Just like anything that we buy, the different roofing types in St Paul can also have their fair share of problems. Depending on which you invest in, there are certain things that you need to know so that you can make your roofing last as long as possible. This involves knowing the “quirks” each type has. This can also help you in determining which St Paul roofing type is right for you.

Here is a rundown of the types of roofing in St Paul and issues you may experience with them:

Wood shingles and shakes – Wood shingles and shakes look great, but you will need to talk to your St Paul roofer about how you can treat your wood and shakes to make them last longer. You will find that wood does require more maintenance than some other types of roofing in order to keep the wood in good health.

Metal Roofs - Metal has become quite the popular roofing option. Metal is practically maintenance-free, reflects heat, and is quite durable. There are not many problems with metal roofs other than a hail storm with very large hail can result in denting of the roof. Overall, metal does not have major problems. A metal roof will even dissipate lightning rather than conduct it, which is good news.

Built-up-roofs – Built-up-roofs are frequently installed on low sloping or flat roofs. There are layers of fiberglass or felt that alternate in layers and are then treated with asphalt. This type is seen more in commercial buildings. Just like any type of asphalt shingle, the granules in the asphalt can be knocked off by hail and debris that is blown around during a storm. When this occurs, the sun can eventually cause cracking. Due to the built-up nature of these types of roofs, penetration by hail may be less likely.

Slate and tile roofs – Both of these types are very durable and the oldest roofing materials around. However, they weigh a lot and require a roof that is reinforced so that it can handle the weight. In St Paul, residents have to take into consideration that snow can become very heavy in the winter, adding to the weight of slate and tile. These options are also more expensive.

Just as all of these roofing types have incredible pros, there are the cons. However, we must keep in mind that everything we come in contact with has some sort of con to it. It is how we deal with those cons that can help make a decision and educate us on what we need to do to ensure our roofing remains in the best health possible.

If you are currently experiencing problems with your roofing, it is also important to take into consideration that such issues as lack of maintenance, improper installation, improper design, and flashing failures can lead to additional issues.

So take a look at the roofing types and what you can expect. Depending on how much maintenance you are willing to take on, the aesthetic appeal you’re looking for, and the cost, you can find the roofing that is right for you.

When you buy a new roof system in Minnesota, you are buying more than just what you see. There are other parts of the system that you can’t see and they are very important at protecting your home from the weather. It is important that you know the different components of a roof system so that you can ensure you choose the best of everything for your roof.

Here are some of the components and some terms that you should familiarize yourself with when discussing your new roof with your Minnesota roofing contractor:

• Built-up roof – This is a roof that consists of layers of alternating hot-mapped asphalt and roofing felt. The roof is then topped off with a layer of gravel.
• Flashing – This is sheet metal that is used to join the different planes to prevent leakage from the roof.
• Counterflashing – This is the part of the flashing that is overlapped over a single shingle flashing.
• Cornice – The part of the roof you see protruding out from the walls at the side of the house.
• Deck – This is the surface that is usually made of plywood and is the surface in which the roofing materials are applied.
• Drip Edge – This is an L-shaped strip that is installed along the edges of the roof and allows water to drip off of the edges away from the eaves and the siding.
• Fascia – This is the trim board behind the eaves and the gutter.
• Felt – This is also referred to as “tar paper” by roofers in Minnesota and around the U.S. It is usually made of rags, asphalt, or paper.
• Penetrations – Penetrations consists of the chimney, vents, pipes, and stacks that penetrate the deck of the roof.
• Sheathing – The sheathing is the boards that are nailed to the rafters and the outside roofing materials may be secured.
• Rafter – This is a structure that sheathing may be nailed to.
• Shingle flashing – These are the strips that are under each shingle and bent up the edge of the wall or chimney.
• Underlayment – This is the material, usually felt, that is laid upon the sheathing or deck before the shingles are applied.

Other components that you will find are part of the roof include the actual roof covering, which can be shingles, tile, slate, cedar shakes, or another covering; the deck, the roof structure, the flashing, and the drainage system to ensure the water can drain off the roof, which will prevent leaks when done properly.

Talk to your Minnesota roofer about the different components of your roofing system so that you can make sure you have the best all around. You do not want any part of your roof to be of a low quality because this can compromise the rest of your roof. You certainly don’t want this to happen because of the fact your roof is a very large investment. Every part of it works together, so you need to make sure the entire thing is what it should be.

It is recommended by roofing associations and Minnesota roofers themselves that you have your asphalt roofing inspected bi-annually or annually. This is because the seasons certainly take a toll on your roof. And the time of year that is best to have a Minnesota roof inspection is the late spring and the early fall and there are reasons behind this.

So what can be found during a roof inspection?

Well, a Minnesota roofing inspector will take a look at your roof and look for telltale signs of damage. These signs can include granules missing from your shingles, weak spots, blisters, cracks, and missing shingles. An inspector can evaluate your eaves and valleys to ensure that they are not leaking or will not be leaking in the near future.

A Minnesota inspector can also take a look at skylights, fans, and other hardware to make sure everything is in check and nothing is leaking. These areas can be trouble spots, so they need to be checked every time your roof is inspected.

So when should inspections take place?

There are several times in which you need to make the call to a Minnesota roofer to inspect your roof. You want to make the call any time that there is a storm that produced hail, high winds, and flying debris. You never know when the hail or flying debris caused cracks, blisters, or holes in your shingles. You also never know when the wind may have blown shingles off of your roof or loosened them. You must address the problems immediately so that they do not become worse and cause leaks that can cause further damage to your home that could be expensive.

