Since the roof plays a pivotal role in protecting you and your home from the adversities and harshness of weather, it surely requires special attention. Hence, you should be concerned about its overall condition and performance. But how you should know what type repairs your roof might need. To assist you in this regard, here are the 5 common shingle roofing repairs that your roof may require to keep it in good shape and enhance its performance.

Look for Damaged or Clogged Gutters
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In fact, faulty gutters may also serve as a cause of damaging your roof. If you don’t clean the gutters by removing debris or standing water, it would lead to causing serious damage to the roof and walls of your home. Even if you keep the gutters clean, they need to be repaired after a few years to maintain their functionality.

Replace Missing or Cracked Shingles

Shingles not only protect your roof, but they also give a nice appearance to your home. Hence, when it comes to replacing the shingles, you are actually protecting the roof as well as maintaining the looks of your home. Shingles are not tough enough to bear the harsh weather conditions like heavy snow of windstorm. Hence, it’s likely to find some of these to be missing every now and then.

When shingles are damaged, you need to replace them immediately to avoid water destroying the roof and interior of your home. In case of roof leaks, you may have to repaint the roof from inside. Buckling and curling are some of the issues that you can easily identify by just looking at the roof. You need to replace the shingles to prevent further damage.

Take Care of Fascia

Most of the homeowners are not familiar with this term, but they probably have seen it. It is a more sophisticated name for roof trim. It actually runs along the roofline of your home, designed to stop the water from entering your home. For most of the time it is exposed to severe weather conditions; hence start to exhibit signs of damage after a few years. So, you should monitor its condition at least twice a year.

Soffits

It is a finished surface located below the rafters and fascia. Soffits play a key role when it comes to attic ventilation. Moreover, it helps to prevent your rafters and sheathing from rotting. This structure is normally constructed from vinyl, which makes it a perfectly resistant against water. When inspecting soffits, you should look for minor cracks or holes that may cause water to seep into the roof.

Flashings also Need your Attention

Flashings act as an effective sealant, which protects those parts of a roof that are not covered. These may include walls, roof edges or drains. Apart from these areas, flashings also protect some other parts of the roof from water seepage. When inspecting the flashings, look for rust or any loose areas that can allow water to seep into the interior. Although it is quite easy to get them repaired, you should try to contact an experienced roofing contractor to complete the task professionally.

Before winter comes, you need to get your roof inspected by a reliable roofing contractor to identify any minor damages or cracks. If you fail to do so, your home might suffer severe damage due to heavy snow, rain or any other natural calamity. So, is your roof (is)strong enough to bear the adversities. If not, think about repairing it before this winter.


In fact, minor repairs cost less than replacing the roof (in case) unless it has been destroyed completely. Nevertheless, you must consider hiring a professional roofing contractor for this task. It has been usually observed that when homeowners try to inspect the roof by themselves, they failed to identify the minor issues that may turn into big disasters. Hence, let the professionals handle this job for ensuring the high-end performance of your roof for upcoming winter season.


Replacing the Damaged or Missing Shingles


Shingles are the most delicate part of a roof, which exhibit the early signs of wear and tear due to intense exposure to sun, wind, snow and rain. When you notice that a considerable number of shingles are missing, it’s a warning that you shouldn’t ignore. This may result in water leakage, causing a threat to the interior. So to avoid any damage to the roofing structure, it is advised to contact a reputed roofing contractor and get your roof inspected before the winter sets in.


Make Sure the Roof is Properly Sealed


Your roof needs to be sealed, especially around the places like chimneys, plumbing stacks, satellite mounts, and flashings. The sealant offers effective protection against seepage or leaks. However, after due course of time, sealant becomes ineffective due to the appearance of cracks. So by adding sealant at required places can restore the efficiency of your roof against leaks. Although it is a simple task, you should only settle for highly skilled professionals to complete this task.


Timely Repair the Roof Gutters


There are numerous reasons for gutters to sag including heavy snow, poor installation or routine wear and tear. Apart from lowering the curb appeal of your home, sagging gutters may also prove detrimental to the integrity of your roof. This issue can cause structural damage to the roof, minimizing its efficiency to perform well during the winter.


Although your roof gutters appear to be in a perfect condition, it is advised to get them inspected by a professional roofer. What you couldn’t notice is a pile of leaves, sticks and other debris, which is obstructing the path for rainwater or melted snow. If you leave it this way, possibilities are there that the water would start seeping into the walls, causing a serious threat to the interior. To avoid the menace of leaky gutters, get them cleaned thoroughly by hiring a reliable roofing contractor.


Attic Inspection
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Besides fixing exterior issues, roofers also do attic inspection as a part of their job. There are certain roof problems that are hard to detect from outside; hence, roofers need to look for them through attic inspection. By doing so, they try to identify the holes, poor insulation, and signs of water damage. If one or more of these issues are detected, they must be fixed immediately to avoid causing major damage to the roof.

