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When looking at any residential roof, virtually all that you see is the roofing material (most commonly composition shingles, cedar shakes or concrete tiles.) Certainly, a wise selection of a high quality roofing material will go a long way towards your new roof having a lengthy, trouble free life. However, there is more than meets the eye when determining a quality roof installation. Many "behind the scenes" components greatly contribute to the ultimate success of your roof. Following is a quick introduction to these roof components and why they are important. Underlayment and membrane - With certain roof types, such as cedar, the underlayment really acts as the roof itself and the outer roofing material's basic job is to protect the underlying felt. With other roof types, the underlayment is a second layer of defense. If shingles or tiles ever get displaced, it is the underlayment that keeps you from having water leaking into your home. Even on a roof re-cover (putting one new layer of composition roofing on top of another without tearing it off), a new layer of underlayment must be put between the old roof and the new roofing material. The old roof cannot be considered to be an adequate layer of protection. Additionally, the new membrane helps smooth and even out the bumps and valleys of the new installation. It is critical to choose the proper thickness for the type and weight of roofing material being installed. 15 lb felt is a common standard but heavier weight roofs should receive a 30lb underlayment product. Additionally, even a light roof should receive heavier underlayment if it's pitch is steep - thinner felt can easily tear during installation on steeper pitches and many unscrupulous contractors might not take the time to properly address the tears. Shortcuts to save a few dollars in this area can drastically reduce the life of the roof. The proper underlayment actually helps protect the roofing material from overheating and cracking. Composite and synthetic membranes are often excellent choices due to their enhanced strength and durability and are worth the small amount of price differential. Last of all, specialty membranes, such as water/ice barriers, are well worth the protection they provide for high water traffic areas of the roof. While low pitch roofs (4/12 and lower) should always have this membrane throughout, higher pitch roofs benefit greatly from selective installation of such barriers in areas where rainwater or wintertime ice may back up unexpectedly. Fasteners - A nail is a nail, right? Wrong. Sometimes, it isn't even a nail being used. Some cost cutting roofers might use staples on installing the outer roofing material. Staples are generally fine for installing the underlayment (although some specific material also perform best with nails) but not the outer material. While their holding power can be good, they lack overall material strength. When it comes to the outer layer of final roofing material, nails are a must. A galvanized or even a stainless nail is always necessary. Anything less will soon result in rusting and will eventually become a leak risk. Also, virtually all fasteners, except for a couple of rare locations on certain flashing areas, need to be hidden from the elements. They need to be installed underneath the course of shingles above it. Any unavoidable exposed nail needs to either have a self-sealing gasket (preferred) or some UV resistant caulk dabbed on it. Flashing - Like so many things in life, using the right item in the right spot is critical. Such it is with flashing. The novice or low cost roofing contractor may be satisfied with simply installing flashing in the first place, but the right flashing in the right spot makes a large difference in your roof remaining watertight. Flashing is used in transitional areas of the roof, meaning whenever your are going from one angle or surface to another, a clean break needs to be made with the use of a flashing. Some commonly skipped flashing are drip edge flashings (at the gutter line) since the roof section ends as it is running away from the field of the roof. After all, water drips downhill, right? While water might run downhill, it can and often does wick uphill, so to speak. Without a metal flashing of the proper type, wetness in an overflowing gutter can start moving back up the roof, under the underlayment and right into the exterior wall cavity. A simple, proper flashing keeps such fiascoes from occurring. Vents - Like the rest of the roof system, vents just sit there. Maybe folks undervalue items that in general are stationary and don't have moving parts. Nonetheless, the quality of materials comes into play with items like vents. Painted, galvanized steel vents will greatly outlast plastic vents. Seeing as vents are basically covering pre-designed holes in your roof, you want to make sure they are going to last a long time without any deterioration. Additionally, the amount of vents installed on the roof is very important. Under-ventilated roofs do not last nearly as long as those that are properly ventilated. Adequate movement of air as a well as cooler air (versus the superheated air trapped in attics) helps maintain a longer roof life. When it is time to re-roof your house, spend a few extra minutes investing these "behind the scenes" components and ensure that your new roof has everything it needs for a long life.
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Portland Roof Repair, Replacement and Maintenance Requires Professional Services
