Roofing FAQs | Questions & Answers

Don’t check out and fix a leak until the rain stops. Not only is there no way to quickly patch a leak, but your safety could be compromised on a slippery, wet roof. Wait until it stops raining and the roof is completely dry before attempting to repair it. Be sure to use all proper precautions when climbing onto a roof, especially if has a steep pitch on it. If you spot a leak and do not know how to properly fix it, give us a call and we can get out there to fix it for your properly.

Faulty shingles are the most common cause of a leaking roof, but structural problems can also be to blame. If the sides of your home have dry rot, water can enter your home there as well. Just checking the roof is not enough. Consider all the other possible places that water can get in so that you end the problem completely. Often times, cracked boots and improperly installed flashing around a chimney can allow water to penetrate the roof surface.

Yes! When you’re thinking of roofing, you should always be aware of what the climate is like. Roofing materials made of clay work great when the climate is dry and they help cool down homes. These tiles in a rainy area can make your roof deteriorate quickly. As always, if you aren’t sure, you should ask your roofing contractor for advice. Typically, you should go with what is mostly used in the general area you live in. If you are looking for a customized look, talk to your roofing company to see if this is something that is practical and achievable in the area you live in.

You want at least a 3-5 year warranty. You’ll want a warranty that’ll cover things such as issues with the materials or workmanship. You’ll also want a copy of the manufacturer’s warranties. There are different warranties for different brands of shingles. You will want to speak with your roofing contractor to know what type of warranty the shingles you are purchasing have.

A roofer who works on their own can wind up costing you more money than someone with a team of workers. A team of roofers will finish the job faster, which will often result in a cheaper final product. If you do the job yourself and do not have the right background or expertise to do it properly, you may end up jeopardizing the safety of your home in the future.

There are many times when a roof leak is discovered after it has already damaged the interior of the home. Periodic yearly inspections are key to a sound roof. When inspecting the roof on your home, check for loose granules and exposed fiberglass, which are a sure sign that your shingles are failing. Be sure to check for punctures, cracks and loose shingles throughout the roof. Make sure that all flashing is still in its proper place. Also be sure to check for warped shingles or warped surfaces, which may be a direct result of a leak or from poor ventilation in the attic.

Not always. There are many reasons as to why a roof may be leaking. There may be a small section that needs to be repaired, pipe boots that need to be changed or flashing fixed. If the roof was improperly installed originally, however, the best option is always to have it completely replaced with a quality roofing system by quality installers like Home Evolution.

3 tab shingles typically have a single size, repeating tab, while dimensional or architectural shingles tend to be different sizes, shapes and thicker to make it look more dimensional. Architectural shingles often vary in coloration to enhance it to look even more dimensional. Architectural shingles are usually around 50% thicker and much heavier than 3 tab shingles. Since they are made to be more durable, architectural shingles have a longer warranty on them. 3 tab shingles have become less and less popular, although they are an option where a short term, economical option is needed. Home Evolution recommends architectural shingles to be used on all of our customer’s homes to ensure a maximum lifespan and protection.

Ice damming occurs when there is ice buildup near the edges of the roof where the interior heat escapes into the attic, and out of the vents under the soffits. This warm air mixed with the cold air on the roof allowing the snow to melt but then quickly freeze on the shingles from the cold exterior temperatures. The culprit to this problem is the lack of insulation in the attic. An adequate amount of insulation will not allow the warm air to escape into the attic from the interior of the home.

If you see ice buildup on the roof of your home, do not try to remove it with something that has a sharp edge as it will puncture and damage the shingles and remove the granules on the shingles themselves. Contact a qualified roofing contractor like Home Evolution to ensure that the ice damming is properly removed and that the problem is fixed so that it does not return in the future.

Although New York state does allow a second roof layer to be applied on top of the previous layer, this is not recommended. Why?

First, it is good to get down to the roof deck to see how sound the previous installation is. If you place a new layer of shingles on top of a decaying or problematic roof deck, this significantly reduces the lifespan of your new roof and does not necessarily get rid of potential roof leaks.

Second, most manufacturer warranties are made void when the new layer of shingles is installed on top of the old layer and not stripped down to the roof deck.

Home Evolution only installs shingles from quality trusted shingles manufacturers like IKO, GAF, Owens Corning and Certainteed. We never recommend installing 3 tab shingles on your home as they have a short lifespan and are visually unappealing.