Of all different ways you need to repair or maintain your home, the roof is one of the most crucial. After all, it’s what protects everything in your home, including you and your family! Unfortunately, replacing or repairing your roof is just as tedious as it is important, but necessary to prevent any issues within the home.
With that said, you should never take roof repair lightly and repairs shouldn’t be delayed. If ever you feel like it’s time to replace your roof, then it’s time to learn all about what you need to know about re-roofing. That way, you can come in prepared and with everything needed for a successful, hassle-free replacement.
What You Should Know About Re-Roofing and Roof Replacement
There are many things to consider when it comes to replacing your roof. From cost down to who you hire, here are the important things to know:
The Basic Materials
For starters, you have to learn about the usual materials roofs are made of. And take note that you should focus more on functionality over the home’s look. Here are the five basic materials you can choose from:
- Asphalt shingles are the least attractive but easy to find and are the cheapest option
- Wood is pricey but an amazing aesthetic for a homey look
- Metal roofing is less popular because of how difficult it is to install, but very strong
- Slate roofs look beautiful but are also quite dangerous to maintain and install because of the slippery surface
- Rubber slates are recyclable and eco-friendly, the reason why they’re becoming so popular now!
Roof Replacement or a Whole New Roof?
Here are the factors to consider when weighing your options:
- When adding more layers to some roofs, especially old structures, it can cause problems. If you have a less stable roof structure, replacing the entire roof is required.
- Do you have existing problems over your roof such as bumps, waves, or bubbles? Roof replacement may be needed rather than to simply cover these damaging issues!
- When you place new shingles over an existing roof layer, it’s much easier and inexpensive compared to replacing and building an entirely new roof
Save on Money and Materials
We all know just how expensive re-roofing and replacement can be, from hiring people down to the materials used and how big your roof is. It can cost between $7,000 to $50,000, so watch out and make sure you agree with your contractor and find quality materials at cheaper prices!
Fortunately, there are other ways you can save up on those costs, with roofing contractors offering various packages and/or payment methods that suit your budget and needs. Even just $1 off your roofing material per square foot is a great deal!
When You Should Replace Your Roof
Obviously, you should replace your roof when it starts to show some wear and tear. However, you also have to consider when you plan to replace your roof. It’s crucial to do a roof installation only when it’s safe for your contractor and for the materials to dry.
A cool and sunny season like spring and summer is recommended when planning out your roof installation. Avoid doing it during weeks you’ll know it will rain, snow, or show very harsh weather conditions.
The Basics of Roofing Installation
It’s crucial to also think about how a roofing installation works! these are the basics to understand so you know what your contractors are talking about:
- Roofers will speak by square, meaning square feet, a better way to manage the number of materials needed
- Shingles are bought in bundles, with one square being three to four bundles
- It would take between three to four days for professionals to install your roof, though drying of materials can take longer
Choosing a Good Roofer
Of course, you can’t have your roof properly fixed without the right roofing contractor. It’s important that you do your research and “shop around” for contractors and their different quotations and packages. Interview them and check their past work, seeing if they’ve done a great job based on photos and customer testimonials.
Furthermore, ask for their payment terms and look into the contracts given before you sign. I recommend that you only pay completely until the entire project has been completed.
Wrapping It Up
I hope my article on re-roofing and roof replacement helped give you the basics and what to prepare. If you need more help, many companies like Roof and Render also perform such services and offer more information on roofs, check out their website to learn more today.
Now that you’re familiar with how to choose the right materials and what else you need, go ahead and plan out your roof replacement as needed.
Do comment below if you’ve got extra queries or want to share your re-roofing or replacement experiences! All your comments are much appreciated.
