Step by Step Directions for Replacing Your Roof
Finding a Baton Rouge Contractor and Signing the Contract
If your roof is more than 20 years old and has broken or curling shingles it is time to call a Baton Rouge roofing contractor. Their professional experience will be able to advise you if it is time to replace your roof.
The replacing of a roof is not a glamorous home renovation but it is an extremely necessary one. The need to prevent your home’s envelope from the elements protects all the other internal systems. The average life of a roof is 20 to 25 years depending upon the existing materials, the annual maintenance of the roof, the location of the roof, and the exposure of the roof. Factors that will age the roof are: wind, hail, poor drainage, overhanging tree limbs, pollution, and climate extremes. Sun is the main cause of aging a roof and the south exposed part of a roof will deteriorate faster than the portion on the north side.
Evaluating a Roofing Contractor
Replacing the roof is a major upgrade to your home and one that you want to last for at least 20 years. It is important that it is done skillfully. In choosing your Baton Rouge roofing contractor there are factors that should influence your decision.
Choose a roofing company that has been in business for a number of years. For this home renovation you are not looking for a fly by night outfit. You want to choose an established Baton Rouge roofing company. These contractors will be able to supply favorable references that can be substantiated.
All Baton Rouge roofing contractors will carry insurance. Their insurance will cover all the possible liabilities that might occur when installing your roof. This insurance will include coverage for personal injury to the workers on the job. It will also include coverage for damage to your home or your neighbor’s home.
An important part of replacing a roof is the guarantee. Most manufacturers will guarantee the roofing material but the contractor needs to guarantee the installation. The guarantee should cover the roof not the homeowner. If the home is sold the guarantee should be transferable to the new homeowner.
Professional roofers will do a complete inspection and assessment of your roof. The Baton Rouge roofing contractor will completely inspect the roof, the attic, the vents, the flashing, the valleys, the gutters and downspouts before quoting on the job. A good roofing company will advise you what is involved and protect you from being surprised by an expensive undetected problem.
They will let you know who is going to actually do the work. You want to be assured that the contractor will do the work themselves and not quote on the job then subcontract the job to someone else. And will they will be onsite during the installation process?
They will apply for a building permit. A renovation of this type needs to be in line with the local building standards. The Baton Rouge roofing companies are knowledgeable about the National Building Codes and the local building requirements. This knowledge will give you a safe, attractive, long lasting roof.
The fact that they belong to a group of professional builders can protect you from transient companies.
Reviewing and Signing the Contract
As the Baton Rouge roofing contractor will tell you a contract will protect not only them but also you. It is important to have a written record of what the roofing job entails and what guarantees will be in place.
The contract should detail the roofing material to be used. These details include the type of material, the name of the material, the color that has been agreed upon, and who the manufacturer is. It also includes a description of materials for the valley, rake edge, venting materials, and underlay fabrics. It should cover additional costs of new decking. If the gutters and downspouts are to be replaced this should be spelled out.
As well as a statement of the roofing materials to be used, the contract should cover the manufacturer’s instructions.
A very important part of the contract covers a detailed plan of payment. There should be a stated deposit amount then the expected installments. If there is to be a hold back followed by a final payment this should be clearly stated. Part of the financial agreement will cover a lien waver. The homeowner should not be responsible for a contractor’s debts.
A Baton Rouge roofing company will incorporate into the contract a detailed description of the installation process. This will cover the installing of flashings around chimneys, valleys, plumbing vents, and roof vents. It will cover the removal of the old roof, disposing of the shingles, and the site clean up. The document will include delivery and storing of the materials. It will also detail the protection of your home if there is a rain or hail storm during the installation.
The contract will cover how damage to your property and your neighbor’s property will be handled. It will also cover the hours of work. As roofing is very noisy you don’t want all your neighbors annoyed by being awakened at dawn.
There should be a written agreement as to how deviations to the contract will be handled.
Hiring a Baton Rouge roofing contractor that has been in business for a long time, knows what is involved in assessing your roof, is able to give you a complete picture of what is needed, and is comfortable sealing the deal in writing will assure you that your new roof will be properly installed.
Picking the Materials and Installing Your New Roof
Once your Baton Rouge roofing company has advised you as to which type of material is best suited for your home and your financial situation, the installation process can take place. They will have reviewed with you the following selections for a new roof.
Materials for Replacing the Roof
The types of material available are:
Asphalt Shingles – these are the most common type of roofing material. Although the three-tab asphalt shingle is still widely used, laminated or architectural shingles are replacing this type. These newer shingles are composed of several layers that give the roof a textured appearance. They can give the appearance of wood shingles. 80% of modern shingles contain fiberglass.
Wood shingles – These give an attractive look but with a growing shortage of cedar shakes and the need to have them treated with a fire retardant, they are being replaced with newer materials. They are appropriate for roofs with a steeper slope.
Metal roof – This material has a long life and can be painted to give an attractive look for your home. A metal roof is fire resistant. As they are still rare many companies do not have the knowledge to install them. A special Baton Rouge roofing contractor is needed for this installation.
Slate roof – A slate or clay tile roof is very attractive but is quite heavy and prone to breaking in hailstorms.
Rubber slate or faux slate – This is a good option as it is much lighter than real slate and can withstand severe weather conditions better.
The best type of material for your home will be determined based on the existing style of your roof, and the amount of pitch on your roof.
Installing the New Roof
One of the first parts of installing a new roof is to decide if the existing roof will be overlaid or if the old roof will be torn off. If the old roof is in reasonable shape and the shingles are lying flat there is a temptation to go over the top of it. This method is considerably cheaper than tearing off the old one. However as your Baton Rouge roofing contactor should advise you, many manufacturers will not honor their warranty if the new roof is placed on top of the old roof. The other deterrent to leaving the old roof in place is that it may be hiding decking that is rotten. The life of a roof will be cut by 20% if the new roof is overlaid on an old roof. A final point is that you don’t need the added weight of leaving the old roof in place.
If your old roof is wood shingles and you are going to have the new architectural shingles installed a new deck will be needed. Most old wood shingle roofs do not have a plywood deck under them.
After the old roof is torn off any deteriorated decking will need to be replaced. The underlay or deck sheathing is then installed. Many manufacturers of shingles will specify what standard of underlay should be used. Other warrantee considerations include how much overlap of the underlay is required and what type of nails and how far apart they should be spaced.
After the underlay is installed the shingles are then put in place. This requires the skills of an experienced Baton Rouge roofing company. It is important that the manufacturer’s instructions are followed to protect the guarantee. As well as the courses being laid in straight lines, attention must be paid to interweaving the valleys. The job is completed when all the flashings, vents, gutters, and downspouts have been dealt with and the cleanup is finished.
From start to finish the Baton Rouge roofing companies will install a new roof for you that will not only look beautiful but also will withstand the Baton Rouge weather conditions and last a long time.