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HomeExclusiveHow Often Does A Flat Roof Need To Be Replaced

How Often Does A Flat Roof Need To Be Replaced

What To Expect If You Just Repair The Roof Before You Sell:

When Should I Replace My flat Roof?

Maybe your agent cautions that a full roof replacement is overkill. Instead, they recommend making a few minor repairs and disclosing the roofs condition to interested buyers. At a minimum, you should invest a small sum to boost curb appeal and hire a professional to power wash your roof, scrub down the siding, and clear out the gutters.

Heres an overview of how much roof repairs costs:

What Are The Benefits Of Roof Recoating

Coating a roof may done upon installation, while recoating is done for several advantageous reasons. Waterproofing a roof so that it withstands ponding is a major benefit of recoating a roof. Certain sealants, like silicone, perform better under ponding conditions.

Reflecting heat from the commercial building is another draw. The reduction of indoor cooling costs results from the coatings ability to reflect solar radiation. The interior air temperature can be reduced by more than 20 degrees with coatings, such as silicone or acrylic, that come in white.

Recoating a well-functioning roof on a regular schedule also extends its life. While all manufacturers claim that their coatings lengthen a roofs lifespan, industry experts agree that silicone and polyurea perform better in this regard. As mentioned, property owners will pay twice as much to use silicone.

What To Expect If You Replace Your Roof Before You Sell:

If your home demands a full roofing overhaul to sell, then prepare to fork up a significant sum to cover the project. HomeAdvisor reports that homeowners spend on average between $5,346 $10,787 on roof replacement, though Jennifer and Andrew Oldham have witnessed clients spend as much as $60,000.

The good news is, a roof replacement returns a fair amount of investment: 61.2% to 65.9% by Remodeling Magazines estimate. Industry research leaders the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Association of Realtors echo this calculation in their joint 2019 Remodeling Impact Report. New roofing ranks the number one project for appeal to buyers and likely added value to home at resale. The report estimates that a new roof brings an average $8,000 return, with 33% of agents stating that a new roof has helped them close a sale.

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Why Are Flat Roofs So Expensive

Greater Chance of Leaks Again, the problem with flat roofs is that theyre flat. Even though most are designed with a slight slope, theyre not great at shedding a lot of rain or snow. For this reason, flat roofs tend to cost more overall than pitched roofs.

The average roof replacement cost is $4,200-6,600 on a 1,600 sq. ft. ranch house using asphalt roof shingles. However, if you use premium materials such as metal, wood shingles, clay tile, etc, the cost of your roof will be at least $9,500 16,000.

When Do You Need To Replace A Flat Roof

How Often Does A Flat Roof Need To Be Replaced

If your flat roof is leaking, then its likely that it will need replacing. For very small leaks and in some circumstances, it may be possible to repair the roof but that needs assessing by an experienced roofer.

If the roof isnt leaking, but pools of water are beginning to collect on your roof, then its probably also time to replace the roof. Left alone, those pools of water will degrade the roof surface and eventually you will have a leak. It may be possible to solve the problem without replacing the roof, depending on the amount of water that is collecting and how long it has been there. To do this you would need to have the pitch of the roof altered slightly to drain the water off the surface and keep it draining effectively.

Cracks or blistering on the roof is another sign you may need a replacement. Over time, the materials of your flat roof are exposed to harsh weather which can cause the waterproof layers to crack and tear away. Sometimes these cracks can happen with older buildings when the structure of the building shifts over time. In most cases, youll need a full replacement.

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Flat Roof Replacement Vs Repair: When To Repair And When To Replace Your Flat Roof

Your flat roof is starting to show its age. Maybe its even been damaged by a storm or impact. But is it really time for a full flat roof replacement? If you have a damaged or aging flat roof, you may be wondering if you can get by with just a few repairs, instead.

For over 30 years, as a flat roofing company near Washington D.C., Capitol Improvements has been helping homeowners and business owners make tough decisions when it comes to their flat roofs. In this article, well discuss your options for flat roof replacement and repair, as well as a few alternatives.

How To Know If You Need A Flat Roof Replacement

A sound and solid roof plays a vital role in protecting your home. A compromised roof wont protect your house from water damage, such as structural rot, mold issues, electrical problems and compromised insulation.

Its important to inspect your roof twice a year, ideally in the spring and the fall. When you clean your gutters is a perfect time to assess its condition.

First, check from inside the house and attic. Keep a look out for the following conditions:

  • Sagging ceiling or roof deck
  • Signs of leaks or water damage
  • Dark spots and trails
  • Daylight showing through the roof
  • Confirm all bath, kitchen and dryer vents discharge entirely outside of your home, not just into the attic space.

Next, check the ground around your home for shingles or shingle fragments that have blown off the roof. Excessive shingle loss suggests its time to replace the roof.

Now pull out that ladder and check your gutters. This is important: Take every safety precaution when climbing ladders or getting on the roof. If you cant do it safely, call a professional.

