Your Roof is a System. Should You Repair It or Install a New Roof?

Your roof is a complete system with interconnected parts and that’s important to know if you’re wondering if you should install a new roof or get your roof repaired.

Let’s find out why.

a roofer laying tile on the roof

What makes a roof … a roof?

Many homeowners and commercial building owners in the San Gabriel Valley think you lay down plywood, roll on underlayment and nail down shingles or tile. And, voila, a roof!

Not quite. Here are the parts that make a roof a system:

Part 1. What most people know

Decking –typically plywood
Underlayment—Therma Sheet reflects much of the sun’s damaging rays
Asphalt shingles or tile
Ridge caps and ridge ventilation to let heat flow up and out and preventing rain from entering.

Part 2. Air Circulation

Ventilation – an attic fan and, or, low profile vents to circulate the air. This reduces the roof’s temperature in the summer, keeps the attic cool, and keeps the attic dry in the winter.

Attic insulation—proper insulation reduces heat transference so your home is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Part 3. Little Things

Special areas like the roof’s valleys or low slope areas need specialty materials and need to be crafted with care and proper techniques to prevent leaking.

Flashing around protrusions and drip edge can be just as important in preventing leaks and keeping a roof healthy.

Key questions

Do you need a new roof installed or a roof repair?

Attic with mineral wool insulation; photo by Patryk_Kosmider, Deposit Photos

Answer that important question with other key questions like the following 4 questions:

Do you notice anything unusual about the exterior of your roof like curled asphalt shingles, missing shingles, fading tile, or torn underlayment beneath a tile roof?
When high winds come, do you see shingles in your yard?
Obviously, do you notice any interior leaks or do you see water spots in your attic?
Do you plan on selling your home or building soon or staying in it for years to come?

Answering, “yes” doesn’t automatically mean you need a new roof installed but Thomas Garvey of Garvey Roofing would like to know what your goals are as a homeowner or commercial building owner.

Summary

The older your roof is, the more signs it shows of aging, and the longer you plan to stay in your home or own your building then the more you may likely benefit from a newly installed roof.

For a complete roof inspection, call Garvey Roofing. Its main office is in Monrovia and Thomas Garvey and his team work throughout the SGV from Baldwin Park and Arcadia to Alhambra, Temple City, and every place in between.

Thomas Garvey started roofing as a teen. He knows building science and has been roofing for over 30 years on every type of roof from historic homes and buildings to commercial buildings and contemporary homes.

Garvey Roofing has four licenses including fire prevention and general contracting.