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San Diego Roofing Contractor Education Platform

Should You Fix Your Roof or Fully Replace It?

Carmen Lawson

The Proper Questions To Get The Proper Solutions

Roof leakage can often evoke panic in building owners and operational managers who have no clue if the fixing work will be fast and cost-efficient or the opposite. Thus, both building owners and administrators should be able to evaluate the scope of the problem to find the most suitable solution. A solution where the building is properly fixed without wasting any time or money. So how can we evaluate the issue and find out if it’s a low, medium, or high priority?

1st step: Assessing the Problem and Its Origins

Not all leaks are the same: they may occur on tiny punctures that can be sealed quickly or they can be apparent indicators of major roofing damage. When building owners and administrators find a leak, they must assess the severity of the damage by evaluating its culprit before coming up with the most suitable fix. For example, did any exterior events emerge that may have aggravated the problem?

Once any prior events can be identified, owners and administrators should be able to collect as many variables as necessary. For example, when or where does the water show up? How much? For instance, if the leak emerges only during rainfall, it may not be a leak but a problem with the HVAC or hydraulic network. Once the managers notice a leak, they should take the following actions quickly:

  • Outline the spot of the leak on the floor using tape. This will make the job of the roofing worker easier and faster. Instead of inspecting a whole 140.000 sq. feet roof, they can easily narrow down their concentration to a 20X20 spot.
  • Note down as much info as necessary to help your roofing experts and set the ground for a successful roof repair.
  • You can also gain important insight by accessing the building’s maintenance records, especially if the problem was formerly noted during a past check but wasn’t treated immediately.

2nd Step: Find The Most Suitable Solution That Matches Your Needs & Budget

Once the facilities administrator or building owner has found the culprit and severity of the problem, the next step is to come up with the most suitable solution that not only fixes the issue, but is also aligned with the owner’s needs, goals, and budget. The following are important factors to take into account:

  • How old is the roof
  • Any previous roof maintenance records/work
  • The building’s use
  • The owner’s plans for the building

For instance, if the owner intends to sell the building in the future, any fixing tasks should be limited to only the most urgent and crucial ones. However, if the building owner intends to keep the building for a longer period, extensive and serious repairs may be the best decision to expand the roof’s lifespan and boost the value of the building. If the issue is broad enough e.g. a dampened insulation or serious wind damage, the initial cost for a total replacement could be more justified and reasonable compared to paying often for minor repairs that add up.

Similarly, buildings that host people or costly equipment clearly need a total repair immediately, whereas uninhabited buildings or those who keep equipment and stuff that is not impacted by water and weather damage might be good candidates for a quick and temporary fix (while the owners improvise a more lasting solution to the problem).

2 Steps To Fix A Leak. Evaluate and Plan

Before owners or facilities managers dive into a solution when they deal with an unexpected leak in their roofs, they should pinpoint the origin of the leak and the severity of the issue. With the proper insight, it’s much easier to evaluate all available options and devise a solution that caters to the owner’s requirements.

Should I Detach The Roof Insulation Before A Roof Replacement?

Carmen Lawson

Thinking of getting a new roof to replace your old one for your San Diego home? You may also wonder what you have to change in your remaining home space e.g. the decking and roof insulation. Perhaps you may need to change, fix, replace or detach the insulation before the new roof replacement takes place. So what does a roofing expert do in this case? Let’s address all these questions and more in this report.

What does an expert actually replace?

Many wonder if they have to take off insulation before the replacement job starts. In the majority of instances, the answer is NO. Provided that your roof’s decking or otherwise the layer beneath the shingles stays put and unaffected by damage, your San Diego roofing manufacturer will probably leave it as it is. Alternatively, they will detach the shingles and asphalt and leave the deck layer intact.

The cavity insulation lays beneath the deck layer, opposite the roof’s studs and sheaths. Thus, there is no valid reason to do any work to your attic’s insulation unless you encounter some kind of impairment on the deck. In this event, you may have to switch insulation once the roofing contractor tears off the deck boards. In reality, many houses with incomplete attics do not have any insulation layers but they are supported by fiberglass batts or loose-fill insulation among the joists laying on the floor. Regardless of the method, the insulation should remain intact while the roofer works on your roof.

Keep in mind that some houses have insulated roofing set-ups such as compact, low-slope, or cathedral shape tops. The constructor may have added solid foam over the deck sheathing in such cases. Here, the expert will reveal the insulation once they take off all the shingles.

However, you won’t have to worry about taking it off, at least in most circumstances. The majority of roofing experts are totally familiar with the insulation process and they will be able to tell if the rigid foam layer requires replacement or not.

Leakage May Bother Your Insulation

When leakage occurs, roof impairment typically occurs as a result. Even if you don’t personally spot any drippings or signs of leakage before the roof replacement, once the contractors remove the shingles, they may reveal moldy, dirty, or shattered deck boards that need to be switched.

