Roofing
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1
WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS THAT I NEED A NEW ROOF?
- Do you have leakage in the attic after heavy rains?
- Do you have ceiling spots inside you home?
- Do you have damaged or missing shingles?
- Is the flashing around your chimney, vent pipes or wall junctions missing or bent?
- Can you see loose or popped nails?
- Are you shingles buckling or blistering?
- Are the granules on you shingles missing or show ageing?
- Do you have unusually high energy bills?
2
IS IT NECESSARY TO REMOVE MY OLD ROOF?
The question often comes up about whether an existing composition shingle roof should be torn off or if an overlay (or recover) is possible. Overlays save on time, labor, and disposal costs. If the existing roof has only one layer, lays flat, and there aren’t any problems with the roof deck, removal is not necessary. Regardless of whether you overlay or tear off, you should properly ventilate your attic. In almost all cases, continuous soffit and ridge vents will provide maximum cross ventilation. If any of the following are true, a complete tear-off of the existing roof system(s) should be considered.
- Too many layers – If a roof has more than one layer of roofing, the roof should be torn off. In most cases this is a code requirement. Codes rarely permit more than two layers of roofing. To determine this, all you need to do is contact your local building inspections department.
- Bad decking – if spongy areas are noticed when walking on a roof, or if you see sags between the rafters or trusses, there's a chance that some of the roof deck may be deteriorating or be damaged. Deterioration can be attributed to dry rot or de-lamination of the plies in the plywood due to glue failure. Dry rot is wood rot caused by certain types of fungi and if it isn't taken care of, it can spread. If there is suspicion of bad decking, then a full tear off should seriously be considered.
- Ice dams – ice dams can be a big problem. In areas where there the average January temperature can be below 30° F, and no ice and water protection membrane is present on a roof, then a full tear off should be considered. Twenty year old buildings with no ice and water protection and no prior problems, can suddenly experience thousands of dollars in damage when a freak cold front hits.
- Incompatible shingles – if a heavy weight architectural style shingle is used to cover a light weight strip shingle such as 3-tabs, then the roof will look good. However, we will not use a 3-tab to roof over architectural shingles.Existing roof is in poor condition – if the existing roof is in really poor shape, such as tabs being severely curled or if the rows are crooked.
3
WHY DO I NEED VENTILATION IN MY ROOF?
If your home doesn’t have proper ventilation, you will experience a number of problems. First, moisture will accumulate and may cause various parts of your roofing system to deteriorate. You may notice that the shingles become warped or loose and may slip off. If the water damage extends to the underlayment, you may see warping or buckling of the wood underneath the roof. This can lead to structural damage and may extend into the trusses or rafters. If these structures become damaged, they may fail to support the roof. It is extremely important that your roof has ventilation – ventilation is the life of your roof!
4
WE ARE LOOKING FOR AT METAL ROOFING – IS IT WORTH THE INVESTMENT TO SPEND MORE ON A METAL ROOF?
Ordinary roofing materials have shorter life spans than metal and will need to be replaced regularly. With constantly increasing material and labor costs, that could mean a significant expense over the life of your building. A metal roof virtually never needs to be replaced, saving you money while adding value to your residential or commercial structure.
5
HOW LONG WILL A METAL ROOF LAST?
A metal roof won't dry out, split, curl, peel or flake like conventional roofing products. Metal roofing has been successfully used for centuries and they last substantially longer than any other roofing product on the market.
6
HOW DO I SELECT A CONTRACTOR?
You should always do your research before you select a contractor to do work on your home. By using the following checklist you will great increase your chances of selecting the right contractor for your job.
- Employ a contractor with an established business in your local area.
- Make sure that your contractor has a current license, liability insurance and offers a warranty
- Ask for local homeowner’s references and follow up on them.
- Interview contractors until you find one you feel comfortable working with, and do not blindly accept the lowest bid! -Remember if the contractor is way below all the competition he is cutting corners somewhere!
7
WHO DETERMINES THE RIGHT AND WRONG WAYS TO INSTALL A ROOF?
Local building codes cannot be specific enough on their own to ensure a good roof. Many roofers learn from "the guy I used to work for". This can be good or bad. Some people do it wrong for years, and end up passing that "knowledge" onto others. Anyone can install a roof – few can do it properly! There are industry accepted programs for evaluating a roofer's methods, understanding, and dedication to his craft. There are a few programs that exist, of which Mastin's have attained certifications, such as: Owens Corning – Preferred Platinum Contractor Certification and CertainTeed’s Master Shingle Applicator certification and their Quality Master program.
8
IF THE ROOFER DOESN'T PAY FOR THE MATERIALS ON MY HOUSE, CAN THE SUPPLIER MAKE ME PAY?
As crazy as it sounds, the answer is "yes." Supply houses have written into their purchase orders that the party receiving the product (you) will be responsible in the event the contractor fails to pay for the supplies. This underscores the importance of hiring a trusted, qualified roofer.
9
IF SOMEONE GETS HURT ON MY PROPERTY WHILE INSTALLING THE ROOF, CAN I BE SUED?
Unfortunately, people who don't ask to see a copy of the company's Worker's Compensation Certificate put themselves at risk for lawsuits. Please make sure that you ask about a contractors worker's compensation certificate before hiring them to do the job. Mastin's ensures all of its customers that we carry worker's comp and is available upon request.
10
HOW WILL MY HOUSE BE PROTECTED WHILE THE OLD ROOF IS REMOVED?
A quality contractor will no doubt spend time explaining how important this is. Usually, plywood is used to divert old materials into a dumpster or truck. All windows, doors, and flower beds would be protected. Tarps would be spread out all around the house wherever loose debris might fall. The final cleanup should involve the use of magnets, both handheld and wheel-mounted. When finished, the only sign of a contractor's presence should be the beautiful new roof, not broken shrubs, scratched siding, and a lawn full of nails.
