Common Roof Repair Myths And the Actual Facts From the Best Roofers in KC

While your roof is truly one of the most important parts of your home—it protects you from bad weather, hot sun, and freezing winds—it also tends to be one of the last things many homeowners thing about when it comes to home maintenance and repair. To make things even worse, a lot of the common “knowledge” about roof maintenance and roof repair in Kansas City is actually a myth! If you do your research and make the right choices, many homeowners can get by with only purchasing one or two new roofs in Kansas City for their home, over the course of their entire life. This means making the right choices with your roof can be even more important, time-saving, and cost-effective than with other home repairs, like windows, paint, or flooring, which are replaced much more frequently. Additionally, making good choices in roof repair can save you money, not only on roofing costs but on your energy bill and structural maintenance as well. Therefore, we want to help get you started by giving you facts from a premium Kansas City roofing contractor to disprove some of the most common myths going around.

1. MYTH: Asphalt Shingles Are All Created Equal

When it comes to roof repair this could not be farther from the truth. Over the years, industry research and experience has worked to create better, longer lasting shingles. They are now laminated and reinforced with fiberglass to create shingles that work even better and last even longer. In fact, shingles can be rated for 30 or even 50 years! Some new shingles can even withstand winds as high as 130 miles per hour. Additionally, many shingles from top manufacturers come with warranties.

It’s also important to bear in mind that different asphalt shingles are created to withstand different environments or solve different problems when it comes to roof repair. For example, algae resistant shingles have been made to combat black mold concerns in humid parts of the country. Other asphalt shingles are built to mimic the look and style or wood shake shingles for people who like the look, but not the price, of wood shake. Talk to a roofing company to help determine which type of shingles are best for your home.

2. MYTH: A New Roof in Johnson County Can Just Be Built Over An Existing Roof

While building codes may allow companies to place new roofing material on top of old roofing material, the fact is, this could cause more damage to your roof and be much more costly in the long run. Removing old shingles will allow your premium Kansas City roofing contractor to get a look at the sheathing and material underneath the shingles to check for damage or holes that could cause serious leaks and structural damage to your home.

3. MYTH: More Attic Insulation is Always a Good Idea

Insulation in your attic is definitely essential, but like with almost anything in life, too much of a good thing can be bad. Too much attic insulation can block ventilation and trap moisture. Ventilation at soffits and eaves is just as important to the performance of your roof as good insulation. Adding too much insulation can also increase the temperature of your walls, creating condensation and water build up. Remember, water inside your home, where you don’t want it, can cause serious structural damage. Proper ventilation will reduce this moisture build up, but only if it is not obstructed by excess insulation. As the best roofers in KC, we can help you find the right balance between ventilation and insulation for your home.

4. MYTH: You Only Need to Replace Flashing if You Are Installing a New Roof in Kansas City

Flashing is metal that has been built to keep water away from roof structures, like pipes, vents, or chimneys. Many homeowners have been led to believe the flashing, since is it built from metal, with withstand the elements and last just as long as the rest of their roofs. While this can be the case, and in some instances, flashing can even outlast the rest of a roof, in other cases, flashing may be damaged and need to be repaired or replaced in less than a year. The top roofing companies will all recommend that you have your flashing inspected with the rest of your roof at least once or twice each year. This will help them check for damage and make sure the flashing is doing its job—keeping water out of your home. Broken or otherwise damaged flashing can allow water into your home, which can cause a litany of problems.

5. MYTH: Roof Inspections are Only Necessary When You Have Noticeable Roof Damage

While it may seem easier and more cost effective to forgo bi-annual roof inspections, this can be an extremely risky choice. Much of the necessary roof repair in KC is unseen. While it may not affect the appearance of your roof, it could lead to more extensive problems with your roof or even inside your home. Hiring a premium Kansas City roofing contractor to perform a bi-annual or even annual inspection on your roof can go far in preventing extensive, expensive damage to your roof.

Listening to these myths could cause you to make poor choices for your roof or roofing materials. Make sure your roof is in top shape by calling Shamrock Roofing at (913) 850-6556 to schedule your free roof inspection today!