New Roofing

To get a free estimate on your new roof or roof repair project, or even just to discuss the best ways to accomplish your goals, please call Summit at call 703-368-7483, or email us at info@summitroofing.com.
Summit Roofing Contractors is pleased to provide you with the following new roof information as part of our ongoing effort to educate our home and building customers about roofing, replacement roofing, and roofing contractors. We hope this information will make you a more knowledgeable consumer and, when the time comes, a smart roof system buyer.

To re-roof your property requires a significant investment, and we want to help you get a quality new roof system, at a fair price, from a professional roofing contractor.

To get a free estimate on a new roof or roof repair, call 703-368-7483, or email us at info@summitroofing.com.

What do I need to know about roof replacement?

	Granule Loss New roofs begin aging immediately. The shingles are still “curing.” They lose a noticeable amount of granules after a short exposure to sun and weather.
	Curling, Blistering Temperature changes cause shingles to curl—especially in cold weather. Heat can cause blistering.
	Cracking, Staining, Failure Algae causes dark brown or black streaks. As shingles become more brittle they can crack. Wind, hail and heavy rain can cause failure.
	Bald Shingles It is time to replace the shingles when black asphalt shows because most of the granules have been washed away.
	Open Blisters An open blister means that the shingle will continue to get worse. Replace quickly to prevent water getting under the shingle and doing more damage.
	Ice Dams Snow and ice become trapped on the roof. Improper ventilation in the attic causes the heat from the house to melt the snow and ice next to the shingles and water backs up under the ice dam and soaks through the roof to cause damage. Top of Page

We have good answers to hard questions:

Stack—a plastic or metal vent pipe from a sewer line, furnace or water heater that penetrates the roof.

Summit Quality Point: We install flashing at EVERY roof penetration.

Ridge—the very top or peak of the roof.

Summit Quality Point: We offer a ridge ventilation system that provides the best way to provide added comfort to your home, reduce energy consumption, and protect your home from damage by weather.

Flashing—a flat sheet of metal or plastic that is nailed or glued over the cracks between
• a chimney and the roof
• a wall and the roof
• or in the valley between two roofs

Summit Quality Points: We replace ALL of the old flashing. Our foreman inspects every foot of flashing before the work crew lays the new shingles. Metal counterflashing will be replaced when necessary.

Valley—the Vee-shaped joint between two sections of the roof

Summit Quality Point: We install flashing AND underlayment in all of the valleys on your roof. Not just one or the other.

Underlayment—a special waterproofing material installed over the wood roof decking and under the shingles. It is the last line of defense against leaks—stops the water if an ice dam occurs.

Summit Quality Points: We use fiberglass reinforced underlayment instead of organic felt that may bubble or wrinkle. We install underlayment under all metal flashing and counter flashing at EVERY roof penetration. We install it anywhere the roof pitch changes, in valleys, and at joints with building additions. We install underlayment along the eaves and at short cornice projections.

Dormers—special rooms or windows that have their own small roofs. They take more time and materials to roof, thus are add to the cost of the job.

Summit Quality Points: Before we begin, we carefully inspect the dormer roof. Each dormer is completely checked after our work for quality workmanship and attention to detail.

Fascia—facing board, the vertical edge or face, located at the bottom of the roof.

Summit Quality Point: We inspect every inch of your fascia boards for signs of physical damage. We re-nail or replace loose boards and inspect them for signs of ice dam damage.

Soffit—the underside of the eave or cornice. It provides ventilation holes for air flow to keep the underside of the roof dry and cool.

Summit Quality Point: We inspect the soffits for physical damage and to make sure that the vents are clean and clear. We ensure that air flow is adequate to provide proper levels of ventilation.

Gutter—carries away rain water.

Summit Quality Points: We inspect old gutters for signs of prior ice dams. We make sure they are sound, properly aligned, clean and clear of debris. We repair or replace gutters and fit them with screens to keep out leaves or other debris.

Eaves—the lower part of the roof that extends beyond the side of the house.

Summit Quality Point: We carefully inspect the eaves for and repair any physical damage caused by leaking shingles or ice dams, and to ensure proper ventilation.