For a homeowner, no repair or replacement can be as important as getting a new roof. A strong, long-lasting roof promises safety and security for the family as well as peace of mind for everyone in the house. Though the reasons for a leaky or failed roof vary from one home to another, it is crucial for every homeowner to understand what is included in a roof replacement.
Installing a new roof is a process which consists of several steps, each of which needs focused attention from the roofer or the roofing technician. Right from the beginning till the final inspection, the roofing contractor holds the responsibility for making sure each step is completed in the correct manner. As a homeowner, you should also remain aware of all the key things during a roof replacement. You should know what roofing materials are most ideal for your home. You should be aware of the basics of a roof estimate. You need to know how the cost of a new roof may vary depending on the type of roofing material, the season in which you are getting the work done and the extra labor charges that the total cost may include.
For your knowledge and convenience, here is a quick look at all the key things included in a roof replacement or new roof installation.
Different Types of Roofing Materials
The cost of your new roof installation may increase or decrease depending on what type of roofing material you choose.
Before you select a specific roofing material, you need to take the location of your home into consideration. The kind of weather you have there and roof pitch as well as your own individual preferences together determine the kind of roofing material that will be the perfect match for your home.
When it comes to residential roofing, you have several materials to select from. The most common among them include asphalt shingles, wood shingles, slate roofing and composition slate among others. Asphalt shingle roofs are highly affordable and easily accessible. In fact, this roofing material is the most popular of all the materials that you see or that exists in the market. Wood shingles are expensive, but they look attractive. However, you can’t go for wood shingles, if your house or apartment is located in an area that is prone to fire danger.
Tear off the Existing Roof or Overlay?
A lot of homeowners don’t know whether they should tear off the old roof for the new installation or get the new roof laid over the old roof. But this is an important concern and you should know the difference between the two. Either the roofing contractor you work with first remove the original roof and then install the new one or install the asphalt shingles on top of the existing roof.
Both of these options have their own pros and cons and affect the total cost of the new roof installation as well. In a tear off roofing, the technicians will remove all the existing shingles and so they’ll be able to get a clear picture of what lies beneath the roof. This means that all the high risk areas will get the needed repair and the new roof installation will be just brand new and perfect. In an overlay, it won’t be possible to examine the areas beneath the old roof. Though tear off roofing will cost you more, it does offer better quality, adds value to your home and the new roof lasts longer in this case. The overlay roofing option is cheaper, requires less time to complete and the new roof may not look good in this case. Also, when you lay the new roof on top of the existing roof, the weight of your roof will increase.
So, whether you plan to go with tear off roofing or roof overlay, you should definitely seek the consultation of an experienced roofing contractor. Upon proper inspection, they will tell you what is the best route to take.
Basics of a Roof Estimate
Most contractors will offer you a free roof replacement estimate. What is important is to know whether the roof estimate you have received is a legitimate one. That is why you should be aware of what is included in a roof estimate. Once you get the estimate, you should take a closer look at its content.
Here is a list of some key questions that a roof estimate should address:
- Details of payment methods and due dates
- Time taken to complete the project
- Cost of the new roof
- Cost of all materials used in the installation
- Description of all the work
- Warranty
- Insurance information
All good roof estimates will provide details that are essential in the installation of a new roof. Since getting a new roof is a valuable investment, it is important for you to have all the information you need.
The format of the roof estimate may vary from one roofing contractor to another. The form or the format doesn’t actually matter. What really matters is what kind of content or information the estimate includes. You should expect some difference (not significant) in the roof estimates of various contractors. Always remember to read the details provided in the estimate between the lines. Some roofers may not handle the responsibility of cleaning up all the debris after the installation. Find out if the services of your roofing contractor includes debris cleanup.
The Roofing Process
The roof replacement process begins with the removal of the old or damaged shingles, if you go the tear off route. After the old roof has been torn off, the technician will see what lies beneath. At this stage, the roofer will perform minor repairs to restore the structural integrity of the new roof.
If you live in an area where you have snowfall, the roofer will install ice dam protection to water-proof shingles. The ice dam installation will prevent moisture from getting under the shingles of your new roof. Next, the technician will lay down the roofing paper to prevent water infiltration. Now, it is time for the metal drip edging to be attached over the roofing paper using nails. As per requirement, the technician may also apply new valley flashing to the roofing deck.
Now, the tab shingles will be applied. The roofer will begin this application at the eaves and gradually move in the upper direction toward the peak. Flashing installation will be done to leak-proof such areas as the chimney, stack vents and the areas around the skylights. The roofer will next perform the installation of ridge vents or gable vents for ventilation in the attic space.
