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Advice for Improving Your Roof’s Lifespan

Old Roof with failing shinge systemYour home’s roof is the most arguably the most important piece of your home’s exterior, serving as it’s primary line of defense against the elements. Since it is constantly exposed to inclement weather, your home takes a beating over time, and eventually, the integrity of the system will be worn away, necessitating a replacement. However, your roof is also an expensive piece of engineering that many homeowners want to avoid replacing for as long as possible. If you’re one of those homeowners who is looking for a way to improve the lifespan of your roof, you’ve come to the right place! Take a look below to learn a few tips & tricks for improving the lifespan of your roof!

Have a Water Barrier Installed Below Your Shingles

One of the most things you can do to improve the lifespan of your roof is ensure that you have a water barrier installed below your shingles themselves. Your roof deck is what your shingles are laid down on, and generally, it’s simply built out of plywood. This means that it is susceptible to rot, which is where a water & ice barrier comes in. If any moisture is able to seep into your shingle system, a water & ice barrier will help ensure that the moisture isn’t able to rot out your roof deck, keeping the system protected from water damage!

Trim Back Foilage

Another important tip for protecting your home’s roof is ensuring that you cut back any branches that may be scratching away at your shingle system. Branches from nearby trees have the potential to damage your roof by either breaking and falling onto the shingles, or by scratching the granules off of your shingles themselves, which will shorten their lifespan.

Clean Up Mold & Mildew

While you can get away with leaving it alone, if you’re trying to maximize the lifespan of your roof, it is best practice to address any mold or mildew growth on the shingle system. One of the easiest ways to limit mold growth is to install zinc strips on your roof, but you can always retroactively deal with the issue with a bit of cleaning solution & a hose. Just don’t let mildew sit on your roof for too long, as it can cause moisture damage or wear away at your granules!

Contact Us Today

Interested in replacing your Pittsburgh, PA area home’s roof this fall? Our team at Doing It Right Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof installation needs!

Roofing FAQs

New Asphalt Shingle RoofYour home’s roof is one of the most important aspects of your home’s exterior, offering a number of benefits, from protection from the elements and pests, to curb appeal & resale value, to insulation! Considering how important your roof is to your home’s exterior, it is essential to ensure that the system is kept in good repair! However, it is also a complex piece of engineering, and it can oftentimes be difficult to assess whether your roof is still in good condition, or what needs to be done to repair it! If you’re interested in having answers to a few of these questions, keep reading below for our Roofing FAQ!

To Repair or Replace

One of the most common questions homeowners typically have when it comes to roof replacements is should I repair my roof, or do I need to replace the entire system, and the answer is entirely dependent on the condition of your roof, and how it’s been damaged.

Roof’s become damaged in a variety of ways, from blunt damage due to falling branches, to granule loss, to water damage. The possibilities are wide-ranging, and whether or not you need to replace the roof depends on the extent of the damage. If you suspect your roof has accrued significant amounts of damage, you will want to have it inspected by a professional to determine the best line of action!

How Long Does A Roof Last

This is another answer that will vary from roof to roof, but the most common roofing material in North America is asphalt shingles, so let’s examine those;

There are a wide array of manufacturers producing asphalt shingles of varying degrees of quality. Our main manufacturer, Owens Corning, has lines of architectural shingles, as well as more economical options. Typically, a well-installed and properly maintained asphalt shingle roof will last somewhere between 20 and 30 years.

How Often Should I Inspect My Roof

The correct answer to this question is twice a year, in the spring and fall to keep your home protected from the extremes of each season, but most homeowners won’t have their home inspected that often. Having at least one inspection a year is highly recommend, as it is incredibly difficult to spot a leak from the ground, and one season with a damaged roof can cause irreparable damage to your roof deck, necessitating a full replacement. If you want to keep your home protected from the elements, having your roof inspected on at least an annual basis is highly recommended!

Contact Us Today

If you need assistance with your roof replacement this summer, our team at Doing It Right Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!

