Prestige Roofing, Knoxville, Tennessee

Actually, it's pretty simple if you break shingles down into three categories:

3-Tab Shingles

These are the most common type of shingles on the market. They have a very flat appearance and are what most people picture when they think of the word “shingle.” They are available in two basic categories: 20 year & 25 year, with the 25 year shingle being available with Fungus Resistance to keep the black streaks off of the roof.

Architectural Shingles

If appearance is an influential factor in addition to function, these value-added shingles have a number of different looks and color blends giving the roof a “layered” look. These laminated shingles weigh more and are stronger than economy shingles and, as a result, offer a greater degree of wind, tear and blow-off resistance in addition to greater value and longer warranties. Most are available with fungus resistance.

Designer Shingles

These are the "flagship" shingles of their respective manufacturers. Each are unique in appearance and designed to give a specific look while out performing other standard shingles. Most are available with fungus resistance.

Well, the short answer is "Yes," but there are reasons. Here are a few:

The Importance Of Ventilation

• Good ventilation creates a cooler attic in the summer.
• An overheated attic, combined with moisture, can be damaging to roof decking and roofing shingles, causing them to distort and deteriorate prematurely.
• Good venitlation creates a drier attic in the winter and helps prevent ice dams.
• Good ventilation serves two main functions:
  • Moves hot air next to the roof deck out of the attic in the summer.
  • Dilutes and removes the moist air in the winter before it can cause damage.

Different Types Of Ventilation

There are many different types of roofing ventilation. Each has it's advantages and drawbacks:

Static Vents – The least expensive but only provides ventilation in the immediate area where they are installed.
Gable Vents – The wind must blow directly into one vent in order to get the air flowing across the attic and out the other vent.
Turbine Vents – Experience the same problems as the static vents but generate a greater airflow that the static vents.
Power Fans – The provide a high airflow. However, they take energy to operate so they create an ongoing expense. Also, fans controlled by a thermostat will usually operate only in the summer. These fans do nothing to remove the moist air that gets in the attic during cold months.

The Most Ventilation For The Money

A ridge vent is positioned along the entire length of the roof peak. In addition to being excellent exhaust vents, ridge vents blend in with the roof line, making a more attractive home. Years of research has proven that ridge vents with external baffles, combined with undereave venting, is the most efficient and effective system you can install.

Waterproofing underlayment is installed underneath the shingles in areas where extra protection is desired.

High wear areas like the valleys on the roof, around dormers, rakes, eaves and skylights are good places to put an extra barrier of protection against water leakage casued by ice damming and wind-driven rain.

Waterproofing underlayment is self-sealing so that it seals around nails providing a water tight barrier against moisture.

Some roofing contractors will not reflash the chimney unless it is specified in the contract. It is time consuming work and takes a high degree of skill to flash a chimney properly.

A favorite line to get out of reflashing the chimney is, “Why fix somethin’ that ain’t broke?”

The truth is that if the chimney is not reflashed when the roof is installed, the chances of the chimney leaking in the next 3-5 years are very high!

If you're going to make the investment of getting a new roof system installed on your home, ensure that the system will keep you dry for years down the road. Make sure that the contractor is specifying that the chimney will definitely be reflashed!

BUYER BEWARE

You are about to make a very large investment into your property. Ensure that you are dealing with a legitimate roofing contractor before signing an agreement to perform work on your home or property.

2 things to check before choosing a roofing contractor:

Have you SEEN a copy of the contractor's insurance certificate?

Many illegitimate contractors will tell you they have Liability and Workman's Compensation insurance. But, to protect yourself against loss or lawsuit, should someone get injured on your property, you need to ask to actually see a certificate of insurance before signing anything. Any legitimate, insured contractor will be pleased to present theirs. The Roofing Company, Inc. will even have their insurance agent mail or fax you a personal copy upon request.

Have you SEEN a copy of their contractor's license?

Illegitimate contractors will claim to be properly licensed, but you need to ask to physically see a copy of their Virginia Contractor's License. Getting a Class A contractor's license in Virginia is no easy task. It is not necessary to have a Class A rating to be a licensed roofer in Virginia, but to receive a Class A the contractor must pass the highest standards of testing and a CPA review to be considered by the Board for Contractors of the Department of Professional and Occupation Regulation. You may check on the validity of any contractor's license in Virginia by calling the Board for Contractors of the Department of Professional and Occupation Regulation's licensing section at (804) 367-8511 or sending an email request to Contractors@dpor.state.va.us.

Damp, humid climates can encourage the growth of fungus on asphalt shingles. The result is unsightly green and black streaks that are especially noticeable on light-colored roofs.

• But, there is hope! You can use shingles that are fungus resistant. Shingles become fungus resistant by the addition of copper granules to the shingle surface.
• The least expensive shingle that is currently available with fungus resistance is a 25 year, 3-Tab shingle.
• To keep your shingles looking their best, use shingles that are fungus resistant.