Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions Answered: KangaRoof's Roofing and Home Exterior FAQ

At KangaRoof, we’re dedicated to providing exceptional service and keeping your Cincinnati home protected. We understand you might have questions about our box gutters, repairs, or general roofing services. This FAQ page is here to help! We’ve compiled answers to some of our most frequently asked questions to give you the information you need to make informed decisions about your roof. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for here, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team for further assistance. Let’s hop to it!

General

It is not necessary for you to be home while work is in progress, however many homeowners prefer to be present as the work takes place. It is entirely up to you.

Power from the home is preferable, as it reduces the noise associated with diesel or gas compressors, however, we can use these power sources if necessary.

In addition to the warranty provided by the roof manufacturer, Brandstetter’s KangaRoof offers your peace of mind with the best guarantees around. Our guarantees include a 10-Year Premium Craftsmen Guarantee, 10-Year No Blame Guarantee, Ironclad Lowest Investment Guarantee, and the Happy Neighbor Guarantee.

We respect your home and property. Our team will do everything possible to ensure our work does not affect your property in any way. If you have special concerns, please discuss them with us before work begins.

We work very hard to deliver a comprehensive estimate, which covers any and all costs. On occasion, we will find hidden damage that we didn’t anticipate once we get into the job. Before any additional work outside of the agreed estimate is done we will discuss all costs with the homeowner.

Yes, our professionals are fully insured for their protection and yours.

For your convenience, we accept payment by cash, check, or most major credit cards. We also offer flexible financing options to meet most budget needs.

Roofing

There are many factors that determine how much your roofing system will cost. How steep, how cut up and how large your roof is are the biggest factors that determine the price.

To get an easy no hassle proposal, please let us come out and evaluate your roof system at no cost.

The easiest way to determine you need a new roof is if you are seeing any water or staining on your ceilings. Other things to look for could be curling of the corners of the shingles, nail pops on the roof, granules in the gutters or shingles being blown off.

The typical roof last around 20 years. If you are getting close to this timeframe, it is recommended to at least get your roof system inspected.

While this is sometimes done to save money, the drawback is that it can be much more difficult to locate problems in the future and it can mask issues, allowing them to become much more serious.

As a roofing company, we cannot give this answer directly. There are factors that determine whether an insurance company will pay the price of your roof replacement. The best recommendation would be to have your adjuster come out and doing a visual inspection of your roof system. KangaRoof will work with your insurance company through this entire process.

Rain can be heard when hitting a metal roof. How much you hear it inside your home will depend on a couple things: Attic space & insulation. The quick answer is ‘no’, though it can be heard, it’s not typically loud in a home. A barn with straight panels on the rafters on the other-hand, will be loud inside.

All of our metal panels come with a (CeramaStar 1050) 40 year paint finish warranty. With over 2 decades of roofing we have yet to have a metal roof peel.

We offer 2 types of metal roofs:

The Performance Panel metal roof should 2-3 times as long as your traditional shingle roof. The screws are the biggest concern with these roofs. KangaRoof uses lifetime screws with built in metal sleeves to protect the rubber gaskets.

Standing Seam metal roofs can last the life of the building they are installed on. Virtually a lifetime roofing system that is built for the test of time.

The duration of a roof repair at KangaRoof depends on the size and difficulty of the job. Small repairs, such as replacing a few damaged shingles or pipe flashing, typically take 1-2 hours. Larger jobs, like flashing a chimney, usually take around a day to complete. Our Technicians will provide you with a detailed estimate of the time required once they have assessed your specific repair needs. Rest assured, our roofers always value your time and strive to work as swiftly as possible while guaranteeing top-quality workmanship.

KangaRoof is Straight Forward with our pricing. When our Technician meets you at your home, he will be able to go over our StraightForward Pricing Guide with you. The cost of your repair can vary depending on size, pitch & difficulty. All of this will be laid out in an easy to understand format when you sit with one of our skilled technicians.

When our Technician assesses your Roof system, he will be able to go over what we will be doing and the expected life of your roof from the point of that repair. A typical rule of thumb would be to ‘not’ repair a roof that has less than 5 years of life expectancy.

It is our goal to educate homeowners to make a good decision on what is best for them and their home.

We have 3 main roof systems that we use for flat roofs: EPDM, TPO and Flintlastic. EPDM and TPO are membrane roofs with sealed seams. These are designed for larger spaces or flat roofs that can’t be seen from the ground.

Flintlastic is an asphalt product that comes in different colors. This is best for smaller to medium sized projects that need to have a color.

