Frequently Asked Questions

Your shingled roof is very often overlooked until a problem occurs. When a new roof becomes  necessary, consider the options, as well as the criteria used to determine which system your roof is a candidate for.

All composition shingles are made with asphalt. The difference is the mat, which is inside of the shingle. The mat  holds everything together. Inside of a “fiberglass” shingle there is a spun fiberglass mat and inside an “asphalt” shingle there is what is called an organic mat. The organic mat is very similar to  a piece of cardboard. Both types of shingles are made with asphalt, the difference is what the asphalt is attached to.

There is a difference in the amount of heat that a dark shingle will absorb as opposed to a light colored one. Dark shingles absorb more heat, thus transferring more heat to your attic space. Light colors are just the opposite. There is a train of thought that says… Your dark roof absorbs more heat so it will wear out sooner. It is my belief that the quality of the shingle is the most important factor as to whether the roof fails prematurely or not. To deal with the heat transfer to your attic, from darker shingles, you must have your attic insulated and vented properly, thus keeping the attic air temperature as close as possible to the outside air temperature. The answer to which color to choose… Make sure you have adequate ventilation and insulation and choose a color you like!

Those square things, sometimes round spinning things, are air vents. There is also a type that is called “ridge vents” that are not as noticeable. Also there are attic power vents that kick on and expel the air when it reaches a determined temperature or humidity level. Ventilation is very important to the life of your roof! If your attic space gets too hot, the
heat, not only transfers down into your nice air conditioned living room, but it also builds up in the attic causing the shingles to get to hot from the underside, thus they will “dry out” prematurely. It is also important to have vents in your soffits or eaves and up towards the peak of your roof. This causes the air to move passively and won’t allow heat buildup. Also the movement of air in your attic can help prevent 
condensation during extreme cold outside air temperatures. During cold snaps the cold outside air mixes with warm moist 
air that escapes from your house through attic access doors, 
bath vents, poorly insulated ceilings, light fixtures housings,
and numerous other ways, causing moisture and frost in your 
attic space. It is very important to prevent conditioned air
from entering your attic space! Excess humidity in your home 
is not desirable! Also proper venting and insulating help prevent ice dams. Ice dams can occur when it is well below
freezing, but the snow on your roof still melts rapidly. 
The warm air escaping from your house melts the snow. 
The melting snow re-freezes when it reaches the overhangs 
of your roof where there is no warm air from your house to continue 
melting the snow, causing an ice dam to form higher and higher.
 A compounding problem!

Good question. There are so many I have trouble keeping up with them myself! The main thing is choose a shingle that has at least a 30 year warranty. Also in the rare instance you have a problem with your roof, you want a company that will stand behind it. We use shingles made only by quality manufacturers. There are standard 30 year shingles, dimensional shingles, also called laminated or architectural shingles or simulated wood shake shingles and many “designer” shingles. The dimensional shingles have a rougher look and generally come with a better warranty. There are 30 year through lifetime warranties in the dimensional shingles. The weight of the shingles usually go up accordingly with the length of the shingle warranty. There are wood, slate, simulated slate, concrete, metal, clay tile, simulated clay tile, WHEW! The list goes on and on. Now days, most home owners choose  30 year laminated shingles. If you have a reputable contractor install your new roof he can help you select the right roof for you.

Before we begin tearing off we take precautions to protect the landscaping by covering everything in harms way with tarps. We either lay tarps on the ground or stretch them down off the roof and over your landscaping. Some times plywood is leaned against the house for added protection where needed. On roofs that are easily walked upon, we tear off and carry the old shingles to the spot where the truck or dumpster is parked and toss the shingles in! Very little debris ever hits the ground!  If the job takes more than one day to complete the site  is cleaned daily. When the work is completed we do a final thorough cleanup. We run a magnet through the yard and drive way to get stray nails, rake up the smaller roof particles and clean out the gutters. Things the homeowner can do to help are, Make sure the grass is mowed, make sure leaves are raked so stray nails don’t nestle down in them. Have bushes and trees trimmed for easy access to your roof. We know you take pride in your home and we will too.

Yes. In all roofing jobs, some of the finer grit will fall between the  cracks of the plywood or plank board decking. In cases where  a vent system is installed, saw dust will fall into the attic.  We suggest removing or covering any items stored in the attic space if dust or debris accumulation is a concern.

