Roof Repair

Choosing A Ridge Vent

At the peak of the roof "ridge vent" is applied to allow air to circulate out of your attic. This is especially important in the summer when air temperatures exceed 70 degrees. A two or three inch hole is cut underneath the vent, usually the length of the house, to enable hot air to escape. Air should enter through the soffit vent, which is behind the gutter under the overhang, and then rise upwards to exit through the ridge along the peak of the roof.

There are two main types to choose from. Metal ridge vent is a quicker diy (do it yourself) roof project and less expensive to repair or install whereas shingle vent is the opposite but more appealing aesthetically.

Metal aluminum ridge vent comes in black, brown and mill finish either 8 or 10 feet long. I install rubber end plugs at both ends and overlap each section about five inches with sealant in between the overlap. It should be nailed with 1-1/4" roofing nails into each rafter or truss to prevent the nails from coming loose over time. All the nail heads should be sealed with polyurethane. Failure to install the vent properly may result premature failure in high winds.

Shingle over ridge vent looks better because the plastic vent material is covered with shingles that match the rest of the roof. The plastic sections are four feet long and butt each other to form a continuous length over the area to be vented. Once these pieces are installed the cap shingles will need to be individually nailed with at least 2 inch roofing nails.

Choosing A Shingle Type

What type of shingle should I put on my roof is a common question asked by homeowners once I have completed their roof repair. Unless you have a $350,000 plus house or neighborhood covenants require you to use dimensional/architectural shingles a simple three tab shingle is probably the best bang for your buck.

Normally they are classified by a 20, 25 or 30 year warranty. What increases the life of a shingle is the thickness of the composite which is directly related to its weight. The 25 year product seems to hold up much better than the 20 year while the 30 year is comparable in price to a dimensional shingle.

Dimensional shingles are more attractive sometimes creating an appearance of "more action" or pizzazz on the roof. Many of these styles have overlapping pieces that are glued together to portray the dimensional look which is fine as long as they are nailed according to manufacturers specifications. The problem I have observed is that sometimes, usually on a steep roof, the nails are not placed within the tolerances resulting in a "slipping apart" of these pieces over time requiring a roof repair.

Gravity and heat cause these shingles to sag individually or in groups resulting in premature failure usually causing a water leak. Quality control for nailing with very little margin for error is difficult to obtain but not impossible. Many manufacturers offer a dimensional shingle that is one piece that simulates the multipiece look, which in my opinion, would be a better choice. The shingles look fine and they are less expensive than their counterparts. Good luck!