Lyons Roofing

Roof Replacement and Repair Contractor Louisville, KY and Indiana

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Louisville: (502) 689-0338
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Start by looking up when it comes to a roof leak.

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I know common sense right. What do we mean by “look up” to find a roof leak? The first step after you find a water stain in your home is to take a walk outside. Make sure in your mind you pinpoint where the leak is inside the home in relation to outside. Look up your roofline; do you see any penetrations, pipes, vents etc.? If not, are there any valleys or walls in that immediate area?

roof leak

 

Take your search for a roof leak a step higher

If you do not see anything from the ground take it a step higher! Literally, climb up in the attic and look around. Find the leak in the attic, looking for any signs of water damage on the roof deck or even wet insulation. Follow the trail up the roof deck and see where it comes from. Is there a penetration or does it run into a valley or wall area?

Give it a shot of water

If neither of those options work for you, try using a helper with a water hose. Spray the areas that you think may be causing the problem, do not spray water directly into any penetrations through the roof! Run water around your pipes or vents, down the shingle line of a wall or straight down the valley. In the case of a brick wall along your roofline if the shingles or flashing does not cause a roof leak in the home, spray the brick. It is a possibility that the brick has become porous over the years and is absorbing the water, causing a leak.

If none of these attempts works, call a local roofing contractor. They have the experience and the know how to find and repair roof leaks quickly and permanently to protect your greatest investment.

Roof Repairs-Roof Leaks

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Realizing that your home has a roof leak can be stressful. Most roof repairs will only take minutes to repair. We will run through the most common roof leaks and repairs over the next few posts to help you protect your most valuable asset.

roof repair

If you have see water stains that extend across the ceiling or running down walls, the cause is more than likely a roof leak. Tracking down the roof leak is the hard part; the roof repairs can be pretty easy.

We will show you some simple tricks for finding and repairing most of the common types of roof leaks. But if you live in the Snow Belt and in the winter you have leaks only on warm or sunny days, you probably have ice dams. Hang in there, we will go over them as well in this series.

Minor leaks can cause major damage

If you have a roof leak, it is better to fix it immediately, even if you’re getting a new roof next year. Over a short time, small roof leaks can become big problems, such as mold, rotted framing or sheathing, destroyed insulation and damaged ceilings.

roof leak

The Lyons Roofing Company will repair roofs in Louisville, Kentucky. Clarksville, New Albany, Sellersburg and Jeffersonville Indiana. If you notice a roof leak and you do not feel comfortable fixing it yourself, call right away. Letting it go will only cause more damage and bigger problems down the road.

Roof Leak at Pitch change

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Do you have a pitch change on your roof? Do you have a nagging leak you just cannot figure out in that same area?

What is a pitch change?

pitch change

First off, what exactly is a pitch change? Most commonly, found on homes that have an extended front porch tying into their main home. It can be found on normal homes that have been built with dimension in order to break up the look of a straight home.

 

So how exactly can a pitch change create problems? Is it something that can be fixed in a DIY situation or something a professional contractor should address?

Problem areas in pitch change

Pitch changes do create an interesting situation. In areas that receive a fair amount of snow or long cold spells are at high risk of ice damns forming in areas of pitch changes. This can allow water to back up and work its way behind shingles and coming into your home.

 

Additionally, during the installation of your roof if nails are installed right in the middle of the pitch change can create major problems.

What to do?

So how as a homeowner can you try to fix this yourself? Well there is no easy way to as a homeowner. This issue should be address one by a professional contractor and even better if addressed during the original installation.

 

If you are installing the roof as a homeowner or having a contractor install the roof then its best to make sure you request an Owens Corning ice and water shield or similar product, in the pitch change in addition to all valleys. Make sure there are no nails nailed directly in the center of the pitch change.

replacement pitch change

Those seem like simple enough but a major issue that most people miss and even some contractors miss is “short shingling” the lower slope. If the slope is below a 2/12 pitch then an asphalt shingle system is out of the question, you must go with a system designed for low slopes.

 

Extra Protection

Another extra layer of protection that some companies install and we at the Lyons Roofing Company recommend is for any low slope system from 2/12 to a 4/12 pitch we install Owens Corning Ice and Water shield on the entire section.

