Month: March 2021

Total Roof Protection – Synthetic or Felt Underlayment?

Roofing underlayment is one of many essential components that make up a roof.

Available in multiple types, this seemingly insignificant layer places under the exterior roofing materials actually plays a critical role in how well any roof installation done by a professional roofing company performs.

Before assuming any underlayment product used by a roofer will work on your roof, it is important to understand how they work and which products work better for which applications.

What Is The Purpose Of Underlayment?

Underlayment is a thin protective layer that roofing companies install between the roof decking and external roofing materials.

It is a breathable, water-resistant barrier that protects a roof from moisture that might get under the shingles or other exterior materials.

Although a professional roof installation job would normally be watertight on its own, the underlayment provides secondary protection to the decking in case any moisture does seep under the shingles.

Because underlayment is water-resistant rather than waterproof, it also allows for a certain amount of breathability to aid roof ventilation.

Felt Vs. Synthetic Underlayment - Pros and Cons

There are two types of underlayment used by roofers today: felt and synthetic.

Although they both serve the same purpose, each has definite pros and cons that should be considered before choosing the one appropriate for your roof.

Felt Underlayment - A fabric made of fiberglass fibers and asphalt, felt underlayment is one of the first materials ever used by roofing companies to provide an element of water-tightness to any roof.

PRO

  • Readily available in multiple sizes and thicknesses for nearly any application from most suppliers.
  • Less costly as it is made from less-expensive materials, much more cost-effective for the right roof.

CON

  • Prone to tearing as this less durable material can tear more easily.
  • Heavier and can add significantly more weight when installed on a roof and take longer to install.
  • May absorb water and become wrinkled under the shingles.
  • Slippery which makes it unsafe to work on and more challenging to install.
  • Some warranty Issues as roofers and roofing product manufacturers may void warranties if felt underlayment is used.

Synthetic Underlayment - A fabric made of synthetic polymers, synthetic underlayment has become a popular choice for many roofing companies due to its many positive attributes in comparison to standard felt underlayment.

PRO

  • More moisture-resistant, non-absorbent, and repels moisture.
  • Lightweight and faster to install with 1/4th the weight of traditional underlayment.
  • Durable, strong, and tear-resistant.
  • Non-slip surface that is much safer for a roofing installation.
  • Recommended by most materials manufacturers and professional roofing companies.

CONS

  • Depending on type and thickness, synthetic may be up to four times the price of comparable felt underlayment.

Which Underlayment Is Best for Your Roof?

Underlayment is something that every roof needs, regardless of the type chosen.

Although standard felt underlayment is great to use in drier regions where moisture is not much of a concern or when cost is a limiting factor, synthetic underlayment is much preferred by most roofing companies because of its many positive features.

Discuss the options with your roofer before finalizing any roofing job!

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When To Consider Buying Impact Resistant Roofing Shingles!

Storms happen and when they bring hail with them, expensive hail damage roof repair can be the result.

If you live in an area where this kind of damage occurs frequently, one option to consider is impact resistant roofing.

Designed to withstand the impact of most hail, it could be a great investment if you have previously had to pay hail damage roofers to repair the roof on your home or building.

About Class 4 Impact Resistant Shingle Roofing

Impact resistant roofing shingles are great protection against hail damage that can result in extensive physical damage to many types of roofs and the resulting need for costly widespread hail damage roofing repairs.

The impact resistance of roofing products is rated to indicate the severity of the impact that can be withstood without damage.

It is determined using a steel ball test in which a 2” steel ball is dropped from a height of 20 feet onto various roofing materials, after which the amount of damage caused to the material is measured.

When dropped onto a concrete paver, the ball will break it in half and Class 4 is the highest impact rating, meaning it exhibits no or very little damage from the ball.

According to hail damage roofers, hail resistant roofing is rated with Class 4 impact resistance, the highest rating of any product and it should be able to withstand a strike from 2” hail without being damaged.

Standard shingles usually have an impact resistance rating of only 2 or 3, meaning they can only withstand impact from smaller hail.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Installing Impact Resistant Shingles?

