What does your Wisconsin Roof consist of?

Wisconsin weather can be some of the harshest in the entire country with a quick change from warm to hot, wind, ice, and other forms of damage. Most homes have to be built to handle some weather; homes in the upper Midwest need some special attention and a few more steps to make them safe and reliable. Let's explore what makes this roof and its structure.

Every roof has a deck or what could also be called "sheathing", which is the base for the exterior layer of "shingles". Sheathing is made up of a variety of materials but in a Wisconsin Roof, it's typically made up of ¾ or 5/8 inch plywood made from treated lumber. This is a thick and sturdy platform to nail on the "shingles". These pieces of plywood are almost always 4 foot by 8 foot sheets. Decking is the first phase of construction on a roof.

Pitched roofs in Wisconsin are usually covered in layers of an asphalt/mineral type flat sheet of material called the "shingle", these come in various sizes and colors and have different levels of quality measured in lifecycle "years". Not every shingle lasts as long and the rating and some last much longer. This depends on many factors in Wisconsin such as direction of the roofing and location of trees and things like that. Moisture is a roofs worst enemy and sun is #2 in Wisconsin. In Wisconsin I always recommend at least a 30 year roofing product and ideally a 45 year product is best. There are several other types of shingles as well such as Slate, Cedar, or Metal. These types generally out perform but are sometimes shunned for the cost. Avoid cheap or ribbon type slate as these materials have been known to fail after only 10 years.

What makes a Wisconsin or Minnesota roof different is the need for additional features to assure your roof will last and keep your home dry the entire life of the roof. Wisconsin roofs need a special vapor/moisture barrier some times referred to as water and ice barrier. This is a special material which will seal the lower 4 to 6 feet of roof from moisture wicking up the backside of the layered shingles during a condition called Ice Damming. If you have ever been through a typical winter in these areas you are subject to frozen conditions with heavy snow building up on your roof. If you don't have enough insulation in your attic the heat from your home can cause snow on your roof to melt and construct areas of trouble called Ice Dams. The other way to avoid Ice Damming in a Wisconsin or Minnesota roof is to actually run heated wiring along the lower few feet of roof and in your gutters to allow channels to develop, subsequently stopping Ice dams from forming.

Flashing and edges are also unique in Wisconsin because metal corrodes and breaks down over time and you definitely want this part of your roof to withstand the elements.
Flashing is used to cap or seal the areas between the structure of the home that rises about the decking of the roof and the shingles to prevent the elements from penetrating that gap.
When you inspect your roof always use care and caution if you need to walk on your roof and if you do not feel safe, hire a professional. A little prevention here goes a very long way.

Always get at least three quotes from a licensed roofing contractor, and one that is specific to the areas in which you live. If you live in Madison, call a Madison roofing contractor. Minnesota is no different if you have a damaged roof a local contractor knows why and knows how to remedy the situation right the first time. Make sure your roofing contractor has references, even if you don't call them. A reputable company always knows its customers are happy.

This article was written by Rudy McCormick on behalf of Advanced Designs Roofing, Wisconsin/Minnesota. Rudy McCormick is owner of McCormick Web Marketing specializing in SEO, SEM, and Social Media Consulting.