Yes. On all roofing jobs there is a degree of vibration which comes down through the framework of the home. While it is not necessary to panic, it is recommended you safeguard fragile items such as glass globes on chandeliers, pictures which are not securely mounted to the wall, or the “old family heirloom” on the mantel. Items in the kitchen cabinets should not be affected, nor should there be a need to empty the china cabinet. If in doubt, take a few minutes to protect any non-replaceable items.

Most composition roofs last 15 – 30 years depending several factors. How long of a warranty did the shingles come with, how well the shingles were made, and how steep is the roof.  (Steeper roofs last longer). Signs that your roof needs replaced are… excessive granule loss that exposes the asphalt, (granules show up at the bottom of your down spouts), shingles blow off during wind storms more frequently, cracked or brittle shingles, curling shingles and a leaking roof.

The short answer is no, but it is better if someone is home. When someone is home you are assured that you will get an estimate for exactly what you want, and it is easier for us to answer any questions you may have. Most estimates
only take about 15 – 30 minutes. Our representatives are not pushy sales people. Our representatives are trained to listen to your needs, take all necessary measurements and give you an estimate for what you want. Most estimates are given at the same time we are at your home. If you need an estimate for specialty shingles or a custom order we will have an estimate for you within a few days. We want your experience with Peterson Roofing to be a pleasant one, including the estimate.

The simple answer is to ask around. Have they worked for any of  your friends or relatives? Are they certified by Owens Corning? Check with the Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, or with the building department. Ask for  references or if they have done any work in the neighborhood.  They should be able to come up with a few references right away. They shouldn’t require any money as a down payment. We hear stories time and again of home owners who give a deposit to the contractor and never hear from the contractor again! I know many contractors seem to be “nice” people and very trust worthy but don’t
hire a contractor without good credentials.

In some cases your insurance company will pay for a new roof.  Insurance will pay for a storm damaged roof, hail damage, wind damage tree damage etc. Many times we overlook our roofs after a severe storm and don’t think about it until a leak appears. Your roof could have damage from a previous storm that was overlooked. When in doubt it is best to call your insurance company and have them send an adjuster to look at the roof and advise you on the damage. Peterson Roofing works with most insurance companies and will do the required repairs specified by the insurance company, with no cost to you other than the deductible amount of the policy.

Peterson roofing charges on a per 100 square feet or “square” basis. Many factors determine the price of the roof. How steep, how big, how many stories, how many layers need to be torn off, how easy is access to your roof, what type of shingle, is there a need for wood replacement etc.? The average 2 bedroom 1 story home, not steep, tear off 1 layer and re-roof, 30 year shingle with easy access to the roof costs around $5000.00.  We charge fairly and honestly with all our customers and do not take advantage of any one. There are many unassuming people who have the misfortune of hiring the first contractor that shows up. The contractor, many times, is a high pressure salesman that tries to get as much money as he can with no regard for the various factors involved in estimating your roof. Rest assured that Peterson Roofing will only estimate on a” per square” basis and only for the work required. Peterson Roofing offers senior citizens discounts.

Most roofs take 1 to 2 days depending on the factors described above. The roof described above would take 1 day. A three bedroom house that is three stories tall with 3 layers of shingles removed and all new sheeting would take about 5 days. We clean up the job site daily if the job requires more than 1 day to complete. We remove only what we can put back on in the same day. That way we don’t have to worry about a storm overnight. Many inexperienced companies will tear everything off and realize they “bit off more than they could chew”. We see roofs  all over town that have tarps needlessly hanging off them for days and weeks. Tarps are not a sure fire way to keep out the rain overnight. A strong thunderstorm can rip a tarp to shreds if the tarp is not securely fastened down. Don’t run the risk of having your roof torn off and left uncovered overnight!!

Peterson Roofing guarantees all new roofs in writing for up to 20 years. Most companies give 1 or 2 year guarantees or none at all. We will guarantee to keep your roof in a watertight condition for up to 20 years. We believe in service after the sale. If there is any thing we can do to help you with roof concerns, we are here. Also, we keep very good records. If years from now you should sell your house and need information for the new owners we will have it. If you put a room addition on your house and want to know what color shingle to match, we will know. If you have a problem with your roof, for any reason, beyond the guarantee period, we will still help you any way we can. Many contractors are looking for any way to get out of their responsibilities. We will not let you go it alone even in the rare instance of material defects. We are here to help. Remember a guarantee is only as good as the person that stands behind it!