What You Need to Know About Roof Replacement
Even roofs that were perfectly installed with top-of-the-line materials are going to need to be replaced eventually. That’s just the nature of the beast. Your roof is under constant attack from moisture, sun damage, rogue tree branches, and more. When it comes time to replace your roofing system to ensure that the structure as a whole – as well as its inhabitants – remains safe, you may be uncertain about what is ahead. We can help you better understand the process so you know what to expect!
Preparation
As with most things, the preparation that goes into a re-roofing project makes an enormous difference as the job moves along. It allows your contractor to be as efficient as possible as they carry out the project. In the case of a roof replacement, this will involve ensuring that the house and surrounding areas are protected. Drop cloths are set up around the perimeter of the house, tarps and plywood are used to protect walls, siding, windows, and landscaping, and a container will be set up nearby for trash or scrap. All this ensures that your property is secure while work is underway. It is also important to establish safety protocols at this time, such as setting up roof jacks and anchoring safety harnesses.
Out With the Old
Once work begins in earnest, the first step is getting rid of the old roof. Asphalt shingle roofs are pried up one at a time, starting at the ridge, the highest point of the roof, and working downward. Going about this process tidily and ensuring that all material is thrown out into the proper receptacles makes short work of the clean-up afterward. Other styles of roof may have somewhat different needs, but will roughly follow this same path. It is important to then inspect the wood decking beneath, checking for rotted wood and ensuring that everything is properly attached. Failure to do so can result in unfortunate consequences after just a few weeks.
Once the roofing and underlayment have been removed, the surrounding area is cleaned of any fallen debris for the safety of both contractors and passersby.
Inspect the Flashing
A roof’s flashing is the metal strip – usually galvanized steel or aluminum – that is installed along the roof’s joints to prevent the water from seeping into the structure. It is critical to the long-term success of a roof that this flashing be completely intact, high-quality, and properly sealed. It is also important to note that different types of joints will require different types of flashing. What is needed to seal the seam around a chimney is not the same as what is needed where two parts of the roof meet. Having a roofing contractor that understands what is needed, and where, is extremely important!
Install the Underlayment
If the roof’s shingles are its first line of defense against water, the underlayment is one of the last. Its purpose is to catch the small amount of water that is able to get past the shingles and guide it away from the wood frame beneath.
This process will include:
- Ice and water shield installation: This leak prevention measure sticks to the wood decking and is usually installed around the perimeter of the roof and any joints such as roof connections, chimneys, skylights, pipe flanges, etc.
- Drip edge installation: As the name implies, this piece of metal is bent at a 90 degree angle and is installed all around the edge of a roof to keep water from being able to seep under the roofing material.
- Roofing felt installation: The last step, when applicable, is roofing felt. This material ensures that the shingles cannot stick to the wood, adding another layer of protection and simplifying future repairs.
In With the New
As the removal process goes from the top down, the installation process goes from the bottom up. This layering, as well as staggering the shingles from row to row, minimizes the opportunity for water to penetrate the barrier. Once the roof is entirely laid out, your contractor can follow up with other types of flashing, ridge capping, or other considerations as necessitated by your unique roof. A final inspection is carried out to ensure full quality control before calling the job complete.
Leaving the Site Better Than We Found It
At Lyons Roofing, it is important to us that we provide our customers with the absolute highest quality care from start to finish. This includes being extremely thorough in our clean-up, ensuring that all trash is taken away and any debris has been cleared. We believe that a beautiful new roof should be the only indication that anyone was ever there.
To learn more about how we can help you through your roof replacement, feel free to call us at (520) 447-2522 or fill out our online contact form today!