Question 1

I Installed A 30 Year Shingle ​Should Be Good For 30 Years&#8230;Right?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, that is not true. The manufacturer's guarantee is a bit deceiving.

The 30-year manufacturer warranty (or 25, 40, or lifetime) is against manufacturer’s defects. Most new roof structures are designed to supply beneficial services ranging from 15, 20 even 25 years. Some roof system types such as slate and metal structures can last longer.

The actual roof system life span is determined by way of a wide variety of factors, including local climatic and environmental conditions, suitable building and roof system design, quality and suitability, ideal application and adequate roof maintenance.

Therefore, a 30 yr shingle will most likely not last 30 years. We have seen 30-year shingles need to be changed after 10 years due to extreme climatic and environmental conditions. Roofing product manufacturers provide a range of warranties on their products.

Take a close look at these warranties to see what duties and financial responsibilities manufacturers will assume if their merchandise fails to reach their product's life expectancy.

Question 2

How Can I Spot A Failing Roof?

Accepted Answer

When you’re trying to determine how healthy your roof is, the first thing to note is its age. An asphalt roof that’s older than 20 years is overdue for replacement. This is the easiest way to get ahead of the damages that go along with an aging roof, but younger roofs can develop problems too, which is why it’s good to inspect your roof at least twice a year.

Inspection is easy since you can do it from the ground with a good pair of binoculars. Look for shingles that are curling, areas where they’ve cracked or maybe gone missing, or shingles that are missing the granules on top.

Additionally, you might consider heading to the attic on a sunny day to check for holes where light peeks through in the underside of your roof. Problem spots tend to be near the chimney and stack vents.

If your roof is beginning to fail, you’ll see pinholes of sunlight peeking through, indicating that your roof could use a bit of maintenance.

While you’re up there, be sure to check for wet spots in the ceiling. If you see anything suspicious, call a roofer immediately–water damage that has seeped all the way to the attic can be a serious problem.

Question 3

Does My Roof Need To Be Replaced?

Accepted Answer

Composition or asphalt shingles typically wear in a discreet way. Granules start coming off leaving black patches showing. Shingles also start to curl at the ends.

​​In general, some people assume if a roof leaks they need to replace it. Unless it's an older roof, leaks can normally be repaired.With leaking in older roofs and/or if your roof has a leak in more than one area, this can imply trouble.

Question 4

Can I Do The Work Myself?

Accepted Answer

Most roofing work should not be a homemade project. Professional roofing contractors are skilled to safely & correctly repair or replace a roof.

Do-it-yourself can damage a roof with unsuitable roofing strategies and can harm themselves by way of falling through the roof or even falling off the roof.

A do-it-yourself roofing task more often than not results in extra prices and headaches for the owner of a house in the long run.

Question 5

Can We Add A Second Layer Of Shingles Over An Existing Layer?

Accepted Answer

Although the benefits of leaving your old shingles are obvious (cheaper, much less labor, faster), unless the preliminary roof is a single, problem-free layer, you could be setting yourself up for trouble.

You should take off the old roof if any of the following are true:

Inspection indicates it is in terrible shape—shingles are curled, mossy, split, etc.

The decking is sagging, rotting or deteriorating.

The new roof is of a lighter material than the original roof. If you put light-weight shingles over heavyweight shingles, all of the old bumps and ridges from the original roof will still show.

Your roof already has more than one layer.

At Integrity Roofing, LLC, we do not do recovers, we believe removing the old shingles and underlayment is necessary to inspect the roof decking. This imperative to assure there are no underlying issues that would cause the new roof to leak.

Question 6

What Is Flashing?

Accepted Answer

There are a lot of roofing blogs out there that tell homeowners to check their flashing for damage regularly, but not a lot of them explain what exactly flashing is: it’s the material that’s used over joints in roof construction. It functions as an added layer of protection that keeps water from seeping into vulnerable areas like the valleys in your roof, the area around pipes and your chimney, and around any skylights. Most flashing is made out of aluminum or galvanized steel. From time to time it can come loose or deteriorate at a faster rate, allowing leaks to form in those vulnerable areas.

Luckily, flashing problems are an easy fix, so long as you catch them quickly. Typically you can just add new flashing, or secure the old flashing back down with a roofing adhesive. This is something handy homeowners might be able to do on their own, but if you’re unsure about working on the roof, it’s best to save yourself the stress and just call a professional. Flashing fixes are quick and inexpensive.

Mon–Fri	8 AM – 6 PM
Sat	9 AM – 2 PM
Sun	Closed

Roof Repair and Replacement in Cornelius, NC