Sometimes flat roofs can double as rooftop patios for your picnic chairs and table. If you are going to utilize this space in this way, you must install some form of material over the membrane roof. You can put down basic rubber slip sheets, concrete pavers or even build a deck over your membrane roof system.
All roof systems are considered hot. Asphalt and rubber roof systems are pretty much the same when it comes to heat. There are certain colors both in asphalt and membrane roofing that don’t get as hot and reflect the UV rays.

Coating your roof instead of replacing it offers several key benefits. It’s more cost-effective and quicker than a full replacement, causing less disruption to your daily life. Roof coatings enhance durability by creating a protective layer that withstands harsh weather, UV rays, and thermal cycling, extending your roof’s life. They also improve energy efficiency by reducing heat absorption, which lowers cooling costs. Additionally, roof coatings can seal small leaks and cracks, preventing water damage and maintaining the integrity of your home. Overall, roof coating is a practical and efficient solution with immediate and long-term advantages.

Coatings work best for membrane systems and lower slope commercial metal roof systems. Coating roofs can be a much more cost effective way to get more life out of your system. There are factors like, moisture and previous damage that need to be taken into consideration to see if the roof is eligible. When it works, coating your system can be up to 50% less than removing and completely replacing the older roof system.

Silicone roof coating can be applied to metal roofs, Flat membrane roofs, and box gutters.

Kangaroof performs light masonry work. If you need some tuck pointing or a chimney cap, we can handle that for you. When it comes to complete re-builds, that is something that you will have to contact a Mason for.
KangaRoof installs Hy-c caps over chimneys to keep the water and animals out of your chimney. You will first have to have an exterminator remove the animals and then KangaRoof can keep them out.
If you have a chimney that is no longer in use, we can tear the chimney down and repair the area to look as if it were never there.
No, your Velux skylight will not leak, and if there is a manufacturing default in the skylight, Velux’s lifetime warranty will cover the cost of replacing it. However, if the installation of the skylight is not done correctly, then water may be able to get in around the skylight. KangaRoof is a Velux certified contractor, and the KangaCrew is trained to install the skylights properly, so you won’t have to worry about any water getting into your home.
Yes, the Venetian blinds are fully functional to allow infinite control of light.
Yes, all Velux skylights come with an insect screen.
Sun tunnels are able to provide an impressive amount of daylight using the reflective tunnels which enhance the natural light that enters through the top of the tunnel. Additionally, solar sun tunnels come with a relaxing night light that provides light in dark hallways and rooms.
Even on a cloudy day, a sun tunnel will still be able to take the small amount of light from the outside and enhance it through the reflective sun tunnel.
No, a sun tunnel needs sufficient space for the reflective tunnel to be able to take in the light from the outdoors and enhance it for the indoor space. However, if you don’t have an attic and you still want a way to add natural light into your home, you may be interested in our variety of skylight options.
Yes, Kangaroof can handle any size building. We install a variety of different products. Please give us a call to have us come out and give you a proposal.

KangaRoof is a 3 generation company. The Brandstetter family got into commercial roofing before anything else. We have been doing commercial roofing for the entirety of our time in business for over 25 years.

Brandstetter’s KangaRoof uses the best materials and our team is personally trained to offer you complete peace of mind. We have been doing commercials roofing for over two and a half decades and have perfected a system that makes getting your roof replaced a simple and hassle free process.

Home Exteriors

Box gutters can often be found on older homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These time-tested box gutters differ from modern, pre-formed gutters. They are actually part of the roof structure, rather than hanging at the edge of the roofline.
There are different names and types of box gutters, but they all have the same concept. They can go by names such as Yankee Gutter, Eave Trough, Rain Collection Systems or Internal Gutter.

Box gutters consist of wood framing lined with fabricated metal that is soldered at the seams. You will typically see box gutters lined with steel and occasionally they will be lined with copper.

An experienced carpenter builds the box gutter into the roof overhang or into the bottom of the roof. Then a sheet metal fabricator lines the gutter with the desired metal and solders the seams, outlets and ends. A proper sweat and lacing of the soldering can hold tight for many decades. The box gutter creates a trough for water to flow smoothly into the downspout without pooling and the design makes the gutter good for many decades, hence the fact that there are still box gutters that were installed in the late 1800s and early 1900s and are functioning to this day in the early 2020s.

Box gutters do require maintenance. Depending on the condition of the box gutter when you begin the maintenance, will determine the extent of the repairs and amount of maintenance that will be needed.

As long as the box gutter is still in place and has no major leaks which would cause the wood frame to rot due to the excessive amount of water that would flow through the crack or hole, then maintenance will primarily involve the metal lining of the box gutters.

Cleaning: Box gutters are built in many different shapes and sizes. Therefore there are no standard gutter guards that fit box gutters. If there are surrounding trees that drop leaves onto the roof system and end up collecting in the gutter, then the gutters will need to be cleaned 1-2 times a year to prevent water from pooling in the gutter due to debris and in turn corroding the metal lining.

