Page 38 - Book1

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XVIII

How to spot a good roofing job
Roofing Contractors
Many roofers perform admirable work. They purchase quality materials
and pay attention to detail. Unfortunately, a few contractors cut corners to
save time or money. Others lack the skills needed to install durable roofing.
To find out if your contractor did a good job, carefully examine the design and
condition of your roof.
Number of Layers
It's harder to maintain a roof that has three or more layers of
shingles. Extra layers also burden the house with unnecessary weight.
Reputable contractors remove old shingles if a building already has two
layers of this roofing material.
Drip Edge Issues
Roofers must install drip edges to prevent water damage,
basement flooding, stains and soil erosion. If your home has a shingle
roof, the gables and eaves should feature a drip edge. This metal
flashing fits between the shingles and underlayment. It carries
rainwater away from the house and enables gutters to work correctly. A
drip edge won't protect your home if the contractor installs it improperly.
Professionals know that these metal sheets need to reach gutters at a
45-degree pitch. Proper installation greatly increases the lifespan of the
roof and walls.
Effective Flashing
To stop water from leaking into your home, roofers should install
metal flashing around vent pipes, chimneys and similar protrusions. It's
important to place this material under rather than over shingles.
Chimneys need a combination of counter flashing and step flashing; a
single sheet of metal won't prevent water from entering the attic. Some
roofing businesses try to substitute flashing with caulk and roof cement.
These sealants only eliminate leaks for short periods of time.
Unfortunately, they can't withstand the amount of water that falls on a
typical roof. Workers need patience and comprehensive expertise to
complete high-quality roofing jobs. If any roof edges touch walls, they
should have kick-out flashing. This material stops water from running
down an exterior wall. When roofers neglect to install kick-out flashing,
the wall and any nearby window or door frames may rot. Responsible
roofing companies don't reuse decaying materials when they put new
roofs on old buildings. At a minimum, they replace any rusty flashing.
Roofers should also give you an opportunity to install new vent pipes if
existing units have deteriorated.
Chimney Saddle
If your chimney measures more than 30 inches wide, the
contractor should install a "saddle" that prevents leaves and rainwater
from collecting behind the chimney. Instead, water flows into gutters or
off the edge of the roof. This preserves the wood under your shingles
and stops the flashing from rusting.

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