April showers bring May flowers. Is your roof ready for them?

Don’t be caught by surprise this rainy season with costly and dangerous leaks or a failing roof system.

Consider your roof like the “Hard Hat” of your home. Would you depend on old, worn out, and inadequate protection on your head? That answer is easy “NO” and your roofing system shouldn’t either.

Metropolitan Contractors is one of the leading residential roofing contractors in the Springfield, Fairfax, Arlington and Northern Virginia area.

• Top Rating by local independent consumer magazine
• A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau.

We specialize in “Asphalt Shingle” roof replacements or reroofs

Have you noticed any of the following:

Missing Shingles

Worn or Blistered Shingles

Curling or Cracked Shingles

Dark or Dirty Looking Shingles

These are just a few signs to indicate your roofing system may be failing and it’s time to have your roof system inspected by a qualified roofing installer.

Our roofing staff will address your problems, answer your questions and most of all guide and inform you through the entire roof installation process should you need your roof replaced.

We are committed to providing you with Care, Quality, and a Worry Free roofing installation experience.

Quality isn’t just a word we use; it’s what we stand by!

For more information on Roofing or the other services we provide check us out!

Spring is here and that means it’s that time of year that most of us take time to clean our homes from top to bottom and welcome in the fresh new year, but did you know that you should also take this time to check the outside of your home as well?

It’s easy to forget when you are warm and cozy inside during the winter, or cool and comfy in the summer, that it is the exterior of your home taking on the brutal beating of the season’s changes

A simple inspection of the outside of your home could save you thousands in damages.

• Check any seals and caulking around your doors and windows.
• Check for any rotted wood (trim boards, fascia, etc.)
• Make sure your gutters or secure and not clogged
• Check siding for any missing or damaged sections
• Have your roof checked for any missing or damaged shingles and that all flashing and penetrations are sealed and tight.

Keep your house beautiful inside and OUT!

To learn more about the many services we provide check us !

We just recently wrapped up a complete makeover to a clients home in Reston Virginia. * Must give credit where credit is due, the homeowners have excellent taste!

We first replaced the old roof with Certainteed XT 25 dimensional shingles, the color choice being “Moire” Black. As with all new roofs we also installed ice and water shield per code, all new flashing and vent collars, felt paper, etc. Next up was the windows.

Our client decided on Andersen’s Woodwright full replacement windows. These windows had semi-true divided light grids with spacers on the front of the home and removable grids on the back elevation, wood interiors with aluminum clad exteriors. Everyone was impressed with the clarity these new windows provided, actually enhancing the view to the outside.

Next came the front entrance door, the choice went to one of Pella’s products, fiberglass door and sidelights in a painted wood frame. The color choices and the style of glass made the difference. The main door was black with white sidelights and Julian glass. New Fypon pilasters and an arched pediment added the finishing touches to this awesome entrance. The combination of enhanced natural light to this center hall colonial along with the privacy provided by the Julian glass selection made for a remarkable upgrade to the home’s main entrance.

It was time to finish the exterior. We removed the old aluminum siding which had been damaged by a hailstorm as well as all the previously aluminum capped exterior trim and the old 4” gutter and downspout system. The sheathing turned out to be the old builder grade 5/8” foam board which nearly came apart when removing the siding. The Owner’s wisely opted to replace this with a solid backing using ½” o.s.b. sheathing. We then installed all new James Hardie XLD trim for the fascia, rake boards, vented soffit and 1” x 4” trim around the windows. Next came the signature touch, James Hardie Cedarmill lap siding (over James Hardie house wrap of course), the color choice was the beautiful Monterey Taupe!

To wrap things up we installed black colonial panel shutters on the front elevation and all new 6” seamless gutters with 3” x 4” downspouts. The end result was one beautiful transformation to this home’s exterior.  Talk about “curb appeal”!

To view pictures or this project from start to finish just simply click on this link!

As many of you who frequently visit this site already know, we are a preferred James Hardie Siding remodeling contractor. What you may not be aware of, however, are some of the most beneficial aspects of James Hardie siding. First and foremost, James Hardie is the standard bearer of fiber cement siding technology. The innovation and quality control that goes into each and every product they manufacture is astounding. The look is legendary and timeless but the value is equally impressive. Where else can a homeowner find a product with the fire resistance, stability, price point and regal appearance of James Hardie siding? The answer is, quite simply, nowhere!  It’s true that, at one time, fiber cement products (all of them) were considerably more costly than the old ‘tried and true’ vinyl products. However, with the increase in petroleum costs, which include most all plastic products, the cost to renovate your home with James Hardie siding may pleasantly surprise you. As a preferred remodeler we are also able to offer 12 month “same as cash” financing through our partnership with James Hardie. You won’t find a better deal in the marketplace. We’ve also recently completed beautiful projects in the Alexandria, Reston and Springfield areas for those that would like to get a ‘birds eye view’ of this marvelous siding. Feel free to contact us at the number listed on our website for detailed information if you would like to visit one of our recently completed projects.

For more information please visit our website .

Today March 8, 2011 we are celebrating our 20^th year in business in the State of Virginia! For twenty years now we have been working hard to provide quality services and products to both our residential and commercial clients.

We wanted to take a brief pause and say Thank You!

