Basic Training for Roof Maintenance

Basic Training for Roof Maintenance

Your roof is not a static fixture in your home like the studs in your wall. Roofs are more like tires in a since. They need to be repaired when there is leak and they need to be replaced every so often to ensure your leak free. Beyond repairs and replacements, there are also other things you should do to help extend the life of your roof and prevent leaks/damage as well.

Roof Materials

Just like with a cheap set of low ply tires, if you choose cheap singles, they will need to be changed out more often. One of the worst types of shingles, especially for areas prone to high winds, is the three tab shingle. This shingle is notorious for uplifting and frequently breaking off in storms. The reason being that the shingles do not overlap much, so more of the single is exposed and if the wind is able to peal up the shingle, bye bye single. Your best bet without breaking the bank is a nice 30 year architectural shingle. The shingles have a lot of of overlap. They not only look very regal, but hold up to wind very well. When it comes to hail, nothing is really safe. Your best bet is to choose a thick shingle like the ones provided by CertainTeed. They don’t skimp on the tar which helps the asphalt hold on better and protects the fiberglass mat in the shingle much better. However, nothing is safe from 2″+ hail.

Valleys & Flashing

The most important things a home owner can do to extend the life of their roof and ensure there are no leaks, is to maintain valleys and flashing. Valleys are the low area where to peaks meet (picture below). This guy ends up with a ton of water pouring into it and is prone to leaf and debris build up. Make sure to keep your valleys clear so water can run off. If not, algae cant form, plants can start to take root, the single can become saturated and eventually rot the plywood decking under it.

Flashing is a metal intermediate between the shingles and another vertical structure (picture below). You can only place two pieces of wood wood so close, water will find a way in. This is why flashing is used to help seal the joint and shed water. While flashing is necessary to keep your roof water tight, it is often the area where leaks occur most. This is due to how the flashing is secured. The flashing is nailed into the decking. This gives any water that makes its way down the nail, direct access to your attic space. This is why you should always seal flashing nails with silicon. The more obvious way that flashing leaks occur is that it becomes unsecured. With wind and hail pounding it, flashing tends to pull up over time. This happens most commonly around chimneys, pipe jacks, under windows and were structures such as patios join the house. Inspect this flashing frequently to ensure its still secured and sealed with silicon.