A Better Roof Install

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When you choose a starter shingle, look at what size it is. Most laminated shingles will have a reveal from 5.5" to 6". If you pick a small starter that is 6.5", you run the risk of having leaks and rot. This will happen at the eave of the roof and by the time you notice the soffit and fascia could be damaged as well. The small starter shingles leave .5" to 1" of coverage. Dirt, organics can build up on the lead edge of the shingle and when it does the water goes backwards. That small area of overlap isn't enough. I get to see the results of these short starters when we pull the roof off and the dirt line is clearly over the headlap. Texas Discount Roofing highly suggest you only install 9-10" minimum headlap starter shingles. Texas Discount Roofing only installs 10" starters to prevent any backflow when Texas dirt builds up on the roof.

For the everyday shingle, or metal roof install, Ice and watershield has to be part of your sundries. Texas Discount Roofing has used every brand you can think of and by far there is a difference. I'm not saying the other competitors are bad, they just don't meet our standard of quality. We love GAF's Stormguard. It is a smooth laying product that is thick and provides that extra layer of protection that some of the others fall short. The blue color makes it cooler to work with and the surface design gives us safe traction. It's used around all the penetrations, walls, valleys and chimneys. I'm not stuck on any manufacturer, but I will tell you when a product is the best.

GAF stormguard is our product when we have a slope that is below manufacturers standards. Any low slope roofs can have leak issues. Not that the shingles aren't doing their job, it's that they can't do their job on anything below 3/12 slope. This standard has been raised to 4/12 in the last 10yrs. These low slopes allow water to flow sideways, eventually getting between the butt joints of the shingle. Over time water sits on the nails and they begin to rust out the electrogalvanized fasteners. Once the fastener is gone, water is flowing thru the hole. Ice and watershield isn't a guarantee against leaks on low slopes. Water can still go between the butt joints. Once we install the GAF Stormguard, the shingles get installed, but we have to deviate from manufacturer installation of fasteners. We have found that if we adjust our install method the chances of leaks go way down. Work with what you have and solve the problem.

All your plumbing, vent hoods, bath vents, gas vents, service vents and ventilation should be installed according to code. Every vent has to meet the latest standards for inspection codes. Gas vents must be Type "B". Dryer,vent hood and bath vents must contain a damper on the roof. 6' and 8" star vents are not considered code for propane, or natural gas. You will fail that inspection every time. Because the correct vent wasn't there when the home was built, isn't an excuse for not making it right. With all of that said, these are the most common areas of leaks. Some of these sundries will even have the word "self flashing" written on them. Don't count on it. Always use an ice and watershield along with sealant to install any roof penetration. These are 90% of the leak calls that come in. By the time they show up in the house, the OSB or plywood has gotten soft to the point it has to be removed to do a proper repair. Texas Discount Roofing focuses on these penetrations and makes sure they are sealed.

So many synthetic underlayments on the market that I really couldn't choose one over another. I have used a dozen, or more and what I fall back on is the one that gives the installer the best grip and doesn't stretch much in the heat. Far better than the days of organic felt paper. The synthetics have a higher water permeance rating compared to felt. The chances of wrinkles during heavy dew are gone. The most popular aspect of synthetics is one they are installed, the structure is waterproof. Makes it great when you know rain is in the forecast, but the project has to get done.

Flashing can refer to so many different things. When we flash something it's because shingles and watershield aren't enough. We can buy all our step shingles and counter flashings, but sometimes we have to take the metal brake and make our own custom flashings. This is what sets us apart from the average roofer. We have seen over 30yrs of installing roofs and we know what works and what doesn't. If it needs a reglet or drive-it nails, we can do it.

This is the typical stuff we see. Property owners pay for quality and get this. Flashing is your first line of defense against a leak. Make sure you get a company that can install your flashings properly. Texas Discount Roofing is the company to do just that.