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Is Frost Developing on Your roof good or bad?

October 5, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Contact your local roofing contractor to find out about your home.

As the warm months come to a close and fall rapidly approaching, the nights are getting colder and you may have noticed frost developing on your roof. You may have wondered if this is a good or a bad thing. If you step out into your neighborhood and take a look at the other homes, there is a possibility that some roofs have frost and others do not. There is no simply yes or no answer, your roof is unique to your home and the condition it is in.

If you have noticed a layer of frost that has developed on your roof along with all of your neighbors then there is nothing to fear. Insulation is used to keep heat inside of your home, if the heat is trapped inside of your house it should not travel up and out through the roof. On a cold morning if you are not seeing frost on your home, but frost on all of your neighbors then it is a sign of poor insulation. In most cases seeing frost develop on your roof is a good sign that your home and attic are well insulated.

Roofing materials are made to be able to withstand all different types of weather climates, from freezing cold to blistering hot. Shingles are a great affordable option for cold weather climates and provide durability. A shingled roof should never be installed in temperatures below 40 degrees to prevent cracking and breaking. If your roof was installed in the winter and you are not seeing frost form on your roof compared to your neighbors, then there may be a problem and you should call your local roofing contractor. Super shingles are heavy weight shingles that provide 4x more protection and energy efficiency, to better help save money during the cold months. As we always suggest when having any roof work done to your home, be sure to seek out the best roofing company in your area to be sure the work is done properly.

Your roof may not be the culprit if there is a lack of frost developing on your roof, it could be your attic. If your attic insulation is not properly placed heat could be escaping out and through your roof. If you see spotty frost in some areas on the roof but not others, then this is a good indication that your attics insulation is not up to par.

Sun exposure is important to factor in, if your home is fully exposed in the sunlight then frost should easily melt. Do not compare your homes roof to a neighbors if you have different sunlight exposure, a roof in the shadows will contain much more frost. If you home is in direct sunlight, and all your neighbors have frost but you do not, then you should contact your local roofing contractor.

Should there be frost in my attic?

This is another common question we get asked, is frost a bad thing if you are seeing it on the inside of your attic? First it is important to understand how and why frost develops in the attic of homes. When moisture rich air from your home rises up to the attic, the air condenses on the roof sheathing and forms frost. The frost alone does not do damage but once it begins to melt, damage can be done once the sheathing gets wet. The results from melting frost can lead to mold, wet insulation, deteriorating roof sheathing, and water stains. Many people don’t see frost in their attics because it usually melts once the air warms up or the sun warms the outer portion of your roof thus melting the inside. People will most likely see the consequences of frost such as the water stains, or mold.

Prevention

One way to prevent frost from forming in your attic is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Is your attic well insulated? If you’ve had your roof done, or will have your roof done, be sure find the best roofing company in your area that will make sure your attic is well insulated. Sealing off attic bypasses are a good start, an attic bypass is a passage where warm air leaks into the attic of a home. These bypasses are located in a few locations around your roof and interior home. Checking for gaps around furnace vents, electrical boxes, plumbing vents, electrical wires that go into the attic, and sealing up even the smallest of gaps.

Humidity

Lowering the humidity in your attic and whole house can help lower the chances of frost developing inside your attic. Often times we find that when people use a whole home humidifier, frost problems develop and it is impossible to seal off every bypass. Purchasing a humidity meter for your home and attic is a small expense that can save you thousands in the long run.

There are numerous ways to lower the humidity in your home, purchasing a dehumidifier for your attic is a good start. If your kitchen is equipped with a gas stove, try and remember to turn the exhaust fan when cooking. A good amount of moisture is put in the air from a gas stove and the fan will help get rid of it. When you and your family are showering always turn the bathroom fan on, if you don’t have one think about installing one. Even just a 20 min shower pumps a considerable amount of moisture into the air and eventually up into the attic. If your home has a crawl space, check to be sure that there is proper vapor barriers installed.

Best Time for Roof Installation?

October 25, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Typically, asphalt roof shingles should be installed between 50 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Even high quality asphalt shingles can crack when hammered, and when installing in the wrong temperature can cause breakage. This is one of the biggest problems when you install asphalt roof shingles when it’s under 50 degrees (no lower than 45 degrees). With that said, winter is often a great time to get a good deal on a new roof but your local roofing contractor will need to wait until the temperature is in the right range before scheduling an installation date.

Routine roof maintenance and periodic replacement by your roofing contractor are important for maintaining the structural integrity of your home. Your roof defends your structure from the elements and keeps you and your family safe. Leaks and poor construction can cause severe damage, including improperly-channeled water runoff that erodes the foundation of your home, water ponding on the roof that can cause sagging and leaks, and even paint damage to the exterior walls of your home.

Whether you require minor roof repairs and/or a complete roof replacement, the question is, which season is best to make the call to your local roof installation and repair contracting company?

The best time of the year to have your local roofing contractor install your new roof may not be what you think. Let’s try to determine the best season!

Winter

Snow, ice, and sleet in the winter months make it difficult to have roof work done—especially a complete roof replacement. In the frigid Northeast, (like here in Albany, NY) sealants will not adhere as effectively during winter, and roofing shingles will take much longer to set. For this reason, most roofing contractors will recommend that you wait until the temperature rises to have roof work done, unless it’s an emergency situation that you will not want to run into.

