Despite being one of the biggest and most necessary elements of your home, roofs are often the most neglected. Only after the roof starts to leak do many homeowners recall the importance of maintenance, repair and care. Like most subjects in life, there are myths surrounding the various aspects of your roof. We at First Choice Roofing would like to relate a handful of the most common myths and dispel them.
Are Gutters Part of the Roofing System?
Roofing and gutters, though gutters are an accessory of sorts, go hand-in-hand with your roof and are equally important. To ensure the water is properly diverted from the structures, the gutters are a finishing touch. As they are often included in a new roof installation, as well as the down spot, gutters help prevent the exterior walls from over saturation. Maintenance for gutters and down spout is crucial. Make certain leaves, sticks, dirt, mud, moisture, and wildlife nests among the other debris is periodically cleared out and routinely inspect for any signs of damage.
Do I Need to Remove Old Shingles Before Installing New?
Removing the old shingles is often recommended for a number of reasons, though building code does allow a second layer of shingles to be installed over the first. You can see signs of damage after removing the old shingles and exposing the raw roof. You can restore the roof after removing the shingles if you discover deterioration, wood rot, leaks, inadequate ventilation, or even mold.
Is it Possible to Put Too Much Insulation in Your Attic?
Many turns to the attic’s insulation in an effort conserve energy and enhance the performance of the roof. However, too much insulation can be just as detrimental as not enough. Over insulating can obstruct ventilation openings at the soffits and eave in addition to moisture containment, among other issues. When the moisture is confined, the sheathing found in the interior of attics can rot, warp, and even lead to a mold outbreak. If you are unsure about your attic’s insulation mass, call in a professional for guidance.
Are All Asphalt Shingles the Same?
There are quite a few options when it comes to roofing materials. You need to consider the shingle designed and pre-treatments as they are specific to the climate conditions and other problems in the area. Different materials, designs, pretreated differently to meet the needs of the environment and homeowner’s tastes.
Should Flashing Be Replaced with New Roof?
Installed on rooftops the chimneys, pipes, vents and other rooftop openings, the flashing, often engineered from metal material. Both sturdy and durable, the flashing is a functionable that often outlasts the other roofing components. Despite the longevity, it can fall short within a few months of installation under the right circumstances. As a part maintenance, every 6 months the flashing should be inspected. When you inspect the flashing, look for dried-out caulk or sealant, flawed or damaged flashing segments, and look for any shingles in contact with the flashing. Call a professional for repairs if you discover any of these.
Roof, Siding & Seamless Gutter Exterior Remodeling Contractors in Reading, Wyomissing, Blandon, Shillington, Ephrata, Columbia, Lititz, Millersville, Mount Joy and Lancaster, PA | Berks & Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
First Choice Roofing hopes we have cleared up some roofing myths today and helped set the record straight. Call us for all your roofing needs!
