Trying to find Roofing for a house in Western Pennsylvania?
The roofers at The Roofing Company will talk through each part of the roof and what it does, plus what snow, ice and thaw do to them
Call us at 412-858-8858 to talk through your roof
What Goes Into the Roof on Your Home
Most people picture shingles when they think about a roof, and that surface is just the finish on a larger assembly, and together they keep the weather out. Roofing covers the whole assembly, taking in the deck, the membranes, the covering and the metal; a gap in one place can undo careful work in another. Imagine the roof as a set of barriers, with every layer stopping a different kind of moisture; the finished system is far tougher than any single sheet.
A roof makes more sense when you take it one layer at a time: rafters or trusses first, then the deck laid across them, and the finish layers depend on it staying flat and dry.
The Structural Base and Why It Gets Checked First
The base of a roof is a surface of planks or panels fixed to the rafters; if it is soft, stained or sagging, the covering above it will not hold. Soft spots are a common find, since a leak that goes unnoticed for a while will soak the wood.
Many of the older homes around Pittsburgh still carry narrow board decking, and that is one reason a roofer wants to see it before making a plan, and checking the boards is a normal part of Roofing. Narrow boards were the norm for generations of local houses, yet modern membranes still go over them; the goal is a flat, firm surface for the new layers.
Felt, Synthetic Sheet and Ice Shield: the Backup Behind the Shingles
Over the deck goes a sheet of underlayment, so the deck stays protected while the roof is being laid. Pittsburgh eaves and valleys get stronger protection, which is why a careful crew does not skimp on it.
The membrane matters because ice dams push standing water under shingles, so a roofer lays it before any shingle goes down; Roofing that leaves out the barrier is the first thing to fail in a thaw. The choice of sheet depends on where it goes on the roof, and a good roofer can tell you why each was chosen; wrinkles and fish-mouths are worth fixing before shingles go on.
Shingles and Other Surfaces: What Faces the Sky
Most houses on the hillsides are covered in asphalt shingles, because they are light, familiar and quick to install; bare patches show where the coating has worn thin. Architectural shingles are thicker than flat three-tab types, and the installer matters as much as the product; walk the roof with a roofer and ask what is on it now.
Slate and clay tile are the original materials on many older homes, and each one wants a roofer who has handled it before; the right Roofing choice depends on pitch, age of the house and what the framing can carry.
Where the Roof Meets Something Else: the Small Parts That Prevent Big Leaks
Flashing is the thin metal that seals the places where a roof is interrupted, and most leaks trace back to these spots rather than the open slope; valleys carry the greatest volume of runoff and need clean metal. Chimneys on hillside homes catch wind from several directions, and tuckpointing is sometimes needed alongside the roof work; loose or crumbling joints are worth pointing out.
On most Roofing projects, replacing the flashing is part of the plan, because redoing it later means lifting the new shingles.
Ventilation and the Attic: Moving Air Out and Keeping Heat In
Airflow under the deck carries away heat and moisture, so the snow on top stays frozen until the weather warms; warm spots under the snow start the melt, and the eaves then refreeze it. Large icicles often mean the attic is losing heat, and new shingles will not stop it by themselves; heat cables are a patch, not a remedy.
Roofing that ignores airflow can leave the same ice problem under a new roof, as a new surface sitting on a warm attic will still shed snow unevenly. Look into the attic on a cold morning, because that is when moisture shows itself.
Snow, Ice and Thaw Versus the System: From First Snow to Spring Thaw
Snow, ice, wind and repeated thaws all work on a roof in turn, though steady cold is easier than a day that thaws and freezes again; wet snow can weigh a great deal on a steep or shallow roof alike.
Water gets into tiny cracks, freezes and pries them wider, and the damage shows as a brown stain after a thaw. A system in good order sheds snow and drains the thaw, which is the reason Roofing is more than a surface job. Spring thaw is when hidden trouble comes out, and a stain can appear well downhill of the source; take a photo of any stain, and note the date.
Shaded slopes under mature trees stay wet and grow moss, so Roofing has to fit the lot and the exposure; note any stain that appears on a ceiling after the snow melts.
Hills, Slopes and Old Construction, and Why They Take Care
Victorians, rowhouses and hillside homes bring their own roofing puzzles, and each such roof asks for slow, careful work; box gutters are built into the roofline and need to be kept clear and lined.
Roofing on a tall hillside house needs extra attention to safe access, since the roofer must reach every valley and corner, and a plan made on the roof itself is better than one made from the street. Moss holds water against the surface and lifts the edges, and zinc or copper strips can slow the growth; discuss options with a roofer before cleaning.
Step by Step: How a Roof Job Goes: the Usual Sequence
Whether it is a repair or a full replacement, Roofing moves in stages, although the details shift with the size of the roof. These are the stages you can expect, so nothing should come as a surprise. Shingles seal most reliably when the days are warm enough, and a delay is better than rushed work; a flexible start date makes everything easier.
- A roofer looks over the exterior, the attic and the drainage, and answers your questions before any plan is made
- The scope is written down so everyone agrees on what the work includes, and the delivery date is matched to the forecast
- The old layers come off and the deck gets a close look, and the exposed deck is never left open overnight
- The new layers go on in order, and valleys and edges get the most care
- Cleanup and a final walk-through close the job, and small touch-ups are done on the spot
Before You Say Yes: a Short List
A solid way to compare bids is layer by layer, because the shingle line is only part of the story. Ask how the attic airflow will be handled, because the answer says a lot about the plan. A written scope takes the guesswork out of the job, and it gives you something to check at the end; good answers are short and specific.
Get a Look at Your Roof in Western Pennsylvania, Then Decide at Your Pace
If your roof is leaking, worn or simply due for a closer look, Roofing is a sensible thing to ask about, and we are glad to talk about Western Pennsylvania roofs of any age. Call us at 412-858-8858 whenever you are ready, and we will start with what you have noticed.
