05/05/2025
My roof is probably the most forgotten aspect of my home. It’s difficult to see, and as long as it’s not leaking, my focus is elsewhere. However, I recently learned that ignoring your roof can lead to rapid degradation and a shortened roof life to as little as 7 years.
Jason Wagner of Roof Aid USA opened my eyes to the importance of roof maintenance. As he shared his extensive experience, I learned some very important dos and don’ts, as well as things several things you should be continuing to monitor.
Do Ensure Your Attic is Properly Ventilated:
Improperly ventilated attics cause roofs to wear out faster due to the extra heat and moisture build up. To ensure proper ventilation, you need a place for the air to go in (usually the soffits, the material connecting the underside of the roof to the side of the house) and a place for the air to leave (usually at or close to the ridge line of the roof). The age of your home may impact the likelihood you have sufficient intake air vents. Houses built before the 1980s may have issues with in flowing air because they typically were built with solid wood soffits, which do not allow for sufficient air flow to the attic. Homes built after that often have taken care of this issue by having several vented soffits installed. Because exhaust air usually moves through some part of the roof, the type of venting system you have is less likely to be reliant on the age of your house. There are several common options for exhaust vents: box vents, ridge vents, and power vents. Box vents are square or circular in shape and sit close to the ridge line on your roof and rely on passive air flow. Ridge vents run the length of your ridge line and are partially covered by the ridge shingles, also requiring passive air flow. Power vents are typically circular in shape and may be located on top of your roof or may be vented through the side of your house in the attic. These vents have a fan attached that is automated to turn on and off depending on the attic temperature. The size and shape of your roof will play a role into how the air moves. Roof warranties often include certain requirements regarding the level of air circulation based on your attic space.
Don’t Install a 2nd Layer of Roofing Material:
Having two layers of roofing material might seem like a reasonable option, but ultimately it adds a multitude of risks to your home. First and foremost, it covers up the main issue instead of addressing it. It may feel like the cheaper fix in the short term, but often the same issue crops up again, requiring additional costs to remove and dispose of the extra roofing material in order to find the real issue. Additionally, the second layer often doesn’t come with a warranty, leaving the risk of further issues on the homeowner. As if all that wasn’t enough, a second layer adds extra weight to the house, producing additional strain to the roofing supports and the home’s foundation, which is a whole other can of worms.
Do Keep Up with Preventative Maintenance:
Being proactive with your roof can extend its life and delay when you need to replace it. Reattaching loose shingles and replacing broken ones are great ways to ensure your roof stays in good repair. Ridge line nails need caulking once every 3 to 5 years to ensure their durability and the stability of the shingles they hold. Verifying your ventilation set up is still functioning as designed is also key.
While a lot of these tasks are doable, I know that I don’t want to spend any more time on my roof than is absolutely necessary. If you’re like me and want to extend the life of your roof without spending any time on your roof, ask Jason about his Roof Scores and membership programs. After checking things over, he’ll give you a Roof Score, which estimates the expected life of your roof, its current condition, and availability of replacement pieces, as well as a few other factors. He’ll then recommend the membership that would be best for your situation. (As an added bonus, two of the memberships also include free gutter cleaning!)
All in all, I was truly impressed by Jason’s wealth of knowledge and options of service, and I think he said it best when he said:
It’s important to pay attention to your roof because it’s taking care of your whole investment.
I hope this finds you all well, and if you have any questions about real estate, or you’re looking for specific recommendations for other qualified service professionals in our area, feel free to reach out directly or in the comments below. Jason’s contact information is here, too, for anyone needing roofing advice or assistance.
Jason Wagner
Roof Aid USA
(419) 601-7082
[email protected]
RoofAidUSA.com/Findlay-OH
