Arnold Roofing & Restoration has experience in replacing hundreds of roofs in the Southeast U.S. We take extreme care, and pride, in every project, and we want you to be aware of every step that goes into the process of installing a new roof. The vast majority of roofs in our service area are of an asphalt shingle variety. To give you a general idea of what’s involved in our roof replacement work, consider these basic steps that we follow….
It is important to note that replacing a roof can be a challenging and dangerous job, so it is best to hire a professional roofing contractor, like Arnold Roofing, which has trained crews who know and demonstrate the correct safety protocols. We have the experience and expertise to ensure that the job is done properly and without incident!
Be on the lookout for one or more of these roof-related issues in order to determine if it’s time to call Arnold Roofing & Restoration!
Whether it has to do with the top of your head or the top of your house, balding can be an unwanted outcome. Your roof’s asphalt shingles have a top coating of granules that serve important purposes–mainly to refract sunlight, disperse the flow of rainwater, and add an added layer of protection for the asphalt composite material of which the shingle is composed. Overtime, those granules loosen, detach and end up at that sediment you see sometimes when you clean out your gutters. When most of those granules have said “goodbye” after a long life of service, it’s probably a good time to think about a roof replacement.
In politics and the media, leaks are as common as everyday influence peddling, but a leaky roof can be far worse for you than that Congressman who let you down. When water gets under your roof system and through to your home interior, don’t call the Department of Justice, call Arnold Roofing & Restoration! We will mitigate the problem immediately, plus examine your entire roof system thoroughly to make sure it’s not “bugged.” If we find out why your roof is leaking and it’s not just a single spot that might have been impacted by a fallen object of a piece of old or loose flashing, we’ll document the reasons for the overall system failure and possibly advise you on a roof replacement in the near future.
We don’t mean the chipping kind… we mean chimney crickets! A chimney juts up from your roof like a rectangular wall or sorts. Stuff collects against the “wall” on the downslope where the chimney pops through the roof. This is essentially a barrier which now has old rotting leaves and debris which hold moisture. Moisture is a menace to all parts of a roof, but here at the chimney, flashing can become corroded and moisture can find a way underneath roof covering. Wide chimneys (30+”) need “crickets,” similar to a little roof that effectively directs water and debris around the chimney and down to the gutter system where the water is channeled away and the leaves or debris move off the roof eaves. When Arnold installs a new roof, we’ll recommend a chimney cricket where one is deemed necessary, in our professional opinion.
A few cracked shingles can probably be replaced without a major roof replacement addressing the entire roof area, but if the problem is widespread, that’s a different story. Cracked shingles happen due to aging and wear and tear. Wind can crack an asphalt single too, but we commonly see a need for a roof replacement when the old roof has met its end and years of exposure to changing temperatures and the baking rays of the sun have taken too much of a toll on the otherwise resilient roof material.
Following a wind-related event, it’s actually quite difficult sometimes to detect roof damage. If wind hasn’t torn shingles off completely, it may have just lifted them during the turbulent airflow and shingles that were lifted could very well have loosened the sealant keeping it laid flat, or loosened roofing nails. If wind damage, such as this or more apparent damage, such as missing or cracked shingles has resulted, we may need to consult with you about a roof replacement. Don’t worry, often your insurance covers severe weather-related roof damage!
Needing a roof replacement is no laughing matter, even the Three Stooges know that! Shingle curling is another condition you don’t want to see affecting your roof in any widespread manner. Shingles can curl because they misaligned, stemming from poor roofing workmanship by a company other than Arnold Roofing, of course! But, faulty roof ventilation in the attic can also be the culprit. When a roof system isn’t well ventilated and prolonged heat is allowed to build up and prevail, shingles will curl up just like any thin, petroleum-based, and normally flexible material. If you see curling shingles, contact Arnold Roofing and Restoration so we can check that out.
When roof flashing has deteriorated or come off all together, it’s time to pull over and get help! There are various types of flashing on your roof–step flashing, counterflashing and kick-out flashing are two of the most important types. Step flashing is often used on chimneys where counterflashing is also used– fitting into grooves cut into the chimney and covering the step flashing. Kick-out flashing is installed where a roof edge meets a sidewall. Without it, roof runoff flows down the wall and can find patches behind the wall, which really causes trouble. Water can easily seep behind windows and trim, eventually rotting parts of your home’s sheathing and framing. Don’t wait for problems like this to advance to a breaking point. You may not need a roof replacement in this case, but if you neglect a problem long enough it reaches a point when simple repairs will not do the trick. it doesn’t necessarily mean replacing a roof but you’ll have to fix it.
In areas prone to hail storms, like our communities here in the Southeast U.S., it may be necessary to install additional roofing materials or other protective measures to help prevent damage. Hail can damage a roof by striking it with enough force to cause dents or punctures in the roofing materials. This can lead to leaks and other problems. Hail can also cause damage to the protective granules on shingles, which can shorten the lifespan of the roof. In severe cases, hail can even cause structural damage to a roof. To protect a roof from hail damage, it is important to keep trees and other debris away from the roof, and to make sure that the roof is in good condition and properly maintained.
Vent boots are the “plates” at the base of a roof penetration, like a pipe vent from a kitchen sink or bathroom. Vent boots can be metal or plastic. Plastic bases can crack and metal bases can develop problems at their seams. The boot surrounding the pipe can be rotted away or torn, allowing water to work its way into the house along the pipe. Chances are, these issues are not going to necessitate a full roof replacement, instead, call Arnold Roofing to replace the boot and check out all vent boots and the roof system overall.
When it comes to roof vents, repairs aren’t really a solution. The only approach to addressing this critical aspect of a roof system is to replace the damaged vents. Any roof accessory like vents that are installed with nails should be replaced with rubber-washered screws. Arnold Roofing & Restoration are your experts in every part of roofing repair and replacements, so trust us to give you the right advice and the perfect solutions, everytime.
Dark streaks running down roofs are a sign that you have a form of algae plaguing your roof! It’s called Gloeocapsa magma. This growth forms unsightly dark spots that have a hardened outer coating. Why is Gloeocapsa magma plaguing your roof? Because, this type of algae actually feeds on the limestone which is a common ingredient in asphalt shingles! The algae can trap moisture, result in premature shingle aging, and facilitate granule loss. Sometimes, the algae can be cleaned, but we would then recommend installing zinc or copper strips along the top rows of shingles. As rain interacts with the strips, a solution is produced which washes down the roof and keeps algae, moss and fungus from growing.
Arnold Roofing may recommend a full roof replacement if your algae problem is combined with extensive wear and tear from roof aging. If we do a replacement, we reshingle with algae-resistant shingles.
For outstanding workmanship on roof replacements and roof repairs, count on Arnold Roofing & Restoration for installation. We work tirelessly to earn your trust and respect your budget.