Top 10 Myths About Roof Maintenance

Roofing advice spreads quickly and gets corrected slowly. Ten beliefs come up on almost every job we attend. Some were sensible decades ago, some were never true, and several are quietly expensive.

1. Myths About Damage You Cannot See

The first three share one flawed assumption: that a roof which looks fine must be fine. Myth one is that no leak means no problem, when failed flashing pre-dates the first drip by months. Myth two is that a single missing shingle is cosmetic, when it exposes a nail line straight to water. Myth three is that dark streaks are dirt, when they are moisture-holding algae.

Roofs are systems, and systems fail quietly long before they fail visibly.

2. Myths About Cleaning and Repair

Well-meant maintenance causes a surprising share of the damage we are called out to fix. These four are the worst offenders.

• Myth four: pressure washing cleans shingles, when it strips the granules off
• Myth five: a new layer over the old roof saves money and does no harm
• Myth six: a tube of sealant is a permanent fix for failed flashing
• Myth seven: gutters have nothing to do with the roof

3. Myths About Cost and Coverage

The last three cost the most money. Myth eight is that every warranty covers the same thing, when materials and workmanship are two separate promises. Myth nine is that waiting for a storm will get the replacement paid for, when insurers cover sudden damage rather than wear. Myth ten is that more insulation solves everything, when packing it against the eaves blocks the ventilation your roof depends on.