Taking Care Of Your Asphalt Shingle Roof
You should expect to get about 15-25 years out of a shingle roof upon replacement. That’s if, and only if, you’re taking proper care of your roof throughout the years. Other roof types may vary in life expectancy.
The weather and environmental stress can be tough on a roof. Not only the roof itself, but also your gutters, chimney, trees, and sealant. When you cause damage to those, that can also lead to further roof damage.
Algae and Moss
There are a couple solutions to cleaning algae and moss from your asphalt shingle roof. You could use a mild solution of chlorine bleach mixed with water or a mild detergent. However, this isn’t dried grease on a pan. Don’t scrub the shingles. Gently apply the solution with a sponge or light sprayer (CAUTION: Do NOT use power washers for this). The last step? Rinse thoroughly.
Gutters
Keep an eye on your gutters. Especially when it feels like the weather has been nothing but a torrential downpour. Or if it’s been raining very consistently. Why? Because the rain can accumulate and easily make its way underneath your roofing structure. Asphalt roofs are meant to last about 20 years. That’s with good upkeep
Chimney Maintenance
Replace any cracked/missing mortar on your chimney. The reason why this is so important to the upkeep of your roof is because you don’t want any bricks from the chimney falling out and onto your roof. To prevent your chimney bricks from falling out and damaging your roof, replace the damaged mortar as soon as possible.
Roofing Shingles
Tips for Choosing the Right Roofing Contractor
After a damaging storm, you want to quickly get your roof restored, but that doesn’t mean you should choose the first contractor who knocks on your door. To find a trustworthy, qualified roofing professional
Warranty options
Sometimes a manufacturer-certified contractor can offer greater warranty coverage.
Manufacturer certifications
Contractors must pass certain minimum requirements to be factory certified.
BBB ratings
Ensure that they have a satisfactory rating with Better Business Bureau.
Licensing and insurance
Ask to see a copy of their license and insurance certificate.
References
Ask for a list of references you can call and check online reviews.
Local office
So, if needed, someone can help with emergency fixes.
Mastering Roof Inspections: Asphalt Composition Shingles
This and some of the following articles in the “Mastering Roof Inspections” series will help you recognize and identify defects and damage in asphalt composition shingles, as well as determine the sources of those problems as often as possible, and make good recommendations
Covered here are the standards and best practices related to shingle manufacture and installation, including the different types of shingles and their performance characteristics, and their related components, such as underlayment, flashing and fasteners.
Also covered are the general, industry-accepted methods for installation, where to look for defects, how to recognize them, how to determine how serious they are, and how to tell when shingles are at or near the end of their useful lives. Using a forensic approach to inspecting asphalt shingles, you’ll learn to compare what you see to what you know. Once you’ve learned the fundamentals, you’ll be able to identify all sorts of problems.
Although we use common terminology, different names for the same things are sometimes used in different parts of North America. Which terms you choose are not as important as making sure that you explain conditions clearly and in a way that will be understood.
ASPHALT SHINGLE COMPONENTS
The terms “asphalt” shingle and “composition” shingle are general terms for the same thing. The term “composition” is used because the shingles are a composite product made from either a fiberglass or a cellulose mat, and asphalt and minerals, as opposed to a single material, such as wood shingles or clay tiles.
Three Lies You’ve Been Told About Your Roof Shingles
In the roofing industry, homeowners are told a lot of things about shingles that just aren’t true. The three major lies you hear about shingles are:
They have a 30-year guarantee
There’s a new line that’s fungus and algae-resistant
The best way to clean your shingles is to use bleach or a high-pressure hose
Shingles Do Not Have a Guarantee
Shingles come in various classes of lifetime guarantee. For example, you have the 30-year shingle, the 25-year, the 40-year, and lifetime – the manufacturers manufacture them in those segments. The truth is, a 30-year shingle will not really last 30 years. The expected service life of a 30-year product, if properly cared for, is approximately 25 years.
There’s No Such Things as an Algae-Resistant Shingle
There’s more algae on roofs today because manufacturers use crushed limestone within the shingle as a filler so they don’t have to use as much asphalt. Since asphalt is an expensive, petroleum based product, they try to minimize it by using more crushed limestone.
The Best Way to Clean Your Shingles
This fungus is called gloeocapsa magma. It’s a simple fungus that grows on the back side of a tree. It also grows on your roof and attaches to the shingle. It lives on what little oil is in the asphalt and it also really thrives on the crushed limestone, which creates all of the dark streaking on your roof.
Save Money Through Proper Roof Maintenance
You’re going to replace your roof sooner than later. But you’re going to get roughly half the service life out of your roofing system if you don’t maintenance it. You have to maintenance a roof just like your maintenance your car with changing your oil.
Learn How to Paint Roof Shingles
Painting roof shingles can be a somewhat tricky job. There are many things that you must take into consideration before you learn how to paint roof shingles. First, you will need to use the right exterior paint, as well as proper quality tools and colors. The next thing you should consider about painting the roof shingles should be to understand what goes into each step of this process. When it comes to painting roof shingles.
Choose the right paint to ensure that the color on your roof will last as long as possible. It will also help you to get stunning results after painting the roof shingles.
Can You Paint Roof Shingles?
Maybe you have never heard of someone painting their roof, and you are wondering, “Can you paint roof shingles?” The answer is yes, and there are several reasons that someone might want to paint their roof. One reason may be that the roof is merely dull or has an uninspiring looking. A roof might also be painted to change the whole look of the house. If the style of the home is being changed, then the roof’s style may also need to be changed up. So, the answer to “Can you paint roof shingles?” is yes.
There are several benefits of changing the shingle roof color.
Extending the life of the roof: One of the main reasons for painting the roof may be to extend its life. You can get specialized paints that will adhere to different shingle surfaces. These paints can easily survive harsh conditions, in particular, the sun, the most significant element in a roofing’s life.
New look: The roof is always exposed to the sun. The shingle roof color can quickly fade, and painting the roof can make the home look better.
Pros:
Repainting is more affordable than replacing the roof. If the color or style of the roof is your main issue, then painting it will cost you less money than replacing the roof. Another benefit is that the colors can help to improve energy efficiency. The best exterior paint might be capable of reflecting the heat away from the roof. This can help you have lower energy bills during the summer months.