Some indications of excessive moisture problems include: rust, moisture or frost and ice buildup on roofing nails; dark stains, moisture or frost on the roofs sheathing; water or drip marks scattered on the attic floor; buckled or damaged roof sheathing; moist or wet insulation.  These signs can vary contingent on the catalyst of problem and are generally worse on north facing or shady sides of roofs.

Moisture accumulation is most significant when outside temperatures are very cold because air can hold less moisture as the temperature decreases.  If there is excessive moisture accumulation in your attic it will condense on cold areas mainly on the underside of your roofs deck.

During the winter months the recommended relative humidity inside of a house is anywhere between 30-50 percent.  At higher levels relative humidity condensation can even occur inside of the house on windows, cold walls or ceiling surfaces.  Depending on how tight a house is constructed and the outside temperature, even a relative humidity of 30 percent may be too high.  Condensation may occur at low levels of humidity on single pane windows or windows that are not sealed well.

Sources for moisture in a home can vary.  Some of the common sources are baths, showers, dish washers, washing machines, dryers, cooking, unvented gas or kerosene space heaters and over use of humidifiers.  Even the average person produces about 3 pints of water a day while breathing. These sources are generally not a huge contributor to excessive moisture in the house or attic unless the amount of moisture is unusually high, the house is extremely tight, or proper venting is not used.

Another less noticeable common source of moisture accumulation is water moisture penetrating through foundation walls and floor slabs.  Even when basements, floor slabs and crawl spaces do not appear excessively damp they can be a significant source for moisture.  Because of the relatively moderate temperature in these areas moisture can go unnoticed and may not cause any problems in these areas.  As the moisture migrates upwards to the colder attic areas during the winter months, the relative humidity is increased to the point that condensation can occur on cold surfaces.  This can result in mold, rust and deterioration of wood and structural fasteners.

A simple qualitative test can be performed to see if moisture is passing through a foundation wall or floor slab.  Take an 18 by 18 inch square plastic sheet and tape it tightly to the concrete and leave it in place for at least 16 hours.  The presence of moisture under the plastic sheet is a positive indication that excessive water/moisture is likely present in the slab.  However, a negative indication is not an assurance that the slab is acceptably dry below the surfaces.  It is recommended to perform this test in several different locations.

How does moisture rise from the basement to the attic? In the winter your homes heating system warms air throughout the house.  When water-moisture meets the warm air it evaporates. Moist air has a lower average molecular weight than dry air, so it is less dense.  If the top floor of the house is not sealed tight, warm air will escape causing the pressure inside the house to decrease resulting in air infiltration from openings at the lower sections of the house.  Infiltration can be caused by wind, negative pressurization of the building, or by air buoyancy forces also known as the stack effect. Any water vapor in the warm air rises until it reaches the cold roof deck area at which point it cools and condenses back to a liquid phase.

Most of the openings that allow air to escape into the attic can easily be overlooked.  Some of the more common examples of openings found in a house include: Gaps at pull down attic stairways or other access openings; gaps at the tops of the exterior and interior walls; poorly sealed ductwork; opening in ceiling at wall cavities above stairways and closets.  A considerable amount of air can leak through relatively small gaps and some openings can provide a direct path from the basement or crawl space directly to the attic.  Air infiltration is also a common cause for heat loss and can significantly increase heating cost.

How do you resolve excessive moisture in your attic?  Most will recommend increasing ventilation in your attic if ventilation is inadequate.  However, this often does not solve the problem.  Increased ventilation alone will increase exfiltration of air lowering the temperature of the attic.  This may increase condensation and lower the effectiveness of the insulation.  Also, because airflow is not uniform significant condensation may still occur.  A moist attic means moist insulation, and moist insulation is less effective.

The best solution for controlling moisture is at its source.  If the problem is the result of water-moisture penetrating the foundation or floor slab there are many remedial actions that may help.  These can include: installation of seamless gutters and downspouts; if you already have gutters and downspouts make sure they are cleaned and working properly; re-grading the property near the perimeter of the foundation; sealing foundation walls or floor slabs; using a dehumidifier; installing a perimeter draining system.  Because of the many conditions that can cause foundation water-moisture penetration and the many solutions, each house should be individually evaluated to determine the cause and the best possible solution for the problem.

After water-moisture penetration is controlled as best as possible, the next approach to reducing attic moisture is controlling air infiltration.  Simply by sealing the various possible paths of air leakage already discussed, infiltration will be reduced therefore restricting the movement of air and eliminating the stack effect.  Most handy homeowners should be able to handle this part on their own.  If not, there are many weatherization contractors available to complete this type of project.

Keep in mind when air leaks are properly sealed reducing air infiltration into the house the relative humidity is higher.  This moisture is contained to the living space where it is desirable during the winter months.  Tighter homes have reduced heating and cooling costs and are generally more comfortable.  If a home is too tight the need for mechanical ventilation might be necessary to assure that moisture or pollutants do not accumulate to unhealthy levels.  This is not a concern for most homes even when properly sealed.

Now that the house is properly sealed it is crucial to verify the attics thermal insulation is adequate and properly installed.  The insulation on the floor of your attic needs to have an approved vapor barrier installed on the warm-in-winter side of the insulation.  In most cases rolled or batt insulation will have a vapor barrier already attached.  On the vapor barrier the insulation should be labeled at least an R-30.  If that number is lower than you should add more insulation.  If the attic has blown in cellulose check to see if there is a vapor barrier and that the cellulose insulation is spread evenly throughout the attic floor.  Attics with pull down attic stairs should have attic stair insulation covers installed.

The final step is the attics ventilation.  Attics need to have a balanced ventilation system consisting of an intake and an exhaust.  The soffits work as the intake and roof vents or ridge vents work as the exhaust.  This installation method actually promotes the stack effect to continuously move the air contained within the attic. When a properly balanced roof ventilation system is installed the breeze that blows across the ridge of the house causes air to be drawn from the roof or ridge vents.  The air is replenished through the soffit vents.  When installing a balanced ventilation system it is important to block any older style gable vents located on the house.  These vents will actually short-circuit the desired flow of air.

For more information on this subject visit our home page www.jcarnesroofing.com

J. Carnes & Son Roofing proudly serves New Hampshire’s Seacoast and surrounding areas.

Roof leaks and moisture problems, no matter how small, will develop into complications that lead to costly repairs and renovations. Chances are by the time you actually see water penetrating the interior of your home the problem has already been going on for some time. Water flows to the point of least resistance. In your attic, down your walls, soaks insulation, destroys wall board and can soak carpets and window frames to say the least. A leak or excess moisture that has been active for a while will eventually trigger mold growth while deteriorating any wood or metal nails and fasteners that might be in its path. The cost for just repairing a leak or replacing an aged roof is minimal compared to ripping out and replacing entire sections of your house in addition to the necessary roof work.
Now the question is, if it’s possible for leaks and moisture problems to begin sight unseen, how would one actually know that there is a problem that needs to be addressed?

Simple, schedule annual inspections and perform preventive maintenance as needed.

At J Carnes & Son Roofing, we offer roof repair as well as annual roof inspection services. While some repairs are simple and treated as a service call, the more complicated ones we will provided a free estimate along with an itemized scope of the work to be performed. And all repairs come with a complimentary exterior inspection of the entire roof system.

Our full roof inspections are carried out with a visual inspection of all aspects of the roof construction, from both the interior and exterior of the structure. On the exterior we inspect for proper installation of the roof system as well as the overall condition of the shingles. We look for cracks, blistering shingles, algae, staining, missing granules and broken seals. We inspect all flashed penetrations including step flashed walls, chimneys, skylights, plumbing flashings, roof vents and caps. On the interior where accessible, we check for signs of water stains and mold.

During our inspection if we do come across a problem area we will bring it to your attention then address the problem. Simple solutions like sealing a shingle or shoring up a piece of flashing will not be charged additional. And if we find your roof needs to be replaced or you need a costly repair, as a courtesy we will deduct the fee for the roof inspection off your final repair or replacement invoice.

To schedule a roof inspection simply fill out the contact form or just give us a call. Most prices can be quoted right over the phone.  Visit our home page at www.jcarnesroofing.com for more information.

GAF states that this revolutionary change has been made possible by their Advanced Protection Technology, which was first introduced in 2007.  This cutting-edge technology has added improved performance by redistributing asphalt to the critical weathering layer (where it’s most needed), re-formulating the self-seal adhesive, and enhancing the fiberglass mat.  All GAF shingles now have superior durability and improved wind performance passing the ASTM D3161 Class F 110 mph and D7158 Class H 150 mph, the highest ratings available.  A vote of confidence in the overall quality of the products made the decision quite simple to offer this remarkable improvement in its warranties.

“As a company, we are committed to advanced quality, industry-leading expertise, and solutions that make our customers’ lives simple — which is what this warranty upgrade is all about,” stated Bob Tafaro, President and CEO of GAF. “Contractors will benefit from knowing that they can stand with confidence behind every installation of GAF laminated shingles. Homeowners will benefit from knowing that their installed shingles are warranted for a lifetime, adding significant value to their home.”

