AT HOME WITH STEPHANIE: How quality roofing systems will fortify your home – Wicked Local Boxford

By Stephanie Vanderbilt

Q: We are in the process of getting estimates for our roof and the various contractors weve spoken with are suggesting different materials as part of the total roof package.We want the best protection. What are the different parts of a quality roofing system?

A: Lets face it. New England weather poses many opportunities for roof damage, from strong winds to freezing rain. As the seasons take their toll on your exterior, fortifying your home with a quality roofing system can help keep the damage to a minimum.

Unfortunately, the bad news is that not all roofs are created equal and a new roof doesnt automatically mean youre protected from the elements. Quality roofing systems are key to fortifying your roof for every season, and this is what you need to look for to get the best protection (and bang for your buck):

The characteristics and ROI of quality roofing systems

Just like any other investment youll make as a homeowner, the quality of your upgrade directly reflects on materials and performance. Roofing replacement can yield an almost 70 percent ROI (return on investment) according to Remodeling Magazines 2017 Cost vs. Value report, making it one of the best home improvement upgrades to consider this year.

However, be careful on the quality of the roofing that you choose. Bottom dollar roofing wont offer much protection for your home when you need it the mostlet alone provide the best return on investment if you decide to sell.

While a lot of homeowners envision their roof as a series of shingles, the truth is that there is a lot more to your roof below the surface. In order to truly fortify your roof, youll need to invest in a system that delivers the ultimate protection.

Six major components of a quality roofing system:

1. Increase ventilation with ridge and soffit vents

Roof ridge vents and soffit vents are designed to help your home breathe and circulate air.

Ventilation is a major characteristic of quality roofing, since lack of airflow can cause moisture buildup in the attic.

Not only do these components help air circulate through your attic, but they also protect your entire roofing structureincluding the shingles and the roof deck. This is achieved by preventing heat and moisture buildup with continuous airflow.

2. Fight against moisture with leak barrier protection

No New England homeowner wants to find wet areas inside of their home. This is why quality roofing must include leak barrier protection that helps keep moisture out of your home.

A quality leak barrier system prevents leaks around the most vulnerable areas of your roof, including the chimney, eaves, side walls, skylights, valleys and more.

Furthermore, a leak barrier system also protects against ice dam formation during the winter months. If your roof was damaged from previous ice dams, a leak barrier system will help prevent that in the future by preventing melting snow and ice from soaking through your shingles and into the roof deck.

3. Combat roof rot with synthetic roof deck protection

Roof rot is a nasty predicament that nearly no homeowner wants to deal with. Signs of roof damage include:

- Missing or broken shingles

- Strange bubbles on your roof

- Shingles that easily crumble away

- Pooling water that lingers after rain

- Curling or buckling shingles

- Missing granules

- Moss or algae growth

Synthetic roof deck protection offers an extra layer of protection between the roof deck and shingles and prolongs the life of your roof. Roof deck protection can block moisture and prevent wind-driven rain from doing damage. In addition, quality synthetic underlayment lays flatter, allowing for shingles that lay flatter and appear more uniform.

4. Increase lifespan of roof starter strip shingles

Quality asphalt shingles can last 50-plus years depending on the manufacturer. You can get more mileage out of your roof by opting for self-adhesive roof starter strip shingles. These are an important component of a quality roofing system since they help prevent shingles from blowing away in winds as strong as 130 miles per hour. If you live in one of the many coastal areas of

New England, youre well aware of how damaging strong winds can be for your home.

5. Opt for lifetime shingles

Speaking of longevity, choosing lifetime shingles will stretch your investment even further.

Lifetime shingles are heavier and more durable than what youll find with run-of-the-mill shingles making this option an exceptional choice with fortifying your roof for good. Want even better news? You can get high quality shingles in a wide range of shades and colors to improve the beauty and curb appeal of your home.

6. Better protection with lifetime ridge cap shingles

The last component of a quality roofing system is lifetime ridge cap shingles. This is the cherry-on-top for quality roofing systems. This component can enhance the beauty of your home while also guarding against leaks at the hips and ridges, the areas of highest stress on the roof.

As we all know, roof damage is costly. A high quality roofing system installed by a top rated roofing contractor will help fortify your home from top to bottom, preventing leaks, roof rot, ice dams and more. For questions on how a system such as a GAF roofing system can better protect your New England home, contact Coastal Windows & Exteriorstoday at questions@mycoastalwindows.com or call 978-7304-0495.

-- Stephanie Vanderbilt, owner of Coastal Windows & Exteriors, is your local home improvement resource with the absolute commitment to the highest ethical standards. This means never engaging in high-pressure sales tactics and always putting homeowner education first. With a passion for education and helping others love the home they live in, Vanderbilt would love to answer any questions that will help you make your home beautiful, warm, safe and energy-efficient. Do you have other home improvement questions Vanderbilt can help answer? Ask her at svanderbilt@mycoastalwindows.com or call at 978-304- 0495.

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AT HOME WITH STEPHANIE: How quality roofing systems will fortify your home - Wicked Local Boxford