The search for a shingle with high aesthetic value often ends with wood shakes and shingles.  Installing wood on your home can bring a unique and beautiful look to your roof.  Since wood grains naturally differ, no two wood shake roofs are the same.  Though there have been imitation wood shake shingles made from asphalt shingles, these shingles will never successfully duplicate the smooth quality of natural wood shakes. 

Wood shingles are also an environmentally conscious choice, as they are a renewable resource.  Not only this, but the natural choice of the wood on your roof will be more energy efficient than asphalt shingles, because they help to keep your attic cooler.   

However, there are also downsides to installing wood shakes on your roof.  Wood is not as durable as asphalt shingles, yet they can cost around twice as much.  Wood is susceptible to termite damage, rotting and scum.  To install a wood shake roof means a commitment of regular, vigorous cleaning of both the roof, the gutters, and the surrounding areas such as trees and any source of debris. 

In the end, the choice comes down to what is important to you as a home owner.    If you do choose to install wood shakes on your roof or home, you should be aware of the maintenance and care process. 

First, be sure to select a wood that is high in durability.  Redwood and cedar are both known for their weather-resistant qualities.  These woods have a high level of natural oils that preserve the wood.  If you choose to go with another wood choice, be sure that it has been factory treated with a preservative.  These factory treatments force the preservative deep into the wood with high pressure.  Wood that has been factory treated is usually under warranty.  

Once you have your wood shakes installed, be sure to keep them clean.  Trim any trees surrounding your home to prevent pine needles, leaves or twigs from piling up on your roof.  Keeping your roof free of debris will lengthen it's life.  Also, be sure to clean your gutters and downspouts twice a year to avoid any buildup on your roof. 

Many manufacturers recommend that your roof be power-washed at least once a year to open the pores in the wood before applying a preservative.  However, it has been shown that inexperienced power-washing can actually cause damage to your roof.  If you choose to power-wash your roof, carefully select a professional with a reputation for good customer satisfaction.   

Never power-wash your roof without applying a topical treatment afterwards.  When choosing a contractor to clean and treat your roof, choose one who offers topical treatments that are:

• Water repellents
• UV inhibitors
• EPA registered wood preservative
• Is labeled as an appropriate product for your type of wood shake. 

You may find these details in a MSDS (material safety data sheet).    Do not allow any contractor to apply a topical treatment to your roof that is:

• A water sealant
• Containing unfortified linseed oil
• Containing diesel fuel
• Containing crank case oil

Any of these ingredients can actually trap moisture inside of your roof, under the pretext of keeping moisture out.  Water will run underneath the shingles or shakes and have no way to escape.  This results in your shingles curling, then finally becoming brittle and cracking.   

Applying the correct topical treatments, as well as keeping your roof clean and clear, will help lengthen the life of your wood shake roof.  Consequently, just taking these few steps every year can save you a lot of money in re-roofing costs. 

However, even if you successfully perform all of the maintenance required on your roof, do not expect it to last as long as asphalt shingles will.  In the end, though wood shakes have a vast number of qualities, they are not as durable as other roofing materials.  It is up to you whether a beautiful wood shake roof is worth the work for you and your home.   

Brady Roofing offers wood shake shingles as well as a number of imitation wood shakes comprised of asphalt shingles.  We can help you to choose a roofing material that is right for you and your home.  Browse through our shingle options, or contact us today for a free estimate on your home.  

It may be the beginning of summer, but we can be sure that winter will come again.  If you plan well for your roof now, you will be prepared for the worst winters Utah can bring you.  That's why we need to be aware of the issue of ice dams in climates like Utah's while we install our roofs.  An Ice dam is formed when heat from inside a home or attic warms the roof and melts the snow on it.  This melted snow runs towards the cooler eaves and gutters, where it refreezes.  This process creates ice dams.  The result of these dams is water backing up under the roof shingles or behind fascia boards where it can cause damage to your home, both inside and out.  All shingle manufacturers exclude from warranty coverage leaks that are caused by water backing up behind these ice dams.   

