How to Prolong the Life of Your Roof

​Because your roof is the first line of defense in inclement weather and represents a serious investment on the part of any homeowner, keeping it in good shape will extend the life of your roof to prevent costly replacement.
Therefore, it is important for you to be aware of simple repairs and preventative measures which may help to extend the life of your roof.
Even though there are other roof materials such as copper, tile, and metal, the majority of roofs have shingles. According to angieslist.com, the quality of the materials and workmanship when the existing roof was put on is the biggest factor in the lifespan of a roof.

What You Should Expect to See
Replacing your roof is a big commitment. It is important that you understand the re-roofing process from beginning to end. After all, your roof is your first line of defense against severe weather for your home - your biggest asset.
Familiarizing yourself with the steps needed to get the job done properly will ensure a successful roof replacement with no major construction or financial surprises during this process.
Before starting the re-roofing process, homeowners need to take some time and effort to evaluate the roofing contractor. Here are some tips to finding the best contractor for your roof replacement, according to allroofingsolutionsde.com.:

1. Your contractor should be licensed by your state.
2. Make sure they carry adequate roofing insurance, both indemnity (liability) and worker's insurance. Note the coverage end dates.
3. Check the warranties they provide because both materials and workmanship warranties can vary. Some roofers may offer comprehensive systems warranties, also. The minimum warranty for one year is standard for the labor, but some roofers offer longer warranties.
4. Ask for personal references and check online reviews.
5. Find out if their own people will do the work or will they subcontract. If so, ask for the subcontractor contact information and use this list to ask the same questions.
6. Asking for a comprehensive written estimate with the start and completion dates, materials to be used, labor cost, permits, workmanship guarantees, materials guarantees, and cleanup expectations will allow you to compare this estimate with other roofing contractors.
7. Check the certification and training of the contractor in the installation of their products. They should have proven experience in installing this roofing material. Check for trade organizations memberships and the contractor's standing with the Better Business Bureau.

After choosing a reputable roofing contractor, check to make sure they follow the terms of their estimate. Try to plan for clear weather and as much as possible, have the job completed as quickly as possible. The following are seven suggested steps to roof replacement listed below:

1. PROPERTY PROTECTION - Your entire property should be fully protected while roofing replacement is underway. This means protecting siding, walls, plants, bushes, etc. using tarps and protection plywood. Remove any yard ornaments, grills, potted plants, etc. away from the home.
2. REMOVAL OF OLD ROOFING MATERIAL - Toe Boards should be set and install any necessary safety precautions for roof traffic. In order to inspect the wood decking, all old shingles have to be removed. A trash container will need to be nearby if an asphalt or other disposable roof materials are be removed. For an asphalt roof, a shingle fork is pushed underneath the shingles and pried upward to curl the roofing off. Work should start at the top going down. The ridge cap shingles should be removed first then sliding the fork underneath each row of shingles prying them up until they are loose.
   If a metal roof is being removed, a storage place will be needed until it can be sold as scrap or repurposed. Drop cloths around the bottom of the roof will protect against any accidental drops.
   
3. ROOFING INSPECTION - A thorough inspection of the wood decking will reveal any soft, wet or rotted wood which will need to be replaced. This is an important step. Another important step is to make sure the wood sheeting is attached to the roof rafters correctly. If new shingles are installed without re-nailing the old wood decking, after the new shingles are installed you will see many bumps on your roof. Also inspect the flashing on the roof.

Flashing is usually aluminum or galvanized steel installed over joints on the roof to prevent water seepage. This should include the drip edge and any of the flashing at the roof's valleys, vents and chimney. Vent boots should be in good shape and valley flashing should be without cracks or rust. Usually, the valley flashing should always been replaced because it takes the most abuse from the weather.

1. PREPARING THE ROOF SURFACE FOR SHINGLES - Drip edge installation involves installing a piece of metal bent at 90 degrees to prevent rain from getting underneath roofing material on all edges. Ice and water shield installation is the next step. This is a special type of roofing underlayment which sticks to the wood decking and prevents any water leaks. It is installed at the bottom of the roof and at all roof penetrations (chimneys, pipe flanges, roof connections, etc.).
2. NEW ROOFING MATERIAL INSTALLATION - The contractor will follow all the manufacturer's installation instructions. The roofer will use starter shingles at the bottom and the sides and stagger each row to keep shingles from leaking water. Nails holding the shingles in place should be just under the tar strip on the shingles and no heads are showing. Valley flashing goes underneath the shingles if you have any valleys on your roof. This flashing will divert water down your roof and into the gutter system. With the flashing, it is important to put a strong bead of roofing cement over top of the edges of flashing down your roof. This will protect against water blowing up the side of the flashing and underneath the roofing.

If you are installing a metal roof, everything should be square before starting. The vertical edge should be screwed up, screwing into each of the ridges rather than the flats. Each vertical row should be screwed before moving to the next which will make the roof go on flatter. Use quality screws which have wide rubber washers for maximum coverage and protection. Screwing into the ridges instead of the flats will protect the screws from pooling water.

1. SITE CLEANUP - Debris should be cleaned up all throughout the roof replacement. All shingles, felt and nails should be deposited in a dumpster or dump trailer. All plastic, paper, or plastic bottles or aluminum cans should be bagged. Roofing magnets should be rolled all throughout your yard to pick up all nails. Your contractor should leave your home and the area around it as clean as they found it.
2. FINAL INSPECTION - Your contractor should perform a post-installation inspection to make sure the job was done correctly.
   We hope that this article has been informative and helpful. Joye Roofing is here to help you with your roof replacement. We will work with you to answer all your questions and have financing options to fit your budget. Check out our A rating with the Better Business Bureau and rave reviews from past customers.

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