Your roof has multiple antagonists over its life. Water, wind, snow, ice, and storm damage are the biggest enemies of your roof. Water intrusion in any form is a major culprit. Whether it is from rain, snow, ice, or a poorly ventilated roof that traps humidity all of them can promote premature roof damage and aging.

Water and humidity are the arch enemies of wood. If water penetrates or gets underneath shingles and pools it can cause wood rot, mold, and mildew. Each of these is an open invitation for wood-destroying insects like termites or carpenter ants. Your roof can have multiple barriers to moisture depending on the age of your roof.

The average homeowner looks at a residential roof and sees shingles, but a professional roofing company is looking at the layers of the roof that not only include the shingles but the underlayment. Each layer provides additional protection to your roof. Modern roofing has multiple layers for protection. There is a leak barrier, starter strip shingles, roof decking, proper ventilation, and edge cap shingles. These various layers work together to form a water seal for your roof.

Roofing Layers

These layers can be broken down into various stages of roofing:

Framing is the first layer. The framing provides the foundation for the remaining layers of your roof. Framing consists of wood or metal which supports the weight of your roof. Framing balances the weight distribution of your roof so the final weight is balanced and not punishing one section of the roof more than another. This is why professional roofing companies want to get below the shingle so they can inspect the framing both on top of the roof and from the attic. They will inspect for signs of water intrusion, mold, mildew, or wood rot. In many cases, your roof will not need framing repair, but you want to make sure it is inspected to rule out water intrusion or damage.

Insulation is the second layer from the underside of the roof in your attic. Insulation helps keep your home cool during the summer months and warm in the winter. Under-insulation can cost you utility bills and also contribute to the deterioration of the roof layers above if it is not the right amount of insulation.

Roofing ventilation is vital to ensure the proper amount of airflow is traveling through the attic during hot and cold months. Ventilation provides an escape for hot and humid air in the summer months that if trapped can cause moisture damage over time leading to costly repairs.

The roof deck is the plywood that ensures the connection of the framing between the roof trusts and joints. It provides a layer of protection for the layers above.

A water barrier goes on top of the wood roof deck and framing. This is a layer of protection to prevent water from intruding onto the wood surface underneath the underlayment and shingles should a heavy storm push water deep into the roofing surface.

Roofing underlayment provides an additional layer of protection underneath the shingles and on top of the roofing deck. It creates a smooth surface so shingles stick to the roof, form a more uniform shape, and fight blown off shingles in storms.

The starter strip is critical for the rest of the shingle layout and application. This strip is applied below the underlayment and it seals the edges and sides of the roof. It defends the edges against storms, high winds, and rain to help maintain shingle integrity during strong weather conditions.

Shingles are the final layer of the base roofing protection. They provide protection against harmful UV rays and premature aging due to water, ice, and snow. Shingles are fiberglass that provides protection and the look and feel of your roof exterior.

Ridge caps help keep rain, snow, and excessive moisture out of the roofing system. They run along the top of your roofline, but their positioning forces water, snow, and ice away from the roof system due to its position against the slope of your roof. Ridge caps also vent the roof so heat and moisture can vent from the attic maintaining a property attic humidity level.

Additionally, flashing provides layers of protection for the previous layers of roofing. Flashing is metal and is installed around chimneys, pipe venting, and other areas where seams or breaks between the shingles and the roofing exist. They are sealed with roofing tar or silicone that forms a water barrier so water cannot intrude into the seams or crevices that meet the shingles.

The multiple layers of a roofing system are vital to protecting your home. Having an annual roofing inspection by a reputable roofing company will ensure proper maintenance and extend the life of your roof. For example, your shingles may be fine upon inspection, but the roofing professional may find you need repair to your flashing around the chimney or other roof venting. Getting ahead of trouble before it becomes a problem is critical in regular roof maintenance.

At Gilstrap Roofing we have been serving the Upstate longer than any other roofing contractor accredited by the Better Business Bureau, spanning four generations. We live, work and play here so we have a lot at stake when it comes to providing quality roofing with certified crews.

Brian Gilstrap, President
Gilstrap Roofing
Greenville, SC 29611
864.269.1232

Most homeowners assume that their insurance will cover their roof in the event of storm damage. However, every policy has exclusions so it is a good idea to review your policy to make sure you are adequately covered in the event of damage to your roof from a weather-related event.

Damage to your roof can be caused by hail, sleet, ice dams in the winter, heavy snow, high winds, thunderstorms, hurricanes, lightning, smoke, and fire. Most major insurers provide replacement or repair coverage in the event of these destructive forces.

However, losing a few shingles after a storm may be considered cosmetic, or minimal damage by your adjustor as compared to having a section of the roof blown off, or gutter, drip edge, facia, and other wood damage. The insurance company may provide for a total roof replacement for covered hazards, but sometimes the damage may only warrant repairs. This is why you want a professional and reputable roofing contractor (not a storm chaser contractor) to inspect your roof after a weather event if you suspect damage. They can find things that a layperson may not be aware of following a storm or wind event. After the storm clears contact your insurance carrier to begin filing a claim. You will have to pay your deductible.

Regular roof inspections and maintenance once documented can also save you trouble down the road in the event of future damage. If the insurance company sees that your roof is old and has been in disrepair prior to a storm or weather event it could jeopardize your coverage. Things like loose shingles, torn drip edged, rotted facia and any leaks prior to a storm can be penalizing. There is an expectation by most insurance carriers that the homeowner is going to maintain the home within reason. You don’t want to get penalized for maintenance failure on a big claim.

