Free Estimate Roof Installation Excellence in Roofing Installation Since 1986 Can a roofing company help me decide if it’s time to replace my roof? With hurricanes, tornadoes, and other severe weather bringing strong winds to large swaths of North Carolina and potentially severe, seasonal weather just around the corner, it’s a good time to consider whether your roof needs to be repaired or replaced. Many homeowners wait to call a roofer until after they see leaks. If you wait too long though, you could end up with unnecessary and easily avoidable damage to other areas of your home, which may not be covered by homeowners insurance. So it’s a good idea to have a roofer you trust to inspect your roof looking for any signs of future issues and to perform preventative maintenance whenever possible. Prompt & Affordable Roof Installation Service When your roofing is in poor shape and cannot be re-roofed, a roof replacement is required. This involves a complete tear-off of shingles and other layers, right down to the wood deck. Sometimes, the wood decking may need to be removed and replaced as well, depending on the amount of damage and if it is broken or rotted. After new wood decking is installed, new felt paper and shingles will be added. A roof replacement can be a labor-intensive job, which is why you should rely on the professionals at Chief Roofing Inc., serving the Durham, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, and surrounding NC areas. When You Should Replace Your Roof Here are some tips to help figure out when it’s time for a new roof: ROOF AGE How old is your existing roof? Depending on the type of roofing materials used to construct your current roof, age may be the biggest factor in determining when replacement is needed. Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material found in the southeast. Experts agree that a properly installed asphalt roof will last anywhere from 20 to 25 years. As a roof ages, asphalt shingles dry out becoming more brittle and more likely to detach during strong winds or heavy rainfall. Concrete, slate, or metal shingles, which last a bit longer, might be worth considering for your next roof. Talk with a trusted roofing company about your options. MISSING SHINGLES Composed of alternating levels of fabric that carry hot polymer-modified bitumen rolled out over the roof (similar to sod you might have laid down around your property). If you lost shingles during the latest storm, this is a good sign that patching up the current roof is not a safe, long-term solution. \More than a few shingles blowing off could be an indication that your roof is failing. Asphalt shingles are composed of a base material, like a heavy-duty felt mat, that gives the shingle strength; an asphalt top; and surfacing materials, usually in the form of mineral granules. Most shingles have three tabs with a factory-applied adhesive that seals each row of shingles to the next row. When shingles blow off of roofs, sometimes the tabs blow off. If tabs are missing, sealing the roof properly becomes difficult and could result in additional leaks down the road. SHINGLES CURLING Besides missing shingles, curling or buckling shingles are another sign that an old roof is on its last legs. Even if you haven’t lost shingles, shingles that are not adhering well to each other can leave you just as vulnerable to leaks. You are most likely to see signs of curling shingles especially on the slopes of your home that receive the most direct sunlight. Additionally, this could be a sign of an improperly installed roof or defective shingles. If you suspect this to be the case, contact a licensed roof contractor to figure out if you’re eligible for a partial or full refund. ROOF SEAMS Another place to check for leaks and other issues is around the seams of your roof, also referred to as flashings. The climate here in the southeast is tough on roofs because of our high humidity and drastic temperature fluctuations. It is not uncommon for our temperatures to fluctuate 60 degrees in a 12-hour time period. These drastic changes create additional stress on a roof. Because of this, roofing contractors often recommend lining roof valleys with sheet metal before placing the shingles on top. These seams are one of the most important parts of your roof since rain and snow flow down these valleys into the gutters. If there are problems with your roof, they are likely to start at the seams. GUTTER INSPECTION Another sign that you might be in the market for a new roof is when your shingles lose a lot of surface granules. These granules, which are the consistency of sand or tiny gravel, protect the roof from UV rays and improve fire resistance. Generally, you’ll see the granules collecting in your gutters if your shingles are nearing the end of their life cycles. You may also notice dark streaks and discoloration on different parts of your roof because the top layer of your shingles has broken down exposing more of the asphalt underneath. If you notice this condition and you are unsure it warrants roof replacement, please contact a roofing company to help you preserve the value of your home. Roof Installation You Can Depend On The installation of your roofing system is the most vital aspect when deciding which roofing contractor to hire. At Chief Roofing Inc, our highest priority is to install products to manufacturer specifications. Here are the key aspects of every high-quality roofing system we install. 