How To Tell If You Need A Roof Replacement
Even if you are not a roofing professional, there are signs that you can look for to determine if you need a roof replacement.
- There are leaks in the attic or wet spots on the ceiling or walls.
- Your heating or cooling bills have increased for no apparent reason.
- You notice asphalt shingle granule buildup in the gutters.
- The roof is sagging in one or more areas.
- The roof is more than 20 years old.
- You notice moss, mold and algae streaks across the roof surface.
Asphalt shingles last up to 30 years. Metal roofs can last up to 50 years. Regardless of a roofs expected longevity, all roofs need to be replaced eventually. Failure to replace your roof puts your household items and family in jeopardy. A hurricane can easily rip off an old roof exposing everything inside. If you believe that your roof is in poor condition, you may want to schedule a professional roof inspection to identify your roofs problems and what you need to do to fix the issues.
The Smaller The Roof The Quicker The Job
If you live in a small, residential home with a moderately pitched roof, its possible your roof replacement could be done in one day. This is, of course, barring any weather complications and assuming that materials are dropped off before the crew gets there.
When it comes to roofing a home, a roofing crew first has to take off your existing roof, make sure theres no damage on the sub-roofing, and then put on the new shingles. And if there is damage to the sub-roofing, that means extra work, additional materials, and more time to completion. So though its possible to re-roof a home in a single day, know that complications can arise that will extend the amount of work that must be put in.
We Can Help With Your New Roof Installation
So, how long does it take to replace a roof? Not every roof installation is the same, of course, but this is the general outline for replacing your roof, as well as for working with an insurance company to cover the cost. For help with new roof installation, reach out to National Home Improvement today. We are happy to provide a free quote!
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Q: Can You Put A New Roof On Top Of The Old One
A: If you install new asphalt shingles on top of one existing layer of asphalt shingles that are in good condition and not leaking, then yes, you can put a new roof on top of an old one. Building code and practicality means youll have to remove the old roof before putting on a new one in all other cases.
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Regardless of the type of roof you select, you can count on Vertex Roofing Contractors to install a durable, long-lasting roof while staying on budget. Unlike many Northern Virginia roofing contractors, we built our reputation on honesty, trust, and reliability.
Let us put our 20+ years of experience with Northern Virginia roof replacement to work for you. Give us a call today 703-782-5531 and set up a free on-site consultation with one of our roofing professionals. They will help you make an informed decision about which roof type is best for you, along with the cost. You wont be disappointed..we guarantee it.
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Theres No Predicting The Weather
Finally, when it comes to giving you an estimate on how long it will take to install your roof, you have to remember theres no predicting the weather. Roofing is best done in warm, dry, conditions, but we all know that West Michigan weather doesnt always cooperate. While roofing crews will do their best to work through inclement weather to finish your roof as quickly as possible, they can only do it so long as theyre safe. If it becomes too dangerous for the crew to remain on top of your roof, theyll have to stop until the weather clears up.
Though poor weather can mean your roofing job will take longer, dont worry about the security of your new roof. Roofing crews will always make sure your roof is covered in plenty of tarps, and well-secured against wind and water while they wait for warmer weather.
In the end, the time it will take to install your new roof depends on a variety of factors: the size of your home, the pitch of your roof, what shape your old roof was in, and what the weather will be like. Any quality, experienced roofing company will work to make sure you get the absolute best roof, in the shortest time frame, but there are some factors you just cant account for.
How Long Until The Roofing Process Is Done
Your roof installation may be physically complete, but we need to close out the permits at the end. This permit protects you the consumer, and you should expect nothing less from a professional contractor.
Last but definitely not least, the homeowner should receive a registered warranty for the roof. You should always expect a premium warranty from your roofer within 4-6 weeks after the roof is complete. This warranty adds a strong layer of extra protection for you as the homeowner, but beware not all warranties are created equal. Some provide little protection at all. Check out our guide to roof warranties before you make any decisions.
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Choose The Right Contractor
Before you can begin the roof replacement process, you need to choose the right contractor. Its the first step in this step-by-step guide to roof replacement, and this is not a job to take lightly. The skill and experience of your contractor can affect the quality of your roof. With the right contractor, you may be able to get a long-lasting roof that can handle the harsh climate of Indianapolis.
To choose the right company for your roof, you need to do a little research. Look for a contractor who:
Complications In Repair And Rehab Once The Shingles Are Removed:
The true condition of your roof and what needs to be done to restore it back to health cannot be determined until the old roof is taken off.
