Taking Care of the Roof on Your Colorado Springs Home

by: Mariana.Wagner on 2008-06-25 @ 5.52:30 pm

1. Know which type of roof you have.

Most homes in Colorado Springs have an asphalt/composite shingle roof. However, you will find that some new higher-end homes and some patio homes will have tile roofs, and some homes that were built in the 1970's and 1980's may have a wood shingle roof.

A wood shingle roof is not the best type of roof to have in the dry Colorado weather. Many homeowners are replacing their wood roofs with asphalt/composite shingle roofs- which hold up better, here.

2. Hail storms can damage roofs. Duh.

Spring (and even summer) can bring massive hail storms to Colorado Springs. Sometimes the hail can get to be the size of a quarter or even larger! After a major hail storm, you may want to have a reputable roofer come out and determine if any damage was caused by the hail. If there was damage, chances are your homeowners insurance will cover most of the repair or replacement of your roof.

Failing to repair a hail-damaged roof can result in major leaks and other problems down the road.

3. Too many layers of shingles are bad.

In most cases, only 2 layers of roof shingles are acceptable. Once a roof needs more than that, the whole roof will need to be stripped down and re-shingled. This is a MUCH larger cost. However, when a home buyer hires an inspector to inspect a home for sale in Colorado Springs, and there are more than 2 layers of roof ... chances are the homeowner/seller will have to do a complete "tear-down" and re-shingle the home to meet the local building codes before the home will "pass" inspection.

4. Skylights are potential roof problems

Improperly installed or old skylights are a hotbed for roof issues. In many instances where there is a leak or other issues on a roof that has a skylight, it is the skylight that is causing the issues. Usually it is the perimeter of the skylight that is the culprit. If you are looking to install a skylight to brighten up a room, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL so you can be certain that it is dome correctly.

5. Roofs need to breathe.

Proper ventilation is essential for a healthy roof and a healthy house. Not only can proper ventilation keep your Colorado Springs home cooler in the summer, it can help prevent the build up of moisture and damaging fungus, mildew and toxic mold.

If you are unsure as to the quality of your roof, contact a professional roofer. They can evaluate your roof and determine what, if any, preventative measures can be taken, or if you will need a new roof.

Roof cost estimations for an average 1,500 sf asphalt/composite shingle roof:
(Taken from the Idiot's Guide to Home Inspections)

30-year asphalt shingles: $1,000 for supplies
Install over initial layer: $1,500 and up for labor only
Complete tear-down and re-shingle: $4,000 and up for labor only
Damage repair, replace/repair rafters and sheathing, etc.: Prices vary dramatically depending on extent of damage.

Other resources for maintaining the roof on your Colorado Springs home: