The Mills Roofing Blog

Timing matters when you’re replacing your roof. Sure, you can technically install a new roof almost any time of year in Reno—we don’t get the brutal winters that shut down roofing in places like Minnesota or Vermont. But “can be done” and “should be done” are different questions. Spring offers a perfect combination of weather…

You’ve got a roofing problem. Maybe it’s leaking, maybe shingles are missing, maybe you just know your roof is getting old. Now you’re facing the question every homeowner dreads: do I repair this or replace the whole thing? Repair seems cheaper and easier. Replacement seems like overkill if the problem is small. But what if…

You pay homeowners insurance every month assuming it’ll cover major problems like roof damage. Then your roof actually gets damaged and you discover insurance coverage is way more complicated than you thought. What’s covered, what’s excluded, whether you get full replacement or depreciated value, whether your claim will be approved or denied—none of it’s as…

When you’re facing a roof replacement, the asphalt versus metal decision feels huge—because it is. You’re choosing what protects your home for the next 20, 30, maybe 50 years. You’re making a financial decision that impacts your budget today and your home’s value tomorrow. And you’re doing it in Reno’s unique climate where we get…

Most homeowners think ice dams are a roof problem. They’re not—they’re an attic problem that shows up on your roof. Those picturesque icicles hanging off your eaves and the thick ridges of ice along your roof edge aren’t caused by snow or cold weather. They’re caused by heat escaping from your living space into your…

It’s 10 PM on a Saturday. You hear dripping. You look up and there’s water coming through your ceiling, or you walk outside and see a massive tree branch sitting on your roof, or the wind just ripped a section of shingles off and rain is pouring in. Your heart drops because you know this…

Every winter, the same question comes up in Reno neighborhoods after a big storm: should I get that snow off my roof? You look up at the accumulation, think about the weight, worry about damage, and consider grabbing a ladder or roof rake. Before you do, let’s have an honest conversation about when snow removal…

Snow looks light and fluffy when it’s falling, but once it piles up on your roof, it becomes surprisingly heavy. A foot of light, powdery snow weighs about 5 pounds per square foot. That same foot of wet, packed snow? Closer to 20 pounds per square foot. Ice weighs even more—about 60 pounds per cubic…

Winter roof leaks are sneaky. Unlike a summer storm that dumps rain and immediately shows you where water’s getting in, winter leaks develop slowly. Snow sits on your roof for days or weeks. It melts. It refreezes. It melts again. Water finds microscopic pathways through shingles, under flashing, into tiny cracks you’d never see from…

Nobody buys a house thinking they’ll become an expert in insurance claims, but when your roof gets damaged, that’s exactly what you need to be. Nevada’s weather—from high winds to heavy Sierra snow to hail—can do serious damage fast. And while your homeowners insurance is supposed to cover it, the claims process can feel like…