M. Walter Roofing» | M.Walter Roofing Company | Chicago, IL

We’re now listed on Thumbtack!

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:41:36 +0000

M Walter Roofing is now listed on Thumbtech.com. Its a great place for entrepreneurs with many business opportunities.

Residential Metal Roofing in Chicago

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:29:48 +0000

Residential Metal Roofing in Chicago

Before concluding whether metal roofing is the best of the roofing options for you, we would like to simply walk you through the facts, advantages and disadvantages of the metal roofing Chicago ‘s roofing industry has to offer.

First of all, residential metal roofs, as well as commercial metal roofs are very practical in installation because of their light weight and portability, meaning lower installation cost.

Besides, residential metal roofing concepts are very durable and bare the time well. Modern metal is normally guaranteed to last for up to 30 years, which is approximately twice as long as the life if the asphalt roof on average. Most metal roofing products today come with warranties from 25 to 50 years. Most metal roofing contractors offer residential metal roofing services using stainless steel, zinc and aluminum and are known for being very time-resistant.

Some modern steel roof sheeting materials are coated with a layer of zinc and aluminium to make the roofing material more durable and more cost-efficient in maintenance.

Metal roofing usually lasts from 50 to 100 years or more, which, of course, depends on the type of material. Steel roof sheets are great because they can be greatly applied in several different environments, such as industrial buildings, plants, factories, warehouse roofing, residential roofing, and many others.

In addition to all the other advantages, residential metal roofs are fire and spark resistant, are very reliable during hail and strong winds which is not uncommon in Chicago.

As you might know, metal as a roofing material is totally recyclable and is also more environment-friendly in comparison to some other roofing materials, such as asphalt roofing, for example.

Being the one of the premier residential metal roofing contractor in Chicago IL, M. Walter Roofing values integrity and for this reason we would like to mention some disadvantages of the metal roof. If your metal roof happens to leak, this has most likely been caused by ups and downs in temperature. However, situations like this occurred rarely. Also, in times of heavy rains and hail, you could encounter some noise having metal roofing.

Overall M. Walter Roofing considers metal roofs one of the most affordable and practical choices one can make when choosing materials for roofing.

Slate Roofing in Chicago

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:15:38 +0000

Slate Roofing in Chicago

First and foremost, we would like to suggest you to take a quick glance at the basics of slate roofing because this may help you understand if slate roofs are the best choice for your home.

Slate roofing materials would normally cost somewhat more than other materials. As a matter of fact, if you choose to stick with good-old slate roof, you can expect your roof to live for up to 200 years depending on many natural and human factors as well as on the type of slate roof material. One of the things you need to consider is the weight of your slate roof as it has to fit you home weight load parameters.

M. Walter Roofing Inc. will help you identify which material and slate roof construction or replacement concept will fit your house structure the most.

What is Slate? Slate is fine-grained, metamorphic rock which derives from the original shale-type rock which consists of volcanic ashes or clay. Slate normally is of grey color but is also manufactured in a variety of different colors like green, red, and others to meet the desires of every taste.

As one of the best slate roofing contractors in Chicago has by far, M. Walter Roofing provides the Illinois land with the premier-quality slate roof repairs.

Slate roofing does not require maintenance as frequently as flat roofs, for instance, but once the maintenance time comes, which should be rare, it might cost a little more.

M. Walter Roofing Company guarantees highest-quality workmanship in slate roofing repairs and takes pride in being the oldest and one of the most experienced slate roofing contractors in Chicago, IL.

Flat Roofs Repairs in Chicago

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:07:59 +0000

Flat Roofs Repairs in Chicago

Flat roofs are often perceived as unpractical and unappealing, but in truth they are one of the best ways flat roof construction companies Chicago can offer. M. Walter Roofing has been to but we have been doing flat roof repairs and flat roof replacement in Chicago since the day it was founded by M. Walter in the year of 1912. M. Walter roofing is still providing highest-quality flat roof repair Chicago ‘s other flat roofing companies have difficulties competing with. We have been fixing leaking flat roofs for many decades and are by far one of the best flat roofing contractors Chicago has known for the past century.