This is particularly true of roofs that have a layover on top of the first layer. When the crew takes off the existing layers of the roof they cannot be sure as to what previous problems were covered over by doing a layover with a second layer of shingles and they have to remedy the problems found before installing the new roof.
Sometimes, for example, there are hidden structural issues like rotting decking or even rotting rafters that need to be addressed before putting on the new roofing. This causes substantial delays in completing a roofing project.
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Drive Screws Just Right
- Fastening the panels just right is the key to a watertight roof. Here is what you should know:
- At the eave, place screws on both sides of every rib and lined up to go through the foam closure strip.
- Each row should be spaced no more than 24 inches with one screw at each rib on the overlapping side.
- Start at the bottom, fastening across the panel in rows, working toward the ridge.
- Drive screws to seat flat on the roof a crooked screw wont seal.
- Dont over-tighten or under-tighten. Tighten just enough to compress the rubber gasket to the edge of the screw head, not past it.
- Clean up any metal shavings or burrs right away. They will rust.
Install The Drip Edge
Metal drip edge isnt usually required , but it gives roof edges a nice finished look, prevents shingles from curling over the edge, and keeps water from running directly down your fascia boards.
Before you install the underlayment, fasten the drip edge that covers the fascia on the eaves. The whole length of the fascia is probably not perfectly straight, so dont snap a line just hold the drip edge snug against the fascia and fasten it through the top into the decking with roofing nails. Nail it every couple of feet.
Install the drip edge on the gable ends of the roof after you finish installing your underlayment. Start at the bottom side of the gable, and overlap the sections of drip edge a few inches as you work your way up the roof . Use a tin snips to cut the drip edge to size.
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Your Roof Is Showing Its Age
As mentioned above, roofs do not last forever. Eventually, every roof will begin showing signs of its age like the signs discussed on this list. However, as stated above, how long your roof can last largely depends on the materials used to construct it.
If youre not sure what roof materials you have, youll be able to find out by contacting a roof specialist for an inspection. The specialist can give you more specific details about the condition of your roof and whether it currently needs to be replaced.
If you already know the age of the roof material, this information will allow you to find the estimated lifespan of your roof. Using this information, along with the age of your roof, youll be able to assess when the roof likely needs to be replaced.
Stick The Bottom Part Of The Underlayment To The Roof Of The House
Install the second course just like the first, using the guidelines on the underlayment to get the correct overlap. When an ice dam forms on a roof , ice and water can work their way up under the shingles and leak back into the house. Also, strong winds can blow rainwater under shingles. Self-stick roofing underlayment can prevent this because it sticks to the roof decking to seal out water. It also seals around nails, which keeps water from leaking through nail holes.
Rolls of self-stick underlayment have a plastic backing so the material won’t stick to itself. The backing is separated down the middle. Line up the lower edge of the roll with the outside of the drip edge. Peel back part of the uppermost backing on the roll, and nail the top corner of the underlayment to the decking. Start pulling the roll across the decking using the backing, making sure the material is lying as flat and as straight as possible as you pull.
You’ll be able to roll out long sections at a time if you have a low-pitched roof, but the underlayment may slip off the eaves on steeper roofs, so roll out no more than 10 ft. there . It’s important to make sure all your underlayment lies flat before you fasten it to the decking. Ripples and lumps can telegraph through the shingles and may be noticeable from the ground.
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Signs You Need A New Roof Asap
Several situations call for an immediate roof replacement, and some of the signs are more obvious than others:
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Your Roof Is Old: The lifespan of a roof is believed to be 20 to 25 years, so you should replace it once it reaches this age.
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Your Shingles Are Buckling and Curling: Inspect the slopes of your roof that receive direct sunlight. If you see that shingles are losing granules and curling, they may need to be replaced.
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Your Roof Valleys Are Showing Neglect: If shingles in your roof valleys are missing or breaking apart, it’s time to get a new roof. These valleys are one of the most critical parts of a roof, as rainwater flows through them on its way to the gutters. If this area is damaged, it becomes vulnerable to leaks.
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Your Chimney Flashing Needs to Be Replaced: If your flashing is made of tar or cement, it may be a good idea to replace it with a metal flashing system, which is water-tight and lasts longer.
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Your Gutters Are Full of Shingle Granules: As roofs near the end of their lives, they start to lose more granules, which often end up in the gutters. Check your gutters to see if they are full of these granules. Another sign of granules wearing away is a darker or inconsistent color on certain areas of the roof.