If you encounter serious leakage, this is an indicator that excess humidity has penetrated through your insulation. When fiberglass insulation becomes moist, its thermal regulation powers will reduce remarkably. The liquid water molecules mimic the air containers among the glass parts, resulting in the formation of mold and potentially the weakening of insulation. Therefore, if you find that your fiberglass insulation has been dampened along the way, you may need to replace it entirely as soon as possible.

If the roofing expert notices that mold has spread beyond the decking layers to the walls and home interior, they may suggest more drastic measures and methods e.g. getting a mold control service. Typically, however, there will be other indicators of major damage.

Your roofing expert may also check the deck boards and see whether they are too flexible and light–this is an indicator that you have a ⅜” plywood set-up in your roof. Some years ago, the typical standard thickness was ⅜”. However, nowadays, a San Diego roofer usually chooses boards that are ½” or ⅝” thick, making the roof a tad stronger. Thus, in case the expert finds that the previous board is outworn and too thin, they will suggest a replacement.

In this case, the contractor will detach the decking parts that need fixing and swap them for new and sturdier ones. This method though may require the addition of new fiberglass batts as well together with a rigid or fill-in insulation layer, once the new roofing project finishes.

Your Re-Roofing Project is An Ideal Time for Insulation

If you have to get a new attic or roof insulation, the perfect time to do it is when you get a new roof as well. This is particularly ideal if you are having rigid foam insulation, or when you have to detach the roof shingles to reach the sheaths. Occasionally, experts may provide some fill-in insulation assistance as well. They simply detach a part of the deck and place the hoses inwards from the roof’s top, which helps prevent the estimation of excess insulation and throughout the entire surface from the interior. it’s wise at this point to ask your roofer about the entire gamut of their offerings.

Even if you have insulation support already, if you often encounter coldness, this may be a sign that you need more insulation layers. Getting a higher quality insulation system may shrink your yearly energy bills by as much as -$600. A San Diego home energy expert may check your attic insulation structure and inform you if you need a fix or not. Since a great deal of your energy expenditure relies on it, it’s obviously worth the investment.

Thus, even though your new roofing makes a great opportunity to check and possibly fix your insulation, it’s not necessary in all cases to detach it before the roofing work starts. That’s a plus as it will save you some time and effort.

Roof Puncture Causes & Preventive Actions

Carmen Lawson

A roof puncture is a serious roofing problem that should be treated immediately as they leave the roof exposed to leakage, which can damage the home’s interior.

Common Culprits Of Roof Punctures

Roof Punctures can be a result of several problems, but these are the most frequent ones:

Walk Traffic

You will probably ruin or puncture your roofing if you keep walking over it. The shingles won’t be able to tolerate your weight and they may shatter or damage the roof membrane. The puncture or damage will be more apparent if you or others walk on the roof without knowing which sensitive spots to avoid. An old and outworn roof also tends to encounter a puncture more than a new roof installation.

Tree Damage

Roof punctures can also emerge when tree limbs or entire trees hit the roof’s surface. For instance, a decaying tree log may finally free space and push the tree to fall on your roof. The heavier these cracked tree logs are, the biggest the damage will be.

Roof Set-Ups

If you install anything heavy on your roof, it may also encounter punctures. However, don’t proceed with installation unless you can do so carefully. Adding media gadgets, T.V antennas, and rooftop HVAC systems can easily tear down the roof.

The damage emerges when the unit installed doesn’t cover the region around the installations successfully. It can also develop when there are extra holes drilled on the roof and the holes are not connected properly.

Random Tool Falls

Anyone who works on your roof with tools and extras may expose your roof to damage, especially you or an amateur. You may, for example, drop a hammer or other heavy tool accidentally and puncture the roof. These mishaps are most common by amateur and unskilled installers who don’t have the proper systems to organize and protect their tools e.g. bags or gearboxes.

Animals & Pests

Some kinds of animals enjoy walking around rooftops, leading to potential roof damage. Birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other small animals may feed on the weaker spots of the roof and tear the outer roof layer. Roofs with existing damage are also more exposed to wildlife damage since the damaged spots are often easy targets for the animals to exploit.

Heavy Winds

Heavy winds may lead to roof punctures in several ways. For instance, heavy winds may raise or pull off areas of the roof. Heavy winds may also accumulate thick debris on the roof and lead to punctures.

Hailstorms

Hailstorms may lead to heavy punctures on your roof if the storm is heavy enough. The shape, size, density, and speed of the hailstones together with your roof’s age are some important considerations to figure out how much damage the hailstones may inflict.

How To Stop Roof Punctures

Some culprits of roof punctures e.g hailstones are hard to stop. However, the following preventive actions will help stop most types of roof punctures:

  • Avoid any unnecessary feet traffic on the roof
  • Make sure that only qualified installers have access to your roof
  • Keep your roof well-maintained to stop animals from finding weak or ruined spots to damage further.
  • Trim trees near your roof and get rid of weak trees so that they don’t hit the roof
  • Shield roof installation units e.g. antennas to stop heavy winds from tearing them off.

A properly maintained roof is less prone to encounter punctures compared to a badly maintained one. Thus, arrange a maintenance session for your roof if you haven’t done so already.