• Due to our client feedback we have consistently been ranked among the best roofing contractors in Northern Virginia, a preferred remodeler for James Hardie building products, top ranked by local consumer magazines & the BBB for roofing, siding and replacement windows. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our hard working staff and the loyalty and support from our customers.
• Twenty years of providing commercial tenant construction, build-outs, fit-outs and exterior retrofits for property owners and managers across the area. Thank you for your continued support!
• Thanks to all our Insurance Industry clients who work with us and collaborate with us, often under extreme circumstances, to bring top level service, fast response and quality construction to those who have unfortunately been affected by severe weather, accidents or other forces outside of their control. Whether it was the snowstorms of 2010, recent unprecedented windstorms, water damage from heavy rains or the devastation caused by fire and smoke. These events can often times bring out the best in people to work together towards a common goal of restoring peace of mind and returning our clients to their normal lives.

We will strive to improve on a daily basis, stay on top of advances in technology and building practices and continue to bring our best effort to all of our clients. We are looking forward to the next 20 years!

Not quite. However we did indeed experience another major snowstorm in Northern Virginia and the entire Washington Metropolitan area. With every storm there is usually one component of the storm that wreaks the most havoc. Whether it’s the “weight of ice and snow”, “ice dams” in the gutters, “heavy winds”, “driving rain”, ”hail stones”, or water entering the home from any number of these or other of natures forces. We won’t even begin to get into how this storm affected TRAFFIC in our area…

With the storm of 1/27/11 the most damaging component of the storm was the “weight of ice and snow” IN THE TREES! In some neighborhoods it almost seemed as though there were more trees on the ground or laying on homes than were left standing! Trees taking out Power Lines left many without power for days and caused still an untold amount of damage throughout the region. I can’t speak for other insurance restoration Contractors but our office has been inundated with such calls. We’ve done our best to help those who have called for our services to navigate the process if their home or other property was damaged by the snow or a fallen tree. Here are a few of steps to take (mostly in order) if your property was damaged and you believe will be covered by your insurance policy;

• Take Pictures!
• Contact your insurance companies claim department or your agent as soon as possible.
• If a tree has fallen on your property or your home from either your own property or from a neighbors property, know your rights and coverage! Read your policy and ask your insurance company who is responsible for coverage / payment to remove the tree. * Make sure you know your deductible too and how it applies!
• If the damage is causing melting snow or a flood of water to enter your home call an insurance restoration Contractor and / or Mitigation Specialist to at least temporarily secure your home with tarps, plywood, etc. Your insurance company may recommend one of their “preferred vendors” or you can contact one on your own. Regardless, make sure your insurance company knows you plan to have this “temporary” work completed (keep a receipt!).
• If a Power Line is down that serves your residence, DO NOT attempt to remedy or repair this on your own! Call your power company and any other service providers (Cable, telephone, etc.) and have them come out to make these repairs 1st!  
• Contact a reputable Restoration Contractor who understands Insurance Restoration work, there is a difference! Many remodeling Contractors may know how to handle the repairs but most will not understand how to work with the insurance adjusters who will be the ones ultimately setting the “price” for the repairs. You don’t want to be left owing a bunch of additional money to a Contractor once the claim has been paid.
• Be sure to get a written estimate from an Insurance Restoration Company in a format your insurance claims adjuster can easily understand!
• Once you decide on your restoration contractor and sign their contract (often called a “Work Authorization”) ask  them how they apply your deductible. A competent Restoration Contractor will also be able to explain depreciation and how you can expect to recover this from your insurance company.
• Get a timeline estimate for the repairs from your contractor and you should then be ready to move forward and get your home back in order.

For more information on our services click here

It’s January and old man winter has officially settled in for the long haul. Unfortunately, roof related problems do not always wait until the spring thaw to appear. In fact, these problems oftentimes show up arm in arm with harsh weather. As a result, we get many questions at this time of year regarding roof replacement and repairs. The most prevalently asked question is “when is it too cold to roof our home?” Great question! However, the answer is somewhat nebulous.

Most manufacturers (and experienced roofing contractors) recommend temperatures approaching, or exceeding, 40 degrees. There are several reasons for this. Most importantly,  fiberglass shingles are manufactured with a self adhesive strip on the rear of each individual shingle. While shingles are, of course, nailed to the roof decking, this adhesive strip plays an important role in holding the shingle to the materials beneath. This creates a more effective seal which helps guard against premature wind damage, resulting in shingle blow-off, and also allows for a better finished appearance. Extremely cold weather also tends to make roof shingles brittle and therefore, prone to breaking and cracking. This can result in additional charges and fees due to the need for more materials. 

We also often get comments and questions regarding the effectiveness of the labor force when dealing with such cold temperatures. We have seen both sides of this coin! Quite frankly, the majority of our men prefer to work in colder weather vs. the high temperatures and humidity of the ‘normal’ roofing months. However, this varies from man to man and you must rely on the judgement of your contractor and his or her experience with their crews to determine the pulse of the labor force. It’s also important to remember that a good roofing contractor stands behind his work regardless of  whether the install happens in January or July.

So, in effect, it simply makes more sense to understand that when a job is sold and produced under less than ideal conditions, the expectations of the client remain the same. The expectations of the roofing contractor should also remain the same. High quality with a sound warranty is the only barometer!

Last but not least, we must all recognize that Mother Nature simply does not allow many homeowners a choice of when their roof will be replaced and/or repaired. Guidelines of  40 degrees or better, sunny weather with little or no wind and perfect conditions all sound great, but that’s just not how it always goes. When making decisions on a roofing contractor remember that no question is too small or insignificant! You should understand, and your contractor should be happy to explain, how they will produce a quality finished product despite bad weather. Each contractor has their own methodology for handling the necessities of winter roofing and insuring (certainly within some expected reason) that the finished product will be a long lasting and beautiful roof.

To learn more about our roofing services click here

Welcome to Metro Contractor’s new blog, check back soon for posts.