Replace or Repair
Assessing any roof damage can mean the difference between repairing or getting a new roof.
A hole in drywall, cracked tile grout or a broken light fixture are repairs that you can probably put off fixing right away. A leaky roof is different and can lead to damaged rafters, ceiling joists and walls, as well as soaking insulation leading to mold. Even though a leaky roof could spell trouble, it’s not always a sign that you need a new roof. Cracked flashing, a clogged gutter or a missing shingle or two are problems that can easily be repaired.
When small problems turn into big ones, they can cause harm to your home and be costly. No matter what roofing issues you’re experiencing, don’t ignore them. Addressing them early on prevents further damage and headaches. If your roof is beyond repair, it’s time for a new one.
Factors That Affect Roofs
The elements can wreak havoc on a roof. Over time, damaging rays from the sun, hail, high winds, moisture from rain, ice or snow play a role in compromising the aesthetics of the roof and the durability.
Trees shade the house to help keep it cool, but those same trees can be a hinderance to roofs. Large or heavy limbs can break off and puncture the roof, while smaller limbs can damage and rip up shingles. Fallen leaves also pose a danger as they can settle on the roof, trapping moisture and creating rot.
Routine roof maintenance helps mitigate minor problems before they get worse. For tips on how to maintain your roof, read How to Maintain Your Roof.
Types of Roof Shingles
Replacing a roof is a major investment. The various types of roof shingles may make it difficult to choose the best roofing material for your home. Read on to learn about the variety of roofing materials , so make sure you select the best roof for your home.
Asphalt Composite Shingles
Asphalt composite shingles are affordable, durable and available in a wide array of colors, making them a popular choice for roofing. They’re a composite product made with either a fiberglass mat base with minerals embedded in asphalt or a cellulose mat base (also known as organic asphalt shingles) from recycled minerals and asphalt. Organic shingles contain more asphalt than fiberglass shingles, making them heavier and more durable.
Asphalt composite shingles include architectural shingles, 3-tab shingles, hip & ridge shingles and starter shingles.
Architectural Shingles vs. 3-Tab Shingles
Architectural shingles are thicker and heavier than standard 3-tab shingles. The weight provides better strength against wind lift and can withstand wind speeds up to 130 miles per hour. Architectural shingles consist of two strips laminated together, and they contain a fine-quality asphalt. They’re engineered to better deflect light, keeping the roof cooler, which keeps the home cooler.
3-tab shingles come in one shape and size, and don’t have as long of a life span as their architectural counterparts. While they’re more economical than architectural shingles, they’re thinner, weigh less and need to be replaced more often.
Hip & Ridge Shingles
Hip and ridge shingles are a crucial component to any roofing system. They’re used wherever two faces come together and forms an angle. Hip and ridge shingles are bent or curved and are specifically designed to cover the high-stress areas of the roof that need enhanced protection from strong winds and the elements.
Hip and ridge shingles are available in the same material as the roofing shingles you select, providing a cohesive finish across the entire roof.
Starter Shingles
Starter shingles play an important role in an asphalt roofing system. They reduce the risk of shingles blowing off the rakes and eaves, and help your roof efficiently shed water. Starter shingles protect the roof from leaks as well as provide protection from potential damaging wind uplift.
If you're concerned about the time investment or skill level needed for replacing your roof, we can help. Schedule a free in-home consultation with a project specialist to go over your plan and receive a quote. From project planning to installation, Lowe's has you covered with roof installation.
Clay and Concrete Tile
Clay and concrete tile are a natural, rustic and attractive choice for homeowners, and they have a long life span, lasting from 50 to 100 years. They’re typically fluted or flat, and also are available as interlocking tile. Because of their weight, they require a stronger roof structure over other types of roofing material. Clay and concrete shingles are great for hot climates because they’re durable, fire-resistant, slow to absorb heat, they can be crafted into a half-barrel S shape, which allows for extra airflow, and they’re impervious to rot and algae.
Metal Roof
Metal roof panels are durable, practically maintenance-free, reflect heat and nonflammable. However, they may expand and contract depending on the weather and can be noisy during a rainstorm or hailstorm. The most common metal roofing materials are aluminum, copper, stainless steel and zinc.
- Steel is exceptionally strong, sustainable, designed to hold paint finishes well and is available in a variety of contemporary styles. Along with aluminum, steel is one of the two most common metals used in residential roofing. It's excellent at withstanding extreme temperatures and harsh climates, including wind, hail, snow and fire.
- Aluminum is lightweight and stands up well to extremely harsh weather conditions. It doesn’t rust or corrode and works well in coastal areas.
- Copper panels are lightweight, durable and won’t scratch, peel or rust. While copper is long-lasting and develops a natural patina with age, it’s generally more expensive than other roofing materials.
- Zinc is long-lasting, low-maintenance, malleable, durable and won’t rust or corrode. A unique property of zinc is that, given time, it'll self-heal if scratched. The protective layer formed on zinc patina aids in the self-repair.
Common Types of Metal Roofing
Corrugated roof panels are made of interlocking metal sheets shaped into repeating waves or ridges. They’re easy to install by interlocking the panels and fastening them directly to the roof sheathing. The fasteners for a corrugated roof are exposed to the elements causing them to wear over time.
Standing seam metal roof panels consist of metal panels that run from the ridge of the roof to the eave. They have seams that are raised above the surface, allowing water to run off as opposed to seeping between the panels. Unlike corrugated roof panels, standing seam metal roofs use a concealed fastening system, which makes it more aesthetically appealing.
