Leaky Roofs and Mold

Leaks in a roof can cause issues far beyond the roof and roof structure. A leaky roof can work its way not the walls, attic structure, and even the foundation. Along with the most obvious damages to the ceilings, walls, and attic spaces, water can cause, given enough time, structural failure of the attic support beams. A slowly leaking roof can cause far greater mage because it will go unnoticed, and over time will produce far greater unexpected damages. But water penetrating into the structure can cause dangerous circumstances for the inhabitants as well, Mold.

Mold

The most hazardous problem associated with a roof leak is the propagation of mold growth. Mold grows quietly with no help. It only requires a slight amount of water, and still air. The problem lies therein: mold will slowly grow until it overtakes all surfaces available, then produce spores that can easily infiltrate the attic, the insulation, the ceiling and the HVAC system, where it can then be dispersed throughout the home. Mold can grow in carpet, furniture, and even clothing. Mold spores continue reproduce and will lead to allergic reactions, asthmatic symptoms, and more serious health problems. Health problems can result from mold spores invading the respiratory system, and can result in long term allergic reactions, asthmatic symptoms, Skin rashes, and other serious health concerns.

Solution

The solution to the problem is to first stop any leakage coming into the home. Secondly, proper ventilation will stop mold in its tracks. Mold cannot grow easily with moving air. Make sure the roof vents are properly installed, and that the vents in the eaves, just below the gutter, are not blocked and are uncovered.
Existing mold can be killed with a 10% + bleach to water solution.

Flashing

Steel is a component widely used with roofing. Typical steel metal on a roof is also called flashing. Its use it to provide a barrier where greater water runoff will cause most other substances to disintegrate. Typical places on your roof where you would have steel is on the wall on the uphill side of your chimney and/or skylight, where the roof water into the wall.

And like other components of your roof, the metal will ultimately fail, typically from rust.

Rust

There are many definitions of rust, but a good one is; "to deteriorate or become impaired, as through inaction or disuse", because you never really do anything with flashing.

If the metal is galvanized, you might want to paint your flashing to make it last longer. More and more, metal flashing comes repainted, with a baked on enamel finish. And that done enamel is highly resistant to rust and will far outlast galvanized only steel.

If you ever see your metal with a red or orange tent to it, or some pitting as represented in the photo, chances are water is now seeping into your roof.

Skylights

Skylights come in all varieties as shapes and sizes, some made with acrylic and some made with glass.

Some considerations for skylights are:

• What size and shape you want
• How much insulation value you want
• What the pitch of the roof is (Glass skylights require a minimum 2/12 pitch)
• How much light you are interested in bringing into the area
• Whether you want the light to be tinted, like adding sunglasses
• Whether you would like to be able to see through the sky light or whether you would like to diffuse the light

Of those choices, the most common is double pane glass, with tempered glass (like safety glass in car windows).

If you want a glass skylight, several factors come into play. It is possible to order a single pane of glass skylight, but it's more common to order a double pane glass skylight. Between the two layers of glass is usually argon gas. The argon gas is used as an insulating gas. You might also consider adding a low-e film on top of the skylight glass. Low-e film will reflect the ultraviolet light much better, and will probably reduce the fading of furniture and carpet, as well as the heat and brought in by the light.

Acrylic skylights are used on flat roofs. You can order it with a single pane, double pane, triple pain, but with the double pane being the most common. Triple pane will give you an additional air layer, which will act as an insulator. You can also switch one of the acrylic layers with an opaque acrylic layer that will project light similar to a fluorescent bulb. Typical diffusing acrylic is white. Acrylic is heated and formed into a bubble so that water runs off.

Both acrylic and glass skylights can be ordered with an opening device. The opening device is similar to a clam shell with the skylight itself actually opening up about 12 to 14 inches. This is ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, anyplace where you'd like to have fresh air. Opening skylights can also be ordered with an electric opening device; however, the opening device can sometimes be a little more expensive.

Getting started on your new roof; Decisions, decisions!

Preparing for a new roof;
So you've made the decision for a new roof. Congratulations! This means you will be changing the appearance of your home and providing a long-lasting protection to your house. This is an opportunity to increase the ventilation in your attic and get you better air quality, and to beef up those areas of concern that you just not sure about. Not ready to jump in yet? Below are some of the considerations you should be making in preparing for your new roof.

