Elastomeric Or Modified Bitumen Membrane
Elastomeric membranes normally have two layers: the membrane itself and a granulated surface finish. The finish gives the roof a number of advantages, such as resistance to impacts, tears, and UV rays. The finish is hot applied, and the seams are fusion welded. Make sure your contractor has the right insurance coverage for using an open flame.
While an elastomeric membrane can be installed in the winter, scheduling your project during this season will make your project cost significantly more. Moreover, while a hot-applied elastomeric membrane may be expensive, it does have a longer lifespan than other flat roof material options.
Installation And Repair Usually Requires A Professional
DIYers have been known to install and repair metal roofing, but it is generally not advised. Metal roofing is generally available only through select retailers, and the techniques for installation and repair are specialized skills. If you opt for metal roofing, you will likely be calling a specialist should problems occur. Fortunately, such problems are rare with metal roofs.
Can You Roof A House Yourself
Make no bones about itroofing is hard work. Theres no hiding from the elements. You cant be afraid of heights and you need to be pretty fit. Before committing to this how to roof a house project, try this: Get out a ladder and climb up onto your roof. If you cant walk around on it comfortably, hire a pro. If you passed this first test, go to the lumberyard or home center and throw a bundle of shingles onto your shoulder. Imagine yourself carrying that load up a laddermany, many times.
If youre still feeling positive about this how to roof a house at this point, why not give it a shot? You can skip a lot of heavy lifting by having your roofing supplier hoist the shingles onto the roof. Be sure you spread the load evenly across the length of the roofs peak. However, dont 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.
After youve obtained a permit and safely stripped the roof clean, nail drip edge flashing flush along the eave.
Cover the rest of the roof with No. 15 asphalt-saturated felt underlayment . Each layer overlaps the lower one by at least 2 in. Follow this step by nailing drip edge along rakes , on top of the underlayment. As you did with the flashing, always lap upper pieces over lower pieces. The felt keeps the roof deck dry before shingles go on, protects against wind-driven rain as shingles fail and increases fire resistance.
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How Does Slope Affect The Lifespan Of Your Roof
The average lifespan of your roof depends on the material installed and the steepness of the slope, which is measured as a ratio of an increase in roof height over 12inches of length . However, a standard slope ranges from 2:12 to 4:12.
A normal slope will not affect the lifespan of your roof, though a slope ranging from 5:12 to 9:12 will shorten it. A steeper slope makes roof renovation more difficult for the workers, as they often have to set up a scaffold for their safety.
A properly maintained flat roof has a standard lifespan.
How To Find The Right Company
Due to costs, it may be appealing to try to install a roof yourself. When weighed against the amount of time, effort and safety concerns, however, most homeowners opt to contact a professional roofing company. Contact businesses in your area and ask neighbors or friends who they’ve used for installation in the past.
Be patient during the process and find a reliable service you can trust, like us!
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What You Need To Know About Filing A Hurricane Ian Insurance Claim
TAMPA, Fla. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, homeowners are assessing damage and contacting their insurance companies.
In Valrico, Hurricane Ian left Amy Long and her family with a massive oak tree crushing their pool cage and leaning on their home. On Friday, Long and her husband took the first step to protect their property by hiring a tree company that had to use a crane to remove the gigantic tree.
They called their insurance company and hope theyll get reimbursed for the tree removal and can soon get their home repaired.
They said the root system weighs like 15,000 pounds, Long said.
The Longs are among thousands in Florida filing claims, so experts warn it could take a while for insurance companies to work through the claims.
While you wait:
- Document damage with photos or videos for your claim.
- Prevent further damage, such as covering broken windows with plastic or hiring a professional to cover your roof with tarps.
- Document expenses and keep receipts for any preliminary repairs. This could include tree removal, tarps, food or hotel stays.
AAA Mark Jenkins warns to also be on the lookout for those who may be looking to take advantage of you.
Hurricane Ian is already putting added pressure on Floridas insurance crisis. Just last year, six insurance companies pulled out of the state.
The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund jumps in when an insurer runs out of reserves and cannot pay out claims.
Things To Consider When Replacing A Roof
Do any of those signs sound familiar to you? If so, then theres a good chance youre in need of a roof replacement.
Most people have no idea where to begin when it comes to replacing a commercial or residential roof. If youre in this same boat, start by taking the following factors into consideration:
1. Roofing Material Options
There are several different types of roofing materials that can be used when replacing your roof.
