How Often Should You Replace Your Roof A Practical Guide
The roof of your house is one of the most important features in terms of its ability to keep the weather at bay, and it is also one of the most expensive parts of the house when it comes to replacement and repairs.
The maintenance of a roof is therefore of paramount importance in the upkeep of your investment, and ensuring the roof is well maintained will protect the building occupants as well as the building contents from any adverse weather conditions or failures of the structure.
How often a roof needs to be replaced depends on the type of material used, local weather conditions and the quality of the material and the build. Different roofing materials have different lifespans, and so it is important to establish the lifespan of the material itself.
There are numerous factors which influence the lifespan of a roof. Once the roof material has been determined and its respective lifespan estimated, a thorough roof inspection will allow for an accurate decision as to whether the roof needs replacing or not.
It is highly recommended that a roof is inspected twice a year. This will ensure that any minor issues or damage to the roofing material or structure can be fully resolved before they turn into larger issues bearing larger cost implications in the future.
When To Replace Your Roof
Your roof plays a critical role in helping to keep your home and everything in it safe from the elements. If you built your house, then you probably have a good record of the roof installation and a general idea of when the roof may need to be redone. However, if you bought your house, you might not know the exact history of the roof and when it should be replaced.
So, how will you know when its time to replace your roof?
Start Budgeting For Your Asphalt Roof Replacement
A roof replacement is an investment. And just like every other investment, its not cheap.
If your roof is 15 years old, youre going to need to replace it in 5-8 years. So start budgeting for it now. roof replacement estimate just so youll have an idea about how much you need to save when the time comes.
The numbers wont be the same because of the fluctuation of roofing material prices, but youll have an idea so you can start budgeting.
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.
How To Fix Damaged Roof Shingles
We share step-by-step instructions for the three most common asphalt-shingle repairs.
Maintaining a sound roof literally tops the list of crucial home repairs: It keeps you and your family warm and dry, along with everything in your house. A new roof is a pricey proposition. These simple repairs can keep your existing roof sound for years to come.
Four Remove The Adjacent Nails
- Once all four nails have been pried up and removed from the target shingle, youll notice you still wont be able to remove it. Thats because the nails in the shingles above it will also be penetrating the upper edge of the target shingle. This fact, that each shingle on a roof is actually held in place with TWO rows of nails, is a key factor in the overall roof systems wind resistance.
- So, youll need to perform the same sealant bond-breaking step on the shingles two courses above the target shingle as well, and then remove the nails from the shingles in the course immediately above the target shingle.
NAIL REMOVAL FROM OVERLYING SHINGLE
Cost To Replace Roof Shingles Asphalt
Weather, debris and time can wreak havoc on your mobile home roofing. In addition to the elements, roofing only lasts for so long, which means youll likely have to consider mobile home roof replacement at some point. Learn more about what
How To Tell If Roof Needs To Be Replaced Flat Looking for top Roof Vent Boot Replacement professionals in your area? Get a free estimate on any project from our Looking for top Roof Vent Boot Replacement professionals in your area? Get a free estimate on any project from our pre-screened contractors today! At some point, most homeowners will need to think about getting
durable and easy to install. Asphalt shingles only cost $1.50 to $5.50 per square foot or roughly $8,000 per roof installation. They can last up to 30 years and can be recycled to make pavement.
While you probably dont want to replace your entire roof yourself, if one of your asphalt shingles becomes damaged, fixing it can be an easy DIY project. All you need is the ability to safely climb up to your roof, a few tools and to follo
When a roof needs replacement, one of your first questions will involve cost. To price roofing shingles, you will need to explore your options for shingles. Once you settle on a type of shingle material, you can better estimate the cost to
A new composition roof will be an investment. Just like other investments, there are certain things you need to know before
How To Find A Leak In A Shingle Roof
Finding a leak can be more complex than finding it. It might seem easy to locate a leak from inside the attic, but this is not always the case. As described earlier, looking for a leak is usually best done from inside the attic, but this method really only works if the leak is relatively severe.This is because a slow, random leak may take a while to stain the roof decking, which is usually OSB or plywood.
Here are a few pro tips most roofing contractors use to find a leak:
Your Asphalt Roof Was Damaged From A Storm
The weather where you live and the kind of storms your roof faces factor into how much wear and tear it goes through. But that isnt the only thing you have to worry about when it comes to weather.
This may seem obvious, but heavy storm damage will also lead to a roof replacement. If high winds come through and rip up your shingles or a tree falls on your roof then clearly youre going to need a new one.
If you have a metal roof system, then hail damage to your metal panels will lead to a replacement if the integrity of the metal is compromised. But for an asphalt shingle roof to be replaced from hail it has to cause damage to the soft metals that are on your roof.
Whatever kind of storm damage your roof has, its important to know if your roof is covered. Read this article on replacing your roof through homeowners insurance.
