Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house, protecting you from blazing sunlight, pounding rain, gusty winds and more. It also adds curb appeal and can improve your home’s value.
Before the roof installation process begins, there are a few things you should do to prepare. For professional help, contact Ellingson Roofing LLC.
Whether your roof is aging and in need of repairs or you just want to upgrade its curb appeal, roofing materials are an important part of the process. The right material can protect your home from rain, ice, sun’s harmful UV rays and other weather conditions for decades. It can also increase your home’s resale value.
Depending on the type of roofing you choose, there are several materials that can be used to build your new roof. These include wood shingles, shakes or tiles, asphalt shingle, metal and slate. Each of these types has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to talk with your contractor before you start the process. Your contractor will help you select the best material for your home’s climate and aesthetics, as well as its price range and life expectancy.
Before your contractor starts installing the actual roof, he will begin by laying down plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) to create a flat, solid surface for the main roofing materials to be placed on top of. He will then install flashing and drip edges on the sides of your roof, making sure that each layer overlaps the previous one by at least 2 in.
A copper flashing is an excellent choice for areas with high rainfall and a high risk of water leaks. It can last for 100 years or more, and its durable surface is resistant to rust.
If you are looking for a more modern roofing material, metal is a good option. It’s lightweight, and it can be shaped to add style to the overall look of your home. It’s also very durable, and it has great fire resistance.
Slate is a beautiful and high-end roofing material that is often seen on luxury homes. It’s expensive, heavy and difficult to repair, but it can last for more than 50 years. A new slate roof is a major investment, but it will enhance your home’s curb appeal and raise its value. If you can’t afford to go with slate, consider a composite slate, which looks like authentic slate but is lighter and less likely to be damaged.
Preparation
The roofers’ preparation process is as important as their choice of materials for your home. It involves cleaning up the work area and making sure all your belongings are safe from falling debris. You should also be prepared for a disruption of your normal routine during the installation.
Roofing professionals will need access to your house and will be working with sharp tools like hammers, nail guns, ladders, and shingles. If you have plants or other treasured items around the exterior of your home, mark them or protect them with tarps or netting. For example, if you have a small natural pool or koi pond tucked among the greenery in your garden, notify the roofers and cover it with a tarp to avoid water damage.
You should also clear the area of toys and patio furniture that can get in the way of the roofing team’s path. The pounding of hammers can shake wall decor and knock items off of shelves or tables. This is especially true for fragile mementos and framed pictures, so it’s best to remove these before the roofing job begins.
If you have children or pets, consider having them stay at Grandma’s while the roof is being installed. Not only will the noise, dust, and stray debris be disturbing to them, but the hammers and other construction equipment can be dangerous. Even if the roofers wear hard hats, they can still injure pets or children who approach the work zone.
A good contractor will prepare your house for the roofing work, including removing existing shingles and cleaning the roof decking. Then, the roofing company will apply underlayment and felt paper to the roof deck. The underlayment helps prevent moisture from penetrating the roof and reduces the risk of rot and mold. Felt paper provides a waterproof barrier to the underlayment and protects the roof from the elements.
If you have skylights, solar panels, or other accessories on the roof, they should be removed by the roofing company before the re-roofing starts. These objects can fall off during the shingle removal and installation processes, damaging your property or hurting you or your family members.
Installation
Roofing contractors will show up at your home with standard roofers’ tools, including ladders, hammers and nail guns. For larger jobs, they might bring in construction equipment like forklifts and tractors. They will also set up protective measures on your property, such as tarps to cover anything outside of the house and wooden boards to cover any plants or other items next to your home. This will keep debris from slamming into things and damaging them. They may also advise you to move outdoor furniture and move vehicles out of the way so they can access the roof.
Before starting, the roofers will inspect the existing roof for damage and to make sure it’s structurally sound. They will then remove the old shingles or panels and discard them. This is a crucial step in the process because it makes sure that the new roof will be securely attached to your home’s frame and will be able to withstand high winds.
After the roof deck is bare, the contractor will lay the underlayment, which is a layer of protective material that’s usually made of felt or synthetic materials. They will then install the flashing, which is a piece of metal designed to prevent water from getting into vulnerable areas, like around chimneys and vents. Next, they will waterproof the valleys, which are the areas between gable ends, and then they’ll start installing shingles. Finally, they’ll cap the ridge of the roof, which is the peak.
While some DIYers can do a simple roof installation themselves, it’s a good idea to leave steep and high-roof work to the pros. Even a small mistake can lead to a dangerous fall, and it’s not worth the risk. If you decide to take on the task yourself, make sure you have the right gear, such as a harness, rope and hook. Also, don’t forget to use a ladder that’s rated for your weight plus 80 lbs. It’s also a good idea to wear a hard hat, because falling off the roof can cause serious injury or death.
Inspection
During the inspection phase, your roof professional will check the quality of materials used and how well they were installed. This includes things like ensuring shingles are secured properly and roofing felt is shaped to the roof. If your roof was installed with the wrong materials, this can cause problems later on.
A thorough roof inspection will also cover all the different parts of your roof. This will include looking for gutters, scuppers and drains. These are necessary to ensure positive drainage is happening and that there is no standing water or ponding. This can cause severe damage to a roof over time and should be addressed.
In addition to checking the shingles themselves, a roof inspector will examine any fungus or moss that is growing on the surface of the shingles. These are common causes of shingle deterioration and should be removed as soon as possible. Inspectors will also look for rust, loose or missing shingles as well as any signs of leaking.
Your roof inspection will also include a look at any penetrations in your roof such as vent pipes, skylights or other items. These create holes in your roof and are typically covered by boots, seals or flashing to prevent water intrusion. Your inspector will check these seals for condition and make sure they are up to code.
Finally, your inspector will check all the flashing on your roof. This is the strips of metal that are used to divert water away from walls and other structures. This is important for keeping water from getting into your building and causing leaks.
In addition to this, your inspector will check that any eaves and fascias are tucked up properly and have proper support. These areas are not as substantial as the main structure of your roof, but they can still cause serious damage if not done correctly.