 

As a homeowner or a do it yourselfer make sure you address these areas during the installation. If not you will have years and years of headaches.

 

Roof Underlayment?

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So why do you need a roof underlayment? Whether it be felt, tar paper or a newer underlayment system like Rhino. Not only should a consumer know the purpose of the roof underlayment, but also the best type for their home or business.

You would think all roof underlayment is the same. you would be right for the most part, but wrong just a little bit.

Types of Roof Underlayment

  • Tar paper
    Tar paper is made exactly how it sounds, it is a heavy duty paper impregnated with tar to produce a solid underlayment product for your roofing system.

     

  • Roof Felt
    Roofing felt is constructed in a very similar way to tar paper. This is a heavy duty paper that is impregnated with asphalt vs. tar.

     

  • Synthetic Underlayment (Rhino)
    Synthetic underlayment, just making a huge move on to the home improvement scene is a woven synthetic product. (almost like those sweaters grandma used to make, just better looking, sorry grandma).

So what is the best type of underlayment for your home and why do you need it?

Now in the opinion of Lyons Roofing Co. Synthetic is the way to go. Synthetic underlayment like Rhino or Tiger Paw, is leaps and above the old tar and felt papers of the old days. Don’t get me wrong, the old tar and felt papers are very reliable products and will protect your roof for years to come. rhino roof underlayment

Have you ever paid attention to your own roof replacement. Or how about seen a new construction home with torn and blown off felt paper. What about seeing a roofing contractor walking on the felt and it ripping under his feet? Synthetic underlayment provides not only a safer work surface but also a more durable one. No more worrying about it blowing off if a little wind kicks up or tearing under the feet of a contractor taking his afternoon stroll across your open roof.

So what is the purpose of underlayment, why do you need it?

Any type of underlayment you choose for your home or business will be beneficial. This is the first step of a new roof and a very important one. Underlayment provide the first basic layer of protection for your home. Underlayment, even though nailed through provide a basic barrier for weather and moisture. Hence the importance. If wind blows rain under your shingles, then a solid underlayment will help funnel water down your slope and if all goes well out of your gutter or to a point where the water will stop and dry when the sun comes out.

So yes, felt is a very important sub surface of your roof. If at all possible make sure you have it as a good starting point. There are other options for protection like an ice and water shield, which we will address at a later time.

Just remember, you want and need a good roof underlayment product and make sure it covers all of the gaps and isn’t ripped or torn in big sections. its not waterproofing, but it is water resistance.

Roof Question: Roof Pitch

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We at Lyons Roofing Company hope this roof question and answer will help you gain the knowledge you need to make the right decision when it comes to your roof replacement or repair.

Roof Question:

Everything being the same, shingle brand, vents and climate- which roof will last the longest: one with a steep pitch or one with a shallow pitch? 

steep roof

You would think common sense would prevail in this situation, you think hey a steep hillside erodes faster than a low slope, so you would think that roof shingles would wear out more quickly on a steeply sloped roof.

Really its not that cut and dry, it is difficult to say with so many other factors leading to the failure of a roof system. On one hand you could say, a steep roof is less likely to collect leaves and debris that hold moisture against the shingles and invite the growth of moss and algae.

On the other hand, that same roof in a wide-open un-shaded area facing due south will take the full brunt of the sun, which is hard on any roof, regardless of the amount of ventilation.

So, what is the answer to which roof will last the longest?

There is no answer! Wait, then how is this a good question to ask? Nobody said it was, just a common question! You know the old saying, the only dumb question is one that isn’t asked.

As a homeowner, you have to look at a few other factors other than pitch that will have a greater impact on asphalt roof longevity.

Major Impacts on roof longevity

  • Poor installation

poor patch work

  • The side facing your worst weather typically takes a bigger beating than your leeward side.
  • Proper roof and attic ventilation.
  • Leaves, branches and other debris left on your roof for long periods of time.
  • Storms (Hail, Wind, Etc.)hail damaged roof
  • If you have, any roofing question related to the topic above please feel free to email or call Lyons Roofing Company and we will be more than happy to answer the question quickly.