Your Hair can Curl, but Your Roof Shouldn’t!

A roof with curling shingles is a sign that something isn’t right. When the shingles curl up and are left that way, it is a prime opportunity for rain, snow, and wind to get under them and seep down to the decking, then on into the attic. As soon as you notice any curling shingles, call a roofing contractor immediately and have your roof inspected.

What Causes Curling Shingles?

Most of the time, it is old age. There isn’t anything that will last forever, except maybe love and taxes. But when it comes to roofing, the shingles start to get dried out and the nails used to hold them get loose and start coming out. If only one, two or three shingles are curling and damaged, a simple repair job may be sufficient.

For a fairly new roof that has curling shingles, it may be from improper installation. You should contact the contractor that installed the roof and request an inspection and repair. Sadly, if you used an unknown contractor, you could be out of luck and will need to find a different contractor. This is why it is important to use a certified, licensed, reliable contractor and check their references.

Poor ventilation is another common problem found with curling shingles. Before you have a new roof installed, have the contractor check your attic to make sure it has adequate ventilation. When there aren’t enough of the right vents in the attic, it can cause hot air to build up which will rise to the top.

During the cold weather, warm air in your attic (because it can’t vent out) will cause the ice and snow to melt on the roof. That water will then run down until it hits ice or snow that is still formed, creating a dam. It then sits there and begins to seep under the shingles, and the adhesive is loosened.

Up on the Roof Top, Click, Click, Click

Most homeowners schedule their roofing jobs in the spring or summer months. In this part of the country, spring is the busiest time because of the weather we have. There are also some homeowners that prefer to schedule their roofing jobs in the fall months, but what about getting a roof installed during the winter?

While it isn’t the best time to install a roof, it is possible, even in the extremely cold temperatures we experience here. Sometimes, there is no choice because of a list of possible reasons. The roofing industry doesn’t have any set guidelines when it comes to installing roofs in a certain temperature range, even if it is asphalt shingles. Manufacturers do, however, have recommendations so that the best job is done to get the best results possible.

Take asphalt shingles for example. As the temperature gets colder, they are more prone to break and creak. As long as the roofing contractor and homeowner can find a warm place to store the pallets of shingles prior to installation, possible problems are minimized.

Another concern homeowners have is if the self-sealing strips will adhere properly in colder weather. Talk to your contractor about the process of hand-tabbing the shingles as they install them. This is where they apply adhesive on the underside of the shingles. This process will help keep the shingle in place during the cold, windy months and when the weather warms up, the sun will seal them.

Fall is Just Around the Corner, Here are 4 Tips to Get Your Roof Ready!

Summer is coming to an end soon – can you believe it?! The kids only have a few more weeks of freedom and sleeping in; then that old routine will get started back up. What that means to you as a homeowner is that the rainy season of fall will soon return, too.

Fall is a beautiful, magical season, but it is also often a cold, wet season. So, as you’re getting the
back-to-school shopping started, it is also time to get your home ready, starting with the roof. Here are four things you can do before that cold, wet weather hits to prep your home:

Gutter Cleaning

All summer long, debris and leaves have collected in your gutters, and if they are left to sit there,
they create a block to the downspouts. When the downspouts are blocked, rain water will simply overflow the gutters and back up under the shingles, down the siding, and puddle up at the foundation.

As the gutters take on that added weight, it can cause them to break loose, too. A routine of cleaning your gutters can prevent these types of things from happening. If you haven’t had them installed already, check into having gutter guards installed.

Clear the Roof of Debris

While you’re up there cleaning the gutters, clear the roof of any debris, leaves, and limbs, too. Paying special attention to the peaks where the roof meets. When stuff is allowed to sit there, it will hold moisture and in time, start to mold and rot the roof.

If you see any moss on the roof, clean it off with a cleaning agent that is safe for the environment and a broom, then rinse with clear water.

Damage and Deterioration

Once you have cleaned the roof, you’ll be able to look for any cracked or missing shingles or shingles that are have curled or starting to fray. If needed, use binoculars and check for those things from the ground.

Check the flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vent stacks, too. Many leaks reported to contractors begin in these areas. By repairing them as you find them, you can save yourself a lot of expenses and headaches later.

Insulation and Ventilation

A roof protects you from the elements and to do that properly, it needs adequate airflow and ventilation. Hot air gets caught up in the attic, and it is moist. So without that airflow and
ventilation, that hot, moist air will build condensation. That will start to mildew and grow mold.

So, while cleaning and inspecting your roof, make sure that your attic is well insulated and that the vents are intact and working. This will also help your energy bills too!

Asphalt or Tile Roof - Which is the Best for Your Home?

When it comes time to replace your home’s roof, there are many options to choose from these days. The first thing you’ll need to decide on is which of the two popular types of roofing material do you want - asphalt shingles or concrete tiles. Both of these materials have their advantages and their disadvantages. Take the time to study both and then take careful consideration which ones are better suited for your home.