While corrugated roof panels can be installed over existing roofs without a complete tear-off of existing shingles, it’s best to check your local building codes or ordinances to see if it’s allowed.
Metal Roofing Closure Strips
Closure strips are foam pieces that fit at the top and bottom of corrugated roof panels, closing the gaps between the roof deck and the wave or ridges of the panels. Closing these openings helps keep rain, snow, insects and pests from getting under the roof panels and can also help reduce noise from wind and rain.
The shape of a closure strip must match the profile or shape of the panel and the length of the strip should match the panel width. Since panel profiles differ by manufacturer and style, manufacturers will usually specify which closure strips work with which panels. You may see inside closure strips and outside strips. Use inside closures at the bottom of the panels, along the eaves — the edges of the roof. Outside closures fill the gaps at the top of the panels along the ridge line of the roof.
Installing closure strips is relatively simple, but check your roofing instructions for the specific procedure for your panels.
The basic installation steps for installing inside closure strips along the eaves typically include:
- Securing the closure strips to the eaves with butyl tape
- Applying sealant along the top of the closure strips
- Placing the panels over the closure strips, with the bottom edges of the panels overhanging the eaves as specified by building codes or the manufacturer
- Fastening the panels with screws running through the closure strips
At the roof ridge, the steps for installing outside closure strips usually include:
- Using butyl tape to fasten the closure strips a few inches away from each side of the ridge, closing off the top of the panels
- Applying sealant to the top of the closure strips
- Installing the roof ridge cap
Slate Shingles
Slate shingles are some of the longest-lasting roofing materials available today. They’re also one of the costlier roofing materials. Slate is available in two forms: hard and soft. Both are ideal for durability and endurance, but hard slate has a longer life expectancy, up to 200 years, over soft slate, which can last up to 100 years. Slate shingles are an excellent choice for hot climates. They’re weather-resilient, have great insulation properties and are impervious to heat, sun and cold. Slate shingles require a reinforced roof structure that can support its weight.
Wood
Wood roofs provide a natural look to your home. Wood roofing materials are available in two types. Wood shingles have a smooth, uniform and flat appearance. They’re machine cut, sewn on both sides and are typically thinner than wood shakes. Wood shakes are irregular, thick and textured. They have a rougher, less uniform appearance than wood shingles, giving a roof more depth and dimension. Shakes are typically cedar and are split by hand and/or power equipment.
Wood shingles and cedar shakes require a lot of upkeep to maintain their look. Treat them every few years with fire repellants, fungicides, water repellants, etc., and scrape away any moss or lichen that begins to grow.
Warranty
It’s important to understand the warranty on your new roof. Your roof’s performance will depend greatly on installation, climate and maintenance, and having a warranty will help protect your investment. When evaluating warranties, check the length of the policy, what’s covered (manufacturer’s warranty for material defects, labor to repair material defects, installation, workmanship, etc.) and home ownership warranty transferability. Each roofing company’s warranty and coverage is different so be sure to compare warranties.
Other Things to Consider
No matter what roofing material you decide to use, here are a few things to think about before purchasing.
- Choose colors that complement your home’s exterior.
- Be sure to check your local building codes and homeowners association guidelines before replacing a roof. There may be restrictions on the type of roof you can get.
- The roofing material fire rating scale — rated A, B or C — is important. A is the highest rated and most fire-resistant. An unrated material is the worst.
- To prevent condensation and the formation of ice dams on the edge of the roof, make sure you have proper ventilation under the roof deck and proper ceiling insulation. Adequate insulation also increases a roof's efficiency.
- If your home is in a humid climate, consider roofing material treated with zinc or copper particles for algae resistance.
- Repair any structural problems before installing a new roof. Any existing issues may resurface in the new roof if not properly dealt with beforehand.
Drip Edge Flashing
Don’t forget to take drip edge flashing into consideration. Drip edge flashing or eave trim is a roofing product that protects your home from moisture damage. Building codes usually require drip edge flashing for roof installations. Drip edge runs along the eaves and along the rakes — the ends of the roof — covering the upper faces of the fascia boards — boards that run parallel to the roof edge.
The top of the flashing keeps water from getting under the edge of the roofing and can help seal the edges of the roofing against rain during high winds. The bottom edge of the flashing extends out from the roof, directing water runoff away and, on roofs with gutters, into the gutters.
Drip edge goes on before the shingles or roofing panels. Depending on location, building codes and whether it’s on the eaves or rakes, it may need to be on top of the roof underlayment and the ice and water barrier or underneath these materials. Installation steps include:
- Securing the drip edge flashing to the decking with roofing nails or roofing screws
- Overlapping the ends of the flashing
- Using sealant at any gaps to keep out moisture
- Cutting and folding the flashing to create a good seal around corners
Tips for Roofing Maintenance
How Do I Maintain My Roof? | DIY Basics
- Look for cracked shingles.
- Look for loose flashing (the material that's used over joints in roof and wall construction to prevent water seeping in and causing damage, usually aluminum or galvanized steel).
- Look for cracked rubber fittings around pipes and vents.
- Look for shingle residue.
- Keep the gutters clean.
Address any issues quickly before they create bigger problems. If necessary or if you don't feel comfortable handling maintenance or repairs yourself, contact a licensed professional roofing contractor.