Pop Quiz: What is the average lifespan of a roof in America?
a) 20 years b) 30 years c) 12 years
“...Only 12 years,” according to Kevin O’Donnell, the owner and CEO of O’Donnell Roofing Co., “which is crazy because the products themselves are typically rated for, at the low end is 20, but typically 30 plus, yet the average is only 12 years.”
There are many reasons for this, Kevin explained, such as weather conditions and insurance claims. The biggest reason, however, is poor workmanship, which is why Kevin knows that hiring a company that has consistency and training is important.
Any roofing company should know that different types of roofs will have different warning signs to look out for. “[Roofs] require routine maintenance to keep drains clear of debris, like slate roofs that are meant to last 100 years and especially low slope roofs,” said Kevin. “...roof systems that are designed to last need routine care and routine maintenance by a professional to ensure you get the longevity.”
For example, if a tree breaks a piece of slate on a roof, the roof assembly is compromised in that specific area. Water can easily get in, and these are things that one may not see from the ground – even a professional! “If it's not addressed, water gets underneath the slate and can start to rot the wood,” said Kevin. “What would be, you know, a couple hundred dollar repair turns into thousands of dollars of repairs pretty quickly.”
This is especially true of older homes.
“By the time it surfaces on the inside of your house, it could have been going on for months, if not years, right? So, having that routine inspection and maintenance prior by a professional is very important,” explained Kevin.
Kevin has been a roofer for over 20 years and has been on job sites since he was only 12 years old. As the name suggests, O’Donnell Roofing Co. is a family business that was established in 1924 and has seen 4 generations handle the business. As of 2017, Kevin stepped into a leadership role and began implementing great changes.
According to O’Donnell Roofing Co.’s website, Kevin began to apply the newest roof-related technology, and O’Donnell Roofing Co. became a certified and licensed installer of the top brands of exterior products. Kevin mentioned that he and the team at O’Donnell Roofing Co. are selective with the materials used for their clients’ homes.
“About 15 to 20 years ago, originally, for the last 100 years from the late 1800s, up through up till the year 2000, the underlayment that was used on all roof assemblies was felt paper. It's a black asphalt-impregnated felt,” Kevin explained. “That was the underlayment of choice performed for years that had some breathability to it, right? So, that means when you have heat loss in your house that goes up into your attic space.”
That heat, which has vapor attached to it, permeates through the underlayment and out onto the roof surface. According to Kevin, as the cost of oil raised the price of felt paper, a new synthetic underlayment was created around 20 years ago. These synthetic underlayments, however, do not have breathability to them.
As heat rises in one’s home, vapor is attached to that heat, meaning that the attic spaces need to be ventilated. With new construction, the ventilation methods of today are more advanced than they were decades ago. The original roof systems slate and cedar were breathable roof systems. Asphalt shingles are not breathable. When one removes a critical component of the breathable underlayment and incorporates this new type of underlayment, any vapor that needs to escape is trapped inside the house, causing condensation, mold, and other issues.
“It's literally like putting a trash bag on top of your house,” Kevin explained.
Inspecting and fixing roofing is no easy task, but Kevin O’Donnell loves his job. “I'm pretty much obsessed with roofing,” said Kevin with a smile. He’s always liked roofing growing up, and remembered being on the ground, cleaning up trash and watching the men on the roof work. “Of course, as a kid, you're like, ‘I want to be up there’.”
And now, Kevin is up there, inspecting and fixing roofs.
His in-depth knowledge of roofing, carpentry, and electrical allowed the company to broaden its service offerings, and expand the company to what it is today. O’Donnell Roofing Co. has 3 locations: Havertown, Upper Darby, and Berwyn.
Here’s another pop quiz; when’s the last time you got your roof inspected by a professional?
ODonnellRoofingCo.com
Pop Quiz: What is the average lifespan of a roof in America?
