If your roof has been inspected or replaced, you may have heard the word flashing used to describe certain parts of your roof. Maybe the flashing needs to be replaced or water is getting under the flashing and causing a roof leak. Just what is flashing and why is it important?
Roof Flashing Materials
Flashing can be made from many different materials like plastic, tin, or galvanized metal. Flashing is used as a transition from the roofing material to something that is not a roof. Flashing is installed at intersecting roofs and parapets and walls. It typically consists of angled strips of corrosion- resistant metal that overlap in such a way as to stop water from reaching your roof decking.
Where Does Flashing Go?
For example, you need flashing where a skylight, chimney, dormer, plumbing vent or air vent extends through a roof. The roofing material stops where these elements go through the roof, and something must connect them to the roof so there is no leak. That’s the job of a flashing. Flashing protects your roof in the areas where it is most vulnerable to leaks.
Shingles on a roof play a similar role as do feathers on duck. The feather pattern and layering keep the water from ever reaching the skin of a duck. The duck stays dry. Flashing keeps this “feathered” pattern in tact on your roof and keeps the rain from ever reaching the roof decking. Without proper flashing, your roof would leak where something was extending through your roof.
Flashing has been an essential piece to proper roof construction for hundreds of years. Its design hasn’t changed much in that time period either. It is very important for the flashing to be properly installed. If you think your roof flashing is old or worn, call Excel Roofing and we will perform a free inspection to your roof.
Cedar shakes and shingles are quite popular in the western U.S. The look of cedar on a roof gives an old, rustic appeal not seen in other roofing materials like asphalt and tile.
In Colorado, these cedar shakes and shingles can take a beating and may require more maintenance and upkeep compared to their asphalt counterparts.
Two types of roofing materials that share a similar name, cedar shingles and cedar shakes are really quite different from one another.
CEDAR SHINGLES
Simply put, cedar shingles are milled more precisely than shake and create a more uniform appearance on the roof. Cedar shingles are sawn on both sides and are much more uniform in appearance. They have a tailored appearance and are cut tapered.
Cedar shingles are more precise and can lay flat. They also do not require a layer of felt paper. Since they are not as thick as cedar shakes, the cedar shingles can be layered three shingles thick. This thickness provides an excellent weatherproof barrier to the roof. Cedar shingles are more precise and can lay flat. They also do not require a layer of felt paper. Since they are not as thick as cedar shakes, the cedar shingles can be layered three shingles thick. This thickness provides an excellent weatherproof barrier to the roof.
CEDAR SHAKES
Cedar shakes are a bit thicker and more irregular giving the roof a more rustic appearance. Cedar shakes are sawn on one side with the split side outward facing. This is what gives the cedar shakes the rustic appearance. They are typically sawed at an angle so one end is thicker than the other.
Since cedar shakes are more irregular in shape, they don’t lay flat when installed. This creates gaps between the shakes which can be caught up in wind gusts or penetrated by rain. Due to this, a layer of felt paper is required during the installation. The paper helps block the wind and precipitation. This layer of felt paper combined with a proper cedar shake installation provides a secondary barrier of protection for the roof.
If you are interested or have any other questions about cedar roofing materials, or other types of shingles, don’t hesitate to contact us.
BENEFITS OF CEDAR SHAKES/SHINGLES
Although we did just lay out a few disadvantages, cedar shakes and shingles do have advantages beyond the rustic appeal other roofing options don’t offer.
Cedar roofing provides superior performance for those in areas that experience harsh weather conditions, such as extreme wind and hail. Homeowners in the Denver, CO area would benefit from installing cedar roofing for their protection against weather elements alone.
GREEN EFFECT
Those of you looking for a green roofing option, consider cedar shakes or shingles as your material. Cedar is a wood material that’s biodegradable and a renewable source. There are very few materials that are considered a fully renewable building material such as wood. Additionally, cedar provides better insulation for your home which in turn lowers your energy costs. So if you’re planning on going green, cedar roofing is an environmentally friendly choice for you.
