Navigate the world of roofing in bite-size pieces

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about the roofing world without getting overwhelmed through these 10-minute or less AskARoofer Minisodes!  

Here at AskARoofer, we know that the world of roofing can seem intimidating and complicated from an outside perspective. To help with that, we created AskARoofer Minisodes! This podcast series focuses on helping homeowners better understand their roof and the investments that should be made. By keeping the episodes ten-minutes or less, we aim to make the complexities of roofing simple, digestible and accessible. Whether you are looking for help with specific issues or to generally gain knowledge about one of your home’s most important assets, this series has something for you! 

We release new episodes of this podcast every other week, which can be found on our website along with any platform you listen to podcasts on, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Recently, we got the chance to talk to some experts about the following topics!  

Finding the roofer and service for you 

If you’ve never had work done on your roof, you might be surprised by the number of companies that appear online when you search “roofers.” Sometimes it can be hard to discern who the right match for you and your home is. Historically, many people have found roofers through word-of-mouth. While this is still very true today, there are other tools to help you now! One is the FindARoofer map available on AskARoofer.com. In this minisode, one of the creators of that map, Stephen Spence of Project Map It, shares how to use this map to find a roofer near you! 

Once you have found a roofer, you will need to sit down with them to talk about your roof’s specific needs. This can be intimidating, so this minisode episode features Stan Robinson, the co-owner of Pacific West Roofing, to learn about how roofers determine what services your roof is ready for. Stan starts the episode by sharing the difference between roof repair and replacement, saying, “Roof repair is trying to breathe life into a halfway dead roof by doing repair work... replacement is when we remove everything down to the roof deck and start over with full replacement, all new parts. That means not reusing any of the existing pieces.” From there, he dives further into what qualities and signs roofers look for to tell which is needed for your roof. 

What to know about insulating an attic 

In another minisode, Lori and Matt Swanson from Guardian Roofing stopped by to talk about what’s going on under the shingles of your roof — specifically your attic! While this is often not thought of as a part of the roofing system, the attic and the insulation in it play a crucial role in having both a healthy home and roof. Matt explained, “As roofers, we want to make the customer's roof last as long as possible. And one of the variables is ventilation. If you don’t get enough intake and exhaust in the attic and out of the attic, then the shingles above it might cook and basically degrade and go away faster because the granules will start falling off because all the heat buildup in the attic.” 

Roof leak 101 

Last but certainly not least, we wanted to direct your attention to a minisode featuring Brittany Wimbish from Fields Roof Service. She stopped by to share insights on what to do if a nightmare comes true and your roof begins to leak. From identifying the source of the issue to steps for mitigation as you look for a roofer to come out and make repairs, this podcast teaches you practical tips for navigating the stressful situation of a leaky roof.  

Keep an eye out for the next AskARoofer Minisode to learn more about the roof over your head!