Roof Replacement: When It Is Necessary and How It Works

When it’s time to replace your roof, careful considerations have to be made because the slightest mistakes can cost you a fortune. Of course, hiring a contractor like Muller Exteriors can help reduce the risk, but it also pays to gain as much knowledge about roof replacement before starting to make big decisions. After all, you are about to embark on one of the costliest projects you’ll ever do in your lifetime.

When to Replace Your Roof

First things first, before even initiating brainstorming with your spouse about this big project, verify your need for a new roof first. Is it really necessary? Can your existing roof hold up for another year or two? Ask these questions and factor them in your final decision. Maybe you can call in a professional roofer to conduct a thorough inspection of your roof and ask for recommendations. If the roofer suggests you should consider a replacement, then by all means go for it. Nonetheless, below are some of the tell-tale signs that roof replacement must be in order.

• Multiple Leaks
• . One apparent indicator that something’s wrong with your roof is when you find water damage in your attic. If there’s no water line running across your attic, then roof leak may be the source. A tiny hole or crack may seem harmless but overtime, and when neglected, the resulting damage can be devastating. If one leak can cause so much damage, imagine the destruction you have to deal with if there are multiple leaks on your roof. And it’s not just water damage that you have to worry about when contemplating replacement but the fact that multiple leaks signify that the entire roof is already dysfunctional and needs to be replaced ASAP.
• Cupping or Clawing Shingles
• . If you have a standard asphalt roofing, expect its lifespan to be quite shorter than most other types of roof, considering its material composition, which is basically waste paper saturated in asphalt. Modern asphalt roofs, however, are made of strong, algae-resistant materials, which allow them to last for longer. Some are even made of fiberglass granules for maximum weather resistance. The problem is that over time, the layers of the asphalt shingles will start to weaken, the bind of the granules will wear off and leach, and the matting will dry out. This causes the shingles to curl either upward or downward. When this happens, you need to start thinking about replacing your roof.
• Sagging and Depression
• . The exterior covering of your roof is just one of the many essential components of a roofing system. Underneath are layers of materials that are just as vital to the overall performance of the roof. When the exterior covering appears to be slightly caving in, it could mean a number of things. Winter probably has taken a huge toll on the roof that it broke some of the rafters, weakening the very layer that holds up the main roofing material. If left unattended, further blow of nature to the roof may cause serious damage. Since the rafters can no longer be restored, the best way to fix the problem is to replace the roof altogether.
• Sunlight through the Roof Boards
• . Obviously, your roof is made to be free from any crevices or fissures that can let the elements in. Sometimes, however, these crevices are too small or blocked from view by another layer of material that they are almost invisible. If you look from under the roof, in your attic, and you see a little bit of daylight, that‘s a sign that crevices are present. The fact that it cuts through the thick layers of the roof means there’s got to be serious damage that you have to assess and fix.

These are only four of the many indicators of the need for roof replacement, but to make the decision-making easy, find out the age of the roof. Depending on what type of roof you have, compare its age to its supposed life expectancy. Hardier roof types, such as slate and tiles, may give you longer leeway to save money for such a huge project.

How Roof Replacement Works

Another thing you need to know about roof replacement is how it’s done. Many homeowners leave the job to the roofer without even trying to learn the process out of curiosity. The thing is by understanding at least the basics of roof replacement, you can immediately tell whether or not your roofer is doing a great job or making a mistake that you will regret for the rest of the years you will be living under that roof of yours.

Way back when roofing systems were still made from fast-deteriorating materials, roof replacement meant dismantling the entire roofing system and installing a new one. With materials becoming sturdier and techniques increasingly more advanced, you can now opt to simply reroof your home. This means no major tear-off will be done on your roof and the original frames and trusses will be kept. The only thing that will be installed is the new roofing material and it will be placed over the existing roofing material.

Many argue that while reroofing is quicker and cheaper, given the absence of extra work, it presents a lot of risks because the load isn’t replaced but simply increased. In truth, there’s little effect on the capacity of the roof because the frames and trusses are designed to tolerate even more than twice the weight of the existing roof. So the next time you see the “reroof vs tear off” argument, try to play nicely and welcome the idea that reroofing is in fact a practical choice.

How to Prolong the Life of Your Roof

Unfortunately, no matter what type of roof you have, it is bound to get old and crumble. Even though it takes a while before that could start happening, there are a few things you can do to prolong the life of your roof. Of course, you want to see your home in one piece throughout the time you’re living in it so learning a few simple roof maintenance tricks could come in handy for you.

1. It you live in Chicago, make sure to ventilate your roof
2. . This will prevent the formation of ice dams, which are notorious roof killers. Keeping snow accumulation on your roof in check can also help prevent ice dams.
3. Prune those trees
4. . If your home is surrounded with tall trees or bushes, cut the leaves and branches overhanging or laying on the roof. Neither should you allow twigs and foliage to pile up on your roof’s surface because they can cause a significant damage as they decay.
5. Clean your gutters regularly
6. . A dirty gutter can easily get clogged and become dysfunctional. If water can’t pass through the downspout, a dam will form and the trapped water can rise fast and back up into your home.
7. Inspect the roof regularly
8. . When a big storm hits your area, immediately conduct a visual inspection of your roof from the ground to see if some shingles got blown off or dislocated. Or perhaps the gutter is at the brink of falling apart and you just don’t see it. By doing a visual inspection, you can determine whether you need a new roof or the damage can still be fixed.

Benefits of Professional Roofing Services

While the Internet is replete with simple DIY instructions on installing or fixing a roof, it takes more than that to ensure the quality of your work. Proper training and vast field experience are necessary not just to perform the installation seamlessly but also to choose a roofing material that is both durable and suitable for your home architecture. What better way to ensure the success of your roof replacement project than to hire a full-fledged roofing company like Muller Exteriors who has dealt with all kinds of roofing problems and has installed every single type of roof available on the market.