Working With Your Roofer To Choose The Best Solutions When Replacing Old Shingles

When it is time to replace the shingles on your home, working with your roofer is important. You will need to choose the best materials, improvements, and recommend repairs that need to be done. The following roof replacement information will help you work with your roofer when replacing old materials.

Re-Roofing and Replacement Options for Your Home

There are a couple of options you can use to deal with the old shingles that need to be replaced. Re-roofing is one of the options to consider. This is the process of installing new materials over the old roofing. It may be referred to as roof-over or another term in different regions. This process can save you on the cost of a roof replacement because you will save on the removal and disposal of the old materials.

Evaluating Damage and Repairing Roof Framing

The old roofing could be hiding old damage to the structure beneath its surface. This is often due to issues with minor leaks and water damage. These problems can cause wood materials to rot. Therefore, the roof needs to be inspected for problems, including:

• Low spots due to rotting roof decking
• Watermarks due to minor leaks
• Issues with water traps and water damage beneath the decking
• Problems with worn shingles and damage at the eaves

The issues with rotting decking and wood framing need to be repaired before new materials are installed. A qualified roofer will be able to identify your roof's problem areas before old materials are removed. If you are doing a re-roof project, they can repair the damaged areas before the new materials are installed.

Upgrades for Insulation and Underlayments  

The insulation of your roof is also important. This is often in the attic, which can be updated with an extra layer to improve the thermal barrier. There are also options to insulate rafters at the roof to reduce heat transfer that causes energy loss and problems with winter ice damage. In addition, you may want to update the underlayments with modern materials if you are doing a complete roof replacement for your home. This will help protect the roof from wear and improve the efficiency of your home.

Choosing the Best Roofing Materials to Replace Shingles

You also have the choice of materials that you can use for your replacement project. If you want something that is conventional, architectural shingles are a good choice and usually have a longer guarantee. There are options like metal, synthetic tile, and treated wood shake roofing products that can be a good choice to have premium materials installed on your home.

When you are working with your roofing contractor, be sure to discuss problems that need to be repaired and improvements to prevent these issues. Call a roofer to get an estimate for your roof replacement when old shingles have worn out.