Choosing to replace a roof is an essential part of being a responsible homeowner. Doing it ensures that your home is tip top shape, and is ready to defend its residents against rain, wind, and other kinds of debris. But when do you know when to replace your roof? And if you do, what options are available to you? All this and more will be answered, as we go over a few of the most common roofing questions we receive.
When Do I Need a New Roof?
Usually, roofs have a set lifespan that dictates when the roof needs to be replaced. For example, most asphalt shingles need to replaced every 25 years, or for metal roofing, 50 years. However, sometimes roofs need to be replaced a little bit sooner, whether it be due to faulty installation, or an exceptionally strong weather event like a rain/snow storm. In such a case, we recommend watching out for these signs of upcoming damages that may warrant a roof replacement, or at least an inspection.
- Wet spots in the plaster of your ceiling, attic, or crawling spaces
- Cracked, curled, missing or broken shingles
- Your roof’s texture is spongy, indicating signs of rot
- The underside of your shingles are damp, indicating seeped water
- Your flashing is damaged or completely broken
If you spot any of these on your roof, it is recommended that you contact a contractor to perform an inspection, and see what other issues exist around the roof.
What Roofing Options Do I Have?
Today there is an abundance of options out there, regardless of your style, environment or budget. Even more so, products are more advanced than ever, making options more affordable and resilient than ever. A good example of this is James Hardie, who’s fiber-cement innovations led to the development of HardiePlank, an extremely strong material that is fire and water resistant, and impervious to damages that traditional materials like wood and vinyl are weak against, such as cracking and warping from heat expansion and contraction, rot and insect damage, and resistance to fading, courtesy of their patented ColorPlus technology.
Do I Need to Prepare Anything for The New Roof Installation?
Assuming that you decide to take initiative and reroof your home, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier. The first one would be to remove wobbly and loose items from your shelves, and to move any unstable furniture away from the walls (picture frames, art, loose shelving, etc.). There will be a lot of shaking and vibrations going on top of your roof, so be sure to remove those items to keep them from falling. Backing up your car out of the driveway and clearing the surrounding area around your house helps too, as it will ensure that the contractors have plenty of space to move around and bring their tools and materials.
These are just a few of the many questions that we frequently receive, so stay tuned for more! If you are considering getting a new roof done, or have more questions in regards to our roof installations, contact us at 978-804-5972. We’d love to work with you!
