When it comes to residential roofing, homeowners tend to pass along some misinformation to one another. Often, these myths are handed down from generation to generation. However, it’s important to separate fact from fiction when understanding roofs, roofing maintenance, roof repair, and everything related to the materials that protect your home from rain, wind, debris, and heat.
Below are the top five roof-related misunderstandings our team regularly hears when working with our customers.
Your roof is fine as long as it doesn’t leak.
It’s understandable to want to put off paying to repair or redo your roof. Nevertheless, you can’t afford to wait until you can see or feel a leak to call a roofing company. You may have leaks that you don’t even know about, and that’s a problem. Undetected leaks aren’t just bad for the health of your structure — they’re bad for the health of its inhabitants if mold starts to develop.
A good rule of thumb is to call a roofing company to perform an inspection regularly. For instance, if you know your roof is at least 15-20 years old, have a roofer check it out. Though today’s high-quality asphalt roofs tend to last for up to 30 years, older roofs don’t have the same longevity. Giving yourself and your family peace of mind makes more sense than waiting for a catastrophic leak to start the roofing maintenanceor roofing renovation process.
You can tell that your shingles are good just by looking from the ground.
When you look up at your roof, it may seem fine to you. The shingles seem to be in place and have a generally consistent appearance. Maybe you see a few streaks here and there, but you’re satisfied that they’re okay. Right? Not exactly. Unless you get on your roof with a roofer and poke around, your eyes could shield you from the truth.
Our team often works with homeowners surprised to find the roof leaking but shingles look good. It’s just too hard to know if your shingles are still performing without examining them with high professional scrutiny.
You can put on a roof yourself.
The DIY movement has made every homeowner believe that all household projects can be done handyman-style. Though we encourage you to learn about all the processes that go into roofing, we discourage you from performing roofing maintenance or repairing shingles on roof tops unless you have years of roofing experience.
Just because you have the tools and materials necessary to lay a roof doesn’t mean you’ll be prepared for every eventuality. It’s not unusual for roofers to encounter “surprises” that benefit from their expertise.
The color of your asphalt shingles will affect your home’s heat.
It’s unclear where this myth started, but it needs to stop. Homeowners often opt for lighter-colored asphalt shingles out of worry that darker-colored ones will cause their energy bills to go sky-high. The reality is that all asphalt shingles perform the same way. The color is just there to add a designer touch.
This will probably be great news to you if you’ve held off on getting the roof of your dream because of concerns about shingle color palettes. If you prefer a very dark gray or even black-toned roof, go for it.
You can forget the need for roof maintenance after replacing your roof.
You bought a new roof. Not only do you feel better about your property’s look and resale value, but you sleep easier when torrential rain storms pop up at night. But don’t forget to give your roof a bit of maintenance every season.
From clearing out your gutters to performing a visual inspection twice yearly, you need to pay attention to your roof, whether made from TPO roofing or asphalt shingles. A well-maintained roof will last much longer than one that’s ignored. If you aren’t comfortable performing maintenance yourself, find a professional company to help.
Ready to avoid falling for roofing myths? Find out if your Florida roof is doing its job. Contact Jack C. Wilson Roofing Co. to schedule a time for our team to evaluate your roof.