Most Common Roofing Issues

Loose Roof GranulesYour home’s roof is one of the most important pieces of your home’s exterior shell, offering a multitude of benefits for your home including protection from the elements and pests, improved curb appeal and resale value, and insulation. Considering how much there is to gain from having well-installed and maintained roofing, it is essential to ensure that yours is kept in good repair! If you’re interested in learning more about the most common roofing issues that homeowners generally face, keep reading below for more information!

Missing Granules

A common roofing issue that homeowners tend to see on older roofs is loose or missing granules. As your shingles age, they lose their granules, which are important for helping to reflect UV light away from the shingles, Without granules, the shingles will decay faster, and generally, when your shingles begin to lose granules, it is a sign that the roof will need to be replaced soon!

Leaks

Perhaps the most damaging roofing issue of all is a roof leak. This is both because of the amount of damage a roof leak is capable of causing, as well as the fact that it can be extremely difficult to locate a roof leak. They often form quietly, and unless you are seeing water actively drip from your ceiling, you might not even notice anything is wrong until a significant amount of damage has occurred. You can look for a few signs to help assess the integrity of the roof. First, check on the interior of your home for signs of a leak. Water damage will likely begin to appear in your attic, but if the damage is significant enough, or in the right location, you may end up seeing it in your ceiling. You can also safely assume that your roof is leaking at least partially when you begin to lose shingles.

Damaged Flashing

Another common roofing issue that often affects roofs is damaged flashing. This one can be damaging because many homeowners don’t even understand what their flashing is and how it protects their roof. Installed in potential problem areas such as around vents, in valleys, and on your chimney, your flashing helps to protect your home’s roof from water damage by keeping it away from areas where it could potentially seep in. You’ll want to have a roofing professional come at least once a year to assess the integrity of your home’s flashing.

Contact Us Today

Interested in learning more about our team’s roof replacement services? Our team at Doing It Right Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with all of your roof replacement needs!

Comparing Vinyl & Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber Cement from James HardieWhen it comes to replacing your home’s siding, there are so many options it can often become overwhelming. How can you possibly know which material is right for your home when there are so many on the market? While there are plenty of options out there, they’re not all made equal, and it’s important to do your research and find the option that is right for your home’s exterior. To help you get started, our team has put together a guide comparing two of the most popular siding materials in North America, and our companies two most installed options, vinyl siding, and fiber cement. If you’re interested in learning more about the differences and advantages of both options, keep reading below for more information!

Aesthetics

When it comes to aesthetics, both options are fantastic in their own right. James Hardie boosts a truly enormous selection of color options, ensuring that no matter what your home’s exterior color scheme is, you’ll be able to find the perfect option for your home.

However, while fiber cement is available in a wide array of options, vinyl siding is North America’s most widely manufactured siding material, which means it is available in an unmatched amount of color & style options. At the end of the day, whichever siding option you choose will be available in a wide variety of color and style choices, meaning you really can’t go wrong with either option.

Pricing

If you’re looking to replace your home’s siding on a budget, vinyl siding is going to be the best material for the job. One of the major benefits of vinyl siding’s long-run as North America’s most popular siding material is that it is now widely-manufactured, helping to lower the cost of production. Vinyl siding is considerably cheaper to install than fiber cement. However, it is important to note that if you intend to live in your home from decades to come, fiber cement is often the better option, despite it’s higher installation cost. Vinyl siding is inexpensive to install, but it wears down faster, and if you want a siding option that stands the test of time, fiber cement tends to be the better choice, which can make it the cheaper option in the long run.

Durability

Another important factor to consider when comparing siding options is which material offers more durability. Here, the comparison is relatively close. While fiber cement’s major drawback is that it is known to absorb water if not sealed properly, vinyl siding is completely impervious to absorbing water. It can still mildew, and it is important to keep clean, but it doesn’t deteriorate from water damage in the same way that fiber cement does. Fiber cement in general is a durable option that is capable of withstanding nearly anything Mother Nature has to throw its way.

Vinyl siding is immune to rot damage, but that doesn’t mean it is the most durable option on the market. It can be damaged from blunt force, which means if you have any kids in the yard playing baseball, you may want to consider another option. Overall, both options are quite durable, and you can’t go wrong with either.

