This refers to how steep you roof is. A Flat roof has no pitch. A 1/12 pitch is almost flat and a 16/12 pitch is almost straight up and down. The average roof is a 5/12 or 6/12 pitch.

This refers to how steep you roof is. A Flat roof has no pitch. A 1/12 pitch is almost flat and a 16/12 pitch is almost straight up and down. The average roof is a 5/12 or 6/12 pitch.

Metal and flashing is the same thing in roofing. Flashings are thinly cut pieces of metal that usually come in 10 foot lengths. Roofers use flashings to make sure the roof doesn’t leak and that water goes where it is supposed to. Skylights, chimneys, siding and perimeter edges are often areas where roofers use flashings.

This is what is under your roof. It is made of wood. It can come in different thicknesses and configurations. The bottom line is: your roof will be nailed on top of the roof deck.

This goes underneath the roofing and on top of the roof deck. You won’t see it after the roof is installed but it helps keep water out of your home.

Any perimeter edge of the roof with a gutter on it.

We usually call this the “drip edge” or “gable edge”. It is the perimeter edge with no gutter. All perimeter edges on your home are either gutter or rake edges.

Air needs to flow from the bottom of your attic to the top. This keeps the roof deck from rotting and keeps mold from growing in your attic.

This is also the “eave”. It is the part of your roof that overhangs the inside of the home. The soffit are usually extends two feet past the exterior walls.

Also known as “composite”, “asphalt” and “comp”. Depending on how shingles are manufactured they may also be called “laminate” or “architectural” shingles.

Twenty to 30 years is a reasonable expectation for newer roofing products in the Seattle area.

Absolutely! Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of high quality, old growth cedar shakes available. And due to newer pressure treatment methods, they last longer than the shakes roofers used 10-20 years ago.

We can usually start within 30 days.

Almost all of Valentine Roofing’s projects are completed within seven working days. Most take as little as three or four days. We typically work Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Before you know it, the job is done and your life is back to normal.

We work year round. And since we’re a Seattle roofing company, we’re used to installing new roofs in the rain. We’ll always keep your attic dry; on the other hand, it’s perfectly okay if roofing materials get wet during the installation, that’s what they were made for.

Yes. We have the same employees year round, with very little turnover.

We have four to six people on a crew. They are skilled craftsmen who work for us year round. Our crews are lead by a Crew Leader who stays on your job start to finish.

No, but you’ll need to be available by phone. We just need the driveway clear, with no cars parked in it, and access to the power outlets. You could go to Hawaii if you wanted to and come home when it’s done.

You bet. We install roofs year round in the Seattle area, and work with the same crew, so you’ll get the same outstanding quality in December that you get in July.

We always replace any rotten wood we find. We charge $75 an hour, plus materials.

It makes sense to replace gutters and skylights when you replace your roof, because they have the same lifespan. So that’s what a lot of people do.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries works on behalf of homeowners to make sure companies are properly bonded and insured before they issue a license. So every legitimate roofing company must have a contractor license—it’s your guarantee that they’re properly insured and bonded, which protects you.

As long as homeowners choose a licensed company, they will not be liable for any injuries on their property. If the company is not licensed, however, then the homeowner is liable.

The State of Washington sees the homeowner as the general contractor, so you are ultimately responsible for the roofing company you hire. If the roofer fails to pay for materials used for your roofing project, then the company who supplied the materials can put a lien on your home. The moral: Always choose a company that’s in excellent standing with their suppliers, like Valentine Roofing.

Most roofs that look like tile roofs are actually metal. As for actual concrete tiles, they break and leak easily in our Seattle climate. Tile roofs work great in hot, sunny Arizona, but don’t work well at all in Western Washington.

Generally speaking, today’s shake and composition roofs don’t require maintenance. Of course if you do see moss or excessive amounts of debris from nearby trees, those should be cleared off the roof.