Hurricane Isaac Begins Its Downpour on the South Suburbs Making It Journey North

Rain has finally made its way from the south offering us much needed rain. The south suburbs are projected to receive approximately 3″ while the northern suburbs will get about 1″ – 1.5″ of rain.

As the rain continues today and tomorrow, keep watch on your home for stains on the ceiling. Stains are the result of leaks in the roof. If we can catch the leak right away, then you can avoid costly damage done to the roofing system as well as your personal items on the inside. Also be sure to check for any missing shingles or wooden shakes. This will be an obvious place for rain water to enter. Remember, just because the rain enters in through one spot doesn’t mean the leak will be directly underneath. Water loves to travel! Be sure to check the entire house for stains as you never know where water might end up…even your skylights!

Next time, we’ll talk how water travels in our chimney’s.

Let us know if you need a check on your roof. 630-499-7700.

High Heat Can Damage Shingles and Roof Decks

…And we don’t mean the deck in your backyard!

Damaged Roof Shingles

We’re all aware of the damage caused by rain and wind to our roofs…but heat? If it’s dry, how can the roof be at risk?

Heat builds up in the attic causing temperatures to rise. It becomes more of a problem when the attic is not properly vented. If the heat has no place to escape, it can cause your shingles to blister and crack while making it’s way out. The cracks usually appear around the edges of the shingle, where blistering occurs throughout the entire shingle.

You can also inspect your gutters for granules. If you find a large amount of granules, look for an area on your roof where you can see a change in the shingles.

Next, take a look in your attic. The heat can cause the plywood of your roof desk to warp or even soften. Using a garden glove, test the plywood with your hands.

If it feels soft to the touch, test a few more. Indicate which one’s are the problem. When Showalter comes out to inspect the roofing shingles and roofing deck, we’ll be sure to address your concerns.

Climbing on top of your roof is not an easy task. If you think your roof is suffering from the heat, be sure to call us and we’ll inspect and repair it for you.

Summer Storms Leaving Their Mark on Roof

Strong storms may only take a few minutes to pass through, but the results remind us for days to come. While you’re cleaning up the yard, be sure to watch for blown off shingles or slate. If you want to take it a step further, use your ladder to get a closer look at the roof.

Damaged Roof from Strong Storms

• Check for damage to the ends of the shingles or to the gutters.
• This is also a good time to check for loose or missing shingles.
• Inspect the vents to ensure animals, debris or damage are not blocking the flow of air
• Inspect the caulk at the chimney flashing. You’re looking for dried out or cracked caulking.

If climbing up to the roof isn’t what you’d like to do, call Showalter Roofing at 630-499-7700. We’ll check all of these points for you, take pictures so you can view the damage yourself and we’ll fix any damage caused by summer storms.

A House Roof with Four Winds

If there’s one thing we can count on are high winds coming at our homes from all directions. What can we expect from high winds? Shingles become loose and the loose ones end up in the grass or our driveway.

 

In our latest video, “Shingle Roof Repair on Windy Days” learn about the two shingle types: the standard 3 tab and the architectural shingle. Find out how the 3 tab shingle dries and curls allowing the wind to get under the tab and pull it away from the roofing system. Learn the benefits of an architectural shingle and how it adheres to the roof making it difficult for the shingle to pull away in high winds.

Solving the Problem of CertainTeed Shingles with Organic Felt

As we visit many homes…and rooftops, we’ve identified many roofs with the CertainTeed shingle with organic felt that are defected. It usually occurs around years 10 to 15. However, the warranty of the CertainTeed shingle is around 25 to 30 years. Fortunately, it is covered under warranty by CertainTeed.