Products

Roofing System by Neighborhood Roofing

Roofing shingles are available in many styles, shapes, and materials.  Asphalt/fiberglass shingles are just 1 component of a roof system.  Shingle roofs that are installed in the upper Midwest require several components as well as selecting and installing an effective ventilation system for the attic of your home.  A completed roof is a finished product that is an assembly of various parts and pieces. 

There are many manufacturers of the components used to install a shingled roof.  Since these components are almost always covered by the shingles, it's up to the installer to choose the quality of products used.  The extended warranties that we offer require that the components used to assemble the roof are made specifically, by that shingle manufacturer, for the warranty to be valid. We offer all of the products listed below.  There are usually several manufacturer's for each product line.  We are pleased to be authorized by ALL major manufacturers to offer factory warranties.

• Asphalt/Fiberglass/Polyester mat Shingles

• Impact Resistant (IR) Shingles

• Metal Shingles

• Cedar (wood) Shingles

Neighborhood Roofing, Inc uses specific materials that are manufactured in the USA by USA based manufacturers. We offer extensive factory warranties on the material and labor utilized to install your roof. These warranties are available to cover 100% of the repair or replacement costs of your roof not only against manufacturing defects, but installation errors as well.  These are not PRO-RATED warranties for material only at original cost, but complete warranties that protect your home.  Many of the very high quality products that we use are not available from local suppliers or home centers and are inventoried in our warehouse.

Components that make up a Roof:

The shingled roof on your home or business is made up of numerous components:

Ice & Water Shield

Ice & Water Shield is a product that comes in a roll.  The back side has a release sheet/paper that protects a "sticky" asphalt surface.  The release paper is peeled of as the product is unrolled and the "sticky" side is placed onto the roof's plywood deck. The ice & water shield "bonds" into the plywood forming a membrane that protects the plywood from exposure to ice and water.  The sticky membrane also seals nails as they come through the shingles to fasten your roofing down.  This material is in 36" wide sheets and is a State of Michigan building code requirement.  If your roof already has ice and water shield applied under the shingles, many roofing companies will simply re-use the existing even though it has dried out and is full of nail holes from the previous roof.  Neighborhood Roofing ALWAYS installs new Ice & Water Shield to your roof.  

Thermal Seal Shingle starter shingles:

Thermal Seal Shingle starter shingles are specifically designed shingles that are only used to start the shingles on the eave edge and to seal the shingles on the rake edges (gable ends).  These shingles have a double row of roof mastic that seals the edges from wind "uplift".  Many roofing companies save money by using left over shingles cut into strips, as starter shingles.  Neighborhood Roofing always uses G.A.F. Starter shingles.

 Shingle underlayment (Synthetic Membrane) TAM-SHIELD 6 mil U.L. ready synthetic underlayment

In the past, roofing companies use "black paper" as a covering to separate a reaction between the asphalt content in shingles from the pine/pitch in plywood. While most roofing companies still use this paper underlayment, roofing manufacturer's have developed synthetic underlayments that can be an integral piece of your roof's complete design.  Quality synthetic underlayments form a base 'ply" for your roof serving to:

  • Protect the deck and your home from blowing rain/ water
  • Drifting snow (Attics are well insulated and snow stays on your roof longer.
  • Ice back up ( Snow will melt as winter temperatures fluctuate. As it re-freezes along the roof, ice will form under your shingles. If the ice backs up on your roof above the ice shield, it will leak through black paper and cheap synthetic underlayments.

Factory Finished metal eave and rake edge.  

Metal edge is fastened to your roof's edges.  It protects the roof deck (wood/plywood/O.S.B. from rain and snow.  It also directs water into the gutters. Properly installed drip edge directs water into the gutters. Improperly installed drip edge allow water to run behind the gutters and over the wood fascia board causing streaks, stains and eventually, concealed rotted wood fascias.  We use a 1 1/2" Aluminum drip edge on shingle replacements.  1 1/2" is longer than standard drip edge and is used to help cover and protect the area where the roof deck (plywood or roof boards) meets the wood fascia (where the gutter is mounted)  This additional protection helps prevent water and ice that get behind the gutter, from entering the overhang through that joint.

