Tim Orscheln

Submitted photo

There are many myths about roofs that homeowners continue to believe that could put their homes, and wallets, at risk.

I’ve been in the roofing and real estate industry for over seven years and have seen how these myths can negatively affect homeowners. Some can lead to delaying necessary repairs to a roof, health and safety hazards, increasing long-term costs and property damage. They can even shorten the roof’s lifespan if homeowners don’t understand the proper maintenance needed to take care of their roof.

I started my home equity and roofing service, HomeLyfe, to debunk these myths and set the record straight and help Arizona homeowners save money and rehabilitate roofs before making expensive replacements.

Here are four roofing myths homeowners need to know and how they can avoid them in the future.

Myth 1: New roofs don’t need to be replaced for years

Once a homeowner installs a new roof, they might believe that they don’t need to think about the roof for a long time. While this can be the case, it often leads homeowners to neglect any maintenance or repairs because they think it should already be in “good shape.”

Not checking the roof again after installation can cause bigger problems and even lead to a full roof replacement.

Roofing materials are constantly exposed to weather and harsh elements. In Arizona, we experience sun 300 days out of the year. With that and the high heat, the sun will bake roofing materials, especially asphalt shingles, making them brittle, dry and weak.

Even with a new roof, this can cause wear and tear over time. When we’re in monsoon season, that’s when Arizona gets harsher weather like high winds, rain and hail. It’s essential to continuously check your roof in case weather and other damage causes bigger problems like cracks, leaks, flashing or seal deterioration.

Myth 2: All roofing materials are the same

Homeowners might think that all roofing materials will offer the same durability and protection when it can be quite the opposite. Weather also plays a factor in what material can work best for your climate.

Asphalt shingle roofs are the common choice for their affordability, but they might not do well against extreme weather conditions like hail or heavy snow. Metal roofs are usually a good choice for these conditions but have a higher upfront cost than asphalt shingles. Tile roofs can offer great insulation to add to the home’s exterior, but it’s a heavier material that might slightly alter the roof structure.

Each material has its pros and cons, and it’s important to know what climate you live in and compare it to what roofing material will be the best fit.

Myth 3: Darker-colored roofs cause higher energy bills

While it may seem that darker-colored things absorb more heat and can spike energy costs, that might not be the case with all roofs. Darker roofs do absorb more heat, but with modern dark-colored roofs, the material can have reflective coatings or cool roofing options.

There is also the option of adding a coating or solution to your roof that can lower the chance of high energy bills. We offer solutions that can reflect UV rays so homeowners’ roofing material can be protected from the Arizona sun.

The roof’s color is also not the main factor for high energy bills, and can also depend on the attic insulation, ventilation and the roofing material itself with how much your roof will take in or release heat.

Myth 4: You don’t need to annually inspect your roof

This is by far the biggest and most detrimental myth that homeowners need to stop believing. Roofs deteriorate over time and are constantly exposed to harsh elements, causing more wear and tear.

If a roof is not annually inspected, then homeowners might not be able to catch broken shingles, damaged flashing, clogged gutters or other issues that can affect them greatly in the future.

An annual inspection also can spot smaller issues early so homeowners don’t have to pay bigger expenses for something that could have been avoided. Regular roof maintenance is crucial to extend the life of your roof and prevent costly repairs.

Many roof warranties also require an annual inspection. If homeowners skip it, they might not get coverage for repairs in the future and will have to pay out of pocket.

Roofing myths like these can spread tons of misinformation, so it’s important to do your research and ensure you’re doing the proper maintenance so that your home is durable and protected for years to come.

Editor’s note: Tim Orscheln is founder and CEO of Phoenix-based equity maintenance and roofing service HomeLyfe. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.