Welcome to AA-MSA's blog (www.aa-msa.com). This is where AA-MSA's professional inspectors share their inspection findings and experiences. Lets talk about defective roof covering.
When roof covering is cracked and cupped it is often a sign of advanced wear, long term weathering and/or poor ventilation. It's worse when the felt base of the roof shingle is visible. This felt base is the material onto which a mineral surfacing is applied during the manufacture process. When the small areas of the felt base become visible, leakage is imminent. The roof covering should have been replaced sooner and the roof sheathing may already have sustained moisture damage.
When a roof has 2 or more layers of shingles, under current building codes, most municipalities require all layers of roof shingles be removed prior to installing new roof covering. If there is no plywood under the old roof covering, it too, must be installed when the new roof covering is installed.
Most roof covering manufacturers require attic ventilation in order for their warranty to be valid. According to industry experts (Ask the Expert Seminars 800-air-vent), for an attic ventilation system to perform properly, it needs a balance of both intake (typically at the lowest point in the attic such as the exterior soffits) and exhaust (such as a ridge vent). At least 1/2, if not more of the total required net free area needed for proper ventilation should be in the intake area (soffits if possible). Recommend adding attic ventilation. Roof covering will last longer and homes are cooler in the summer when attic ventilation is correct.
Maintenance tip: Areas where flashing (asphalt or metal) may have been used as a sealant (around plumbing vent extensions/boots and where dormers and roof surfaces intersect, etc.) will require periodic inspection and application of the flashing cement. Recommend monitoring these areas for evidence of cracks and discoloration.
For these and more tips on how to identify old roof covering, contact AA-MSA, Inc by calling 1-800-888-8107 x301 or 303.
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We can just hope that, despite all these policies, people with leaky roofs can weather the damage before the rainy season gets to them first. It might take them sometime, considering they have to comply with these policies, but all these steps are necessary to avoid another incident.
ReplyDelete- Richard Boles