Triple Coated Barbed Galvanized Roofing Nails

Quality roofing nails have been coated 3 different times to insure that they don't rust. 6 Roofing nails are put through each shingles in a specific location on the shingle.  This positioning holds the shingle together and gives the shingle a 130 mph wind "blow off" protection. Nails are put in using a pneumatic roofing nail gun.  The guns are set for a specific pressure with each nail being put in straight and exactly the right depth.   

Roof Ventilation products (Ridge Vent, Power Vent, Edge Vent, Flash Vent, Static Box Vent)

Each style/type of roof vent has a specific application.  Each roof vent has a numeric value that states the volume of air that it allows.  This value is stated in  "NET FREE VENT AREA".  A home must have a minimum of 1 square foot or NET FREE VENT AREA for every 300 square feet of the "foot-print" of the house.  In Michigan, it is strongly recommended that there be 1 square foot of vent area as exhaust (roof vent) and 1 square foot of intake air (overhang or eave vent).  Adding more is better than less.

Hip and Ridge Cap (Thermal Seal)

Hip and ridge shingles are designed to be bent over the ridge without the mat or the face to crack.  Using the same shingle as is installed on the roof may save a few dollars, but they will fail, crack and blow away.

Metal Wall Flashings

Wherever the roof meets a wall, there should be a metal flashing inserted under the siding or into the brick. On a sidewall the flashing is "stepped" under the shingles and doesn't show to an untrained eye.  On a downward slope, there is an "apron" flashing that is installed under the siding/brick and flows smoothly onto the top layer of shingles.  In all cases, the old flashings on the roof should be removed and replaced with new flashings.  Flashings cannot have nails driven through them - they will leak.  Most roofing companies simply cover the old flashings and seal them in place with a neat application of roofing cement.  Some companies  conceal the roof cement with colored granules.  Old wall flashings that have been covered and sealed in place are the #1 cause of leaks.  

Custom chimney flashing, counter flashings, and chimney cap repairs.

A chimney is a movable joint in your roof.  The chimney is fastened to the house and the roof is fastened to the rafters/trusses.  There is constant movement at that joint.  The flashing that keeps water from running into your home through this joint is very important and can be a constant point of frustration for many homeowners.  A correct flashing is in 2 pieces:  Step flashing is installed under the headlap of each shingle and is bent to lay against the chimney. Next a counter flashing is installed into a "raglet" /slot that we cut into the chimney brick.  A custom formed aluminum counter flashing is installed into the raglet.  The counter flashing is anchored in place with stainless steel pins.  Most roofers will simply add a flat counter flashing and caulk it to the brick - which requires continual maintenance, looks awful from build up of caulk/roof cement, and still allows water to penetrate through mortar joints and porous brick.

Silicone rubber plumbing collars

The plumbing in your house (sink, shower/bath, toilet, washing machine, dishwasher etc...) requires a breather pipe that allows air to escape as water runs down a drain.  That pipe(s) can be identified by looking for either a black cast iron pipe or a white plastic pipe sticking through your roof.  There is a flashing collar around that  pipe that keeps rain water from running down the pipe and back into your home.   That flashing has a number of names....but its a flashing "boot" for the "soil pipe".  In General there are 3 types available:  1) Thermo-plastic is very common.  It's made out of black plastic with a flexible plastic collar that stretches around the pipe.  

2) Metal is a better solution, but still uses plastic to stretch around the pipe.  Metal can be aluminum, copper, or steel. The issue with the plastic boot that stretches around the pipe is that it only last 8-10 years.  After that period, they seem to crack and begin to allow water to follow the pipe.  You won't see this leak immediately as it's running between the walls a little bit at a time until the boot totally fails.  

3) Kynar coated steel with a silicone rubber seal is the best one.   The silicone rubber boots available through Neighborhood Roofing have a 50 year factory warranty and also qualify for our G.A.F. Golden Pledge Warranty.   They are expensive, but they will last as for long as your roof lasts

Asphalt/fiberglass roof shingles (Climate zone specific)

Our Southern Michigan climate zone is about as harsh on building products as is found anywhere on our planet.  The temperatures in our area range from  -25 degrees (below 0 Fahrenheit!) in the winter to just over 100 degrees (F) during the summer. Our winters produce 50"+ of snow and ice ( over 80" during 2013-2014) and 60+ MPH winds.  Roofing shingles take the full brunt of these exterior forces.  In addition, the summer temperatures inside of an improperly ventilated attic, can exceed 165 (F).  High temperature from both sides results in premature deterioration as the solvents that keep asphalt pliable are "baked" out of the product. 

