Tag: Roof

So, maybe you’re thinking about a new roof. You’ll probably be quite amazed by the options out there, but if you’re looking to invest in the appearance and security of your home, an asphalt shingle roof from CertainTeed® is a terrific and reliable choice.

Let’s face it. If you’re the same as most homeowners, you certainly don’t give a whole bunch of thought to the roof over your head, at least not until it comes time to install a new one. So, when it does come time to purchase and have new roofing installed, you’re apt to encounter a variety of questions, including the material your roofing materials are constructed of.

Asphalt shingles are the most frequently applied shingles in the United States. Why? Because they’re reasonably priced, long-lasting, and fire-resistant. True, there are other choices out there, but they’re generally more costly and tough to install.

Asphalt shingles, in contrast, are more affordable, offer trouble-free installation, and come in various colors and styles that make any house look impressive.

Roofing fact: Did you know that some of the oldest roofing materials in the world are thatch, clay, and stone? Thatch was likely used between 5000 and 1800 BC. Likewise, clay towels can be traced all the way back to around 10,000 BC.

 

Here’s a bit of the history behind asphalt roofing shingles. . .

In 1903, Henry Reynolds, a roofing contractor from Grand Rapids, MI, who has been credited with the invention of the roofing shingle, began cutting saturated asphalt rolls that had been surfaced with stone into individual “shingles.” The first shingles were cut by hand into 8″ by 16″ pieces.

Twelve years later, machinery was perfected to use a roller die to cut individual shingles from a continuous ribbon of asphalt-saturated felt. In the 1920s, the first strip shingle was created by Bird and Son.

In 1953, builders applauded the arrival of the first self-sealing asphalt shingle to their work. Some twenty years after, laminated and fiberglass-based shingles appeared on the market. After that, the acceptance of asphalt shingles was settled, and they’ve remained popular ever since.

Today, four out of five homes in the United States feature an asphalt shingle roof. They have a lengthy and reliable history in the roofing industry – to be frank, it’s because they get the job done! And if correctly installed, they should last in excess of twenty years and need very little maintenance over their lifetime.

Does this sound like the roofing material of your dreams? Here are the chief features and benefits you get when you decide to install an asphalt shingle roof.

 

Why it’s hard to beat an asphalt shingle roof

 

Attractiveness

Your asphalt shingle roof can be unique and look totally unlike any of your neighbors, owing to the extensive choice of asphalt shingle shapes. Curb appeal is important, especially if you ever intend on selling your home. One of the paybacks of using asphalt shingles is that they are visually flexible. They come in various styles, including laminated, three-tab, and premium versions. This means they can suit a wide-ranging variety of home styles without seeming out of place.

Asphalt shingles are also available in a wide variety of colors to set off the style and color pattern of your home. Your choice of the look of your roofing doesn’t end there, however. You can go for asphalt roofing that mimics slate or cedar or sequoia wood roofing, among others.

 

Relatively easy to install

Installing a roof on your own is generally not a good idea if you don’t boast a bunch of roofing experience. If you’re worried about labor costs when installing a new roof, though, you’ll almost certainly be pleased to know that asphalt shingle roofing is one of the stress-free options for roofing installers. Asphalt shingles are much easier to handle than heavy tile roofing or bulky pieces of metal roofing and can normally be installed faster and easier by someone with roofing experience. This can help reduce labor costs and ensure your roofing project is completed rather quickly.

 

Easy to replace

When you install asphalt shingle roofing shingles, they come in lighter and smaller pieces, making them much easier to replace should the need ever arise. This can save you a bit of money, in the long run, should a shingle ever get damaged. The bottom line: Paying for the repair of a single shingle is far more cost-effective than, for instance, paying for an entire sheet of metal.

 

Durability

Asphalt shingles are acknowledged for their durability. Durable enough, in fact, that they don’t require considerable maintenance like other roofing materials often demand.

Reliable, long-lasting asphalt roofs are leak-resistant, if correctly installed, and can hold up 20 or more years. Their long life is assisted by ideal weight – asphalt is neither too light (leading to less risk of uplift problems) nor too heavy (so it does not need reinforcement).

Here in Pittsburgh, Mother Nature heaves a lot of severe weather on your roof. However, an asphalt shingle roof is robust and will hold up to snow and ice as well as the ruthless summer heat and humidity.

 

Affordability

Affordability plays a big role in many of the choices we make, particularly when it has to do with home projects.

Asphalt shingles are one of the utmost affordable roofing materials on the market. This affordability option makes it stress-free for homeowners on a budget to purchase and install a new roof without breaking the bank.

Consequently, selecting the most affordable option for a roof while at the same time making sure you take delivery of quality roofing material to get the job done can be a tough balance to keep up. Asphalt shingles provide both quality and affordability, helping you achieve that balance.

 

Versatility

Asphalt shingles can be used as roof covers for various angles, forms, and shapes of roofs. Whether your house has a cross-hipped roof or a Dutch gable, asphalt shingles can cover all of them quite well.

 

Low maintenance

The life expectancy of your roof will be determined by the quality of the materials, along with the weather conditions to which they are exposed. Rain, snow, wind, and severe temperatures will all affect the lifespan of shingles and the need for maintenance. By and large, however, asphalt shingles need minimal maintenance over their lifetime.

 

Recyclability

Asphalt shingles are recyclable and, consequently, eco-friendly. As a prime example, recyclers can use asphalt shingles as raw materials for new roads. Every ton of recycled asphalt shingles saves the equivalent of one barrel of oil from going to waste.

 

Sound dampening capabilities

Asphalt shingles do a fantastic job of filtering out noises outside your home – be they traffic, airplanes, or even barking dogs. They will go a long way in maintaining your home’s peace and quiet. After all, if you have kids or pets, you don’t need one more thing making your house noisy.

Roofing fact: Did you know that gargoyles became the main gutter and only drainage after the Norman Empire between the 10th and 13th centuries, most famously with the Notre Dame de Paris completed in 1345?

 

Why CertainTeed® brand asphalt shingles?

Okay, now that we’ve described the many advantages of asphalt roof shingles, let’s discuss why you should choose from one of three types of CertainTeed® asphalt shingles available at Schultheis Bros. Note that each type offers features that can be unique to your specific home, depending on weather and other outside factors.

Landmark® asphalt shingles are the high-quality, reliable choice for beautifying and protecting your home with a dual-layered design that matches the dimensionality of true wood shake.

Landmark asphalt shingles offer the heaviest weight and widest array of color choices in their class, allowing you to create or re-create the ideal look for your home.

With a dual-layered design that matches the dimensionality of true wood shake, Landmark asphalt shingles offer the heaviest weight and widest selection of choices in their class, allowing you to create or re-create the idyllic look for your home. Backed by a 100+ year legacy of trusted manufacturing performance, all Landmark shingles include CertainTeed®’s industry-leading lifetime-limited warranty.

Landmark PRO® shingles improve upon the reliable Landmark shingle. We started by adding more weathering asphalt to the industry’s toughest fiberglass mat to provide additional protection. Then we incorporated our Maximum Definition color blend technology to give the product more vibrancy on the roof. As a result, Landmark PRO shingles offer peace of mind on projects that call for a premier appeal at an affordable price. Landmark Pro shingles also offer CertainTeed®’s lifetime, limited warranty.

ClimateFlex® designer shingles offer the beauty and dimensionality of wood shake roofing in the form of a durable, polymer-modified asphalt.

ClimateFlex shingle technology combines our durable roofing asphalt with the performance of rubberizing polymers. This results in impact-resistant shingles that offer an industry-leading Class 4 rating for protection against hail damage and hail impact, as well as superior surface granule adhesion and all-weather performance that protects year-round in almost any climate or condition.

The rubberizing aspects of ClimateFlex technology provides enhanced cold-weather pliability, allowing contractors to handle and install ClimateFlex in low temperatures that make standard shingles stiff and brittle.

Roofing fact: Did you know that in many cultures, green roofs, which feature plants, grasses and flowers, are still widespread? This practice dates back many centuries, and if the roof is installed correctly, it will contribute to a leak-free roof.

 

Additional CertainTeed® roofing technologies

As a result of CertainTeed®’s dedication to product improvements and manufacturing excellence, we’ve developed numerous valuable technologies that help contractors and homeowners build better, safer, more comfortable homes.

• QuadraBond™ advanced layering is CertainTeed®’s specially formulated adhesive that adheres to shingle layers at four points, more than other manufacturers. This superior bond provides greater protection against shingle delamination to maximize performance over the shingle’s life in any climate.
• StreakFighter® algae resistance is the ultimate in stain protection. Those streaks on other roofs in your neighborhood? That’s algae. CertainTeed®’s StreakFighter technology uses the power of science to repel against algae before it can take hold and spread.
• NailTrak® nailing line is a feature on CertainTeed®’s designer shingles. Now brighter than ever, with high-visibility lines that stand out at daybreak or dusk, NailTrak removes the guesswork with three separately defined lines, creating a large area to guide nailing and smaller areas for extreme slope applications.
• CertaSeal™ uplift protection is a fast-activating modified asphalt sealant with a 20-year record of proven performance. Designed to seal shingles together upon installation, it protects roofs from wind uplift and shingle blow-off so that homes stay safe and dry. It’s also engineered to remain flexible after installation, unlike harder sealants that can dry out and crack over time.

