Before the roofing process begins, your roofer will take multiple steps to protect sensitive areas of your home and yard. This includes covering items like air conditioning units and garden beds with tarps.
While it may seem unnecessarily complicated, taking the time to diagram your roof with pen and paper can help you speed up the calculations when the time comes to install new materials. For example, reducing the roof to smaller planes will make it easier to find the area of each ridge or valley.
One of the most important things a homeowner can do to prepare for re-roofing is to clear the area around the home. This helps protect vehicles, patio furniture and other objects that might be damaged by falling shingles and other debris. It also makes it easier for the roofers to do their work. They need to be able to drive vans in and out, and they may have large tools that need unloading and storage.
Another thing to do in advance is to cover landscaping and place garbage cans under tarps. This will help prevent grass and flowers from getting dirty and also ensure that the trash bags don’t get blown away in the wind. It’s a good idea to let the neighbors know about the work, too, especially if it will involve trucks coming in and out of the driveway.
Re-roofing is labor-intensive work that involves working at a high elevation with power tools. It’s not a job that any homeowner should try to do on their own. It’s best to hire a roofing contractor who has the experience and equipment to do it correctly and safely. A professional will understand how to assess your roof and provide you with a detailed estimate for the project.
Once the work begins, it will be noisy and dusty inside your home. The pounding of hammers and the firing of nail guns will create vibrations that will shake your walls and furniture. It’s a good idea to move wall-hung pictures and other delicate objects to a safe location that will be protected from falling debris. It’s also a good idea to have children stay with friends or grandparents during the roofing process and to arrange for pets to go outside of your home during this time.
Roofers will lay down the underlayment, and then they’ll install a course of shingles. These will be placed overlapping the previous shingle by about six inches, and they’ll be fastened with close nails at the edge and spread out more towards the middle of each row. The last shingle will be nailed in a similar manner, and the roofer will use a magnet to pick up any stray nails that might fall into the yard or street.
Installation
Roofing installation involves the actual laying of new shingles, flashing, underlayment, and other roof materials. Roofing contractors may supply these materials for an extra cost, or homeowners can purchase them from a home improvement store or lumberyard. Roofing materials can range from basic asphalt shingles to tiles and roof cladding with insulation properties. The types of roofing material chosen depend on a variety of factors, such as climate, aesthetics, and the overall home structure.
A good contractor will take several steps to protect your property and belongings during the roofing process. This will include covering plants, garden areas, and air conditioning units with tarps. The contractor will also place wooden boards over any exposed pipes or electrical wiring to prevent damage. The contractor will also have a dumpster delivered to dispose of all old roofing materials.
Once the underlayment is in place, roofing contractors will begin installing the shingles. They will start at the bottom of the roof and work their way up to the ridge line. The shingles will overlap the previous course by about six inches. The shingle edges will be nailed down with cap nails, which are closer together near the edge of the roof and spread out more towards the center.
Once the shingles are in place, roofing contractors will install any needed vents or ridge vents to help regulate the attic temperature and prevent moisture damage to the roof deck and insulation. They will also apply a ridge cap shingle to the top of the ridge for a finished look and extra protection against wind uplift. Roof ventilation is important for the health of your roof and can improve the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling system.
Inspection
If you are installing a new roof, an inspection is necessary to ensure that all work is being done properly. The inspector will review the quality of the installation, the condition of any materials used on the structure and its overall appearance. He or she will also make sure that all construction is being performed to industry standards. In addition, the inspection will help you identify and correct any hazards before they cause serious injury to employees or damage to equipment.
Before beginning an inspection, you should discuss the planned inspection route with the team members and the specific issues they will look for. This eliminates the need for arm waving, shouting or other unsatisfactory methods of communicating during the inspection and makes the process more effective. In addition, you should huddle up before entering noisy areas to discuss the hazards that may arise and what you will do to avoid them.
Roofing inspections must be conducted by an insured, qualified, professional roofer, and the results must be documented in writing. The report should include the department or area inspected, the date and time frame of the inspection, the names and titles of the inspection team members, and any technical experts in attendance. The report should also identify any hazardous conditions and indicate their level of importance, as well as a description of the inspection and a list of recommended actions.
The roofing contractor should inspect all the parts of a roof that are accessible from the ground, including the decking, flashing and any vents or chimneys. The roofer should also check the siding and trim of a building, and the gutters and downspout diverter drainage pipes. In addition, he or she should inspect any signs of active roof leaks, and verify that all flashing is installed to prevent water seepage.
The roofer should also check that all electrical and plumbing components are connected and in good working order, and that the air conditioning system is functioning correctly. If the roof is part of a multi-unit dwelling, the inspection should also include all common elements and areas that are within the scope of the property, such as intercoms, security systems or sprinkler systems.
Maintenance
A roofing installation is a major undertaking, but with regular maintenance and proper inspections, your new roof should last for many years. The most important part of maintaining a roof is discovering and solving problems before they escalate. Even the smallest issues can lead to expensive repair work down the road.
In addition to inspecting the main parts of your roof, check large accessories like chimneys, vent outlets, and skylights. A chimney should be cleaned regularly to remove a soot-like substance called creosote that can deteriorate the metal and wood parts of your roof. It’s also a good idea to trim any trees that overhang your roof, as these limbs can break off during stormy weather and cause damage.
Roofing requires a number of tools and supplies. Some of the most important are a caulking gun, gloves, and a hammer. The caulk is used to seal the edges of your underlayment and shingles, while the hammer can be used to pry up old shingles or to nail in the new ones.
You should also have a small pry bar and screwdriver on hand to help you with the more difficult to reach areas. Finally, a tarp will be useful for protecting plants and landscaping around the house.
Unlike a full roof replacement, re-roofing is less costly because it doesn’t involve removing the existing material. However, if your existing roof is badly damaged or shows signs of deterioration, a full replacement may be necessary. In either case, it’s important to choose a high-quality roofing type that will protect your home from future damage and leaks.