The Basics Of Roof Replacement

Among all significant home repairs, new roofing is likely the most vital. You'll recognize the necessity of a new roof when your old roof fails and floods your home, ruining everything, from the attic insulation to the painstakingly rebuilt kitchen to the basement family room with a big-screen TV. Leaking roofs are one of the most devastating house issues.

Roof replacement is not something to be taken lightly or put off. When your roof is nearing its end of life, brush up on these basics before calling roofing professionals. Now get the best roofing replacement in Pasadena from BD Roofing as they provide high-quality roofing services.

Roofing Materials

Both geography and personal preference affect the choice of roofing materials. In some areas of the country, steel roofing is popular for its fire resistance while in others; the typical housing styles may require a Spanish-inspired tile roof. Another factor that affects roofing materials is roof pitch. Shingles made of wood shakes are suitable for steep roofs, but they are not suitable for flat or low-pitched roofs.

Typical residential roofing options include:

Asphalt composition shingles: Because of their flat appearance, asphalt composition shingles are less appealing than other solutions. Most roofs are constructed with this material.

Wood shakes or shingles: Expensive but beautiful shingles. They are extremely durable but are not suitable for areas prone to fire.

Metal Roofing: Steel or aluminum metal roofs are becoming more popular due to their durability and fire resistance. These are pricey roofs that require specialized commercial roof contractor to construct, but their extended life may make them cost-effective. Some raised-seam panels and goods appear like composite shingles.

Slate roofing: It is a beautiful, high-end alternative, but it is pricey and heavy. Roofs made of slate are difficult to repair and pose a safety hazard.

Composition slate: These recycled-content tiles, which include rubber, are gaining popularity. They resemble slate and other stone tiles but are much lighter and less fragile.

Clay or ceramic tile: Red clay tile roofs are still widespread in few countries although they are being increasingly replaced with metal and composite materials. Other roofing materials now meet ceramic tile's fire retardant capacity while weighing much less. The half-barrel shingle is named so because it is a cylinder sliced in half lengthwise, 16 inches long.

Tear or 2nd Layer?

It used to be usual practice to shingle a new roof over an old one at least once, if not twice. Nowadays, authorities require complete tear-off of the existing roof. Even when layering is permitted, the merits and cons of doing so should be carefully considered:

Weight: The main argument against adding more asphalt shingles is that they can become too heavy for the roof framework. This can be a structural issue in older homes. A triple layer of asphalt shingles is typically compared to a single layer of slate shingles, a very heavy material.

Telegraphing: Another issue with shingling over existing shingles is that you are just replicating surface imperfections. If you're thinking of getting a new roof, chances are you have bubbles, bumps, and waves that need to be fixed. Adding new shingles over existing faults can result in an unsightly new roof. Before re-roofing, look over the old roof and fix as many faults as you can. A hammer, roofing nails, and shingles are all you need to fix bumps, gaps, and protruding nails.

Work and waste reduction: Adding a new layer after removing the old one adds to the task. Professional roofers can strip most roofs in the morning, but if you're doing it yourself, there's a good reason to save the old roof.

Warranties: Some roofs and manufacturers demand total stripping to meet warranty requirements and limits. If the roof is still under warranty, examine the terms.

The Roofing Process

You can hire a roofing crew with confidence if you understand the process and the industry jargon. A professional roof installation job of moderate size may take 3-4 days. The roofing crew's total process is as follows:

• Remove old shingles and put them in a dumpster: Broken or old valley flashing and drip edges are removed. A good crew will preserve foundation plantings and shrubs with tarps and pick up nails and metal debris with magnetic tools.
• If the roof is in good shape, make simple repairs. If not, replace it with new plywood sheathing or 1 x 6 sheathing boards, depending on your roof type.
• Install ice dam protection as needed. The ice guard membrane is a synthetic waterproof barrier meant to keep melting ice from backing up under the shingles and damaging the sheathing.
• Overlay asphalt roofing paper. The roofing paper creates an inner barrier to prevent water penetration. Rows of roofing paper are tacked or stapled together as they approach the summit.
• Apply metal drip edging to the roof's eave and gable edges. On top of the roofing paper or ice, the guard is the metal drip edge.
• Install new valley flashing where two roof surfaces meet. The valley flashing is usually attached to the roof deck and caulked.
• Start with the eaves and work your way up to the peak. Roof vents are fitted as the shingles reach their height.
• Apply flashing around any potential leak points in the house, such as the chimney, skylights, and stack vents. Flashing may be installed as part of the roofing process when the shingles are installed on the roof deck.
• This continuous vent along the ridge of the roof will aid air circulation in the attic and prevent ice dams in the winter. Older roofs may not have ridge vents, but adding them is a smart idea whenever a roof is replaced. If ridge vents are not feasible, other roof or gable vents should be added to provide attic ventilation.
• Finalize clean-up and remove debris: Have a building inspector authorize the installation. When estimating materials for a roofing job, several terms are used.