Things to understand about roofing before a renovation:

Keep up appearances

Do not forget to consider the style and look of your roofing when planning your next major remodeling project. You want your roof to look good feeling that the average roof comprises 40% of a home’s visible exterior.

Analyze Your Roof

Use binoculars to inspect your roof from a safe vantage point. Look for missing shingles, curling, and cracking. Look for areas that seem to lack granular covering too, if your roof is made of asphalt shingles. You can check your roof from the interior also. Use a flashlight to look for water stains in your attic space, as it may indicate a growing roof leak.

Ask the right questions.

A qualified roofing contractor ought to have a permanent place of business, a tax identification number, a phone number, a tax identification number, and, if required, a business license too. Also ask for proof of workers’ compensation and liability insurance, else you might end up being liable for job site accident coverage.

Know the code

Check with your local municipal building department to find out the number of times you may recover your current roof with another layer of the similar material. Specific communities only permit two layers of roofing material. They also require tearing up of any additional layers before you can install more roofing.

Take a picture

Contractors have methods to take digital pictures of your house and show you different renderings of it with different roofing materials.

Get it in writing

Roofing contractors ought to deliver a comprehensive proposal describing the type of roofing, color, and material along with other materials that will be used as well as the possibility of work to be done. Make sure to specify whether they will cover the existing roofing with a layer of new shingles or remove it, and to mention who will be liable for installing new vents and flashing. Most importantly, ensure that the proposal states approximate starting/ completion deadlines.

Top it off with the usual

Asphalt shingles are installed on roughly 80 percent of residential roofs according to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. You can avail of asphalt products in two types — fiberglass and organic — and a wide range of styles, visual textures, and colors. Organic shingles are typically made of cellulose fibers, like wood fibers or recycled waste paper. Glass fibers are used to make fiberglass shingles. Both types of shingles are first covered with a coating of asphalt and surfaced using weather-resistant mineral granules. Fiberglass shingles offer higher resistance to fire and moisture than organic ones but can be more prone to breakage during the colder months.

Consider alternatives

Do you love the look of redwood or cedar roofing, but are worried about fire safety? Opt for either synthetic or metal products, or fire resistant wood shingles, which mimic the look, after going through your local codes for guidance. These products can match tile and slate roofs too. You might find a concrete or real clay tiles in Mission-style or Southwestern roofs. Ensure your house can adequately bear the extra weight If you want that look.

Vent a little

Attic ventilation guarantees that your roof has a long, functional life. Ventilation requirements may vary by region. However, the National Roofing Contractors Association typically recommends at least one sq. Ft. of free vent area for each 150 sq. Ft. of attic floor.

Think of a roof as an annual cost

Request estimates from 3 or 4 roofing contractors, and never assume the lowest bid is ideal for you. A brand new roof is a significant investment in your home. However, consider the annual roofing cost of its roof. Divide your new roof’s total cost (labor and materials) by the expected life of your chosen roofing material in years.

Get hip to the square.

When roofing pros refer to squares, they mean the number of shingles required to cover 100 sq. Ft.

Special thanks to our partners at Best Quality Roofers for the informative post!