Roof Repair - pictures - what am I in for?

[Paul]

Hi All,

I'm in a 10 year old brick two-story in Toronto, Canada. The sunward side of my roof looks pretty bad to me, while the shaded side is in perfect condition. Here is a link to some pictures of the problem;

I've heard that my roof needs better ventalation - any substance to this, or is it basically UV damage?

Most importantly, what sort of stance do I take with repairman (I fix alot of things, but I don't think I want to do this one!). Do I;

- need a new roof (sunny side only)

- just need some repair where the shingles are worn, and perhaps some new vents?

I just want to know what I'm talking about before engaging any repairmen. Thanks!

[hallerb]

Add vents and replace entire roof.

next one should last at least 25 years........

why muck around fixing a little here and there when replacement is in order.

havingb a matching roof is advantage if you sell.........

it avioids leaks and such which can do gig bucks in damage espically things like mold

just replace the entire roof

[Todd H.]

Damn...that's a _lot_ of curling. That roof looks like shit.

It's a combination of age, and inadequate ventilation will make them wear quicker than otherwise. That's a horrible looking 10 year old roof. Ventilation does make a big difference in roof life. VEntilation also keeps moisture down in the attic, and keeps your roof cold in the winter like it should be which prevents ice damns. Sofffit ventilation is easy and actually kinda fun to install. You probably do need more ventilation, but that won't fix those shingles now.

LOL. You don't have a few shingles that are worn I'm afraid. And if you're having folks out with rakes and dumpsters and such, you certainly should do the whole roof. If any of those pictures are "the good side" of your roof, I'm afraid to say they are shot too. The curling on those pics is really horrendous. Do the whole roof. Get several quotes. In Toronto, ask about ice guard. In Chicago, it's become a standard thing to do. With how bad those current shingles are, doing a nail over 2nd layer probably isn't an option and they'll have to do a tearoff anyway. The good news is that with a tearoff, getting iceguard hardly costs anything additional.

Best Regards,

-- Todd H.

[m Ransley]

Is the attic unfinished and vented, what is the color and condition of the beams. From that type of damage it is something I would expect of an unvented cathedral ceiling. What brand and grade of shingles were used, they look bad.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Not enough vent. ruined the shingles. Also what is the color of shingles? Dark ones absorb more heat for sure.

[kevin]

Wow. How you ever checked how hot your attic gets? My house has pretty much zilch for ventilation, and gets very hot in the summer, and my roof shingles aren't nearly that bad after 10 years. Might these be junk shingles to begin with, in combo with the lack of ventilation?

-Kevin

[trader4]

They are the worst I've ever seen for a 10 year old roof. I've seen

25+ year old ones that look much better. I agree with the advice to do the whole roof. Be sure to contract for removal of the existing material. I would normally recommend that anyway, but I would consider it absolutely necessary in this case. It will also allow for full inspection of the sheathing, which I would want for a roof that is this bad.

I'd inspect inside the attic for problems too. If the ventilation is non-existent, you may find other problems as well. And first priority is getting the attic fully ventilated.

[Goedjn]

I'd say that roof is a good candidate for non-asphalt roofing of some sort. Slate, or fiberglass/concrete, or something.

has some interesting stuff, or maybe integral photovoltaic panels.

[IGot2P]

Before you do anything check and see if the singles were made by Certainteed. They had a major problem from about 1992 through 1997 with their shingles curling on the corners. If they were made by Certainteed just point your browser to

and start the roofing claim process. There is also a class action lawsuit against them that you might want to jump into.

Don

[Norminn]

Possibly both. Your roof pretty much tells the story. There is a formula for calculating attic ventilation. One sq. ft. of vent for each

300 sq. ft. of attic floor? You can do a google search to find more information.

Do your photos show the "good" side? Looks like you need a tearoff and reroof. Pick you favorite brand of roofing - GAF, Certainteed, etc. - then find the company's website and look at installation instructions. They will tell you what underlayment, how many nails, etc. Look at the underside of the roof for signs of water leaks or rotted deck. If you have fascia that needs repair, get it done before the new roof.

If you don't know products or contractors in your area, talk to friends and neighbors who have had good results that have lasted.

Be sure, when you get bids, that they specify the products, costs, time frame, disposal, release of lien (if they do that up there), and cleanup. Don't be surprised if a shingle blows off or something leaks. Even good roofers have trouble, and this is where good references are critical - do they respond appropriately when things go wrong.

[Fred Wilson]

Not that I am an expert by any measure but I would guess it would be money best spent to replace the whole roof.

Myself and the neighbors got really good discounts for getting our roofs done at the same time. It turned out that all of us had been getting estimates. I saw a roofing truck at my neighbor and asked the guy to come give me an estimate.

I asked what would be in it for all of us if we got all the roofs done by him. He said he would give us all a discount. Resulted in a $1,000 savings to each of us even compared to the two estimates I already had received.

Paul wrote:

[Paul]

Several folks asked if any of those pictures were from the good side of my roof - the answer is no, the good side basically looks like a brand-new roof. Also, those horrible-looking close-ups are where the damage is worst.

Nope.

Mystifyingly, the shingles are black. So when the sun is high in the summer, they heat the house up. In the winter, when the sun is low, it barely reaches the shingles. Why would people use black shingles in area's where you need air conditioning? Toronto, btw, is not that different from NYC in the summer, weather-wise.

Cathedral ceiling is correct, there are some vents, but apparently not enough!

I will check this out, and recently I've read about roofs made from old tires that last forever. I'd like to be green, but don't have unlimited funds. I think where there are environmentally friendly solutions and non-environmentally friendly solutions they should be taxed to make the friendly choice more attractive.

Excellent. I will check this - I assume I need to look underneath a shingle for a maker?

Finally, thanks to everyone for the advice. It's not what I wanted to hear (I was hoping someone would say Aw, replace a few shingle & add some vents), but I'm a little more educated now then before.

[Paul]

Hi, I posted this topic some time ago & received invaluable advice that I may be eligible for a roofing claim. So - finally got out the ladder & hoped that something would be printed on the back of one of the shingles, however, nothing is printed there.

Checking

I see the process is to send unfolded shingles to the company to them to see if you're eligible. Can do, but it's a bit of a fishing expidition, perhaps my shingles weren't even made by them & I'm throwing good money after bad.

Is there any way to tell, even make an educated guess?

Also, I am open to green idea's like shingles-made-from-tires, or even photo-electric shingles. Let the url's fly! Thanks in advance. Paul

IGot2P wrote: