A huge hail storm hits Chicago 21 years into your 25–year warrantied roof. But your roofing company thought it would be a good idea to save $50 by using cheaper off-brand fasteners, so the manufacturer denies your warranty claim. Seriously? Yes.

Unfortunately, we see this happen all too often. Don’t get fooled by a roofing contractor who’s trying to save a buck to underbid a contract. Lang Home Exteriors installs roofing systems that use all of the required components from the manufacturer so that your new roof receives the longest non-prorated Warranty possible.

A Roofing System is a specific family of roofing products required by your area’s building code or by the manufacturer (usually both) for a properly installed roof that qualifies for the manufacturer’s warranty. Some materials can be substituted for other quality brands while others are an absolute must in order to have your roof warrantied. Smart homeowners know by now that they get what they pay for, and an underbid contract with cheap materials is no exception. When we install a new roof, while we love spending time with you, we don’t want to be fixing your leaks a year later! Or 20 years later for that matter! The right Ice & Water Shield can make all the difference for your home and your savings account a decade down the road.

We proudly & professionally install roofing systems from Owens Corning, Malarkey, GAF, Certainteed and Da Vinci and cedar shake.

Let’s break down each section of the roof so you know how to interpret each part of a proposal for a new roof.

Since the installation of your home’s last roof, some of the decking lumber that makes up the structure of the roof may have become weakened or rotted. We replace any rotted or warped lumber as needed, and don’t take any shortcuts. This ensures your roof is built on a frame with structural integrity and will last much longer.

A key component of any Roof is Ice & Water shield. It is installed on your eaves, valleys, around any roof structure penetrations like chimneys, and where your roof meets all siding. Shingles certainly repel water, but they are not impervious to absorbing a little water that can rest on the eaves. Enter Ice & Water shield: the component that most frequently separates the quality of Roofing proposals. Based on our experience in roofing, we recommend a little bit more than other contractors to ensure your roof lasts for its intended lifetime. This is to say, we don’t do the minimum, but we don’t give you anything we wouldn’t put on our own home.

According to one of the nation’s top shingle manufacturers, 60% of roofing contractors in 2018 are installing 15# felt paper. Felt paper will rot, buckle, and crack over time. For us, 15# felt is Deja Vu. We see it all the time when tearing off old or leaking roofs. We strongly recommend synthetic underlayment as the preferred underlayment component in any roofing system. Synthetic underlayment is a high performance product that may remind you of Tyvek or a camping tarp. It is just an extra measure of protection to keep your roof problem-free into its later years.

Aluminum Flashing is installed where different building materials come together – areas prone to leaking during rain or snow. Water can get through just about anything if it is given enough time. There are 4 general types of Aluminum Flashing that we install:

• Step/Wall Flashing protects areas where siding meets the slope of the roof.
• Counter Flashing is wrapped around chimneys and creates a seal with the shingles.
• Drip edge is installed on the gable ends of your roof – any lower edge of the roof that doesn’t fall into a gutter. It can help to protect the fascia on your gables.
• W-Valley Flashing is considered an “upgrade”. While regular shingle valleys work, aluminum (or copper) “W” valleys get rid of the water on your roof faster. They also have a nice curb appeal.

Lang Home Exteriors recommends the best shingle that will last the longest because it is backed with our workmanship warranty. While we have installed many types of shingles, we like to stick with the shingles that have passed the test of time and give your home value. Installed correctly, your new roof will look beautiful for years and give you peace of mind during a good Chicago storm.

While we install just about every type of shingle available, we most often recommend Hip & Ridge shingles as they are designed to bend and flex with the contours of your roof. The ‘Hip’ is the diagonal ridge created where two faces of the roof meet (Hips are the opposite of Valleys). Ridges are, well, the ridges along the top of the very roof. Some contractors cut corners by cutting up regular shingles and bending them around the hips and ridges. This is not at all how the manufacturers intended the shingles to be used. When contractors try to save a few dollars by cutting corners, they create longterm headaches for you as the homeowner. Cut up regular shingles used on hips and ridges crack and weather much faster resulting in your roof aging faster.

Hip & Ridge shingles are one of the required components for obtaining a long-term warranty.

Mushroom vents and Ridge vent are both used to properly ventilate your roof. Airflow or “breathing” is important for your roof to last its longest. Trust our specialists to recommend the proper amount and type of ventilation for your home’s design and style.

Lang Home Exteriors uses all components on roofs from the same manufacturer and installs materials according to their intended purpose. This ensures your roof will last for its expected lifetime and you receive the non-prorated warranty.