The best kind of roof;
Simply put, the best kind or roof to install on your house is the one that looks the best for your house. Some houses would look weird with a composition roof when it was originally built for a tile roof. Some houses look best with a shake roof. Changing away from a shake roof house to a roof that is not shakes requires a little forethought. There are many products on the market that are made to look similar to shakes, but bring with them an additional weight and other problems. Many composition products are on the market now that are made to replace shake roofs because they're thick a in dimension and present a heavy shake appearance. The beauty of these products is that there warranty is typically a lifetime warranty, meaning that the roof is warranted for as long as you own your home and can usually be passed on to the next owner. You roofing estimator will likely bring samples and brochures to show you what each roof will look like. One thing to consider however, is the weight of the shingle. You cannot put a tile roof onto a house that was built for shakes, unless the house was built originally for a tile roof. The roofing estimator should know the weight of each shingle and will be able to advise you as to which weight shingle is most suitable for your home.

Who shall I call to install the roof?
It's always advisable to understand what you're doing. The only way to get a true grasp on the project is to understand the products, the installers, and try to get some referrals from your friends and family. You can look online and read what referrals have been posted about a company there, but it's sometimes best to listen to those who had the work done by someone else that you know. You should determine your criteria of hiring installer.

Look for;

• age of the company you're dealing with
• experience of the company and its installers
• recognition by manufacturers as to who they recommend
• the level of service that you can expect
• ask around and see if anybody else is ever have that company do the work

What does your gut say?
The most important thing in hiring a company, however, is how you feel in your gut. Remember that you are entering into a long term relationship with the roofer, and you need them to be there if you have a problem. If the guy you're dealing with doesn't make you feel 100%, there's something deep in your gut that makes you even wonder a little bit, this may not be the company for you. If it sounds like they're making stuff up as they go along, then maybe you should consider that. Either way, expect to get what's written on your proposal. If it's just spoken and not written down on the proposal, it might be forgotten, and might turn into a royal pain to get fixed after-the-fact. Therefore know who you're dealing with, and what you're getting. Understand your warranty and what it means to you in the long run. Don't just assume that you're buying a roof, and the second the roofers leave that you will never see them again. You're spending a lot of money on a product to protect your entire home. Keep good communications with your roofing company and do them a favor of referring them if they do a good job. Their future business dependence on you referring them out so they want to be doing a great job for you.

What is the best time of year to install a new roof?
The time of the year that you decide to get your roof installed has several advantages and disadvantages to it. If you decide to install your roof in winter, you can expect the job to be slow going and possibly a little more expensive than if you're putting it on in the summertime. Is much more difficult to install other roof in the rain and snow, that it is when it's 85° out. But expect that process to be slow, because the roofers need to be able to work under tarps and with tarps and if a sudden monsoon breaks out, they may need to just sit in the car and wait for the rain to pass. If you're installing your roof and spring, much of the same applies. It seems to rain a lot more in spring time than it does during than any other time of the year, and again that means a slower job. But is a much better idea to have the roof done in spring while there's no flowers, then to have it done after a your prize garden is already established. The good roofer knows how to work around the obstacles, but it's a little more work. The summertime is a great time to get your roof done because the roof will have an opportunity a seat in the summer sun. That means that the car product that are installed with your roof will actually be melting into the substrate and any shingles that are made of tar, will also be melting as well. Doing your roof in the fall is a great time to do the project and because the garden is now starting to fail, there's less of a chance of upsetting Mama. However if your roof is leaking, the best time to get a new roof is now, and stop any further damage.

What am I leaving out of the equation?
The ideal situation for you is to hire the company and let them do their job. You should have not be brought into the fold, with the exception of unexpected problems that you need to know about, but they should be able to do the job without interfering with you. You should be able to take off to the beach or go shopping and not have anything to worry about, because you have hired the right company. It's well to understand that you need to give your cell phone to the Foreman just in case some unexpected event arises. Remember, they are tearing off the top of your house! Always keep in mind that there's a larger percentage chance that rot and mold the wood will be found as they are tearing off your roof. Your previous roof has been there for 20 years plus, and has been trapping moisture against the wood roof surface the whole time.

Ladder Safety

This may be one of the most important article you've ever read.

Ladder safety is not taught in schools, is not provided along with the purchase of a new ladder, is not readily available unless you find it. Like this article, you probably just run across it cruising the internet. But what I'm about to tell you it doesn't come from a manual that's been written by a ladder manufacturer, but rather through my experiences. Pay attention, it is very easy to get hurt on the ladder. I have learned enough through my experiences to never again trust a ladder. If you think about it, you probably know someone who's taken a fall off the ladder.