  • Inspect the gutters for excessive shingle granules , a sign of advanced wear
  • Make sure gutters and downspouts are securely attached
  • Check that all drains are open and allow water to exit
  • Confirm all gutters and downspouts are free of debris

Lastly, inspect the roof itself. Look for:

Benefits of Flat Roof Replacement

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Our Flat Roofing Services In Lubbock Tx

Roof Master is one of the best flat roofing companies in Lubbock, TX. We have decades worth of experience in residential and commercial flat roofing services.

We are proud to be the source of your flat roofing solutions. Our experts are well-trained to handle any flat roofing task, including roof installation, repairs, and replacement.

Missing & Scattered Shingles

What Should Your Roof Replacement Cost (http://www.SkyHighRoof.com)

You may notice some of the shingles are missing & scattered after a massive storm or rainy situation. Well, dont panic if this happens to your roof. You can get away with this problem by contracting a local roofer. Most of the time, hell suggest a repair. Let him do it as soon as possible before it forms into a bigger issue.

Also Check: How Often Should A Roof Be Replaced

Other Considerations When Working Out New Roof Costs

You’ve worked out the material you want to use, the size, shape, and pitch of your roof. All good to go? Not quite. There are a few more variables that will affect the grand total for your roof replacement project. They are:

  • Regional differences: your overall project cost could fall above or below average depending on where you live.
  • The time of year that you undertake the project could also result in cost variations. Winter projects will be more expensive in cold climates as snow buildup and storms will cause delays to the building and installation schedule
  • The pandemic has made roof replacement projects more expensive: costs of materials and labor have risen.

Location is easily the biggest variable here. Josh Lewis CEO & Founder of Retex Roofing & Exteriors, gives an example: ‘lets consider a standard, single-level ranch style house with 2,000 square feet. This style of home usually has about 2,400 square feet of roof. In this scenario, at $4.50 per square foot, an asphalt shingle roof replacement would cost about $10,800. Take that roof in a more expensive metro area like Seattle, though, and you may be at the higher end of $7 per square foot, making that same roof replacement cost around $16,800.’

The moral of the story do your research! Understanding your local roofing market is essential for working out the cost of a new roof correctly.

Ourflat Roof Is Leaking What Do I Do

The first thing you need to do iscall a professional contractor experienced with flat roofs. Once you have madethat contact, for an emergency temporary repair, follow these steps:

  • Plastic Roof Cement: For a flat roof with EPDM single-ply, BUR or modified bitumen BUR system, create a temporary patch out of roofing fabric and plastic cement. You must clean off any loose debris and clear the damaged area of any gravel. Get the damaged area as dry as possible and then apply the cement. It should be several inches out from the damaged area using a mud knife or trowel. Next, apply the fabric and then another layer of the cement.
  • Roofing Sealant and Roof Tape: This method works for BUR, EDPM single-ply, and PVC flat roof surfaces. The damaged area must be clean and dry, then wipe down with alcohol. Next, apply either polyurethane caulking or roofing tape to the area with damage.
  • Duct tape: A PVC plastic sheeting flat roof can be quickly patched using common household duct tape.

Note that all 3 of these suggestionsare for temporary repair only. You need to have a contractor with experience ina flat roof inspectthe damage and the entire roof and make a permanent repair or resurface theroof.

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Here Are 5 Signs Your Flat Roof Needs Replacement From Delawares #1 Roofing Contractor:

1) You have standing water on your roof well after it rains. This could mean that the roof has lost it pitch which spells disaster for the inside of your home.2) The sealant on the seams and around all of your pipe collars is cracking, dry-rotting or deteriorating. The sun can be harsh on a flat roof and overtime the materials get dry and brittle.3) You have holes in your roof that are not properly covered with drains or pipe collars. Any hole in a flat roof can lead to costly repairs down the road.4) You have significant or consistent water damage inside your home. Consistent water damage to the interior of a home can lead to a variety of costly repairs, ceiling and wall cracking, mold and mildew removal, insulation replacement, electrical issues.5) Your roof has lost its slope or is wavy or sunken in areas. If your roof is not pitched properly to divert water to the downspout or eaves, this is a major problem that should be addressed immediately.

Commercial Building Roof Repair

How Often Does a Roof Need to Be Replaced?

Our goal is to keep your commercial building roofing system in quality condition for as long as possible. We want business owners to get the full roof life expectancy out of their system, so completing necessary repairs as soon as they happen can prevent further wear and tear.

We offer three options for your roofing repair needs:

  • Basic Roof Repair and Maintenance
  • Basic Roof Winterization
  • Emergency Roof Repairs
  • Whether youre preparing for the winter storm season or simply maintaining your roof, C.I. Services knows the roofing business. Our technicians can quickly develop the right solution for you. Our goal is to ensure you dont pay for a repair or replacement you dont need.

