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Shingle roof replacement is one of the most important, and also expensive, renovations that can be done to a home. Having a solid roof is vital to the longevity of a home and everything underneath it. The following article is a guide to help homeowners decide when their roof needs to be replaced by trying to identify what the signs of roof degradation are and showing visual representations of each type of damage.
The first type of degradation that can occur to a shingle roof is natural wear and tear. This happens over the life of an asphalt shingle, which includes natural weather transitions on a daily and seasonal basis. Indications of this type of damage are: noticeable granule loss over the entire roof surface, exposed fiberglass fibers along the outside edges of the shingles, and seal failure of tar striping on shingles. Also over time capping shingles tend to crack where they bend over the hips and ridges, especially where hips and ridges join together. Of course this is only looking at the shingles alone, and not at the entire roof.
In this picture we can see the loss of granules on the roof and also seal failure that has led to a wind damaged tab. The damaged tab is indicated by the spider web cracks across the shingle.
There are many types of roof extrusions that face natural degradation including; pipe collars, galvanized flashing, and roof sealants on various extrusions and flashings. The following pictures show a worn out pipe collar and worn out flashing sealant.
The second type of degradation can occur from the actual workmanship of a roof. On new construction houses, especially on steep pitches, roofers and siding installers may use toe boards to work off of. These are just 2x6 boards that are nailed to the roof, sometimes through the shingles. Now usually these holes are sealed off with roof grade sealant, however, sometimes they may penetrate to the roof decking and cause minor leak issues. Unfortunately on some houses this may be a ubiquitous problem and may be a cause for replacement. Below is a picture of unsealed nail holes in the roof from toe board nails.
Another type of faulty workmanship may be improper nailing patterns. Asphalt shingles are designed to have at the minimum 4 nails per shingles. They also must be nailed close to the tar lines to ensure the nails penetrate the upper and lower shingles, this is approximately a 1 ½” nailing area. If shingles are nailed above this area, or if less than 4 nails are used, over time shingles can slide out or be blown out by high winds. If shingles are nailed below this they will be exposed and may rust and eventually leak over time. The following pictures are representative of improper nailing patterns on an architectural shingle and 3 tab shingle.
Proper nailing is essential in architectural shingles. This type of shingles is a laminate, meaning the exposed area of the shingle is a two piece section actually glued together. Without nailing these two pieces together, the laminate will separate and slide loose.
Other problems with nailing may be improper positioning, which may expose the nails where the shingles butt together. Also most shingles have a minimum 6” offset per row, if the offset is less it could also cause problems with water. Furthermore if flashing and other extrusions are not sealed or installed properly they could cause leaks and problems on the roof.
The other type of roof degradation is from extreme weather. In certain weather patterns, and usually in conjunction with improper nailing or with seal failure on the roof, it is possible to see complete roof degradation. Most shingles are rated 60 MPH and up to 130 MPH, but in these situations multiple shingles or capping can be removed from the roof by high winds. It is rare to see this happen on new roofs because of the wind properties shingles have, but in extreme cases it is possible. Generally, wind damage is the worst in situations where either shingles have seal failure or they are improperly nailed. The following pictures show tabs that have been blown off, and the second picture shows broken tabs which have been broken by wind, but have not completely been removed.
Hail is also a weather pattern than can cause significant damage to a roof. Generally this occurs in hail golf ball sized and larger. Other features that effect the range of damage is the direction the hail is falling and the pitch of the roof, i.e. windblown hail will potentially cause greater damage to steeper pitched roof. Hail can impact hard enough to break the fiberglass mat of the roof, which can lessen the waterproofing ability of the roof. It also removes a significant amount of granules which can lessen the life of the roof overall. Hail can also damage other roof extrusions such as, ridge vents, pipe collars, power vents and gas vent caps. The following pictures represent hail damage of shingles. Like wind damage, hail damage seems to be exacerbated by roof age. A roof 10 years or older seems to be much more likely to be damaged from hail.
This type of roof damage is the only type that insurances will replace when it occurs. Of course this type of damage must be verified by an adjuster, though many roof contractors know the difference between actual damage and no damage.
