The Importance Of Roof Pitch
Q: Everything being equal , which roof will last longer: one with a steep pitch or one with a shallow pitch? Seems to me a steep hillside erodes more quickly than a low slope, so I’d think that roof shingles would wear out more quickly on a steeply sloped roof.
George, Oglesby, Ill.
A:Tom Silva replies: It’s difficult to say. On one hand, a steep roof is less likely to collect leaves and other debris that hold moisture against the shingles and invite the growth of moss and algae. On the other hand, that same roof in an unshaded area facing due south will take the full brunt of the sun, which is hard on any roof.
Actually, factors other than pitch have a greater effect on shingle durability. The side facing your worst weather typically fares worse than the leeward side. Likewise, a roof system that isn’t vented properly and allows heat to build up beneath the roofing has a shorter life than one that is vented.
Dealing With A Mossy Roof
Q: What, if anything, should I do about all the moss that’s growing on my roof? Dorothy Plummer, Dingmans Ferry, PA.
A: Tom Silva replies: Moss holds moisture against shingles, shortening their life. It also catches debristwigs, leaves, dirtthat makes the moisture problem worse. But before removing the moss, grab a pair of binoculars and take a good look at your roof. If you see shingles with surface cracks, small blisters, curled-up edges, or areas where the surface granules have worn off, you probably need new roofing. But if the shingles are in good shape, here’s how to get rid of the moss.
First, take these precautions: Spray water on all the plants under the section of the roof you will be working on or cover them with plastic tarps. The 50-50 mix of water and bleach that’s used to kill moss can also kill or damage any foundation plantings it drips on. Also, because the roof will become very slippery when you spray the moss with the bleach mixture, stay off the roof and on a ladder during the entire process. An extension ladder with a roof standoff provides a secure platform.
Apply the bleach solution with a pump sprayer until the moss is saturated, then wait 15 minutes or so to rinse the roof thoroughly. If your foundation plants aren’t covered, rinse them, too. Now wait a week or two for the moss to dry up. If you can, get on the roof to brush it off. If not, the dead moss will eventually wash away.
How To Build A Roof
This article was co-authored by David Bitan. David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches.There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 201,594 times.
A roof is much more than just the decorative top of a building. A roof provides protection from the elements and precipitation, helps drain water away from a structure, and provides insulation that helps keep the interior of a building warm or cool, depending on the season. There are several types of roofs, but the best one for your needs will depend on the structure, the climate, and the amount and type of precipitation you receive. Regardless of the type of roof you want to build, safety should always be a priority, as roofing work can be dangerous, and fall equipment should always be used.
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Note: For homeowners who live in large and expensive coastal cities like Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York City, Boston, Miami, and Washington DC, the average quoted residential roofing prices can range from $5.50 to $8.50 per square foot or $550 to $850 per square of asphalt shingles installed or replaced, depending on the scope of the project.
The higher roofing costs in coastal areas are due to the higher local cost of living, and hence higher cost of doing business.
Booming local real estate values also drive up the demand and prices for professional home remodeling services, which have experienced a 15% to 20% price inflation since the start of the pandemic. This has been especially true in the high cost of living areas where demand for exterior home remodeling services has been especially strong.
Did you know? The average residential roof size in the US is about 1,700 square feet or 17 squares, although there are many larger homes with roofs that can be well over 2,000 sq. ft. or 20 squares. In fact, larger residential properties with garages can easily exceed 3,000 sq. ft. or 30 squares in size.
All professional roofers use squares to measure and estimate roofs. A square is equal to 100 square feet of the 3-dimensional roof surface.
What About Prices for Other, Less-Common Roofing Systems?
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Roof Size And Orientation
The bigger your roof, the more materials youll need. And the more time youll invest in transporting and installing them.
Another factor to consider is the angle of your roof, or slope, as the pros say. Low-sloped roofs are easier to install shingles on because of their flatter angles. Conversely, higher-angled roofs are more time-consuming and difficult. If your roof has lots of extra elements, like chimneys, dormers or skylights, the job gets more complicated, too.
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The Most Important Thing To Remember: Dont Be There During A Roof Replacement
As you can see, lots of weird and unexpected things can happen when you get a new roof. If you only take away one thing, just remember to flee your house when you get a new roof. Even if you dont put up trash bags to catch the dirt, if you dont care about losing water, or even if a guy falls through your roof, do leave your house.
I like to find a silver lining in everything, so even though this post was basically weird things that happened to me during a roof replacement, in the end, we are getting a new roof. We ended up getting it sooner than anticipated, too, thanks to a terrible monsoon storm that tore shingles off our roof . We are lucky to have extra money to pay for the roof now, instead of letting the roof get worse.
But I have made a note to myself: only homes with new roofs in the future!
Have you ever experienced a roof replacement, or have you recently gone through getting a new roof? What were your experiences like?
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Is It Hard To Reroof Your House
Make no bones about itroofing is hard work. There’s no hiding from the elements. You can’t be afraid of heights and you need to be pretty fit. … However, don’t have the shingles delivered to the roof if you still have two layers of old shingles to tear offit could be too much weight for your trusses.
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Shut Off The Water Valve To Your Evaporative/swamp Cooler
If you have an evaporative cooler, even if you dont use it, tell the roofing people where the shut off valve is.
For those of you who dont know what evap coolers are, theyre for dry climates and are similar to air conditioners except theyre less effective and make the air really humid. Thats not the actual description, but thats my version. Theyre very common in Phoenix because theyre generally cheaper to run.
Our evaporative cooler is a piece of junk and we dont use it. When the roofers showed up, they didnt mention the evap and we forgot to ask. Unfortunately for me, in order to move the evap to replace the roof, they needed to shut off the water valve to it. Instead of finding the valve , they turned off the water all day.
And no, turning off the water for the entire day is not common, which I found out after going from 7 AM to 6 PM without any water. Plans of getting any laundry done? Erased! Plans of washing my hands, ever? Thank goodness for hand sanitizer
If you dont have an evaporative cooler, you are so lucky. For my fellow dry-climate folks with evaps, show your roofers where the evaporative cooler shut-off valve is . If you have to be home , you should not be without water!
Do Your Own Roof Replacement
- Written by William Marra on Jul 28, 2009To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
Roof replacement requires no special skills and can be done by anyone with the proper tools, materials, and guidance. Roofing materials are designed to last an average of 40 years. All roofs will eventually become worn and weathered and will need to be repaired in part or replaced completely.
There are several types of roofing material including wood, asphalt, slate, and metal. This article will focus on the installation of asphalt roof shingles.
Step 1 – Work Safely
Working on a pitched roof might take a little getting used to. All that is required to maintain secure footing is 2×4 lumber that is 4 or 5 feet in length. Lay a 2×4 board flat and horizontal onto the roof a few feet below where youll be working.
Drive a #16 nail through each end of the 2×4, through the shingles and most importantly, into the edge of a rafter. Use the 2×4 as a cleat to keep you from sliding down the roof. Pull it up and re-nail it in place as you work your way up and across the roof.
Step 2 – Remove Worn and Damaged Shingles
Using your hammer claw and a utility knife, remove all damaged or worn shingles, all the nails, and the felt roofing paper from the plywood sheathing in the area to be re-shingled.
Step 3 – Get Started
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Tear Off The Old Shingles
Its impossible to properly install new flashing and underlayment if you dont tear off the old roof beforehand. When tearing off the existing shingles, be sure to remove all the old nails or pound them flat. Protruding nails will tear holes in your new shingles. If you have movable items near your house and youre worried they might get damaged, relocate them. Invest in a few large tarps to protect your plants and landscaping and to catch the thousands of nails that will rain down off the roof. It can be downright impossible to remove old self-stick ice-and-water underlayment, but its OK if you have to leave it in place. And if at all possible, have the rented trash bin parked close to the house so you can toss in the old shingles right from the roof.
Install Your Ridge Cap
When you get all your shingles installed up to the point of the roof, youll need to install a ridge cap. The ridge cap is installed with shingles going the opposite way, so they lay over the cap of the roof. This creates a tight seal that allows for water and ice to go down either side of the roof, rather than sitting on top and leaking through where the two peaks meet.
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Building A Basic Gable Roof
How Long Is A Roof Supposed To Last
In terms of how long your own roof will last, it is impossible to put an exact time on it. The lifespan on your roof will largely depend on when it was made/fitted, where you live, and the material it is made out of. Things such as the weather, the humidity, the levels of salt, and more can affect how long a roof will last, as well as freak accidents. However, generally speaking, a roof is designed to be replaced on average every 30 years. Roofs made out of slate and copper can last as long as 50 years, while those with fiber cement shingles only last half of that on average. Asphalt shingle/composition roofs are estimated to last around 20 years. Metal roofing, such as Colorbond, can last a lot longer. With regards to lifespan-cost ratio, Colorbond metal roofing is the most cost effective and efficient option on the market.
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Con: Getting A Construction Loan Can Be Complicated
To finance building a home, youll need a construction loan, which is a little more involved than getting a traditional mortgage to buy a preexisting house, says Steve Kaminski, head of residential lending at TD Bank.
For starters, youll likely need a 20% down payment since construction loans are considered higher-risk. Along with the usual financial documents needed for your loan application, you need to provide project plans, costs, and land value. You also need a signed contract or purchase contract with the projects plans, specs, and budget details, and a timeline for the construction.
The lender is not only evaluating the borrower, but also the project plans and oftentimes the builder to ensure they will be financially solvent throughout construction, Kaminski explains.
Construction loans are usually shorter-term, covering just the duration of the build, and may have higher interest rates, usually about 1% higher than conventional mortgages, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Once the home is completed, you can pay off the balance or convert the loan to a conventional mortgage. The interest rate and the type and terms of the mortgage will depend on your credit history and lender.
When shopping around for a mortgage for a new home build, Kaminski urges borrowers to go with a lender experienced in working with construction loans.
Can I Replace My Own Roof In California
The truth is, everyone can replace their own roof, with the help of the many DIY websites. For dwelling houses, roof replacements usually take two days the first day to remove the old roof, and the second day is to install the new one.
How hard is it to replace your own roof?
Its not difficult, but there will be more carpentry involved, and its more likely youll need some help. Carrying large sheets of plywood up on a roof is something best not to do on your own! If you have a retaining roof, you can do it yourself if its not too big.
Can I work on my own roof?
If your roof needs repair and replacement, it may be tempting to do it yourself. However, while many DIY jobs can be easily done by homeowners, roof repairs are close to the top of the list of jobs you should almost always leave to the professionals.
How can I reroof my house myself?
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Picking Up The Pieces
Whether youre a new homeowner or twenty years in, owning a home can feel like a puzzle. Maybe you moved into a place with little information about the roofs last replacement. Maybe youre just learning about roof replacement materials.
All home renovations are chances to learn somethingcall it the homeowners education.
Having a timeline of the homes last repairs and replacements makes it easier to map out your upgrades list. In the event you dont know, it becomes a guessing game. Playing by ear isnt the most empowered way to own a home, so reroofing helps you start fresh.
The best home maintenance comes from preventative care, but roofs are the hardest part of the home to see. Having periodic inspections can keep your roof a part of the home upgrades conversation.
Pro: New Homes Typically Come With Less Maintenance
An obvious advantage of building a home is that everything is brand-new. That means maintenance and repairs will be minimal or even nonexistent for a while, saving you plenty of headaches and thousands of dollars a year. According to Acorn Finance, homeowners will spend an average of about $3,600 on home maintenance this year.
Nonetheless, a new house isnt entirely maintenance-free. Youll probably still need to do yardwork to keep up your newly installed landscaping. And you may want to pay for some preventive upkeep, such as a maintenance contract on your HVAC system, costing $150 to $500 a year. But that could save you money in the long run.
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