The good news is, in most situations, ice dams are easily reduced if you take a few simple steps.  There are three ways to protect your home against ice dams: insulation, ventilation, and waterproofing shingle underlayment.  All three of these steps are vital to protecting your home.  Insulation minimizes heat loss from your home's living area, reducing the hot air which reaches your attic.  This is important to keep you warm throughout the winter, as well as to keep your roof cool.  Ventilation removes the heat from underneath your roof and helps to keep it evenly cool to prevent the freezing and thawing process.  Finally, waterproofing shingle underlayment can be installed on your roof before the shingles are applied.  This protects your roof in the case that an ice dam were to form.   

If you already have an existing roof without any major problems, you may still want to protect against ice dams.  You cannot install waterproof shingle underlayment on existing roofs without removing the shingles first or building a new addition.  However, it is possible to increase your insulation R-value, or level of thermal resistance, in your attic.  Also, it is typically simple to add ventilation to your attic at any time.   

Insulation is a great place to start when protecting your home from excessive ice dams.  If your home was built before 1980, you will most likely need to add more attic insulation.  The amount of insulation your house should have will vary on depending where you live, how your home was built and other factors, including your lifestyle.  In northern Utah, you should have a ceiling R-value of R-49, a wall R-value of R-19 and a floor R-value of R-25.  One inch of insulation can have an R-value of anything from 3.8-4.2, depending on the material.   

Ventilation is important to your home both in the winter and the summer.  Any heat that is lost from your home will be drawn out of your attic through your ventilation, keeping your roof deck cool.  In the winter, this prevents ice dams.  Attic ventilation can also allow any moisture from bathing, cooking and laundry to escape rather than sit and mold or rot your ceilings.  There are two common types of attic ventilation: a mechanical ventilation system and a natural ventilation system.  A power ventilator is an electric fan installed at the roof or gable that runs by a thermostat to ensure the roof is the proper temperature.  A natural ventilation system consists of simple vent or covered openings in your attic.  These are typically installed into your roof.   

If you are building a new home, or re-roofing your current home, it is essential to install waterproof shingle underlayment.  This underlayment is completely resistant to water and is an important step in defending your home against leaks and ice dams.  Shingle underlayment does not prevent ice dams, so it should be accompanied by taking the above steps.  However, installing an underlayment will prevent any backed up water from entering and damaging your home.  Shingle underlayment is installed differently for every situation, depending on the amount of snow and ice that will be on the roof, and the amount of attic space there is to allow air circulation (some underlayments don't breathe and can cause condensation when there is no air circulation - see previous blog on ventilation).  Generally, it is a good ideal to have it applied under flashing, at roof penetrations, areas where pitches change, in valleys, around chimneys, and along the eaves of the home.  You should consider building codes in your area when determining how much ice shield should be installed to prevent the ice at the eaves from backing up and coming in at your exterior walls.   

It is important to note that some situations call for a product called heat tape (sometimes called electrical heat coil).  Areas where this is most prevalent are at the bottom of valleys where it butts into a wall or chimney and does not flow freely off the roof.  This heat tape is effective in resolving ice damming issues, but is costly to operate.  It is best to consult with a roofing contractor when assessing areas that may require special consideration. 

Remember, proper planning can avoid a whole lot of pain later on when the roofing project or repair is completed!   Brady Roofing specializes is proper ventilation and waterproofing your roof for all climates.  If you would like a roof estimate, you can request a free estimate here. 

If you are in the market for a cool roof to save you money in energy bills and to do your part in helping the environment, there are many options out there for you.  Here are just a few products that are likely to grant you the best energy savings possible, while offering the greatest protection for your home or building.    

