5 Common Roofing Myths

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. It protects you and your loved ones from the elements and provides shelter from the outdoors. However, some homeowners tend to forget about their roofs when it comes time to budget for home maintenance and repairs.

Worse yet, they rely on outdated and/or incorrect advice that they found on an internet chat forum or social networking group. We’re here to dispel five common Tacoma roof myths that we’ve seen and heard throughout the years. These myths can wind up costing you both time and money — and in some cases even lower the value of your home!

Tacoma Roof Repair

Myth #1- All Roof Shingles Are Created Equal

Sometimes homeowners will mistakenly think that roof shingles are all the same and they can save a few dollars by buying the cheapest ones at the hardware store. The problem with many of these off-brand shingles is that they don’t offer the same protection and warranty of a premium roofing shingle.

Pabco, Malarkey, and Certain Teed roofing shingles offer superior protection against the Tacoma elements, which is why we stock them in our roofing showroom and recommend them to all of our clients. These shingles are made to stand up to even the most brutal Pacific Northwest weather.

Myth #2 – No Leaks, No Problem

Just because you don’t find any water seepage in your attic doesn’t mean your roof is healthy. All roofs have a finite lifespan, and could be a rainstorm away from a small leak or total failure. Adding to the uncertainty, many homeowners have purchased houses with knowing the actual age of the roof.

We recommend an annual roof inspection to catch and fix small issues before they turn into major water leaks. Your gutters, flashing, tiles, and other parts of your roof will undergo a complete and thorough inspection to make sure there’s no hidden damage.

Myth #3 – A Roof Warranty Means “No Maintenance Required”

Keep in mind that a roof warranty only covers workmanship errors and manufacturer’s defects. It doesn’t cover routine wear and tear. Some homeowners forgo their annual roof inspection because they wrongly believe their warranty will cover anything that goes wrong.

A roof inspection can even catch a manufacturer’s defect or workmanship error before it turns into a significant problem. This is why we strongly recommend you get your roof inspected at least once a year.

Myth #4 – You Can Just Add a New Layer of Shingles

Tacoma and surrounding area building codes only allow for a couple of layers of shingles to be stacked on top of one another. If your house is already at the limit, your current shingles must be removed before a new layer is added.

Adding a new layer of shingles also comes with a risk – when we tear off an existing roof shingle, we can visually inspect the underlying surface for leaks, damage, and potential trouble spots. Unfortunately, we can’t always see potentially damaged areas if we’re just adding a new layer.

Myth #5 – You Can Easily Repair Your Own Roof

Over the years we’ve been called to many houses whose owners thought they could handle what seemed like a simple roof repair, but got in way over their heads.

We’ve been installing roofs in the Tacoma area for well over 20 years and have the expertise to get it done right the first time. Even if you’re handy with a tool belt and a hammer, roof repairs are best left to the professionals.

Tacoma Roof Repair and Replacement

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a roof inspection or roof replacement, please give us a call at (253) 564-2292. At ACME Roofing, we take great pride in the quality of our craftsmanship. We will make sure your roof will continue to protect you and your loved ones for decades to come.