Roofing, Flashing, and Chimneys - Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, New York (NY)
Roofing, Flashing and
Chimneys used in the
Long Island New York Area.
The primary function of the roof system is to protect against and
manage the weather elements, particularly precipitation, thereby
protecting the interior and structural components of the home. For
the purposes of a home inspection, the roof system consists
primarily of the roof coverings, flashings and chimney.
In addition to protecting the interior elements of the home the roof
components should also be designed, in conjunction with the gutters
and downspouts, to direct rainwater and runoff off the roof, away
from the foundation area, to help reduce the potential for soil
erosion, compaction and water entering the basement area.
Because of the important functions this system provides, its
condition should be assessed regularly, and maintenance provided
when and wherever necessary.
Roofing:
There are two basic types of roof construction, sloped roofing (also
called pitched) and flat roofing. Most sloped roofs are covered with
individual pieces of roof shingling material overlapped to prevent
water penetration. Flat roofs are basically watertight membranes
that should have just enough slopes to allow water to run off. The
slope of a roof can be a factor in the life expectancy of the
roofing material. The life expectancy of a roof covering is also
dependent upon the type of material used, the quality of
workmanship, exposure to sun and wear from tree branches, snow/ice
and wind. For example, south and west roof faces have a higher wear
factor than north or east exposures, highly reflective shingles tend
to have a longer life expectancy, and cement or slate roofs last
much longer than standard asphalt shingles (and cost a lot more!)
Asphalt shingling is the most common roofing material used in
residential roofing on Long Island. Other types of covering for
sloped roofs include asphalt roll roofing, concrete or clay roof
tiles, wood shakes and shingles, and slate roof shingles. There are
also fiberglass shingles, metal shingles and metal sheet roofing
systems.
Flat roofs are built up with layers of molten asphalt and felts, or
covered with a membrane of modified bitumen or asphalt base, or
plastics or rubber. Most are heat-sealed and some are glued.
Flashings:
The purpose of flashings is to prevent the entry of water at areas
on a roof where two components join together or intersect (i.e. one
roof to another or a chimney thru a roof). Flashings can be
constructed of galvanized steel, tin, aluminum, copper, lead or
lengths of roll-roofing. The choice of flashing material will be
dependent upon the construction of the roof and the material used
for the roof covering.
Flashings will expand and contract, metal in particular, with heat
from the sun and air temperature changes. They are also expected to
move and stretch with typical building shifts. The areas where
flashings are required are typically very vulnerable to water
penetration. There is a high risk of water leakage and wood decay
from a damaged, loose or poorly constructed flashing. For all of the
above reasons, regular monitoring and routine maintenance of the
flashing areas is essential to preventing leaks.
Chimneys:
The most common materials used in chimney construction are masonry
and steel. Masonry chimneys can be brick, block or stone and are
sometimes stuccoed. Chimneys often have more than one flue. A flue
is a separate and distinct channel for the smoke on the inside of
the chimney. In most cases, each appliance within the house must
have a separate flue. In certain cases, two gas furnaces on the same
floor within a house can share a common flue, as can a gas furnace
and a gas hot water heater on the same level. Some wood furnaces are
designed to share a flue with an oil furnace, if at the same floor
level.
Some flues are unlined in that there is masonry exposed on the
inside of the flue. Unlined chimney flues are most common in houses
built before the Second World War. These unlined masonry flues have
performed reasonably well for fireplaces and oil-fired furnaces;
however most have deteriorated beyond a safe condition. Gas
appliances require a suitable liner.
Flue can be lined with clay tiles or metal liner. For more
information about chimneys and chimney liners, refer to the
"Heating" sectioning.
Skylights:
Skylights are windows installed into a roof, where the ceiling is
vaulted with the roof, or where a well has been constructed thru the
attic area, to provide a passage from the ceiling to the roof
window. Ideally, skylights should be installed on curbs, projecting
at least 6 inches above the roof surface, in order that proper
flashings can be applied. Some skylights are manufactured with
built-in curb and flashing assemblies. Sometimes skylights are
installed flush to the roof. This configuration almost always leads
to water penetration at the joint between the skylight and the
roofing material. Frequent monitoring and regular maintenance of
this joint are essential to reducing the incidence of water
penetration.
Considerations:
The component of roofs that is most vulnerable to early
deterioration is the area around the flashings (chimneys, plumbing
stacks, the intersection of two or more roofs, skylights, etc.) It
is not uncommon for these areas to develop a leak well before the
rest of the roof material has aged significantly. Also, because
these areas are frequently made of metal they can be more
susceptible than the rest of the roof coverings to damage from wind
and expansion/contraction from freeze/thaw cycles. So while
flashings may appear fine on the day of an inspection and the roof
may be relatively young in age, the flashings should be monitored on
a regular basis (at least semi-annually) to detect any changes in
condition that may indicate maintenance or repair is necessary.
Leaks left unattended can cause serious damage to other parts of the
roof and structure.
Flat roof technology has been improving and some of the newer
methods are predicted to last longer with fewer problems. However,
as a generalization, flat roofs are more vulnerable to leakage than
sloped roofs. The traditional method of covering flat roofs with
built up material does work, but it has a shorted life expectancy
than some of the newer materials and there is an increased
possibility of premature leakage. A primary factor in the life
expectancy of a built-up roof is the workmanship of the installers.
Built-up roofs with excellent workmanship will last up to 15 years,
while the work of less skilled installers may develop problems in 5
years or less. A flat roof that is past mid-life may develop leaks
fairly quickly. Because of this behavior characteristic we recommend
monitoring of flat roofs to detect signs or symptoms that may
indicate imminent failure.
For more information, contact New Roof Long Island, a professional
roofing contracting company..
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