A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF YOUR ROOF

Even if you are having a leak problem, it does not necessarily indicate that a new roof is imminent. The age of the roof and the “signs of deterioration” determine if repairs are a viable solution or you need a complete re-roof. See the pictures below for examples of deterioration. Free Estimate

The signs of deterioration on any type of roof system can be attributed to a combination of ultraviolet rays from the sun, storms, insects, and temperature changes. Ultraviolet rays are probably most damaging; therefore it is quite common to find one area of your roof showing more severe deterioration than others. Structural damage from termite, hail, wind, rotting or settling of the house structure or chimney can cause damage that is sometimes hidden from view.

Keeping your roof free of debris is critical to the integrity of any roof system. Also, traffic should be kept at a minimum; only walk on your roof when it is absolutely necessary to perform maintenance such as cleaning the gutters, skylights, or the roof itself. The steeper the pitch or the slope of the roof, the more life expectancy you can expect from your roof. Free Estimate

If you have a TILE ROOF SYSTEM, the life expectancy is 30-100 years. The integrity of a tile roof is totally dependant on the roof underlayment. The tile, itself, can last forever but will not keep your home watertight unless the underlayment is intact. For this reason, it is advisable when installing a Tile roof system to use a minimum of 2 layers of #30 felt, although Code requires only one layer and is acceptable in the industry. Tile roofs can be deceiving when evaluating the condition of your roof. The tile may appear to be in excellent condition; it is not possible to inspect the underlayment without removing the tile. For this reason, repairs on Tile roof systems are more costly than other types of systems. When the underlayment does deteriorate, the only solution is to remove the existing tile, replace the underlayment and re-install the tile. You can anticipate a 5% - 25% breakage of tiles during this process depending on the type of fasteners used for the original installation and whether mortar was used or not. Replacement tile cannot always be secured to match your existing; anticipate the possibility of using a similar tile to complete the project.

SHAKE ROOF THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED

If your current roof is a SHAKE ROOF SYSTEM, you can expect a life expectancy of 20-25 years depending on the quality of shakes originally installed. Signs of deterioration include missing shakes, burnt or curled shakes, and exposed felt. Free Estimate

If you have a TAR & GRAVEL ROOF SYSTEM, also referred to as BUILT-UP, HOT-MOP, and ASPHALT AND CAPSHEET SYSTEM, you can expect a life expectancy of 10-15 years. In rare cases, these types of systems do last longer, but that is only under the best circumstances.

These types of roof systems are typically applied to flat roofs; however, some pitched roofs do have these types of systems. When re-roofing a roof with adequate slope, you will always want to select a shingle system for replacement as the life expectancy is longer and shingle systems are more affordable and more attractive. Free Estimate

Signs of deterioration include missing gravel, cracking and blistering. As asphalt based systems age, they dry up and become brittle. Any movement or settling of the structure will cause cracking. When these symptoms are prevalent in the majority of the roof, the success rate for repairs is not good. Water will travel through the field making repairs difficult to achieve a watertight status.

EVIDENCE OF DEFECTS IN TAR & GRAVEL ROOF

Typically repairs to these types of roof systems will involve 3-coursing any cracks, meaning applying mastic, webbing, and mastic with granules to shear up the strength in an area. Sometimes, applying a coating will extend the life. Most often, if you are experiencing a history of leaks more than 1-2 rain seasons, it is time for a new roof. There are roof systems available on the market now that will end the most common flat roof problems.Free Estimate

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BEING A GOOD CUSTOMER

Now it is time to sit back and relax. The well-planned research you have done up front will undoubtedly save you a lot of time and trouble later on. If you have followed all the steps outlined here, you should feel confident you have the best contractor, the best product, and the best value. Simply relax and let your contractor do his job. Free Estimate

Despite the best of intentions, occasionally things don’t happen as smoothly as desired. Perhaps something on the job got overlooked, or not done quite as expected. Maybe you feel someone wasn’t careful enough or behaved in a way that annoyed you.

You should let your contractor know about such things right away. A call to the contractor can usually remedy these small problems or you may want to consider communicating in the form of a note or memo. This will assure your concerns are not forgotten in the press of other things and won’t be as easily misunderstood. Free Estimate

A professional contractor will not consider you a “complainer” if you have valid concerns; he will appreciate your assistance in making you a satisfied customer.

Selecting the right contractor is just as important as selecting the right material, if not more so. THE WARRANTY ON YOUR ROOF IS USELESS IF THE CONTRACTOR IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS