1.  Will high pressure cleaning moss off the roof harm my shingles?  It is half the price of hand removal/wire brush.  What about moss preventatives?  Is it effective or not?

Pressure washing can damage shingle roofs.  It is best to get a company that uses high water volume with low water pressure.  Be sure to use a company that has been in business for some time and make sure the water is sprayed down hill and never up underneath your shingles.  Some companies use treatments that kill the moss and algae before they clean the roof making it easier to remove growth material.

2.  Our home is under a substantial amount of fir trees.  We get quite a bit of moss.  Is there a more moss resistant roofing material than regular composition roofing materials?  Please keep in mind the branch impacts with each storm.

Most roofing materials are not moss resistant.  There are a group of composition products that have copper-coated granules that will stop algae for a period of time.  Many feel that algae is a precursor to moss and that this is your best defense.  Tree debris will always be a problem for any type of roof and will facilitate moss growth.  The only real way of dealing with moss is to clean your roof once or twice per year.  Falling branches are a problem for any type of roof.  Composition would be the simplest to repair.

3.  Is it okay to put a new roof over the top of my existing roof?

Most roofing materials allow you to cover up your old roof.  And depending on where you live, some building codes will allow you to install up to a third layer.  However, it's a good idea to have your old roof removed so you can check for any damage to the roof decking.  It's always better to start with a clean, smooth surface.  That way, there is no possibility of the old roof creating bumps and imperfections in your new roof.

4.  Are there any good roofing alternatives that look like cedar shakes?

There are several roofing products on the market today with the appearance of wood shakes.  Metal, concrete, asphalt and composite materials can all be used to achieve that shake look.  Consult with us on your type of house, roof and budget, and we can help design a solution that is right for you.

5.  How do wind warranties affect my asphalt roof?

All asphalt shingles come with a wind warranty between 60 and 110 miles per hour.  That's some strong wind!  But most wind warranties are good for about five years, depending on the shingles' weight.

6.  What are the black streaks I see on older asphalt composition roofs?

Those streaks are caused by algae growing on your roof.  The algae itself is uglier than it is harmful, but it can promote future moss growth.  You're probably wondering what you can do to prevent it.

We carry a number of products that kill the algae growth with several types of asphalt composition roofs that come with copper coating granules.  These granules will help prevent the algae growth before it starts and have 10- to 20-year warranties, providing a wonderful long term answer to your algae problem.

7.  What are "architectural" shingles?

Architectural shingles, also called dimensional shingles, have a textured composition.  They come in a variety of shapes and warranties, and bring design to your roof.  Your roof is more than a covering and architectural shingles can help protect your home while topping it off beautifully.

8.  Do zinc strips help prevent algae and moss?  If so, do you seal them?   Size and other recommendations?  I have a new roof and I'm looking for some good problem preventative measures.

We do carry zinc strips.  They are 2 1/2" wide by 50' long.  Installation is recommended about 3' below the ridgeline with, at least, 2" of the product exposed.  Zinc is effective at retarding algae and moss growth.  The water that runs across the zinc forms zinc oxide which is the actual chemical that prevents this roof nuisance from growing.  The zinc strips are 99.5% pure zinc so it is a slow leaching process that takes place as it coats the roof.

8.  What about our skylight?  Does it have to be replaced?

Skylights are a great way to allow light into an area of your home that ordinarily would not have light.  However, between 8 to 10 years of age on a skylight, the argon gas filling the space between the panes of glass has, more than likely, dissipated depending on its exposure to the elements.  The other reason for considering skylight replacement is factoring that the skylight will have to be moved during re-roofing work.  The skylight must be lifted to be flashed and roofed around and then re-settled on the roof.  During even this small amount of movement, the seal, which has years of weather exposure tends to become brittle and may crack or shift when being moved to facilitate roofing.  More often than not, if there is shift or crack in the seal, the skylight will begin leaking and allowing water to get into your home causing damage.  These are the reasons why we recommend replacement of skylights older than 8-10 years, to better protect your home from the damaging effects of water.