The list of pros and cons associated with installing hail damage roofing like impact resistant shingles is fairly short, making it easy to decide whether it will be beneficial or not:

PRO

  • Withstands damage from hail up to 2” or more or comparable flying debris.
  • Protects structure against unseen damage that develops over time when shingles have been dented or cracked by hail.
  • Reduces the expense of hail damage roof repair, and may also lower insurance premiums and deductibles in areas where hail damage is common.

CON

  • Considered a premium roofing product, so the price is higher.
  • Not necessarily more wind-resistant than standard shingles - the rating applies only to impact resistance.

When and Where Are Impact Resistant Roofing Shingles Recommended?

Although anyone can install hail damage roofing like impact resistant shingles on their home or building, it is primarily cost-effective when the risk of impact damage is significant.

The more storms that occur in your area especially if there has been hail before, the more helpful that impact resistant roofing shingles can be.

More recently, it has been highly cost-effective in the central states of Texas, Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, and Nebraska that routinely see 300+ hail storms each year, with Texas and Nebraska seeing approximately 500 hailstorms each storm season.

Prevent Hail Damage With Protective Impact Resistant Roofing Shingles

When it is large enough, hail can be one of the most destructive forces of nature, destroying roofs that will then need extensive hail damage roof repair.

The cost of hail damage roofing repair can be high, sometimes necessitating an entire roofing replacement.

For those in hail-prone regions, impact resistant roofing that does cost more than standard shingles does provide excellent protection against this damage, reducing the chance of needing hail damage roofers out to make necessary repairs.

Got Hail Damaged Roofing in Conroe Texas?

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Here’s A Checklist To Identify Storm Damage to Your Roof!

It is storm season in Texas and for many home and building owners, that might mean storm damage that requires roofing repair.

What is a good way to know if your roof sustained damage and you need to get roofing repair services?

Use this quick and handy checklist to check out your roof after the bad weather subsides to detect hail and wind damage and other problems that need attention right away to salvage your roof!

1. Know What To Look For

Storms in Texas can produce a variety of weather issues, ranging from hurricane-force winds to baseball-sized hail to torrential rains.

Any of these can cause damage that needs the immediate attention of a roof repair services.

By knowing what to look for after the bad weather subsides, you can easily identify the damage and then take the appropriate measures to get storm damage roofers to repair the roof before it progresses into worse problems that could eventually threaten the entire home or building.

Types of storm damage seen on roofs may include?

  • Wind Damage - Look for missing, bent, broken, or loose shingles as well as flashing over the roof.
  • Hail Damage - Larger hail results in more damage like dents, cracks, and breaks it any roof.
  • Leaks or Pooled Water - Leaks noticeable under the roof or standing water on it can result when roofing materials have been damaged.
  • Debris Damage - Objects blown onto the roof can damage exterior materials or even perforate the roof.

2. Make A Visual Assessment

Now that you know what kind of damage can occur after a storm, look for the signs that would require calling a storm damage roofer to make some repairs.

Wait until it is safe, then do a preliminary visual assessment of your roof to look for following problem areas.

  • Roof - Using binoculars from the ground and looking out any windows that offer a view of the roof, inspect it from all sides looking for broken, cracked, torn, or dented exterior materials that could require roofing repair.
  • Flashing and Vents - Look at all the flashing and seals around protrusions and vents as well as in angles and corners to ensure the flashing is all there and not bent or otherwise damaged and no longer water tight.
  • Gutters - Check all gutters around the whole building looking for missing, storm damaged, or clogged sections preventing proper drainage.
  • Attic - Go inside the attic and look for signs of active or old storm damaged roofing leaking in the form of stained or rotting beams, wet or damp insulation, holes allowing light to shine through the roof, and stored items that have been water damaged.

3. Call An Experienced Storm Damage Roofer

If you find any of the above storm damage after bad weather, it is time to have a storm damage roofer examine the roof.

Leaving what may seem like minor problems for later can result in much greater damage and eventually more expensive roof repairs.

If you don’t already have a trusted storm damage roof repair service, get referrals from friends or online to find an experienced contractor to look at your roof and provide a detailed estimate of the necessary roofing repair that includes pricing and warranty information.

