There are not many home repairs that equal the importance of your roof. Sure, roofs are not as alluring as other home upgrades but if your roof were to fail, you will quickly know how important it is. When a roof fails the extent of the damage to the inside of the home is often disastrous. Everything from attic insulation down to home electronics and family heirlooms are often destroyed by the water damage.

Roof repair should be taken seriously and should never be delayed if a replacement is needed. We want to help you with your roof replacement. To prove that we have provided you with the following basics that you should know.

ROOFING MATERIALS

Which roofing material you choose is dependent on my factors, including where you live, your personal taste and for many your home owners association. In some regions, metal roofing is often chose as the roofing material due to its fire resistance, and in other locations, Spanish tile roofs are the predominant choice. The pitch of the roof can determine the material as well, where wood shake shingles can be used for roofs with steep pitches but are not the right choice for low-pitched and flat roofs.

Here is a quick list of the most common materials.

Asphalt shingles

This shingle material is the most common used residential shingle type across the United States. They are less expensive and readily available. They are often considered less attractive to other materials because of their lack of dimension, however the “architectural” style shingle has improved the look and last longer than traditional 3-tap asphalt style.

Wood shakes or shingles

Wood shingles are often highly desired and considered very attractive type of roofing material. They are also a bit pricey as compared to other options. They are highly durable but are usually not considered in areas with high fire dangers.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofs are growing in their popularity because of their ability to withstand fire and their overall durability. While they are growing in popularity they are a more expensive roof with prices that fluctuate with the cost of Steel and Aluminum. Although expensive, they are often cost effective because of their exceptional durability.

Slate Roofing

Often found on more expensive homes, slate roofing offers a unique beauty to your home. While an attractive roof, the material is very heavy and a danger to walk on when wet. They are also difficult to repair if damaged.

Composite Roofs

Composite roofing is a fancy wat to say the roof is made from a synthetic material like rubber or other man made material. They can be made to closely resemble slate and other forms of stone tile. The benefit is that they are less expensive, easier to install and repair, but don’t last as long as their organic counter parts.  

Clay or ceramic tile

Also known as the “Spanish-Style” roof, it is very common in many parts of the country for their durability. They are now being replaced by composite and metal roofing but are still a popular option. They are durable against fire hazards but are heavy.

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Tear Off or Second Layer?

What was once and acceptable practice of roofing over the top of a preexisting roof at least once is now no longer allowed in many areas. There are many pros and cons of adding a second layer of roofing and this should be very carefully considered before choosing a second (or third) layer option. Here are some pros and cons:

  • Weight: The biggest argument against adding additional layers of asphalt shingles is that the roofing materials can get too heavy for the roof framing. This can be a big problem, especially for older houses. It is often said that a triple layer of asphalt shingles is equal to a single layer of slate shingles, and if the roof support system was not made to handle this weight it can collapse.
  • Telegraphing: Another problem with shingling over existing shingles is that you are repeating some of the surface irregularities that may already be present. If you’re contemplating putting on a new roof, there’s probably a good chance that you may have bubbles, bumps, and waves that should be remedied. Putting new shingles over existing problems can leave you with a rather unattractive new roof. One way to minimize this problem is to go over the old roof and correct as many problems as you can before re-roofing. It doesn’t take much more than a hammer, some roofing nails, and a handful of shingles to correct bumps, gaps, and protruding nails.
  • Work and waste reduction: The primary advantage to layering is that it reduces the work involved. Stripping off the existing layer and then laying down a new layer adds more work to the process. This isn’t a real problem if roofing professionals are tackling the job—they can strip most roofs in a morning—but if you’re doing the job yourself, it can be a strong argument for roofing right over the old roof.

Cost Considerations

Several factors go into the cost of a roof, beginning with your choice of roofing materials (ranging from cheap three-tab asphalt shingles up to architectural shingles or even slate). The roofing contractor you choose, the pitch (steepness or your roof), and the square footage of your roof are other factors that affect the cost. If you believe you need your roof replaced or if you suspect a problem and are not sure then request a free estimate. We will inspect your roof and help you determine if a repair or replacement is the best solution and provide an accurate estimate of the job.

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Our Process

Our Roof Replacement process is an important part of what sets us apart. Below is a brief description of our process for a complete roof replacement.

  1. Remove all existing shingles, deposit them in a roll-off dumpster. Damaged or old valley flashing and drip edging is also removed at this time. A good crew will use protect foundation plantings and shrubs during tear-off, and will use magnetic tools to pick up nails and metal objects from the lawn.
  2. Make minor repairs on the roof if it is in good condition. If not, replace bad wood with new plywood sheathing or 1 x 6 sheathing boards, whichever is applicable to your type of roof.
  3. Install ice dam protection in regions that require it. Ice guard membrane is a synthetic waterproof barrier material designed to prevent melting ice from backing up under the shingles and penetrating through the sheathing, where the moisture can cause severe damage.
  4. Lay down asphalt roofing paper over the roof sheathing. The layer of roofing paper creates an inner barrier against water penetrating into the house. Rows of roofing paper are overlapped as they progress upward toward the peak, and are normally tacked or stapled in place.
  5. Apply metal drip edging around the edge of the roof, both the eave sides and gable sides. The metal drip edge is nailed in place over the roofing paper or ice guard.
  6. Where necessary, apply new valley flashing along areas where two roof planes meet. The valley flashing is typically nailed to the roofing deck and sealed with roofing caulk.
  7. Apply the tab shingles, starting at the eaves and working upward toward the peak. Where roof vents are being installed, these are installed as the shingles progress toward the peak.
  8. Apply flashing around all areas where leaks might come into the house—against the chimney, around skylights and stack vents, etc. Flashing installation may happen as part of the roofing installation, occurring as the rows of shingles progress upward on the roof deck.
  9. Install the ridge vent. This continuous vent along the peak of the roof will help air circulation in the attic space and can be integral in exhausting hot air and preventing winter ice dams. Ridge vents may not be included on older roofs, but installing them is a good idea whenever a house is re-roofed. If ridge vents are not practical, there should be other types of roof or gable vents installed to provide air circulation in the attic space.
  10. Complete the final cleanup and haul debris away. Have the installation inspected and approved by a building inspector.

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CONTACT INFO

Address:

5555 Main Street, Ste 500 Anytown, ST 77777

 

Phone:

(555) 555-5550

 

Email:

Info@yourdomainname.com