So, there you have it.

We’re confident that we’ve put together a strong case for choosing CertainTeed® asphalt shingles for your next roofing project.

Want more information or a quote? Simply contact our roofing specialists at Schultheis Bros. at your earliest convenience. Or you can learn more at CertainTeed®.com/roofing.

Unlike many run-of-the-mill companies offering unremarkable service and middle-of-the-road workmanship, Shultheis Bros. raises the bar to new heights.

We’re committed to offering Pittsburgh area homeowners top-quality CertainTeed® products and qualified installation for a customer experience second to none.

Improve your Asphalt Roof Lifespan

When investing in a new roof, you’re expecting to get as many years out of it as possible. This is especially true for an asphalt shingle roof.

One of the more important questions customers ask our representatives is, “How long do asphalt shingles last?” If another roofing contractor claims “for a lifetime,” you might want to ask whose lifetime? Yours? Your house’s?

Fortunately, we’re here to help you better determine the lifespan of your asphalt shingle roof. After all, the team at Schultheis Bros. has been installing asphalt shingle roofs since 1946, and we know what it takes to get the most out of the life expectancy of your current roof.

The truth is, you should get reasonably close to the manufacturer’s predicted lifespan of your roofing materials. But there are several factors that will affect how much time you’ll get out of your asphalt shingle roof.

Recognizing when to replace the roof on your home can save you a bunch of needless expenditures in repairs and help you budget for your next roof replacement should one be needed. Since the lifespan of an average asphalt shingle roof is contingent on various issues, we’ve broken down each of these factors to help you better determine the condition of your present roof. We also will help you plot a course through the roof repair and replacement process if and when needed.

By the end of this blog, you’ll know how long your asphalt roof ought to last when you should consider replacing it, and the factors that will influence its lifespan.

 

Okay, why are we talking about asphalt shingle roofs?

When it comes to roofing options, there is nothing more common than asphalt shingles. In fact, you can find them covering nearly 80 percent of the homes in the country.

 

How old is your roof?

First, you’ll want to determine the age of your current roof. Of course, if you had the roof replaced yourself, you’ll have a record of it. But if you recently bought the house and the roof has yet to be replaced, you’ll want to find out how old it is

Finding out how long it has been since your roof has been replaced can help you take the initiative and avoid suffering from needless costs stemming from roof leaks. It can also give you an idea of how much life is remaining in the roofing system so you can budget appropriately, if needed, for a new roof. Here are a few tips that can help identify the age of your roof.

• Check with the roofing company. If you’ve only just purchased your home or are in the process of making a purchase, it’s always a great idea to ask who installed the roof and how old the roof is.
• Check with your locality. If your local community calls for a roofing permit to be pulled when a roof is being replaced, this is another excellent place to begin your search. If a permit were issued, this would let you know precisely when the roof was replaced.
• Have the roof inspected by a skilled roofing professional. If you’re still unable to establish when your roof was installed, it might be helpful to contact a professional. A certified roofing contractor, such as Schultheis Bros., is the best go-to route for roof inspections to help determine its age and condition.

Here are the factors that affect the life of your asphalt shingle roof

If you’re in the market for a new roof, there are a number of considerations to ensure you’re making a smart investment. We invite you to follow along to find out which factors impact the lifespan of your asphalt shingle roof and determine when you should investigate replacement options.

 

What are the weather conditions where you live?

Every type of roof goes through wear and tear from the weather throughout its life. Sun, rain, hail, and big temperature swings all play a part in how quickly you’ll lose the protective layer of granules and in causing the weatherproofing asphalt to age and become brittle.

It’s no secret. We know the weather conditions in Pittsburgh can change quickly from one day to the next, without even mentioning the extreme cold temperatures in the winter and sizzling hot temperatures in the summer. These dramatic changes can cause plenty of erosion on the roof. For instance, when shingles freeze in the winter, this will frequently loosen the roof granules.

These weather conditions and drastic temperature changes can also result in the cracking of the rubber gaskets around the vent pipes. Flashing can also be pulled away from walls as well as away from the chimney.

 

Do you have the proper amount of attic insulation?

Not having the correct amount of insulation in your attic can result in ice dams in the winter due to heat escaping from the home’s interior. According to the Insulation Institute, Pittsburgh falls into zone 5, which requires a minimum of R39 for insulation. Most roofing contractors will probably tell you, however, that a majority of homes in the region are under-insulated.

