Frequently Asked Questions

Most roofing materials are not moss resistant. Some composition products come with copper-coated granules that will prevent algae growth for a period of time. This may be your best defense against moss as many feel that algae is a precursor to moss.

However, with constant tree debris facilitating moss growth this is virtually unavoidable. The only real way of dealing with moss is to clean your roof once or twice per year. The impact of falling branches is a risk for any type of roof. Composition shingles would be the simplest to repair.

Those black streaks are caused by algae spores. This is more of a cosmetic problem than a danger to your roof, but algae can promote future moss growth, so it’s important to prevent it if you can.

In addition to zinc strips, we also offer a series of asphalt composition shingles with copper-coated granules. These granules will help prevent the algae growth before it starts, and as long as the roof is maintained properly, they should continue to work for 10-20 years.

The degreasers in today’s laundry detergents will actually eat through your roofing and cause numerous leaks in a matter of days. This used to be an easy, effective method for controlling moss and algae, but because of environmental concerns, laundry detergent no longer contains the fungi-killing phosphates it used to.

We can only suggest using products that are specifically designed to control moss on roofing products, and the one we recommend our customers use is Moss Out!

While it’s always better to start fresh, it is generally safe (with most products) to install new roofing material on top of the old. In fact, some building codes will allow a second layer. When you don’t tear off the existing material, damages to the decking and roof structure can go unnoticed. There’s also a possibility that the old shingles will create bumps and imperfections in your new roof. Tear-offs are always recommended.

There are several roofing products that can mimic the appearance of wood shakes. Concrete, asphalt, and composite materials can all be used to achieve that shake look. Based on the aspects of your home, roof slope and budget, we will help you find the right solution.

Skylights are a great way to bring natural light into the darker areas in your home. When a skylight gets to be 8-10 years old, however, they begin to break down, making it harder for them to survive a roofing project. When we replace a roof or make repairs near a skylight we have to lift and adjust it in order to re-seal the opening. When a skylight has weathered many years of exposure, its internal seal becomes brittle and may crack or shift when being moved to facilitate roofing.

This is likely to cause an eventual leak. Also, the argon gas filling the space between the glass panes dissipates after this much time (depending on exposure to the elements) reducing the skylight’s insulating power. For these reasons we generally suggest replacing older skylights during roof work.