REPLACEMENT
Wait, there’s even more good news about cedar roofing in Denver! It’s possible to replace and repair parts of your cedar roof without concern over the new shakes or shingles looking significantly different in composition from your original cedar shakes or shingles. When cedar ages, it’s expected that some pieces will require replacement. With cedar roofing, individual shake or shingle repairs are possible. In fact, if you are proactive about your cedar roof, you can extend the life of your cedar roof.
Cedar shakes or shingles will provide your home with an aesthetically appealing look as well as provide long-term durability, sustainability and superior performance against harsh weather elements.
The Consumer Protection/Residential Roofing Act, Colorado Senate Bill 38 (SB38), was signed into law on June 6th, 2012. For many years, the Colorado Roofing Association (CRA) has tried to get Colorado legislature to pass state licensing for all roofers.
State licensing was believed to protect consumers during large hail storms.
There was fierce opposition to state licensing, mainly from home builder associations, who feared that this would cause the cost of roofing to increase dramatically.
Fortunately, the Colorado Senate was able to pass a different type of legislation which specifically addressed the problems of residential roofing during hail storms that the home builder associations did not oppose.
To date, we do not know if anyone has ever been prosecuted for violating these laws.
However, the practical reality is that the consumer rights granted by this legislation can help customers in a number of ways; for example, if a consumer is in a bad contract or has had a roofing job done and needs to sue the contractor because of bad work.
ITEMS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE COLORADO ROOFING LAWS TO BE LISTED ON THE ROOFING CONTRACT ARE AS FOLLOWS:
The scope of work and material to be used for the new roof
The cost to do the roofing job and approximate dates of when the roof will be installed
The roofing contractor’s address, phone number, and insurance company information
The consumer’s right to cancel the contract within 72 hours and what the contractor’s cancellation fee will be if the contract is cancelled after the 72-hour right of rescission
Notice that the contractor cannot pay, waive, or in any other way cover the consumer’s deductible if the roofing job is being paid from an insurance claim
Notice to the consumer that any money paid in advance will be held in a special trust account until the material is purchased
Notice to the consumer that if any part of the insurance claim is rescinded in whole or part that the consumer will have another 72-hour right of rescission to cancel the contract
The Colorado Roofing Law:
Prohibits a roofing contractor from paying, waiving or rebating an insurance deductible for a property owner.
Requires a contractor to return any payment or deposit made by the property owner in conjunction with the contract for roofing work within 10 days after rescission of a contract.
States that if a roofing contractor promises to pay, waive or rebate a homeowner’s deductible, the insurance carrier for the property owner is not obligated to consider the estimate of costs for the roofing work prepared by that contractor.
THE ISSUE WITH MONEY UP FRONT
Usually the problem is that the consumer has paid the contractor money up front. There is a provision in SB38 that addresses this, which states that if a consumer has paid money up front and they cancel the contract, the contractor is obligated to refund the money within 10 days. However, trying to get a contractor to refund money can be extremely difficult. The reality is that the consumer will have more luck canceling a contract if they have not paid any money up front.
72-HOUR RIGHT OF RESCISSION
One especially helpful provision of SB38 that can be extremely useful to consumers canceling a contract is that if an insurance company revises the settlement, it restarts the 72-hour right of rescission. This means that if the consumer is able to get his insurance company to revise the insurance settlement downward by any amount of money, it gives the consumer the right to cancel the roofing contract.
CONSUMERS CAN MINIMIZE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THEY MAY HAVE WITH A CONTRACTOR BY FOLLOWING THESE THREE EASY STEPS:
Make sure that the type of roof and the total cost is clearly stated on the contract.
Never sign a contract that has any type of cancellation fee.
Never pay any money until the job is complete and you are happy.