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in learning more about our team’s siding replacement options, our team at Doing It Right is ready to assist! We have a wide selection of both vinyl & fiber cement replacement options to choose from, ensuring that we can find the perfect option for your home’s exterior. You can reach out to our team today by giving us a call at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your siding replacement needs!

Benefits of Asphalt Shingle Roofing

Asphalt Shingle RoofWhen it comes to roofing replacements, there is no material more popular in North America than asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles became the standard of the roofing industry in the mid-20th century, as they became widely manufactured and easily available. Today they have maintained their status due to a variety of factors that make them an attractive option for homeowners in need of a roof replacement! If you’re interested in learning more about what makes asphalt shingles such a good roofing option, keep reading below!

Economical

One of the principal reasons that asphalt shingles have enjoyed such a long run of dominance in the roofing market is that they are the most affordable option on the market. Asphalt shingles are manufactured by a variety of companies, helping to drive down the cost of the shingles. They also require minimal processing in comparison to metal, slate, or rubber roofing, making them an affordable option for homeowners looking for replace their home’s roof on a budget.

Aesthetics

Another reason that homeowners like asphalt shingles is that they are beautiful, and highly customizable. In addition to their widespread manufacturing helping to keep production costs down, the fact that so many companies produce asphalt shingles means that they have become available in nearly any color option you can imagine. This means if you have a particular vision in mind for your home’s exterior, you can almost certainly find the option you’re looking for with asphalt shingles.

Durability

Homeowners and contractors alike also appreciate asphalt shingles for their durability. Well-installed asphalt roofs can last for well over 2 decades, and potentially much longer if they are properly-maintained along the way. If you’re in search of a roofing option that will keep your home protected for years to come, asphalt shingles are a fantastic choice!

Wind & Fire Resistant

Speaking of durability, asphalt shingles are also highly wind & fire resistant. Most asphalt shingle roofs are installed with starter shingles that are fitted with extra adhesives and installed at the edges of your roof in order to stop winds from pulling the shingles away from the roof during high winds.

Furthermore, asphalt shingles have a Class A Fire rating, which is the highest mark available. If you’re looking for a roofing option that will provide you home with the maximum amount of resistance to damage, asphalt shingles are a great option to choose!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in learning more about our team’s asphalt shingle installation services, we are ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!

How Weather Affects Your Roof

Hail hitting asphalt shingle roof

Your home’s roof is one of the most important pieces of your home’s exterior. It helps to provide your home with protection from the elements, acting as the umbrella of your home. Considering that it is exposed to the elements on a daily basis, it should come as no surprise that most weather has a significant effect on your home’s roof. If you’re interested in learning more about our how inclement weather can affect your home’s roof, keep reading below for more information about the effect that weather can have on your roof!

Rain

Perhaps the most common weather condition that effects roofs is rain. No other kind of weather short of a hurricane or tornado has the damage potential of a rainstorm when it comes to your roof. One small leak in your roof can quickly lead to expensive repairs, as water trickles in. You should have your roof inspected at least once per year, after the winter, to ensure no moisture problems have materialized.

Snow

Another weather condition that can end up causing significant damage is snow. The danger with snow is two-fold; it can cause damage in a couple of different ways. First of all, if there has been significant snowfall that year, the weight of the snow on your roof can cause damage.

However, the more concerning and oftentimes damaging roof issue that arises with snowy roofs is ice dams. Ice dams are formed when the heat escaping out of your attic melts the snow on your roof, causing it to run down to the eaves of your roof. Once it reaches the edges of your roof, it refreezes, and as this process repeats, it eventually causes liquid water to be held onto your roof deck, which can cause it to seep into the roof deck.

Hail

While snow & rain tend to do long-term damage, hail has a much more immediate impact. Rather than waiting weeks for water damage to show up in your roof deck, a ten-minute hail storm can break a number of shingles and provide an immediate need for a roof replacement. If your shingles are already worn, they are even more susceptible to breaking.