It does not matter what you flat roof has been through because our professional flat roofing contractors will conduct flat roofing repairs or flat roofing replacement in the most timely manner possible.

M. Walter Roofing understands that keeping your roof in the best condition and providing it with all the necessary servicing is something that cannot be neglected.

It does not matter if it is a large apartment, a commercial building or a private house; we provide you with the expertise and skills, best materials along with the top-quality workmanship making sure that to solve the issues and your flat roof repairs.

Like many other valuable things in life, flat roofs require constant maintenance after the roof construction has been completed.

M. Walter Roofing Company will provide you with the best-quality flat roofing contractors to conduct all necessary flat roof replacement and flat roof repairs. We, being one of the best flat roofing contractors Chicago has to offer, take pride in providing the best flat roof construction, flat roof installation, flat roof installation and flat roof repair.

Roof Installation, Replacement and Restoration in Chicago

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:23:22 +0000

Roof Installation, Replacement and Restoration in Chicago

Having reliable and high-quality roof over the warm place called home has always been a matter of highest importance overall and for home owners who are looking for reliable roof installation in Chicago, IL in particular. Due to Chicago winters which create tough conditions for roofs over Chicago’s homes and stimulate the rising of the chances of the need of roof replacement, home owners in Illinois often face their creasing roof replacement cost.

The cost of roof replacement is an issue that many people are concerned about. – Why would that be? One of the reasons is, roof replacement is a complex process that requires assistance of the best roofing installers.

M. Walter Roofing Inc. in Chicago, IL offer following services, giving you a guarantee of the best-quality roof service and materials for you to have the best roofing:

Roof installation.
Roof replacement.
Roof restoration.

We put our name on the quality standards we provide as the best company among numerous roof installers and offer best roof replacement cost Chicago‘s people have always enjoyed.

Try out M. Walter Roofing Inc. and see that since the day M. Walter Roofing has been established in 1912, we still hold the mark that cannot be erased.

Winter Time Roof Safety

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:18:09 +0000

Commercial Roofing Options: Benefits & Drawbacks

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:17:41 +0000

While both residential and commercial roofing obviously serves the same purpose, commercial buildings are designed and built differently than their residential counterparts. So, it would only makes sense that there are different types of roofs and roofing materials used in commercial construction. Perhaps the most noticeable distinction between them is the slope of the roof. More often than not, a commercial building will have flat roof or one with very little pitch. This is mostly because commercial buildings don’t need attic space. With a flatter roof, comes different materials and methods to keep it safe from weathering and leakage.

Tile

When you think of a tile roof, chances are, the image of classic orange clay tiles comes to mind. With commericial roofing though, rubber or concrete are often used.

Benefits: The first thing to point out is the extremely durability offers. This type of roof will last 50 to 100 years if installed properly. Not to mention that they come in an assortment of colors and designs.

Drawbacks: The main drawback of tile roofing though is that it is very heavy, and the building may need to be designed with extra roof support. If the building is already in place, support to the roof might need to be added, but this is costly and time consuming.

Metal

Metal is a very popular choice in commercial roofing, and some of the specific kinds include aluminum, copper and steel.

Benefits: Like tile, metal is a very durable commercial roofing option, with a life expectancy of about 30 to 50 years.

Drawbacks: Because metals tend to crack, fade, and peel, they require a great deal of maintenance. Still, many modern metals are designed with new treatments to overcome this deficiency.

Slate

Some commercial structures are designed with slate roofs although they are more commonly found on residences.

Benefits: Slate is somewhat maintenance free, and can last up to 100 years if properly installed. Additionally, it can have a very classy and elegant look to it, as well.

Drawbacks: Slate is one of the more expensive roofing materials. Moreover, it tends to be very heavy and brittle, which can make installation very tedious.

Asphalt

Asphalt is probably the most commonly used roofing material for both residential and commercial structures.

Benefits: This type of roofing tends to be easy to install, and very cost effective. Depending on the specific type of asphalt roofing system, they can last from about 20 to 50 years.