Roof is an essential aspect of your home’s structural integrity and if it isn’t protected by a warranty, you better prepare for bearing the heavy cost of replacing it. This is so, as replacing your defective roof wouldn’t be a cheap affair. The cost may easily settle for five-figures when taking into consideration the pitch, the size, and the preferred materials.

Moreover, you can’t simply rely on the homeowner’s insurance to cover the costs of roof replacement. On the contrary, this type of insurance is mainly effective in case of heavy snow, windstorm, lightning and other acts of nature. Meaning thereby, you need an appropriate roof warranty when it comes to replacing a damaged roof.

What type of Roof Materials are Covered with a Warranty?

In fact, getting a superior warranty for your roof isn’t the only thing that you must be concerned about, as most of the roof materials do offer a warranty. Nevertheless, you must look for a warranty that is effective for many years. Hence, just a five years warranty won’t be sufficient to ensure ideal protection for the roof.

The average lifespan of a roof is 20 years, and during this period, it has to withstand the worst weather conditions. Therefore, you should look for a roof warranty that should last at least 30 to 40 years. Besides, the years of coverage, knowing what aspects are covered by a warranty is equally important. To know what type of coverage a perfect roof warranty may provide, just take a look at some of these options.

Extensive Coverage

When it comes to buying shingles, you may come across different types of warranties. For instance, most of the 3-Tab shingles come with a 25-year warranty; whereas, you are usually offered with a 50-year warranty when buying dimensional shingles. By having a long coverage, you can ensure best protection for your roof.

Coverage against Material Defects

Your roof should be strong enough to endure the harsh outdoor elements. In case your roof starts to show wear and tear after few years of installation, this could minimize the comfort level and energy efficiency of your home. Therefore, a great manufacturer warranty is what you need to cope with these issues and effectively cover the material defects.

Insurance against Poor Workmanship

As a matter of fact, your roof requires minor repairs once in a while. This may involve replacing the damaged shingles or repairing the popped up flashing. However, these are simple to handle repairs, which cause less trouble. On the contrary, if your roof needs some major repairs, chances are there that things may go wrong. This may happen when less skilled professionals did the installation job. If this is the case, concerns regarding the structural integrity of the roof are always there. This is the area where appropriate warranties kick in and provide required protection against the poor workmanship.

Warranty by Roofing Company is Insufficient

Although roofing contractors offer warranties against poor workmanship, just settling for this type of warranty isn’t a wise decision. Such warranty is directly linked with the existence of a company offering it. This suggests that you can’t claim such a warranty if the company goes down. So make sure to get a roofing warranty that also covers all types of installation issues.

Engage a Renowned Roofing Contractor

If roof replacement is what you are thinking of, don’t fall a prey to cheap and less experienced roofing contractors. Rather, you should focus on engaging a well-renowned roofing contractor.

Deciding as to what type of material is best for your roof is one of the most difficult decisions that you need to take when installing a new roof. This involves paying attention to various aspects like quality, longevity, and price of a particular material.


Usually, what you see around your neighborhood is that most of the roofs have asphalt shingles. But this doesn’t suggest that it is an appropriate choice for your home’s roof. To give you an idea, we have drawn a comparison between the tiles and asphalt shingles by considering their performance, durability, and cost factor. So, prior to buying a new roof, make sure to keep these essential aspects in mind.


What Climate do you live in?


If you live in an area, which experiences harsh weather conditions through most of the time of a year, you need strong protection for the roof. For instance, if there are freezing temperatures or high winds, you must consider the durability factor when installing a new roof.


Although asphalt shingles cost you less, they fail to endure the lashes of Mother Nature. They usually wrap up or break down after being exposed to strong winds or heat for a few years. Tiles, on the other hand, can withstand winds up to 180 mph, pass Grade-1 freeze-thaw requirements, and absorb minimum heat.


Affordability


In most of the cases, roof replacement may turn out to be an expensive cut on your budget. So if you are tight on budget, it would be wise to go for asphalt shingles when you need to replace your home’s roof.


Durability


Asphalt shingles are less effective when it comes to durability. Even if you find them affordable upfront, they might cost you a lot in terms of replacing the roof after 10 years or so. Since concrete tiles are known for their resistance against severe heat or cold, they are usually recommended for all weather conditions.


Which one is more Energy Efficient?


If you are sick and tired of bearing cooling and heating costs, it’s time to make your home more energy efficient than ever. How?—it’s simple. By just insulating your roof with energy efficient roofing materials, you can lower the air conditioning costs.


During winters, your home loses most of its heat through its roof. This suggests that you need to heat your home continuously to maintain a comfortable room temperature. Similar is the case in the summer, where a considerable rise in temperature in the attic makes it difficult to cool your home.


So, what material you should use when installing a new roof? Asphalt shingles absorb most of the heat; hence, they aren’t something that you should consider when living in a hot climate. On the contrary, tiles reflect sunshine and heat, making them an ideal option for maintaining a comfortable temperature indoors.


