by Werner-Admin | Jan 12, 2021 | Roof Maintenance, West Michigan Roofing Blog
GAF offers a number of industry-leading shingle options for every homeowner. From their award-winning Timberline roofing shingles to their affordable 3-tab shingles, let’s take a look at the lineup in our guide to GAF roofing shingles.
Guide to GAF Roofing Shingles
Depending on your style and budget, GAF offers the best roofing shingles in the industry. Their best selling products include the high-performance Timberline roofing shingles, the premium Designer roofing shingles, and the economical 3-tab roofing shingles.
GAF Timberline Roofing Shingles
GAF’s Timberline series of roofing shingles are architectural shingles that outperform the competition in durability, protection, and style. Made with multiple layers of durable asphalt material, these shingles are made to balance the newest in roofing technology with a classic dimensional look and feel — at a practical price for the average homeowner.
GAF Designer Roofing Shingles
GAF’s Designer shingles are a premium option for those homeowners looking for the highest quality protective shingle with the added aesthetic features of a multidimensional, textured appearance. They are designed to mimic the old world feel of classic materials like shakes or tiles, without the weight or inefficiency. GAF’s Designer roofing shingles are the luxury roofing option that offers the best protection on the market.
GAF 3-Tab Roofing Shingles
3-tab shingles are perfect for homeowners looking for a high quality shingle option that is affordable and effective. GAF’s 3-tab shingles are made with fewer layers of asphalt than their Designer or Timberline shingles to reduce costs, but employ the same protective technology that keeps your roof, home, and family safe from the elements.
Why We Love GAF Roofing Shingles
Even when compared with other roofing material competitors, GAF products win because of their total protection system and comprehensive warranty options.
GAF Roofing Shingles Total Protection System
Roofers love to work with GAF products because they provide everything the roofer needs for their complete project. The GAF total protection system includes leak barriers, ridge caps, deck protection, attic ventilation vents and more. All of the components in the system work together to protect your roof — which protects your roofing contractor’s work. Roofers love working with products they trust, and they trust the quality of the GAF roofing system.
GAF Roofing Shingles Warranty
When you choose to install three or more items from the GAF total protection system, you are automatically eligible for the enhanced GAF warranties, which protects your roof for 10-15 years. Also, if you have your roof installed by a GAF certified factory roofing installer, you may qualify for even better warranty coverage, which extends the length of your warranty and protects you against defects and installation errors.
GAF Master Elite Certification
To become a GAF Master Elite certified roofing installer, roofers must undergo extensive training with GAF products, have a high positive customer approval rating and commit to ongoing professional development to hone their craft. Only 3% of roofing companies are able to reach this certification level, and are capable of giving out the best service and warranties GAF can provide.
If you’re considering using products like GAF’s Timberline roofing shingles or other products from their total protection system, choose a GAF Master Elite certified roofing installer to make sure your roof receives the highest workmanship to go with its superior materials.
Got your eye on a specific line of GAF roofing shingles? Let us know! Werner Roofing is a GAF Master Elite certified roofing installer and has achieved President’s Club status for the 7th year in a row, which means we have exclusive installation access to all of GAFs best product lines and offer the best warranty on the market, the Golden Pledge. We’d be happy to install the GAF Shingles you love most.
OUR FREE ROOF INSPECTION
How do you know when it’s time for a new roof? The only way to be sure of your residential roof’s current condition is to have a licensed professional personally inspect it. Werner Roofing is proud to offer free roof inspections for every client, so you can be sure of your roof’s condition. Every Werner Roofing inspection comes complete with our promise: “We won’t recommend or sell a roof replacement unless it’s necessary.”
by Werner-Admin | Dec 9, 2020 | Roof Maintenance
We’re told by our doctors about the importance of annual physicals, flu shots, vaccinations, and checkups. Preventative care is just as important for maintaining our health as it is for our home’s roof. Just like our bodies, your home’s roof needs regular maintenance to keep it healthy and working in optimal condition. Here are five reasons why regular roof maintenance is so important.
#1 Roof Maintenance Extends the Life of Your Roof
Your roof is a big investment and maintaining it can actually extend the life of your roof, which protects your investment in your home. Think of it like a flu shot. It doesn’t take a lot of time, but then you’re protected for a whole season and you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with it. When you spend a little on regular roof maintenance, your roof will last longer before it needs replacing, which makes your money go a lot further.
