Roofing Information

About Designer Shingles

Designer shingles are by far the most fancy, high quality, and expensive asphalt shingles on the market. The designer shingles are very similar to architectural in the fact that they are thicker/heavier which helps them last a lot longer than 3-tab shingles. Another similarity is their visual appeal. One of the main differences between designer shingles and architectural shingles is their shapes. Designer shingles vary in shape. Some designer shingles have square tabs, diamonds, circular tabs, and so forth.

Designer Shingle Warranties

Designer shingles are the most common shingle to have “Lifetime” warranties, which some see as simply an advertising gimmick. Other warranties common are 30, 35, 40, & 50 year warranties.

About Architectural Shingles

Architectural shingles or A.K.A dimensional or laminated shingles are a higher quality of shingle that not only lasts longer but looks better. If you are looking at your roof, it is really obvious if you have architectural shingles vs 3-tab shingles. Architectural shingles are becoming the shingle of choice and are fast replacing the traditional 3-tab shingles.

Benefits of these types of shingles are that they are thicker, which gives them a longer life span, they come in more colors, and raise the value or help maintain the value of the home.

Architectural Shingle Warranties

These types of shingles have 30, 35, 40 and 50 year warranties. Thanks to their construction and thickness these shingles can have a longer manufacturer warranty vs 3-tab shingles.

About 3-Tab Shingles

The three-tab shingle is the most basic asphalt shingle available. In fact, this shingle used to be the only shingle available for homeowners to put on their roofs. The shingle itself is easily distinguishable by its 3 distinct rectangular sections.

3-Tab Shingle Warranties

Three tab shingles generally come with a maximum 25 year warranty. However, there are a few brands out there that sell a 30 year 3-tab shingle.

Roof Brands:
We use the best roofing brands in America
GAF – Certainteed – Owen Corning – Tamko – Atlas

Replace the Shingles or Get a New Roof

Once you know what type of roof you have, understand your shingle warranty, and understand what is wrong with your roof; you can now decide on a solution. You can either choose to replace the damaged or problem causing shingles. If your asphalt shingle roof is beyond repair, then we recommend getting a qualified roofing company like us to give you a shingle roof replacement. We don’t recommend replacing your roof on your own unless you are qualified and experienced.

WPI-8: Windstorm Inspection & Certificate

What exactly is a WPI-8 WINDSTORM CERTIFICATE?

This is a question that many Texas coastal homeowners ask when it is roof replacement time. A WPI-8 Windstorm Certificate is a required document certifying that a new roofing installation in the coastal wind areas has been inspected by and is up to code with the Texas Department of Insurance coastal wind requirements.

This certificate verifies to your insurance company that your new roof was installed to the Texas Department of Insurance coastal wind code requirements. Regardless of what insurance company that you are using, you will need this certification when you replace your roof. If you do not get the Texas State required WPI-8 Certificate, your insurance company will NOT renew your insurance policy when renewal time comes around.

A roof installed to these specifications is to your best interest as well so it is important to be sure to obtain this certificate as it confirms that your new roof was installed to the Texas Department of Insurance coastal wind code and will not blow off as easily in a windstorm situation. Ensuring the roofing contractor does what is needed for this the first time around will cost much less than learning about it from your insurance company long after the job has been completed!

The six nails per shingle goes along with the above, hand-nailing, which requires the addition of more nails per shingle. These additional nails will provide additional security to the shingles making the roofing shingles harder for the wind to pull off and/or tear during a Texas windstorm situation. The installation of six nails per shingle is another one of the requirement for WPI-8 Certificate of Compliance.

Another advanced roofing technique that is a WPI-8 Certificate requirement is the use of an Ice and Water Membrane made from a flexible rubber- like substance that is self adhering.

This advanced sticky membrane product is applied directly to your roof deck, (plywood). The membrane (shield) acts like a second line of defence to catches any water that might make it’s way under flashing, valleys, protrusions and/or the perimeter of your roof surface area. Even if you were to poke a nail through this protective membrane, like Grace Ice & Water Shield, it would seal in right around it providing major protection!

The locations on your roof where we apply this Shield, which are recommended by TDI, (Texas Department of Insurance) is around the entire perimeter of your home, in all of the valleys, along the sidewalls, chimneys and around all of the roof protrusions. These are areas that historically have been prone to leaks and seepage. Installing an added layer of protection, of Ice & Water Shield, will help ensure that wind-driven rain will NOT make its way into your home. Now this provides peace-of-mind for you for your Texas coastal home many years to come!

TorchDown Flat Roofing

The product gets its name from the method of application used to install and adhere it to your home. The part of the material that makes contact with the sheathing underneath is melted with a torch to seal the material. This helps provide a secure hold and creates a waterproof seal that can prevent unwanted leaks (very important for any roof).

If it is installed correctly by a roofing pro, torch down roofing can last a very long time.

Torch down roofs can also provide protection from heat. Adding extra coats of torch down applies a fire-resistant layer to the roof of a home. Torch down roofs also reflect UV rays, which helps keep indoor temperatures down during the summer.

Finally, torch roofing is also free of harmful fumes. Unlike tar, torch down roofing systems do not give off any type of harmful, noxious fumes.

TPO FLAT ROOF

If you are looking to install a single ply roofing membrane that will be energy efficient and are evaluating your options, consider TPO (thermoplastic olefin) roofing.

One of the factors that makes TPO roofing attractive both in residential and commercial construction is its reasonable cost. TPO offers many of the same benefits as PVC roofing, such as hot-air weldable seams and energy efficiency, but at a lower cost.

Many homeowners appreciate the fact that TPO is manufactured to look great on many different types of homes. TPO is available in white, light grey and black reflective color options. Now you do not need to get a white roof to enjoy the energy saving and reflective properties. Latest technologies enable all colors of TPO roofing membranes to be UV resistant and “cool”.

In comparison to other thermoplastic membranes, TPO resists mold growth, dirt accumulation, tears impact and punctures. It is made to be flexible and can allow for a home’s or building’s movement or settling. Reinforced TPO membranes can handle a building’s thermal expansion and contraction more effectively than other single ply roofing products.

In general TPO membranes are manufactured with wider sheets and are light weight. This means that the material is easier to install and there is less seams. Less work and time associated with the installation translates into direct savings for you for the cost of installation.

The energy efficiency of TPO roofing membranes makes them highly attractive to home owners who want to have the benefits of savings on their cooling costs as well as help the environment by reducing the carbon footprint. TPO’s membrane’s white reflective surface exceeds the EPA’s ENERGY STAR requirements and white, tan and gray are listed with the Cool Roof Rating Council. This means that having a TPO roof on your home or building will keep the interior thermally comfortable on hot summer days while reducing your air conditioning costs.