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For many years, flat or low-slope roofs were a maintenance problem in the rainy northwest. The built-up asphalt roofing used in the past wasn’t long-lasting and often leaked. But today that’s all changed. Low slope roofing systems now use a membrane made from a continuous roll of material such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or TPO (thermoplastic olefin). When professionally installed, these low-slope roofs provide good drainage, as well as energy savings, fire resistance, and long life.

You are preparing to list your home, but you have a dilemma. The house you are selling has an older roof that probably needs replacing or extensive repairs. Do you make the large investment to replace the roof before putting the house on the market? Or, do you leave the roof as-is and hope the buyers don’t negotiate too low a selling price?

Do you dream of a home or office drenched in natural light? Adding more natural light helps you be more productive, happier, healthier and calmer. Installing skylights and sun tunnels can reduce the effects of certain afflictions, such as winter depression and seasonal affective disorder. And adding natural light saves on energy bills.

When protecting the investment you’ve made in your home, keeping gutters clean seem like such a small issue. Yet clogged gutters can cause enormous damage to your roof, attic, ceilings, walls, landscaping and foundation. The silent damage done by clogged gutters can be very expensive to repair. Long-term water damage can even cause your house to collapse.

If your roof has been heavily damaged by high winds, hail, snowstorm, rain or other acts of God, you urgently need to repair or replace it quickly, before further damage is done. To get your homeowner’s insurance to pay for a roof replacement, you’ll need to review your homeowner’s policy, work with a certified roof inspector to identify damage, document the damage, contact your insurer, and file a claim.

The first step to finding out whether you need a new roof is to physically inspect your roof, from both the inside and the outside. Just because you find roof damage, you may not have to do a full roof replacement. You might be able to just do some repairs. The age of your roof is a big determining factor on whether you need a new roof.

For decades, three-tab asphalt shingles were the most popular roofing material. In the 1970s thicker shingles started being manufactured that imitated the 3-dimensional profile of natural wood or slate shingles. Today, you can choose from several styles of man-made asphalt shingles, as well as natural roofing materials like wood and slate.

A solid roof above your head is crucial if you want a warm, cozy, leak-free home. Here’s some potential problems with roofs and whether these issues are serious enough to require a new roof or just a roofing repair.

Beauty and livability of geodesic dome home optimized using industry-leading technology, attention to detail & craftsmanship. It’s a bit of a shock when a home owner says, “We’ve lived in our wonderfully unique home for 25 years, and this is our first real roof.” You’d never know it, looking at the immaculate, brightly colored roof, roofline trim details, and perfectly matched shingle cut lines.

“When we were first contacted by the Board of Salem’s First Christian Church, recalls Trever Pfeifer, “they made it clear that they wanted a state of the art roof that would be durable, energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing for the church that had served as an architectural and social anchor in downtown Salem since 1952.” A pitched roof with three layers of shingles, original shiplap sheathing, and a shallow, un-insulated space between the roof and the cathedral ceiling made for significant challenges.