Frequently Asked Questions
Here you'll find answers to some of the questions people frequently ask us.
How long has Kulp's of Stratford, LLC been in business?
Robert Kulp founded Kulp's in 1985 as a small roof coatings and construction business, and it has grown into a respected roofing and insulation contractor in central Wisconsin, employing about 40 people and completing several hundred projects each year.
What are the best reasons to have Kulp's of Stratford perform my next roofing, sheet metal, or insulation project?
Our services are backed by our reputation for doing high quality work and standing behind our services, often beyond the extent of the stated warranties. We insist on using only products that have a good track record over the years, and that we would use for our own buildings. It is our aim to set the standard in our industry for professionalism and industry knowledge. Our people will always treat you and your property with a high level of courtesy and respect. (Please see the "Who We Are" page on this website.)
What types of warranties do your products and services have?
A wide variety of warranties apply, depending upon the product we install for you. Generally, Kulp's of Stratford provides either a 2-year, a 5-year, or an 8-year contractor's warranty against leaking when you purchase a roof system from us. Some commercial projects may be eligible for a 10-year, 15-year, or 20-year manufacturer's warranty. Our steel roofing manufacturers provide either a 30-year or a 50-year warranty for their products against deterioration. Be sure to ask us about how these solid warranties compare with the stated warranties of some roofing products being marketed today.
Will we be covered by all the appropriate insurances when we have Kulp's perform work on our property?
Yes, you will be covered by our liability, workers' compensation, automobile, and umbrella policies, so that your experience will be worry-free.
Why should I consider a metal roof for my new or existing home?
If you are committed to your home for years into the future, a metal roof will offer you much greater value and a lower life-cycle cost than the most common and inexpensive roofing products, even though the initial cost seems higher. This is because you will not need to replace this roof for 50 years or more, whereas on average, asphalt shingle roofs are being replaced every 15 years. We like to say that a metal roof is "the last roof you'll ever have to buy."
What options are available in metal roofing?
We can install the traditional standing seam steel in many colors, manufactured by our sister company, Marathon Metals, LLC. This type of roof has the ribs (seams) showing vertically up the roof, making it unmistakably metal. Some people prefer the look of shingles, shakes, or tiles on their roof, and for that preference we install stone-coated steel, our most popular product in recent years. For those building owners whose budgets allow, we can install copper shingles or panels, which turns from a shiny copper hue to a dark bronze to a light green over many years. Copper is one of the most durable roofing materials known to man, and has been installed for centuries.
Does your company install any other roof types, if metal is not attractive to us?
Yes, we also install concrete and clay tile roofs, wood shingles, recycled rubber shingles, but only the very highest quality of asphalt shingles, due to some of the quality concerns with asphalt shingles in recent years. Browse through the "Our Projects" page of our website for photos of the many roof types we install.
Are there any additional benefits to a metal roof other than a lower life-cycle cost?
Many people report lower heating and cooling costs with a metal roof. Also, in many cases, a metal roof can be installed over an existing asphalt shingle roof, saving the tear-off cost and keeping the old roof out of our landfills. A metal roof is usually much lighter than other roofing materials, allowing for going over the existing roof. And with stone-coated steel shingles, you can get the look of shingles, shakes, or tile, with all the benefits of metal.
Are metal roofs still noisy when it rains?
No. When people think of steel roofing, they remember standing in a barn or under a porch when it is raining. The structure and insulation of a modern home diffuses and deadens the sound of the impact of rain to the point where it is no different than other roof types.
Will a metal roof attract lightning to my house?
No. Lightning is no more of a concern for a house with a steel roof than for any other kind of roof.
How can I prevent ice damming, or at least lessen its detrimental effect on my home?
We recommend installing a waterproof underlayment on the roof deck up to at least 4 feet inside the exterior wall before installing the roof. Some ways to help prevent ice damming are to vent the roof properly, or even better, to properly insulate and air-seal the underside of the roof deck at the exterior walls to keep warm air from flowing up through to the roof deck and melting the snow, which then can turn to ice before leaving the roof. We provide a spray-foam insulation that can in many cases help solve this problem, giving you an air seal that other insulations are not able to provide.
What are the benefits of using spray-foam insulation?
In addition to sealing off eave areas to mitigate ice damming in many cases, spray foam insulation (several types are available) is the best choice for insulating new homes and for extensive remodeling projects, because of its air-sealing qualities. The amount of energy lost by convection (air movement through the building envelope) is much greater than what is lost by conduction (heat transfer through a solid). R-value is important, but it measures only heat lost by conduction. Spray foam insulation has R-values as high or higher than fiberglass insulation, but has the added advantage of completely stopping heat loss by air movement. Sound deadening is another advantage of foam insulation, which can be quite effective under certain conditions.
Is spray foam a healthy and environmentally sound choice for my home?
Spray foam insulation random air leakage and limits the penetration of outdoor allergens and pollutants. It also minimizes air movement and the accompanying moisture content, helping prevent condensation and reducing the potential for mold in your home. Our most popular spray foam product, Icynene, is 100% water-blown, is formaldehyde-free, and contains no harmful gases. It is the insulation of choice for many of the American Lung Association's "Health Houses", helping inhabitants breathe more easily.
Can my house be insulated too tightly? Shouldn't a building be able to breathe?
A building should not be allowed to breathe through random air leaks, as is the case in many homes, particularly those built longer ago. It is much better for the house, and healthier for you, to be able to control the amount of fresh air that is brought into your home to replace the used air, and that can be accomplished easily using some type of air exchanger.
What would you recommend for my flat roof?
We recommend a light-colored, thermoplastic membrane for almost all flat or low-sloped roofs, whether a small porch roof or a large commercial building. "Thermoplastic" means that the membrane is heat-welded together at the seams, providing an almost monolithic roof covering, assuming the those welds are held to high quality-control standards. Some other roof membranes rely on adhesives or tapes for bonding at the seams, which tend to fail over time. A lighter color is also important whenever the inhabited space below is being cooled or air-conditioned, because dark roof surfaces absorb much more heat, diffusing it into the building. Another consideration would be the presence of chemicals or grease, for which a thermoplastic membrane is the clear choice over roof types that suffer deterioration when in contact with such chemicals over time.