How Your Calgary Roofing System Works
Your Calgary Roofing System is no different than your car. All of the parts must work together for it to work efficiently. If any part of your roof isn’t working properly, it’ll make it possible for the weather to penetrate your roof.
There are many different parts of your roofing system that must work together to ensure proper protection of your Calgary home. We like to only use powder coated painted metal flashings to match shingles for a better finish. The different components of your roof include:
ROOF DECK
Making sure the appropriate roof deck is under the shingles you have to install is critical to ensure optimal shingle performance. The roof deck should be in good condition: dry, clean, smooth, and securely nailed. If shingles are installed over an unacceptable roof deck, it may void the manufacturer’s warranty. Any part of the deck that is rotted must be replaced. Roof decks must be at least 3/8″ thick approved wood.
DRIP EDGE
Drip edge is a metal edge that is placed along the bottom edge of the roof to help direct water into the eavestroughs. When rain and snow melt run off a roof there is a tendency for it to curl under the bottom edge of the shingles. This wets the bottom edge of the roof deck and causes it to rot.
EAVES PROTECTION
Ice & Water protector membrane is used for the superior protection it provides. It is a continuous membrane that adheres to roof decking under your roofing shingles in areas subject to ice damming. It prohibits water that might get under your shingles from reaching your wood structure. This membrane is made to seal nail penetrations from your shingle installation. Ice and Water protector is usually applied above eaves extending up past the interior wall of house at least one foot, and in valleys.
ROOF DECK PROTECTION
Underlayment felt paper is an asphalt-saturated felt installed between the roof deck and the roof shingles. It provides secondary weather protection during a wind-driven rain or snow storm and in some cases protects your home when shingles may be blown off during very high winds. It also helps prevent “picture framing” which is the visible outline of deck panels, caused by roof irregularities in the decking thickness.
RAKE EDGE
A long and narrow piece of metal which is installed along each end of your roof deck, or gable ends. This metal edge should be installed over the underlayment or eave protection. This edge protects the gable end decking against wind driven rain and snow.
STARTER STRIP SHINGLES
These strips of shingles have a sealant strip already in place and are installed all around the perimeter of the house above eaves and up gable ends. These allow for a tight seal at the bottom of the first course of shingles. At the rakes, they provide a straight edge to trim the overlying courses and help seal the shingle ends to pevent wind damage.
SHINGLES
Shingles come in a variety of styles and colours to suit every home and homeowner. Architectural or ‘dimensional’ shingles are the most popular choice nowadays offering a much better look than standard 3-tab shingles. Shingles are made with a fiberglass base instead of the old method of organic (wood fiber) based. Both are made with asphalt. Asphalt shingles are economical and very versatile, which may be why they represent more than 80 percent of the roofing market.
METAL VALLEYS
We recommend using the open valley method which is to install a metal valley flashing and then cut the shingles on both sides of the center line of the valley exposing 2.5 inches at the top of the valley and 4.5 inches at the bottom. The reason for this is that the metal channel that is created will allow the water to run smoothly down to the eavestrough. Also, the metal valley will stay intact for the life of your shingles. The woven or closed-cut valley system will become unsightly and wear out first because all the water from your roof drains there. The life of your roof system will be shortened because of worn valley shingles.
WALL AND STEP FLASHING
The most vulnerable areas of a roof are where the sloped roof meets a vertical wall, like the wall of a dormer window, or where a garage attaches to the two-storey section of the house. The best practice for protecting these vulnerable areas against rain and moisture intrusion is to use step flashing integrated with the shingles, or wall flashing placed over shingles extending up wall.
VENTILATION
Proper air circulation will greatly reduce the chance of leaking, blistering, curling and many other potential problems. To tell if a home’s ventilation is inadequate, several signs appear in the home’s attic. Those signs include an attic that is hot and stuffy compared to the rest of the house, stagnant air, unbroken darkness indicating blocked or non-existent openings, and water stains/mold on the underside of the decking.
RIDGE CAP SHINGLES
High profile constructed ridge cap shingles are designed to provide a high-quality alternative to using cut up 3-tab shingles to protect this important area. Their dramatic high-profile design adds dimension, depth and texture, while enhancing your home’s aesthetic appeal by accentuating the roof-line.