1. ROOF DECK PROTECTION A high-quality synthetic roof felt is very important for protecting your roof deck. This protective layer is made up of the materials that are placed under the roofing shingles, offering a lighter, water and radiation-resistant barrier for the roof deck. These materials make for a more efficient water barrier without the factoring of mass, meaning that the sheets are significantly thinner and lighter compared to felt paper roofing underlayment. 2. LEAK BARRIERS The most common type of leak barrier is called ice and water shield. Used under standard asphalt shingles, an ice and water shield will effectively resist water penetration in rainy or wintry weather. We use it mostly around vents, chimneys, skylights and valleys. The use of these leak barriers separates the superior roofing contractor from the average roofer. We use leak barriers anywhere that water tends to collect and flow as an extra step in the roofing process. This ensures a leak-free roof for many years. 3. STARTER STRIP SHINGLES One of the most common sources of failure in a roof system is the improper installation of starter shingles. This is one of the most skipped accessories on a roof system because homeowners tend to not know what starter strip shingles are and how important they are for a complete roofing system. The truth is, the starter course is very important, especially for wind resistance. Starter strip shingles are the first line of defense against wind uplift along the edges of a roof. Our outstanding roofing team never skips this step! 4. PROPER SHINGLE NAILING Nailing errors, such as under-driven or angled nails, can cause future problems with your shingles: everything from premature failure and blistering to blow-offs. Nail type, location, length, angle, and force of application are all critical to installing shingles. Every Chief Roofing team member takes their time when installing nails to ensure the job is done correctly. 5. PROPER VALLEY INSTALLATION We are constantly fixing old roofs all over the Triangle. We have found over the years that valleys prematurely fail due to excessive water and debris but also from poor installation. Valleys are one of the areas of roofing that takes careful planning and time to install correctly. Valleys are a prime leak area, so it’s important to be precise during installation. All of our installers are properly trained by the manufacturers to install exactly to their standards. 6. FLASHING INSTALLATION Flashing is the most often used word in the roofing world. Wherever surfaces intersect on a roof, there is a chance of water seepage. Flashing is highly recommended for waterproofing these critical areas of your roof. Flashing helps direct the flow of water around openings. Most people reuse old flashing and do not take the proper steps to make sure that it is reusable. We replace all bad flashings on every new roofing system. 7. VENTILATION/RIDGE CAP Proper ventilation is critical for helping to reduce hot and moist air in your attic space that can damage your possessions, increase your energy costs, and potentially reduce the longevity of your roofing system. Installing ridge vents requires working on some of the highest parts of your roof—the ridges. At Chief Roofing, we always utilize proper safety equipment to prevent falls or injury when installing ridge vents on your roof. 8. JOB SITE CLEANLINESS As professional roofing contractors, we develop specialized techniques and equipment for keeping the job site clean. Some of the things we do to ensure everything goes smoothly are to shelter and protect bushes and plants that might be affected by material dropping from the roof, and to use a tarp to catch as much material as possible. The last thing we do is run a magnet over the ‘drop zone’ to collect any nails that might have escaped. We strive to leave every place a little better than we found it. Address 510 Cornerstone Court Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone 919-732-5028 Hours Monday – Friday: 8AM – 5PM Saturday – Sunday: Closed Get a Free Quote Whether you need a bid on your home or a commercial project, start with your free roof evaluation Chief Roofing. © 2021 Chief Roofing, All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | View Accessibility Menu | Accessibility Statement | Site by Neon Canvas