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You See Daylight Through the Boards of the Roof: Go up to your attic to check whether daylight is coming through the roof.
Testimonials From Our Customers
Clyde has been with me every step of the way through this process. My roof was leaking at my outside fireplace and came over and put a tarp to stop the leaking until the roof could be replaced. He was so courteous and very helpful. He found where I had hail and wind damage that I didnt know I had on my roof. They are without a doubt the best professional roofing company that is around. And their quality of the products are top of the line that they used to fix my roof and fireplace. I would recommend Clyde Boswell and Advanced Roofing & Construction for all your needs.
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Avoid Having To Wait For Your Roofer
From my experience, many people who needed a roof during a busy season, sometimes waited as long as 5-6 weeks or more. One of my own clients had to wait 2.5 months!
This happened because we were swamped with work, and had emergency jobs that had to be started immediately, Moreover, due to unpredictable weather , we just could not start the job any sooner.
On the other hand, our normal lead times are about 2 weeks, which includes getting the materials from the supplier, getting all the equipment and permits ready and starting a job.
If the job is an emergency type, we sometimes can start as soon as a couple of days after the deposit funds have cleared with our bank.
This is, of course, my personal experience, but most roofers are on the same or similar operating schedule.
Another option that many busy contractors resort to is starting a job, just to please the customer and then leave for 2 weeks. At best, they will have a couple of workers come in to do the prep work.
This all results in unnecessary FRUSTRATION for both you and the roofer.
Aspects That Factor Into Roof Replacement
How long does it take roofers to replace a roof may sound like a straightforward and simple question. But the answer is anything but. Many things go into consideration when carrying out such a project. Here are some of the most significant factors thatll have an impact on how long itll take to install a new roof on your house.
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Get A Better Price On Your New Roof
When contractors are busy, they can cherry pick good and will typically bump up their prices by 5-15% this is all supply and demand.
During a slow season, competition is higher, and most roofers naturally resort to lowering their roof installation cost to win as many jobs as they can. Hence, you should schedule your install during the off-season.
Experience less stress and frustration
When you as a client have to wait 4-6 weeks to get your roof installed, you naturally get anxious and frustrated, which increases unnecessary stress, drives up blood pressure, lowers libido and decreases life satisfaction overall.
As funny as it sounds, this is very much true, and not only for customers, but also for contractors. Its not much fun getting nervous calls from the client along the lines of my roof is leaking when the hell will you start on it?
Indeed, it is not pleasant for both parties involved. Thus, contractors naturally let these calls go to voicemail, because they do not want to repeat the same story of we are busy with prior commitments, and its been raining for a week we will not be able to start for at least another 10 days.
All this stress, mistrust, and unnecessary tension is easy to avoid by simply scheduling your roofing project during the right time.
Get better roof installation quality
Examples and possibilities of this poor workmanship are endless. All this will result in frequent leaks and will significantly decrease the service life of your roof.
Asphalt Shingles Types And Features
Since asphalt and metal own such a large part of the market, we want to take a closer look at each.
Fiberglass asphalt shingles are offered in three basic grades:
- Three-tab shingles are the most affordable and deliver the classic look of a shingled roof. 3-tab Shingle Roof on a House GAF Marquis WeatherMax Autumn Brown
- Dimensional/Architectural shingles feature a base layer with a top layer fused to it that is cut to resemble wood shingles and shakes. Timberline American Harvest GAF Shingles Roof
- Luxury Dimensional/Architectural shingles are built like standard dimensional but with more material and a higher profile that produces visual contrast and shadowing. GAF Premium Asphalt Shingles: Camelot Williamsburg Slate
Each type of shingles is available in an impressive range of colors. While the basic 3-tab shingles are only rated for 60 MPH to 80 MPH wind uplift, architectural/dimensional and luxury shingles are rated for 110 mph wind uplift, but with enhanced installation techniques, the warranty can be boosted to 130 MPH on many architectural shingle lines.
Solar/heat resistant cool shingles, impact resistant shingles and shingles treated to resist algae staining are worth considering if your climate conditions require it. Most residential roofing products come as dimensional shingles, but there are also a few basic three-tab shingle options.
Popular Asphalt Shingle Brands
Other top brands of shingles to consider are Owens Corning, IKO, Tamko, Malarkey, and Atlas.
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