Roofing 101, Part 1: The Importance of Leak Barriers

In a nutshell, a leak barrier is a product that works to prevent leaks caused by ice dams and wind-driven rain. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms on the edge of a roof — preventing snow from draining from the roof when it melts. Wind-driven rain is rain that blows horizontally, which can find its way in-between shingles. As you might imagine, it’s best to avoid both of these issues, and this is where leak barriers come into play. WHERE SHOULD LEAK BARRIERS BE INSTALLED? Here is a list of the most at-risk points of a roof that can benefit from leak barriers: Rakes Eaves Around the chimney Valleys, which are the places where two angles of a roofline meet Anywhere fasteners are implemented The perimeter edges of roofing Any low slopes on the roof, because run-off can be more slow in these areas In some cases, it might be good to consider placing leak barriers on your entire roof — depending on things like climate and overall roof slope; since

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Telltale Signs that Your Roof is Not Energy Efficient

Your roofing is an extremely important part of your home, which is why it’s so critical to keep it in good working condition.  In our last article, we talked about the 7 steps to keep your roofing healthy. We’re continuing our discussion on roof health here, pointing out the top signs that your roof may be providing poor energy efficiency by losing heat. Let’s jump right in! Where’s the Snow? Snow on the roof during a Wisconsin winter is normal. And although too much snow could damage your roof (which is why it may need to be carefully removed with a snow roof rake, or by a professional), if the snow is melting as soon as it lands on the roof — this can mean that heat from inside the home is escaping through the roof, making the roof warm enough to melt the snow. This typically occurs because of poor insulation. You Notice Damaged or Missing Shingles Well-crafted asphalt roofing is meant to last between 15 to 30 years. That said, eventually shingles start

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Preparing Your Roof for Fall: 7 Steps to Keep Your Roofing Healthy

At Legacy Exteriors, one of our favorite projects is new roof installation. That said, we’re also big proponents of helping Dane County homeowners keep their roofs in tip-top shape, so the life of their current asphalt or metal roofing can be extended. Before we get started with the DIY list of keeping your roof healthy, it’s important to determine whether or not you are actually willing and able to perform the inspection, clean up, maintenance and potential repairs. If you are, read on. If not, consider hiring a local, reputable roofing company to come out and at least perform a roof inspection on your home. If you do this, keep in mind that you should NEVER have to pay for a professional roof inspection, which is why our inspections are always complimentary. If you do choose to perform the following tips yourself, make sure you have the proper equipment, gear, and physical ability to do the work — and that you have a spotter for your ladder. Otherwise, we recommend hiring a professional. Roof Inspection

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The Different Types of GAF Roofing Shingles, Part 2

In Part 1 of our series on the different types of GAF roofing shingles, we covered the first five types of shingles in the GAF collection. In Part 2 of the series, we’ll dive into the remaining five products — offering an overview of each product, as well as the warranties that come along with them. On that note, as with the first five types of GAF shingles, each of the following products has amazing warranties that provide peace of mind. Let’s dive into Part 2 … Woodland® These shingles feature a hand-cut European look, and they cost considerably less than traditional slate or wood shake shingles. Benefits Include Advanced Protection® Shingle Technology delivers outstanding protection for your home Highest roofing fire rating:  UL Class A, Listed to ANSI/UL 790 Artisan-crafted shapes, combined with oversized tabs and a dimensional design, for sophisticated beauty Included Warranties StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty Lifetime Limited Warranty DuraGrip Adhesive Slateline® These shingles have bold shadow lines, as well as tapered cut-outs, for the look of slate at a

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The Different Types of GAF Roofing Shingles, Part 1

In addition to being America’s #1 asphalt roofing brand, GAF is well known for offering a variety of shingles products to meet a homeowner’s aesthetic and budgetary needs. And all GAF products come with amazing warranties, too, for extra peace of mind. In this two-part series, we’ll be covering all ten of GAF’s asphalt shingles offerings, as well as the warranties that come along with them. Let’s get started with the first five GAF asphalt roofing products … Timberline HDZ® This is GAF’s #1 selling asphalt shingle. It features High Definition® color blends coupled with industry-leading warranties. Benefits Include High-definition color for exceptional depth and dimension HDZ is engineered for easy, precise installation Includes advanced algae protection Included Warranties  StainGuard Plus™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty Layerlock™ Technology DuraGrip Adhesive Timberline UHDZ® “UHDZ” stands for Ultra High Definition, and that’s exactly what these shingles provide, along with a beautiful aesthetic, and a long list of benefits. Benefits Include Timberline UHDZ is a premium laminate shingle, and is a heavier grade than the

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