Welcome to Family Roofing

The following are typical types of roof damage. Sometimes, if caught early, they simply need repairs rather than replacing the entire roof.

Natural Damage

Fallen limb scars, minor hail damage or minor wind damage are often repairable.  If the roof is only several years old, repairing or reroofing a section may be a low-cost option over replacement.  If you suspect a storm has damaged your roof, have it professionally inspected to determine the extent of the damage.

Leaks

Modern roofs use rubber, tar and plastic around some pipes and vents.  These materials often degrade faster than the roofing material and develop a leak. They’re relatively easy to replace and are likely all that’s needed if water is leaking at these spots.

Installation Problems

Look for large amounts of tar covering flashing.  It’s usually a sign of poor workmanship and can lead to big problems.  Also, look for missing kick-out flashing at the bottom or dormer wall intersections and missing crickets behind chimneys.  A roofing company can install these missing items for far less money than a new roof.

Improper Ventilation

If you notice condensation on the underside of your roof deck, delaminating roof plywood in the attic or have trouble keeping the second story cool on hot days, your attic may need more venting.  Call a professional to assess your home’s venting needs and have it added or repaired if required.

Some roof conditions simply can’t be repaired.  Replacement of the whole roof is necessary when these problems become evident.

Age

Asphalt shingle roofing needs to be replaced every 15 to 20 years unless your home has 30 or 40-year shingles on it.  When your roof gets close to that age, start having yearly inspections to determine when to replace it.

Sagging

Structural problems such as the roof deck plywood sagging between the rafters is only fixable by replacing the roof and decking boards.

Degeneration

Roofs take a beating from the weather and sunshine.  If you find curling or shrinking shingles, an abundance of shingle granules in the gutters, bare spots, blistering or extensive moss or algae growth, it may be time to replace the roof.

Going the Repair Route

Replacing shingles due to wind damage or a fallen limb is a relatively easy and inexpensive.  Torn or damaged shingles can be removed, and new ones can be slipped in place.  The downside is that unless your roof is relatively new and you happen to have saved some spare shingles from the job, your patch job may not match the existing roof.  But that is a small price to pay if the repair would extend the life of your current roof for another 10 or 15 years!  However, if you plan to sell your home in the next few years, ask your contractor to order shingles that match as closely as possible.  A roof with a prominent patch is unattractive and will not inspire a potential buyer’s confidence.

Partial Reroofing Is an Option Too

If the damage is more significant but confined to one side of the roof, partial reroofing is an option that will cost thousands of dollars less than doing the entire roof.  Repairing a section of roofing will also make it easier to blend new with old, because slight color differences will be less noticeable.  Counter to intuition, partial reroofing jobs are more expensive on a cost per square (a 10′ x 10′ area) basis.  They can create added problems, too.  For example, if an asphalt roof already has two or more layers, all layers will have to be removed in order for the partial re-roofing to proceed.  So in addition to increased labor and disposal costs, you may face the possibility of a lopsided effect at ridges, with the old roof ending up a couple of inches higher than the new one.  Even when built up with a course of shingles and covered with a ridge cap, the hump may still be noticeable.

Missing Shingles

More than a few missing shingles on your roof means it’s probably time to replace it before the problem gets worse. It’s often a sign of an underlying problem.

Know When to Repair or Replace Your Roof

Knowing what caused damage to your roof and how badly damaged it is could mean the difference between shelling out for a new roof or paying only for the cost of repairs.

Determine Cause

When your roof suffers from old age or structural problems is the only time that there’s no question about whether it’s time to replace it or not.  If you know that a storm has caused minor damage, shoddy installation is to blame, improper venting or that material other than the shingles have deteriorated, you may be able to get by with repairing it.

Extent of Damage

Of course, when the damage is simply too much to repair easily, the best option may be to replace the entire roof.  It’s not always easy to determine the extent of roof damage.  Sometimes, when your roof is approaching the end of its lifespan, the most cost-effective approach might be to replace it now instead of repairing it, only to tear off the repair again in a couple of years.  Leaks that appear in several places, visible structural problems and shingles that are curling at the corners are sure signs that repairing the roof is no longer an option and you must replace it.

Tear Off or Roof Over?

Once you’ve decided to reroof, you’ll have to decide whether to install your new roof over the existing one or whether to tear the old one off.  Once again, the choice comes down to saving a little money now and risking greater expenses down the road or spending more now to do the job right and minimize future expenses.

If you already have two layers shingles, the decision is made for you. The International Residential Code says that you cannot put a new roof  over two or more applications of any type of roof covering.  Part of the reason has to do with weight and its effect on the structure of your home.  A shingle in your hand may not feel as though it weighs much, but cover a roof with 1,500 square feet of them, and it’s nearly the equivalent of parking a two-ton SUV up there!

If you have only one layer of asphalt shingles, you may decide to have them removed even though you’re not required to.  Doing so may save you money in the future.  For example, if you live in an area that is subject to high winds, keep in mind that shingles will hold better if fastened directly to the roof deck.  In addition, removing the old shingles will allow you to inspect the roof deck or sheathing.

The opportunity to evaluate the condition of your roof deck is valuable, insofar as you can check for wood rot and the presence of inadequate sheathing fasteners. By making any necessary repairs and adding fasteners to sheathing, you will avoid the dramatic losses caused when sheathing blows off the roof, allowing rain to cause extensive interior damage.  Beginning your roofing job with a clean roof deck (old shingles and roofing felt removed) also means you have the option of adding ice-and-water-shield membrane along the eaves. It can only be applied to a clean deck but will help prevent damage due to ide dams.

When to Call a Professional

A formal roofing education isn’t necessary to understand that something isn’t right with your roof.  Visually inspecting your roof from the ground and in the attic each year will tell you when you need to take a closer look at your roof’s condition.