Several factors may raise the need for a roof replacement. If your roof is old, has damaged shingles, or has a worn-out roof underlayment, you may find yourself needing to undertake a roofing project. Sometimes, a new roof is for improving the value of your home before putting it on the market.
Whatever your reason, it’s advisable to prepare well since this is a significant renovation that may require substantial time and money. This will keep away frustrations that may arise from financial pressures or the length of the project. It’s also crucial to find a professional roofer like Okc Roofers capable of doing an excellent job.
But you can’t just hire a roofer without knowing what you want with your new roof. You’ll need to keep in mind a few things to help you get the outcome that you desire.
Take a look at the four critical factors you need to consider before replacing your roof:
1. When To Do a Roof Replacement
Is your current roof posing a risk? Is it a good time to undertake a roofing project? How long does it take to replace a roof? Answering these questions can help you plan and take action as necessary. If your roof is posing any health risk, it needs immediate action without any delays.
But if it’s due to aging, you can schedule when to have it replaced. Also, the time a roof replacement takes depends on the contractor, material, weather, complexity of the roof, and accessibility to your home.
2. The Roofing Material
The choice of roofing material for roof replacement is essential when you’re looking to replace a roof. You’ll need to decide on durability, appearance, cost, local weather and maintenance. You should think about what you want in comparison to what each roofing option offers.
If you find yourself unsure of what to choose, seek the help of a professional. Reputed roofing experts like Eagle Eye Roofing can advise on the roof that will serve you best.
Here are the common roofing material options:
- Metal Roofing: Metal roofs are durable, have a great insulation capacity, but are relatively expensive. Their advantage is that they’re nearly maintenance-free with a long lifespan. They need to be custom-built for your roof.
- Wood Shingles: They give the roof a natural look and are highly durable, lasting up to 30 years. There are very good at resisting wind but poor at resisting fire.
- Asphalt Shingles: They have been in use for many years and are the most popular roofing material, especially in residential houses. They’re readily available, affordable, and come in different colors and styles.
- Clay Tiles: This roofing material is highly durable, fire-resistant, but prone to cracking over time. You’ll need to update your roofing support since they’re heavy and may not work with the existing roof support.
- Slate Roofing: This material offers a luxurious look to your roof, and it’s highly durable, environmentally friendly, and fire-resistant. However, it’s high maintenance and is difficult to repair once damaged.
3. Does Your Roof Need Layering or Stripping?
It’s also important to find out if you’ll need to remove the existing roofing material or it’s possible to layer it up. The building code dictates that you can only have two layers of shingles on your roof. If your roof already has two layers, you have no choice but to strip it. The decision here mainly depends on your budget and the weight of the shingles.
However, if your roofing material is not asphalt, stripping the old roof can be quite difficult. You may need to replace the deck and the roof underlayment as well.
4. The Cost of the Roof Replacement
The cost of your roof replacement project depends on several factors:
- Roof pitch: If your roof is steep, labor costs may be higher as the contractor may require additional setup to access the roof and place the roofing material properly. Roofs that are not pitchy are easier to access and will therefore cost you less in labor charges.
- Material: Roofing materials vary in prices both for the shingles and the underlayment. High-quality materials tend to cost higher.
- Removal of the Old Roof: The amount of time it will take the contractors to remove the old layers adds on labor costs and also the amount of material being removed. Roofs with two layers will cost more to remove and dispose of.
- Size of the Roof: Roofing materials are sold by squares, and a roofing square is equivalent to 100square feet. The larger the roof area, the more costly it will be. You can have a professional roofer inspect and help you come up with an estimate of the roof replacement cost so that you can budget more accurately.
Takeaway
Roof replacement is a major task and a huge investment in your home. Whether it’s the type of material or your choice for a roofer, each decision should be weighed keenly. Ultimately, you’ll be stuck with your roof for a long time. Ensure that the outcome meets your expectations.
Roofing is an important concept in modern times and has been so for most of human history. Once we find out the best roofing materials for our location, we only have on task left and that is to find and experienced and professional roofer.The style, design, and color of our roofing could transform the whole look of the building.