Contact Us Today

Interested in replacing your Pittsburgh-area home’s roof? Our team at Doing It Right Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!

Spring Roof Maintenance

Man cleaning gutters of his home

With spring arriving in the Pittsburgh area, it is important to ensure that your home’s exterior is in good repair! One of the areas that most often accumulates damage is your roof, as it functions as your home’s umbrella, helping to keep your home protected from inclement weather which exposes it to a great deal of damage itself. This makes it incredibly important to regularly inspect your roof for damage to ensure that it is kept in good repair! If you’re interested in learning how to maintain your home’s roof this spring, keep reading below for our tips & tricks.

Clean Your Gutters

First of all, you should always examine your home’s gutter system to ensure that it is working properly. Over the course of the winter, your gutter system will fill up with all of the dead leaves and sticks that were on your roof, which can easily gunk up the system and stop it from draining properly.

In order to keep your home protected, you will want to examine the gutter system and make sure that everything is draining. If your gutters are clogged, it can easily back-up into your roof deck, cause damage to your fascia & soffit boards, or even damage your foundation. Keep your home protected by cleaning your gutter system in the spring.

Examine Your Shingles

The next thing you should do is examine your roofing system as a whole to determine if there is any damage to the shingles themselves. Roof damage can present itself in a variety of ways, including through broken or cracked shingles, warping either in the shingles or the roof deck, or even something as simple as losing granules. Considering how complex your roofing system, it is no surprise that your shingles can fail in a variety of ways. You’ll need to check for every kind of shingle damage to ensure that your home’s roof is kept in good repair!

Check Your Flashing

Next, you should examine the flashing around any openings in your roof. The most important flashing you should examine is the flashing around your chimney. It can often rust, particularly during the winter when snow is sitting on your roof, and if your flashing rusts, water can seep in around your chimney and cause a great deal of damage to your roof deck.

Contact Us Today

Interested in replacing your home’s roof this spring? Our team at Doing It Right Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to us by giving us a call at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!

Signs You Should Replace Your Home’s Roof

 

When it comes to replacing your home’s roof, it can often be difficult to identify the signs that your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan. If you’re interested in learning how to identify whether your home’s roof needs to be replaced, take a look at our blog to learn about the signs your roof is failing that you may not have noticed!

Your Shingles Are Broken or Damaged

The most obvious sign that you need to replace your home’s roof is if your shingles are outwardly broken or damaged. Broken shingles won’t stop moisture from making its way into your home, meaning that your home’s roof deck will be exposed to water damage if your shingles are left damaged. If you notice that you have broken or missing shingles on your roof, be sure to replace your roof as soon as possible to keep your home protected!

Algae or Mold Growth

Another sign that you should consider replacing your home’s roof is when there is significant mold or algae growth on your home’s roof. If left unattended, the algae will eventually deteriorate your home’s roof and cause your shingles to lose their structural integrity.

The Roof Is Old

At the end of the day, shingle roof’s only last so long. The average lifespan for a well-installed asphalt shingle roof is roughly 20-30 years, meaning that if your roof is beginning to deteriorate after that length of time, it’s simply a sign that your whole roof should be replaced.

Curling or Warped Shingles

Sometimes damaged shingles won’t completely break or fall off of your roof, but rather they show their damage in more subtle ways. If your shingles are exposed to significant water damage, they can begin to warp or curl around the edges, which will allow water to seep in around the shingles and into your roof deck, where it can quickly cause much more expensive damage. If you notice that your shingles are absorbing water, have your roof replaced as quickly as possible.

Damaged Flashing

Finally, when it comes to assessing roof damage, many homeowners overlook the importance of checking their home’s flashing. If you have a chimney of your home, you’ll need to examine the flashing on a regular basis to make sure it isn’t rusting away. If your flashing begins to rust, water can seep into your roof deck through your chimney and cause significant damage. Be sure to replace damaged flashing as soon as possible before your roof deck is exposed to expensive water damage.

Contact Us Today

Interested in replacing your Pittsburgh home’s roof this spring? Our team at Doing It Right Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roofing needs!

