GAF Roof System
Posted on Friday, August 25, 2017
Categories:
Hiring Home Improvement
|
Roofing & Siding
Replacing the shingles on your roof is one of the largest
investments you can expect to make over the life of your home. In fact, according
to Remodeling
magazine’s 2016 Cost vs. Value Report, homeowners can expect to spend an
average of $20,142 on a new roof. In return, the investment adds approximately
$14,400 to the resale value of your home, or a 72 percent return on investment.
In order to protect your investment and ensure that you get
the most longevity and premium performance from the new roof, there are important
things for you to know before choosing new shingles and the contractor to
install them.
DON’T SETTLE FOR
LAYERING OVER OLD ROOFING
If you need a new roof, and two layers of roofing are
already in place, building codes require stripping the roofing down to the
sheathing. Most homes are strong enough to support two layers of roofing, but
installing some of the heavier laminated shingles over even a single layer may
overstress rafters and other structural parts of your home.
A more important reason for complete removal before
re-roofing is so that the roofer can check for rot, water damage, or insect
infestation underneath and repair any damage prior to installing the new shingles.
Your new shingles are only as good as the sheathing to which they are attached.
MORE THAN JUST
SHINGLES
A proper roof is an integrated system including more than just
the sheathing and the shingles.
-
Ice and water barrier
is a rubberized, self-healing membrane that comes in 3’ high rolls and should
be applied first, directly to the wood sheathing. Two rows are recommended
along the eaves of the home to help prevent leaks due to water damming in your
gutters, wind driven rain, and in the North, damaging ice dams. It should also
be used in valleys and at eave and rake edges — the most leak-prone areas of
the roof. Strongly recommended for chronic problem areas like skylights,
dormers, vent pipes, chimneys, and other flashing areas
Roof deck underlay
is next. In the past, felt paper was the most common option. Today there are
many higher-tech options that prevent wind-driven rain or water from other
sources from infiltrating under your shingles and causing damage to your roof
structure or the inside of your home. These products also lay flatter than felt
paper when installed and will not buckle. This helps reduce the risk of
blow-off, by allowing your shingles to lay flatter and more uniformly.
Ventilation is
critical! Proper attic ventilation systems allow a continual flow of outside
air through the attic, protecting the efficiency of the insulation and helping
to lower temperatures in the living space. It consists of a balance between air
intake (at your eaves or soffits) and air exhaust (at or near your roof ridge).
The U.S. FHA (Federal Housing Administration) recommends a minimum of
at least 1 square foot of attic ventilation (both intake and exhaust) for every
300 square feet of attic space. For example, if your attic is 900 square feet,
you need a total of 3 square feet of ventilation. This amount should be divided
equally between intake and exhaust ventilation.
THE SOLAR OPTION
If you're considering going solar and also replacing your
roof, it’s best to have both installed at the same time. Ideally, a structural
engineer as well as a roofer should assess the roof’s condition, including how
much weight it can handle. Before installing a rooftop solar system. Contact
the roofing products’ manufacturer for written approval of the solar
installation to ensure the roofing warranty will not be voided. Also, the fire
classifications for the roof assembly and the solar system should be the same.
CHOOSE A QUALITY
SHINGLE
The quality of the shingles you use will have an impact on the
durability of your roof. Consumers often look to Consumer
Reports, which runs roofing tests measuring strength, impact and
weathering of materials. High quality shingles with a lifetime warranty from
reputable manufacturers like GAF
(North America’s largest roofing manufacturer), are guaranteed to perform
better over the life of your home and provide peace of mind. Laminated shingles are more attractive than
standard shingles. They have a
thicker, more three-dimensional appearance, which makes them look more like
slate or cedar than standard shingles, and last much longer.
CHOOSE A QUALITY ROOFER
Every homeowner shopping for a new roof should look for
proof of professional licensing, proof of workers’ compensation insurance
specifically covering roofing contractors, and references from past customers.
Your roofer should provide a copy of these documents with their proposal or
estimate. It’s your responsibility to verify that the provided documents are
valid and up-to-date.
In addition to getting quotes from at least three roofing
companies (and not choosing the cheapest) before making a choice, you should
also ask a prospective roofer to explain the installation process, in detail.
When you’re making the final decision about which roofer to hire, factor in how
well each explained and answered questions about installation. It gives you
insight into how meticulous each company is.
After all, you are about to spend $20,000 on a new roof. It’s not
unreasonable to know what you are getting.
TRUST BUT VERIFY
In order for your new roof to last a lifetime, it must be
installed properly. According to the insurance industry, the most common reason
for a roof failing is improper installation. Even if a contractor installs the
best shingle available, if it’s not installed correctly, the roof can fail. Common
problems are improperly installed starter shingles, inadequate ventilation,
skimping on important materials like sealants and leak barriers, and cutting
corners with improper flashing.
Using a contractor who is experienced in installing a
particular manufacturer’s product is important because they have experience
with the products and know how things like the manufacturer’s roof deck
protection, leak barriers, and ventilation all work together to help protect your
home.
Tagged:installer, contractor, replacement, shingles, roofing