Roofing technology has come a long way over the last several years, and you have choices that probably didnt even exist when your house was first built.
Traditional shingles made of asphalt and slate are popular options, but many people are also turning to metal roofs. There are lots of new metal roofing materials that resemble other materials but are longer lasting and more energy efficient.
Be sure to consider all your options before you make a decision for your home.
2. Things Will be Loud
You need to accept right up front that things will be loud when youre having your roof replaced. Theres no way around it.
You should warn your employees about the noise before the project begins so they can plan accordingly and work from home if necessary.
If youre having your homes roof repaired, you might want to try and stay out of the house during work hours.
You dont want to have to put your baby down for a nap while a workers pounding away on the roof , right?
3. You Should Shop Around
4. Focus on Quality
5. Ask About Roof Removal
Also Check: Are Steel Roofs Cheaper Than Shingles
Know The Anatomy Of A Roof
The first way that roofs shed water is their slope. The greater the slope of a roof, the faster water runs off it, and the less time it has in which to find a hole to leak through. All roofs slope. Even flat roofs, their attached decks and gutters have a slight pitch, typically, a 1/4-inch drop every four feet for optimal drainage.
Roof shapes range from flat roofs as the most affordable option, offering, space for mechanicals or a rooftop deck to to the most common A-framed gabled roof built in a variety of pitches to best shed water and snow. Coastal homes benefit from the low profiles of the four sided hip roof that resist hurricane winds and lift-off.
Mansard roofs, the other curved hip roof, originated during the Empire period and is the favored design for spooky mansions belonging to likes of the Munsters and the Adams family. The gambrel roof is recognized for sheltering stacks of hay in the archetypical American barn. Both roofs deliver max headroom for storage or a cathedral height ceiling for additional, luxurious living space.
The peak of a roof is called a ridge, the bottom is the eave, and sloping edges are called rakes. Where two roof planes meet at an inside corner is a valley, while at an outside corner the intersection is a hip. Underlying all these roofs will be the frame, which consists either of rafters or of trusses.
What Do I Need To Know About Roof Replacement
What do I need to know before I get a new roof?
Things to Consider When Replacing a Roof
- Roofing Material Options. There are several different types of roofing materials that can be used when replacing your roof.
- Things Will be Loud.
- Ask About Refuse Material Disposal.
- Read the Paperwork Carefully.
What should be included in roof replacement?
What does getting a new roof entail?
A roof replacement involves tearing off everything on the roof down to the deck, then putting on new felt paper and shingles. A roof replacement can be done no matter how many layers of shingles are already on the roof, so it can be done even when a reroofing is not an option.
What is the average cost of a new roof UK?
How much does a roof replacement cost? The UK national average cost to replace a roof is £5,500, with most homeowners spending between £3,000 £16,300 .
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Are You Thinking You Need A New Roof Here Are Seven Important Things To Consider When Replacing A Roof
With so many new homes and commercial properties being built every day, theres been a major increase in the need for roofing contractors in the U.S.
Many people are also relying on roofing contractors to help them repair damage to their roofs brought on by extreme weather and everyday wear and tear.
If youre thinking about a roof replacement, youll probably be calling a contractor soon, too. Before you do that, though, you should also know exactly what a roof replacement entails.
Read on to learn about seven of the most important things to consider when replacing a roof.
Things To Avoid When Installing A Roof
Now that you understand the process of installing a new roof, its time to go over some things to avoid during your roof renovation.
- Dont install new shingles over old shingles. Instead, replace them.
- Dont leave ventilation issues unaddressed. A poorly ventilated roof can cause condensation build up and increase heating/cooling costs.
- Dont press down on the insulation. Itll cause heat loss through the roof.
- Dont leave air pockets. Instead, fill the space completely with insulation.
- Dont leave any structure unprotected from rain and wind.
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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.
Severe Hail Can Ruin Metal Roofing
Although metal roofs are considerably more durable and maintenance-free than asphalt shingles and other forms of roofing, they are not indestructible. There is one weather condition in particular that bodes ill for metal roofing: large hail. Aluminum and copper, in particular, can be susceptible to denting when hailstones approach golf-ball size.