#2 Roof Maintenance Keeps Your Family Safe
Your home’s roof is what stands between your family and the elements. It’s important to maintain that barrier to protect your family from obvious dangers like weather events, falling tree branches, or excess moisture which could lead to mold — but also the less-obvious protections that keep your family healthy, safe and warm. For example, regular roof maintenance like insulation inspection makes sure your home is retaining heat which prevents energy waste and saves your family money.
#3 Roof Maintenance Keeps Your House Safe
Your home’s roof not only protects the contents of your home, but it also acts as a layer of defense for the elements of the structure itself. If your roof is well-maintained, you’re also maintaining the supporting beams, the rafters, the walls and the foundation, which keeps your home safer and extends its life. If the roof were to fail due to neglect or skipped maintenance tasks, it would put the rest of your home at risk.
#4 Regular Roof Maintenance Saves You Money
Regular roof maintenance year after year will actually save you money over the course of your roof’s life. This isn’t just because maintenance extends the life of your roof. It’s also because the cost of maintenance or small repairs is less when problems are detected early. They only get seriously expensive when significant damage has occurred when a problem is left too long.
For example, if you notice ice dams forming on your roof in the winter, but don’t perform the small maintenance tasks of insulating and ventilating your roof, that small repair could turn into a big one when your roof starts leaking and causes water damage. Preventative care for your roof will pay off in the long run when you save yourself the expense of serious repairs or early roof replacement.
#5 Roof Maintenance Protects Your Home’s Value
A well-maintained roof not only looks and performs better, it also sustains your home’s value. Better curb appeal alone will fetch a better price when you decide to sell your home, but regular roof maintenance makes your home more valuable to a buyer, who can trust its quality and protective ability.
Regular Roof Maintenance Tasks
These roof maintenance tasks should be completed annually by a professional roofer to check for damage and assess your roof’s condition and performance:
- Examine roof for stains, peeling or missing shingles
- Inspect pipe boots for cracks or damage
- Check for evidence of pests or animals
- Remove debris from roof and gutters
- Make sure roof ventilation is working properly
- Inspect flashing and caulking for potential leaks
- Sweep and inspect chimney
Regular roof maintenance makes the difference between an expensive, leaking, eyesore, and a protective, attractive barrier on your home. Completing the necessary tasks every year will ensure your roof lasts a long time and continues to perform at optimal efficiency.
If it’s time to get your roof checked and regular roof maintenance completed, don’t put it off. Schedule your roof maintenance with your local roofing company to make sure your roof is in good condition and protecting your home and your family the way it should. If it’s been some time since your roof has had an inspection or any upkeep, talk to the Werner Roofing team.
OUR FREE ROOF INSPECTION
How do you know when it’s time for a new roof? The only way to be sure of your residential roof’s current condition is to have a licensed professional personally inspect it. Werner Roofing is proud to offer free roof inspections for every client, so you can be sure of your roof’s condition. Every Werner Roofing inspection comes complete with our promise: “We won’t recommend or sell a roof replacement unless it’s necessary.”
by Werner-Admin | Dec 8, 2020 | Roof Maintenance
Spores travel on the wind or by animal and end up on your roof, where they grow. It’s a natural process that won’t severely damage your roof unless left for too long. Algae and moss, particularly, can be detrimental to the health of your home’s roof and should be routinely removed.
Cleaning roof shingles is not a difficult task to do, but likely requires the help of a professional. Let’s talk about why you should clean roof shingles, how to do it, and some tips to prevent algae and moss growth in the future.
Why You Should Clean Roof Shingles
Taking steps to regularly clean roof shingles is important for your roof’s health. Keeping clean roof shingles will extend your roof’s life, improve its protective ability, and most importantly, not mask deeper symptoms of possible damage.
Extend the Life of Your Roof
Algae feeds off the oil in your shingles and can literally eat them away over time. Moss damages shingles by causing them to curl. Curled shingles are easy targets for wind gusts, which get underneath the shingles and pull them off, exposing your roof to the elements. Regular cleaning and maintenance to remove these organisms is critical for your roof’s protection.
Improve Your Roof’s Protective Ability
Moss and algae growth inhibit your roof’s reflective abilities, making it less efficient and . Moss and algae also encourage water retention on your roof’s surface. If left unaddressed, water can seep under shingles and through your roof, which could cause mold, rot, or leaks.
Uncover Symptoms of Roof Damage
If your roof is showing certain signs, such as peeling shingles, low spots, or , it might need repair. Significant staining, algae or moss growth can mask these symptoms, so you don’t notice the damage until it becomes serious. Removing them will allow you to accurately assess your roof’s condition. On the other hand, if your roof looks like it’s in rough shape, a thorough cleaning may be just what it needs to look new again.
Due to safety risks, you shouldn’t attempt to clean roof shingles on your own. It’s best to leave it up to a professional, who has the expertise and equipment to complete the job safely. Contact your local roofing company to help you clean your roof shingles.
How to Clean Roof Shingles
When it’s time to clean your roof shingles, the roofer will use a chemical solution, likely bleach and water, to kill any algae, moss, or mold on your shingles.
- Step 1: Mixing bleach and water in a one-to-one solution, your roofer will use a sprayer to evenly distribute the chemical over your roof.
- Step 2: Then, they will let the solution sit for at least 15 minutes so it can seep into the moss or algae and start loosening its hold on your shingles.
- Step 3: Finally, they will carefully remove the moss or algae by spraying the roof down with a hose. If any stubborn pieces remain, they can be wiped by hand.
To clean roof shingles, the roofer will need to use a ladder to get onto your roof. The surface could become slippery, which is why the job should be left to professionals.
Tips for Maintaining Clean Roof Shingles
Once you have clean roof shingles, you’ll want to keep them that way. Perform routine maintenance on your roof to remove any debris, algae, or moss growth to keep it from causing damage to your roof. Here are a few other tips to help you maintain clean roof shingles:
- It’s a good idea to give your gutters a good cleaning when you clean roof shingles. Gutters help drain water away from your roof, and a drier roof is less likely to grow moss or algae. Also, gutter cleaning removes organisms living in your gutters which could find their way onto your roof.
- You can prevent algae and moss growth by trimming tree branches that touch your roof or block the sun. These organisms grow well in low-light, moist environments, so keeping your roof dry and open to the sunlight can prevent them from taking hold.
- Never attempt to use a power-washer to clean roof shingles. The forceful stream of water can damage shingles, or force water underneath them, which could damage your roof.
If you’ve noticed a lot of debris, moss, or mold on your asphalt roof, and aren’t sure what the right move is, talk to the experts at Werner Roofing. We’d be happy to assess what’s going on, and give you a free, no-obligation estimate of how we can help you solve the problem.
OUR FREE ROOF INSPECTION
How do you know when it’s time for a new roof? The only way to be sure of your residential roof’s current condition is to have a licensed professional personally inspect it. Werner Roofing is proud to offer free roof inspections for every client, so you can be sure of your roof’s condition. Every Werner Roofing inspection comes complete with our promise: “We won’t recommend or sell a roof replacement unless it’s necessary.”
by Werner-Admin | Nov 20, 2020 | Roof Maintenance
While ice dams may appear to be an innocent product of winter weather, they can cause severe damage and seriously threaten your roof’s integrity. Let’s look at what ice dams are, how ice they form, and what you can do to get rid of them — or prevent them from forming in the first place.
What are Ice Dams?
Ice dams are ridges of solid ice that form on your roof’s eaves. They are caused by a difference in temperature between the underside of your roof and the roof’s surface during the colder, more snowy months of the year. Sometimes ice dams also form in gutters, stopping water and snow from moving safely off your home’s roof and instead directing it into your home. Roofs with low slopes are most susceptible to the formation of ice dams, although they can form on almost any type of roof if conditions are right.
Ice dams can be difficult to spot if you don’t know what to look for. Understanding how they form can help you identify areas you might find ice dams on your home’s roof.
Now that you know what ice dams are, let’s get into the cause and solution.
What Causes Ice Dams?
Ice dams form similar to icicles — from the movement of water that later turns to ice on your roof. However, ice dams have far more severe consequences for your roof and home. Here’s how ice dams form:
- Warm air underneath the roof melts snow on shingles.
- Water moves down the roof, melting more snow as it goes.
