Top 10 Roofing Questions Answered

1. How long does a standard asphalt roof actually last in Iowa?

The marketing materials will boldly claim "30-Year Architectural Shingles." This is a laboratory rating. In the reality of the Midwest, enduring brutal 100-degree summers, localized hail storms, extreme freeze/thaw cycles, and 60mph straight-line winds, a standard asphalt roof has a realistic functional lifespan of 15 to 18 years before the granular loss becomes critical.

Elite Class-4 Impact Resistant systems (like GAF Timberline AS II) can push that operational lifespan past 25 years, but expecting three decades out of standard builder-grade asphalt in Des Moines is a mathematical impossibility.

2. What is an ice dam and how do I magically prevent it?

Ice dams form when heat escapes your living space into the attic, melting the snow on the upper portion of the roof. The water runs down to the cold overhangs (eaves) and refreezes, creating a giant dam of ice that forces subsequent water backwards under your shingles and into your drywall.

The permanent cure is aggressively sealing attic air leaks and adding R-60 insulation to the attic floor, not just installing expensive heated zigzag cables on the roof line.

3. Is a metal roof truly worth 3x the cost of asphalt?

It depends entirely on your financial horizon. A true "Standing Seam" metal roof with hidden fasteners will outlive you (50-70+ years). It sheds snow instantly, possesses an absolute Class-4 impact rating, and cannot catch fire.

If this is your "forever home" or you are building an architectural estate, yes. If you plan to list the home on Zillow in 7 years, you will never recoup the massive ROI on a metal system.

4. Should I tear off my old roof or just lay new shingles directly over it?

Never execute a "layover." It is the ultimate indicator of a compromised, low-tier contractor attempting to artificially lower a bid.

Adding a second layer of shingles adds immense dead weight (thousands of pounds) to the roof trusses. It traps thermal heat, prematurely cooking the new top layer. Most critically, it prevents the structural contractor from inspecting and replacing the rotted CDX plywood decking underneath. It systematically voids almost all 50-year manufacturer warranties instantly.

5. Are architectural shingles significantly better than older 3-tab shingles?

Yes, overwhelmingly. Flat 3-tab shingles were historically rated for 60mph winds, making them prime targets for catastrophic blow-offs during intense Iowa derecho storm systems. Modern architectural (dimensional) shingles are fundamentally heavier, vastly superior in high winds (frequently rated up to 130mph), and provide a much deeper, richer aesthetic thickness to the home's curb appeal. We do not install 3-tab shingles under any circumstances.

6. What are the ugly black streaks on my roof and do they damage it?

Those streaks are an airborne algae called Gloeocapsa Magma. They thrive in humidity and specifically feed on the crushed limestone filler used in mass-produced asphalt shingles. While initially a purely cosmetic issue, over a decade they can slowly degrade the asphalt core. Elite modern shingles now include heavy copper-infused granules that systematically poison the algae upon rainfall, preventing the streaks from ever forming.

7. Do I really need to replace my skylights when I replace my roof?

Absolutely. A skylight is essentially a giant hole cut identically into the most vulnerable part of your water membrane. By the time your roof requires replacing (15 years), the rubber gaskets and localized step-flashing on the skylight are severely deteriorated. Trying to surgically retro-fit new, rigid roof shingles around an old, brittle skylight guarantees an expensive leak within 3 years. Replace the glass and flashing while the roof deck is completely open.

8. How does attic ventilation affect my roof's lifespan?

Without adequate high-velocity intake (soffit vents) and maximum exhaust (ridge vents), your attic turns into an oven in July, rapidly reaching 150°F+.

This intense ambient heat literally cooks the asphalt shingles right off the plywood decking from the inside out, causing the shingles to violently curl and blister prematurely. Every major shingle manufacturer (GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed) explicitly states that improper ventilation completely voids their 50-year warranty parameters.

9. What is "drip edge" and why is it legally required?

Drip edge is an engineered L-shaped piece of metal flashing installed firmly along the perimeter eaves and rakes of the roof assembly. It forcefully directs water to drip directly into the middle of the aluminum gutter. Without it, surface tension pulls the water aggressively backwards (capillary action) under the bottom row of shingles, slowly rotting out the expensive wooden fascia boards and ruining your soffits. It is a strict Des Moines building code requirement that low-bid scam roofers frequently "forget" to include on their estimates to artificially lower the price.

10. Will my homeowner's insurance pay for a new roof if it simply gets old?

No. Insurance is strictly designed to cover sudden, catastrophic "Acts of God" (like a massive May hailstorm or a tree branch impact during a tornado). It is absolutely not a maintenance policy.

If your roof is simply 20 years old and the shingles are cracking from granular loss and severe Iowa sun exposure, the massive capital replacement cost is 100% your responsibility. Furthermore, insurance adjusters frequently deny interior drywall water damage claims if their engineers prove you knowingly neglected a failing exterior roof membrane.