You may have heard the expression “roof valley” used by an Ankeny and Des Moines Roofing expert when talking about your roof but you may not have had the haziest idea about what they were talking about. The definition of a roof valley is where two connecting slopes convene to form a V-shaped angle. In our blog today, we will be talking about open and closed valleys on a roof.
Open Valley
An open valley is when an Ankeny and Des Moines roofing contractor applies a sheet of metal to the deck of the roof and then cuts and lays shingles to overlap leaving the metal seam visible. When an open valley is accurately fitted it should last for a considerable amount of time. Open valleys are preferred because they discard ice and water promptly with their smooth metal surface. In the event that your roof is leaking at the valley, an open valley is much easier to access and repair than a closed valley. To make it more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, the metal is usually painted to enhance the color of the roof shingles.
Closed Valley
The other common type of valley on a house is a closed valley. This type of valley is also a popular choice for an Ankeny and Des Moines roof repair because it is an easier installation process and they are more aesthetically pleasing to a lot of homeowners. Even though a closed roof valley is a more cost-efficient option, it is also not as effective as an open valley is at eliminating ice and water. The result of this slowly channeled water can cause excessive wear making it most likely the first area of your roof to start failing.
CALL ACTION ROOFING NOW AT (515) 202-2173
We find that most homeowners are usually just concerned with the color and type roofing material they want on their roof, which is important no doubt, but many have no idea what an open or a closed valley is. When was the last time you had a professional roof inspection? Contact us online today to schedule, or call us at (515) 202-2173.