What looks better when they’re brand new, a presidential roof or a shake roof?

Presidential Roof

Shake Roof

It all depends on your preference. Do you prefer a woodsy rustic outdoor look or a prestigious look of luxury? There is no right or wrong answer it all depends on the look you’re trying to convey.

Now which roof looks worse? Keep in mind the presidential roof is three years old and the shake roof is 20 years old.

3 Year Old Presidential Roof

20 Year Old Shake Roof

It depends on if you prefer looking at roof cabbage or old, many times dark or black, looking shakes. What’s clear is your composition roof is going to grow moss more frequently than your shake roof. Our roof treatment for an asphalt composition roof will only prevent moss for a three year period. The shake roof treatment will prevent moss and algae for five years. Why is there a two year gap? Wood is more porous than asphalt. Try pouring a glass of water in the street and then a glass of water on a piece of wood. Which absorbs more water? The wood.

A common misconception by composition roof owner’s is the better the shingle warranty you have the less likely you’re going to grow moss on your roof. 30 year, 40 year and lifetime shingles all grow moss. The only shingle product that can slow moss down are algae resistant shingles, which have copper in them, but in the great Northwest you can’t prevent moss you can only hope to contain it.

The question still stands: Does buying a presidential roof really save you money? It depends on how keen you are on performing roof maintenance. For more information on an asphalt composition roof or cedar shake roof visit our roof replacement page.

Today, we discover a major roof installation problem as a result of mother nature unleashing her wrath on this Portland Oregon roof. Daniel White shows us the problem with the roof underlayment and explains why this problem is a serious workmanship mistake.

Click here to view the embedded video.

SCRIPT

We’re on a roof over off of NE Glisan in NE Portland and we have some blow off issues going on over here. Quite honestly, this roof blew off because they used a 3-tab on it. It was actually code quite a few years ago, they allowed that to happen, a lot of these areas north of Division won’t allow a 3-tab out here because it just can’t handle the wind as it comes through here. Aside from the blow off, something right away was the felt paper. See these x-marks here? This is from the roofer, as they were installing this roof they were cutting the shingles right on top of the roof. Right over the felt paper they were cutting the shingles and installing them. They did that everywhere. If you look up on this you can see x-mark there, crosses there, all these cuts. They might as well have not even put felt paper on this house. Look at all these cuts. That’s from their blades as they were installing this thing, just being lazy, throwing the shingles on the roof, and cutting away. Unbelievable.

At Roof Life of Oregon, we pay our roof installation team by the hour to ensure underlayment problems like this are never occur. If you want to learn more about the Roof Life of Oregon difference in roof installation visit our roof replacement page.

Here’s the original question from HGTV’s web site:

Q: We recently had a roof put on our house. When the contractors got started, one of them fell through the roof and into our kitchen. The contractor said our roof was too far gone to save, so he suggested the best way to fix the problem was to build another roof right over the top of the existing one. Is it OK to do that? We wanted him to just tear the whole thing off and put in new trusses, but he said this way would do the same thing and it would be cheaper.

The HGTV author, listed as a certified home inspector, answered:

A: As long as there is room for ventilation between the old and new roofs, the reroof should be OK….

It’s not OK to do this! More than likely the reason someone fell through was from rot and decay. All of the rot and decay should be removed and a new structure built in its place, not over it or around it. If the trusses are rotten they should be replaced. They are a structural part of the building and cannot be ignored. When in doubt, get a second opinion from someone who actually examines the roof on site.

If you find yourself in a similar situation (anywhere near Portland, Oregon), contact us for a free inspection!

Daniel White – Roof Replacement Production Manager – talks with us about what the nailing zone is on your roof. Composition roofs need to be installed correctly to avoid early failure!

We want you to know what is going on up there! Call us for a Free Inspection!

Daniel White – Roof Replacement Production Manager – talks with us about what the nailing zone is on your roof. Composition roofs need to be installed correctly to avoid early failure!

If you have a roof that hasn’t been looked at lately, call us for a Free Inspection!

The roof in this picture is only 6 years old, and the contractor pushed the plywood together with no space.  This is the kind of work done by a roofing contractor that puts on roofs as fast as they can, for as cheap as they can, and who knows as little as they can. Oh yes, it happens, more than what is talked about. Why isn’t it talked about? You now know the down side of cheap!

At Roof Life of Oregon, we take the time to put your roof on correctly.  Sure, it may take us a fraction longer to finish your roof than most contractors, but wouldn’t you want us to take the time to put on your roof correctly the first time?  We think so also. That is why we offer Portland’s only Lifetime Workmanship Warranty; to give you peace of mind that your roof will last and work as it should.

If you want to stream it live at home or at work click on the Listen Live link at the top right of the page – http://www.kpam.com/programming/handy_randy_home_crew.shtml

Patrick talks about the importance of keeping your Cedar, Composition, and Tile roofs clear of excess tree debris.

Click here to view the embedded video.

He tells us about Compressor Blowing your roof. Why we do this and how we do it! He also tells us the different levels of tree debris and how they need to be maintained.

Click here to view the embedded video.

He talks about Heavy debris on Portland Roofs and the difference between a backpack blow and a compressor blow. Shake, Composition, and Tile roofs require blowing for health and longevity.

Click here to view the embedded video.

He talks about composition shingle and what happens when tree debris is left on them. He also talks about why it is important to monitor the tree debris level on your roof.

If it has been a while since you have looked at your roof, let Roof Life come and check it out for you.

Call us for a Free Inspection!

Home inspectors check all aspects of your home, while they are useful, you are not always guaranteed an expert in all aspects of the home. A large percentage of home inspectors will never walk your roof.

      We offer REAL ESTATE inspections for pending home or property sales. This is a very thorough and professional statement of the condition of a roof. Since the inspection is made with no expectation of future  maintenance business, we cannot offer them free of charge. Please contact us for pricing information.

If your roof needs a check up or you have questions, call us.  

503-925-0125

Patrick talks about what is required for proper attic ventilation. If your home hasn’t been inspected for proper ventilation you could be wasting energy all year round! Roof Life can inspect your home and let you know what is needed to keep it in peak performance!