Flat Roofs
If you own a flat roof, you are provided with convenient energy saving resources.  Flat roofing membranes, unlike tar and gravel roofs, are reflective and are designed to save you energy and money.  A flat roof membrane's high reflectivity will help to reduce the amount of energy required to cool a building and keep it cool throughout the hottest points of the year.  This decreased amount of energy consumption causes a lower amount of pollution to be generated back into the atmosphere and directly contributes to a cooler and cleaner environment, all while you save a little money.  Some roofing membranes that are energy efficient include:

• TPO
• EPDM
• TOPCOAT

TPO is an extremely relfective roofing membrane.  Versico's TPO membranes carry the Energy Star rating, and succeeded in exceeding the guidelines to meet that rating.  TPO is solar reflective and has a thermal emmitance level of .8 to .9, depending on the color.  Versico's TPO is also listed as a CRRC (Cool Roof Rating Council) certified product.  This TPO is also 100% recyclable, as well as made from safe materials that do not harm the environment.  If you are looking for a roof that will naturally cut down your energy bill, and also succeed in helping the environment, TPO is for you. 
 
EPDM is a truly sustainable product.  It is diverse enough to fit the needs of virtually all of the different climates and building structures.  For example, if a membrane is not thick enough in a cold climate zone, it will almost immediately result in higher energy output and costs for the property owner.  However, EPDM is able to work with different climates to create an energy efficient roof for you an any location.  Though EPDM lacks the reflectivity of TPO, it makes up for it in thermal performance.  In fact, a recent study performed by the Department of Energy and the EPDM Roofing Association showed that ballast and paver systems (such as EPDM roofing) can save as much energy as a reflective or "cool" roofs.   

If you are looking for a way to push your roof over the top in energy savings, TOPCOAT is for you.  It is a roofing membrane designed to be sprayed over current roofs, whether it is a single-ply membrane or a metal roof.  It holds the Energy Star rating for its solar reflectivity.  It has the similar effect of TPO: it decreases the overall building temperature through it's solar reflectivity and thermal emmitance.  In fact, TOPCOAT can save you up to 50% of your roof's original cost through energy savings.  It also protects seams and joints from wide temperature changes that can negatively effect roofing performance.   

Pitched Roofs
Even pitched roofs are following the global trend of energy efficient building products.  Since most pitched roofs are residential, they have the potential to save your family from spending money on unneccessary energy bills, while still helping your house look good.  They also qualify for a tax credit of up to $1500.  Two examples of these cool shingles are:

• GAF's Timberline Cool Series
• CertainTeed's Landmark Solaris

GAF Timberline has introduced the Cool Series shingle in hopes of reducing attic temperatures, and thus reducing energy costs and usage.  They are designed with a greater reflectance than tradtional shingles that helps to minimize the amount of heat leaking from your roof into your home.  This shingle saves it's residents an average of 7-15% of total cooling costs each year.  In warmer climates, cooling cost savings may be greater throughout the entire year.  These shingles are based off of the design of the #1 archetectural shingle in America, giving your home the beautiful look you want.  

Certainteed Roofing has also come out with a 'cool' shingle: Landmark Solaris.  This shingle contains advanced color granules that reflect the sun.  This succeeds in reducing the overall roof temperature by up to 20% in the summer, saving you money and energy.  Landmark Solaris is rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council, qualifies for credits and points in LEED, NAHB, and other green programs, and meets the ENERGY STAR standards for solar reflectance and thermal emission.  However, perhaps the best feature of this shingle is it's beauty.  It doesn't look like a cool shingle, but rather it is a beautiful architectural shingle that would look great on any home.   

Learn more about our products, or for a free estimate, contact Brady Roofing.

Fortunately, the repair was simple.  I just heat welded a new peice of TPO over the area and their problems were solved. 

That is one beautiful characteristic about this product.  It does not lose it's weld ability like PVC and EP Sheets do.  I was just on an extremely large food processing plant roof yesterday that was done about 15 years ago in an EP Sheet.  A general contractor just put two new exhaust units on the roof.  As we tried to weld new membrane flashing around these units, we found it had lost its weld ability.  We have found a solution that I won't go into now, but the fact is it couldn't be welded after this time frame like a TPO membrane could.

It made me all the more comfortable installing roofs for our customers!