Frequently Asked Roofing/Siding Questions

Q: How do I know when my roof has failed?

A: The following may indicate that your roof needs replacing:

• • • • Missing, cracked or curling shingles

      • Blistering or peeling paint

      • Shingle, sheathing or siding decay

      • Leakage in the attic after heavy rains

      • Stains on interior walls or ceilings

      • Rotten fascia or soffit

      • Chimney leaks

Q: How much does a new roof cost?

A: The cost of your roof will depend on its size, shape, slope and the type of material you choose to install. Different roofing materials provide different levels of protection and service life.

Q: Tear off vs. Roof Over?

A: It is allowed to install a roof over the top of an existing roof. By doing so the current owner of the building can save some money on the roofing project. However, Roofing over another roof does not provide the same quality of roof, or offer the same level of security that a roof system installed when a complete removal was performed.

This is where people say, “Building code, and manufacturers allow it. It must be all right.”

Let’s look how the code officials, and manufacturers look at roof over jobs.

When installing asphalt composite shingles most Building Codes allow for up to 2 layers of asphalt roofing on a structure. The code has nothing to do with shingle performance. It is written in regards to the structural integrity of building, and how much weight it can handle.

Manufacturers also prohibit roofing over an old roof. However if you read the fine print of any roofing manufacturer’s warranty you will find verbiage in their warranty exclusions that say “We will not warrant product failure if roof is installed over a substrate that is not smooth, flat, and clean.” This means that if anything under the roof causes the roof on top to fail, there is no warranty.

Other concerns about roofing over the top of a roof system are:

• 1. 1. There is no way to do a thorough roof deck inspection when it is covered by old roofing. This could result in damage being concealed.

     2. It is much more difficult to flash a second layer. If the second layer leaks the water can ride the layer underneath and travel to a different area of the roof. This makes leak detection and correction very difficult.

     3. Shingles are made from Asphalt. The flexibility of Asphalt comes from the natural solvents within it. A second layer can be super-heated in summer months which can cause the shingle to buckle and curl prematurely.

     4. Removal costs in the future will be tremendous due to the extra labor, and escalating landfill rates.

We believe that roofs should be removed so the property can be totally inspected, and any damage can be repaired before a new roof system is applied. If you are considering re-roofing, and are not sure of what your options are contact us for your free inspection.

Q: How long will it take to complete my roof?

A: On average, it takes one to three days. The exceptions are roofs that are larger than average, roofs that need extensive structural repairs, or roofs that require specialty materials.

We arrive on each job site with the manpower, expertise and materials to complete the job in a timely manner. However we will never compromise quality to complete a job more quickly.

Commercial roofs do not have an average time frame due to many varying and complex requirements for commercial buildings. We’ll give you an expected time frame for completion as part of our written proposal.

Q: I have a flat roof, what is the best system?

A: There is no one roof system that is best for all applications. Keep in mind that even if the best materials are used, the roof can still leak if it is installed improperly. Good workmanship and proper attention to detail are just as important as material selection.

Q: How much more is metal?

A: Depending on if you are removing your existing roof, and what it is you are removing metal roofing can be as much as double the cost of a mid-grade asphalt composite. The reason for this is that the materials themselves are typically about twice as much, and the installation of a metal roof can be 3-4 times longer than asphalt composite