Fortenberry Roofing Q&A

If you reside in a mild climate, your attic insulation should have a minimum rating of R-38, which is approximately 13 to 14 inches of insulation. In colder climates, a higher R-value of at least R-49, or about 16 to 18 inches of insulation, is recommended to ensure optimal energy efficiency and comfort. Proper attic insulation helps maintain consistent indoor temperatures and reduce energy costs by preventing heat loss in winter and keeping your home cooler during the summer months. For a more tailored approach to attic insulation and to learn how it can improve your home’s energy efficiency, visit our Attic Insulation page."

The Reasons For A New Roof are many but some of the more popular reasons are listed and discussed below:

• Increase Your Home’s Value
• You’re Building a New Home
• Leaks
• Storm Damage including but not limited to Wind damage, Hail damage, and or Falling debris

Replacing an old roof can help add curb appeal and will increase the perceived value of your home*. This may be especially helpful if you intend to sell your house. Remember, when selling a house, the first impression is important. Not only does a new roof play a critical part in protecting the investment, but it can also really transform the look—helping give you an edge over the other properties for sale in your neighborhood. Return on your investment of a new roof ranks right up there with remodeling a kitchen or bathroom—both projects which are well known to be desirable in a home resale.

If you’re building a new home, you have the unique opportunity to design the entire exterior of your home to suit your style. Most homeowners opt to build a new custom home because they want a home that matches their unique style. One of the most visual aspects of a home that can be seen is the roof and it is why many homeowners elect to install a new roof that is visually appealing and durable. In fact, many homeowners building custom homes often opt for our permanent roofing solutions because they never want to have to deal with a roofing issue again. Ultimately the decision should be based on your unique needs; for example, is the home going to be sold in the future or are you planning on staying in the home?

If shingles are missing, cracked or otherwise damaged, water can, over time, begin to leak into the home. A leak can start out small and slowly cause a lot of damage if a warning sign is ignored. Knowing you have a roof leak is usually obvious when you see the water spot on your ceiling.

However, it can be much harder to pinpoint the cause of the leak. You may assume your shingles are at fault, but it could be missing flashing around a chimney, or some other entry point, that’s allowing the water to get inside your attic. Once inside the attic, water can travel along rafters and other horizontal surfaces making it difficult to find the exact entry point.

Or, water entry can also be caused by an ice dam. Ice dams are formed by the continual thawing of snow over the warmer portions of the roof and refreezing over the cold eave. The ice dam can cause water to back up under shingles. If your roof doesn’t have an ice & water underlayment installed under the shingles, you could be experiencing leaks.

While your roof is designed to withstand the elements, some storms are more intense than others. There are signs to look for when you believe there may have been damage to your roof. Please be safe when inspecting your roof—possibly view from a window inside the house or use binoculars from the ground

Wind damage:

Significant wind can cause shingles to blow off the roof deck. Missing shingles can lead to leaks and other interior damage. Other wind damage may not be easy to see, especially if the adhesive seal that provides a water-shedding surface is broken. Always be safe when checking for roof damage. Call a professional roofing contractor for assistance.

All manufacturers publish a wind warranty on their shingles; it is important to compare the wind coverage when making your shingle selection on a new roof. If the winds that caused the shingle damage were above the manufacturer’s wind coverage, you’ll need to file an insurance claim. If they were not, contact the shingle manufacturer to file a claim.

Potential signs of wind damage:

Missing shingles: Thin horizontal lines where granules have been worn off about 1-2 inches beneath the shingle above; this could indicate that the shingle seal was broken and the shingle was flapping in the wind rubbing against the shingle above it. To be effective against the elements, shingles must be sealed to each other as one water tight roof deck.

Hail damage:

Usually, hail is not something that you can miss—it is typically a widespread weather event in a neighborhood and not isolated to just one house on the block. Hail can bruise a shingle causing an indentation that may be hard to see but that can crack the shingle allowing water to infiltrate over time. You may need the assistance of a professional roofing contractor to determine the scope of the damage. If you have hail damage, you will need to file an insurance claim.

If your hail event was significant in terms of widespread damage, you will have roofing contractors who specialize in “storms” knocking on your door within days of the event.

Potential signs of hail damage:

Other collateral hail damage around the house; dents on cars or other items on your house or in your yard. A distinct pattern of small round-shaped divots on the edges of the shingles. Indentations in the shingle where granules are missing. A large pile of granules at the end of your downspout; a small amount is normal, especially on new shingles

Sometimes a roof can naturally reach the end of its useful life without experiencing a roof failure. It just looks old and worn, and you are doing preventive maintenance on your home. If replacing an old roof is delayed, however, it could result in bigger problems down the road. So watch for the warning signs to be sure to give yourself plenty of time to add the project to your TO DO list

Potential signs that your roof may need to be replaced:

• Shingle edges are curled or shingle tabs are cupped
• Bald spots where granules are missing
• Cracked shingles

Your roof is at least 20 years old;

While many shingles today are produced for durability, many factors can accelerate the aging of shingles. For example, if your roof is not properly ventilated, it can negatively impact your shingles.

Neighbors are getting new roofs.

Homes built around the same time period can be experiencing the same types of weather conditions can mean that your roof is nearing its useful life.

Dark streaks.

Airborne algae cause dark streaks on roof decks. While this may not necessarily harm the roof shingles, it may not look good. Algae streaks can be removed using a 50:50 blend of water and bleach sprayed on your roof. It is important to use a low volume garden hose so you do not knock the protective granules off your shingles. It is also important that you protect your landscaping from the bleach run-off.