Guide to Replacing Your Old Roof With a Better One
One of the biggest changes that you can make to your home is installing a new roof. Besides requiring a huge investment, it can fundamentally change the appearance of your home. Considering how much time and money you will be investing in it, you’ll want to do the replacement right. To ensure that nothing goes wrong, here are some tips that should help:
Tearing Down the Old Roof
Before you can even consider putting up a new roof, you’ll need to take away the old roof. Stripping everything can be a good idea. Some homeowners are happy enough with removing only the first layer of their roofing since it can save them a bit of money. But if you remove the second layer, you have a great opportunity to use modern roof technology. This includes better waterproofing and an ice shield to stop ice from forming underneath your shingles. You can even install some insulation.
Choosing the Right Materials
One major decision you have to make is what materials to use for your new roof. Asphalt and wooden roof materials are the most common choices. This is mainly because they are affordable and easily obtainable. But if you have the funds, you might want to get the higher-value materials. For example, you can easily buy steel in Utah and nearby states.
In sheet form, steel is a great roofing material since it is very durable. Other roofing materials that can be expensive but worth it are slate and ceramics. Be aware that you will need to work with specialized contractors to use more exotic materials.
Have the Job Done at the Right Time
An important decision that you need to make is when you will have the roofing done. The usual time for it is during the summer when people can leave the house for a while and see the job done when they come back. Late spring and early fall also see many homeowners hire contractors to do the job. But that may not be the right time for you.
You might decide to have the roofing replacement done during off-peak seasons. This is mainly because you might be able to negotiate a lower price since there is lower demand. The important thing to remember is that you will want to hire a roofing company with a large work crew. They can do the entire roof replacement done within hours instead of days with no other job waiting.
Hire the Right Roofing Company
Considering this is a big investment, you need to entrust the job to the right team of roofers. The first thing you should ask any potential roofer is their paperwork. This includes their license, certification, and insurance. It would help if you also asked for referrals from others in the neighborhood so that you can be familiar with their work.
Your new roof, when installed properly, should be able to last for decades. The cost can be troubling at first, especially if you use some of the pricier materials. But you’ll see that it is worth it when your roof stands up against the worst that nature throws at it.
