Plano Roof Repair

Plano roofs don’t get free passes when it comes to roofing damage. Storms threaten the roofs of Plano, TX homes almost year-round, and the extremes of hot and cold weather pose significant threats as well. A weak shingle or a weak section of flashing will only get weaker as more storms continue to roll in. Before you know it, your roof will have be past the point of repair and require full-on replacement. That’s why Plano roof repair will always come in handy.

Guard against hail damage

Almost always, the need for roof repairs stem from hail damage. Hail damages asphalt roofing the most, and asphalt roofing happens to be the most common type of roofing in the North Texas area. The best way to protect your roof from damage caused by hailstone is to have it inspected at least once a year.

Newer roofs might not require inspections, but roofs that are over 10 years old do. Additionally, a particularly severe storm season might warrant an inspection. For example, a season filled with five major hail storms should make you consider having your roof inspected. You should consult a professional roofing company to come inspect your roof. They’ll complete the repair if necessary.

How to tell if your roof has been damaged by hailstones

The most simple way is to examine the metal parts of your roofing. Check the flashing near the chimney for dents. You can also check the gutters and objects around your property, like the air conditioning unit and mailbox. These things might not be directly related to your roofing, but they can help give you an idea as to just how powerful the hailstorm was.

Before you go up to your roof to check on your shingles, check inside the gutters for small beads or debris. These would have come from damaged shingles. If you see any debris in the gutters, you’ll know that at least one shingle has been damaged as a result of the storm.

After checking for debris, look on your roof to see which shingles have been damaged. If you come across any damaged shingles or if you feel unevenness across a shingle, take a piece of chalk and circle the problem area. Marking each area of damage will make a roof inspector’s job just a little easier when he/she comes to inspect your roof.

What can extreme heat do to your roof?

Pay close attention to this one…

North Texas deals with extreme heat for around five months of the year (May-September), sometimes even six or seven months. Extreme heat can make your life miserable; it can negatively affect your car, your lawn and your roof.

Out of all of those, your roof is probably the most important as it protects the inside of your home. A damaged roof can result in leaks and poor ventilation.

You’ll have a real problem on your hands if a hole or crack expands. Leaks usually start in areas that you don’t visit often, like your attic. Because of this, you probably won’t notice the damage until it has already been done. If your attic floods, the floor could rot and become weak, and the floor could cave in.

With regardes to ventilation, heat from outside will enter through the smallest of cracks, causing your home’s temperature to completely lose control. Suddenly, your home will be significantly warmer, which will force your AC unit to work harder, which will lead to your energy bills skyrocketing and the lifetime of your air conditioning unit being shortened.

Heat can damage a roof in many ways:

Shingles will expand, resulting in cracks and curling
Indoor temperatures will increase
Roof decking (bottom layer, usually made out of plywood) will warp if not properly protected by overlapping layers
The roof will discolor

Types of shingles that best reflect heat:

Metal
Slate
Clay
Concrete

What can moisture do to your roof?

Heat may cause the hole in your roof, but water is what will fall through and really damage your home. Leaks are the visible damage caused by water. Having your roof regularly inspected and maintaining the condition of your roof is all you need to do to prevent leakage.

You should be careful to avoid the gathering of moisture. Excessive periods of heavy rain combined with a poor drainage system can significantly damage a roof. Therefore, it’s extremely important that your gutter is clear of any sort of clutter and isn’t backed up. Leaves are usually the cause of such backup.

You also want to make sure that there are no holes in your gutters. Holes are usually formed because of hailstones or general deterioration. A drainage system is designed with a single purpose: to direct all water to particular areas of your property. These areas are usually sloped to create a downward stream of water away from your home. If water is falling from parts of the gutter that it’s not supposed to, it’ll definitely start to puddle up on your lawn. In the long run, this could lead to a foundation problem in addition to a roofing issue.

Furthermore, it’s important to note that wooden shingles are most vulnerable to moisture. As we know, wood absorbs water. Due to this, it can begin to rot if the moisture doesn’t dry fast enough. It will also lead to the growth of moss and algae.

Wood shingles require the most attention and maintenance when compared to other types of roofing shingles. It needs to be treated on a regular basis, and the treatment might become more frequent during a spring with lots of storms, or if your home (especially your roof) is constantly in the shade. In case the damage has already been done, you can count on a Plano roof repair expert to fix it for you.

What can the cold do to your roof?

Cold temperatures don’t affect the strength of your roof as much as they do the installation process of it. It’s known that installing roofing shingles is risky when temperatures are below 40° is risky. Why? Because, in these temperatures, shingles will harden and become more fragile. This increases the probability of shingles cracking during installation.

The range of 70°-80° is perfect for roof installation. Installing in hotter temperatures is more manageable than in colder conditions. Shingles need heat in order to adapt to the surface. Without that heat, the job is much more challenging. That is why you rarely see roofing being installed during the winter months, even when the winters are more mild ones like those in North Texas.

In conclusion, you don’t want to risk your roof being weak from the beginning because of rushing into installations during the winter months. It’d be a better idea to wait until spring or fall for roofing installation.

Aside from installation, the doesn’t do much damage or pose much of a threat to roofing. Asphalt can withstand cold temperatures just fine.

What to look for in a roofing contractor

Of course, you want your Plano roof repair expert to be well qualified. It’s always a good idea to rely on the same contractor for repairs as you did for the installation. That is, if the installer did a good job. Additionally, the installer’s work should be backed by warranty.

Lower the chances of you being held liable for anything by choosing a roofing company that is licensed and insured. A licensed company will have proof of qualification. It’ll give you confirmation that their staff is fully-trained and able to handle your roof with care and precision.

Insurance will protect you. It will protect your home, your roofing, and it will release you from any liability if a roofer gets injured on the job. Hopefully the insurance won’t be factored into your roof repair or replacement job, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Additionally, make sure the contractor has dealt with the type of roofing you have or that you selected. There are contractors that work only with one type of roofing and there are others who work with all types. Every contractor should be able to work with asphalt roofing, but the same can’t be said for slate, wood shake, or clay roofing.

Make sure to confirm these important bits of information before getting started. It’s never a bad idea to ask for proof of work either. If you own a concrete roof, have the contractor show you work samples of concrete roofs his business has worked on in the past. He/she may even show you them (if it’s permitted by the homeowner).

Summit Roof Service Inc.

For Plano roof repair, rely on Summit Roof. We’re experts in repairing hail damage, water damage, and heat damage. We work on all types of roofing and have a long list of products that can be installed to maintain and help increase the lifetime of your roof.

Give us a call for a free estimate! We’ll inspecr your roof inch-by-inch and provide an explanation and honest recommendation for fixing your roof. Once the price is determined and we get the green light from you, we’ll get to work!

To learn more about our products and the services we offer, please visit summitroof.com. You can also check out our blog to learn all kinds of helpful information about different types of shingles, roof maintenance, hail damage, etc.