Are fiberglass shingles all that they are cracked up to be? This is exactly what has been observed over the past ten years. Vertical and horizontal cracking in some fiberglass shingles can eventually lead to leakage through the roof.

What does this mean to the consumer? The average shingle, fiberglass or asphalt, is designed to last about twenty years. Most fiberglass shingles have not yet reached this age to be able to say they are wearing as well as asphalt shingles.  The deign and goal was for them to last longer, showing less wear. What we can say is that we inspect homes with fiberglass shingles every day. Many of them have reached fifteen years old or more, and the majority of them appear to be wearing as well or better than many asphalt shingles.

Most manufacturers give some type of warranty on their roofing materials. This means that a homeowner with defective fiberglass shingles may have some type of recourse, either in a cash settlement or replacement of the roofing materials (labor is not included). The degree of recourse depends on the age of the shingles.

The warranties on roofing materials normally cannot be passed on to a second owner. Therefore, problems with fiberglass shingles found during a home inspection should be addressed by the present owner prior to the sale to diminish repair costs as much as possible.

ICE DAMS

When cold weather is upon us,  ice dams are a problem for many home owners to cope with. Leakage from ice dams occur when the temperatures rise above the freezing point and the melting snow and ice is blocked from freely flowing off of the roof, into the gutters and down the leaders to the ground. Unable to properly flow off the roof the water backs up under the shingles and into the house below. An inadequate amount of insulation and ventilation in attic areas can also cause leaks from ice dams. Heat rising from the house being trapped in the attic area can heat the under side of the roof, melting the snow and ice above. The water produced cannot flow freely past the snow and ice at the colder edges of the roof. Leaks from ice dams are usually found in the corners of walls and ceilings that boarder the lower edge of the roof, areas below roof valleys, areas below exterior walls and roof line intersections and below roofs with a minimal pitch. In order to protect a house from ice dams some precautions can be conducted. Proper insulation and ventilation in the attic area will help. Gutter heaters are some times used. If they are, they should be installed according to all local codes and manufacturers recommendations. When new roof coverings are installed a water and ice shield should be installed at the bottom edge of the roof and in valleys (where two roofs intersect). This material protects from leakage much better that normal tar paper. It is much thicker and the asphalt material seals around the nails from the roof shingles creating a virtual waterproof layer in vulnerable areas of the roof.