Steel is harder and fares better in hailstorms, but if you live in a region where such catastrophic hail can occur, be aware of this when considering metal. Pea-sized or even dime-sized hail is rarely a problem, but hailstones larger than this have been known to ruin metal roofs.
Then again, large hail can also destroy an asphalt shingle roof, so if you make sure to have good homeowner’s insurance that covers such storm damage, there is no reason not to install metal roofing.
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The Basic Roofing Materials
Your choice of roof replacement options often depends on your locality and your personal taste. For example, metal roofing is a standard selection in some regions due to its fire resistance. In contrast, the predominant home styles in other areas might call for a Spanish-influenced tile tool. Roof pitch also affects the roofing materials you can use. For example, wood shake shingles can be used for steeper-pitched roofs but are unsuitable for flatter, low-pitched roofs.
The most common choices for residential roofing include:
According to the National Association of Home Builders, costlier slate, copper, and tile roofs last more than 50 years. Wood shake roofs endure about 30 years, fiber cement shingles have a life of nearly 25 years, and asphalt shingle composition roofs last about 20 years.
When And Why To Put A New Roof Over An Existing Roof
When your roof starts to fail, but it is in an overallgood condition, a reroofing might be the best choice for you. What does it meanto have a roof that is failing but is still in a relatively good state? Itmeans that your roof may be at the end of its life, but its underlyingstructures and sheathing are in a generally good condition. Your shingles maybe losing granules and are worn out due to age or weather, but they are notcausing leaks, they are not curling or missing. These are all goodpredispositions for installing a new layer of shingles over the existing one.
Reroofing can also be done when you simply want orneed a change on your roof you may want a different design or color, or youmay be completely renovating your home so you want the roof to match your newstyle. But even if your main goal isnt redesigning your roof, it willnonetheless gain a new aesthetic appeal. Installing a new shingle layer willgive your roof depth and even a three-dimensional appearance, as it is slightlyraised due to the existing layer of shingles beneath it.
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Terms You Should Know
The surface, usually plywood or oriented strand board , to which roofing materials are applied.
Dormer: A small structure projecting from a sloped roof, usually with a window.
Drip edge: An L-shaped strip installed along roof edges to allow water run off to drip clear of the deck, eaves and siding.
Eave: The horizontal lower edge of a sloped roof.
Fascia: A flat board, band or face located at a cornice’s outer edge.
Felt/underlayment: A sheet of asphalt-saturated material used as a secondary layer of protection for the roof deck.
Fire rating: System for classifying the fire resistances of various materials. Roofing materials are rated Class A, B or C, with Class A materials having the highest resistance to fire originating outside the structure.
Flashing: Pieces of metal used to prevent the seepage of water around any intersection or projection in a roof system, such as vent pipes, chimneys, valleys and joints at vertical walls.
Louvers: Slatted devices installed in a gable or soffit to ventilate the space below a roof deck and equalize air temperature and moisture.
Oriented strand board : Roof deck panels made of narrow bits of wood, installed lengthwise and crosswise in layers, and held together with a resin glue. OSB often is used as a substitute for plywood sheets.
Penetrations: Vents, pipes, stacks, chimneys-anything that penetrates a roof deck.
Rafters: The supporting framing to which a roof deck is attached.
Rake: The inclined edge of a roof over a wall.
Choosing The Right Roofing Company Is Important
The first thing youre going to need to do when you decide to go through with a new roof installation is to choose a roofing company to handle the job.
The good news is you shouldnt have any trouble finding one. There are more than 100,000 roofing companies scattered throughout the country.
But the bad news is there are a whole bunch of unreliable roofers out there. So you want to be sure to steer clear of them and to find the right roofing company for the job.
A reputable roofing company should have:
- Plenty of experience in the roofing industry
- A specific set of roofing services that they can provide, including new roof installation
- A large selection of roofs
- Fair and affordable prices
- Free consultations for those who want to learn more about them
Before you agree to work with a roofing company, you should interview them and find out whatever you can about the company. You should also read through online reviews from other homeowners who have worked with them in the past.
This will let you know if a roofing company is right for you or not.
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Understand The Roofing Process
You’ll be able to make advised decisions when hiring a roofing crew if you understand the steps to replacing a roof, as well as the jargon used in the roofing trade.
A moderately-sized, professionally-installed roofing job might take only three or four days. The overall process followed by the roofing crew goes like this:
