Learning Center

Roof Remodelling 101

For most of us the roof is taken for granted — at least until it starts leaking. While more appreciated for keeping the inside of a house dry, your roof also adds greatly to the overall look and value of a home. When building a new home, adding on, or simply reroofing, it will reward you to know and compare your options. You'll also need to be aware of the steps of selecting contractors, right up to the actual start of roof remodelling work.

Finding find a professional roofing contractor for my roof remodelling is probably the first of a number of pitfalls for homeowners to encounter. Some key points are

1. including evaluating and hiring a contractor without a personal interview,
2. judging estimates on low price only,
3. selecting products without comparison shopping, and
4. not understanding reroofing basics.
   

Selecting a product

The basic you'll need to start with is to measure your roof and get an accurate estimate of costs:

• Shingles are priced per square;
• a square is defined as 100 square feet.
• Asphalt shingles (most commonly used) cost from $50 to $150 per square.
• You also have to factor in expense of removing the old roof, as well as
• the labor involved in a professional installation.

The manufacturer’s warranty can range from 20 years to lifetime, which is an indicator of performance and value. For workmanship, a contractors’ guarantee is usually for one to five years on the average. You'll also have to determine the contractor’s ability to stand behind his workmanship and to respond to complaints.

Your roof slope can also limit your shingle choice. Some shingles will perform better on steeper roofs, particularly in severe weather. Your roofing contractor can determine your roof slope and make recommendations as to what type of shingle is best to use for your roofing project.

Frequently Asked Questions:

While you will be contracting a professional roofing company to do your reroofing, there are certain points of the reroofing process you should know and appreciate. Some conditions concerning your roof may limit your choices as well as affect the cost of your roofing job. We've composed this list of questions which have come up routinely in our years of service:

1. What permits do I need in order to install a new roof on my home?

Local ordinances often require permits be obtained prior to the actual start of roofing work for both new installations and reroofing. These vary by location and municipality or county. Your contractor will be able to tell you what permits are needed how it will be obtained.

2. Do you always have to tear off existing shingles before reroofing? And who is responsible for the disposal of the old shingles?

There are two options available for reroofing installations: tearing off the old roof (tear off) or lay a new roof over the original (lay over). While the second choice is less expensive, it's not necessarily always the best choice.

Tear off has several advantages:

• If there are any defects in the roof deck, they will be revealed and repaired before applying the new shingles.
• Existing attic condensation problems will be revealed when the roof is torn off. Proper attic ventilation can then be installed as a necessary remedy.
• Waterproofing shingle underlayment can now be installed before applying your new roofing. This helps  protect against ice damage leaks and those from wind-driven rain.
• Also, you will get a smoother result by tearing off the old roof and starting with a clean deck before reroofing.

Even though there is added cost, these also lessen the likelihood that the manufacturer's shingle warranty will be impaired. Where you do have the old roof is torn off, your contractor should responsibly take care of the cleanup and disposal of the old shingles. Make sure your contract states this clearly or includes this in your contract.

3. What is this saying that "a roof should breathe?" How do you know if the roof is properly ventilated?

When contractors say "a roof should breathe," this refers to the ventilation system beneath and extending through the roof deck. Most shingle warranties require ventilation.

An effective ventilation system will help:

• Lower attic heat build-up
• Lower attic moisture and condensation
• Prevent weather-influenced effects, such as drifting snow and wind-driven rain
• Prevent any ice dam from forming.

4. How does shingle underlayment help?

In some localities, local building codes and UL standards require a shingle underlayment (roofing felt) is installed as part of reroofing. There is even special underlayments which which prevent leaks caused by water backup from ice dams. This is a common condition in many winter snow areas. Such underlayment is installed at the eaves or lower edges of the roof. This is all in addition to adequate ventilation and proper insulation for the attic floor.

There may be additional question you have about reroofing your home. Contact us today to get these answered and also for your free consultation and estimate.

Also, watch our video tutorials for more information.