Owens Corning Roofing Systems: What Homeowners Should Know

Shingle brand is the part homeowners shop. It matters less than the five other components that go on with it and the installation details at valleys, walls and penetrations.

The components

• Ice and water barrier: a self-adhering membrane at eaves, valleys and around penetrations, where water concentrates and where wind-driven rain gets pushed backward
• Synthetic underlayment: the secondary water barrier across the field, and what keeps the roof dry between tear-off and shingle installation
• Starter shingles: a sealed, properly adhered first course at eaves and rakes, which is where wind uplift begins
• Field shingles: the visible layer, in three-tab, architectural, designer or impact-resistant lines
• Hip and ridge shingles: purpose-made caps, not field shingles cut into thirds
• Ventilation: ridge exhaust balanced against soffit intake

Shingle lines, briefly

Three-tab is the base product and is mostly used now on outbuildings and budget jobs. Architectural, or laminated, shingles are the standard residential choice: thicker, better wind ratings, better appearance. Designer profiles imitate shake or slate at a higher price. Impact-rated shingles use a modified mat that resists cracking on impact, which is a real consideration in a hail region. Whether your carrier gives you anything for installing them is a question for your agent, since it varies.

Ventilation is the part nobody sells you on

A ridge vent with no soffit intake does not work. It pulls air from the path of least resistance, which is often the house itself. Balanced ventilation lowers attic temperature in summer, reduces moisture accumulation in winter, and is a condition of most manufacturer warranty coverage. When we quote a roof, the intake situation is part of the conversation.

What a Preferred Contractor listing means

Arrowhead Roofing & Repair LLC is listed by Owens Corning as an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor in Springfield. That means the manufacturer vetted and published the company, with requirements around licensing, insurance and standing. It does not mean any specific warranty applies to your job automatically. Warranty coverage depends on which products are installed and in what combination, and you should get that in writing for your specific scope. Verify our listing on the official Owens Corning profile.

Questions to ask about any quoted system

• Which underlayment, and is it synthetic or felt?
• Where does ice and water barrier go on this roof?
• Are you using manufactured starter and ridge products?
• Are flashing and pipe boots new or reused?
• What is being done about intake ventilation?
• What warranty applies to exactly this combination of products?

See Owens Corning roofing and roof replacement for how we scope this work.