Roofing association and Minnesota roofing contractors will tell you that a late spring inspection is a good idea. This is because the snow storms and the harsh cold of the winter takes its toll on your roofing. Many times the weather does not start to warm up and stay consistently warm until the late spring. A late spring inspection ensures that the cold weather is over and that it is safe to go ahead and make any repairs heading into the summer.

By making sure repairs are made before the weather gets too hot, any damage will not become worse because it simply won’t be there anymore. The summer will then provide its own punishment on the roof. That is why it is good to have an inspection on the roof in the fall. You can then have a Minnesota inspector evaluate what the summer months did to your roof so that you can prepare for winter.

By having these regular inspections, you can extend the life of your roof. You will not have to make extremely premature replacements, which can save you a lot of money in the long-term. You certainly do not want to replace a thirty year roof in fifteen. If that happened, you would be replacing every fifteen years and spending more money than you ever intended.

Minnesota metal roofing has become quite the trend. Individuals have the choice of different colors and even different styles. For instance, you can have a blue roof if you want a blue roof. You can also have a metal roof that mimics the look of shingles if you want. There are more and more options being made available to homeowners as metal roof innovations are being made.

However, there are some myths about metal roofing in Minnesota that need to be addressed so that individuals such as yourself can make the right decisions regarding metal roofing.

Those myths include:

Metal roofs are too hot and don’t have insulating properties – It has been shown that metal roofs are saving homeowners money on their heating and cooling costs when they are installed properly. Metal roofs actually reflect a lot of the solar energy that tends to heat up the attics of homes. This results in the home remaining a more consistent temperature, which means you do not have to deal with the extreme temperature fluctuations you would have to deal with otherwise.

Lightning loves metal roofs – The truth here is that lighting hates metal roofs. The Metal Roof Alliance states that the instance of lightning hitting your home with a metal roof is not increased. If lightning does hit your home, the metal roof disperses the energy from the lightning evenly and safely. The instance of fire is also greatly reduced with a metal roof because metal is not flammable.

Metal roofs don’t last long – Quality metal roofs come with a 20 year guarantee from the manufacturer. Metal roofs do require special skills from Minnesota roofing contractors. Not everyone can install a metal roof, which says a lot about the quality of the roof. The more complex, the better it is. When installed properly, the expected lifespan of a metal roof is 50 years. This is much longer than most other roof types, which includes asphalt shingles that have a maximum life of 30 years.

Metal roofs aren’t very beneficial – Right now, you can receive a tax credit on your income tax return when you put metal roofing on your home. As you’ve read so far, metal roofing is not flammable, they are not too hot, and they do keep cool air in and hot air out. When you use an Energy Star rated metal roofing, your energy costs can be cut by 10% to 15%.

Metal roofs aren’t worth the cost – Metal roofs may cost more than asphalt shingles, but the overall savings exceeds that of asphalt shingles and the roof more or less pays for itself over time in the form of energy savings. Asphalt shingles do need to be replaced 2 to 4 times more often than metal roofing. Considering roof replacement costs thousands, the overall savings is astronomical.

When you decide to take the metal roofing route, you do need a Minnesota roofing company that specializes in installing metal roofs. It takes 4 to 5 years for a roofer to gain the experience needed to install these roofs, but once they are installed, they are an amazing asset to your home.

The life of a roof shingle is quite fascinating for the fact that they can “die” in a short period of time or they can last for many years without a hitch. To some, a shingle is just a piece or material that is nailed onto a roof and keeps the water out. It helps to drain water away and into the gutter system that then channels water away from the home. It seems rather simple, but the truth is that it is not simple at all. As a matter of fact, a roof shingle is more complicated in that.

Minnesota roofing seems to be largely made up of asphalt shingles. When a hail storm, wind storm, or a large snow storm makes its way through the state or areas of the state, some shingles seem to stand up to the challenge and others don’t, so why is this?

This is because Minnesota roofing contractors are experienced in installing different types of roof shingles. These roof shingles come in different weights. The heavier the weight, the longer it will last. As for the life expectancy, there are a number of factors that come into play.

Minnesota Shingle Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of a shingle is reliant upon things that you may have never thought would be factors. For instance, attic ventilation plays a role in shingle life expectancy. The hotter the attic stays during the summer, the shorter the life expectancy of the shingle. Other factors include:

• The color of the shingle also plays a role. The lighter the shingle, the less heat it pulls in. Heat is a big culprit in shortening the life of shingles.
• One side of the roof may receive more inclement weather than the other. The side that tends to take the brunt of the wind, rain, hail, and other weather will be the side that wears out faster.
• The pitch and slope of the roof also affects the life expectancy. Having a combination of harsh winters and hot summers can reduce the life expectancy.

Although manufacturers will package their shingles as twenty year, twenty-five year, or thirty-year shingles, this is the life expectancy they were designed to have. However, this is without the weather patterns that Minnesota tends to inflict on its citizens. Here are the facts regarding Minnesota asphalt shingles and their projected life expectancy:

• Twenty year shingles may last on average of fifteen years. They usually start to show deterioration between the ten and twelve year marks.
• Twenty-five year shingles last around eighteen to twenty years.
• Thirty year shingles last around twenty-five years.

Inspections

So don’t let the expected life expectancy of a roof shingle throw you off. You will need to have regular roof inspections by a qualified Minneapolis roofing inspector. These inspections should take place after storms in which there was hail, wind, or flying debris. You should also have your roof inspected in the late spring and in the fall to see the toll the winter and the summer did to your roof. The summer and winter tends to be the harshest, so inspections can help you address small problems before they become major problems. This will extend the life of your asphalt shingles and help you replace your roof closer to their life expectancy rather than prematurely.