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Roofing Questions / Answers on Shingling New Roofs and Re-Roofing
Tips for Determining if You Need a Roof
Reshingled, How Much it Will Cost, and Where to Find Reputable Roofing
Contractors
By: Mark J. Donovan
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The roof is a vital organ of a home or any other building, as it
protects it from rain, snow and ice. Consequently it is imperative to
check and maintain your roof regularly to make sure it is in tip-top
shape. Often homeowners have an out-of-sight-out-of-mind attitude
when it comes to their home’s roof, until they see water dripping
down from their ceiling and walls during a rainstorm. Don’t let
yourself wait until this happens, as it can cost a fortune in water,
and mold and mildew damage repair. Carefully inspect your roof a
couple of times each year, and if you see roof damage or wear repair
it quickly. |
Listed below is a series of common roofing questions along
with answers that can help you determine if it’s time for a
new roof.
When is the best time(s) of the year to inspect a roof?
Fall and spring are the best times of the year to inspect a
roof. Inspecting your roof in the fall is wise so that you can
make any roofing repairs prior to the onslaught of winter.
Inspecting your roof in the spring is also a smart decision as
you can assess if the winter weather has damaged your roof in
anyway. Ice dams are notorious for damaging roof shingles near
the roof eaves.
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How long is my asphalt
shingle roof expected to last?
It depends upon the type of shingles installed, how they were
installed, your local climate, and if adequate attic insulation and
venting are installed. Shingles are sold with lifetime warranties
that range from around 15 to 40 years. My personal experience is
that you can expect them to last for about 75 to 80% of their
lifetime warranty. The life of the shingles is also dependent upon
if and how other elements of the roofing materials were installed,
such as ice and water shield, drip edge, and flashing. Also, proper
roof nailing is critical for ensuring that the shingles don’t get
blown off during wind storms.
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Finally, to ensure maximum shingle life it’s important that there is
good ridge vent and soffit venting to allow the heat of the attic to
be easily eliminated from the attic during the hot summer months.
High attic temperatures during the summer can dramatically shorten
the life of asphalt shingles. Similarly, it’s important to have
plenty of attic insulation to prevent warm moist air from rising up
in the attic in the winter time. Warm moist air in the attic during
the winter months can lead to the formation of ice dams which can
destroy roofs and cause major water leaks.
What should you do if you see cracking, curling, cupping and
fishmouthing on the shingles?
If you see cracking, curling, cupping or fishmouthing it’s time to
re-roof your home. These are all symptoms of a roof that is nearing
the end of its life and that could possibly lead to roof leaks at
any time.
What should you do if you see a missing a shingle or two?
You can temporarily slide a new shingle up underneath the shingles
just above the missing shingle(s). This will at least prevent a roof
leak until you can call in a roofing contractor. Alternatively you
can replace the individual asphalt shingle yourself, however it
takes a little skill and the right tools and materials.
What should I do if my roof has many leaks?
Temporarily cover the entire roof with a large vinyl tarp. Then call
in a roofing contractor to inspect the roof to see what should be
done. Most likely the entire roof will need to be re-shingled. The
roofing contractor should also inspect the roof for any structural
damage due to the severity of the roof leaks.
Where Can I Find a Roofing Contractor?
Your best bet is to check with friends and neighbors in your area
that have used a roofing contractor recently and who can vouch for
them. If you’re unable to go this route then your next best solution
is to use one of the national contractor referral companies. These
companies have a database of contractors throughout the entire
country that they’ve done background checks on and have fully
screened. Their service is free for the homeowner. Simply fill out
their online form and 3 to 4 roofing contractors in your local area
will contact you. Again, there is no obligation to use any of these
contractors. If you’re interested in this service go to “Find
Roofing Contractor”.
How much will it cost to Re-shingle My Roof or to Install a New
Roof?
Prices of course vary with the size of the roofing project, the type
of roof, and how many pipes and chimneys protrude from it. Also
local labor market and supply conditions also impact roofing costs.
However, for a rough asphalt shingle roofing cost estimate please
see my “Asphalt Shingle
Roofing Cost Estimator”. It provides options and
costs for various asphalt shingle types, as well as input fields for
roof size, number of pipes and chimney sizes, as well as a number of
other factors. Overall it will provide a fairly accurate roofing
cost estimate.
How Can I be Sure I’m Hiring the Right Roofing Contractor?
Contractors are a special breed. Their business men who are also
skilled craftsmen, however business acumen and craftsmanship can
vary greatly from one to another. The best advice I can offer you is
to buy my “Asphalt
Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet”. It provides you with a
detailed questionnaire on the various types of questions to ask
prospective roofing contractors. The way the questionnaire is
written you can simply provide a copy of it to the prospective
roofing contractors for them to fill out. You can then compare their
results with my advice and recommendations section in the remainder
of the bid sheet. Also, by having prospective roofing contractors
complete the same questionnaire you can do better apple-to-apple bid
comparisons. If you decide not to use my “Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Bid Sheet” then the most important advice I can leave you with is
always check multiple references on prospective roofing contractors.
For more help on Shingling Your Home's Roof, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Asphalt Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet.
The
Asphalt Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet
will
help to ensure
that
your roof won't end up with a blue tarp over it and a dumpster
sitting in your yard
for weeks
as you wait for the roofing contractor to come back and finish
roofing your home.
Asphalt Shingle Roofing Calculator
Related Information
How to Finance your Roof Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Additional Roofing Resources from Amazon.com
Roofing Price Quotes For FREE,
No Obligation!
Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote
on roofing from one of our prescreened and licensed roofing contractors. This
process is free and there is no obligation to continue once you receive your
roofing price estimate.
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