Ceiling Spots. Stains on your indoor ceilings may be caused by a
leaking roof. Check your attic to find the source of the leak, and
examine the rafters for leaks that travel away from the original source.
On the exterior, check the chimney and vents for cracks in the
flashing. Also, look for damaged shingles and check the eaves for ice
dams that cause water to back up. It is advisable to have a roofing
professional who is safely harnessed to the home, conducting checks on
these key areas.
Roofs with wood shake shingles present additional challenges. Like
shingles, shakes can experience many of the same problems mentioned
above and it may be time for a roof replacement. Other problems to watch
for with wood shake shingles include:
Moss/Algae growth. On a shingle roof, algae growth is unsightly
but doesn’t affect the service life of the roof. With wood shake
shingles, algae can reduce the long-term performance of the roof. Moss
and algae growth are most coming - in damp or humid climates or on shaded areas of the roof. Replace damaged shakes with moss/algae resistant ones.
Splitting. Splitting can be the result of natural aging or
caused by stress, such as walking on the roof. The condition is
aggravated by water infiltration in wood, cement tile or
fiber-reinforced cement shakes and is compounded in damp climates with
repeated freezing and thawing. Small cracks can be caulked, but larger
ones required the damaged shakes to be replaced.
Termite damage. Wooden shakes provide sustenance for termites.
To exterminate termites, the home must be tented and fumigated. After
the termites are gone, replace the affected shakes with new ones.
Until recently, roofing choices focused on performance, and roofs
usually came in shades of gray or brown. But that’s changed, with new
roofing products like Owens Corning™ Duration® Series Shingles Designer Colors Collection. These
fashion forward shingles incorporate vibrant, multicolored granules
that can serve as the inspiration for your exterior color scheme and
offer options for ongoing updates or future makeovers.
“Homeowners today know that curb appeal is one of the most significant
features when building, buying, selling or remodeling a home. Yet, many
do not fully realize the large impact a roof has on curb appeal. In
addition to protecting the home, the roof is one of the largest
architectural features—in some cases up to 50 percent—and has the power
to truly take a home from drab to FAB,” said Sheree Bargabos, Owens
Corning Roofing and Asphalt Business President.
The Designer Colors Collection offers seven new colors modeled after
those found in life, and are meant to evoke feelings that match their
names—from Summer Harvest, Pacific Wave, to Merlot. Summer Harvest, for
example, is a blend of sunny gold, cool blue and burnt sienna tones that
blend to achieve a warm, rustic feel much like a summer day with a
clear blue sky. So when it’s time for a roof replacement, look beyond
function and focus on style