Painting: When you have a box gutter that is in good condition then you will just need to have that gutter painted every 5-10 years or as needed when the paint peels. Remember that all the water from your roof system will end up running through your gutter and into your downspout, your gutters will carry thousands of gallons of water throughout the years and therefore the painting must hold up to prevent corrosion of the metal. When painting your box gutters, be sure to properly clean the gutter and use a high quality paint that is designed for exterior metal.

Box gutters are designed to last forever and if properly maintained, this can be the case. Unfortunately in a lot of cases we find that box gutters get neglected either due to a house sitting vacant for a time, neglect, or ignorance to the fact that these historic parts of our homes that can’t be seen from the ground need necessary maintenance. Despite what has happened to the gutter in its past, there is almost always a way to repair that box gutter. Depending on the condition of the gutter will determine how extensive the repair or sometimes even a re-build could be.

Sealing Extensively Rusted Box Gutters: (Not Leaking)
The metal that is used on most box gutters takes many years of neglect to rust through and begin to cause issues. If you have a box gutter that appears to be covered in rust and potentially thinning in areas due to extended amounts of time without maintenance, then your gutter may be in need of a silicone coating. If you are going to coat your gutters, then there cannot be any structural damage from a leak in the lining. Coating your box gutters will just extend the life of the lining.

Process: We will clean the box gutter thoroughly and scrape clean any rust flakes. We will then apply a 100% silicone coating to the entire lining of the Box gutter. This comes in many different colors.After coating a box gutter in silicone, the gutter can no longer be painted and must be coated in silicone every 10-15 years from that point forward to maintain the gutter.

Repairing Broken Seams And/Or Minor Holes In A Box Gutter: (Minor Leaking)
If a box gutter has been neglected for many years, the lining will rust through and the seams will come apart. If caught on time before the leaking becomes major and damages the structure of the box gutter framing, then repairs can be made to reverse this issue.Thick 100% silicone and mesh can be applied to the affected areas to prolong the life of the box gutter lining. This could be a less expensive alternative to completely rebuilding the box gutters.

Process: This process is always coupled with coating the entire box gutter with 100% silicone. We will clean the box gutter thoroughly and scrape clean any rust flakes. We will then apply a layer of strong mesh to any compromised areas in the gutter and all seams. We will then apply a 100% silicone coating to the entire lining of the Box gutter. This comes in many different colors.
After coating a box gutter in silicone, the gutter can no longer be painted and must be coated in silicone every 10-15 years from that point forward to maintain the gutter.

Rebuilding Box Gutters with Extensive Damage: (Major Leaking)
Sometimes box gutters have been neglected for so long that they have rusted through in many areas and the structural framing is compromised. This can be a dangerous situation because the gutter can look normal from the ground, but in reality the gutter framing could be extremely rotted to the point of falling or pulling away from the home. If the gutter gets to this point, it is typically pouring over the front of the gutter in many areas and if viewed from the rooftop you will see that the gutter is leaning away from the home. At this point, the only option is to tear into the gutter and completely rebuild as necessary. Due to the age of most box gutter system, when KangaRoof takes on a rebuilding project, typically 70-90% of the box gutter framing gets replaced.

Process: Most of the time we will set up scaffolding around your home to access all the box gutters safely that are in need of rebuiliding.We will then remove the lining and soffit of the box gutter.At this point the framing will be exposed and we can begin to replace the framing of the box gutter. The rafters, floor board, cap board & fascia boards of the gutter will be checked and replaced as needed.A metal lock strip will then be formed and installed on the front corner of the gutter to add some aesthetics and structure to the lining of the box gutter.Some form of metal will then be fabricated on site to fit your specific gutter system. The metal will be installed in 10′ sections and soldered at the seams.Lastly the fascia board will be wrapped in aluminum metal and vinyl soffit will be installed along the bottom soffit board.

Condensation occurs when two drastically different temperatures come in contact with each other. If something is dividing these 2 temperatures, condensation will occur, just like a glass of water. The solution is argon gas between the window panes. This separates the 2 extremes and insulates your home, maintaining your homes energy efficiency.
Yes, our preferred window “Vinyl Max” are all swing opening for easy cleaning of the inside and outside of the window. No ladders needed.
Yes, as long as it’s not raining or snowing we can replace your windows. If the temperatures are extreme, we will do our best to replace 1 window at a time to reduce the loss of your indoor temperature.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact us today for a free quote or consultation. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have and help you get started on your next home improvement project.

Let KangaRoof make your roofing, siding, or gutter project worry-free, enjoyable, and something you’ll want to share with friends and family!

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