When a Roof Replacement Isn’t Worth It

As a homeowner you occasionally, and probably more than you’d like to, find yourself stumbling upon things that need repair or replacing. A roofing problem, such as leaks or missing shingles, is one such thing that can go wrong. With recent reports on increasing ROIs and federal tax credits for new roofs, replacing your roof might be a temptation. However, it is not always necessary. There are other options that are much more financially smarter while still preserving and even prolonging the lifespan of your roof.

Roof Coatings: A coating is a material painted over your current roof that provides more insulation and sun reflection, which helps by adding 25 years to its lifespan on average. An example of this type of roof is a cool roof. High quality coatings block all three forms of heat: UV, visible and infrared light. Preventing infrared light from entering your home is especially important, because it is responsible for about 57% of heat transfer into a building. Installing a coating to your roof means you don’t have to remove your current roofing materials, reducing the amount of discarded resources that end up in landfills. Better yet, coatings can be laid over any roofing material, so if your roof is made of metal, asphalt, wood or slate, installation is easy and affordable. In fact, a coating costs 75% less than replacing an entire roof. Additional benefits of a roof coating include preventing moisture build-up and migration throughout your home, decreasing HVAC costs up to 25%, controlling mold and mildew and resisting the spread of flames.

• Elastomeric coating: Best applied on flat or slightly sloping roofs, elastomeric’s top benefit is its advanced water proofing technology and durable rust prevention.
• Aluminum coating: For climates with hot summer heat and frequent summer storms, an aluminum coating is highly recommended. Aluminum does not crack or warp due to intense heat and holds up well against other elements, such as hail, strong winds or severe rain.
• Ceramic coating: Coatings are most commonly made of ceramic paint mixed with another ceramic compound. Unlike fiberglass, which only slows down heat transfer, ceramic is the best material for actually preventing the transfer into or out of the building.

Attic Insulation: A well-insulated attic can help slash AC and heating bills, so installing more or replacing older materials can save you money year-round. Extra insulation can also help to seal leaks that let air and rain into your home. Insulation materials work by slowing the conductive heat flow from the outside, to the roof to the attic. It also helps maintain your comfort by resisting the flow of heat between the exterior and interior of your home. Therefore, your house is working less to replace heat lost in the winter and to remove the heat gained in the summer. Choosing the type of insulation you use depends on where you want to install the installation, the thickness of the attic wall and the necessary R-value.

• Blanket insulation: The most common type of insulation in an attic is blanket insulation. Made of fiberglass, mineral wool and plastic and natural fibers, blanket insulation is relatively inexpensive and is installed between studs, joists and beams.
• Concrete insulation: Made of a foam board core, concrete insulation is placed on the outside of the wall in new homes, and the inside of the wall in older homes. The benefit of using concrete is that the material has a higher R-value than blankets, meaning it has a greater insulating effectiveness. However, its installation requires more specialized skills, most often meaning a hired contractor.
• Radiant Barriers: Radiant barriers consist of a reflective material that reflects heat from the sun as opposed to absorbing it into the house. However, this system does not reduce heat conduction as well as other materials.
• Loose-fill and blown-in insulation: The benefits of this insulation material is that it is the best materials for irregularly shaped and obstructed areas, such as an enclosed wall or wall cavity.

Advanced Window Systems would be honored to assist with any of your home improvement or roofing needs! Our installers are factory certified, ensuring you that you roofing job will be done right the first time. Contact us today for a FREE in home estimate! 860-829-8044.