The signs of a leaking roof are usually very noticeable. The most common indicators are spots and discoloration on ceilings and walls. Visible mold near moist spots on walls or ceilings is an indication of a moisture problem within an attic, usually as a result of improper ventilation or a leak. Curling, buckling, or missing shingles are also a warning sign of moisture penetrating the roofs surface. Damaged flashing near chimneys or vents can also be an early indicator of a moisture problem. Once you determine your roof is leaking, it is pertinent to get the leak fixed as quickly as possible to avoid any further damage. Here are five tips on how to find a leak in your roof.
How to Find a Leak in Your Roof
First step is to check your gutters. Sometimes gutters get blocked and can back up. These blocks can act just like a roof leak so make sure the gutters are clear.
Simply look up at the ceiling. Water spots are a surefire sign that you have some water reaching places it shouldn’t. The next place to inspect would be the attic. If water is leaking through the roof, the attic will show some signs of water leakage. Go up with a flashlight and check for dripping water. Look for signs of water staining on the underside of the roof boards. Also look for wet insulation.
Inspect the roof above the stains. Look for any holes or other penetrations in the roof. Items that penetrate the roof are by far the most common source of leaks. For example, roofing nails that have started to leak will have dark spots around the nail. It is rare that a roof will develop a leak in open areas of uninterrupted shingles. Check areas around roof vents, plumbing, chimneys, skylights, dormers or anything else that is built through the roof.
If the issue still isn’t obvious, recruit a helper to climb on the roof with a garden hose. In the attic, knock on the area where the leak appears to be so the helper knows where to start applying the water. Start soaking the area just above the leak and work up from there. Soak each area for a few minutes before moving on to a higher area. This will give the water ample time to work its way through the roof and spot the leak. Give a yell when the leak becomes visible. Remember to be patient—it takes time for the water to penetrate any leaks.
If running water over the roof doesn’t reveal the location of the leak, it may be time to start pulling up shingles in the area of the leak. With the shingles out of the way, tracking the leak should be even easier. Discolored paper, water stains, or rotted wood will all be in the vicinity of the leak. Start looking up from the stains for any penetrations in the roof as this is likely the source of the leaking roof.
How to Avoid Future Roof Leaks
Hire professional roofing installers.
Hiring an experienced Denver roofer is a critical component to avoiding a damaged roof in the future. The roof is the most essential part of the structure of a house. A properly installed roof will aid in the safety of a home, and most importantly, the people that live in it. Even the tiniest of leaks can create colossal amounts of rotting wood and mold.
Invest in quality roofing materials.
There are several components to consider when choosing which materials to use for roof installation.
Budget
Climate and general weather patterns in your area
Preferred style
The architecture of your home
It’s important to keep in mind that although roofs play a critical part in securing the structure of a home, it also plays a pivotal role in the overall look of a home. Additionally, harsher winters or areas with a high rainfall average should heavily way on your decision of which roof material is best. Discuss these factors along with your budget with a professional to get the best roof for your home.
Maintain your roof.
A roof leak can occur when the roofing material has decayed during extreme circumstances, such as an ice dam, that pushes the original design beyond limitations. In these instances, the roof deck becomes exposed to moisture. Roof maintenance will help monitor the decay of your roof as well as eliminate extreme circumstances. The most important maintenance tasks to reduce and potentially avoid roof leaks are:
Make sure ice dams are removed in the winter
Clean your gutters in the spring and fall
Have your chimney inspected annually
Check regularly for signs of moisture around skylights and roof vents
Although you cannot completely avoid roof leaks, taking these steps will greatly improve your chances of eliminating any roof problems.
Call us at Excel Roofing and we’ll send an expert out to inspect your roof. We have been dealing with leaky roofs and other roofing issues for years and have the knowledge and experience to get the job done!
Destroyed windows on your brand-new car, damaged roof (again), sounds of what seems the sky falling down upon you outside… Know the feeling? If you are a resident in Colorado and the destruction of the infamous for this area hailstorm is something you are familiar with, keep reading this.