If your budget doesn’t allow you to choose concrete roof tiles, you better consult a professional roofer to know whether you can get heat resistant asphalt shingles. By doing so, you can find a few options that may fit into your budget.


Think about Contacting a Reliable Roofer


When you are all set to install a new roof, the next step is to contact a roofing contractor.  For this purpose, you should hire the best in the business, capable of meeting all your roofing needs within a set budget. 

Roof is one of the most essential parts of your home when it comes to structural integrity, safety and comfort. You can enjoy all the luxuries of your home when it has a secure and strong roof. It offers required protections against the harshness of outdoor weather and gives a nice curb appeal to your home.

Therefore, you should be concerned about the structural integrity of your roof by monitoring any signs of wear and tear. But, what we usually hear about the maintenance of a roof isn’t true at all. Technically speaking, these are just myths. To give you a clear picture, we have tried to debunk some of the most common myths about roof.

Cover Over the Roof Problems

A few building codes do suggest that concealing the roof problems is an acceptable approach. This might appear to be fine in a legal perspective, but when it comes to technicalities and integrity of a roof, it wouldn’t be a wise decision.

For instance, if you don’t remove the old shingles or other roofing structures, it is simply impossible to inspect the cause of damage. This means that the undiscovered damage would cause destruction in the long run, even if you have replaced the outer layer of a roof.

All Shingles are Similar

Since shingles are manufactured while keeping in view their quality, cost, durability, and similar attributes, it is not possible that all of them exhibit similar properties. Hence, each type of single is made to perform well in specific conditions like humid, windy and hot weather conditions.

Some of them come with limited warranties and others offer lifetime warranties. Similarly, a few shingles are specifically manufactured to deal with issues such as excessive moisture, algae, heavy snow, and scorching heat. That being said, all shingles are not the same and you should contact a professional roofer to know what type of shingles is best for your roof.

Flashing is Shatterproof

Flashing is a metal structure, which is designed to offer required protection to chimneys, vents, piping, and other types of openings in a roof. Even though it is made from a strong material, considering it as indestructible isn’t wise. This part of a roof is also vulnerable to the damages caused by strong winds, hails, erosion and routine wear and tear. If exposed to excessive stress, it may suffer structural damage, lowering its overall performance.

You only Need to Inspect a Roof when it is Damaged

This is another myth, which is misleading homeowners since long. In fact, you should monitor or inspect your roof at the end of every four to six months depending on the weather conditions. Especially after heavy snowfall or rainy season, it is advised to carry out an ‘eyeball inspection’.

In addition, make sure to get your roof inspected by a professional Albany roofer annually. This is essential, as you can’t even imagine what type of damage harsh weather conditions may cause to your roof. Even a minor crack or missing shingle may prove disastrous for the integrity of your roof.

There is literally no way to know the condition of your roof by just standing in front of your home. This is because unlike other parts of your home, the roof isn’t viewable until you go up there and look for any signs of damage.


Moreover, replacing a roof is one of the most expensive and time-consuming repairs that your home may need. Hence, it is more important to maintain your roof in a good shape by identifying the minor issues and fixing them timely.


By doing so, you actually extend the life and performing abilities of a roof. In order to maintain your roof the right way, just consider these handy tips arranged for you.


Routine Inspections


There is no need to be there on the roof every day, as what it requires is just some routine inspections after a couple of months. On the contrary, you shouldn’t be lazy enough to wait for something to happen. The roof is an integral part of a home, as it protects you and the interior from severe outdoor conditions.


To get a better idea of the roof’s condition, you need to walk over it and find minor cracks or missing shingles or tiles. The best possible time to run an inspection is before the winter season and after it. Winter season means loads of snow piling up on the roof and afterward plenty of moisture to seep into the interior. To avoid happening this to your roof, it would be better to call a roofing contractor for a more detailed and authentic inspection.


Remove Debris out of the Gutters


Cleaning the gutters is a simple task in the sense that you don’t need to climb over the roof. Just grab a ladder and easily reach the gutter. You can remove the debris with a small scraper and after that wash it thoroughly with a garden hose. The most appropriate time to clean the gutters is at the end of fall, as this is the time when your gutters are filled with leaves.


Don’t Forget to Trim the Trees


Although trees enhance the curb appeal for your home and serve the purpose of a natural landscape, they also prove to be detrimental for the roof. This doesn’t mean that you need to cut all the trees around your home; rather, you should consider trimming the overhanging branches. It is essential, as in case of a windstorm, these branches can break apart and damage the roof or gutters by falling over them.  

Clean it Properly


By cleaning a roof regularly, you can keep it in a good shape for years to come. When you remove the leaves and debris from a roof, you can prolong its life without any major repairs. When you climb over the roof for cleaning, you can also inspect it for minor damages. For instance, you can look for any signs of rust or aging on the flashing. Moreover, you can look for any missing shingles, tiles or damaged parts of gutters. This would save you a lot of money by minimizing the repair costs.

Need help with your roof and looking for a professional roofing company in Albany?  Contact Ultimate Roofing today!