Roof failure is one of the leading causes of damage to homes. This is why we recommend keeping your roof in good shape so water, mold, fungus and fire do not damage your home. Here are the problems you should look for if you are worried about your roof.

• Asphalt: The main things that we look for when deciding if an asphalt roof needs replacement are De-lamination, loss of granules, torn shingles, and hail damage.

1. De-lamination: De-lamination occurs when the adhesives and solvents of the shingle wear out and cause the shingle to no longer have any bond to each other. This results in flapping shingles.

   
   

2. Loss of granules: The Granules in asphalt roofing are the main defense shingles have against U.V damage, weather and hail. When the Granules wear out the shingles quickly lose the petroleum solvents that keep the shingles bonded and pliable. Once the solvents have evaporated, the shingles become brittle and build up moisture on the roof deck. Causing the roof decking to rot over time.

   
   

3. Torn and blown off shingles: When shingles blow off it typically means they have dry rotted and the granules are no longer protecting the shingles. Shingles can also blow off during cold installation periods if not installed with proper cold weather sealants.

• Cedar roofs: Cedar roofs are notorious for being improperly installed and require much more preparation than most roofing types. The main ways to extend the life of Cedar Shakes is to do routine oiling and to install air spacing membranes under the shingles for ventilation.

1. Splitting: Splitting occurs when the shakes dry out or if the wrong fasteners are used during install. Routine oiling allows Cedar shakes to expand and contract with weather changes and repel water.

   
   

2. Rot: Although cedar is an excellent wood for high moisture areas it still needs maintenance just like any other wood product. Rot occurs when the shakes start taking in moisture and become water logged. Installing an air spacing membrane under the shakes allows ventilation on the top and bottom the shingles allowing faster drying. keeping the shakes oiled also keeps the pores closed, repelling water from entering the wood.

   
   

3. Sun Damage: Sun damage occurs when the oils in cedar disappear and dry out. Causing them to warp and crack. This can be avoided by periodic oiling.

• Metal roofing: Metal roofs are very durable and need little to no maintenance. Failures are normally caused by excessive snow load, improper installation, rust, screw failure or rotten roof sheathing. The most common leaks points are transitions in the metal such as skylights, pitch changes, roof boots or any other areas prone to water damming.

1. Excessive snow load: Ice damming causes water to move underneath the roof panel, in turn sending water onto the roof deck or valleys. Ice damming is normally caused by transitions, improper snow brake placement or roofs obstructions like pipes or vents.

2. screw failure: If you notice lots of screw heads popped up and not installed flush there is a good chance the wrong size screw was used during installation. This can be remedied by replacing the previous screws with a more coarse thread screw with a larger diameter.

   
   

3. Rotten roof sheathing: If you notice that your roof has areas that are sagging or your attic has heavily discolored sheathing. This could be a sign of rotten roof sheathing. This would usually require sheathing replacement, roof replacement and possibly rafter replacement depending on the amount of rot.