Plain answers
These are the roofing questions Lee County homeowners ask us most, on the phone, in the driveway and halfway up a ladder in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Estero. Most are about the roof itself: streaks, tile coatings, skylights and the noises a house makes. Some are about the things around it, like solar panels, trees and leaks that turn out not to be the roof at all.
You don’t need any roofing background to follow the answers. If your question isn’t here, ask it at the free inspection and the crew lead on your roof will answer it. Planning work already? The services page explains each kind of job. Storm just passed through? Start with hurricane damage.
The questions
What are the black streaks running down my roof?
Almost always algae. It feeds on the limestone filler in shingles and loves warm, damp, shaded slopes, which describes a lot of roofs here. It looks bad but doesn't usually shorten the roof's life much. A low-pressure wash with the right cleaner removes it; a pressure washer strips the granules off shingles and does real harm, so keep it away from the roof.
Can a concrete tile roof be painted or sealed?
Yes, and in many associations the colour has to be refreshed every so often anyway. A proper tile coating is applied after a clean and any broken tiles are swapped. It changes the look and can slow fading, but it doesn't fix the underlayment underneath, which is what actually keeps water out of a tile roof. If the underlayment is near the end of its life, paint is money spent on the wrong layer.
Is drip edge something I need?
On a shingle roof the code calls for it. It is the bent metal strip along the eaves and rakes that steers water into the gutter and away from the fascia board. Older roofs were often built without it, which is why so many fascia boards here are soft at the corners. Every re-roof we price includes new drip edge.
Can I add or remove a skylight when the roof is replaced?
That's the best time to do either. With the old roof off, a new skylight can be framed and flashed properly, and an old leaky one can be closed in and decked over so nobody can tell it was there. Tell us at the inspection so it goes on the written price; the ceiling finish inside is usually a job for a drywall trade.
My house has solar panels. What happens to them during a re-roof?
They have to come off for the old roof to come off. A solar installer removes and stores them, we re-roof, and the installer puts them back on new mounts flashed into the new roof. We coordinate the dates between the two crews. Ask your solar company early, because their schedule is often the one that sets the start date.
Why does my roof creak or pop in the evening?
Usually it's the wood. Roof decking and rafters swell in the afternoon heat and shrink as the house cools, and the nails and joints tick as they move. It's normal and not a sign of damage. A new sound after a storm, or a creak paired with a sagging line on the roof, is different and worth a look.
Should I replace my roof before I sell?
Not always. Buyers and their insurers look hard at roof age here, so an old roof can slow a sale, but a new roof rarely returns its full cost in the price. Often a written inspection report, plus fixing anything that is actually leaking, does the job. We can give you both the repair price and the re-roof price so you can talk it over with your agent.
What is the difference between architectural and three-tab shingles?
Three-tab shingles are a single flat layer cut into tabs. Architectural shingles are two layers bonded together, heavier, with a shadowed look and higher wind ratings. Almost every shingle roof we put on is architectural, because the extra wind resistance is worth more here than the small saving on three-tab.
Do I need to trim trees before the crew arrives?
Anything touching or hanging low over the roof should be cut back. Branches scrape granules off shingles, drop debris into valleys and give rats a ramp onto the roof. It also gives the crew room to work and to set ladders. Palms and oaks near the driveway are worth a look too, since that's where the dumpster and trailer go.
Could my leak be coming from somewhere other than the roof?
Quite often, yes. A clogged air conditioning drain line in the attic, a window with failed flashing, a crack in stucco or a plumbing vent can all put water on a ceiling. Part of the inspection is ruling those out, and if the roof isn't the cause, we'll say so and tell you which trade to call.
What does "dried in" mean?
It means the deck is covered with underlayment and sealed well enough to keep rain out, even though the finished shingles, tile or metal aren't on yet. On a re-roof we only strip as much as we can dry in the same day, so the house is never left open overnight.
Do the vents and pipe boots get replaced with a new roof?
Yes. Pipe boots, vents and flashing cost little next to the roof itself and are among the first parts to fail, so reusing old ones on a new roof makes no sense. They are listed on the written price with everything else.
