The roof on top of your house is one of the most important parts of your home’s architecture, and its construction should be durable and last for a long time. While it’s normal for your roof to become a bit weathered over a long period of time, there are some types of damage that require your immediate attention and may even require repairing or replacing your roof.
Damage to your roof can be serious—even a small hole in your roof can be devastating, especially in heavy rain. While a leaky roof is one of the main reasons people seek professional roof restoration, it’s not the only reason to get your roof inspected or fixed. Damaged shingles, poor construction, and the use of organic shingles are all common reasons people need to have their roof professionally repaired.
Damaged shingles
Regardless of the type of shingle used to construct your roof, damaged shingles can be a big problem for your home. It’s common for shingles to decay, curl, break apart, crumble, and even fall off. If this is happening to your roof, it may be time to have it inspected by a professional. While not every damaged shingle needs to be replaced, it’s best to let the experts make the determination.
Poor construction
Sometimes when you have your roof replaced or redone, the roofers will simply add a second layer of roofing material on top of the first, essentially doubling up your layers. While this is a common practice and isn’t always a bad idea, sometimes it can be.
Building codes require that when a roof already has two layers of roofing, before installing a new roof, the existing layers must be stripped down to the sheathing—one of the deeper, foundational layers of the roof. This ensures the layers added aren’t too heavy for your home to handle, as some heavier types of shingles (like slate) can place more stress on the structure of your home.
Organic asphalt shingles
The intention behind the inception of organic asphalt shingles was that by using organic materials saturated in asphalt, the shingles would be more biodegradable when they hit the landfills later on. The companies who created these shingles believed they would last for 25-30 years. What they discovered was that these shingles lasted just a few years, especially in locations with a harsh climate.
Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed against these companies for misrepresenting the lifespan of these shingles. Because of this, Iron River Construction has been replacing these failing roofs for many years with high quality materials and a 50-year labor and material warranty.
Choosing a material that’s right for your home
Shingles and other roofing supplies come in a variety of materials that may or may not be appropriate for your specific home. Below is an overview of the five main types of shingles people use to construct their roof.
1. Asphalt
Asphalt shingles are the most popular type of shingle because they are lightweight, inexpensive, and have a relatively long lifespan. The downside is they can decay with sudden weather changes and can require more frequent maintenance, especially in windy climates.
Although they are not environmentally friendly, a redeeming quality for asphalt shingles is they can be recycled and used for paving.
2. Wood
Wood shingles are a popular choice because of their aesthetic appeal—for example, redwood shingles can make your house look beautiful. Since wood is an organic material, these types of shingles can be prone to decay and moss. Although they require more maintenance than asphalt, shingles made from wood are durable, have a lifespan of 25 years, and can be energy efficient.
3. Clay
Clay shingles can be a bit expensive, although they can add aesthetic charm to your home’s external appearance. Because clay naturally reflects the sunlight, clay shingles are energy efficient and will help you maintain a cool home during hot summer days. Clay shingles can last for 100 years or more, which explains why many Spanish tile roofs are still intact.
Much like slate, clay shingles are one of the heaviest roofing material choices. Before committing to redoing your roof with clay shingles, you’ll want to make sure the structure of your home can support their weight.
4. Slate
Slate shingles are the heavy hitter of all shingles. They are the most durable—having a lifespan that will outlive your mortgage—but they can also be the most expensive.
Most slate shingles are quarried in the Northeastern part of the U.S., and are durable enough to handle a large amount of snow, making slate a popular choice for that area.
Slate is a heavy stone, and much like clay shingles, installing a slate tiled roof will require your home to have the appropriate structural strength to hold the weight.
5. Concrete
If you live in a climate with stormy weather, concrete tiles are going to be a great option for you because they can withstand high winds of 120 miles per hour. Also, due to concrete’s ability to absorb heat, a roof tiled with concrete can help you reduce your energy bills by maintaining a natural, cool temperature in your home.
You could have a new roof in just a few days
Replacing your roof doesn’t have to be a huge project. Many professional crews can get the job done in just a few days, putting less strain on you and your family. And when you replace your roof with an energy efficient material, you’ll be satisfied with the amount of money you’ll save on your next heating and cooling bill.
Let the roofing experts help
If you’re looking for ways to make your home more energy efficient, are experiencing problems with your roof, or just want to know what your options are, we can help. Schedule an appointment today with Iron River Construction, and one of our experts will do a live inspection to determine how we can best meet your roofing needs.