After the installation is complete, the roofing technician will give the new roof a final look to see nothing is amiss anywhere. The labourers will clear all the debris around the site and clean up the area.
Do You Have More Questions?
Hopefully, all the information provided above will give you a clear picture of what all is included in roof replacement and what to expect during the installation. If you still have some more questions or want a free estimate for the installation of a new roof, feel free to reach out to Residential Roofing Depot. Located in and near Lakeland, FL, we are an experienced roofing company that offers services such as roof repair, roof maintenance and roof replacement among others.
Give us a phone call and have our roofing experts conduct an inspection of your old roof and give you a roof estimate – at no cost.
18 Responses
My cousin has been thinking about getting a composite roof in order to be safer. She would really like to get some help from a professional in order to be more effective. It was interesting to learn about the basics of an estimate of a roof.
My roof has been having a lot of issues, and I’m not sure how to fix it. It makes sense that getting it properly replaced could be beneficial! I’ll work with a professional to ensure that it gets put together properly.
I’m glad you talked about roofing contractors and how they should give you an estimate of their work. Recently, my parents mentioned they want to replace their old roof. My parents found out their roof’s rotting and have several leaks, so I’ll be sure to share this article with them. Thanks for the advice on roof replacement and how to read a roofing estimate and understand it.
It is great that this post shared that having our roof replaced can increase the property value as well as prevent further damages, such as leaking roofs. My wife mentioned that our roof has been leaking and she is looking to have it replaced. I think I will get a professional opinion on the best solution by bringing in an experienced roofer for an initial inspection.
The other day my neighbor mentioned that he would like to have his roof replaced. I do agree that it is important for us to leave it to residential roofers as they are skilled and experienced. I will definitely keep this information in mind for future references.
My roof was damaged in a bad storm, and I’m not sure what to do about it. It makes sense that I would want to get a professional to replace it for me! It’s nice that they can do it so effectively.
It’s good to know that you should address the time taken to complete the project at the initial estimate. My husband and I noticed that a few of our neighbors have gotten them done. I think it could be a really great idea for us as well.
I liked it when you shared that there are several materials to select from when it comes to residential roofing. My friend just mentioned the other day that she is planning to replace the whole roof of her house that has been severely damaged due to extreme weather conditions. I will suggest to her hire a reliable service that can offer her a selection of materials to choose from.
Thank you for explaining a bit about the roofing process. My husband and I need to get our roof replaced, but we don’t know what to expect. Knowing this would help us to feel a little more prepared for what is to come.
It helped me when you said that installing a new roof is a process that consists of several steps, each of which needs to be focused attention from the roofer or the roofing technician. My father and I are considering looking for a roofer because the current top is old and worn, and we are thinking of refurbishing the roof of the house with new materials. I think it’s a good idea to hire a reliable local expert with experience in regional weather patterns to learn how to protect our home best.
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I like how you mentioned that the removal of the old or damaged shingles is the first step of your roof restoration. My uncle mentioned to me last night that he is planning to replace their current roof due to the storm damage and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do in choosing the best contractor. Thanks to this informative article and I’ll be sure to tell her that it will be much better if they consult a trusted storm damage home repair service as they can answer all his inquiries.
It helped when you mentioned that you have many materials to select when you are planning to replace your roof. My uncle mentioned to me last night that he is planning to replace their roof due to old age and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to consider. Thanks to this informative article and I’ll be sure to tell him that he should consult trusted residential roofing services as they can answer all his inquiries.
I appreciate you taking the time to explain the roofing procedure to us when you said that you have a wide variety of roofing materials to choose from. Great share!
I like that you said that it is important to consider the best material for your roof. My uncle mentioned to me last night that he is planning to increase the value of their home by installing a new roof and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do in finding the best certification for it. Thanks to this informative article and I’ll be sure to tell him that he can consult a well-known residential roofing service in town as they can answer all his inquiries.
Thank you for explaining that you have the option to tear off the existing roof or you can lay your new roof on top of the old one. We are planning on replacing our roof this spring and have been wondering what we should expect. I didn’t know that we would have this option, but I’ll be sure to consider the pros and cons so that we can make the best decision for our home.
I never knew that all excellent roof estimates will provide important information about the installation of a new roof. I never thought that it would be like this, I’ll share this with my aunt. Thank you for the information about the roof repair contractors.
Hey! Over the past few days, I’ve been noticing some minor damages on the front part of my house roof which raises some concerns for me. Well, I believe it’s time to call an expert to check out the problem and fix it instantly. This is rightfully so once you told us that obviously it’s better to choose weatherproof material for our roofs so we won’t have to repair them constantly.