Spring/Summer

Although there might be a fair amount of rain during the spring and summer months, overall the weather is typically better during these seasons. Your local roofing contractor will agree that weather is of course a huge consideration when it comes to roof work. Spring and early summer are typically the most cost-effective times to have your roof repaired or replaced, as it is generally a slower season for local roofing companies, and materials and labor costs tend to be lower. Most local roofing companies tend to pick up later into summer, so then you may have to wait a few weeks or a month to get a roofing contractor out to your home. Please be mindful that temperatures and humidity levels may soar in late summer, which could limit the amount of time workers can spend each day on the job and possibly add several days to the project.

Autumn

Most local roofing contractors will say Autumn is ideal to have roof work done. The weather is not severely hot or humid, and the heavy downpours of rain have not yet begun. Roofing contractors can work full days on your roof without the threat of heat exhaustion or freezing. This means they can get the job done much more quickly, limiting the inconvenience to you and your family. Another benefit of installing a roof in the fall is the impact on the roofing materials. I particular, shingle roofs need time to seal and create an airtight barrier. Frigid temperatures in the winter months or heat and humidity in the summer make this process more difficult. Autumn can be thought of as the “Goldilocks” season: Not too hot, not too cold, it is just right. Having roof work done in the fall also eliminates any additional stress. You would not have to worry about whether your roof will make it through another winter season without major issues.

Is Replacement needed?

Your local roofing contractors will agree that a very common error homeowners make is putting off their roof replacement even when it’s long overdue and there are already signs of problems. As mentioned earlier, a major leak or storm could cause severe damage to other parts of your home and creating a big financial mess. Roof replacement is a notable expense, but also a significant investment in your home. Roof Replacement helps preventing secondary damage, it adds to your property value, and provides you with peace of mind. Replacing your roof before an emergency arises allows you the time to research your local roofing companies and make an informed decision. Please do not wait until it’s an emergency to have your roof repaired or replaced! Planning ahead is always the best choice.

How to Weatherproof a Roof

March 19, 2019 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Weather is an extremely strong force of nature, every year there are thousands of weather phenomenon that occur throughout the year that cause damage in many ways. Businesses, people’s houses and things they own get destroyed due to these storms. You as a homeowner don’t want to be the person whose house and belongings are affected by the weather. Prepare yourself ahead for unpredictable weather. Start by weatherproofing your roof as that is the first thing that comes in contact with the harshness of weather and is most likely to be affected. Homeowners know that top quality roofing is what keeps your home dry and prevents any serious damage from weather, but even then quality roofing can only go so far to fight off the elements that it is put through on a daily basis. Without maintenance, even the good quality roofing can succumb to the forces of nature as easily as the low-quality stuff that most of us try to avoid. If your roof is a low quality you might want to think about replacing the entire roof and have a complete roof replacement done. On the other hand, if you already have a top-notch, durable and long-lasting roof and want to further weatherproof your home, we have some ideas that will help.

Deicing Cables

Serious buildups of ice are called ice dams, they can often overwhelm gutters and clog up your roof systems so that it doesn’t function properly. If ice dams is a problem you suffer from frequently then deicing cables is the perfect solution to your problem and will protect your roof. The cables are fairly easy to install and they work to break up the ice before it can build up too much. Deicing cables basically mean heating cables that run on electricity to warm up. When plugged in, it heats up to the ideal temperature to melt the ice. Installing deicing cables isn’t all too difficult—you can do them yourself as long as you are confident doing some hefty DIY projects and comfortable climbing up safely on the roof. The cables are mounted underneath existing shingles to keep them from causing a leak. Mount the cables in a series of locations over the section that builds up with most ice. Make sure that the cables dip down the gutter a bit and run it down through the downspout as well to help warm it a bit and to get the water to flow downwards and out the gutter. On the other side run the cable down to an exterior plus and plug it in when you need power and unplug when not in use.

Peel and Stick Underlayment

Most roofing companies use tar paper for their roof underlayment installation. It is cheap and is easy to put on. Cheap and easy doesn’t mean it’s the right option for your home. If you are considering having your roof replaced and have a new one installed, consider using the peel and stick underlayment. The installation for this product is extremely easy as it doesn’t require any nails or such. It works with a pre-applied adhesive that sticks when adhered. Peel and stick are also far more flexible than tar paper making it more resistant and durable over time. The best scenario would be to use this underlayment throughout your roof, but just putting it around the edges where the roof takes the most damage from ice buildup and wind would be ideal too. It sure is more expensive than using tar paper, but for the added protection and durability it is worth the added expense.

Upgrade Attic Insulation

Usually, attic insulation isn’t a big concern when it comes to weatherproofing your roof, but if you live in the northern areas and in the colder climate it does make a difference. Let’s say that your roof is covered in snow, and if too much hot air escapes through your roof the snow will melt and form ice. Ice forming on your roof is a problem that everyone should be concerned about as ice damages your roof. To avoid this issue, installing quality insulation in the attic will keep the heat inside reducing the chances of any ice forming on the roof and on top of that you would be reducing your heat bill as the insulation will keep the heat trapped in the house and letting it not escape. Less heat escaping would lead to using less heat, reducing your bills and saving you some money.

Install Gutter Guards

The gutters play a very important part when weatherproofing, they provide a way and act like a highway for all the water to go downspout and away from your home. Gutters need to be checked every season to make sure there is no debris clogging up the gutters. If there is that can create a problem. You want to avoid any of those problems by maintaining the gutters and adding extra safety measures to protect yourself from any mishaps happening in the future. If your house is surrounded by many trees and you are worried about leaves clogging up the way consider getting gutter guards. These grates or cages are installed over top of your gutters to keep leaves and other large debris from collecting, and the water keeps flowing freely underneath the guards. With gutter guards, most of the debris will fall on top of the guards and eventually blow off with the wind, anything remaining can be taken care of easily by a broom. They are also extremely easy to install and you can do that yourself.