Q&A About Roofing
Here are some common roofing questions and the answers to those questions:
Which form of ventilation is better, ridge vents or box vents?
It’s not so much a question of which is better, but a question of which is better for particular types of roofs. For example, if your home has cathedral ceilings, the ridge vent is the only viable solution. On a roof where various slopes may be meeting a single ridge, box vents are the best choice.
Many homes are designed where either a ridge vent or box vent will work equally well. Considering the fact that ridge vents are more aesthetically pleasing, our recommendation would most likely be ridge vents.
What about the weather?
In theory, asphalt shingles can be installed in any weather. Considering the variety of weather in Missouri and the fact that not every day is the ideal temperature, that’s good news. There’s no denying that warm temperatures are best, so extra care and precautions must be taken when we have our colder days.
On the warm Spring days, shingles seal to each other right away. As the temperatures climb higher with intense sun and humidity of our Summers, extra care is required to avoid scarring during the installation. When the temperatures drop, the shingles become stiff and extra careful nail placement is required.
What is ice and water barrier and why do I need it?
Ice and water barrier is a self adhering rubberized membrane that protects your roof from leaking due to excessive water conditions. These conditions occur during wind driven rain and even more so during water back from ice dams.
There are several areas of your roof especially susceptible to the water penetration that ice and water barrier will serve to prevent. The entire perimeter of your roof near the eaves is the most obvious during the winter when you can sometimes see the ice dams from the ground. Other areas you may not think about skylights, chimneys, and all the “channels” where roof lines merge.
How many nails are used per shingle?
Generally, you should use four nails per shingle. For high wind areas or when shingles are being applied to a mansard, six nails per shingle are required by manufacturer's.
These are the minimum amounts to be used, and certain circumstances may call for more. You must also take into account the quality of nail used in the installation.
Should I be concerned about nails in my yard and driveway after getting a new roof?
The answer is both yes and no. Are we going to leave your property without conscientious cleanup like some roofing companies would? Absolutely not! Are we going to guarantee we find every last stray nail during the cleanup? That would be unrealistic.
We do however use meticulous methods to assure your yard and driveway are free of loose nails, and if there are any issues we would have someone out on your property immediately to ensure that you are happy with the way we've left your home.
What should be done prior to the roofing installation?
We make this as easy as possible for you by requiring very little on your part.
We do recommend that you remove or secure any fragile or irreplaceable items on the walls or ceilings inside your home. During the installation of your roof, there will be some vibration on your walls and ceilings.
Your roofing installation would normally begin between 7:00 and 7:30 in the morning on the scheduled day and we ask that you move your vehicles out of the garage and onto the street the night before. This way we will not intrude on your morning routine.
If you should have any other roofing questions feel free to call and ask, or send us a message via our Website or Facebook!
Real Roof Contracting 314-885-4858