What do you know about roofing? Your knowledge could have holes in it. There are a lot of myths about roofing, and it can be dangerous to assume that you know everything about the roof over your head. 

1. Covering Up Is Good Enough 

Are more shingles better? If you have a hole in your roof, can’t you just cover it up? Unfortunately, a leak doesn’t just impact the shingles. It’s probably impacted the sheathing as well. If you just add a band-aid to your roof, you’re covering up the problem but not addressing the full scope of the damage. Do your home a favor and remove the old roofing before you put the new roofing on. 

2. Your Roof Is Independent of the Rest of Your Home 

Your roof is part of an integrated system that includes the interior of your home and other exterior structures such as your gutters. If one of the parts of the system is not working properly, the entire system can fail. For instance, poor attic ventilation or too much insulation can cause rot from the inside of your home. If your gutters back up with water or ice, this can cause problems for your roof as well.

We offer a free gutter guide that provides helpful information about gutters and gutter guards. You can download it here.

3. Similar-Looking Roofing is the Same 

Not only is different roofing made out of different materials such as clay, tile, metal, and asphalt, within each type of roofing there are variations as well. When you work with your roofing company, you’ll need to examine the specific needs of your structure. For instance, you could look at shingles that specifically resist rainfall and mold if you live in a very wet climate. 

4. Your New Roof is Just Fine

While it’s even more important to check your old roof for problems, even your new roof can run into pitfalls and should be checked regularly. For instance, if your gutters are clogged with ice, this ice can push underneath the roofing and can lead to water and rot under the shingles. Branches can hit a roof of any age, so if you have large trees and high winds, you need to check your roof after a storm. Even strong winds can lead to roofing damage. According to Angie’s List, “Even, if a storm didn’t produce a torrent of rain or volley of hail, wind alone, can cause enough damage to your roof to warrant repair or replacement.” Finally, activities that you do to protect your roof can actually cause a problem. For instance, incorrect power washing can move water under your shingles and can lead to damage.

5. All Roofing Warranties Are the Same

Do you think that your roof is protected? Make sure you understand what’s protected when you sign on with a roofing company. For instance, Harry Helmet has a 10 year warranty that covers the workmanship on the roof. 

Roof warranties may come with stipulations. It might state that you need to have regular inspections completed so that your warranty is still valid. Check out the fine print so that you’re not surprised.

At Harry Helmet, we want to make sure that you have professional assistance when you’re making roofing choices. Talk with us to learn more about roofing and schedule a free estimate today.

Written by Del Thebaud