Installing a new roof is a costly and hassling affair that all property owners must undertake every 20-30 years.
A few skilled and daring individuals like to take on the challenge themselves while the rest prefer to leave the task to trained experts.
Irrespective of which category you place yourself in, it is always good to know the processes that underlie the roofing of your home.
Here, we talk about some common aspects and processes of a new roof installation that will equip you with a better understanding of the matter.
How to know that you need a new roof?
Unless you’re constructing a new house or wish to go for a makeover, here are some telltale signs that your roof needs a replacement.
- Your roof is over 20 years old: The lifespan of an average roof is about 20 to 25 years, and about 50 years for slate, wood, and metal roofs. As soon as you reach this year’s mark, you know it’s time to consider a new roof.
- Your shingles are crumbling: Inspect your roof carefully. If you notice shingles curling and leaving granules, they may need to be replaced.
- Your gutters are clogged: Over the years, the roof starts shedding granules, which often end up in the gutters. If this occurs repeatedly, your roof is asking for an overhaul.
- Spots of daylight visible through the roof: Examine your attic for holes and cracks.
- Your roof is sagging: This indicates a serious structural issue and requires immediate action.
Things to Consider Before Installing a New Roof
The Right Roofing Material: When going through your options, consider your location’s weather conditions, the lifespan, and the energy efficiency of the roofing material.
The old layer: You need to decide whether to remove the existing shingles or simply layer the new ones on top. While leaving the old layer saves the additional costs, peeling it off ensures that you won’t have to worry about trapped moisture or debris between the two roofs.
The integrity of the roof structure: When installing a new roof, it is highly recommended that you check the condition of the rafters and trusses supporting your roof.
Hiring the right contractor: Experience and expertise are important benchmarks when deciding which roofing contractor to hire. McDonough Roofing Pros comprises engineers who are trained in the installation of various types of roofs.
Installing Different Types of Roofs
Shingles are among the most common roofing materials in the whole of the United States. They’re cheap, durable, and open up a world of design options. If positioned in a single layer, shingles can be placed on top of an existing roof without much difficulty.
Steps
- Some houses require an extra layer of underlayment, such as ice guards or waterproofing layers before the shingles can be laid out. Lay that out as smoothly as possible, taking care not to create too many bumps and ripples.
- Once that’s in place, install the starter strip or starter shingles all along the edges of the roof. This helps seal the space between the deck and the final shingles that will line the eves while providing double-layer protection against weather damage along the edges. The starter strip should ideally hang an inch over the drip edge of your roof. For accurate positions, draw a chalk line across the roof before placing the shingles.
- Next, lay out the shingles, one line at a time, each line overlapping the previous about halfway through.
- Fastened the shingles with the help of nails.
Metal Roof Installation
Once upon a time, metal roofs were only found on industrial holdings or very high-end, designer homes. Times have now changed.
Increased availability, diverse options, and improved manufacturing processes have allowed metal roofs to find a place in conventional houses.
Metal helps in high energy conservation and can withstand harsh elements for several decades. Moreover, metal is also resistant to fire, decay, and pests, making it a decidedly cost-effective roofing option in the long run.
Installing Rolled Roofs
If you’re unwilling to spend too much on your roof but want it replaced, all the same, there is one option. Rolled roofs are one of the cheapest roofing materials available in the market and don’t require much expertise in installing them.
They come as rolled sheets of 36 feet and are 36 inches wide. You simply need to roll out each sheet in straight lines and nail them in place at regular intervals.
Easy and cheap as these are, most roofing experts will advise you against using rolled roofs for residential or other people occupied properties. They are low on durability and prone to tearing, curling, and coming apart at the slightest elemental impact.
However, they are a good option for utilitarian facilities like work sheds, garages, barns, etc.
Drip Edge Installation
Drip edges are long, triangle-shaped metal or fiber structures that are placed along the lining of your roof edge to prevent water from penetrating below the shingles.
If your house doesn’t already have these in place, it is highly recommended to get them installed to protect your roof from water damage.
Measure the length of your roof and cut the drip edge to the required size. While fixing it, ensure that it doesn’t cross over outside the edge of your roof.
Installing Gutters
Gutters are an extremely important part of your house as they collect and divert rainwater away from your roof and keep the foundation of your house from incurring damage.
Readymade gutters come in lengths of 10 ft. This means that your gutter system will have several joints, which, if not sealed properly, will lead to leaks and a faulty drainage system.
Metal roofing is available as shingles, tiles, and panels, in a wide array of colors. Being lightweight, they can be installed over existing your existing old roof.
Gutters can also be customized to the required sizes. If you’re willing to pay for customization, you might as well hire a professional contractor to take care of the entire process at minimal service charges.
McDonough Roofing Pros has gutter installation specialists who will ensure that the gutter system not only compliments the design and style of your home but also serves its purpose effectively.
Cost of Installing a New Roof
The total expenditure of installing a new roof can be calculated by measuring out the roof’s surface area and thereafter, the quantity of material required. A few things may lead to additional charges such as:
- Repairing deck damage
- Strengthening the rafter or truss structure
- Adding new vents or repairing old ones
- Choosing a high-quality roofing material
- Wastage of material due to inexpert roofing
While a DIY challenge will save you from spending on contractor service, even the slightest incompetency or mistake will cost you heavily in the future.
McDonough Roofing Pros offers free cost-estimation for all kinds of roofing projects. At the same time, we are also one of the most affordable and experienced contractors in the Northeast part of Georgia.
Alternatively, you can check our detailed post on how to calculate roofing cost using calculators here also use some of the online tools that are available for calculating the cost of roof installation, though the results will not be as accurate as an on-site inspection.