Replacing an old roof is no small matter. Many homeowners question whether they need a new roof, and many will continue to let water damage plague their home until they no longer have a choice. Reroofing is a long-term solution to roofing problems and can even head off long term damage to other parts of your home.
But, reroofing comes with a lot of questions for any homeowners. Anderson Metal Roofing & Shingles is happy to answer all of your questions about roofing and reroofing. To get you started, here are some of the most common questions homeowners have when it comes to reroofing as a service and a solution.
How Do You Reroof A Home?
Anderson Metal Roofing & Shingles has more than 25 years of experience handling major roofing projects. Reroofing has a standard procedure that serves as a base for every job.
- A roofing contractor will provide a consultation with recommendations and an estimate.
- Schedule installation at a time convenient for your family.
- Erect scaffolding and implement safe working conditions.
- Removal of current roofing material with proper disposal.
- Repair any basic carpentry within the substructure of the roof.
- Install new roof, flashing, ridges, and more.
- Clean up the work environment for the final inspection.
We always start with an in-depth consultation and end with a cleanup crew, ensuring that your home is ready for you.
How Can You Know If A Roof Is Still Good?
It’s reasonable to question if a roofing contractor is trying to sell you on a costly service that you don’t need. During a consultation, a roofing contractor should explain the damage, and even offer to show you images they took during their inspection.
Consider a few key aspects, such as the durability of your roof, age, and ventilation. If your roof is more than 20 years old, you probably need to have your home reroofed. Additionally, if you’ve noticed caving, or warping in your roof, you probably need a new roof. Finally, if you see a distinct problem with ventilation, it’s likely your roof.
Ventilation, and warping are clear signs that you need a new roof. However, issues such as mold and pest infestation can come with so much damage that reroofing is the only option. In these cases, you will work with more than just your roofing contractor. You’ll likely have to schedule extermination or mold inspection as well.
What Should You Think About Before Choosing A New Roof?
When you’re working in a region that has hot and humid summers with cold and wet winters you need to put a bit of thought into the type of roof, unless you have a commercial property, you’ll need a pitched roof to prevent snow and ice damage. Additionally, you’ll want to consider the materials and warranties.
Speak with your roofing contractor about what materials options are available. There are different types of shingles and different qualities available. It’s imperative that you consider the overall investment. Paying more for higher quality materials now could mean the difference between your roof lasting 15 years, and your roof lasting 50 years.
When choosing to reroof you should also consider the time of year. Many roofers encourage these big jobs to take place through late spring or early summer to avoid storms whenever possible. Not only can storms slow down the roofing process, but it can create unsafe working conditions.
Finally, when choosing a new roof, you’ll need to consider the level of maintenance necessary. Although every roof does need some attention, you’ll find that particular materials can go without semi-annual cleaning while others need constant care.
How Long Will Reroofing Take?
The most common question about reroofing is the duration of the job. Unfortunately, even with a full crew of professional roofers, there is no way to reroof a home in a day. For most “starter” sized homes reroofing is a two-day process. Where day one is removal and preparation, day two is installation and cleanup.
However, for larger homes, the process can take up to a week. In some rare cases, the job must stop and reconvene at a later time. These cases are almost always due to whether roofing contractors cannot install roofing during inclimate weather conditions.
Are There Reroofing Options?
Yes, reroofing does not simply mean replacing the entire roof in one project. You can recover the existing roof, and often this option is less demanding of both time and money. Essentially the new roof goes right on top of the old roof.
The trouble with recovering or stacked roofing is that some cities have building codes that prohibit the practice. Additionally, if your roof has gone through re-covering before a roofing contractor may advise against it.
