Guide to Roof Replacement
The Ultimate Roof Replacement Guide
Are you starting to see signs that your home’s roof is no longer providing the level of protection it’s supposed to? Have you noticed that some of its shingles are loose or missing? Have water stains appeared on your ceiling? These are just a couple of the telltale signs that it’s time to have your home’s roof replaced. But where do you start?
There are a lot of important factors to consider before you embark on your roof replacement project. The following is a detailed guide to the roof replacement process. Use these tips to ensure you get the new roof you’re hoping for in a timely fashion with minimal stress and maximum protection.
Choosing a Roofing Contractor
No matter where you live in New England, there are plenty of roofing companies that would love your business. However, they’re not all equal, and there’s a process you can go through to help ensure you select a company that’s reliable and offers a roofing system you’ll be able to depend on.
So, what should you look for in a roofing contractor?
- Experience – The first factor you’ll likely want to consider is the company’s level of experience. There may be newer contractors that offer solid work, but a company that’s been around for several decades is more likely to meet customer expectations. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t have that type of longevity.
- Reviews – One of the best ways you can gauge a company’s performance is to read what past customers have to say in online reviews. Even better, if a neighbor you trust had a positive experience with a roofing company, it’s worth consideration.
- Communication – After you reach out to a company about your roof replacement needs, you’ll learn a lot about the level of customer service it provides by how it communicates with you. Do you feel like your needs are a priority?
Another important step in the process is deciding on the right type of roofing for your home. A popular choice among New England homeowners, asphalt roofing shingles are affordable, durable, and great for a home’s curb appeal. While basic three-tab shingles are a cost-saving option, they don’t provide the performance and aesthetic boost that architectural shingles offer. A high-performance asphalt shingle roof can be expected to perform reliably for several years.
Preparing Your Home for Installation
A typical roof installation project can take up to three or four days, though it can sometimes be completed in one or two. If you want to help your contractor get to work as soon as possible, follow this advice:
- Clear the driveway to make way for trucks
- Trim back any bushes or trees that are encroaching on your roof
- Keep pets and children out of the yard during installation
- Remove any items on your walls that could fall due to vibration
- Remove any outdoor decor/furniture, lawn tools, and items that may be near the sides of the home in order to protect them from falling debris
The Installation Process
When installation day arrives, there are several important steps that your roofing contractor will follow to ensure that the job is done right.
Proper Staging
Make sure the roofer rolls out a protective material from the roof to your lawn and/or dumpster in order to protect your home and landscaping around the section of roof they are working on. This also prevents old materials like shingles, nails, and more from littering your property, and ensures safe and proper cleanup.
Tearing Off the Existing Roof
Having new shingles installed over an existing roof isn’t ideal, as the materials can become too heavy for the roof decking, resulting in structural issues. Additionally, if your current roof has any bumps or waves, the new roof will have the same irregularities. And perhaps most importantly, the manufacturer of your new roof may require any existing roofing to be completely stripped away to meet the rules and restrictions of the warranty.
Installing Underlayment & Drip Edge
Once the deck is ready, the next step is to help protect your roof’s vulnerable areas from water intrusion. This is accomplished by installing waterproof underlayment, drip edge protection, valley flashing, and flashing around all areas where leaks are possible, including the edges around chimneys, skylights, and vents. You may also need ice dam protection near the roof edges.
Shingle Installation
Once all of the protective elements are in place, it’s time to install the shingles you’ve chosen.
Ventilation & Ridge Protection
It’s important that your attic has good ventilation to help avoid premature deterioration and improve your home’s energy efficiency. This is accomplished through the installation of various vents, including ridge vents along the roof’s peaks.
Cleanup
Once installation is completed, your contractor will haul away debris and clean all materials out of your yard. This should include the use of a magnetic sweeper to retrieve any nails that have fallen in your yard.
Final Inspection
Once your project is completed, you can expect the manufacturer to provide a final inspection to ensure that the installation meets company standards. This is needed for the product warranties to take effect.
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New England’s Trusted Roofing Experts
Since 1945, NEWPRO has been providing roof replacement solutions for homeowners throughout New England. Our Max-Protect Roofing System utilizes heavy-duty asphalt shingles that can withstand the worst Mother Nature has to offer, and our Master Elite-certified technicians have the expertise needed to ensure that the job is done right the first time.
If you’d like to ensure that your home is protected by a roofing system that will provide decades of reliable performance, contact NEWPRO today.
