By Eric Czarnik
C & G Staff Writer

If summer storms are wearing down your roof, construction experts say there are a few things to consider before you replace a single shingle.

Mat Vivona Jr., president of Father & Son Construction in Troy, said homeowners must first analyze whether their roofs are doing their job in protecting the home and its occupants from the elements.

“Roofs are never really a want; they’re a need,” he said. “It’s not something that’s going to add a lot of value to your home, but it’ll definitely take away (value) if you don’t have the roof done.”

Vivona said leaks are just one telltale sign to observe when deciding whether it’s time to replace a roof. “One of the things we want to look at is, are your shingles beginning to curl,” he said.

David Chess, owner of Chess Roofing and Siding in Ferndale, said curling shingles are not as big of a problem as deteriorating shingles that are losing their granules. “If you have curling shingles, it doesn’t mean the roof is going to fail soon,” he said. “It just looks terrible.”

Chess said some homeowners are picking more durable, architectural shingles instead of the normal kind. Provided that the architectural shingles are installed with enough ventilation, they can last 30, 40 or even 50 years, he said.

While architectural shingles tend to be more expensive than ordinary ones, the difference in cost is not that large, he said.

“It does increase the appeal of the roof,” he added. “They just know that the homeowner put a little more money into their house, into maintaining the house.”

While Chess prefers to repair an entire roof instead of fixing a portion, he said he bends to the will of the customer. In previous years, he’d complete about 50 full roofs by June. But due to the economy, he has only done about 20 full roofs in 2009 — though he said he has done 75 repair jobs. “I have to go at what the customer’s wallet will stand,” he said.

Vivona said localized roof repairs generally don’t work, so Father & Son tends to repair at least a quarter or a half of the roof as a minimum. “Repairs hardly ever last. That’s why we don’t do them,” he said. “When you try to repair just one area of a roof, you usually create another problem in a different area.”

Both construction companies said they recycle used shingles as a way to help the environment. And Father & Son’s Web site offers information about solar-powered hot water heaters, and energy- efficient light bulbs and air conditioning units.

But Vivona wasn’t thrilled with the idea of painting roofs white or any pale color — an action that U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recommended in May to reduce climate change.

“I don’t know what kind of warranty someone would give you on a painted roof,” Vivona said. “There’s a reason why we don’t do it.”

For more information about Father & Son Construction in Troy, visit http://www.father-son-const.com or call (248) 528-1920. To learn more about Chess Roofing and Siding, visit http://www.chessroofing.us or call (248) 398-1050.

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at eczarnik@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1058.