Let’s hope that the above preventive actions will help you stop any roof punctures. We can take over your roof’s maintenance and minimize the likelihood of damage. We can also help you fix any existing punctures on your roof that need treatment.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Shingle Roofing 

Carmen Lawson

There are several roofing choices nowadays, however shingle roofs remain the No.1 choice among homeowners. The reasons why they are so popular are many–from the fairly low cost of the material to its good appearance. Let’s now examine the advantages and disadvantages of shingle roofing.

The Good Stuff

They are affordable

Asphalt shingles as roof materials are fairly cost-efficient and they are a big reason why they are so commonly used. Provided they are installed properly, asphalt shingles may live up to 17 years–this is not so long compared to other roofing materials like clay tiles and metals, however, their cost-efficiency overpowers long-lasting protection.

Efficiency

While Shingles may not be as long-lasting as other roofing products, tar shingles may offer considerable protection. As they come at a fairly low cost and offer satisfactory protection, many homeowners deem them as a cost-efficient choice.

Style & Fit

A nice-looking roof adds an attractive touch to your house and that is certainly an important consideration when you intend to sell your home in the future. One of the pros of getting tar shingles is that they are externally moldable and come in several styles to suit your home’s style: 3-tab, laminated or premium versions. Furthermore, asphalt shingles come in various colors as well with black and brown being the most commonly picked colors, but you may also go for blue, green, or red color. This makes tar shingles incredibly versatile and able to match various home styles without looking weird.

Easy Set-Up

Tar shingles are more lightweight compared to other roofing products and they are also easy to train and install afterward. Additionally, they require less preparation work and no special equipment is necessary, making the set-up much easier than other roofing products.

Separate Shingles May Be Replaced

A rightly installed and solid shingle roof can last for several years to come, but it can deteriorate after some time due to chronic wear-and-tear. Even if the shingles damaged are one or two, replacing these is not hard at all.

Drawbacks of Shingle Roofing

High vulnerability to wind

Shingle roofs are more susceptible to wind uplifts, which can slide them off and leave them exposed to water leaks.

They are not recommended in freezing climates

Shingles perform their best when they are installed in warmer climates as opposed to snowy and freezing climates. Heavy and snowy conditions may result in cracking the shingles during their installation.

Development of Mildew Is A Common Sign In Shingle Roofs

If the shingle roof is not maintained properly, mildew can easily grow on the shingles and expand in shielded roof spots. To prevent this from happening, you have to get your roof nice and clean occasionally.

They are not ecological

Tar shingles are a partially solid petroleum by-product and thus they are not an ecological roofing choice. They also lead to high energy waste and greenhouse gas production during their making. Other roofing materials are more sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

How to Treat Leaked Skylights

Carmen Lawson

Leaky skylights are one of the most frequent problems that homeowners have to tackle. Several years ago, skylights were found only in wealthy homes to add an elegant and unique touch. Nowadays, though, most houses have skylights. These are architectural components that allow the natural sunlight to enter the home and make it look brighter and more open. But, a leak in the skylight area can ruin the look and purpose of skylights if it’s not treated promptly. Thus, here is what you need to do if you notice a leak there.

Why Do Skylights Leak In The First Place?

Property constructors may have used cheap and low-quality parts to limit costs
Improper installation of skylights can also result in leakage–improper installation of the sidewall, flashing, pan metal, top tip screws, and lower nails can result in skylight leakage.

Outowen window seals e.g. the seal that supports the window panel may deteriorate with time as a result of exposure to climate elements around or at the corners of the window seal, damaging the sealing and resulting in leaks.

A leak could also be a sign of condensation developing on the interior of the glass during wintertime. A random roof leak over the skylight that reaches the opening in the ceiling may also lead to a leak.

How To Pinpoint Leaky Skylights?

An extensive check is necessary to spot a skylight leakage and it’s always a wise idea to seek the services of expert roofing contractors for more efficient treatment of the issue.

  • Inspect the surface surrounding the skylight from inside out to pinpoint any moistened spots. If you are doing the work on your own, make sure that you follow the right safety measures.
  • Clean out the debris, leaves, and twigs that may have piled up on the skylight and look for signs of cracking
  • Make sure to also check the flashings and shingles surrounding the sky carefully, if they are rightly added and in good working condition. If the shingles pop out, you should replace them as soon as possible.

The flashing aims to form a waterproof seal between the skylight and the roof. Any indicators of damage such as holes or corrosion mean that you should repair your flashing promptly. If, however, your flashing looks completely ruined, you will have to get a new one.

How To Repair Leaked Skylights

If you notice any cracks on the skylight after clearing away the debris, you can close the cracks with a silicone layer along its whole length. You may also use roofing mortar to patch any loops or empty spots along the flashing surface.

You may also need to fix or replace the metal flashing surrounding the outline of the skylight by contacting expert roofing contractors.

If you intend to go DIY, aim to tackle the easier fixes with silicone adhesive or roofing mortar first before doing more challenging works e.g. replacing the flashing.