Proper roof replacement is the difference in years of a lasting roof over your head and a roof with leaks and other problems. Properly done, your new roof should come out looking nice, and neat, with nothing but straight lines running from top to bottom, side to side. If done wrong, your new roof may end up coming out unlevel and crooked.

Whether you’re getting new architectural shingles, cedar shakes, or regular three-tab shingles, you’re going to want a professional roofing company that knows all the right steps and things to do when it comes to installing your new roof.

The Roof Replacement Process

Before we go in-depth into each step in the roof replacement process, here is a short list of the major steps that are going to happen when you get your new roof.

1. Tear Off
2. Re-Felting
3. Applying New Shingles

Now let’s touch on each subject individually so you, the customer, will have an idea of what exactly is going on when those roofers are up on your roof banging away for hours.

Tearing Off

Often, the most grueling part of the entire roof replacement process is the tearing off of your old roof. Nearly every time, your old roof is going to need to be taken off and eventually hauled away to a dump before you can put your new roof on and fix any problems you may have with your old roof.

Every inch of old shingles must be taken off and the whole roof cleaned and swept away of any loose debris before the next step of putting on felt can occur.

Re-Felting

After your old roof has been removed, and any old nails or loose debris is removed, a clean layer of felt, or tar paper, must be laid down to help prevent your roof from any leaks.

The felt is laid down on top of the roof’s plywood and goes in between the plywood and the final layer of shingles.

Felting a roof helps to prevent the ingress of moisture and to further waterproof your roof.

Tar paper or felt is not very wind resistant or sun resistant but does help prevent moisture from being trapped in your roof. The layer of shingles that goes on next will be what is going to protect your roof from the elements really

Application of New Shingles

The final major step in your roof replacement is the application of new shingles over the layer of felt that we just discussed.

The new layer of shingles that are put on must be aligned properly and cut perfectly for everything on your roof to match up and come out looking great. Roofers will often “cut lines” with chalk to ensure a straight roof from end to end.

Customers have choices on what type of shingles they want, and different shingles offer different warranties for how long your roof will last.

Whichever type of shingles you choose to go with, you now know the steps of what will be going on when it comes time for your new roof replacement.

Contact us for roof and foundation repair in Syracuse, NY.

A roof is arguably the most important part of a home as it protects the occupants of a home and their property from elements of weather. Unfortunately, most homeowners tend to overlook roofing problems until they go out of hand. All roofing projects should be entrusted to a professional roofing contractor.

A professional residential roofer offers many roofing services including; roof repair, roof maintenance, replacing shingles, fixing water damage, constructing drainage systems, vent pipes, chimneys and so forth.

Why is it important to hire a professional roofer?

Safety

Roofing projects are quite risky, especially when handled by an inexperienced technician. A professional roofing contractor has access to safety equipment needed to work on roofs. Besides, a roofing expert does this on a daily basis, hence they have experience in handling the work safely to avoid injury.

Speed

A roofing expert gets everything done faster. The expert has the required materials and equipment, skills , and experience to complete the job quickly and effectively.

Save money

Hiring a professional residential roofer is actually cost effective as they have the required experience and expertise to do the job right the first time. The roofing experts have access to cheaper roofing materials hence allowing homeowners to save money. Since they have all the required tools to complete the job, homeowners can save on buying roofing tools and equipment.

Moreover, a professional residential roofer provides both short-term and long-term roofing solutions to prevent a roof from future damage.

Ever consider metal roofing? Steel and aluminum costs more up front, but can be a great investment for homeowners.  Metal roofing in Syracuse, NY stands up to harsh snow and rain storms that the area tends to receive.

Insurance

A licensed roofer is insured to protect their staff and clients in the event of unfortunate incidences such as accidents. Moreover, they offer a warranty on their workmanship . This gives their clients peace of mind in case something goes wrong and they need repairs in the future.

Quality workmanship

A reputable roofing contractor has access to a wide range of tools, equipment, and technology to ensure a roof is strong and sturdy. Due to their expertise, they offer detailed inspection on a roof to identify the cause of the existing roofing problems and fix them properly to avoid them from re-occurring in the future.

How to find the right roofing contractor?

1. How long has the contractor been in the industry?

Its a good idea to hire a roofing contractor with more than 3 years of experiencing in roofing projects. A homeowner should ask the contractor to provide them with a list of their previous clients . Check the company’s reviews and gauge the level of satisfaction among their previous customers.

2. Check if the residential roofer is licensed and insured.

A reliable roofer should provide a copy of their license and insurance certificate for validation. Not having the necessary insurance cover may lead to litigation between a client and the roofing contractor in the event of unfortunate incidents like accidents.

3. Ask for referrals

A homeowner can find the right roofing contractor by asking for recommendations from family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. They could be knowing a reliable contractor who is familiar with local rules and code regulations.

4. Price

Its never a good idea to choose a roofing contractor based on their price. Cheap can be expensive down the road.

5. Check the contractor’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings

Its advisable for a homeowner to look up a particular contractor on the BBB website and establish what their score is. Roofing contractors who do not exist on BBB.org cannot be trusted.

6. Do they have a warranty?

Its important to know the kind of warranty a particular roofing contractor provides and what risks it covers in order to save money in case something goes wrong down the road. Choose a roofing contractor with comprehensive warranties.

Find out if the roofing contractor has all the necessary permits. Usually, a reliable residential roofer will ensure all permits are filed and the work is done within legal frameworks and adheres to building codes.

A roof is a significant investment for most homeowners and therefore its important to hire the right roofing contractor for the best results.