A hint: If you can see your roof rafters showing through the insulation, your attic is under-insulated. This means that not only are you paying more in heating and cooling costs but the lifespan of your roof is shortened as well.

 

Which way does your asphalt shingle roof face?

Let’s face it; you probably wouldn’t think the direction your home faces factors into the life of your asphalt shingle roof. But the volume of direct sunlight your roof gets impacts how long it’ll last. Areas constantly being hit by the scorching sun will always age faster than those in shady areas.

However, you need to be aware that areas that are constantly shady areas are more susceptible to aging as algae and moss tend to grow in these spaces. In addition, algae and lichen tend to thrive on shingles in shady areas as they feed on the oil and limestone found in the shingles themselves.

The conclusion: All of the outside elements are going to factor into the lifespan of your asphalt shingle roof.

 

What is the slope of your roof?

The roof’s pitch or slope will definitely affect how long the asphalt shingles will last. Where roofs have a low slope, water, snow, leaves, and other debris are left sitting on the shingles longer than they should. This leads to too much moisture on the roof, which can eventually cause mold, mildews, and even rot. On the other hand, a high-pitched roof will more easily let water and debris run-off, which usually means the roof will dry out much faster.

 

How well was the roof installed?

Another crucial factor to consider is how well the roofing contractor initially installed the roof. For instance, roof installations in the Pittsburgh region, a crucial roof component is the ice and water barrier. Not having enough ice and water underlayment installed, or not having it installed in critical areas like a valley, can cause leaks during heavy rains or when ice damming occurs in the winter.

A word about underlayment: Roofing underlayment is one of the most vital components of roof replacements. Underlayment is a layer of waterproofing security on the occasion when the exterior roof is damaged. This added layer of protection counters moisture buildup and mold issues and is essential in helping prevent your materials from rotting away.

We’ve come across roofing systems during our roof inspections that were only a few years old, but we’re already leaking due to poor workmanship by the roofing contractor when first installing the roof.

 

What is the color of your roofing materials?

Believe it or not, in some cases, the color of shingles you choose can affect your roof’s life expectancy. When the sun shines, lighter materials are preferred as dark products absorb more heat from the sun. That’s because overheated shingles are more apt to experience wear and tear.

Yes, there are now “cooler” shingles available with more reflective properties, but generally speaking, the darker the color or your shingles, the more heat they’ll absorb. The more heat they absorb, the more prone they are to breaking down sooner rather than later.

 

Has your current roof been properly maintained?

The most clear-cut factor that affects the lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof is a lack of routine maintenance and upkeep.

Many well-meaning homeowners don’t give their roof a second thought unless there’s a problem – and then it might be too late to do something about it. Unless you don’t mind having to replace your roof long before it should be replaced, you had better carry out some self-checks of your roof every change of season.

Scores of roofing specialists also suggest an annual professional inspection of your roof. The eyes of an accomplished professional may be able to catch sight of something you might otherwise not detect and will be able to steer you to a practical repair option versus having to shell out big bucks for a total roof replacement.

The bottom line: Don’t wait twenty years to begin paying notice to your shingles. Things you can and ought to be on the lookout for include curled, broken, or missing shingles, excessive granule loss, exposed nails, damaged flashing, missing seals, and gutter concerns.

 

So, just how long will my shingle roof last?

From brand-new, the usual asphalt shingle roof will last 20-25 years before needing to be completely replaced. However, as we’ve just pointed out, a variety of factors will affect the lifespan of your shingle roof. We’ve described how the weather and climate have a substantial impact. Or, if you get frequent high-wind storms, significant swings in temperature, or strong direct sunlight, among other factors, shingles will sustain damage and won’t last as long. Of course, if the original installation wasn’t done well, your roof might fail prematurely.

All these factors must be considered when determining how long your shingle roof will last.

 

Ready to talk to an expert?

If you already have an asphalt shingle roof on your house, you fall into the group representing approximately 80 percent of American homeowners. If you’re presently thinking about a new shingle roof or replacing your current one, you’re in great company, too. But no matter where you currently are in your shingle roof voyage, you need to team up with an expert who can help you get the most out of your shingle roof.

The pros at Schultheis Bros. offer the best inspection, maintenance, and repair expertise you’ll discover anywhere in the Pittsburgh region. Schultheis Bros. is the premier asphalt shingle roofing contractor in the greater Pittsburgh and surrounding area and our pledge is to deliver the finest products with the finest service for each and every customer. But don’t simply take our word for it – check out some of our customer reviews.

 

All set to experience the Schultheis Bros. difference for yourself? Give us a call and schedule your consultation today.