Roofing is the process of covering a house with a waterproof material to protect it against water damage. Roofs serve the dual purposes of protecting the structure and improving interior comfort. The roof has many parts, including flashings, valleys, fascias, and gutters, to name a few. If you plan to hire a contractor, it is essential to fully understand the roofing process in order to make the best choice for your home.
1. Roof Shape and Style
The shape and style of a roof significantly impact where the shingles will lay, how difficult it will be to stand up underwater and how much it will cost. Every mile of the roof a contractor must apply will carry a price; the longer the roof, the higher the price. The roof style will also determine how materials can be laid. For example, sloped roofs with multiple layers require specialized equipment for application. Stick, and wood shingles can be applied to many home styles and shapes but are less likely to offer protection from water damage than modern materials. Roofers will measure your house from the corner to the outside of each wall around the perimeter.
2. Roofing Materials
Different roofing materials have different characteristics, and some are better for certain roofs. For instance, asphalt shingles are much cheaper than slate or tile in many areas but cost more to install. Slate tiles and clay tile roofs also come at a high cost but put up well in high winds and heavy rains. Materials are essential when determining the type of roof that is right for your home. You can maintain or upgrade the overall appearance in a few ways, including adding color to the wood or metal that covers your house’s exterior.
3. The Pitch of the Roof
A pitched roof (also called a hipped roof) means that the peak of the roof slopes in or out away from your house. The pitch can range from zero to 35 degrees, but most homeowners care more about how steep the peak is than they do about whether there is a pitch as long as it is not too steep. An experienced contractor should do remedial work on a hipped roof to guarantee that the installation lasts longer than three years.
4. Roof Area and Access Detail
When shopping for a roof, ensure the contractor can get to the roof without digging through the yard. Consider if the roofer needs to take down trees or cut branches to install the shingles. If you offer a big enough area on smaller roofs, you might have to use a ballooning method rather than manual labor to install your roof. If the contractor is doing a temporary roof, ask questions about the process, so you know what to expect.
5. Tools Required for Installation
Contractors’ installation tools vary depending on several factors, including the roof’s complexity and style. When weighing the pros and cons of hiring a contractor, consider whether he expects you to do any work yourself. A roofing contractor in Tucson will want the tools to get his job done as quickly as possible. If your roofer cannot utilize an overhang or toolboxes on a ladder, he is not experienced.
6. Installation Time
Once the roof is complete, you will need some way to protect the roof and prolong its lifespan. Suppose you have a metal roof installed by a professional contractor in your area, like Austin residential roofing. In that case, the process will take about a week before you can come back to enjoy your roof. A roofing contractor knows how to lay shingles without damaging the roofing. It will be covered above your shingles until they have cured and dried. This preventative maintenance can prevent premature failure, misalignment of your roof system, or additional replacement costs. The ideal time to spray an asphalt shingle roof is after one year of use to ensure that the compound has cured in all the right places.
7. Weather-Related Repairs
If a hole develops in your roof, you need to be careful while repairing it. If the hole is large enough, water can puddle under the shingles and cause leakage. To prevent this from happening, a contractor will make repairs with drop cloths and protective tape to prevent paint stains on your wall or floor. If the problem is too big for only one shingle, your roofer may want to remove your entire roof for replacement.
8. Roof Cleaning
There are many different ways to clean an asphalt shingle roof. Many people opt to shovel snow and ice off of the top of the roof, while others may choose to use a squeegee. Another option is to use a pressure washer, which can be dangerous if done by amateurs. Before you try any of these methods, ask your contractor which he recommends for your home and how often it should be done.
Conclusion
Roofing is a large project for any home, and there are many things to consider before you get started. If you understand the parts of your roof and how they fit together, it will be easier to hire a contractor to get your home’s roof to look great in no time. In some areas, roofs may need to be replaced or restored more frequently than in others. You should contact a professional roofer in Tucson when your roof is due for replacement or repair.