GAF has also upgraded the coverage of its Golden Pledge® and System Plus limited warranties, which are offered exclusively by its GAF-certified contractors.

“We are especially excited to announce this warranty upgrade, given that 2011 is GAF’s 125th anniversary as a company. At a time when Americans are facing so much uncertainty about the future, you can be sure that GAF will be there decades from now to stand by the performance of our roofing products. This warranty upgrade will reinforce both our leadership position in the industry and our promise of excellence to our customers,” said Tafaro.

Complete details about these changes can be found on GAF’s website at http://www.gaf.com/upgrade

To take advantage of these great products and exceptional warranties contact J Carnes & Son Roofing Today!

J Carnes & Son Roofing is a GAF Factory Certified Master Elite Roofing Contractor.  Only Master Elite Contractors are able offer GAF’s Golden Pledge Warranty.  GAF’s Golden Pledge Warranty is the first warranty to cover both manufacturing defects as well as the contractors workmanship.  This warranty includes an inspection by GAF’s factory-trained inspectors after your new roof has been completed to ensure proper installation.  It’s the strongest and safest warranty available in roofing today.

To scheduele your free estimate visit our home page at www.jcarnesroofing.com for more information.

Visible Signs Of Roof Damage Due To A Storm

• Water damage
• Water leakage
• Loss of granules and pock marks
• Cracked shingles
• missing shingles

What to Do When You Discover Storm Damage

• Do you have a water leakage? If so, remove all items from the site of the leak and find something to catch the water in so it doesn’t cause you further damage.
• Examine your entire roof from one end to the other as closely (and safely) as possible. You may even want to consider breaking out your binoculars for an in depth inspection.
• If possible, cover any holes in your roof until you can get professional assistance. Spread a waterproof canvas or tarp over your roof and hold in place securely (even with ropes and nails) so that it won’t blow off and cause more damage to your belongings while you’re awaiting your replacement/repair.
• Seal up smaller holes with roof sealant for a temporary protection.Keep in mind this is not a viable option for repairing your roof long term, but may provide you with some protection from the elements until you can get a roofer to assist you.
• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. See our tips on working with your insurance company below so you know what questions to ask to avoid frustrations.

Tips for Filing a claim with Your Homeowners Insurance

• Have your policy information handy when you call.
• Discuss deadlines and procedures for filing your claim.
• Have details ready on what kind of storm caused the damage and when it occurred.
• Get detailed information about what repair/replacement your insurance covers. Will it pay for a whole new roof?  If not, know that replaced roof sections will wear at different rates and shingles may not match those used on the remainder of your roof. Both factors could negatively affect the value of your home if/when you look to sell it.
• Inquire how quickly an adjustor will be out to examine your property? A leaking roof needs immediate repair so be sure an adjustor will be out to inspect your property quickly. Its also best to have your contractor and adjustor inspect your roof at the same time so that your insurance company does not minimize the damage and cost of repairs you could be facing and leave you footing the remainder of your bill.
• Ask about the claims payment process. Will your insurance company pay your contractor directly or will they pay you for the repair? Is payment furnished upfront based an estimate or after the work is completed and invoiced by your contractor?

What to Consider When Hiring Your Roofing Company

• Are they familiar with the claims payment procedure for your insurance company? Some insurance companies pay out claims at a lower rate per square foot then what you may be charged by your roofing company. Make sure your estimate and your insurance payout amount are clearly defined. You don’t want to be left paying money because you didn’t get the details you needed.
• Have you discussed their payment process in detail? Do they require a deposit? Will they bill the insurance company directly? If so, do they have the details of your policy to submit their invoice for payment?
• Does the company have a local presence? Storm-prone areas tend to be plagued by companies referred to as “storm chasers” who travel to different locations hit by specific storms to target homeowners, but aren’t there to support their work after they’ve taken your money and “run.”
• Since the insurance company is footing the bill, wouldn’t you want hire the best company for you project? Jason Carnes the owner of J Carnes & Son Roofing has over 24 years experience with roof installation and roof repair.  J Carnes & Son Roofing installs and repairs roofs on all residential and commercial properties in Rockingham County New Hampshire, Essex County Massachusetts and select Maine towns.

For a more information, emergency assistance or to schedule a free estimate, visit our home page at www.jcarnesroofing.com.  You can also send us an e-mail to jcarnes@jcarnesroofing.com with any roof related questions you might have.