How to Find a Qualified Charlotte Roofing Company
The roof over your head is literally your first defense against the outside elements. If your roof is in poor condition you risk serious damage to your whole house and all your belongings. Water can seep in, damaging the structure of the roof, walls and ceilings. Continually neglecting your roof will only make for costly repairs down the road. The sooner you call a competent Charlotte Roofing Company to take care of the problem, the more money you will actually save.
No matter what type of roof you have, replacing it can be a major expense. The roofing materials are only a small part of what you’ll pay. The biggest expense in hiring a qualified Charlotte Roofing Company will be in labor. Roofing is a trade that requires skill and knowledge in a number of other disciplines including math, general carpentry, and framing construction. Locating a Roofing Company is not the hard part. Finding a qualified Charlotte Roofing Company that has the experience and know-how to do the job right and leave you with a secure roof over your head might take some time.
Where to Find a Charlotte Roofing Company
There are several ways to begin your search for a reliable Charlotte Roofing Company. Of course referrals from friends and family are clearly the best place to ask about a reliable Roofing Company. Ask every one you know who they may have used in the past and if they were happy with the service. Check out the work first hand. If the work looks professional and the homeowner has good things to say about the Roofing Company ask for his phone number.
Have a look through your local yellow pages or check out the home improvement centers. They usually have a bulletin board where a local Roofing Company and other contractors can post their business cards. Use the computer to do a search for a directory to find a reliable Charlotte Roofing Company. Usually only professionals will take the time involved to obtain a listing.
After you’ve compiled a list, you need to take the time to carefully evaluate each Roofing Company. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any Roofing Company you have in mind has any complaints on file and how they were resolved. Make sure the Charlotte Roofing Company has the proper licensing. You can call the state contractors license board to verify this. If there are any complaints on file or you have doubts about a Roofing Company’s license, it’s best to remove him from your list.
Interviewing a Charlotte Roofing Company
Take some time to talk with each Charlotte Roofing Company about your job. An interview will give you an idea if the Roofing Company is able to handle the job as well as getting a feeling for how well you connect. Remember that good communication is important to a successful project. Start by asking about their past job experience. The level of experience of a Roofing Company will help you to determine if they have the ability to handle the job. Request a copy of the Roofing Company’s state license and write down the number. This is something you may want to check later.
Also make sure that all insurance polices are in place and up to date. A Roofing Company should carry liability as well as workers compensation. Request copies of all policies and the contact information for the insurance carrier. Call the department of workers compensation to make certain adequate coverage is in place. If the Roofing Company has no insurance or is under insured, you could find yourself dealing with some expensive damages or paying for an injured worker’s medical bills and other expenses and this could literally cost you your home.
Ask the Charlotte Roofing Company for references from other jobs but don’t rely on references alone when making your final choice. Keep in mind that if there are any unhappy customers it’s not likely that you’ll be told about them. Check with the local Better Business Bureau to find out if there are any complaints on file. If there are any you need to find out how they were settled. A single complaint should not rule out a Roofing Company but a series of unresolved complaints is a definite sign of problems.
Getting Your Bid from a Charlotte Roofing Company
Once you have a few companies in mind, it’s time to ask for some bids. Ask for a bid from each Roofing Company you feel comfortable with. Some people say the more bids the better but this is not necessarily true. If a Roofing Company feels there is too much competition he may simply walk away. The truth is a busy Roofing Company may have little time to bid against each company, so you could end up losing a bid from the best qualified Charlotte Roofing Company. So select just a few contractors and select the best Roofing Company for the bidding process.
Remember when asking for a bid, you don’t want just a slip of paper with a number on it. You need to see a detailed estimate of what the job will entail and all costs for materials and labor. Give each Charlotte Roofing Company a list of what you want to see in all the bids. By doing this you should receive quotes that are based on the same work, making them easier to compare. If you find that one bid is considerably lower than the rest, it will also be easier to pick out the differences.
The lowest bid is not always the best deal nor is the highest bid going to guarantee you’ll get the best service or materials. You want a good combination of price and service. If one bid seems considerably lower than the others ask the Roofing Company why. One Roofing Company might have less overhead, fewer employees or even a cheaper source for materials and are able to pass the savings on to their customers but whatever the reason for the low bid you need to verify that it is legitimate.
Once you’ve found the Charlotte Roofing Company you feel is right for the job, you’ll need to work up a contract.