Getting A New Roof Process
If you are preparing to re-roofing your home chances are there is a bit of anxiety and a lot of questions floating through your mind. How long does it take? What if someone gets hurt? How do I prepare my home? Do I need to do anything at all? These are normal questions that arise as your prepare to install a new roof on your home. Let me walk you through a basic roofing process so you know what to expect.
Pre-Installation Hiring Process
 The first step to getting a new roof on your home is selecting the right roofing contractor. You should interview 3-5 roofing contractors and receive bids from each of them. You will need to verify their credentials (licensed, bonded and insured) and do some research to see what other people have said about their services (check their online ratings on Google, Yelp and Angies List. Compare the bids carefully weighing the system and work vs. price. Each contractor should provide you with an estimate that clearly breaks down the scope of work, materials and provides pricing for unforeseen work like rotten sheathing and framing. You will be tempted to go with the lowest bid due to human nature, but trust me the lowest bid in many cases in not the safest choice. Select the contractor that offers the most value at a fair price and that makes you feel comfortable.
The Steps of a New Roofing Installation
Now that you have selected your Austin, Texas roofing contractor the work will begin soon! In most cases there is not a lot that you the home owner will need to do to prepare. Moving your vehicles out of the way for accessibility and making sure you express any concerns with your roofer are important. From there the process will look something like this.
1) Your roofing crew will show up and protect anything around the house like shrubs are finish wood that shouldn't be damaged during the re-roof.
2) A crew of anywhere from 3-10 people will begin tearing-off the existing roof (unless they are performing a recover). This could take anywhere from 4 hours to a day or more depending on the size of the house. If the roof is large and weather is a little unpredictable your contractor might choose to tear-off and re-roof sections at a time.
3) All the roofing debris should be placed into a dump truck or a container. Some times it is necessary to place the shingles on the ground first due to a lack of accessibility. If that is required on your home request that a tarp is laid on the ground first. Clean up should be performed at the end of every day to maintain a safe and respectful atmosphere.
4) One the roofing technicians have removed the roofing they will now inspect the roof and framing for damage. If your roof has been leaking or is very old there is a good chance you will need to replace portions or all of the roof decking. Its important to have a solid flat roof deck and framing. Roofing nails can easily be pulled out during strong winds gusts if the deck is rotten. A solid flat deck also keeps shingles from buckling and telegraphing wrinkles through the new system.
5) Once the roof deck is ready the technicians will install the eave and rake metal, underlayment, and ice and water shield. These are system components that help water proof your roof in different critical areas. Note that some of these items are considered upgrades and you will need to include them in your system during the contracting process.
6) Now your roof is ready for the last three components: starter shingles, field shingles and ridge shingles. Starter courses are shingles installed on the eave and rake edges of the home. They protect your roof from wind driven rain. Next the field shingles are installed. Depending on the type of shingles you purchased (3 tab, architectural laminate/composite or presidential style/tri-laminate) there are different patters of install. Lastly the ridge cap shingles are installed on the hips and ridges creating a water-tight roofing system that will protect your home for years to come!
7) Finally, a thorough clean up is performed. All work related debris is removed from your property and a magnetic rake is used to pick up nails, staples and other metal fasteners. A quality roofing contractor can usually leave a home looking as if nobody was ever there!
After The Roof Is Complete
At this point in most cases you have had a trouble free roofing experience! Roofing is an extreme remodel process that can feel a little invasive and is not perfect, but the end result is fantastic. Schedule a meeting with your roofing contractor and go over the job. Be confident in sharing any concerns you might have and things that really impressed you as well. Your contractor will also register your roofing warranty if you purchased an upgraded system. You can now rest knowing that your home is safe and your most valuable assets are protected.
As a Seattle roofing contractor in I would add one final request. Roofers work very hard to achieve the satisfaction of their customers. A great way to reward them is to give them a great online review, tell your friends and family about them and visit their social media sites like Facebook and Google +. Your kindness in that regard will never be forgotten.
I hope you found this information helpful and that it will aide your preparation for a re-roofing project in Austin, Texas.
This post and photos have been provided by Chase Construction North West, Inc a roofing contractor Buckley Wa and roofing company Bonney Lake Wa.
Article & Photos Provided by
Joel Beattie |
