FAQs

The best practice to mitigate further interior damage is to place a bucket or container under the leak, if possible. Use cloth towels to dry up the area as much as you can and use a small sharp tool to puncture bubbles to allow water to drain. Please call our office during or after office hours, and we’ll respond within seven hours of your call, if not immediately.

To help assess your concern, we’d like to know how old your roof might be and if you’re calling about a commercial, industrial, residential or mobile home roof.

Yes. Depending upon your location, village or city ordinances, association covenants, and current roofing material, you can have another roof installed over your existing roof.

An overlay is completely satisfactory upon verification of your local ordinances. Usually, up to three layers are acceptable when talking about asphalt shingled roofs. We normally will not put on a third layer. An overlay is a less expensive way to re-cover your roof because the cost of labor for removal and disposal is not included in this method.

We are! There are those who pay for insurance and those who don’t. We are licensed, bonded, and insured for your peace of mind. There are those who commit to excellence and those who won’t. We are committed to excellence and attend trade seminars. It takes a lot more effort and time to be legitimate. Oregon CCB # 212076, Washington # ALLENER842O3.

Usually, here in the Great Northwest, where we get about three feet of water pounding on your roof every year, a roof will usually last between 22 to 25 years. Combine this rain element moss growth, and it won’t take long to learn why hungry roofing contractors are banging on your door.

As your asphalt shingles age, granules (colored ceramic) begin to slough off into your gutters, exposing the underlying asphalt and fiberglass strands. Light catches the fiberglass strands, and the glimmer can be seen from your neighbor’s driveway. It could even look like ice in the heat of summer. However, just because you see granules in your gutters doesn’t mean your roof is failing. Asphalt roofs lose granules all the time – the key is to what extent is it losing granules?

Another clue that a roof needs to be replaced is an unusual low spot between rafters. Of course, this is from an on-roof perspective – that is, unless your head keeps bumping into a prominent ceiling bulge in your front room. This has a noteworthy aspect because something has made the plywood sheathing fail, possibly from water getting under the shingles or poor ventilation.

It is noteworthy because a correction might need to be explored for your next roof, perhaps allowing your next roof to last another five or six years. This is in reference to ventilation.

Our beautiful gorge is a phenomenal wind tunnel. Not uncommon are 60+ mph winds. A lot of times, after a sustained wind episode, I get frantic calls.

It is completely reasonable to feel anxious when you and your neighbors exchange roof shingles in the front yard after a storm. You can feel some ease in anxiety because it’s common to have an underlayment layer under your shingles.

Unfortunately, there are some roofers out there who neglect to install underlayment. I will never understand it, but if you can see a color or just black under your shingles other than the color of plywood, I’d say you’re pretty safe for a time.

Synthetic or bitumen saturated paper (tar paper) is what repels the water. The main purpose of underlayment is a water barrier component. Although it’s not meant to act as your roof covering, it will temporarily keep the bulk of the water out until someone can re-install your shingles or put new ones on.

You can reach us by phone at 503-693-1948 or email at jean@allen-exterior.com.