Warranty

• An upgraded system warranty extends the non prorated coverage to a full 50 years. That means if the materials fail on year 22 you will get 100% reimbursement to replace the cost of the roof.

​Now here is the crux of the situation, these warranties definitely offer value, especially if you are going to be living in your home for a long time. The warranty game however is banking on very consistent data and statistics. The fact is that the average homeowner only lives in a house for about 7 years. A very very small percentage of them will take the time to fill out the paperwork to transfer the warranty to the next homeowner. Therefore most of the warranties become nearly worthless. That is why they can offer long lifetime warranties, it’s a numbers game. With that being said, you can see why placing your trust in a contractor that has been in business and operating in integrity for along time holds a lot of value. 

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​Contractor Longevity, The Best Protection For Your Home & Family
Now that you have a clear picture of how warranties work and how flimsy they can be lets talk about the type of contractor that can actually protect you. First off, understand that 80% of roofing contractors go out of business within the first two years of opening their doors. That’s right, 8 out of 10 that open their doors and are installing roofs this year will not be here in two years. We are not trying to push fear, these are simply the industry facts and statistics. If you are going to lean on a contractor that has the integrity to not only install a proper roofing system but also backs up their work when it fails, you need to choose a contractor with history in the market. That is why McMains Roofing is one of your very best choices in Tacoma and the Puget Sound region. We have nearly 3 decades of dedicated service under our belts with our original contractor license. Many roofers go out of business and start up over and over again but continue to fail leaving homeowners without protection with something goes wrong or their roof fails. Due to these very real scenarios we can confidently say that your very best and safest choice to protect your home during a reroof is to hire a contractor that has a minimum of 10 years in business. During that time frame they will have established a reputation and a history that will tell you if they are willing to provide customers with the protection and warranty services. 

​Contractor Workmanship Warranty
Many roofing contractors offer a workmanship warranty, that is how long they are willing to fix or replace the roof at no cost to the homeowner if something fails. This warranty has teeth and value so to speak, as long as the roofer has a history in the market of honoring those warranties. At McMains Roofing we offer a standard 5-year workmanship warranty, but more importantly WE WILL STAND BEHIND OUR WORK FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE ROOF! If your McMains Roofing system fails at any time due to improper installation we are simply going to take care of it, no matter what year it is. That is why we are not only still in business, but have earned the amazing reputation we have in the market. 

Because we have been in business for so long our warranty is a bedrock of protection you can count on, and our family name is the seal of our bond.
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As a certified roofing contractor with many brands, we are able to offer extended warranties on most shingle products, and in the right situation they have value, but none of them offer what we offer as a family owned business serving the Puget Sound for nearly 3 decades as McMains Roofing.
If you have questions about our roofing services or warranty protection call is today, we would be happy to discuss the McMains Roofing standard for your home or business!

McMain's Roofing Specializes In Multifamily Roofing
Not all roofing contractors are created equal. Each business has areas of service and capabilities based on their training and experience. For instance some local Tacoma roofing contractors specialize in residential reroof only. They install a great asphalt shingle roof on average size homes. Others focus on large commercial flat roofing that are tens of thousands of square feet. McMains Roofing is unique in that we are extremely diverse in our experience level across the roofing systems and types. Our 3 decades of experience has provided time and opportunity to become experts in all types of roofing. One area that we have been able to really grow into and specialize in is multi family roofing.

What Is A Multi Family Roofing Project
Multifamily structures are buildings that house multiple families such as apartment buildings, condos & retirement centers. They can range from a two unit duplex to a unit that has 40-50 apartment units in one building. Due to the potential size and scope of these projects they often require specialized insurances, crew size, tools and installation methods that the average residential reroof contactor may not possess.
For instance projects over a certain size will require additional insurance coverage and bonding that costs tens of thousands of dollars more than standard residential insurance. Not every contractor can afford the extra insurance so they stay out of the arena all together. McMain's Roofing is properly insured to provide multifamily reroof services which protects our clients. Please be sure to double check and make sure your potential roofers have the correcting bonding and insurance before considering having them provide pricing on your larger projects. Often times they don’t understand the extra costs involved in the proper credentials which can reflect in their price. While initially the price looks incredible, when you dig in you will often find that the proper  credentials were not in place. This can set an unrealistic price expectation and falls in line with the old saying “if it seems to good to be true, it often is.” At McMain's Roofing we provide value, a combination of the protection you deserve, a fair price and the quality of install that Property Managers across the Puget Sound of enjoyed for three decades. 

