Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Roof Repair

In every home, roof repair is sometimes needed to keep moisture away and keep the structure from rotting. While a well-constructed roof provides many years of service, with all the elements it battles year-round, wear and tear are natural results.
How do you know when it's time to repair or replace your roof? A well-built, well-maintained roof will usually have a lifespan of around 20 years, and you'll definitely know it needs attention from such signs as damaged or loose shingles, a film of moss or algae indicating moisture retention, and visible wear around chimneys, pipes and other penetrations.

Spot roof repair may be possible if the majority of your roof surface has plenty of mileage left in it; Otherwise, there are a few roof replacement strategies to choose from.

A whole new roof is one of them, providing the opportunity for secure sealing, the latest in underlayment materials and flashing, and a longer guarantee of material integrity for a lifespan of 20 years or more. The other is to apply a new roofing layer on top of the old, possible only if your existing roofing is one layer thick and in good condition, has strong decking, and has shingles compatible with the new application.

With a second roof layer, longevity isn't as extensive, being around 25 percent less than that of a single-layered new roof. This is due to the additional heat that will be contained in the original roof and dry out the new layer. If your roof's condition provides the opportunity to choose between these options, consider the number of years you plan to stay in your re-roofed home. If a long haul is in the cards, a whole new roof is the wise choice, while a shorter stay justifies saving cash with the second-layer option.

No comments:

Post a Comment