Certified & Insured:

  • Factory certified installers and inspectors
  • Contractor liability insurance (current paid certificates) $1,000,000 per occurrence (minimum)
  • Auto insurance on all of the contractors vehicles and trailers. ($500,000 per vehicle)

Workman's compensation

Workman's compensation that covers all workers and listed to the State of Michigan maximum (current paid certificate from insurance carrier) $500,000  per employee.  Be aware!!! While the contractor has insurance, there is no paperwork offered to you to assure you that his subcontract labor crews have coverage!!

When you decide to replace your roof, all of the above products and services should be included in your contractors roof bid and company certifications

Manufactures

GAF | TAMKO | Owens Corning

GAF, TAMKO, and Owens Corning are the 3 major manufacturers that have manufacturing facilities located in the Great Lakes Region.  These manufacturers formulate products made for use in our harsh climate.  All of them offer a complete line of components that are made, by them especially for assembling their roof systems.  We stock many of these these components in our warehouse at 832 Phoenix Drive in Ann Arbor.  Properly combined and applied, these factory components are specified and installed by our crews to make a finished product.  Neighborhood Roofing Inc is authorized to offer true labor and material warranties on these factory specified roof assemblies.  Our installers are trained and tested on the correct installation techniques required to offer a factory registered and factory inspected labor and material warranty on residential and commercial roof systems.  

Warranties

Asphalt/fiberglass shingles are made with a base mat using a woven fiberglass mat that is coated with a blend of asphalt and crushed limestone. There is a topping of ceramic coated granules added to help reflect heat/UV rays and to give the product a finished "color".  It is apparent that roofing shingles, in this current format, last between 12-18 years, if they are installed using standard accessories.  Most of the shingle manufacturers put a product warranty on their shingles that ranges between 20 years and "Lifetime".  

The issues on understanding and interpreting these "warranties" can be daunting to a buyer.  The simplest explanation is that if a consumer buys product from a home center, specialty building center or through a contractor, the warranty is very limited.  Almost all of the manufacturers have what is termed a "Start up Warranty" that applies to every purchaser.  The "Start up Warranty" is, typically 10-15 years "labor and material".  This means: the purchaser has a 10-15 year warranty window on manufacturing defects that offers to replace any material that is defective, per that manufacturer's standards, and the cost of the labor to install it.  From 40 years of our experience this means:  You will get the number of shingles that the manufacturer determines are defective and the regional average labor rate to install those shingles based on an entire roof . The balance of the warranty period is on the replacement of the materials ONLY and its "Pro-Rated".  The process of "pro-rating" involves giving you a percentage of the original value based on the number of years old the product is. 

Modern shingles are manufactured much differently than shingles were 4 years ago and entirely foreign to 30+ years ago.  Shingles are made using asphalt.........OIL!  The amount and weight of asphalt has decreased and continues to decrease every year.  Right now, the weight of the shingle is between 40%-60% asphalt with the balance in fiberglass mat and ground limestone.  Most of the shingle manufacturers offer extensive training and certification to help select and train contractors that have proven their willingness to change techniques as well as continually retrain their work forces to changing requirements.  This training involves a willingness to modify existing attic ventilation systems and to supply and install very high quality component materials.  Contractors that are willing to invest in this philosophy of quality through education and a commitment to supply and install factory components can earn certifications that dramatically increase the coverage and legal status of these warranties.  Neighborhood Roofing, Inc offers 3 levels of warranty coverage. 

WARRANTIES are confusing.  You may be getting a free standard manufacturer's "LIFETIME" warranty that only covers 10 years on labor and materials unless it's installed by a factory certified installer. Ask us to explain which warranty is available for your needs:

  • 30 year warranty on manufacturer's defects with 15 year "Start up" 100% and  prorated material only after 15 years
  • 30 year warranty on manufacturer's defects with complete 30 year 100% protection on labor and material
  • 50 year material and labor on manufacturer's defects  non-prorated on material defects and 50 years labor to replace defective material.
  • 50 year material and labor on manufacturer's defects plus  25 years factory technician inspected and underwritten installation labor - includes material removal and disposal.

Use the Internet to research companies and products that offer unlimited warranties that sound "too good to be true".