The good news for your roof is that even the problems caused by mother nature’s destructive forces have a solution.
Even though we work in the industry, it is never fun seeing our clients incur hail damage on their roofs and have been actively participating in new-age, hail-resistant roofing solutions, to make sure you stay safe and not having to worry about changing your roof for a long time, which we all know can be quite a heavy investment.
Enter the scene: Class 4 Hail Resistant Roofs.
Impact resistant roofs can withstand hail and windstorms. They require fewer repairs and last longer. Insurance companies like these roofs too! They liked the idea so much they decided to give discounts to consumers who installed them. However, the roof first needed a standardized test and rating system to determine the quality of the roofing materials used.
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a not-for-profit independent testing organization that was founded in 1894. UL provides the knowledge and expertise to help consumers make informed decisions on products that affect their daily lives. UL developed a test to rate the strength of roofing materials. This test is called the UL 2218 Impact Rating.
How Are Impact Resistant Roofs Classified?
The test uses steel balls ranging from 1.25 inches to 2.0 inches in diameter. The steel balls are dropped from heights of 12 feet for the 1.25 inch ball to 20 feet for the 2 inch ball. The test roof is struck twice in the same spot for each size steel ball.
To meet the acceptance criteria of UL 2218, the roofing material, back surface and underneath layers must show no evidence of tearing, fracturing, cracking, splitting, rupture, crazing or other evidence of opening of the roof covering layer.
After performing the test, roofing manufacturers would be scored based on the resistance of the material getting a rating from 1 least hail resistant to 4, most hail resistant.
Summarizing the result we would be looking at for, a Class 3 roof is earned if the sample does not crack when hit twice in the same spot by a 1.75 inch diameter steel ball. A Class 4 rating, the material should not get damaged when hit twice in the same spot by 2 inch diameter steel ball.
A Hail Resistant Roof Will Save You Money
In the last 10 years, hailstorms have caused more than $3 billion in property damage in Colorado and Wyoming, mainly to roofs. As a result, 30% of a home’s insurance cost is reserved for a new roof.
As a result of the huge losses, insurance companies are demanding more and more impact-resistant roofing materials on the market. To incentivize consumers, some insurers are offering discounts of up 25% on a homeowner’s insurance premium with impact resistant roofing.
Can Class 3 & 4 Roofs Ever Become Hail Damaged?
Hail resistant roofing offers the benefit of extra protection to your home. It is also important to understand that a hail resistant roof can still be damaged by large, wind-driven hail. The roof will be protected against an average hail storm so the chances of a damaged roof claim are much smaller, but there is still a chance for the roof to see hail damage during a bad storm.
Types of Hail Resistant Roofing Materials
Different manufacturers have different grades of hail resistant shingles, usually class 4 asphalt being the most common ones.
Limited Time Offer: Free Upgrade to Hail Resistant Roof
For a limited time, get a free upgrade to Owen Corning Duration Storm with your insurance claim roof replacement. This Offer is only valid in Colorado Springs.
Owens Corning Duration Storm Asphalt Shingles:
Owens Corning (OC) Duration Storm shingles are the most economical class 4 asphalt shingle on the market. They are more resistant to hail than normal shingles, however medium sized hail will damage them. This roof will qualify homeowners for a discount with most insurance companies. An OC Storm roof is about 5% more than a standard asphalt roof.
Owens Corning Duration Flex Shingles:
Owens Corning flex shingles are the best class 4 asphalt shingles on the market. These shingles are made from a rubberized asphalt and most hail literally bounces off of them, however large hail will damage these shingles. This roof will qualify homeowners for a discount with most insurance companies. An OC Duration Flex roof is about 10% more than a standard asphalt roof.
Concrete Tile:
The next classification of hail resistant products would be the concrete tiles, which range from weak to strong. These were also put to the test with ice balls from a cannon challenging the break strength and later on survived the real test of nature successfully in the hailstorm near The Broadmoor area in 2018.
