Roof Components to a Best-in-class A-Frame Cabin

By Malarkey Roofing. 

Oregon cabin uses Malarkey roofing shingles for superior protection and resistance to mold and mildew.  

An A-frame cabin roof was reroofed by local Oregon roofing contractor Dusten Reynolds of Reynolds Roofing and Construction Inc., an independent business serving roofing needs of the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The project used Malarkey’s Legacy® roofing shingles with Scotchgard™ technology. Continue reading to learn how this roofing project was constructed, as well as how this A-frame's roofing components will provide protection against water intrusion, ice dam formation, severe wind and impact damage. 

Not an easy ‘A’ 

One of the most notable characteristics of A-frame cabin architecture is the extreme roof pitch that typically extends from the ridge at the cabin’s peak elevation, all the way down to the rake at grade. Many of these roofs may look more similar to a rock-climbing wall than traditional architecture. On this project, the pitch of the roof was 14/12 (AKA steep!) which measures out around 45 degrees. For reference, that is around the same pitch as a black diamond ski run. 

However, for a seasoned roofing contractor like Dusten, the pitch was not the issue – it was that he completed the project single-handedly. 

“It took me 20 days from start to finish by myself,” said Dusten. “I tore off the old shake roof that was in bad shape with leaks. After tearing off the old shake material, I installed new plywood and new shingles. The hardest challenge was that I was doing it by myself for long hours, so that it was a lot of work for one person.” 

Choosing Malarkey roofing shingles 

“The customer asked for recommendations and I offered Malarkey Vista® or Legacy® Scotchgard™,” said Dusten. “They went with Legacy® Scotchgard™ for the A-frame.” 

The customer additionally selected the popular shingle color blend, Natural Wood. It was an excellent choice for the Pacific Northwest A-frame cabin, especially since moss and algae growth are common in the rainy, marine climate. In 1994, Malarkey Roofing Products® became the first manufacturer to offer Scotchgard™ Protector roofing granules from 3M™ in a shingle to prevent black streaks caused by algae. Learn more about the history and scientific development of these granules in this video. 

The Legacy® laminated architectural shingle has been Malarkey's most popular line for more than 20 years. Legacy® roofing shingles were selected  to wrap the exterior of a prominent hotel in Portland, the roof of coastal Oregon lodge, and to defend homes against record hail in Kansas City. 

These laminated architectural shingles are manufactured with an enhanced profile to produce a three-dimensional appearance on the rooftop. They are made of two shingle layers laminated together with an adhesive. On the laminated architectural shingle, the top layer is cut into a sawtooth pattern and laminated to an uncut second layer, known as the "backer" or "shim." Malarkey applies five lines of adhesive between the two shingle layers for additional strength. 

The shingles also feature two lines of specially formulated SEBS polymer modified asphalt sealant to help hold the shingle in place during high winds and heavy rain. This sealant is in the critical lamination area of the shingle for double protection. SEBS asphalt rain sealant is engineered with adhesive properties to join the shingle together and cohesive properties to prevent it from separating. 

Making the roofing system a Secure Choice™ 

“For this project, I used Malarkey starter, Legacy® Scotchgard™ roofing shingle, and ridge cap,” said Dusten, in reference to the additional roofing system components for the A-frame cabin. 

When homeowners are thinking about reroofing a home, it is helpful to remember that a roof is more than just shingles. There are several components in a roofing system that provide security against water intrusion, ice dam formation, winds and impact damage.  

Learn more about the Secure Choice™ roofing system in this video. 

Getting the grade 

After completing his A-frame cabin roofing project, Dusten said, “I have used Malarkey shingles for every job in the last two years. I like that the shingles don’t tear as easy, and that the sand stays on the shingles better. Overall, I like how they are designed and made,” he said. “I also like that Malarkey is a local company. Continue making a superior product and I will keep using it.” 

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Original article source: Malarkey Roofing Products