You may have heard about roofing problems being classified as “cosmetic” or “functional”. Knowing the difference between the two can be helpful in situations that involve roofing insurance claims. Thompson Roofing and Construction shares some common examples of these two kinds of problems.
Functional Problems
Functional problems pertain to damage or issues that affect the roof’s main purpose, potentially leading to bigger problems over the long term or reducing the roof’s service life. A common example of functional problems is impact damage from hail or airborne debris. On asphalt shingles, impact damage can result in cracks that expose the layers underneath, which could cause rainwater intrusion and lead to leaks and other associated issues.
Another common functional problem is wind damage. In extreme situations, wind can tear off parts of the roof and allow rainwater to get into your home. Wind damage is also known to affect roof edges, leading to missing components like flashings as well as stress cracks on the asphalt shingles. That’s often a point of dispute during insurance claims as signs of stress aren’t as obvious. However, along with most functional problems, it requires immediate roof repair. Thompson Roofing and Construction can help you with whatever you need.
Cosmetic Problems
Cosmetic problems are broadly defined as the kind of roofing issues that don’t affect the roof’s functionality so they’re not included in most insurance policies. Spatters caused by “soft” hailstones are perhaps the most common type of cosmetic roofing problems as the impact is often just enough to break a thin layer off the roof. With asphalt shingle roofs, this means minor loss of roofing granules, shallow dents or other relatively minor issues.
Black stains on the roof are another common cosmetic problem. We say cosmetic because despite making the roof less attractive, algae are harmless and won’t affect the roofing performance. However, if yours has reflective “cool roof” properties, algae can impair its performance as the dark color tends to absorb heat instead of reflecting it. Algae can be removed using a number of treatments, such as zinc strips or bleach solutions, or you can choose products with algae-resistant features, such as GAF StainGuard Plus™ shingles.
To learn more about our roofing contractor services, call Thompson Roofing and Construction today at (256) 251-5566. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation and estimate. We serve Huntsville, AL, and surrounding areas.
