FREDERICK ROOF REPAIR

It is best to replace an asphalt shingle roof system when it is going to be above 40-45 degrees at some point during the work, but that is not always possible. If your roof is in need of immediate replacement but it is colder, make sure to use a high quality architectural shingle and make sure you hire a local roofing contractor with an excellent reputation. Roofing systems that are “rigid” like cedar shakes, slate, standing seam metal, etc., do not depend on temperature from the sun to make the individual tiles adhere to one another, so temperature is not part of the decision as to when to replace.

Most leaking that occurs around skylights comes from one of two causes. The interface of the skylight to the surrounding roofing material can be the source. If the cause of leaking is coming from the surrounding shingles, and or the flashing kit, then replacement of the entire unit is not absolutely necessary. The second major cause of leaking at a skylight is a cracked seal. The seal separates the two panes of glass. If the seal cracks, moisture gets in between the panes of glass and eventually makes its way through the seal at the bottom of a skylight. Whereas it is possible to replace the glass of some skylight models, there is little advantage to doing so and it is recommended that a new unit be installed.

When you hear that a shingle is a “30 year shingle” , you are being told the expected life. A legitimate shingle warranty will be a portion of that 30 years, and will be broken down in to sections ( material defect, algae resistance, etc. ) Be careful when talking to a roofer that you are not being told the expected life is the warranty. A standard material defect warranty should be between 10-15 years. Many manufacturers are no longer calling their 30 year expected life shingles by that name. They are now calling them “Limited Lifetime”, but the shingle is usually no different than it was when it was deemed a 30 year shingle. Warranties for roofing materials are complicated, but details concerning them can be found on the respective manufacturers website.

There are really only two ways to decide when you should replace your roof. You can either track the age of the roof and proactively replace somewhere around 80-100% of the way through the expected life, or you can replace because it has failed you and the repair costs do not justify putting it off any longer. Waiting til the roof is causing you problems can force you in to a winter installation, which is not ideal. Keep in mind that the expected life of a shingle can be considered “optimistic” at best. I say this because the warranty has long ago ended, and so there is no penalty for manufacturers describing their product as lasting longer than it really will. 

Absolutely, in every way. Standard pipe collars use a rubber gasket that degrades in the sun and can split open and lead to leaking in as little as 8-12 years. The pipe collar being manufactured by Lifetime Tool will outlast the roofing shingles it is installed with, so much so, that in theory they could be reused a second time

The maximum deposit that can be requested for a home improvement project in Maryland is 1/3 of the contract, and it cannot be received until the contract is signed.

A storm chaser is just what it sounds like. It is a company that knocks on doors in areas known to have been hit by a storm damaging enough to result in successful insurance claims, and attempts to get homeowners to let them “handle” their claim for them. There are many reasons why homeowners should not reward this business model with managing their potential claim. At the top of the list, some of these roofers actually vandalize the roof during their inspection. A close second is that most often these companies are not from the local community. How good is a warranty from a company that has to travel to make good on their promises to warranty their work? My advice is to say “no thank you”. If you have good reason to believe that your roof has in fact been damaged, call a local roofing contractor who makes it their business to work in and around your community, and have them tell you if you have reason to file a claim.