Roofing Explained
So you are seeing a build up of shingle grit in your gutters and in your rain barrel. What is this stuff and what does it mean? Shingle grit is the sand-like covering applied to composite shingles to protect the underlayment from the sun and weather. When the grit begins washing off in the rain, this is the first sign that a new roof is in your future. The most common way for shingles to become damaged is in a hail storm. When the hail hits the shingles it removes the shingle grit and exposes the underlayment to the weather. Once this happens, water will get under the other shingles, eventually rot the plywood and cause water damage to ceilings and walls.
Given that time is of the essence, finding a reputable roofing contractor to either replace the roof or make repairs to a portion is important. Most Texas counties require a city permit for roof replacement or major repairs. In order for a roofer to pull a permit they must be registered with that particular city. Once the permit is pulled, this will trigger city inspections of the work being done. This step will protect you as the home owner from shoddy workmanship or subpar materials. Minor repairs do not require a permit in most areas.
Once a storm has passed that you believe included hail, reach out to your insurance company. They will pull a report to confirm hail happened on that day. Most insurance companies now use drones to make inspections.
Laminated shingles are the most common roofing used in Texas. This is a shingle that has multiple layers laminated together. These shingles come in 30 year, 40 year and 50 year life spans.
Standing seam roofing is the pretty metal roofing that comes in multiple colors. Due to the expense of this product, you will often see it combined with laminated shingles but it is used for full roofs when cost is not an issue. Standing seam roofing adds value to your home in looks and sturdiness. It is not suited for super low sloped roofing though. Nothing less than a 3:12 pitch. Pitch is the (first number), 3" of rise every (second number) 12" of linear footage.
Most standing seam installers will warranty a standing seam roof for hail damage but it's always good to read your contract to be sure. Standing seam may also afford you a discount on your home owners insurance and is non-combustible. This will afford you a generous amount of protection from external fires.
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) is a single ply rubber and other synthetic materials used for it's wonderful insulation properties. TPO is used when a low pitch is in play and often on commercial buildings.
