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Shingle Roof Flexibility

The flexibility of shingle roofing is demonstrated here in our diverse Arizona weather. Most cities in Arizona have warm and dry weather. In the major metro areas of Phoenix and Tucson, summer months bring hot, sweltering days and winter brings crisp cool air. Other areas in North Central and Northern Arizona have a mountainous climate where the summers are mild and sunny and winters have snow and cold winds.  In this article, we will be discussing the pros and cons of shingle roofs.

Here Is A List of Pros and Cons of Shingle Roofs

Pros

  1. Shingle Roofing is Very Versatile – Shingle roofs can be made of asphalt fiberglass, wood, metal, slate, or tile. In the warmer areas where properties have a lot of flat roofs, tile shingles are durable in our Arizona climate. Wood shingles look fantastic on rustic house designs while asphalt fiberglass can be used to suit just about any property design.
  2. Shingle Roofing is Less Expensive – Shingles are one of the least expensive roofing choices. Galvanized metal shingles are inexpensive and extremely durable. Synthetic slate and asphalt fiberglass shingles are more affordable than their original versions.
  3. Easy to Install and Maintain – Shingle roofs don’t require specially trained roofing contractors. Every roofer should know how to install shingle roofs as it’s one of the most popular types of roofing choices throughout the country. Consistent scheduled repairs and maintenance on your shingle roof is critical to help it last a long time and to avoid damage to the interior of your property. But, the investment and repair work needed is manageable.
  4. Fire Resistant – Excluding wood shake shingles, the other types of shingle materials are very fire resistant. Asphalt fiberglass shingles are made to be more fire-resistant than plain felt shingles.
  5. Easy Availability – Most hardware, construction supply and home improvement stores carry several types, shapes, and colors of shingles. Its affordability fueled its popularity with home construction companies, making shingle roofing materials easily available, ready for roofing installation and repair projects and jobs.

Cons

  1. Less Lifespan – Although some shingles – like metal and slate – are durable and strong enough to last 50 years, they can also be more expensive. Asphalt and wood shingles ordinarily last from 15-30 years. Tile shingles can last 30 years or longer, but the underlayment will need to be addressed about every 12-15 years.
  2. Needs Regular Repair and Maintenance – You need to have your roof inspected once or twice a year. It could be more often depending on the intensity of the storm season. Putting off the regular inspections could lead to leaks and other damages that will be much more expensive to fix down the road.
  3. Subject to Discoloring and Deforming – Shingles can bend, fade, scar, and stain due to the weather and the elements, especially during intense monsoon storms.
  4. Susceptible to Moss and Mildew – Improper roof installation, poor roof ventilation, and moisture leaks could result in damaging moss and mildew, particularly on wood and asphalt shingles. Mildew and moss growth not only look bad, they also could lead to the roof deteriorating more quickly. Not to mention the health hazards that could arise for your family if it should take hold inside the property, such as attics and walls.

Know Why You Need A Pro

Hiring the right roofing company can make a world of difference for your home or business. Knowing the worst enemies of your roof will help when you need to hire the right professional roofing company.

Five Worst Enemies to the Health and Condition of Your Roof

Trees and Their Branches

Trees are beautiful and must-have additions to your homes landscaping for their aesthetics and shading possibilities. They will give your home fantastic curb appeal and possibly help you lower your cooling bills, but, they can also be  a major problem for your roof if they’re in the wrong location. If they’re too close to your home, a branch being knocked down or even being scraped across your roofing material in a storm can inflict serious, expensive damage. In severe storms, the entire tree could fall on top of your roof.

They also drop a lot of organic material, like leaves, pods and small branches, that can cause problems by clogging gutters and causing standing water after rains. If you don’t clear the material on a regular basis, the materials can decompose and break down the roofing materials, leading to leaks.

Roof Leaks

A leak itself is, of course, one of, if not the biggest problem. There’s a lot of reasons leaks can happen including poor installation, standing water, busted tiles and cracked shingles, failing underlayment, flashing problems and more. There’s no limit to the areas of your roof that these issues can occur.

Water can flow from one location to another, making it difficult to pinpoint where a roof leak is originating. The best thing you can do is hire a professional roofing contractor Like Mikku and Sons Roofing and Repair to discover the source. They can find the leak’s source and make the necessary repairs to stop it and prevent it from happening again.

Poor Ventilation

Air needs to flow through your roof freely to prevent heat, pressure and humidity from building up.  A lack of air flow can cause stress to the materials. You should never completely block the air flow into your home through your roof.  During installation, sofits, vents and other means need to be installed in the proper locations to ensure that your roof will always have proper air flow through your attic.

Pooling or Standing Water

During installation, a certain pitch or slope needs to be used to make sure water flows off and away from your roof to avoid any pooling or standing water issues. Standing water, whether caused by poor installation or some sort of obstruction, like tree debris, can be a major issue for your roof. Water is heavy. If there’s a lot of it pooling on your roof, it can put a lot of stress on the support structure, along with, if its not removed, helping to decompose the construction materials and making its way into existing cracks, creating leaks.

Poor Initial Installation

Your roof needs to get off to its best start by being installed correctly. If not, you’ll soon see loose shingles, broken tiles, decaying underlayment and other items that will start causing leaks. Choosing the right roofing installation company is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your home or business.

Make sure you do your homework before hiring someone. Check the company’s reputation online and check their standing with the Better Business Bureau and Registrar of Contractors. you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that a quality, professional contractor has installed your roof.

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