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    How Long Do Flat Roofs Last

    There are several factors that canaffect a flat rooflife expectancy. From the quality of the workmanship to the quality of thebuilding materials, from the climate and the environment to the maintenance andupkeep.

    Because a flat roof does not have drainage like a pitched roof, it is prone to hold water. If the roofing material has any holes or tears, that water seeps through to the roof below the material. Therefore, it is important to have the roof inspected regularly to patch any holes or tears. The lifespan of the following popular flat roof materials is:

    • BUR : A BUR flat roof is the most familiar and is constructed with heated asphalt and plywood layered together. The life expectancy of BUR flat roof is fifteen to twenty years.
    • PVC: This flat roof material needs experienced and skilled labor to install the large sheets of this material correctly. Used as the main waterproofing component for flat roofs, it is hot welded to the pieces surrounding it and offers a lifespan of 30 years when maintained properly.
    • EPDM: This material is a large rubber sticker that is carefully rolled onto a flat roof. It is difficult to install because of its size and because there cant be any air pockets. This flat roof material has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years.
    • TPO: TPO is very much like EPDM and PVC with its durability and effectiveness. The life expectancy of TPO is seven to twenty years.

    Gauge Material Life Expectancy

    Build date in hand, compare your roofs age to these average material life expectancies:

    • Asphalt shingles: 15 to 30 years
    • Architectural shingles: 25 to 30 years
    • Wood shingles: 30 years with regular maintenance
    • Clay tiles: 50 years or more
    • Metal roofing: Up to 70 years
    • Slate tile: 50 to 100+ years

    How long your roofing material lasts largely depends on the climate you live in. For instance, a 30-year roof composed of asphalt shingles may live up to its life expectancy in Oregon, thanks to the cooler climate. In a climate like Florida, on the other hand, the same 30-year roof may only last 10 to 12 years under the stress of humidity, heat, and turbulent tropical storms.

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    Check Your Roof After Storms

    After any heavy weather conditions, such as storms, it is important to check your roof for any damage. Strong winds can tear felting away from the roof, and after heavy rainfall, you will also be able to see if your roof is suffering from ponding. Heavy snowfall should be immediately cleared off of the roof as not only can the melting snow cause leaking and damp, but the weight of the snowfall itself can cause damage to the roof.

    Missing Loose Or Cracked Shingles

    HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU HAVE YOUR ROOF INSPECTED?

    The issue with most roofs is that theyre ignored and out of sight. You dont usually take a good look unless there is a stain or dark spot viewable from the street or yard.

    Old or worn shingles are fairly easy to spot if you search for them. Missing shingles may be replaced individually, but its usually a sign of the bigger issue. Large areas of cracked or loose shingles indicate that your roof needs replacement.

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    How Often Do Shingles Need To Be Replaced

    shingleshingles shouldreplaced

    Similarly one may ask, how do you know when shingles need to be replaced?

    Potential signs that your roof may need to be replaced:

  • Shingle edges are curled or shingle tabs are cupped.
  • Bald spots where granules are missing.
  • Cracked shingles.
  • Your roof is at least 20 years old while many shingles today are produced for durability, many factors can accelerate the aging of shingles.
  • Additionally, how long do shingles really last? The expected service life of a 30-year product, if properly cared for, is approximately 25 years. If it’s not cared for properly, that 30 year shingle will only last 12 to 15 years.

    Besides, how often do Roofs need to be replaced?

    In general, this is the recommended replacement schedule based on the material used:

  • Composition Shingles: 12-20 years.
  • Metal Roofs: 50-75 years.
  • Can you replace just a few shingles?

    When replacing a damaged asphalt roof shingle, you can either replace the entire piece, or cut the shingle into sections and replace just a single tab. Use a flat bar to pry up the damaged shingle and remove the nails, being careful not to damage the shingle above it.

    Flat Roof Repair From Ponding

    While flat roofs are, as their name suggests, flat, they still have a slight slope to them that encourages any water to run off their surface and into the drains around the roof. However, if you have noticed that your roof is collecting large puddles of water when it rains it could be a sign that your roofs drainage system isnt working to its full potential.

    Ponding can cause deep concave indents to occur around the roof, as well as stains and watermarks to occur on the inside of your property. These indents will continue to collect water, damaging the material and over time may allow water to begin to seep through into the interior of your home.

    Ponding is usually caused by insufficient drainage, so, if you have noticed the beginnings of ponding on your flat roof, check that your drains and guttering is clear and free of any leaves, sticks or other things that could be blocking it up and preventing the water from running away.

    However, if your roof is still suffering from ponding even with clear drains, you may need to add additional external gutters to help collect the excess water, especially if the ponding is occurring around the edges of the roof while automatic pumps can be used to deal with ponding in more central areas of the roof that cannot easily runoff.

    Additional drains can also be installed, as well as having lower or sunken areas of your roof built up and re-laid to create more of a slope so that water doesnt collect in those areas.

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