2021 Spring Home and Garden

Page 30 2021 Spring Home & Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 22, 2021 Forty years ago asphalt shingles had a fiberglass core. Today’s shingles have a paper core. Shingles also now have less asphalt on them because asphalt has become a limited and expensive commodity. The quality and longevity of asphalt shingles has declined over the years. Weather, wear, and heat all take their toll on your asphalt roof. The best asphalt shingles (architectural 30+ year) on the best ventilated roof may last for 15 to 20 years, and the final years will give lower performance against leakage. High winds and hail will further shorten the life of the roof, often resulting in an insurance claim that will pay out based on how old the roof is. A five-year-old asphalt shingle roof will generally pay 50% of the cost of repair/replacement on an insurance claim, and with your deductible the rest of the repair cost will come out of your pocket. A different approach that is becoming more popular here is to cover your roof with steel instead of asphalt. The advantage of steel is more durability, longer lasting attractiveness, and more resilience against the elements. When people envision steel roofs, they often think of the vertical panels with seams that go up to the peak of the roof and come in solid colors. These steel panels are often used on farm building roofs. Looking at the vertical metal roof systems used on homes there are two types. Both high quality ‘standing seam’ and ‘exposed fastener’ roofs outperform standard asphalt shingles by better than two to one in terms of time, attractiveness, and protection. With these systems the steel panels are cut to size, fitted together, and screwed down to the roof deck or roof rafters. While this roofing alternative is often the most expensive alternative at the time of installation, it is not the best performer. As the steel panels age, they often get a scuffed, abraded, or dulled look. The advantage of these roof panels is that they can be repainted and resealed to bring back their luster and extend their life and protection. Another disadvantage is that just like an automobile in a hail storm, these smooth looking vertical steel panels often show the dings of large hail. And, aging panels with loosening screws can cause the seams to leak over time. Lower quality steel panels will rust with age and need replacing sooner. CONTINUED u