Asphalt Shingle Roofing in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania

Comparing Asphalt Shingle Roofing in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania?

The people at The Roofing Company can point out how shingles are chosen and nailed down, and match the choice to your house

Phone 412-858-8858 to talk about shingles

Why a Shingle Is More Than a Piece of Tar Paper: What Each Part Does

A modern asphalt shingle starts with a fiberglass mat that gives it strength and shape, and a strip of sealant on the face bonds each course to the one below. Every Asphalt Shingle Roofing project is a bet on how well the granules, asphalt and sealant strips will hold up, because a shingle that never sealed can lift in a gust.

The Main Types of Asphalt Shingle, and Where Each Fits

• Traditional three-tab shingles are the simplest and lightest style, with a flat, uniform look.
• Layered architectural shingles cast shadow lines that give the roof dimension.
• Upper-range shingle lines are thicker and take more effort to handle.
• Shingles with an impact rating can stand up to hail damage better, depending on the rating.
• Shingles made to resist dark streaks help keep a roof looking cleaner on shaded slopes.

Impact-rated and algae-resistant shingles come in both flat and layered styles, so features and style are separate choices, and a roofer should explain the differences without pushing one. Whichever way Asphalt Shingle Roofing is described, ask to see a sample and the details printed on the bundle, and ask how the proposal describes the shingle.

Reading the Bundle Wrapper: a Short Guide

Color blends vary from bundle to bundle, so a roofer mixes bundles as the work goes to avoid patches of shade, and ratings assume proper nailing and a clean deck. A well-planned Asphalt Shingle Roofing job treats the instructions as a minimum, not a suggestion, and the bundle label usually points to them.

Each Step Builds on the Last: Why the Order Matters

• A swept deck with any rotted boards cut out has to be ready before anything else goes on.
• Ice and water barrier along the eaves and valleys comes early because everything above depends on it.
• Roofing felt or synthetic wrap protects the deck if a shingle is damaged.
• Starter shingles with a sealant band sets the line for every course above it.
• Step flashing along every wall is shaped and overlapped so water runs over it.
• The peak details of the roof finish the roof and keep wind from catching the top row.

Shingles are laid from the eaves upward in overlapping rows, so water always runs over a lower edge instead of under it, and each course is nailed before the next is laid. Ask a roofer to describe the order of Asphalt Shingle Roofing, and listen for the water barrier and starter course, and the order explains why some shortcuts cause leaks.

How Shingles Are Nailed Down: Small Details, Big Consequences

Roofing nails need to go in straight and flush with the surface, using the number of fasteners the manufacturer calls for, and a roofer checks a few shingles as the work goes. Part of what you pay attention to in Asphalt Shingle Roofing is how the shingles are fastened, not just which shingles are chosen, so ask what fasteners will be used.

Finishing Touches That Keep Water Out, From Valley to Peak

Flashing at chimneys and skylights is shaped and sealed so water runs over it, not behind it, and the edges of the roof are given the same care as the middle. Ask how Asphalt Shingle Roofing handles the points where roof planes meet walls, chimneys and vents, and ask which parts are done by hand.

When the Temperature Matters, and How They Adjust

Crews sometimes hand-seal shingles with a dab of roofing cement when the weather will not do the job, and careful handling matters more when it is very cold. The schedule for Asphalt Shingle Roofing should allow for weather, since shingles do not behave the same in every season, and the plan should be flexible.

Intake, Exhaust and Insulation, and Ice Dam Prevention

An attic that traps heat bakes shingles from below in summer and melts snow unevenly in winter, and the roofer should note what ventilation the attic has. Include the attic when you think about Asphalt Shingle Roofing, since airflow affects how long shingles last, and the roofer should say what will change.

Choosing Shingles That Suit the Home, From the Curb

A sample held against the siding, trim and brick shows more than a small chip does, and the finished roof will look different from a flat sample. Looks are only one side of Asphalt Shingle Roofing, though, and they should be balanced with performance, and photos can help you picture the result.

Warning Signs on a New Roof, and What to Ask About

A wavy surface, gaps at the ridge and visible sealant smears can all mean the details were not given enough care, and a good crew will fix such problems promptly. Judge Asphalt Shingle Roofing by what you see at the ridge, the edges and the valleys, not just the field of the roof, and write down what concerns you.

Old Roofing Out, New Roofing In, and How to Prepare

Many crews put a protective cover over the roof edge and the ground below before removal begins, and ask how the crew handles nails that drop. Decide with the roofer how Asphalt Shingle Roofing will deal with old roofing, debris and the yard, and the same attention should go into the yard as into the roof.

A Short List for Your Roofer, Item by Item

• Which shingle line and style will go on the roof, and how does it handle snow?
• Which underlayment and barrier layers are included, and can you show me photographs?
• What fasteners will be used and how many per shingle, and are the edges nailed differently?
• When would you hand-seal shingles, and what is the plan for wind?
• How are valleys, ridges and flashing finished, and what could go wrong?
• Will intake and exhaust vents be checked, and where is that written?

A roofer who knows shingles can answer these questions without hesitating or hiding behind jargon, and be cautious if the answers stay vague. Treat Asphalt Shingle Roofing as a set of choices, each of which should be written down, and nothing should be left to assumption.

Talk Shingles in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, and We Will Visit

Shingle choices are easier when a roofer listens first and then lays out the options; call 412-858-8858 and tell us about your house, and we will answer your questions plainly.