Metal Shingles Leak Overview
Metal shingles provide a durable, lightweight option for homes not designed for a heavy roof, like tiles. In contrast to fiberglass/asphalt, these shingles can often be used on low slope roofs making locating leaks easier.Finding leaks caused by physical damage on a metal roof is also fairly simple. Generally speaking, metal shingles will not cause a leak unless obvious damage or decay is present. This is why many metal shingles carry up to a 50-year warranty.
If the shingles have been obviously damaged by a falling tree limb or another heavy object, the leak can sometimes appear much smaller than it is. This is because leaks can be caused by the tiniest of perforations. For example, if violent physical damage occurs via a falling object, it can loosen, but not detach, the surrounding shingles which will lead to eventual failure.Therefore, it is a good idea to check any shingles within a 24 circumference of the leak. Metal shingles tend not to flex, so impacts tend to bounce off, rather than be absorbed. This can cause small leaks after an impact that is tough to locate and may simply be a loose tack.
How To Replace Damaged Shingles
The upper shingle is curled up, revealing the nailing area. The nail is placed on the tar line and driven through both the new shingle and the older shingle underneath it.
How To Repair A Torn Or Curled Asphalt Shingle
Heres how to repair a torn asphalt shingle:
1Carefully lift the torn piece or damaged corner, and, using a putty knife, carefully spread a layer of asphalt roofing cement under it. Be careful not to smear the cement on exposed portions of roofing.
2Tack down a curled corner with one roofing nail. If your are repairing a tear, tack down the two torn halves with two roofing nails on each side of the tear.
3Carefully apply roofing cement over the crack and on top of the nailheads to seal up any potential leaks. Keep the amount of cement at a minimumthis will be visible on the surface of your roof.
Wood Shingles Keak Overview
Wood shingles are particularly vulnerable to leaking as they begin to age. Wood shingles are often made from cedar or redwood and as a natural material, they will usually age unevenly. Some may split, while others may twist.This uneven surface tends to create opportunities for leaks, making the underlayment as important as the shingle. In many cases, when a wooden roof leaks the issue can be very difficult to locate from the outside unless the issue is obvious.
How To Replace Damaged Roof Shingles
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.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 326,752 times.
Damaged shingles can seriously cut into the life of a roof. To keep your house secure, it’s important to regularly evaluate and replace damaged shingles to make sure your home is safe and dry.XExpert SourceRoofing Contractor & Maintenance ProfessionalExpert Interview. 14 July 2020. You can learn to properly evaluate, remove, and replace damaged shingles efficiently.
Basic Components Of A Roof
StructureThe rafters and trusses that support the decking.
The boards attached to the roof rafters to cover the house.UnderlaymentA waterproof layer installed in between the roof decking and the roofing material.
FlashingMetal strips laid into valleys and joints of a roof, such as around chimneys or pipes, to prevent water leakage. This includes drip edge flashing, which is situated along the edge of the roof.
Roof coveringThe shingles or tiles that make up the outermost part of the roof. This can be made from many materials, such as asphalt, metal, rubber, slate or clay.
How To Decide Between Re
If you are a homeowner with minor issues or leaks, which typically occur as the roof reaches the end of its lifespan, but the roof is in overall good shape, re-roofing may be for you.
If you only have one layer of asphalt shingles on your roof, you may also be a good candidate for re-roofing. However, if only a portion of the roof needs to be repaired, you may not want to forego re-roofing because only doing one section of the roof may cause it to be uneven in some areas, which will be noticeable.
If the roof already has at least two layers of shingles, both layers of shingles will need to be removed prior to partial re-roofing, which can increase labor costs as well as the cost for disposal. It also costs more for partial re-roofing because roofers typically charge per 10 x 10 square.
On the other hand, if your deck shows signs of major water damage, is sagging, or has large amounts of mildew or mold growth, then the deck will need to be repaired, which means you will need a complete roof overhaul.
A full roof overhaul may also be a great option for those who just want to rest soundly knowing your deck and your shingles are in pristine condition. Once the old materials are fully removed from your roof, the roofer will inspect for any signs of damage and repair any defects for a strong and sturdy roof that gives you peace of mind, as opposed to simply not knowing until it is too late, which is the risk you often take with re-roofing.
Removing The Old Roof
Typically, the old shingles should be removed before the new roofing materials are laid down. However, there are cases where a new roofing material is to be placed over the old one.
This is usually only possible when installing metal roofing over asphalt shingles and only if one layer of shingles is already on the roof. The removal of the old roof is not just to make space for the new roof, it is also so that the roofing contractor can inspect the wood decking underneath the roof.
Although removing the old roof might sound like a simple task, its not as easy as you would imagine. It requires the right equipment and the right manpower. For instance, the crew may need a large dumpster. Without one, they could find it difficult to dispose of the old materials.
They also may consider covering up your foliage with tarps. As they remove the old roof, some of the materials will fall to the ground. They can protect your foliage and make clean-up easier by covering them up. They may also place plywood against your windows and doors to prevent damage to them.
Its also important to consider the timing. You dont want to remove the old roof and leave it off for weeks at a time. In fact, you should only remove the old roof when you have the new materials ready for installation. This can avoid unnecessary damage to the structure of your home.
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.
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.
