ROOFING

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Types of Roof Coverings

 

Shingles: These can be made of a variety of materials, but their main purpose is to protect underlying sheathing from the weather. Shingles are traditionally measured in squares. A square of shingles is 100 square feet, so if you know your roof is 2,500 square feet you will need to order 25 squares.

Sheathing: Boards or sheet material that are attached to the rafters that cover your home.

Trim: Trims are there to protect joints or edges as well as hips and valleys and will ususally be a feature/decoration.

Rafters: Rafters are basically the wooden triangle that you see in your attic, underneath your sheathing and shingles.

Underlay: is a water-proof membrane that sits between the sheathing and your shingles.

Flashing: Sheet metal or other material installed on top of the joints of a roof system to prevent water damage.

Drainage: Hugely important how rain or snow will drain from your home via valleys or just the slopes and what that water runs into. IE a gutter system or straight down onto your patio.

 

Before replacing your roof think and ask…
 

When was your roof last replaced?

Is it the original roof? Were repairs made recently?

Asphalt shingles can last 20 years, shake shingles 30 years. Roofing technology has come a long way with some new shingles lasting 40 and even 50 years.

Does your home have the original roof, or were repairs made within the past few years? Depending on the type of shingles you have and the age of your roof, you may need to keep an eye out for leaks or even schedule a replacement. When your roof needs to be replaced will depend on the existing structure and shingle type. Asphalt shingles will hold up for 20 years, while wood shake roofs can last up to 30.

Beware if you are thinking about solar, most solar companies will steer clear of a shake shingle roof.

Remember too, if your roof has three layers of shingles already you may have to shed at least one before laying more. This is a planning office requirement to prevent the weight putting strain on your home. Ensure to count the layers and check with local offices.

Is it vented enough? Should you do something while you are working up there?

Hot air in an attic can rise to 140-150 degrees on the hottest of days so it needs some effort to keep your home cool. One way is insulation which you really must include, another is ventilation. Again if you are thinking of going solar you may want to re-route vents from where the solar panels will be laid. The other way is solar reflective shingles which reduce the absorption of infrared radiation from the sun’s rays resulting in a drop of interior temperatures by up to 40%.

Fire Rating

Fire-rated roof-covers come with either A.B or C ratings, A being the most fire resistant to fires caused from outside the home which may include clay tiles, metal roofing and comp shingles.

 

When posting your project, help your roofer by including your full address so he/she can find your home on google maps and give you a more detailed bid.

If you need to have patches of your roof fixed, take a video and zoom in on the areas that need work. Explain over the video what caused the damage, storms or just old age. Your roofer will give you a much more in-depth bid and much quicker.

Mention also how long of a warranty you want on your new roof. Shingles can last 20, 30, 40 in some cases 50 years and the cost is obviously reflected in the lifetime of the warranty.

Oh, and if you’re booking a roofer for later on in the year, do a quick google check of the weather expected – you won’t believe the number of people who book a new roof in January!

 

Hiring anyone to carry work in your home can be daunting. Letting strangers into your home is even more scary. While many homeowners may go into detail about pricing and materials and quality of work – they rarely ask their contractor for their license details and never ask about their possible criminal background or if their staff are felons.

For your peace of mind, all roofing contractors featured on 23HourBids.com have been background checked for your safety and security. Don't let anyone into your home without the 23HourBids.com seal of safety and security.

Watch this short video below to see how we protect you, your family and your belongings.