- Water passes down the roof slope until it reaches the eaves.
- Cool air under the roof’s eaves causes the water to refreeze.
- Layers of ice begin to build up on the eaves of the roof.
- Water with nowhere to go seeps underneath your shingles and can develop leaks or start rotting the wood of your roof.
When left unaddressed, water can seep through your roof and into your home, where it can cause severe damage. Even if you don’t notice a visible leak, moisture under the roof deck attracts mold and mildew, which may further damage and compromise your roof. If your roof has ice dams, it’s best to remove them quickly before more damage occurs.
Now that you know what causes ice dams, let’s look at what your course of action should be and how you can prevent ice dams in the future.
How to Remove Ice Dams
Let’s talk about what to do to remove ice dams by first talking about what not to do: never attempt to peel, hack, chip, or scrape ice dams directly off your roof. This method is sure to cause more harm than good. You’re more likely to break shingles or remove them altogether — which will let pooling water damage your roof and home that much faster.
If you need to deal with ice dams on your roof right now, let’s look at two approaches:
1. Cool the Underside of Your Roof
Use a fan (or multiple fans) in your attic and direct it towards the roof. The goal is to cool the underside of the roof so snow won’t melt and flow down your roof, where it can refreeze into ice dams. The downside of this method is that it isn’t effective at removing existing ice dams, but it can help reduce further damage until you can have the problem addressed by a professional.
2. Use a Chemical Deicing Agent
Use calcium chloride to melt ice dams. Never use rock salt, as it will damage your shingles and roof. Position the chemical vertically on your roof and perpendicular to the ice dams to break them up and create a path for water and snow to travel off your roof. You can hold the deicer in place by using a pair of sheer stockings. Fill the stockings with the chemical, then drape it on your roof’s eaves. The solution is simple, effective, and a good use for that extra pair of stocking you likely have lying around.
3. Ask a Professional
Call a professional if you have ice dams on your roof and can’t safely remove them. An experienced roofer will have the tools and expertise to deal with ice dams safely and effectively and can help talk through your options for preventing them in the future.
How to Prevent Ice Dams
If you want to save your roof from the dangers of ice dams, here are a few methods you can use to prevent them in the future.
1. Remove Snow From Your Roof
To prevent ice dams, you can remove snow before it melts and refreezes into ice by carefully raking it off your roof. This method is labor-intensive, and if you’re not careful, you could cause damage to your shingles by scraping or pulling them off. It’s best to have this done by someone with experience — or find a more permanent solution.
Alternatively, you can use heated cables to melt the snow before it can freeze into ice dams. Arrange heated cables in a zigzag pattern along the eaves of your roof and attach them with clips. Cable lines are effective at keeping ice dams from forming but are a temporary solution at best. They don’t go after the root cause of ice dams.
2. Insulate Your Roof
Adding insulation layers to your attic floor can prevent ice dams from forming. This traps heat in the living areas where it belongs and keeps it away from your roof, where it could melt snow and lead to ice dams. A professional roofer can assess your home’s level of insulation and see where vulnerable areas could use more protection.
3. Ventilate Your Roof
Adding proper ventilation to the roof, particularly under the ridge and eaves, can help prevent ice dams. Extra ventilation circulates cooler air to the underside of the roof, preventing any snow on your roof from melting and ice dams from occurring and building up in the same places every year.
A combination of insulation and ventilation is recommended to effectively prevent ice dams. Contact your local roofer to help assess what your roof needs.
When to Replace Your Roof Due to Ice Damage
Whether your roof is due to be replaced soon anyway, or you’re tired of dealing with ice dams and damage every winter, you may consider replacing your roof with one that is not susceptible to the formation of ice dams — like a standing seam metal roof.
Standing seam metal roofs don’t provide traction for ice dams to form, so water, snow, and ice are all able to drain off and away from your roof easily. Although ice dams can still form on low-sloping metal roofs that don’t have proper insulation and ventilation, it’s very rare.
The best defense against ice is to outfit your home with the best system to limit the time that snow sits on your roof and to prevent melting and refreezing. If you’re worried about ice dams on your roof this winter, talk to the Werner Roofing team. We’re ice dam experts, and we’re happy to come out, take a look at your roof, and offer a few suggestions or help you get rid of ice dams on your roof.
