Roofs are a big concern for homeowners. It is one of the most important parts of your home providing you with shelter from the rain and helping to regulate the temperature of your home.
Listed below are some frequently asked questions. If there is a question that you need to know about your home and its roof, then please call us today at 614-898-7663 or complete our online form.
Yes, but be careful when choosing a contractor to perform the job, never let anyone use a pressure washer on you roof, even at a low setting, because this removes the protective graduals and shortens roof life.
There are numerous products on the market, be carful, some will harm your shingles and landscaping and can be a danger to pets. See Roof Cleaning. Back to the Top
2. Do Zinc/Copper Strips work?
Short answer…. No. Zinc is a fungicide, and does kill algae which can reduce moss growth. However, you are relying on rain to wash over the strip carrying zinc oxide from the strip down the roof. Experience has shown that the effectiveness of the strip is 3-4 feet down from where the strip is installed (Typically at the peak of the roof). Experience also tells us that the strips wear out after a couple of years.
Other drawbacks are that when they are on the roof they are noticeable, and they have a tendency to break and flop around on the roof.
Copper wire is less effective based on the size of the wire typically used. However, many asphalt roofing shingles have Copper Granules embedded in them. These have proven to be effective in the prevention of Algae Staining for periods of 10-15 years. These work because they are evenly spread throughout the roof providing constant and consistent protection. For more information contact our office. Back to the Top
3. How long does it take to do a roof?
This question is largely determined by the contractor. If the contractor is professional, and organized the project will be swift. (1-2 days on overage)
This will be due to the contractor having highly trained crews. The contractor will assign the appropriate team for your property. They will show up when they say, and stay until the job is complete, and not leave your home partially complete to finish other jobs.
If you are in need of a roof, and want the job completed promptly contact us for your free estimate. Back to the Top
4. How much more is metal?
Depending on if you are removing your existing roof, and what it is you are removing metal roofing can be as much as double the cost of a mid grade asphalt composite. The reason for this is that the materials themselves are typically about twice as much, and the installation of a metal roof can be 3-4 times longer than an asphalt composite.
The installation of metal is crucial. If you are considering a metal roof, please contact us. Back to the Top
5. You can’t get quality wood shakes like you used to…can you?
The answer is ABSOLUTELY! Actually the quality of the shakes today is far superior to what could be purchased 15-20 years ago.
There are two reasons for this:
There is a regulatory board known as ICBO. This governing body establishes the quality standard that shakes must be manufactured to. If a mill wants to stay in business they have to comply.
The shakes can be pressure treated at the factory. This presses the treatment deep into the shake for long lasting protection. (Topical treatments that are applied after the roof is installed do not last long)
The shake mills in Canada harvest Old Growth Cedar that has fallen in the woods. They cut out the good wood and make shakes from it. Of course there are different grades, and if you want a quality product it will cost more. But if you want that shake look you can still get it, and get a quality roof as well! Back to the Top
6. Roofing in the Winter?
The answer to the question is yes. However, it is crucial as to who you invite to perform the work on your home.
Your most important decision in any contracting job is who you hire no matter what time of year it is.
The right contractor will design the job correctly, they will specify the correct materials, they will have the appropriately trained personnel assigned to the job, and they will do so with the weather in mind.
Most standard jobs take 1-2 days to complete. If the contractor is adequately staffed with trained personnel the window of time that a roof is vulnerable to weather can be reduced to a few hours depending on the job.
For example, if the roof is an asphalt composite removal and installation, and the roof is installed on plywood a company like ours may only need a few hours of good weather to assure it is weatherproof.
With that in mind it does depend on your situation. If you are considering re roofing, and would like some more information please call us. We will try to assist you in any way that we can!
Back to the Top
7. Should I pressure wash my asphalt composite roof?
Simply put the answer is NO.
Asphalt shingles, unlike wood shakes are manufactured with components that create a roof system.
An asphalt composite shingle starts out as a woven fiberglass sheet nearly 1/8” thick. The fiberglass is saturated on both sides with asphalt. The top layer of asphalt, while still molten is embedded with Ceramic Granules.
Granules have 2 functions:
To give the shingle it’s color.
To protect the asphalt from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
Along with the granules, Asphalt is the waterproof component of the shingle, and the Fiberglass is the chassis that holds the shingle together.
Asphalt is a very volatile product (meaning that it is easily affected by heat causing change in viscosity and increasing expansion and contraction) and when granules are missing and there is more UV exposure the asphalt gets dried out and causes roof failure.
Pressure washing a roof when done improperly minimally removes granules that are so important to the longevity of your roof. Because asphalt composite is a thin product that can be easily torn it is not too difficult to cut the shingles with the pressure wand.
Many pressure washers will assure you that they are experienced and will not cause damage. They may be right, but how can they guarantee it?
The adhesion of granules reduces as the roof ages. The challenge for a pressure washer is how to gauge their pressure. The problem for you is HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF THEY ARE DOING IT RIGHT?
