Your home’s structural integrity may depend on the condition of your roof. You should know when to install a new roof to avoid potentially expensive issues like flooding and structural damage.
Installing a new roof is a significant project that requires careful planning and preparation by the homeowner. Our experienced team at Lanier Roofing and Restoration can help ensure a smooth roof installation process.
Read on to find out the warning signs that your roof needs to be replaced, the factors to consider when selecting a top roofing contractor, and the process after hiring a contractor.
You can use various signs to determine whether to replace a roof. A damaged roof can cause a wide range of issues like energy inefficiency. Below are some crucial signs that you should replace your roof.
Whether you need a new roof largely depends on how old your current one is. Asphalt shingle roofs last around 20 years. Conversely, a metal roof can last between 50 to 80 years with proper care. When a roof reaches the end of its useful life, you should plan for a replacement to protect your home from the elements.
Shingles should lie flat on top of a healthy roof. However, if your shingles are cracked, curled, or buckled after years of weather exposure, it’s time to replace your roof.
A roof’s condition usually signifies the need for replacement. However, this is not always the case. You may need to replace your roof if you notice water stains on the walls, paint peeling off the ceiling and walls, or damp rafters.
Leaks and water damage inside your home are additional signs that you should check the condition of your roof before it causes more severe problems like rot. Talk to a local roofing contractor if you are unsure if water damage needs a complete roof replacement.
Moss, mold, and fungi can grow in the shaded regions of the roof, trapping moisture and leading to structural problems. The presence of this undesirable vegetation growing on your shingles may be a precursor to future issues, even if there are no current indications of leaks in the attic.
The roof will sag if the planks supporting it have deteriorated. The damage will only worsen, and the roof could cave in, so you should get a new one.
Knowing what to expect from your contractor before starting a major home improvement project, like replacing your roof. Here are the procedures a roofing contractor will follow to build your new roof.
You and the roofing contractor will discuss the various roofing materials available before the replacement work begins. Several options exist, so you can find something that will work with your home’s design, local climate, budget, and sense of style.
Preparation might help make things easier and prevent injury to your home. You should move cars, cover landscaping with a tarp, and place trash cans close to the house as possible for collecting debris.
Contractors first take off the old roof before installing the new one. If your roof is made of asphalt shingles, your contractor will pry them off with a shingle fork, working from the top to the bottom. Dispose of removed shingles in nearby trash cans or dumpsters.
The contractor will use a pry bar or a drill to remove the easterners that secure the roof panels on a metal roof. Next, they’ll start at one end of a panel and work their way to the other, removing the ridge cap and any additional fasteners. The panel then gets unhooked from its supporting structure, dragged off, and placed on the floor.
You shouldn’t remove the roofing by yourself. Only a trained professional can remove old roofing materials safely without causing any damage to the underlying layers or sheathing. The roof replacement cost might skyrocket if the old roof is removed incorrectly.
Sheathing comprises flat panels that offer structural support and a basis for roofing materials like shingles, and your contractor will examine it after the old roof has been removed. The roofer will inspect the surface for any signs of water damage or other concerns.
After removing old roofing materials, the contractor will inspect the roof flashing. Roofing joints will have flashing, often made of aluminum or galvanized steel, to seal them off from the elements.
This entails the valley flashing, vent flashing, chimney flashing, and drip edge. Roofers will install high-quality flashing and seal it if replacement is necessary.
There are two distinct points during roof installation where the drip edge gets installed. It is installed before the underlayment on the roof’s bottom plane. The next step is to attach it to the roof’s sides.
Roofers will run an ice and water barrier down the house’s base before installing a metal drip edge. They will then nail the drip edge flush against the roof.
The integrity of a roof largely depends on the underlayment. It collects water and then releases it, preventing water damage to the sheathing and framing below. If there is one already, your contractor will install an ice and water barrier. The contractor will install it beneath the drip edge to maximize its protective value. This may require the removal of the drip edge, which will then be replaced and secured.
The roofer will begin installing the underlayment at the roof’s edge, over the ice and water barrier, and the drip edge. Cap nails hold it firmly in place just above the drip edge.
The contractor will then overlap the first row with the second by at least six inches, nailing closely along the edge and more widely in the middle. Continue the same overlapping and nailing method down to the roof’s ridge.
Starter shingles at the roof’s perimeter and staggered rows prevent water from seeping under the shingles when a new roof is constructed. The shingles’ nails will be put directly under the tar strip and set up so that the nail heads are not visible.
A new metal roof begins with the roofer screwing into each ridge rather than the flats along the vertical edge. The roof can be made more uniform in pitch by first screwing together each vertical row. By screwing into the ridges rather than the flats, you can keep water from collecting around the fasteners and protecting the screws.
The contractor will remove any leftover debris and trash from the site that wasn’t collected in the trash cans. The roof will then get inspected to guarantee that it was installed correctly and that the materials top quality.
Picking the correct roofing contractor is crucial for any roofing project. Do your research before hiring anyone to install your new roof, and you’ll have a better chance of making a good choice.
Roofing projects are usually complex and costly. However, hiring a professional can help ensure a seamless process. If you need a new roof, contact Lanier Roofing and Restoration to learn more and schedule a free initial consultation with a roofing professional.
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