14 Roofing Myths

We see a lot of wild things on job sites. Many of these crazy fixes stem from some basic misunderstandings about roofing. Because of that today we are going to dispel 14 roofing myths.

Roofing Myth #1:

You can put a new roof over an existing roof.

 

New roofing materials require a new seat and sheeting. You can’t do that over old shingles. Re-shingling over old ones also makes it so you cannot check the state of the sheathing underneath. This will make it impossible to detect larger issues like rot and decay. So putting new roofing material on top of old just doesn’t make sense and can end up costing you more.

Roofing Myth #2:

Anyone can fix or replace their roof.

 

The worst case scenario with a bad roof job is total collapse. Professionals have experience and are trained in how to repair and replace roofs. It takes years to really get good at it. Because of this fixing your own roof may void your warranty and create a whole rack of issues with insurance. Not to mention the possibility of injury doing the repair yourself. Sorry all you weekend warriors please leave this one to the experts. 

 

Get your roof inspected by a professional roofing contractor

Roofing Myth #3:

Metal roofs will stop the formation of ice and ice dams.

 

Metal or asphalt makes no difference here. Proper roof insulation is what keeps ice and ice dams from forming. Not the roofing materials themselves. 

Roofing Myth #4:

Metal roofs warm your home more efficiently.

 

The answer to this myth is the same as myth 3. Proper insulation keeps your house warmer. Not your choice of roof.

Roofing Myth #5:

Asphalt is asphalt and all shingles are the same.
 

While the core material may be the same, not all shingles are made equal. There is a wide variety of colors, textures, and brands and all significantly change the properties of that shingle. It’s best to consult with your roofer about all your choices because believe us, there are a lot of them.

Roofing Myth #6:

Metal roofs will reduce resale value on your home.

 

If anything they can raise the resale value of a home. This one is just simply not true.

Roofing Myth #7:

New roofs don’t need maintenance.

 

You should get a roof inspection yearly no matter the age of your roof. Like all things, roofs need maintenance to continue to work properly. The nice thing about getting checked out once a year is you catch small issues before they become big ones. To skip these inspections can also void some roof system warranties. The last thing anyone wants is roof damage with a voided warranty. 

Roofing Myth #8:

Roofs are only damaged if they leak.

 

There are a lot of ways a roof can be damaged without causing a leak so this is a bad rubric. Leaks are normally a sign of long term damage accumulating. Again this is why a yearly inspection is important. 

Roofing Myth #9:

A professional roofer is too expensive.

 

Considering all the money and damage you can save by catching problems early, this one just isn’t true either. If you let damage that could have just needed a simple fix go, it can lead to a more serious issue. Once again costing you in the long run.

 

Get your roof inspected by a professional roofing contractor

Roofing Myth #10:

Flashing is only replaced when the roof gets replaced.

 

Flashing protects some of the most vulnerable parts of your roof. Because of this worn or warped flashing is often the cause of many roof leaks. Replacing it is a fairly common fix so this roofing myth is busted.

Roofing Myth #11:

The more insulation the better.

 

Insulation is a tricky thing. Too little and it causes heat loss and a whole host of other problems. Too much and it chokes proper ventilation. This can cause moisture build up which means mold and early roof decay. Insulation absolutely has a goldilocks zone.

Roofing Myth #12:

Climate changes nothing about a roof. 

 

A roof is outside and exposed to the elements. Anything outside and exposed to the elements is affected by climate and weather. Temperature, humidity, rain, and snowfall are just some of the many things that affect a roof. And since it doesn’t snow as much in Texas as it does in Maine, roofs in both areas have different demands. 

Roofing Myth #13:

Metal roofs will attract lightning. 

 

This one is based on the logic that metal is conductive and therefore attracts lightning. But unless your metal roof has a lightning rod attached to it, you aren’t at an increased risk for lightning strikes. If lightning were to strike your metal roof it would actually move through faster since metal is conductive so there is less resistance. All lightning wants is a direct path to the ground. Hence why it tends to hit tall things like trees and lightning rods. This one is an understandable roofing myth but a myth nonetheless.

Roofing Myth #14:

All roofers are the same, it doesn’t matter who you hire.

 

That would certainly make finding a roofer much easier. Like any profession; there is some variance on how jobs are handled. In another blog we already addressed roofing scammers and how they can really hurt you in the long run. 

 

Even with contractors there are licensed and unlicensed . While not all states require a license to do roofing, many do. Even in states where unlicensed roofing is legal those licenses do mean something. They ensure that the roofer is held to a certain standard. It also means if an accident were to happen they would be liable, not you, the homeowner. As you can see not all roofers are created equal.

 

Hope we helped shed some light on these 14 roofing myths. While some of these are rooted in logic others are just plain misinformation. 

 

Give us a call today at (636) 699-0449 or request your free inspection today. You can also follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. If you’re in the St. Charles County area and looking for an experienced roofing and siding contractor, we are bringing forth over 20 years of experience in the roofing industry. That’s something you can trust and especially if we’re in your neck of the woods.