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Shingle roofing can last anywhere from 15 to 50 years, depending on the type and quality of shingle, your local climate, and how well you maintain your roof. If you live in an area that sees extreme weather, like strong winds, hail storms, or hurricanes, the average life span of a shingle roof will often be on the shorter end, especially if you choose a more affordable roof shingle that isn’t designed to persist through extreme weather.

More and more insurance companies are writing torch down applications out of their liability insurance for contractors. If torch down is covered, they generally require a worker to stay on site for two hours after the last flame is extinguished.

For this reason, cold application modified bitumen—also known as “peel and stick”—is becoming more popular, and torch down is decreasing in popularity. Modified bitumen is taking its place, as it uses both hot and cold applications.

Roofers don’t typically replace vent pipes themselves, but they do handle the flashing and seals around vent pipes when working on a roof. During a roof replacement or repair, roofers inspect the vent pipe flashing for damage, replace deteriorated seals, and ensure the pipe is properly integrated into the roofing system to prevent leaks. If the vent pipe itself is cracked or damaged, a plumber is usually required to replace it, while the roofer ensures the roofing components around the pipe remain watertight.

The ridge is the horizontal line where two sloping roof sections meet at the top, forming the highest point of the roof. A hip, on the other hand, is the external angle formed where two roof sections meet and slope downward toward the walls, typically at a lower angle than the ridge. The ridge runs horizontally along the peak and the hip runs diagonally from the peak to the roof's edges.