OSHA regulations say that any time you're over 6 feet off the ground, you should be tied on. What they're saying essentially is over 6 feet you're probably going to get hurt if you fall. They want you to know, if you go up the ladder, safety comes first.

Let me just express a few things that are going to keep you safe, while you're climbing up onto the roof, getting down off of the roof, cleaning the gutters, or whatever it is you're doing with the ladder.

1. Be very afraid, and plan for what could happen if you fall.
2. Survey the area. If you do fall, what are you going to land on?
3. Properly plant the feet of the ladder so that there is no way for the bottom of the ladder to slip out, using nails and/or a board.
4. Make sure that the ladder is in good working order, and that when you extend the ladder up, the latches are properly seated.
5. Extend the top of the ladder 3 feet up beyond the gutter edge.
6. Place the feet of the ladder out from vertical 1 foot out for every 4 feet up, 3 feet out for a 12 feet up.
7. Tie the top of the ladder to the gutter with a strap or bungee cord.
8. Do not step on the ladder rung above the gutter line when climbing onto the roof, or when getting off the roof.
9. No one moves your ladder except for you. No one. They are not going to set it up correctly and you are the next one coming down the ladder.

If you're going to climb onto the roof, be sure that you're comfortable with walking on the roof first. The last thing you want to do is get up on the roof and then find out that you can't get off. Panic has no warning signals, and you don't want to call the fire department to get you down. That's could get a little embarrassing! Do not step on the ladder rung above the gutter line when climbing onto the roof, or when getting off the roof. If the top of the ladder has been strapped to the gutter, that should be sufficient for holding you while you make the transition from the ladder to the roof.

If you follow all the rules I've listed out above you will be 95% safer in your project. Try not to skip any one of these rules and you will keep yourself out of the hospital! Good luck with your project!

Most roofing manufacturers not only recommend that you tear off all layers of roofs to the deck, but also may not honor extended warranties when covering over an existing roof. The problem is when covering over the top of an existing roof, you trap moisture between the layers, and that could in turn rust out the fasteners, because mold mildew, and possibly cause the roof deck to rot. The roof that's on top of another roof may end up lasting only half of its expected life, due to the disintegrating roof underneath. Additionally, since roofing is very heavy, by putting another layer of roofing on top of your existing roof will transfer the weight into the walls of your house, and down to the foundation of your house, possibly cause problem there as well. It's a little bit more money now to remove the existing roofs, but your house will breath better, you can check for rot, and you know everything possible has been done to do the job right!

Q: I have shakes a on my roof now, and I want to put on the composition roof. What is the best plywood to use?

A: In 99% of the cases shake roof is installed over top of what's called skip sheathing that means that the roof is put on top of 1 x 4's that are spaced horizontally over the roof deck to allow breathing through the roof. It is not an acceptable substrate to install composition roof directly over. Therefore you need to put down some plywood. Plywood works as a substrate over top of the skip sheathing, however half-inch CDX plywood is best. CDX is a symbol that marks the plywood as water resistant. It will stand up atmospheric humidity. OSB, (oriented strand board) is another product sometimes used for substrate, is NOT resistant to atmospheric humidity, so it should NOT be used as a roofing deck. Dial One Roofing uses ½" CDX plywood only.

Which roof has the best warranty?

In the 30 plus years we have been in business, we have seen many roofing manufacturers come and go, and countless roof brands fall apart at just a few years old. And it's always sad to see the customer who just spent their hard-earned money thinking they were buying the best product having to again turn around and buy a new roof five years later. So the question isn't necessarily which roof type has the best warranty, but rather which manufacture will be there to stand behind their product and warranty. All manufacturers have had some failures, and some continue to at this time. In general, the best way to look at what product to buy would be to look at the ones that have been in business the longest. They've had enough time to work the kinks out of the product. Just because they have a good warranty on paper doesn't mean the roof will last forever.

Shake roofs don't have much of a manufacturer's warranty. It's wood, in the roofing felt that is underneath the last 18 to 24 years. Composition roofing has been a rounds for about 80 years. It used to be made with roofing felt as its base, but has recently been switched over to fiberglass because fiberglass properties will last longer, and absorbed less water into the shingle. Tile roofs have had some of the greatest failure rates over time, but the older tile companies are still producing excellent products.

