Many myths about roofing are grounded by people who do not understand the art of roofing properly. These misconceptions create several problems for homeowners and roofing contractors. Many homeowners tend to repair and maintain their roofs by DIY techniques and in doing so make quite costly problems.
These myths also make the approach of a homeowner towards repairing a roof, nonserious. They tend to believe everyone when it comes to their roof and gets undesired results creating future problems. The poorly maintained roof washes away the warranty and starts acting up over time. All these collectively, make the work of the people working hard on roofing daily, difficult and unappreciated several-fold.
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Therefore, this article debunks a few common roofing myths for you to actively consider and save yourself from long-term problems.
Myth 1: My Roof Is In Good Shape If It Is Not Leaking?
Well, this is the most widely acted upon myth about roofing that if the roof is not leaking, it is in perfect condition and does not require any repair, maintenance, or inspection. To burst this bubble, it is not always true. Your roof may have experienced severe damage but is yet to show the symptoms.
The thing to remember here is that the roof stains and other signs of damage appear only when significant water is accumulated in the area. By the time, the damage has reached the extent to which repairs are either useless or big enough to cost almost equal to that of the replacement. Therefore, the time to time examination and inspection can ensure the longevity of your roof with minor repairs and fewer spendings.
Especially if your area experiences harsh thunderstorm conditions, do get your roof inspected after the storm as it is bound to have some damage. This will enable your roof to withstand future storms without breaking during the harsh climate.
Myth 2: A Roof With More Insulation Is Better
A roof or an attic with excessive insulation is better, especially in temperate environments. As with everything, excess here is also bad. When the insulation is high, it stops the leakage of cool or hot air from the house to an extent that the air inside gets heavy.
The over insulation can hinder the airflow, increasing moisture levels and damping the inner environment. This damped environment is extremely favorable for the growth of mold and mildew causing health problems.
Myth 3: The Expertise Of The Person Carrying The Repair Does Not Matter
Commonly, it is believed that roof repair and maintenance don’t require any special skills and anyone can carry these functions. This myth is the driving force of the increased DIY approach towards roof maintenance and repair.
However, this is not true. You should carefully vet a roofing contractor before hiring them as any hole in the skill set can lead to ignorance of subtle warning signs of early damages. Moreover, untrained roofing technicians can cause more installation errors that can be costly and also weaken your roof to the extent the repair worsens the situation than getting it settled.
So, choose your repair technician carefully. The easiest way for hiring a good worker is to consider their experience in the roofing industry.
Myth 4: Roof Repairs In All Areas And Climates Are The Same
Home repair does not have a one-size-fits-all approach and roof repairs are no exception. When carrying out the roof repair (which is way more than just removing and replacing a few shingles and panels) the contractor or deck builder will need to know the building codes of your area and climate conditions.
They need to consider how the climate setting of the area can affect the lifespan of the roofing material and how effectively they can withstand the local weather to perform best to their ability.
Myth 5: It Is Possible To Re-roof Over The Existing Shingles
This isn’t simply a misconception but also a terrible and costly idea. Placement of a new roof with old shingles and panels will do nothing well but decrease its lifespan and make it prone to damage. This approach will make the roof layered and nails and nuts are not long enough to reach the last shingle or panel, failing to hold the roof intact for a long time.
The new roof needs new sheetings and settings to act as a new one and last longer. Make your investment worth it by spending a little more on the new seat and sheeting of the roof, it makes more financial and practical sense.
