Roof Doctor, Inc.
"Specializing in STOPPING leaks"
Serving the Greater Kansas City Area
YOUR COMPLETE ROOF REPAIR SERVICE!
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816-356-5463
Spot Replacement on Wood and Composition Roofs
With any wood roof that has an approximate age of 8 to 12 years, signs of needed repairs will become evident. Roof Doctor, Inc. recommends an annual roof inspection. If you have not had a recent inspection, it would be advisable.
Additionally, during the initial roof inspection, Roof Doctor, Inc. will always check the integrity of sewer vent pipes, storm collars on furnace flues, and if applicable, chimney counter flashings, as these are areas of most concern with a roof that is 8 to 12 years old. In our many years of experience, and the thousands of roof repairs we have completed, when we see a roof that is in need of spot replacement or a re-ridge, we generally find at this time it is in your best interest financially to go ahead and address any of these repairs as we are already on the roof and you will not have to make another repair call.
Hand Split Wood Cedar Shake (3/8", 1/2", or 3/4" width):
In most cases the southern exposures of a roof field are the hottest areas and have taken in more damaging effects of the sun. This will produce areas of exposed felt paper where shakes have worn thin or have cracked. This is a major concern because now the black exposed felt paper under the shinbgles will badly weather with the sun's direct contact and deteriorate and split. Holes will now develop and water WILL enter your attic. New 18" 30lb. felt paper will be laced in with the existing felt paper at these critical areas before the new shake shingles are installed.
IMPORTANT: With a spot replacement, the materials needed are measured in bundles, or what is called a "square" which is a 10'x10' range, if all of the shake shingles are used in one spot. Roof Doctor, Inc. will assess the worst areas of exposed felt paper, missing shakes, most deteriorated shakes, up to a particular amount. Keeping cost in perspective is our target, as we want to fix your critical issues and your biggest concerns.
The bonus of having a wood roof is that when the shingles are wet, they will swell and fill small gaps or voids to help keep some of the rain water intake from traveling into the attic space. Also, as these shingles age, they are susceptible to curling. Minor curling of the shingles is not much of a problem because as they get wet, they will release and lay down. However, if the wood shingles become seriously curled, they are much more of a target to be snapped off by high winds and leave voids for leakage and rodent entry.
16" Wood Cedar Shingles:
As with hand split wood cedar shakes, 16" wood cedar shingles also have the sun exposure issues. The difference in this type of shingle is that the roof requires no felt paper because this type of roofing system needs to breathe.
These shingles are installed on a 5" exposure, as where hand split wood cedar shakes are installed on a 10" exposure. The concern is that where these shingles adjoin each other, and over time weather, they can split vertically. If three or more wood shingles split consecutively above each other, you now have a DIRECT leak through the spaced sheeting (1"x4" boards) into the attic space.
If any of these concerns exist, the best way to address them is literally to go through the attic on a bright sunny day when the sun is at its highest point and cut the wood shingles down into 16" individual slivers so they can be poked through the roof. Areas of target for this would be where the most light is showing through during inspection from inside the attic. Obviously, this takes far more time to properly perform this type of inspection and repair, however this is the most thorough way to target leaks.
*** For all wood roof products, crown peak seam pieces, known as ridge caps, ABSOLUTELY will need replaced one time throughout the life of the roof. In many cases depending upon the age of the roof, the ridge cap may still be in fairly good shape but may become loose. Further, loose pieces of the ridge cap may blow off of your roof.
Frequently a repair can be done in this case where every piece is replaced and/or re-nailed, lacing new ridge cap in with the existing ridge cap. In a roof inspection done prior to any work, an evaluation is completed to assess the worst areas in need of repair to keep cost in perspective in lieu of entire ridge cap replacement. Each roof is unique to itself and it is what it is, meaning an inspection from Roof Doctor, Inc. will be tailored to your unique situation.
Composition Shingles:
The protective nature of paper and fiberglass asphalt shingles primarily comes from the long-chain petroleum hydrocarbons, while wood shingles are protected by natural oils in the cellulose structure. Over time in the hot sun, these oils soften and when rain falls the oils are gradually washed out of the shingles. During rain, more water is channeled along eaves and complex rooflines, and these are subsequently more prone to erosion than other areas.
Eventually the loss of the oils causes asphalt shingle fibers to shrink and wood shingles to rot, exposing the nail heads under the shingles. Once the nail heads are exposed, water running down the roof can seep into the building around the nail shank, resulting in rotting of underlying roof building materials and causing moisture damage to ceilings and paint inside.
Generally, there is not too much maintenance needed for these types of shingles unless there is damage from wind or hail. As with wood roofs, the southern exposure of the roof will experience the first signs of deterioration, and in many cases damaged areas can be contained and replaced. If buckeling or lifted decking develops, this will require spot replacement.