by United Roofing MN | Mar 30, 2011
Residential Roofing Company Minneapolis Minnesota Advice From A Minneapolis MN Roofing Contractor – Factors That Affect Your Roofs Performance The Hostile Roof Environment Here in Minnesota, the weather plays a significant role in the aging of your roof. We have an intense summer sun, which scorches the surface of the roof and can raise the rooftop temperatures anywhere from 50 to 75 degrees above the ambient temperature. The sun’s rays are relentless, and also subject your roof to severe ultraviolet radiation. UV rays have been shown to accelerate the aging of shingles. Additionally, as the weather changes the temperature fluctuations causes thermal shocks which force the roof deck to expand and contract, and place a strain on the shingles. Year after year, this process is repeated, and results in a cyclic fatigue of the shingles. Factors That Can Affect Your Roofs Performance Besides the shingles and external environmental factors, internal factors can also affect the performance of roofing shingles. These internal factors, such as your roof’s ventilation, can cause deck movement or deck deterioration, which in turn can inhibit the ability of asphalt shingles to protect your roof and home. An important step that should be taken by your contractor is to assess the condition of the existing roof structure, deck, and ventilation. Any shortcomings should be dealt with before the new layer of asphalt shingles is applied, since shingle failures attributed to deck and ventilation problems are not covered by some warranties. Speak to a Minnesota residential roofing contractor about the following concerns, and ask what additional concerns are common to your region. Poor Ventilation: Although not usually recognized as a major design consideration, proper ventilation of the attic...
by United Roofing MN | Mar 28, 2011
Minneapolis MN Roofing Contractors | MN Roofer Minneapolis MN Repairing & Replacing Asphalt Shingle Roofs Minneapolis MN Asphalt shingles were introduced into the roofing market in the late-1800s as a by-product of making tar and asphalt-impregnated felts for flat roofs. Early shingles contained up to 33 percent cotton or wool fibers derived from rags, hence the term “rag felt.” From the early 1940s to the late 1970s asphalt shingle mat was comprised of organic cellulose fibers derived from recycled waste paper and/ or wood fiber. Although organic mat is still available, the dominant base material since the late 1970s has been inorganic (fiberglass) mat. According to recent sales information from the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing Association (ARMA), fiberglass mat shingles comprise approximately 82 percent of the residential asphalt shingle roofing market, and organic mat shingles (still popular in the Midwest and Northeast because they are more flexible and considered easier to install in cold weather) 18 percent. ARMA estimates that asphalt shingles represent 80 to 85 percent of the total residential roofing market. The fiberglass mat typically used in the asphalt shingle industry is lighter than organic mat. Fiberglass mat doesn’t necessarily perform better but does allow shingles to meet Class A fire resistance ratings, while organic mat only meets Class C. Organic mat is presaturated with asphalt and then coated with a mineral-stabilized material (limestone, slate, flyash, or traprock). Inorganic (fiberglass) mat is coated with mineral-stabilized material but not presaturated. The mineral-stabilized coating fills the voids between individual mats while at the same time providing increased resistance to fire and weather. The typical asphalt shingle has been for many...
by United Roofing MN | Mar 25, 2011
MN Residential Roofing Company – Asphalt Shingle Roof Replacement You May Need To Replace Your Asphalt Shingles Asphalt shingles gradually change with the passage of time. The aging process of asphalt shingles can be broken down into three distinct phases. The three phases are: the curing phase, the stable phase, and the final phase. Signs of this aging process may appear as early as the first couple of years, during what is often called: Curing Phase ~ At first, you may notice small surface cracks, or a few small blisters. These changes will not affect the ability of the asphalt shingles to protect your roof, and are an anticipated part of the aging process. During the Stable Phase, these signs of aging will slow down dramatically. The duration of the stable phase may last 20-30 years, but is dependent on many factors including the construction of the asphalt shingles, the condition of your roof and roofing ventilation, the slope of your roof, as well as the workmanship of your roofing contractor. Near the end of the expected life of asphalt shingles, the aging process begins to speed up. This is what is called the Final Phase, during which most homeowners start to think about replacing their asphalt shingles. Curling: One of the things you may notice is a slight curling of the shingles along the bottom edge, particularly during cold weather. This is a normal occurrence of asphalt shingles and results from the natural loss of the oils from the asphalt covering the felt. As the asphalt loses its oil, it slowly becomes more rigid, and may shrink at...
by United Roofing MN | Mar 18, 2011
Roofing Contractors Minneapolis & St Paul| Minneapolis Roofing Company MN Everyone hopes their roof will last forever, but as with all things, roof shingles will age. Something to remember, however, is the fact that not all shingles will age at the same pace. Different shingles have different life spans, and the best way to assess how long your shingles will last is to check the manufacturer’s warranty. For example, if your warranty lasts for 15 years, you may want to start checking for signs of wear and tear around that time. However, to truly keep your roof in prime condition, you should have your roof inspected by a reliable Minnesota roofing contractor twice a year. How Do I know If It Is Time To Replace My Roof? Research indicates that the aging process for a roof begins soon after the shingles are installed and progresses rapidly during the initial curing phase of its life cycle. During this stage, granule loss may occur, small blisters may develop, or the shingles may curl slightly at their edges. You may even notice that this curling is more pronounced during cold weather and the shingles may lie flat as temperatures rise. The good news, however, is that after this curing stage the shingles enter a long period of slow aging, which lasts for the major portion of the shingle’s natural life. What Will My Shingles Look Like as They Age? Asphalt is one of the primary ingredients in roofing shingles. Its purpose is to provide the waterproofing integrity for the roof. Secondarily, the asphalt holds the colored granules in place and contributes to...
by United Roofing MN | Mar 16, 2011
Residential Roofing Contractor in Minneapolis, Minnesota The Life Cycle of a Roofing Shingle When your new roof was installed, friends and neighbors may have remarked how it enhanced the beauty of your home. However, research indicates that aging begins soon after the shingles are installed and progresses rapidly during the initial curing phase of its life cycle. During this stage, granule loss may occur, small blisters may develop, or the shingles may curl slightly at their edges. You may even notice that this curling is more pronounced during cold weather and the shingles may lie flat as temperatures rise. The good news, however, is that after this curing stage, the shingles enter a long period of slow aging, which lasts for the major portion of the shingle’s natural life. During the “mid-life” period, aging continues at a much slower rate. The cracking or granule loss still occurs but does not increase at a noticeable rate. Only after this long period of mid-life does the aging process begin to accelerate once again as the shingles enter their declining years. It’s during this period that homeowners normally think about a roof replacement. Material Concerns Depending upon the style of shingle, the normal weathering characteristics described earlier may be a sign of more serious problems. For example, cracks across a typical three-tab shingle may be a sign of a weak reinforcement. This type of cracking threatens the waterproofing integrity of the roof and needs to be addressed immediately. For the appliqué-style shingle, on the other hand, cracks that are restricted to the unreinforced decorative appliqué are the result of normal weathering and...
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