Closed Valley Re-Roof Completed in Jordan, MN

Closed Valley vs Open Valley

Jordan is a town on the southwest side of the Minneapolis metro. As such, it tends to experience more hail than other regions of the nation. When hail is a real possibility, we have a discussion with the homeowner about the pros and cons of closed valley systems over open valley systems. 

The “valley” is where two slopes of a roof angle to a single point. Shingles must be either overlapped (closed valley) or a metal cover is run over the gap (open valley). 

The homeowner opted for closed valleys instead of the standard open valley system. Closed valleys use shingles to cover the valley rather than exposed W valley metal, which can be prone to denting during hailstorms. This decision ensures greater resilience and a cleaner aesthetic for the roof.

A huge disadvantage of using open valley or “W” metal valley is the insurance considerations. If there is hail damage to the “W” metal valley, the insurance company will say the valley is damaged – and not the shingles. Removing the valley without damaging and breaking the seals of the shingles is impossible, thus leaving you with a catch-22. This also voids the manufacturer warranty of the shingles. It’s not a good situation to be in.

The homeowner went with the closed valley option, which our pros advised. 

Roof Decking

Decking is an under-discussed element of a re-roof project. This home’s decking was built with OSB (oriented strand board), providing a flatter surface for applying underlayment and shingles compared to dimensional lumber. Traditional lumber tends to warp or crack over time, OSB ensures a smoother, more reliable base. This small detail, but it is an important element for the longevity of a roof.

Finished roof project in a day

The total roof size was approximately 36 squares. This is a very manageable size of project that allowed our experienced crew to complete the entire job in just one day. Our installers are very efficient and pay attention to detail. We were able to get on the job site, do the tear-off, re-roof, and cleanup for the homeowner. Our crew was onto the next job the next day. 

Final thoughts

It was rewarding to help the homeowner navigate the insurance considerations of a closed valley vs. open valley system of this project. The installation was very efficient and we were proud of how our crew handled everything. Getting the job done in a single day allows the homeowner to have their driveway back, and allows our guys to be deployed to another location the very next day. Another successful roofing project for the books!