Making sure your roof is in good condition is an essential part of home maintenance. Leaks, damaged shingles, and moisture build-up, can cause serious problems for a home owner. As well, the sun’s ultra violet rays deteriorate the shingles by breaking down their structural elements, causing the shingles to degrade and lose their defensive particles. Depending on the extent of the damage, one may have to do minor repairs or replace the roof.
The shingles are the most important part of the roof that needs to be kept in good condition. The durability and quality of the asphalt based shingles and the reinforcing mat are both essential to ensuring that the roof is protected. Asphalt shingles can have a number of different mats such as a paper mat or fiberglass based mat. One of the best and strongest mats is the fiberglass matted asphalt. They do not tear or wear down very easily.
Shingles can also vary according to such matting differences as the number of laminated layers, the weight per square, wind warranty, and the length of the warranty. Metal roofing is growing in popularity because of the strength, durability, and they last a long time. There are lesser used shingles such as clay, wood, and natural slate.
To choose the best shingle for a roof repair or replacement, one must consider the proper installation of the leak barrier, including around the chimneys and roof peaks, the underlay (matting), the starter strips for installing around edges, and the quality of the shingles. There are shingle caps which cover the peak of the roof. They are made of stronger material.
For any roofing repair or replacement, make sure you have a manufacturer’s warranty. If you hire a professional contractor/roofer, make sure that they are certified to work on roofs. You must receive a signed contract from the contractor that outlines the terms and conditions as well as a description of work they will do, including a list of the materials.
Not every roof needs to be replaced. Generally, if an asphalt roof is more than 20 years old, or a metal roof is more than 50 years old, one should consider a roof replacement. It is important to have your roof inspected by a professional and reputable contractor to make sure that you do not replace a roof that requires only minor repair.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
There are many different areas where your roof can leak. I always felt it is important to isolate the problem area and get it fixed as soon as possible. Remember, it is important to have regular roof inspections done to ensure its integrity isn’t compromised.