Many home owners replace or cover an existing roof 5-10 years before they need to. This
is an expensive mistake for the home owner and adds thousands of pounds to our over
crowded landfills. Repairing minor problems early, such as missing shingles, nails poking
through or removing debris from the valleys can add years to a roof. Keeping a roof clean
and in good repair is the secret to helping a roof last as long as it was intended.
Architectural or laminated shingles are a better value than 3 tab shingles. 3 tab shingles are
designed with 3 tabs, so there are 2 cuts in each shingle. This is like buying jeans with
holes in them. 3 tab shingles are cheaper to purchase but they also can take longer to
install because you need to line up the cuts in order for the finished roof to look nice. An
architectural or laminated shingle is designed to look like a wooden shake. These are more
expensive to purchase but they are the best shingle available.
We have also found that the shingles that claim to last 35-40 years tend to warp really bad
after a while. I recommend sticking with a 25-30 year shingle. I think this is a better value for
the money.
It is not always a good idea to add a second layer of shingles, especially if the old roof did
not have ice and water shield (rubber) installed at the eaves and in the valleys. Ice and
water shield is one of the best improvements that has developed in the roofing industry. If
the right conditions develop, ice damming will leak through both layers of shingles. Ice and
water shield is the best protection against this situation.
Many years ago, roofers used rolled roofing to line a valley and they would cut the shingles
on both sides. This type of valley does not last very long and often needs repair. Most
roofers now line a valley with ice and water shield and then run the shingles on the smaller
roof section up about 2 feet. Then the other roof section is shingled and only the top layer
of shingle needs to be cut. This type of valley holds up much better and requires less
maintenance. This type of wrapped valley is good for most home owners. The best valley
system uses metal, either aluminum or copper. A metal valley still requires two cuts but the
metal sheds the water faster and it will not rot out when it gets wet and stays wet. Metal
valleys are the best option when there is a lot of tree cover close to the home.
Roof leaks that only appear during the winter months can be caused from condensation
build up. The best way to check for this problem is to look in the attic or crawl space when
the weather is bitter cold and look for ice crystals forming.
Zinc strips can help reduce the growth of mildew and moss on a roof. The moss and mildew
growth are directly proportional to the amount of sunlight that hits the roof and the
moisture/humidity levels in the area. A steep roof has less direct sunlight that a roof with a
lower pitch. Also a North facing roof is going to have less sunlight.
The wrong application of roof cleaners can leave a roof with ugly yellow streaks.
Another roof related concern, are vents that are vented into the attic and not all the way
outside. This can cause moisture to build up in the attic which can cause mildew problems. I
have also seen ice crystals build up on the inside of the attic during the cold winter months.
When these ice crystals melt homeowners think they have a roof leak when they really
have a ventilation problem.
Tree branches too close to the home can also cause a lot of problems. Tree branches
should be several feet back from the home so insects and animals cannot reach the home.
The moving branches also can wear the stones off the shingles quickly. There is also the
problem of too much shade when the branches are too close to the home.
Roofing and Home Exterior Tips
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