How do you Replace a roof?
If you are contemplating replacing your roof, maybe with the slate shingles above, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the options and stress of making sure everything is taken care of. That’s why we want to make the process as simple as possible and do everything we can to make sure you feel informed each step we’ll be taking along the way.
Here are some things to expect when having a roof installed:
- It will be loud. It's seems obvious that having a bunch of guys up on top of your house with nail guns and hammers would make a bit of noise, but we've found that reminding people about this beforehand is always helpful. We recognize this may not always be ideal and so it may be time you finally plan that vacation and have us fix your roof while you're gone. That way you come back well-rested to a beautiful new roof.
- You should shop around and compare your options before deciding on a single contractor. Ask for references and look at reviews online. With a project as big as a roof replacement, we recommend you focus on quality. Remember that you're also paying for peace of mind when you purchase quality materials and have them installed by quality contractors.
- Speaking of peace of mind, this initial stage is where it's a good idea to verify insurances and licenses to ensure the contractors quoting your roof replacement are licensed and insured. The best materials and turn into the worst roof if not installed correctly and you want to make sure your contractors are certified to do the work they're quoting you.
- You should also consider roof removal. Like we mention in our roof replacement article, we recommend removing the original roof. Rest assured, we will get rid of your old roof for you! This way, we avoid letting any rotted wood get covered up and start fresh allowing you to rest assured that your roof will last you so long you'll forget about it.
- We will dispose of all scrap material from your old roof and will take the utmost care to avoid any damage to your property or surrounding landscaping. Our goal is to leave your home with a brand new roof and absolutely nothing else to think about but problem-free bliss.
- We recommend reading the paperwork carefully prior to agreeing to work from any contractor, including us. You will want to make sure the contract addresses the specific details of roofing materials and cost of replacement. We encourage our customers to bring up any issues at this point because we want to make sure we're giving you exactly what you're looking for!
- Finally, if you haven't already, it would be good to double check that your contractor is following the building code for your city and that they have the right permits as well as proof the project is covered by their insurance.
Hopefully at this point you feel a bit more prepared to tackle your next roof replacement and we’d be honored to help you out along the way! If you’re located in San Francisco or the surrounding area and in need of roofing services, we can help. Contact us below or give us a call!
Now that you have a bit of an idea of what to expect, in broad terms, the below outline is what will happen during a roof replacement.
1.) If we’re performing a roof replacement rather than roofing over an existing layer of shingles, we’ll start by removing the shingles in place.
2.) We’ll inspect the frame and secure any loose boards or nails.
3.) The underlayment is then installed via overlapping pieces to ensure a waterproof barrier.
4.) A standard drip edge flashing is installed on the edges of the roof to guide the flow of water away from the fascia.
5.) All other vertical planes have flashing applied to waterproof these seams.
6.) The roofing material of choice is affixed in an overlapping pattern up the side of the roof.
7.) The ridge cap is installed along the length of every ridge on the roof to finish out the replacement.
As easy as that, you’ll be waking up to a brand new roof and the years of protection it will offer! Feel free to reach out or fill out a form to get in contact and start planning your roof repairs.