Roofing 101, Part 3: Starter Strip Shingles

In our Roofing 101 series, we’re focusing on each of the seven layers that go into a durable, dependable roofing system. Each product, or layer, has a specific purpose and it’s important to be aware of all of them when considering a roof contractor in the Dane County area. That said, thus far in the series, we’ve covered: Part 1: The Importance of Leak Barriers Part 2: Roof Deck Protection In Part 3 of the series, we’re shifting our attention to starter strip shingles, which help guard your roofing against shingle blow-offs. Before we begin, it’s important to note that if you are looking at an asphalt replacement roof you’ll want to go with a dependable brand that’s known for excellent durability and style. We recommend the GAF brand, and they’re America’s #1 asphalt roofing company. In this article we’ll be looking at the different starter strip products made by GAF, and even if your roofing company doesn’t use these particular GAF products, it’s important to ensure they’re using something of comparable quality and durability,

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Roofing 101, Part 2: Roof Deck Protection

In Part 1 of our Roofing 101 series, we focused on the first layer of defense your roof provides — the leak barrier.   In Part 2 of the series, we shift our attention to roof deck protection, an underlayment that assists in shielding your roof deck from moisture infiltration. In case you’re not familiar, an underlayment sits just above the leak barrier, and underneath the rest of the components of your roof. Underlayments can be made of different materials, including asphalt saturated felt and more modern, synthetic materials.  The significance of roof deck protection is the fact that it covers your roof deck and its sole purpose is to act as a secondary moisture barrier — going a long way in preventing wind-driven rain from breaching your roof and causing damage to your home. That said, the roof deck protection product your roofing contractor uses is a critical component to the roof replacement process. At Legacy Exteriors, our asphalt roofing brand of choice is GAF. Their products are fantastic, and they are also America’s #1

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Roofing 101, Part 1: The Importance of Leak Barriers

In a nutshell, a leak barrier is a product that works to prevent leaks caused by ice dams and wind-driven rain. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms on the edge of a roof — preventing snow from draining from the roof when it melts. Wind-driven rain is rain that blows horizontally, which can find its way in-between shingles. As you might imagine, it’s best to avoid both of these issues, and this is where leak barriers come into play. WHERE SHOULD LEAK BARRIERS BE INSTALLED? Here is a list of the most at-risk points of a roof that can benefit from leak barriers: Rakes Eaves Around the chimney Valleys, which are the places where two angles of a roofline meet Anywhere fasteners are implemented The perimeter edges of roofing Any low slopes on the roof, because run-off can be more slow in these areas In some cases, it might be good to consider placing leak barriers on your entire roof — depending on things like climate and overall roof slope; since

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Telltale Signs that Your Roof is Not Energy Efficient

Your roofing is an extremely important part of your home, which is why it’s so critical to keep it in good working condition.  In our last article, we talked about the 7 steps to keep your roofing healthy. We’re continuing our discussion on roof health here, pointing out the top signs that your roof may be providing poor energy efficiency by losing heat. Let’s jump right in! Where’s the Snow? Snow on the roof during a Wisconsin winter is normal. And although too much snow could damage your roof (which is why it may need to be carefully removed with a snow roof rake, or by a professional), if the snow is melting as soon as it lands on the roof — this can mean that heat from inside the home is escaping through the roof, making the roof warm enough to melt the snow. This typically occurs because of poor insulation. You Notice Damaged or Missing Shingles Well-crafted asphalt roofing is meant to last between 15 to 30 years. That said, eventually shingles start

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Preparing Your Roof for Fall: 7 Steps to Keep Your Roofing Healthy

At Legacy Exteriors, one of our favorite projects is new roof installation. That said, we’re also big proponents of helping Dane County homeowners keep their roofs in tip-top shape, so the life of their current asphalt or metal roofing can be extended. Before we get started with the DIY list of keeping your roof healthy, it’s important to determine whether or not you are actually willing and able to perform the inspection, clean up, maintenance and potential repairs. If you are, read on. If not, consider hiring a local, reputable roofing company to come out and at least perform a roof inspection on your home. If you do this, keep in mind that you should NEVER have to pay for a professional roof inspection, which is why our inspections are always complimentary. If you do choose to perform the following tips yourself, make sure you have the proper equipment, gear, and physical ability to do the work — and that you have a spotter for your ladder. Otherwise, we recommend hiring a professional. Roof Inspection

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