Bartile Concrete Roofing
There are a number of very good concrete roofing manufacturers. We believe that Bartile is the best. Excel has installed over 1,000 tile roofs since 1993. Bartile has proven to be the strongest, and least susceptible to color changes. It takes very large hail to damage Bartile roofs, earning the Excel Roofing “Bombproof” rating. Concrete tile manufacturers use the Factory Mutual 4473 Ice ball cannon test to test tile. Some Insurance companies recognize this test and will give a discount for this roof. A Bartile roof costs about twice as much as a standard asphalt roof.
Synthetic Plastic Shingles
A third type of material is the synthetic, or plastic type category. Two brands of Synthetic roofs are DaVinci, and F-Wave.
These products are redefining the classifications and may merit a new “Class 5” at some point. These products are proving themselves to be indestructible.
F-Wave Synthetic Plastic Shingles:
F-Wave is a newer brand that mimics asphalt shingles. F-Wave is so confident in their roofing product that they offer a 5-year hail guarantee. If the roof is damaged by hail 2” in size or less in the first 5 years the F-Wave will replace the roof.
DaVinci Synthetic Plastic Shingles
Many DaVinci roofs survived unscathed in the Denver hailstorm of 2018. This was a storm with baseball size hail that caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damaged.
Stone coated steel
Stone Coated Steel roofing is made from steel panels that are formed into 4 foot sections and shaped to imitate cedar shakes and concrete tile. Stone coated steel has a class 4 rating, however the granules that are glued on the steel are susceptible to being knocked off by hail. Stone Coated Steel Panels are extremely lightweight and aa alternative to heavy concrete tile. The panels are easily dented if they are walked on by untrained personnel. This class for roof will qualify homeowners for a discount with most insurance companies. A stone coated steel roof costs about 2 1/2 times as much as a standard asphalt roof.
Roofing materials are changing for the better, becoming more and more advanced each year. And it doesn’t stop there.
At Excel Roofing you don’t pay a cent until you’re content!
To further help you get the best roof and protect your home, we offer 12-month 0% financing.
Stay risk free while testing out the strength, quality and endurance of our new age Class 4 Hail Resistant Roofs!
Be Mindful of T-LOCK Shingles
Back in 1930 when they were introduced, T-Lock shingles were the latest and greatest in roofing technology. They were easy to install and could withstand high winds and storms. The T-Lock shingle was ideal for Colorado’s always-changing and often-threatening weather. The heavier and thicker asphalt shingle found many home along the Front Range and across our state.
Not too much tech from the 30s is still in use today, including the T-Lock shingle. Their manufacture was halted in 2005. Even though they were rated to withstand winds up to 130 mph, their “wing” design actually acted like a sail and would rip off the roof during much slower wind speeds.
Also, as asphalt became more expensive, fillers were used instead. These fillers would become very brittle over time. Their woven design and installation doesn’t offer solid protection against hail either. The weaves can create pockets and gaps between shingles that can be easily damaged by hail.
T-Lock shingle lived long past its prime.
Many insurance companies won’t insure homes with a T-Lock roof. A new policy taken out on a home with T-Lock shingles will most likely require a roof replacement.
So if you are buying or selling a home with a T-Lock roof, it would be a good idea to call your insurance agent. If your T-Lock roof is damaged, it just simply can’t be repaired. No one makes them anymore. And your insurance company just may cover some of the costs to replace a T-Lock roof. They would prefer your home to have a newer roof that will better withstand the elements. Insurance companies just don’t like them, plain and simple.
They want to push the financial responsibility onto the homeowner. T-Lock roofs have depreciated value. They are tough to sell without being replaced. And it really is only a matter of time before they fail.
If you have a T-Lock roof and have any question, please contact Excel Roofing! We will be happy to assist you in any way we can and will even inspect your roof free of charge.