Drawbacks: Asphalt shingles are made with petroleum, which means that they contribute to the negative environmental impacts of recovering and processing petroleum. Nevertheless, if you purchase high quality shingles that will last a long time, your contribution will be far from significant. When your shingles fall off or have deteriorated, find a place that will recycle them. They are out there!

Vinyl

More and more people are choosing vinyl roofing these days for it’s extreme versatility.

Benefits: prefabricated vinyl roofing membranes are resistant to fires, chemicals, grease, punctures, heavy wind, and severe temperatures. Many popular vinyl roof brands are also ENERGY STAR efficient, which is obviously great for the environment, but also your wallet.

Drawbacks: Depending on the specific brand, it doesn’t always come in a wide assortment of styles and colors, but chances are, you’ll be able to find a vinyl roof that fits your functional and design needs.

If you need help deciding what type of commercial roofing is best for you, don’t hesitate to contact M. Walter Roofing, your premier Chicago roofing contractors!

12 Steps to Replacing Bad Asphalt Roofing Shingles

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:17:15 +0000

Many of you that call yourselves “handy men” out there, would like to think that you can replace a few shingles on your roof if you had to. Well, chances are, you probably could. With that said, any major roof damage and leakage should be dealt with by a professional roofing contractor. Fixing significant roofing issues takes a great deal of training and skill. If you’re up to the task of replacing a couple shingles though, here’s a quick rundown of the procedure.

Step 1

Position a ladder against a sturdy part of the roof, and carefully climb up.

Step 2

Make sure the roof is dry before you climb on to it. It’s obviously not in your best interest to walk on a slippery roof.

Step 3

Count the damaged shingles so that an expert can help you purchase the right number.

Step 4

Take one of the damaged shingles with you to a home-improvement center to match the style and color.

Step 5

Repeat step 1

Step 6

Using a gentle motion, bend back the shingles above the old damaged ones.

Step 7

Remove any damaged pieces of shingles or excess nails with the claw head of a hammer or a flat nail bar.

Step 8

Use a sharp utility knife to cut the new shingle to match the size of the old one, if necessary.

Step 9

Slide the new shingle into place where the old one was.

Step 10

Hammer 4-6 nails symmetrically into the shingle. Any less than 4, and the shingle might slip out of place.

Step 11

Glue down any raised shingles with roofing cement. This can be applied either from a tube with a caulking gun, or by a can with a paint-stirring stick.

Step 12

Make sure to remove any debris from the roof and gutter system.

If you have any doubt about how to replace your roofing shingles, don’t hesitate to contact M. Walter Roofing, your Chicago area roofing experts. Remember, working on your roof without proper knowledge or skill can cause further damage!

Green Roofing 101

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:16:48 +0000

When considering a “green roof,” or a roof that is environmentally friendly, you ought to take two main things into consideration: the specific material, and the color.

Materials

Since your roofing material is the final layer of protection from the outdoor elements and from indoor heat loss, it’s arguably the most important structure in all of your home. When asking the question “is it green? Consider:

The raw material source
composition
manufacturing process
durability
life cycle
maintenance

When looking at various materials, you aren’t going to come across one specific substance that out performs all the other substances in these categories. Some other better than others, in different regards. For instance, clay has a vary natural manufacturing process, but maintenance is difficult, where as some metals tend to be made through a process that harms the environemt, but they tend to be extremely durable.

Color

It’s a simple fact of science that light colors reflect heat, while darker colors absorb it. With that said, the color roof you choose, will really all depend on the climate in which you live. We’re not asking you to completely reject style though – choose a color that will be energy efficient, yet still blend will the the design of the rest of your home.

“Breaking Down” The Materials

Asphalt Shingles

Pros: easy to install, relatively durable, cost-effective

Cons: doesn’t insulate well, made from petroleum products, non-recycleable

Metal

Pros: available in many different types (copper, aluminum, and stainless steel), often recycleable, high insulative value, high solar reflectance, high durability, often lasting twice as long as wood or asphalt.

