Every single homeowner out there needs to take care of the roof. Everyone wants a roof that withstands the test of time. Unfortunately, it is possible to make so many mistakes and so many end up wasting money on various preventative measures simply because they neglected smaller investments that would have made the roof stronger.
Right now, there is a lot of excitement and buzz surrounding roof treatment products and roof sealers. These are designed in order to re-invigorate the roof with hydration so that brittleness is prevented. As a result, the lifespan of shingles is extended. But, is the investment worth it?
In order to measure roof sealer success, there are 4 important factors that we have to look at.
Pliability
A pliability test can be performed. It involves the untreated and treated shingles (they need to be the same age) being bent at 90 degrees. The test replicates wind damage and can measure roof sealer effectiveness.
If you perform the pliability test, you will notice that shingles always passed. This means that pliability is not a problem.
Fire Resistance
Roof treatment will not impact the fire resistance of your shingles. Also, roof coating will not increase shingle flammability, which is definitely a good thing.
Hail Damage
During winter, you should think about Christmas decorations, not a damaged roof. With this in mind, this is a test that is definitely important. With roof treatment, you should know that treated shingles show a lower impact depression. However, the difference is not that much when not treated.
Unfortunately, in the event that a hail storm hits, your roof will end up damaged and your insurer will not cover a full replacement. If you live in an area where hail is a problem, it is better to not use roof treatment as insurance companies will use the treatment as an excuse not to accept the claim.
Permeability Test
A shingle’s permeability will affect the amount of moisture that goes through. Treated shingles are less permeable. Even so, if the shingles are old, permeability will still be pretty high and replacements will eventually be needed.
As an example, the brand new shingle usually has a permeability rate set at around 0.9. After treating older shingles, permeability rate becomes 3.6.
Learn About Leaks
As you can see, roof treatment is not necessarily the incredible investment you might think it is. However, the truth is that it does add some extra protection. We can say that it will surely increase the life span of the roof. Even so, it is better to be aware of why roof leaks appear so that you can prevent this from happening.
Roofs leak because of the following reasons:
- Failing flashing – Remember that most roofs do not leak because of aging shingles. They are actually caused by an incorrect installation of flashing or failing flashing.
- Punctures – Punctures can be caused by wind, fasteners that go through shingles, wind, and other things. Whenever one appears, it is very important that you repair it as soon as possible. This is because one is a sign that there will be more that will appear in the near future. Replacements are much better than less costly options.
- Staining – An older roof tends to lose a lot of its curb appeal. This is in part because of granule loss, rust, algae, curling shingles, and staining. Using roof treatment is not going to solve such issues. The stain will just be coated and then locked in.
Conclusions
Because of all the facts we highlighted above, we can say that homeowners need to be really careful with roof-related investments. It is easy to put off a roof replacement for a very long time but remember that from a financial point of view, foregoing roof sealant is a good idea. You just go for a full roof replacement instead.
When the roof shows aging signs or starts to fail, do not neglect the inevitable. If you just use a temporary solution, you will end up losing a lot more money in the future. Roof treatment is a good extra to have but it should not be seen as something that will help you to avoid costly roof replacements in the future, especially when shingles are failing.
