The Residential Roof System
The roof over your head is more than the type of shingle you choose – it’s a complex water shedding system.
Your roof isn’t just a bunch of shingles nailed to your home! It’s probably the single most important element protecting you and your home from the weather. All the elements of a high-quality residential roof system must work together to keep water from damaging your home. Most damage is not due to shingle failure but to a deficiency in one or more of the other elements. What kind of damages can a poor roof cause? Damage to your walls, floors, structural elements, and even your health! The Done Right residential roofing system is engineered to improve the quality of your life, giving you a worry-free installation and many years of peace of mind.
The 6 Elements of a Residential Roof System
1 Roof Deck
The foundation of a quality roofing job. Without a sound roof deck, everything on top is compromised.
2 Roof Ice Dam/Eaves Protection
Proper protection against ice dam formation can prevent major damage.
3 Roof Flashing
The majority of roof leaks are caused by poorly installed flashing on the drip edge, valleys, and all roof penetrations and roof/wall intersections.
4 Roof Underlayment
Provides a secondary source of protection against leaks.
5 Roof Ventilation
Adequate roof ventilation is necessary to prevent heat buildup, moisture, and condensation.
6 Asphalt Roof Shingles
Quality roof shingles are the finishing touch to a great roofing job.
Your Roof Deck: The Foundation for a Quality Roofing Job
A quality roofing job is possible only if the roof deck (sheathing) is sound. Depending on a number of factors, your roof deck may have been damaged by moisture or even the oils from your shingles.
Some problems may be found on inspection but other damage may only come to light after the old shingles are torn off.
We know you don’t like surprises, so our quotes include repairing a certain amount of decking at no extra charge.
Eaves: Roof Ice Dams Protection
Without proper eaves protection, your roof may experience leaks and damages from roof ice dams.
Your roof eaves are vulnerable to ice buildup and the resulting water penetration. They are the coldest part of your roof since they are not warmed by heat escaping from your home into the attic.
Melted snow may run down the roof towards the eaves and gutter. Because the roof eaves are colder, the water may refreeze and cause the formation of ice dams. Water backs up under the roof shingles or behind the fascia boards.
The results can include damage to your attic, ceilings, walls, and floors of your home. The additional moisture will also decrease the effectiveness of your insulation.
We will be happy to explain the roof eaves protection and residential roofing solution required for your home.
Roof Flashing: The Key to Preventing Roof Leaks
Our durable roof flashing moves water quickly off your roof to prevent damage from water and ice buildup.
Proper metal roof flashings are used to keep water out of your home by sealing the roof surface to the house. They also keep water, ice, and snow away from your roof.
There are three different areas that require proper roof flashing treatment.
Drip Edge
After your old roof is torn off and damaged or rotten sheathing is repaired, the first element to be installed is the drip edge. The drip edge is installed on the perimeter of the roof along the eaves and provides an added level of waterproofing.
The drip edge:
- Deflects water into your eavestroughs, rather than between the eavestroughs and fascia, where it can damage the fascia board
- Helps protect the roof deck from unnecessary exposure to water
- Covers any gaps between the roof deck and the fascia boards caused by movement due to weather changes
- Adds support to the first row of shingles
The drip edge should be rugged and resistant to corrosion to ensure a long life.
It is essential that all these flashings be replaced when reroofing: chimneys, skylights, plumbing stacks, vents, and valleys. More about roof flashing.
We will let you know the condition of all roof flashing when we inspect your roof and point out any potential problems or required repairs. We will simply help you with your residential roofing needs.
Valley Flashing
Valleys in your roof deserve special attention as they naturally deal with more water run-off than the rest of the roof.
There are two types of valley construction – closed valleys and open valleys. Closed valleys have shingles covering the valley, while open valleys have a gap between the shingles on either side, with metal in the valley. Both are permitted by the Alberta Building Code but we do not recommend, nor do we use, closed valleys. Open valleys provide superior and more durable protection.
The Alberta Building Code requires that all valleys have flashing, either underlayment or metal. We prefer to use both for added protection, and we also use starter shingles on both sides of all valleys to increase protection against the wind.
Roof Penetrations
Roof flashing is also vital in these areas:
- Chimneys
- Skylights
- Roof/wall intersections
- Other roof penetrations such as vents or plumbing stacks
Learn more about roof flashing here.
Roofing Underlayment
Roofing Underlayment Options
Roofing underlayment helps prevent water from infiltrating under your shingles and causing damage to your roof structure or the inside of your home. It also provides an extra layer of protection between your shingles and your roof deck in the case of wind damage or missing shingles.
There are three basic types of underlayment used on sloped roofing:
- Felt paper
- Rubberized asphalt (Ice and water shield)
- Synthetic
Felt Paper
The most common type of underlayment used in residential applications is black felt paper. Felt underlayment is made from either organic or fiberglass substrate. This material comes in 2 thicknesses, 15 and 30 pound. 30 pound is thicker and will protect the roof longer than 15 pound if it should somehow become exposed to weather.
Rubberized Asphalt (Ice and water shield)
Rubberized asphalt underlay has an adhesive on the back making it self-adhering. The rubber-like qualities of this underlayment make it seal well around nails, roof edges and penetrations etc.
When an ice & water shield is used, every nail on your roof becomes self-sealed and water tight.
Synthetic Underlays
Synthetic underlays are made from polypropylene or polyethylene. The advantages include their low weight and high strength and non-skid surface. Synthetics are resistant to fungal growth and are wrinkle-free, since they don’t absorb moisture, they are considered moisture barriers. They are also very resistant to UV damage and can be left exposed to weather for periods from six months to a year.
All 3 products have distinct advantages and disadvantages and their use in any given application depends on a number of factors.
Let Done Right Roofing help you with your residential roofing needs and we will only provide high-quality service.
Roof Ventilation
Our superior roof ventilation system stops your roof surface from rotting by preventing moisture buildup
Roof Ventilation Done Right
The Done Right Roofing System gives your roof the right amount of airflow to prevent moisture buildup that leads to roof rot. This ventilation will also help regulate the temperature of your home.
Roof Ventilation Basics
Attic ventilation is critically important for two major reasons:
- To reduce the buildup of heat in the attic, which can lead to the formation of ice dams, premature shingle decay, and higher energy costs.
- To reduce attic moisture and condensation. Excess moisture can damage the structure of your roof and house framing, wreck your interior walls and floors, and even create moulds than can affect your health. A minor increase in the moisture content of your insulation can significantly reduce its effectiveness.
Older homes generally lack adequate roof ventilation. Additional ventilation is often required to meet the requirements of the Alberta Building Code and shingle manufacturers’ warranties.
Additional ventilation can be added by using ridge vents or more conventional roof vents. The characteristics of your roof and aesthetics will determine which types of roof vents we install.
We will give you your options during our site visit.
Asphalt Roof Shingles: They’re Not All Equal
We install the best asphalt roof shingles on the market.
Something for Everyone
The final part of a quality roofing system, asphalt roof shingles come with different warranties and in different designs and colours.
Shingle manufacturers all make competitive products but there are variations in price and the suitability of the shingles for various applications.
As with all other elements of your roofing system, the choice depends on your needs and your budget, which we will discuss with you in further detail when we meet.
A Great Job Starts with Starter Shingles
Starter shingles, or a starter strip, have several important functions:
- Provide added wind resistance to the shingles on the eave of your roof
- Help direct water run-off away from the roof
- Ensure a straight start to the rest of the shingling
Proper installation is vital to a quality job and to reduce the chance of wind-created roof failure.
