Roofing repairs & new roof construction

For most of us, the roof is not important. At least, until it starts to leak. In addition to keeping the house dry, the roof contributes greatly to the look of the home. When building a new house, adding on, or re-roofing, it may pay to consider the options. When it comes to roof remodeling, there are a number of areas that homeowners need to be aware of, from selecting a licensed contractor to the credentials and experience.

Selecting a product

There are several areas to look at when choosing a roofing shingle. To begin, you need to measure your roof. Shingles are priced per square; a square is defined as 100 square feet.

The manufacturer’s warranty can range from 30 years to a lifetime. The length of the warranty is an indicator of performance and value. It is also important to determine the contractor’s intent to stand behind his workmanship and to service a valid complaint in a reasonable time period.

Some roof slopes can limit the choice of shingles that can be used. The slope of the roof is measured by the rise versus the run, or the number of inches vertically by the number of feet horizontally. Your roofing contractor will determine your roof slope and guide you to what type of shingle will be best for your roof.

Other factors to consider in roof remodeling

Although you will be hiring a professional roofing contractor to re-roof your home, you should familiarize yourself with certain aspects of the re-roofing process. There are various conditions about your roof that may limit your product choices or affect the cost of your roofing job. Here’s a list of questions and answers that are relevant to the re-roofing process.

Do I need to obtain a permit to install a new roof on my home?

Some local ordinances require permits to be obtained prior to the start of roofing work in both new and some re-roofing jobs, depending on the locale. If a permit is required, we handle that for you.

Is it always necessary to tear off existing shingles before re-roofing? If they are torn off, who is responsible for the disposal of the old shingles?

There are two options available for re-roofing installations. One would be to tear off the old roof before applying the new one (tear off). The second would be to lay new shingles over the existing roof (lay over). While the second choice is the less expensive of the two options, it is not necessarily always the best choice.

There are advantages to tearing off the old roof before installing a new one. For example:

If there are any defects in the roof deck, they will be revealed when the roof is torn off.

If condensation problems exist in the attic, they too will be revealed when the roof is torn off. Properly designed attic ventilation can then be installed in order to help eliminate such problems.

When the old roof is torn off, waterproofing shingle underlay can be installed before applying the new roof. This will help protect against leaks created by cyclical ice damage and wind-driven rain.

Tearing off the old roof and starting with a clean deck before re-roofing may result in a smoother finished roof system.

If the old roof is torn off, we will  be responsible for the cleanup and disposal of the old shingles.

When contractors say a roof should breathe, they are usually referring to the ventilation system beneath the roof deck. Most shingle warranties require ventilation. An effective ventilation system will help:

Reduce attic heat buildup

Reduce attic moisture and condensation

Prevent weather infiltration, i.e., drifting snow, wind-driven rain

Prevent ice dam build-up

What function does shingle underlayment serve?

Some local building codes and UL standards require that a shingle underlayment (also known as roofing felt) be installed. Also, some manufacturers offer a special water proofing underlayment product (such as CertainTeed’s WinterGuard) which prevents leaks caused by water backup from ice dams—a common condition in many winter snow areas.