A new roof is an investment in your home, and its longevity depends on the materials you choose. Learn about the different options available for your home and discuss them with a reputable roofing contractor like A. Parker Contracting.
Since roof installation can be a noisy process, it’s a good idea to prepare family members (especially children and elderly relatives) ahead of time. This will help them stay calm and comfortable while the work is underway.
A common mistake that people make when re-roofing their house is to simply place the new shingles on top of the old ones. While it may seem like a quick and easy solution, putting the new roof over the old one actually weakens it. The reason is that roofs are designed to carry a certain load, and each layer of shingles adds weight. Additionally, the old shingles often hide leaks and other damage that needs to be repaired before installing the new roof.
The best way to ensure that your new roof will last is to take the time to tear off the old one. This process is messy and dirty, but it is also vital to the integrity of your roof. It will help you avoid the cost of repairing leaks, mold, or other problems that were hidden by the old shingles, and it will give your roofers a clean canvas on which to install the new shingles.
Start at the peak of your roof and begin working your way down in 2- to 3-foot sections. Use your roofing shovel to pry up the ridge caps first, then work your way underneath each shingle, pulling it loose as you go. Be sure to carefully work around structures like chimneys and skylights.
Once you have pulled up all of the shingles, you should then remove the flashing that surrounds each section of your roof. This flashing, which can be made from materials ranging from zinc to copper and aluminum, is vital to the integrity of your roof. It helps prevent water from leaking into your home, and it also keeps out other unwanted elements like mildew and moss.
Underlayment
Underlayment is a layer of protective material that goes under the shingles to prevent rain or snow from seeping into the structure of your home. It can be either a paper- or rubber-based material and may be breathable or non-breathable depending on your ventilation needs. It is also referred to as tar paper, roofing felt, or synthetic underlayment.
It is recommended that you consult with your local building codes to determine which type of underlayment you will need to install. The underlayment provides a barrier against wind-driven snow, rain, and water, as well as preventing leaks through the roof deck. It also helps to prevent the “picture framing” effect, where the patterns or uneven areas of the roof deck show through the shingles.
Most professional roofers use non-bitumen synthetic underlayment, which has a basemat saturated in asphalt with scrim or coarsely woven fabric added for stability and strength. This is a lightweight, waterproof, and mold-resistant underlayment. It is also highly resistant to fungus and UV exposure and can be used in all climates.
Other options include plywood underlayment, which is applied over the floor framing of a house to form a surface for flooring finish materials. Builders usually apply this to floor joists that are perpendicular to one another for maximum support. Before starting the installation, you will want to make sure the plywood is acclimatized to the room where it will be installed for two days.
When preparing to start the installation, you will want to measure each independent section of the roof in length and width to get the total area in square feet. This will help you determine the number of shingles you need to buy as well as the amount of underlayment you will need.
Shingles
When shingles are installed correctly, they create a water- and impact-resistant barrier between your house and the elements. However, improper installation can allow moisture and debris to seep into the attic space and cause damage.
Start at one corner of your roof and work across, following the drip edge as your guideline. As you install shingle courses, always be sure to nail them in at least two inches up from the bottom of the previous course. This is necessary to ensure proper coverage, and it also helps prevent leaks.
If your roof has valleys, you’ll need to install valley flashing before laying any shingles. Valleys are among the most common leak points, so it’s important to waterproof them properly to prevent water and ice from getting into your home.
Use a chalk line to snap off a grid with six-inch horizontal and five-inch vertical spacing, which will help you maintain even shingle courses as you work. It will make the job of installing shingles much easier, and it can help you avoid accidentally leaving gaps or holes in your roof.
As you complete each course of shingles, smear a little tar along the lower edge of each shingle. This is important because it will seal the gap between the shingle and the drip edge.
When you’ve nailed in the last field shingle, it’s time to cap the ridge and hips of your roof. To do this, you’ll need special shingles that are designed to straddle the peak of your roof and shed rainwater down either slope. Like shingles, you’ll also need to install flashings around chimneys, skylights, and vents to ensure that the peaks are sealed tightly.
Metal Panels
Metal panels add a unique design to any building. They are available in a variety of colors and textures that can coordinate with the rest of the building to create a cohesive look. They are durable and weather-resistant, making them a great choice for a variety of applications.
Insulated metal panels (IMPs) combine steel skins with an insulated foam core to form a complete weather barrier and thermal insulation system. They are commonly used on commercial and industrial buildings and can be fabricated in a wide range of styles and finishes. IMPs offer the advantages of superior thermal performance, design flexibility, and fast installation time. They are also less prone to oil canning than other types of exterior walls.
Single-skin metal panels interlock to cover the structural framing of a building, resisting both shear and bending stresses. They are easy to install and require little maintenance, although they will need periodic cleaning to remove debris. They can be fabricated in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, including square, rectangle, and diamond. They are also available in a wide selection of prefinished and natural metals, including copper and zinc.
When installing a panel, place it so that the short lip overlaps the long lip by one inch. Then run a bead of 100 percent silicone sealant along the underside of the new panel and screw it in place. Repeat this step for all of the new panels until the roof is covered.
When using metal panels on a building, be sure to use only certified fasteners and sealants. This will help ensure the quality of the panel and protect against leaks. In addition, be sure to check for dissimilar metals that could cause galvanic corrosion. This occurs when two different metals come into contact with each other and corrode the more noble metal.
Tiles
Tile is a manufactured furnishing material, usually made of ceramic or other hard materials, that is used to cover walls, floors, and ceilings. It can be simple and utilitarian or decorative and elaborate. It is available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes and can be used to create unique designs.
Tiles are very heavy and may need structural reinforcement to ensure a long life. A tile roof requires a different approach to its construction than a shingle or metal roof. Its installation is typically done by professional roofing contractors who have experience with this type of roofing.
Unlike shingles, roof tiles cannot be installed with a self-adhesive underlayment. A special membrane, called a sarking, is required to provide a water barrier beneath the tiles. An anti-ponding board (APB) is also installed on the underside of the sarking to prevent water pooling underneath the tiles.
Once the sarking is in place, it is time to install the tiles. Tiles are fastened with nails, screws, or clips. The number of fasteners used depends on the weight and type of tile, the basic wind speeds at the home site, the roof slope, and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
During installation, tile contractors will leave a 3″ overlap between rows of tiles. This is code and helps with thermal performance. If the tiles are not lapped properly, it can cause rot and moisture issues.
