When it comes to home improvements, a good roof isn’t as obvious as a new garage, as entertaining as a new sound system or as cool as a new kitchen. In fact, it could be said that the best roof is one you never notice or think about. Because it’s doing its job.
Roofing expert Everett Sunley explains how to get the roof you need. It’s simple, but not easy: hire a competent professional contractor, choose the right roof system for your home, install the roof in the appropriate weather and maintain it with regular inspections and routine maintenance.
Finding the right team A good contractor will have good references.
“Get a list of references with addresses from a prospective contractor,” says Sunley, owner of Sunley Roofing, Inc. “Look at the contractor’s work and talk to the people about their overall satisfaction and the contractor’s workmanship.” Was the job completed as close to on time as possible, from start to finish without unnecessary interruptions? Was the roof covered during bad weather and at the end of each work day? Was the site completely cleaned up at the end of each work day?
Sunley cautions against signing the first company who can start immediately. “Sometimes a contractor can start right away, but do they have no work for a reason?” Also make sure the contractor carries workers’ compensation and general liability insurance. Finally, if it matters to you, ask if the contractor you hire will actually be conducting and supervising the work, or if the job will be subcontracted to another company.
The right roof system New products and techniques have improved the roofing process in recent years, according to Sunley.
“New shingles are generally laminated asphalt, compared to the old fiberglass shingles which were thinner and didn’t have as aggressive a sealing strip on the back of each shingle. These are tougher and less expensive than the three-tab varieties, which have been almost entirely discontinued.”
Many roofers don’t do layovers any more, either, he says. In years past, a roofer might tear off the top layer of three-tab shingles then put a new layer on. With the new shake-design architectural shingles, reroofing isn’t done, and would void the warranty.
Sunley rarely reroofs, regardless of the materials. “If a base-layer shingle is curled or brittle, the new layer won’t seal properly. In addition, the roofer isn’t able to see any rotted wood without a complete removal and inspection.”
Contractors are using more steel shingles, too, according to Sunley. “They can be made to look like tile, wood, even slate. And we install more and more metal roofs than ever before. You can install a metal roof once, get a 45-year product warranty, then in 45 years recoat the paint and get another 45 years. It costs twoand-a-half times the price of shingles, though, which is why some people stick with the price, variety of colors and ease of installation asphalt offers.”
Another new product is synthetic underlayment, compared to the old 30- or 15-pound felt. “It’s more water-resistant and breathable. Even covered, the old felt would buckle from dew overnight. The new synthetics don’t do that.”
The last new feature Sunley mentions is ventilation that has been properly installed to circulate hot air out of the attic space. Vents that are the correct type, number and position for the roof style and size keep the shingles above from burning, which allows the homeowner to get the maximum lifespan out of the roof system. A new shingle-over-ridge design improves this good idea for new roofing projects.
Regardless of the material or design you choose, make sure the product comes with a good warranty, and the contractor provides a workmanship warranty as well. Together, these will provide as much assurance as possible to protect your investment.
Installation matters “Generally you want temperatures in the mid-70s,” Sunley says. “It depends on the situation, though. If water is coming in already, a company can provide a shortterm remedy and wrap the roof until the temperature and conditions are more conducive for a good shingle seal, safety of the workers and protection of both the house contents and roofing materials.
“Rain is always a factor,” he continues. “A good contractor will plan the correct number of work days for your job, then watch the weather forecast carefully to know when to begin.”
DiAnne Crown is a frequent Home and Garden contributor with a beautiful roof, great fl ashings and sound chimneys, still in search of the elusive gutters and downspouts that don’t clog.