Benefits of Cedar Impressions Siding Shingles

When it comes to siding options, not all materials are made equal. You could elect to install the most popular siding material in North America, vinyl siding. You could also install beautiful new fiber cement siding, known for its durability, and aesthetics. However, there is one siding material that will improve your home’s curb appeal more than anything else, all without sacrificing your siding’s ability to keep your home well protected; Composite Cedar Impressions siding shingles. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of Cedar Impressions, keep reading below for more information!

Beauty

The first benefit of Cedar Impressions shingles are that they provide your home with truly unmatched curb appeal. Wooden siding is a timeless style, but it comes with maintenance issues that prevent more homeowners from using it. However, Cedar Impressions provides all of the beauty of traditional wood without the hassle. Available in a wide array of colors, Cedar Impressions are sure to boost your home’s curb appeal. Furthermore, you can also get Cedar Impressions shingles in a variety of different styles, including shake & sawmill, ensuring that no matter what style you’re looking for, our team has the perfect siding solution for your home!

Durability

In addition to the beauty of Cedar Impressions, they also offer nearly unmatched durability. Cedar Impressions are made of a highly durable polymer, meaning they are immune to many of the maintenance & structural issues that often arise when using traditional wooden siding.

Cedar Impressions is designed to withstand any inclement weather and damage, including mold, mildew, and moisture, but they are also capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds.

Maintenance-Free

When you use real wood for your siding, the exposure to the elements will eventually cause the materials to wear down. Cedar Impressions, on the other hand, are completely maintenance-free. Cedar Impressions will never need to be painted, and while they may need to be occasionally cleaned or sealed, that’s the most maintenance you will ever need to perform on your home’s siding. If you’re looking for a siding material that you can install and forget, Cedar Impressions is a great option!

Contact Us Today

If you’re interested in learning more about our team’s polymer cedar siding shingle installation services, our team at Doing It Right Roofing is ready to assist! You can reach out to our team to by giving us a call at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your siding installation needs!

Old Asphalt Shingle Roof with light damage

Tips To Help Improve The Lifespan Of Your Roof

Your home’s roof is one of the most important pieces of your home’s exterior, helping to keep your home protected from everything Mother Nature has to offer. Considering your home is constantly exposed to the elements, its no surprise that it can quickly degrade if it’s not properly maintained! However, if you know how to take care of your home’s roof, you can considerably extend the lifespan of it with a bit of maintenance along the way. Take a look at our blog to learn more about how to improve the lifespan of your home’s roof!

Clean Your Gutter System

If you’re trying to improve the lifespan of your roof, one of the most important things you can do is keep your gutter system clean. Most homeowners neglect to consider that if they don’t clean their gutters, it will have the most direct impact on their roof system. As debris and water back up, it can begin to seep under your shingle system where it can quickly cause considerable damage to your roofing system.

Have Your Roof Inspected Each Year

Another great thing to do if you want to improve your roof’s lifespan is to have it regularly inspected. A roof inspection can reveal smaller issues that would have become more serious if left unattended, particularly for multiple years, such as cracking/broken shingles, loose granules, broken flashing, & more! If you’re serious about trying to improve your roof’s lifespan, this is one of the most important things you can do!

Keep Debris Off Of The Roof

One thing that will quickly reduce the lifespan of your roof is allowing debris and trees to damage your granules and shingle system. If you have a lot of debris on your roof, it can hold moisture onto your shingle system where it can cause damage, particularly if it freezes and thaws during the winter. Furthermore, if there are any trees close to your home, the branches can brush across your shingles, knocking loose granules and reducing your roof’s integrity!

Ventilate & Insulate

Finally, be sure that your home’s attic is properly ventilated and insulated help reduce rot,  mold, mildew, and ice dam issues. Having air flowing through your attic will help to regulate the temperature of your attic and prevent a number of issues that could pop up if the attic isn’t properly insulated or ventilated!

Contact Us Today

Interested in replacing your home’s roof in the Pittsburgh, PA area? Our team at Doing It Right Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (724) 351-0499 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your roof replacement needs!