The roof over your head might seem simple, but the truth is that few people actually know the truth about everything from how to determine its condition to how to make repairs to how best to take care of it. In fact, there are a surprising number of myths or misconceptions floating around, and unfortunately we see a number of situations where someone has actually done some serious damage to their roof by following this misinformation.
On this blog, we’ll take a look at five of these roofing myths and provide the truth about them so you can care for your roof with accurate and reliable information.
#1 – You Can Re-Roof Over Existing Shingles
We see this a lot: someone has discovered a small leak in their roof and found the location of the crack, only instead of conducting a proper repair, they simply nail a few new shingles down to the roof in order to cover the hole. Good as new, right?
Not exactly. The nails you’re using to place the new shingles over the old ones are creating new holes in your roof, which aren’t sealed properly and could actually create even more leaks, and bigger ones at that! As a general rule, you can’t re-roof by simply placing new shingles over old ones—have a professional Colorado Springs roofer remove the old shingles and install new ones to repair any damaged areas.
#2 – No Leaks? No Problems!
Just because you got through winter without any leaks or signs of damage emerging doesn’t mean your roof doesn’t need a repair. In fact, the harsh winter weather and months of exposure to ice and snow are extremely hard on nearly any roof material and could cause damage, even if the damage never manifests itself as a leak. A professional roofing contractor can inspect your roof and notice any potential signs of damage in leak-prone areas, such as near vents and around flashing that could have worn out or been eaten away over months or years of exposure to the elements.
#3 – New Roofs Are Worry-Free For Years
Does a new car not need its oil changed for the first two years of its life? Of course not, so why would your roof be the same way? Just because you’ve recently replaced your roof doesn’t mean you don’t need to regularly inspect it and give it the maintenance you would a roof that was a decade old or more. In fact, new roofs are prone to their own set or problems, including defective materials or installation mistakes that usually only need minor corrections. However, not getting these problems fixed means you’ll wind up needing a large repair far more quickly.
#4 – The More Insulation You Use, The Better
We often hear this myth from people who are concerned about the amount of energy they’re using to heat and cool their home, particularly during the frigid winter months in Colorado. What many people don’t realize is that over-insulating your attic could be a problem. While insulation is a good thing and will help you use less energy, over-insulating your attic blocks much-needed ventilation through your attic. An attic that’s not ventilated and has stagnant air could encourage mold growth and other major issues that could actually cause your roof to deteriorate rapidly.
#5 – Clean Your Roof With a Pressure Washer
Your roof may get dirty, particularly during spring time when rains and moisture could lead to mold growth, or during autumn when leaves start tumbling down and building up in the joints between your roofs. While cleaning out your roof gutters is an important annual chore, most people also want to take the time to clean off their roof as well to prevent this organic debris from deteriorating and potentially causing even more mold growth.
However, a pressure washer isn’t the tool for the job. While they’re effective at cleaning most surfaces, they’ll actually damage the delicate surface of your roof, particularly if you have asphalt shingles, clay tiles, natural wood tiles, or another form of fairly delicate roofing that isn’t designed to withstand impact that’s much greater than a heavy rainfall. A regular garden hose without a high pressure nozzle is a better choice, and use mild cleaners to ensure you don’t accidentally erode your protective surface.
Get more information about these or other roof care concerns by contacting the Colorado Springs roofers at Divine Roofing, Inc. at (719) 497-1005 today!