Less Expensive

The basic asphalt shingles are less expensive, thus their popularity. The initial cost of asphalt is a little bit higher than the concrete tile, but overall, they are very common, popular and get the job done.

Less Heat

For areas that are in a hot climate, concrete tiles are popular because they don’t hold heat as much as the asphalt shingles do, which in turn, lowers your cooling bill.

Easier Installation and Repair

The easier and safer installation is another reason more people choose asphalt shingles. This makes the installation faster, too. Concrete tiles become brittle quicker, and they require more care while installing, which slows down the process of installation.

More Wind Resistant

Concrete tile is better at withstanding higher winds than asphalt shingles because they are
heavier. While there is not any roofing material that can be 100% guaranteed to withstand anything and everything that Mother Nature brings to us, asphalt shingles aren’t as secured and are more likely to be blown away by a heavy wind.

There are pros and cons to asphalt shingles and concrete tile roofing, but at the end of the day, it is the homeowner that needs to decide which is better for their home and their budget.

Your Gutters Need Attention During the Summer, Too

This part of the country is known for the summer-time heatwaves that have very little relief until September or October. Most likely, you don’t think about the gutters on your home this time of year. After all, we get little to no rain for three months, right?

However, it is that lack of rain that stresses trees out with what is known as transpiration. This is when trees are exhaling moisture by way of their leaves. And the hotter it is, the more they exhale and the more stressed they get.

Trees seek moisture from the soil to replace the moisture they lose through their leaves, and when we’re in a drought, there is no moisture to be found – thus, the trees are stressed. A stressed tree is much like the human body – it becomes weak. When you start to see leaves and needles dropping off your trees during the summer, that is a good indication they are stressed.

So How Does This Concern Your Gutters?

The gutters on your home will begin to fill quickly with those leaves and needles that your stressed trees are dropping. Then when that next burst of rain comes, if your gutters are full of those leaves, needles, small limbs, the downspout will become clogged up.

A clogged downspout causes water to back up under the shingles and overflow, pouring to the ground. Since the ground will be dry and parched, it won’t absorb all that rain normally. It will puddle up and wash away your landscaping.

Prevent Gutter Problems

Those gutter problems can be prevented by having your gutters cleaned at least twice a year and having a gutter guard installed by an experienced contractor. Even after having this done, you’ll still want to have your gutters checked twice a year to make sure the guard is in place, and everything is working as it should.

Tips for a Healthy Roof in the Summertime

The roof on your home is important to the overall structure. So, keeping it in shape year-round, including the summer months, will help keep any costly repairs at a minimum.

Some of the things that you can do or have done are:

1.   Make sure the gutters and the downspouts are clean so that when it does rain, it can flow freely.

2.  Have your roof checked for cracked, missing or splitting shingles.

3.   Have the skylights checked for debris cluttering and cracks.

4.   Have the fans and vents checked.

5.  Make sure all flashing is in place and sealed.

6.   Check for any place small creatures can enter the attic and take up residence.

7.   Check for any mold and get it cleaned up and repaired quickly.

9.   Check the eaves and overhangs for water stains and repair.

Inspecting Your Roof

A roof inspection can be dangerous for several reasons. First of all, it is a high elevation, and the risk of falling is possible. A professional contractor will know where they can walk on the roof without danger to themselves or the roof.

Maintaining Your Roof

Routine roof maintenance twice a year will have a small cost compared to what it can save you in the long run. A small problem left alone can begin to not only damage the roof but your home too, from the attic to the foundation and inside.

What’s the Deal with Shingle Sediment?

When you clean your gutters, have you noticed a build-up of sediment in them? What is that anyway? Well, that is a sand-like granule that comes from your shingle roof. This gritty substance separates from the asphalt shingles and washes off into the gutters.

It is normal for some granules to start coming off the shingles over time. You’ll notice them more
when you have a new roof and then later as the roofing gets older. In fact, any experienced roofer will tell you that the trash in their gutters is about half sediment.

Look at shingle granules like sand dunes on the beach. Those sand dunes are like a buffer between the ocean and land; they slow the water down. This allows the grass and vegetation to grow which can keep small things from blowing up or climbing over the dunes. A natural barrier, if you will.

Now, picture your gutters with small sand dunes inside them, i.e., the sediment. The sediment is the barrier like the sand dunes and slows down the water running from the high point of the gutter to the downspout.

This lets the leaves and any small debris stay behind, and the granules begin to build-up, becoming a natural and fertile breeding ground for plants. So, if you go out and look up at your gutters and see plants or small trees coming up from them, the seeds have taken root in the granules (that sediment) and have sprouted.

One way to avoid this from happening is cleaning your gutters on a regular basis. Another way is to have micro mesh/screen gutter guards installed on your existing gutters. The micro mesh/screen gutter guards will keep shingle granules out of your gutters and keep that plant life out too.