Other nuances of multi family roofing are the tools and logistics. Due to the difficult access of the buildings including carports, tenant vehicles, distance of the roof from the access points and multistory building height. The tear off and disposal of the existing roofing system can be dangerous. With tenants walking around special safety set up on the ground is often required to make sure everyone is protected from falling debris. We often use  specialized chutes that can take the waste from the roof top right into the back of our dump truck for safe disposal. These logistics and special safety set ups should be a huge consideration when interviewing contractors for the job. Make sure you have that discussion with any potential vendors taking a look at the job for you.

Our History With Property Management & Multifamily Roofing Projects In The Puget Sound
When it comes to multi family roofing in the Puget Sound, few do it at the level that Mcmains Roofing does. In fact we service many of the key Property Management agencies in the region based strictly on our experience and reputation in this area. We help our clients manage dozens of properties a year through maintenance packages, cleanings and key repairs to extend the life of their roofs and value based replacements when the time comes. Hands down we are the name you can trust for large apartment, condo and multi family roofing.

​This week we would like to feature an incredible CertainTeed Presidential TL roofing system we recently installed in Woodinville, WA. Presidential TL roofing shingles are the peak of the premium designer shingle class in the roofing industry. In fact here in the Pacific Northwest CertainTeed Presidential and Presidential TL shingles have become the standard by which most Home Owners Associations measure the quality of shingles they will allow into their neighborhoods. Quite literally in the same way Kleenex is used as the brand name for tissue paper, Presidential shingles have become the brand name for key cut designer shingles. 

Here are some of the key features of the Presidential TL that set it apart from standard architectural laminate roofing shingles:

• Weight: Presidential TL shingles weigh 465 lbs per sq
• Patented triple laminate technology makes it the thickest roofing shingle on the market today
• Recognized by HOA’s as the standard for premium designer shingles
• 50 year limited lifetime warranty against material defects
• Protected by SteakFighter technology combat black algae streaks.
• Available in 7 colors including: Aged Bark, Autumn Blend, Charcoal Black, Country Gray, Shadow Gray, Weathered Wood
• Adds value to your home and is very helpful in resale situations.
• Lasts longer than standard entry level laminate roofing shingles. 

To learn more about the Presidential Shake TL roofing shingle you can check out the links below. You can find warranty information, a product brochure or imagine what Presidential Shake TL would look like on your home with their visualizer tool.

• Virtual Visualizer
• Product Brochure
• Warranty Documentation

Woodinville Presidential Shake TL Install
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As a Woodinville Roofing contractor it was amazing watching the transformation on this new Presidential Shake TL re-roof. We tore off the existing roofing system and had to resheet the entire roof deck with ½” CDX plywood to create a solid substrate for the new roofing system. We installed a CertainTeed full roofing system including ice and water shield to protect the most leak prone areas, color matched and regular starter shingles for wind uplift, Presidential Shake TL field shingles, Mountain Ridge high profile ridge cap shingles and all new venting and sheet metal flashings. Our customer went with the Aged Bark color option which perfectly accented their home design. This brand new luxury roofing system by McMains roofing in Woodinville, WA has made this home standout in all the bests ways in its neighborhood.
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For more information on designer or any type of roofing system please reach out to us today! You can call us or fill out our contact form and we will put you in touch with one of our seasoned estimators for a non-pressured roofing consultation. McMains Roofing has nearly 3 decades of service experience in the Puget Sound and as a leading Woodinville roofing contractor. With McMains, you are in good hands.