Have more than one estimate done to compare noted damage and fees to be sure of getting complete repairs at a fair price.

Pay Attention After Every Storm

Spring and fall are active storm seasons in Texas, with many storms causing extensive roof damage as they pass through.

As repetitive as it may seem, it is important to go through this easy checklist after every bout of bad weather to ensure your home has not sustained wind damage, hail damage, or some other storm-related concern.

If you have any questions about the condition of your roof or see something that looks out of the ordinary, err on the side of safety by having a qualified storm damage roofer do an inspection before the next storm hits!

Need Storm Damage Roof Repair in Conroe Texas?

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Fixing Hail Damage – What It Could Cost to Restore Your Roof!

Of all the things that can damage a roof, hail can be the worst.

Depending on the extent of the damage and how widespread it is, hail damage roofing repair can be quite costly, too.

If your roof has been affected by hail, it is essential to have a roof repair company look at it before assuming everything is fine.

Even what seems like minor damage from the surface can be hiding bigger issues that will cause more extensive damage over time and costlier repairs.

Understanding Hail Damage

Hail damage can be sneaky, which makes it so important to have a roofing repair service check your roof after a hail storm.

Though dents and dings are easy to see on metal roofs as are broken or chipped shingles and tiles on ceramic and slate roofs, this is not always the case with dimensional or asphalt roofs that are more common across the country.

When architectural or dimensional shingles are hit by hail, a number of things might happen, some of which require roofing repair.

  • There might be no damage at all if it was lighter hail.
  • Hail could dent the shingles or remove some of the protective granular coating on the top of them which might seem minor yet still demands an inspection by a roof repair company.
  • Larger hail can actually crack or break shingles.
  • Although least noticeable by the naked eye but highly damaging overall, shingles impacted by hail can flex and crack on the underside, allowing water to get in over time so that everything under the shingles slowly rots away.

How Much Will Repairs Cost?

The cost of hail damage roof repair services will vary greatly depending on the:

  • Type of roof being repaired.
  • Extent of the damage.
  • What type of repair needs to be made.

Regardless of the type, a few chipped, cracked, or broken shingles can be easily repaired for a relatively low cost in comparison to repairing more extensive damage.

According to roofers, metal roofs may not need any repair at all if you can deal with the dents and dings or depending on how much of the roof is damaged, the other option is to replace each affected panel with the cost related to the damage.

Asphalt shingles present a different hail damage repair problem as they may look fine on the outside but have considerable damage underneath.

If there is widespread loss of the top granular coating or many dented or cracked shingles, the wise solution is to replace the whole roof.

Additionally, if your shingle roof is already older or in bad shape, roofers advise that the likelihood is high of more extensive damage that needs a total replacement.

Minimize Damage with A Prompt Roof Inspection

When a possibility of hail damage exists, it is critical to have your roof inspected quickly by a roofing company to detect hidden hail damage that requires repair.

The less obvious damage like dents and cracks or even broken adhesive seals are what can cause even more harm over time than the hail itself.

Having roofers tend to any problems sooner rather than later will prevent widespread water damage like rot that can destroy an entire roof from beneath the seemingly fine shingles.

Therefore, the true cost of repairing hail damage depends on finding all damaged roofing materials to prevent additional deterioration from happening.

Also note that how much your homeowner's insurance will pay to repair this damage depends on your policy; however, the longer you wait to look for potential problems, the greater the chance your claim could be viewed as neglect and denied.

Reduce Cost By Getting Hail Damage Repaired Fast

Hail can produce different degrees of damage to a roof depending on the roofing materials, hail size and severity of impact, age and condition of the roof, and many other variables.

Though some damage is more obvious, much of the hail damage that requires roofer repair is invisible to the untrained eye.

Your best chance to keep repair costs lower is to schedule an inspection with a roof repair service right after a hail storm and take it from there.

Prevent the additional damage that can come from unseen leaks to keep repair costs as reasonable as possible!

Need Hail Damage Roofing Repair in Conroe Texas?

Contact Roofers Conroe for Expert Roofing Repair Services!

Call (936) 209-2162 Right Away!