Looking for a Roofing Contractor that serves Maryland and Virginia? Contact RGH Today!
Roofing is a process you may not be familiar with until it becomes time to replace the roof on your own home. And even then, there's a lot to learn about which products to use and what procedures best meet your individual roofing needs. Therefore, it's vital to know that you can rely on the roofing contractor you choose to give you good advice about those products and procedures that may be new to you. The key is to find the right roofing contractor for your job. Choosing RGH Contracting for your next roofing project will help ensure that you have a quality roof overhead and that your hard-earned money has been wisely spent. RGH Contracting utilizes the very best in roofing material from America's most trusted name in roofing products, CertainTeed. Contact us today to set up your free in-home estimate.
How do I know if it is time to replace my roof?
Research indicates that the aging process for a roof begins soon after the shingles are installed and progresses rapidly during the initial curing phase of its life cycle. During this stage, granule loss may occur, small blisters may develop, or the shingles may curl slightly at their edges. You may even notice that this curling is more pronounced during cold weather and the shingles may life flat as temperatures rise. The good news, however, is that after this curing stage the shingles enter a long period of slow aging, which lasts for the major portion of the shingle's natural life.
For most of us the roof is an afterthought — at least until it starts to leak. In addition to keeping the house dry, the roof contributes greatly to the look of the house, so when building a new house, adding on, or re-roofing, it may pay to consider the options. When it comes to roof remodeling, there are a number of areas homeowners need to be aware of—from selecting a contractor to the actual start of work of the roof remodeling.
How do I find a professional roofing contractor for my roof remodeling?
Not surprisingly, there are a number of pitfalls to which homeowners can fall victim, including evaluating and hiring a contractor without a personal interview, judging estimates on low price only, selecting products without comparison shopping, and not understanding reroofing basics. You'll find that being prepared and knowing what to expect when reroofing work begins will help ensure your ultimate satisfaction with your new roof.
Factors to consider in roof remodeling
Although you will be hiring a professional roofing contractor to reroof your home, you should familiarize yourself with certain aspects of the reroofing process. There are various conditions about your roof that may limit your product choices or affect the cost of your roofing job. Here's a list of questions and answers that are relevant to the reroofing process.
1. Is it always necessary to tear off existing shingles before reroofing? If they are torn off, who is responsible for the disposal of the old shingles?
There are two options available for reroofing installations. One would be to tear off the old roof before applying the new one (tear off). The second would be to lay new shingles over the existing roof (lay over). While the second choice is the less expensive of the two options, it is not necessarily always the best choice.
There are advantages to tearing off the old roof before installing a new one. For example:
- If there are any defects in the roof deck, they will be revealed when the roof is torn off. These defects should be repaired before applying the new roof.
- If condensation problems exist in the attic, they too will be revealed when the roof is torn off. Properly designed attic ventilation can then be installed in order to help eliminate such problems.
- When the old roof is torn off, waterproofing shingle underlayment can be installed before applying the new roof. This will help protect against leaks created by cyclical ice damage and wind-driven rain.
- Tearing off the old roof and starting with a clean deck before reroofing may result in a smoother finished roof system.
Although there is added cost to these advantages, each lessens the likelihood that the validity of the manufacturer's shingle warranty will be impaired. If the old roof is torn off, your contractor should be responsible for the cleanup and disposal of the old shingles, but make sure your contract states this clearly.
2. Why is it said that a roof should breathe? How can you determine if the roof is properly ventilated?
When contractors say a roof should breathe, they are usually referring to the ventilation system beneath the roof deck. Most shingle warranties require ventilation. An effective ventilation system will help:
- Reduce attic heat build-up
- Reduce attic moisture and condensation
- Prevent weather infiltration, i.e., drifting snow, wind-driven rain
- Prevent ice dam build-up
