HOME June-July 2010 : Page 30
Shingles, Gutters, Cleaning, Oh My!
The roof of a home acts as a protector. It protects the house from the moisture that Mother Nature so graciously brings upon us during those summer months when the rain pours down viciously at least once a day.
Besides its role as the ultimate defender against rampant rainfall, the roof has another key function. It allows the house to breathe. If it was not for the systematic exhalation that the roof provides, the inside of a home would be extremely stuffy and humid. The only thing worse than living in an uncomfortable home is paying exorbitant energy bills in an effort to have some sort of sanctuary away from the blistering heat.
Contrary to popular belief, attic space serves a loftier purpose than just housing next year’s Christmas decorations.
The combination of the roof and attic space functions like a thermostat, trapping heat into the home when it gets chilly, or supplying much-needed shade when the sun beats brutally into your living room. This temperature resuscitation provided by a well-constructed roof and the presence of an attic drastically decreases the dreaded energy bill.
To boost the money-saving process during these steamy summer months, make sure your roof is properly ventilated.
Keith Perry, owner of Perry Roofi ng Contractors in Gainesville, which has specialized in residential and commercial roofs for nearly 35 years, said the most common form of ventilation is the ridge vent that runs across the top of the roof, allowing hot air to escape the attic. You can also choose to have power ventilators that are thermostatically controlled. When the attic reaches a certain temperature, the power ventilators kick in to quickly release the heat.
Refl ectivity of the shingles atop your roof is another key component to keeping your house at a bearable temperature without emptying your wallet.
“If the shingles that cover your roof have a high refl ectivity, they transfer less heat into your home,” Perry said. “When the shingle’s refl ectivity is lower, more heat enters the home.” What is it about these tiny square sheets that gallantly defl ect the sun’s merciless rays? On the top layer of a shingle lie ceramic granules that refl ect the UV rays off of the roof.
When these granules start to corrode because of excess moisture, wind damage, pressure or aging, they create dark black areas that instead, absorb the sun’s heat. When you begin to see these dark black areas, Perry said, it is almost time for a new roof.
If you begin to see your shingles curl, like the way construction paper does when it comes unglued, then your roof is in defi nite need of replacement as well.
Curling, buckling, molding and blackening- these are all things homeowners must be vigilant about when it comes to their roof. Also keep in mind that roofs should be replaced after about 20 years, according to the Asphalt Roofi ng Manufacturers Association.
If these warning signs are lingering over your head, start thinking of what kind of roof you want.
“We recommend doing research to see what is available, see what you like and what you don’t like,” Barry Billings, the manager of the Gainesville branch of Gulf eagle Supply, a nationwide distributor of residential and commercial roofi ng and building products, said.
The most common material used on residential roofs is the architectural asphalt shingle, Billings said. Its popularity stems from the shingle’s durability and 30-year warranty.
When it comes to going green, like so many homeowners are doing these days, there are new and improved shingles that have up to 78 percent refl ectivity, which Perry said is a substantial increase from the shingle’s average refl ectivity.
If you want to be absolutely sure that you are not only helping the environment, but helping your stress level as energy bill time dismally approaches, ENERGY STAR® rated shingles are the way to go. Homeowners who choose these highly recommended shingles receive up to a $1,500 tax credit and can save up to 50 percent on their energy bills, according to the ENERGY STAR® Web site.
“They have been tested to meet a certain refl ectivity to help reduce heat, which reduces the requirement of energy by the home to maintain a comfortable living space,” Billings said.
There is no law that says a roof can’t look good while it is saving you money and the world around you energy. There are many designer shingles that can create a more appealing look for your home, more so than the everyday architectural shingle, Billings said. These include shingles such as the TAMKO® Lama rite® slate composite shingles or the DECRA® stone coated steel shingles which are sleeker looking, but usually more expensive.
We’ve tackled the particulars of a roof and its purpose but what about assembly?
What about making sure the money you spent to create an effi cient, sturdy roof isn’t being thrown away on haphazard installation?
“Ninety percent of roof failures are caused by labor,” Perry said.
Roofs are most commonly installed incorrectly around the fl ashings, or the intersections and projections of a roof, like around chimneys or dormers.
Improper installation not only endangers those living underneath the roof, but the roof’s warranty.
“A homeowner may get a shingle manufacturer’s warranty,” Perry said, “but the warranty is only as good as the backing and the roofi ng company that installs it,” Be sure to have your roof inspected both during and after the re-roofi ng proces To ensure proper installation and future damage prevention. According the National Roof Certifi cation and Inspection Association, prevention costs far less than replacing or fi xing a damaged roof.
Once a roof is installed and checked, the work is not over. Just like cleaning a diamond ring to keep it shining on your fi nger, Perry said clean your roof every two to four years to keep it dazzling atop your house.
Cleaning your roof will not only catch the eye of admiring neighbors, but it more importantly extends the life of the roof. However, using pressure and a bleach or chlorine solution to clean your roof is just as bad as not cleaning it at all. Pressure blows the granules off of the shingle which causes premature roof failure, while bleach and chlorine can ruin the surrounding fl owers and plants that you spent endless hours toiling over.
“There are a lot of biodegradable products on the market that are much better for your roof when it comes to cleaning,” Perry said.
One of the most popular biodegradable roof cleaning products on the market is called Roof-A-Cede®.
This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved material kills the algae and fungus that builds up on a roof without destroying the shingles, leaving the roof healthier and more attractive June and July, otherwise known as the rain season, activate the algae and fungus infestation, which usually occurs, Perry said, on the north side of the roof where it tends to stay a little more moist.
Proper drainage is crucial in surviving the rain season. Without the help of unclogged gutters, rain water would collect on top of your roof, causing the plywood underneath the roof to rot, then allowing mold to frequently set up camp in your home.
Gutters must be cleaned out at least twice a year during fall and spring, once all the leaves have fallen, Kevin Layne, owner of Screen Doctors LLC in Gainesville, said.
According to Layne, leaves and pine needles are the most common culprits of clogging gutters.
“If the gutters are not cleaned out, the leaf buildup causes moisture build-up, which then ruins the fascia wood that supports the gutters on the edge of the roof,” he said.
If the gutters acquire too many leaves and pine needles, they can also break loose and fall.
Not to worry, there is a way to prevent such horror from happening. Gutter covers help to prevent clogging and moisture build-up.
Layne strongly recommends covers that go over the top of the gutter that keeps leaves and pine needles from entering it. There are also sponge-like gutter covers that fi t inside of the gutter, letting only water fl ow through.
A roofi ng system is one functional unit. The gutters, the shingles and the vents all work together to protect the home and those living inside of it, all while stabilizing your home’s internal temperature and saving you money.
It’s important to maintain that unit. It is, after all, the home’s protector.
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