If you have any questions about our Halifax metal roofing services, you may find the answers here on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.

Can you install a roof in the winter?

Yes, we are able to install a new roof during the winter, even with snow/ice on your roof. We shovel and sweep the roof so everything is clean then proceed with our normal process.

If you are in a high wind area we will need to manually tar the shingles down.

If your home is in a area where the wind isn't bad we will let the shingles seal by themselves (can take a couple months).

We 6-nail our shingles to achieve the maximum wind warranty all year round. IKO offers a new brand type of shingle with 7 unique color to choose from and has a reinforced mesh nailing strip for maximum strength in wind storms. These shingles are called IKO Dynasty and are only $1.10 more per bundle for a hurricane resistant shingle. An average roof is 45 bundles so an for an extra $50 you get 7 unique colors and hurricane resistant shingles.

How do you know when your roof needs to be replaced?

Use binoculars to check your roof so you don't risk injuries. Look for curling around the edges/tips of the shingles, dark black areas where granules have worn off and cracks in the asphalt mat causing ice to spread them to widen each year. Also look in your attic for pinhole light spots around penetrations.

Why is tar paper/synthetic underlay used?

Tar paper is installed over the roof sheathing to prevent the sap from escaping the wood, leaking into the shingles and deteriorating the asphalt mat on the shingle. Tar paper also adds extra protection for the wood/interior if a shingle blew off.

Most roofing companies use synthetic underlay because it's easier to work with and goes on faster. The problem is a lot of the employees are uneducated on the main reasons underlay is used. Tar paper should be used above cathedral ceilings when there is no air space, and synthetic over roofs with air space.

How much ventilation does my roof need?

Ventilation is a very important part of your roof. Having a vented roof helps get rid of the heat build-up in your attic in the summer. In the winter time it helps keep the attic a steady temperature, preventing condensation on your roof sheathing that can cause rot/mold over time. Your roof needs a minimum of 1 square foot of vented area of ridge vent and soffit for every 300 square feet of attic space. It's very important to have these numbers right for warranty purposes. Not following these rules could void the warranty on your shingles.

Generally, you want to have 60% soffit vent acting as the air intake, and 40% of ridge vent acting as the exhaust. Installing too much ridge vent causes too much air circulation in your attic that can result in the leeward side of your ridge vent to become intake instead of a exhaust.

We can offer better alternatives for ridge vent ventilation using materials exceeding the industries standards so give us a call!

Why is there frost on my roof sheathing/nails?

This is an insulation/ventilation problem. The most common fixes to resolve this issue include air-sealing any light fixture boxes in the attic and vents and having at least R-40 insulation in your attic. We recommend minimum R-50 for proper ventilation. You should always use your fans to lower moisture levels in your house like bath and stove fans. If you believe you need more insulation or ventilation give us a call we offer blown-in insulation services.

How do ice dams occur?

Ice dams are caused by poor insulation and ventilation. Heat from inside your house escapes into the attic causing the snow on the roof to melt. The melted snow will then run down the roof to the overhang where it freezes. When the water freezes at the overhang it creates a dam and stops the water from flowing. The water will then accumulate and create a pool. When the water level exceeds 2 inches it will run behind the shingles into your home.

Ice dams can also occur if the temperature changes from low to high in a very short period of time.

How much warranty do you offer?

The shingle warranty is a Limited Lifetime and we offer a 10 year workmanship warranty. If a shingle were to blow off or a leak to occurs, we come back and fix it free of charge.

If your home is a 3/12 pitch the manufacturers cut their warranty to 12 years with no iron clad warranty for shingles. We are experienced in flat roofing as well so we offer our customers the best solution for the job. Flat roofing tends to be a little more expensive but we use a 1-ply system that compares to a shingle installation. If a homeowner requests shingles on 3/12, our workmanship warranty decreases from 10 to 3 years. 3/12 pitches are not recommended to be shingled because the water doesn't flow off them quick enough, resulting is excessive damage to the granules and shingle mat. The steeper the roof and the better the ventilation, the longer your roof will last.

We also offer low slope materials for roofs 3/12 and below. Our workmanship warranty on those products is 10 years and manufacturer's are 10-25 years.

What should I look for in a contractor?

It is very important contractors are insured and pay the proper workers' compensation rates. Some contractors may file their workers' compensation under a less dangerous job. If this were the case, they would not be allowed to work on your home and if something were to happen you would be held liable.

Protect yourself and the biggest investment of your life by asking for references and have everything in writing.

What are heating cables?

Heating cables are a cheap fix for ice dam problems but also handy in situations when the weather changes from low to high temperatures in a very short period of time. The heating cables create channels so the water can to flow into the gutter instead of pooling behind the ice dam. They also prevent melted ice from flowing over your gutter into your walkways, potentially turning into black ice. Having your roof properly ventilated should eliminate most risks of ice dams but if an ice dam were to occur we offer maintenance services.

Can you do chimney work?

Yes, we offer chimney services including new lead flashing, re-pointing, brick replacement, pouring a new chimney cap with a expansion joint and installing new flues.

Unlike most other companies we apply lead supplement to prolong the life of the lead and prevent staining on your new roof.

Can I install new roof sheathing on top of barn boards?

Installing shingles over barn boards/ship lap is never a good idea. These boards are usually installed on homes 50-100 years old. The boards are rough cut lumber and tend to be different thickness and sizes. Having these boards on your roof can cause the shingles to have stress marks where the gaps and different thicknesses of boards are. When you have a stress mark in the shingle it will cause the granules to wear off, causing the shingle to fail prematurely.

If you have tight tung and groove boards you shouldn't have any issues. In some cases your tung and groove boards can shrink and the locks can separate from each other. This usually only happens if the house has very poor ventilation. You will still get a manufacturer's warranty but stress marks are not covered.

Do you install skylights?

We offer a few different sky light installations. On larger sloped roofs where the attic roof is high up, we suggest "sun tunnels" instead of sky lights. Sun tunnels look great on steep roofs and are less material and labor intensive whereas sky lights require framing, drywalling, insulating, air sealing, and a vapor barrier.

Skylights also tend to look better in situations where the roof line is about 3 feet from the ceiling.

Do you install metal and flat roofs?

Yes, we train our employees in all roofing systems so we can offer our customers different budget options. A metal roof should last 50-70 years, is very energy efficient and reflects heat, reducing AC bills.

You can install metal roofing on top of your shingles to save on labor and dumping fees but we need to inspect your attic and roof for any rot first. Metal roofing also has a much higher wind warranty than shingles so you won't have to worry about shingles blowing off in the worst storms.

Do you offer insulation services?

Yes, we offer blown-in insulation services and can ensure your any light fixtures and vents in your attic are air tight. The minimum standard is R-40 but if you want to save on heating bills in the winter and AC bills in the summer, installing more insulation is always better.

When should I get my roof inspected?

A few questions to help assess whether your roof may require work:

• Has your roof experienced wind or hail damage?
• Have shingles lifted away or curled down into the roof?
• Has the product on your roof been discontinued?
• Can you see bare wood where you should not be able to?
• Can you see black staining in your attic?
• Does your energy bill seem high in the winter or summer?
• Do you get ice dams often?
• Do you have condensation on your skylights?
• Does your chimney look in rough shape?
• Are you wondering if you have enough insulation?
• If you answered yes to any of these it may be time to call Accurate Roofing. Don't wait until it's too late because once water penetrates your roof deck and finds its way inside, the cost of the damages can triple.

We will be more than happy to assist with any questions or project requirements you may have.