Frequently Asked Questions

All contractors are not created equal. Integrity Roofing LLC believes in honesty, integrity, and above all else make sure you, the homeowner is completely satisfied. It is important to know exactly what you are getting when dealing with a roofing contractor, it is equally important to have an understanding of what your needs are as a homeowner. Explore our comprehensive FAQs to find answers to all your roofing queries.

Why Us

Ice & Water Membrane Underlayment, Where Does It Go?

Roof Ice & Water Membrane

The purpose of ice and water underlayment is to stop water from passing through the roof system into a home. Ice and water membrane is needed most to address ice damming issues during the winter.

Roof Ice Damming

Ice can build-up on a roof slope, usually at the unheated area at the eaves, forming an ice dam that prevents water from draining off the roof. In turn, this water can creep up under the shingles causing a roof leak. Ice and water membrane must be installed far enough up the slope to cover the first few feet of heated space.

Installing Ice & Water Membrane Underlayment

Ice and water membrane should be installed at least six feet up the slope of the roof from the eaves, in all valley areas, and around any heat source such as a skylight, chimneystack, or flange. Ice and water membrane is a good investment and strongly recommended on roof rafters longer than twenty-five feet, on roof pitches below 4/12, and above cathedral ceilings.

I Have Streaks On My Roof?

Streaks or Discoloration on Roof

Approximately five years after installation roofs can begin to show signs of dark streaks. The dark streaks usually appear on the north-facing slope of the roof and are mistaken for dirt or granule loss. These streaks are commonly caused by algae growth that is prominent in areas of the roof that receive less sunlight.

Moisture & Algae

Roof slopes that are shaded or receive little sunlight will hold moisture for a longer period of time which can result in algae growth. The discoloration or streaking is an aesthetic concern and does not affect the life of the roof system or its waterproofing characteristics.

Zinc strips can be added to a ridge of a roof to prevent algae from forming. Various solutions can be used to remove algae growth, although this is a temporary solution, as it will grow back.

Use Caution When Cleaning

It is important to use extreme care when attempting to remove discoloration as many harsh treatments or power washing can harm your roof system and result in granule loss.

What Is Flashing?

There are a lot of roofing blogs out there that tell homeowners to check their flashing for damage regularly, but not a lot of them explain what exactly flashing is: it’s the material that’s used over joints in roof construction. It functions as an added layer of protection that keeps water from seeping into vulnerable areas like the valleys in your roof, the area around pipes and your chimney, and around any skylights. Most flashing is made out of aluminum or galvanized steel. From time to time it can come loose or deteriorate at a faster rate, allowing leaks to form in those vulnerable areas.

Luckily, flashing problems are an easy fix, so long as you catch them quickly. Typically you can just add new flashing, or secure the old flashing back down with a roofing adhesive. This is something handy homeowners might be able to do on their own, but if you’re unsure about working on the roof, it’s best to save yourself the stress and just call a professional. Flashing fixes are quick and inexpensive.

Can We Add A Second Layer Of Shingles Over An Existing Layer?

Although the benefits of leaving your old shingles are obvious (cheaper, much less labor, faster), unless the preliminary roof is a single, problem-free layer, you could be setting yourself up for trouble.

You should take off the old roof if any of the following are true:

Inspection indicates it is in terrible shape—shingles are curled, mossy, split, etc.

The decking is sagging, rotting or deteriorating.

The new roof is of a lighter material than the original roof. If you put light-weight shingles over heavyweight shingles, all of the old bumps and ridges from the original roof will still show.

Your roof already has more than one layer.

At Integrity Roofing, LLC, we do not do recovers, we believe removing the old shingles and underlayment is necessary to inspect the roof decking. This imperative to assure there are no underlying issues that would cause the new roof to leak.

Can I Do The Work Myself?

Most roofing work should not be a homemade project. Professional roofing contractors are skilled to safely & correctly repair or replace a roof.

Do-it-yourself can damage a roof with unsuitable roofing strategies and can harm themselves by way of falling through the roof or even falling off the roof.

A do-it-yourself roofing task more often than not results in extra prices and headaches for the owner of a house in the long run.

Does My Roof Need To Be Replaced?

Composition or asphalt shingles typically wear in a discreet way. Granules start coming off leaving black patches showing. Shingles also start to curl at the ends.

In general, some people assume if a roof leaks they need to replace it. Unless it's an older roof, leaks can normally be repaired.With leaking in older roofs and/or if your roof has a leak in more than one area, this can imply trouble.

How Can I Spot A Failing Roof?

When you’re trying to determine how healthy your roof is, the first thing to note is its age. An asphalt roof that’s older than 20 years is overdue for replacement. This is the easiest way to get ahead of the damages that go along with an aging roof, but younger roofs can develop problems too, which is why it’s good to inspect your roof at least twice a year.

Inspection is easy since you can do it from the ground with a good pair of binoculars. Look for shingles that are curling, areas where they’ve cracked or maybe gone missing, or shingles that are missing the granules on top.

Additionally, you might consider heading to the attic on a sunny day to check for holes where light peeks through in the underside of your roof. Problem spots tend to be near the chimney and stack vents.

If your roof is beginning to fail, you’ll see pinholes of sunlight peeking through, indicating that your roof could use a bit of maintenance.

While you’re up there, be sure to check for wet spots in the ceiling. If you see anything suspicious, call a roofer immediately–water damage that has seeped all the way to the attic can be a serious problem.

I Installed A 30 Year Shingle Should Be Good For 30 Years...Right?

Unfortunately, that is not true. The manufacturer's guarantee is a bit deceiving.

The 30-year manufacturer warranty (or 25, 40, or lifetime) is against manufacturer's defects. Most new roof structures are designed to supply beneficial services ranging from 15, 20 even 25 years. Some roof system types such as slate and metal structures can last longer.

The actual roof system life span is determined by way of a wide variety of factors, including local climatic and environmental conditions, suitable building and roof system design, quality and suitability, ideal application and adequate roof maintenance.

Therefore, a 30 yr shingle will most likely not last 30 years. We have seen 30-year shingles need to be changed after 10 years due to extreme climatic and environmental conditions. Roofing product manufacturers provide a range of warranties on their products.

Take a close look at these warranties to see what duties and financial responsibilities manufacturers will assume if their merchandise fails to reach their product's life expectancy.