Owens Corning is a very old company with well-established product. GAF is relatively new on the market and puts out great products as well. CertainTeed is a you manufacturer that has spent the last couple decades gobbling up smaller roofing companies that have great ideas with great products. This makes CertainTeed an innovative and powerful company. Pabco is not recommended due to how many roofs we have seen fail. Based on our experiences of how the homeowners are treated as an end user, and because of the Owens Corning representation in the market, Owens Corning always seems to rise to the top of our list on satisfaction rates, and warranties. Therefore, Dial One Roofing recommends Owens Corning Shingles over most.

Venting the attic, as well as the crawlspace under the house, will allow water vapor buildup to disperse.

A common misconception is that by ventilating the addict better that you are letting more of the heat out of your house. Thinking that heat will be trapped in the attic and then make its way back down into the house is not accurate. In contrast, the heat buildup, as well as household humidity in your attic needs to be displaced otherwise it will cause up perfect situation for mold to build up. Anyplace that has stagnant air and just a slight amount of humidity or water, is an excellent place for mold to take hold.

A good way to look at this is to consider the living quarters of the house a box. The more insulation you have sitting on top of your ceiling and in your walls and below your house, the better that the heat is contained within the home. By adding ventilation in your attic as well as the crawlspace, you will get air moving which in turn will dry the insulation. Dryer insulation will retain heat better than wet insulation, like a dry coat would keep you warmer than a wet coat. You need to have attic ventilation, as well as a high R-value of insulation (R-60) on top of the ceilings, and throughout the home. Your Dial One Roofing representative will help you decide how much ventilation and how much insulation you'll need.

What is a labor warranty?

Labor warranty is simply how long will the installers warranty your project. Warranties are available for any number of years, but normally are 5, 10, or 15 years, that the installer, dial one roofing, will be behind you in the event of a problem associated with your installation. Because Dial One Roofing has been in business for over 31 years you can rest assured that if you have a problem associated with your roof, will be there to fix it!

What is underlayment?

Underlayment, also known as roofing felt, as what's used underneath your roof provide a vapor barrier. Similar to the way a can of soda sweats, the same kind of event can happen with your roof. When it's cold outside, and warm inside, without the vapor barrier the inside of your attic would act just like a can of soda does. Selecting your vapor barrier can be a little tricky, because recently many new products have come on the market. Dial One Roofing's position is some are pretty "gimmicky "and don't have the test of time as to whether they're going to work or not. A recent test of one of the new products, (given to us for free to try), I found that the product leaked. Obviously, we will not be using that product. What is proven, however, is roofing felt. Roofing felt comes in what is better known as 15 pound and 30 pound roofing felt. We always recommend going with 30 pound roofing felt. You will simply never have a problem if you install 30 pound roofing felt on the deck, no matter what roof you install.

Sensitive areas of your roof may need some extra attention. There are products that are put out by manufacturers that are essentially a rubber mat with an adhesive back on it. What's interesting about this product is that when you put a nail through it, the rubber will seal around the nail, giving better protection against leakage. Areas to install the water shield products would be in the valleys of the roof with is a greatest amount of water, around chimneys and skylights, around pipes, and anyplace that might get a little more water than others. For areas in the Midwest, ice and water shield is recommended from the gutter all the way up and past the exterior wall extending above the living space by 3 feet. This is because of ice dams which are prevalent in areas that get heavy snow. In the Portland area, we don't get enough snow to cause ice dams. It is always recommended that in areas of heavy water flow to put ice and water shield underneath your roof. Dial One Roofing's recommends using water shield products in any area where excessive rain will cause water to back up, like behind a chimney or skylight.

Why wouldn't you put the water shield products on the entire roof? The straight answer is that while it does a great job of preventing water from coming in, it will trap humidity in the structure and cause mold and mildew.

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What do drying the attic and Insulation have to do with roofing?

In winter, normal household activities like doing laundry, running dishwashers and taking showers generate moisture that can damage insulation, rafters, wood roof deck, underlayment and the shingles. In summer, heat build-up can cause premature aging and cracking of plywood and roofing materials. Dial One Roofing

Ventilate, then Insulate!

The only way to combat these problems is with balanced ventilation. Dry the attic by installing exactly the same intake as the outflow. When a ventilation system is balanced, wind blowing over the ridge creates a negative pressure that draws the warmer air out of the attic. Replacement air enters through the under eave vents, dries the underside of the roof, and exits at the ridge cap or roof vents. Insulation (and your all the wood in your attic) needs proper airflow to work properly.

Information Coming Soon.