Some insurance carriers might try and steer you in the direction of their list of contractors, but you have the right to consult the roofing contractor of your choice. Reputable contractors are usually accepted by most national insurance companies and have built up a life time of credibility because of their estimates and the quality of their repairs. It never hurts to get multiple quotes but just make sure they are quoting for the same scope of work, supplies and materials. For example one quote may be much lower because the contractor is using cheaper shingles. Ask about warranties on shingles and labor. If two contractors are in dispute get a third quote.

When seeking a roofing contractor you should check out several things. Read Google reviews and consult the Better Business Bureau listings to see if they have any red flags from previous jobs. Don’t gamble with a lower rated contractor. Ask to see their liability coverages, workman’s compensation and any other insurance they carry. Professional roofing companies are used to this and will make them readily available to you so as to alleviate any concerns about protection coverages while the work is being done to your home. Ask how long they have been in business. Many local and family-owned contractors have spent years providing quality roofing in materials and service. They value their reputation for quality workmanship and don’t want to jeopardize it.

Be leery of storm chaser contractors that blow into a community after a storm from out of town or out of state and try do a sweep of the entire damaged area. Some of these companies ask for money up front. Reputable companies will not do this and will work with your insurance company. Unfortunately, many homeowners have had bad experiences with these companies that here today and gone tomorrow. One advantage of a local roofing contractor is accessibility after the job is completed. They live, work, worship, breathe and play where you do! They have a vested interest in the local community too.

Do an annual review of your coverage with your insurance agent. Ask about coverage exclusions and have them advise you of the best level of protection coverages they can offer. Don’t be afraid to shop around and get other quotes on coverage, but use due diligence in your research of prospective companies and agents just like you would for a roofing contractor.

Gilstrap Roofing has been a family-owned and operated business serving the Upstate and the Midlands of South Carolina since 1935. We welcome your questions, and scrutiny in searching for a roofing contractor. We are a full-service roofing contractor with an A+ BBB rating.

Brian Gilstrap, President
Gilstrap Roofing
Greenville, SC 29611
864.269.1232
office@gilstraproofing.com

Roof damage following heavy thunderstorms, tornadoes or high winds can be extensive and expensive.   Wanting to get everything “back to normal” as soon as possible is understandable.   However, you need to be careful about letting your emotions get ahead of you and just grabbing the first company that lands your doorstep following a storm.  Beware of storm chasing roofers and contractors showing up on your door unsolicited following a storm.

Storm-chasers are contractors who travel from town to town, storm to storm trying to get as many jobs in one localized area as possible at the lowest cost before moving on to the next storm-damaged town, or community.   Many of them are not professional roofers and ask for payment before the work is performed.  They typically show up in a neighborhood that’s been hit hard by a storm in vehicles with out of state tags.   Many of these companies solicit work with high-pressure sales pitches and often promise things that are just too good to be true.  One of their biggest tactics is to be the first company on your roof to provide temporary tarps or cover forcing you to prematurely commit to their company for the larger body of work out of a sense of obligation because they were there when you needed them right after the storm.  These contractors prey on the emotions of people who are in a vulnerable state following damage to their home and want it fixed now!    

Many storm-chasers are not licensed to do the work in your state, or city.  Others don’t carry insurance or only the bare minimum which could put you in a risky liability situation.   They work by getting as many jobs under contract in a localized area often employing inexperienced and cheap labor.   Working in a concentrated area saves them time by having materials, trucks, and supplies in one location since their offices are not local.  The more jobs they get together, the more money they can save while making revenue off multiple homes.  The most important thing to remember is that you should never make a commitment verbal, or in writing with a contractor until you have vetted several companies, received multiple quotes and talked with your insurance agent.

The storm chasing roofing epidemic has become so prevalent that the Better Business Bureau has posted guidelines for consumers regarding storm-chasers.  

A reputable, licensed, local roofing company will not come to your home unsolicited following a storm.  They don’t “get out of town” when the job is done, they stay because like you, they live and work in the same community.   This is one of the biggest reasons to contract a local roofing company.  They will be accessible for questions and warranty work after the job is completed.   Reputable roofing companies can provide multiple local referrals, proof of their license both state and local, workman’s comp, liability insurance coverage, and total accountability in proof of their training and work history that qualifies them to be legitimate roofing contractors.  Storm-chasers like to avoid these accountability markers.  

In 2016 an 18-mile tornado touched down through Simpsonville, SC per the National Weather Service.  Within three hours of the storm, damaged neighborhoods were plagued with out of state “roofing” companies going door to door soliciting work.  Many promised potential customers that their neighbors had decided to go with them when they hadn’t committed to any company.  

Others fearing more water damage contracted the companies to cover their roofs in tarps only to discover they were in for a major battle on the damage repair and reconstruction they hadn’t agreed to because they were still waiting on insurance adjusters and had simply gotten approval to tarp their roofs.  

In one specific community neighbors got together following the storm and as they started picking up and surveyed the damage they began to share their notes about the “on the spot” contractors all sharing similar high-pressure techniques and sketchy business practices.    

At Gilstrap Roofing we have been serving the Upstate longer than any other roofing contractor accredited by the Better Business Bureau, spanning four generations.  We live, work and play here so we have a lot at stake when it comes to providing quality roofing with certified crews.

Brian Gilstrap, President  

Gilstrap Roofing

Greenville, SC 29611

864.269.1232

office@gilstraproofing.com