It is difficult to know. The big question is, why pressure wash anyway? The only reason is that it is a quick fix. Quick fixes typically come with a bill to pay later.
We offer roof treatment packages that will keep you roof looking clean and new. Back to the Top
8. Tear off Vs. Roof Over?
It is allowed to install a roof over the top of an existing roof. By doing so the current owner of the building can save some money on the roofing project. However, Roofing over another roof does not provide the same quality of roof, or offer the same level of security that a roof system installed when a complete removal was performed.
This is where people say, “Building code, and manufacturers allow it. It must be all right.”
Let’s look how the code officials, and manufacturers look at roof over jobs.
When installing asphalt composite shingles most Building Codes allow for up to 2 layers of asphalt roofing on a structure. The code has nothing to do with shingle performance. It is written in regards to structure performance, and how much weight it can handle.
Manufacturers also prohibit roofing over an old roof. However if you read the fine print of any roofing manufacturer’s warranty you will find verbiage in their warranty exclusions that say “We will not warrant product failure if roof is installed over a substrate that is not smooth, flat, and clean.” This means that if anything under the roof causes the roof on top to fail, there is no warranty.
Other concerns about roofing over the top of a roof system are:
There is no way to do a thorough roof deck inspection when it is covered by old roofing. This could result in damage being concealed.
It is much more difficult to flash a second layer. If the second layer leaks the water can ride the layer underneath and travel to a different area of the roof. This makes leak detection and correction very difficult.
Shingles are made from Asphalt. The flexibility of Asphalt comes from the natural solvents within it. A second layer can be super-heated in summer months which can cause the shingle to buckle and curl prematurely.
Removal costs in the future will be tremendous due to the extra labor, and escalating landfill rates.
At Feazel Roofing we believe that roofs should be removed so the property can be totally inspected, and any damage can be repaired before a new roof system is applied. If you are considering re roofing, and are not sure of what your options are contact us for your free inspection!
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an agency that designs testing and standards for manufactured products of all shapes and sizes.
In regards to roofing products there are 3 classes of Fire Rating. These classes are:
Class A roof coverings are effective against severe fire test exposures. Under such exposures, roof coverings of this class afford a high degree of fire protection to the roof deck, do not slip from position, and are not expected to produce flying brands.
This is the highest rating attainable. Asphalt roof shingles, Concrete and Clay tile, and Authentic Stone Slate Roofs are in this category. Metal roofs and synthetic products typically require special underlayments to qualify for Class A fire Rating.
Class B roof coverings are effective against moderate fire test exposures. Under such exposures, roof coverings of this class afford a moderate degree of fire protection to the roof deck, do not slip from position, and are not expected to produce flying brands.
Class C roof coverings are effective against light fire test exposures. Under such exposures, roof coverings of this class afford a light degree of fire protection to the roof deck, do not slip from position, and are not expected to produce flying brands.
Wood shakes are an example of Class C Fire Rated material.
* Consult specific manufacturer literature for exact rating information. The information provided is not manufacturer specific.
Ridge venting is one of the many ways to vent a roof. Depending on your roof type, it may be the most efficient way. (Contact us for an evaluation of your roof)
Ridge venting works by cutting a continuous slot at the peak of your roof to provide a consistent area for air to exhaust from your attic space.
Some ridge vents are warranted against leaking, and failure for the duration of the roof system. Many of the vents are the shingle over type. This means that the roofing material can cover the top of the vent and hide the fact that there is a vent there at all.
For more information about ridge vent systems contact us.
Ventilation is important year round. In the Summer, heat from the sun is running attic temperatures up to 120 degrees or more. This overwhelms the insulation on the attic floor and causes your home to heat up.
In the Winter the cold air from outside cools your attic space. Because of how efficiently we are sealing the walls of our home, heat and moisture generated in the fall, and winter months is carried by rising heat into the attic space. When warm air meets cool air in the attic moisture is created. Moisture is a conductor, and insulation is an insulator. If moisture infiltrates insulation, the insulator becomes a conductor. Thus compounding the problem of heat loss because now the insulation is not doing it’s job to hold heat in the home.
This is why ventilation is important all year long. Ventilation is doing it’s job when it is removing hot air in the Summer, and moist air in the Winter.
If you need a ventilation inspection, please contact us for a free evaluation.
A recent survey showed that only 55% of people who get roofing work done would refer their roofing contractor. So what can you do?
A routine roof inspection program helps find problems before they turn ugly.
Your roof is your only line of defense from waters invasion.
A leaking roof is no laughing matter. In a short period of time a leaking roof can do serious damage to your home. Allow one of our factory trained and certified roofing specialist to perform a FREE thorough inspection of your roof leak both inside and out.
You can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars performing minor roof maintenance to extend the life of your existing roof. Find out more in this section of the site.