Cons: virgin metals require large amounts of energy to transport and manufacture, can be very costly.

Wood

Pros: tends to have a higher insulative value than asphalt, becomes more beautiful with age.

Cons: expensive to purchase and install, often doesn’t pass fire codes unless treated with toxic fire retardent chemicals, which are harmful to the environment.

Clay

Pros: good insulative value, Class A fire-rated, come in many different colors.

Cons: pricier than conventional roofs.

Slate

Pros: extremely durable, recyclable, comes in a variety of colors.

Cons: very costly, non-renewable resource.

We hope you’ve come to the understanding that when choosing a green roof, there is no simple solution. Now have some basic knowledge to make an informed decision about your eco-friendly roof.

If you need some help with your Chicago roof, don’t hesitate to contact M. Walter Roofing. We’re a premier Chicago roofing company, that specializes in roof repair in Chicago. Whether your interest is green roofing, or patching up a small hole that’s causing a leak, we’re your go-to Chicago roofing contractors!

Does The Roof Of Your Commercial Building Need Repairs?

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:16:22 +0000

The following news article was found on Chicagobreakingnews.com, and it’s very relevant for all of you business owners who have been putting off getting a roof inspection for your commercial roofing system.

“After his South Shore laundry failed about six years ago, Chuck Dai said he gave up on the broken-down building on East 75th Street that he and a relative had been struggling to hold on to.

Taxes went unpaid and the building’s problems stacked up, among them a wooden truss roof that city inspectors found defective in 2007 and ordered Dai to repair.

Today, the building’s roof collapsed during a fire, killing two Chicago firefighters and injuring 17 others, officials said.

Dai said he saw a report of the fire on TV and was devastated when he realized it was his building.

“I’m at a loss for words about the whole situation,” said Dai, 61, during a brief telephone interview. “I feel bad about the firemen getting hurt.”

In 2007, as Dai and co-owner Richard Dai struggled to make payments on a $60,000 loan on the building, the city cited them for 14 separate building code violations, records show.

The roof held “additional weights” that were improperly attached to the triangular wooden trusses that made up its underbelly, according to a 2007 court complaint. Violations also included cracked walls, broken and loose windows, a crumbling chimney, and a stagnant pool of sewage in the basement.

Dai, who also faced foreclosure in 2007, entered into a compliance agreement with the city several months later, promising to pay $1,000 in fines and keep the building in shape, according to records.

City officials said there is no record that Dai ever paid the fine. It was not known if the issues cited in 2007 had any role in Wednesday’s disaster.

Dai staved off foreclosure but said he has struggled financially since the economy dipped and another one of his laundry businesses began to suffer. He acknowledged that he has had a hard time maintaining the 75th Street building.

City officials and neighbors said the building had long been a nuisance, attracting homeless people who took refuge in the vacant, warehouse-like structure.

Squatters have repeatedly broken into the building, according to the owner of a neighboring carwash, who said he has called police at least a dozen times in recent years to report trespassers.

Jorico Smart said he called police about a month ago after seeing a man tampering with the building’s electrical wiring.

Dai said maintaining the building has been “a tiresome battle.” Though the property had been boarded up several times, “somehow they managed to break in,” he said. “I don’t know how to deal with that.”

When firefighters arrived at the scene Wednesday morning, the front of the building was boarded up, but the back was open, Fire Department Cmdr. Robert Hoff said.

Dai said that when the laundry he operated in the building went under, he stopped paying property taxes. He said he assumed, mistakenly, that his tax delinquency meant the city had taken over the property.

Dai has faced federal tax problems as well. The Internal Revenue Service in 2000 issued a lien against the 75th Street property for $10,865 that Dai owed in federal income taxes, and again in 2007 for $4,050 in unpaid taxes, records show.

On Wednesday afternoon, Dai said he had not heard from the city.

A spokeswoman for the city’s law department said officials were considering additional fines against Dai for the code violations on his property, and they were looking into possible criminal contempt of court charges.”

Please don’t hesitate to contact M. Walter Roofing for your free roofing estimate. We’re your premier Chicago area roofers!