Guardian Roofing recently unveiled a program that will help Tacoma area homeowners in the area potentially save thousands of dollars in unnecessary roofing expenses. Guardian Roofing goal is to inform homeowners of the high probability that their existing roof may be costing them money.
“Our Money Monster Program is designed to alert homeowners to the likelihood that their attics may be poorly ventilated, which leads to problems such as roof warranties that are null and void much earlier than they should be, higher utility bills, and the possibility of early roof degradation and damage,” said Aaron Santas, owner of Guardian Roofing.
Statistics show that nine out of 10 roofs are not properly ventilated. While this statistic alone may not cause the average homeowner alarm, the consequences of improper roof ventilation should. The problems that develop from improperly vented roof systems include manufacturer warranties becoming void, dangers of mold and mildew growth inside the attic, shingles that literally “fry” on the rooftop, higher utility bills, and even damage from “ice dams” in climates that get a lot of snow.
Guardian Roofing Money Monster Program outlines the following problems that develop due to inadequate ventilation:
• Voided manufacturer warranties: many warranties include clauses that list “inadequate ventilation” as a condition that renders the warranty null and void. “Unless a homeowner knows how to calculate how much ventilation their roof system should have in order to meet a warranty, they have no real way of telling if their roofing warranty is in danger of being rendered worthless,” commented Santas.
• Higher than necessary utility bills: when air in an attic just sits there due to poor ventilation, it heats up during the hot summer months. That means it affects the temperature of the inside of the home as well, forcing the home’s air conditioner to work harder to cool the inside of the home. That translates to higher energy bills and possibly having to replace the air conditioner earlier than usual.
• Mildew and moisture problems: according to the EPA, when humidity levels in an attic rise above 50%, condensation can build up and that moisture can provide an ideal place for mildew or mold spores to grow. These conditions can present hazardous health issues for the family living inside the house.
• Roof damage including “fried” shingles: improper ventilation often results in a roof becoming hotter both under the surface and above the surface, which results in degradation of the shingle material. Not only does this type of damage nullify any warranty on the shingles, but it also can create problems inside the home due to leaks caused by the failure of the shingles.
• Ice dams: in cold climates that receive a great deal of snow, ice dams form when warm air in the attic melts snow on the roof. “This snow slides down toward the roof’s edge and refreezes, building up an enormous weight and damaging the shingles at the edge of the roof, as well as the gutters, and causes leaks which can lead to further expensive damage inside the home,” said Santas.
“All of these roofing dangers can be avoided with a proper attic inspection,” added Santas. An attic inspection by Guardian Roofing includes a detailed review of the dimensions, installation techniques, and current condition of the roof. “Our detailed 17-point Attic Attack Assessment will give you, the homeowner, an idea of whether or not your warranty is still valid and can save you major problems down the road,” added Santas.