Anyone who has built or bought a home will agree that the roof is one of its most important structural components, but at the same time, the most neglected. In building, it is rarely at the top of the priority list when developing plans and budgeting for the multitude of design and structural details involved. In buying an older home, concerns about the condition of the roof can be handled according to the terms of the DROA (Deposit, Receipt, Offer and Acceptance Form), which includes sections on home inspections and transmittal of warranties from the seller to the buyer.
Typically, people building a new custom home or doing extensive remodeling, including re roofing, will choose composition shingle if they are on a budget. Wood shake or shingle and tile have traditionally been preferred over composition shingle for upscale residences, but a number of new metal and asphalt products are becoming popular with builders and designers. “Lifetime” warranties are offered with Monierlifetile and some types of aluminum roofing, but such warranties are usually limited and very specific as to what is or is not covered in terms of repairs or replacement.
Although composition shingle may represent a significant saving for the builder or remodeled at the front end, the product may be warranted for only 20 years. Tropical Roofing and Rain gutters president Charles Beeck, the Building Industry Association’s “Remodler of the Year,” generally urges clients who are financing their new home or remodeling project to roll up the cost of a longer-lasting roof with the best possible warranties into their loan rather than face a major re roofing expense later.
“If you are planning to keep the home, it makes sense to choose a durable roofing product such as aluminum, tile or standing seam metal if you can possibly afford it,” Beeck said. “Wood and tile are appropriate for architectural styles, but some of the new aluminum shake roofing comes close to duplicating the look of natural materials and stands up against severe weather conditions. However, there are as many different kinds of warranties as there are types of roofs. Also, consider that a quality roofing material with a great warranty can be compromised by poor installation Conversely, an inexpensive roof that has been installed correctly and hurricane proofed may be able to survive the buffeting of high winds.”.

A more pervasive problem than high wind damage in Hawaii is moisture penetration through an improperly installed roof or leaking rain gutters, both of which can cause rot and termite infestation in the affected wood structural components of the house. “If people wait too long to trace and control moisture penetration, they can end up with really costly repairs involving the removal and replacement of shingles at the owner’s expense if the warranties have expires. If we find rot and termite damage after removing the roofing, rafters and plywood sheeting may also need to be removed and replaced, adding to the cost. When algae discoloration appears on a roof, the owner should have it cleaned and treated to add to its life. If a comp shingle roof needs to be repaired or replaced, it should be with the new algae resistant products. Monierlifetile can also be replaced… if the new tile doesn't’t match the existing tile, the entire roof can be recoated to give a uniform look, Beeck said.

Roger Green, owner of Hawaii Real Estate Inspection Service, points out that most homebuyers are primarily concerned about whether a roof has been inspected for leakage. “The majority of home buyers are not really educated about the structural features of a roof… for example, can it hold the weight load of the particular roofing material, has all the flashing been installed properly, does it have hurricane clips or strapping. If in preparing my home inspection report, I find evidence of moisture damage in the roof, I advise the buyer to contact a licensed roofing contractor for an evaluation. Leaking roofs will turn into damaged interior ceilings, create mold, and even compromise the integrity of the basic structure. When I inspect a roof, I also note whether it is truss or stick frame construction and check the spanning of the rafters, which is critical… if a roof is over spanned, it could, in the worse case scenario, collapse inward. Hurricane tiles and strapping are commonly used now to prevent physical damage to roofs during high wind conditions, but generally will not be found in older homes. Some insurance companies take into consideration whether a home has hurricane strapping in writing their policies.

Basically, all roofs have the potential of damage during high winds however, the home owner or a buyer should make it a point to become educated about such factors as how the roof was built as well as what's on top” Green said.

Roofing product warranties vary considerably in the area of wind resistance. An asphalt shingle produced by the Malarkey Company, represented in Hawaii by roofing specialist Mark Alexander, is warranted for high wind resistance up to 110 miles per hour. “With all roofing product warranties, there are limitations… the most important being their duration and strict adherence by the installer to the manufacturer’s specifications. The homeowner, home builder, or remodeler should require that the roofing contractor show them the manufacturer’s detailed installation requirements prior to the start of the project. Such items as the correct nailing of the product must be enforced, because failure to do so can invalidate the warranty. Even thought a roofing product may come with a warranty against high winds, hurricane straps and clips are still essential in securing the roof’s substrate. The biggest mistake people building, remodeling, or buying a home can make is choosing to remain ignorant of basic instructions and specifications related to the roof system. The subject is really not so complex. Buy taking a little time to understand it, home owners will be able to ensure that their roofing material is currently installed and that their warranty will remain valid Alexander said.