Tear off or not?
Your shingled roof is very often
overlooked
until a problem
occurs. When a new roof becomes
necessary,
consider the
options, as well as the criteria used to
determine
which
system your roof is a candidate for.
Your existing shingle roof must be
torn off
if any one of
these conditions exists.
1.)
Your
roof has two or more layers.
City codes require that at
least one later be torn off,
depending where you live. Most
cities allow only two
layers on your roof. Usually when you
tear
off your existing
roof it is best to tear off all layers
and is required in
most cities.
2.) Your
decking has rotted wood as evidenced by
soft spots, or
the roof will not hold a nail.
3.) The
shingles
on
your roof are excessively curled or
buckled.
If so, your shingles are probably starting to fail.
Your existing roof will be considered
for
re-roofing over the
existing roof if it meets the following criteria.
1.) The existing roof has one layer.
2.) Your shingles are free of excessive
curls
and buckles.
3.) The roof shows no evidence of rotted
wood.
Any visual flaws on the existing shingle
roof
will be exaggerated
by re-roofing. Any dips, buckles or
bumps
will look larger with
another layer of shingles on them. A
re-roof
costs less than a
tear-off, but a re-roof seldom look as
good
as a tear-off.
What's the difference
in asphalt
and fiberglass?
All composition shingles are made with
asphalt.
The difference is the mat, which is
inside
of the shingle.
The mat holds everything together.
Inside
of a "fiberglass"
shingle there is a spun fiberglass mat
and
inside an
"asphalt" shingle there is what is
called
an organic mat.
The organic mat is very similar to
a
piece of cardboard.
Both types of shingles are made with
asphalt,
the difference
is what the asphalt is attached to.
Does
it matter which color I choose?
There is a difference in the amount of
heat
that a
dark shingle will absorb as opposed to a
light
colored
one. Dark shingles absorb more heat,
thus
transferring
more heat to your attic space. Light
colors
are just
the opposite. There is a train of
thought
that says...
Your dark roof absorbs more heat so it
will
wear
out sooner. It is my belief that the
quality
of the shingle
is the most important factor as to
whether
the roof fails
prematurely or not. To deal with the
heat
transfer to your
attic, from darker shingles, you must
have
your attic
insulated and vented properly, thus
keeping
the attic air
temperature as close as possible to the
outside
air
temperature. The answer to which color
to
choose...
Make sure of good ventilation and
insulation
and choose a color you like!
What are those square
things I see on roofs?
Those square things, sometimes round
spinning
things,
are air vents. There is also a type that
is called
"ridge vents"
that are not as noticeable. Also there
are
attic power vents
that kick on and expel the air when it
reaches
a determined
temperature or humidity level.
Ventilation
is very important
to the life of your roof! If your attic
space
gets to hot, the
heat, not only transfers down into your
nice
air conditioned
living room, but it also builds up in
the
attic causing the shingles
to get to hot from the underside, thus
they
will "dry out"
prematurely. It is also important to
have
vents in your
soffits or eaves and up towards
the
peak of your roof. This
causes the air to move passively and
won't
allow heat buildup.
Also the movement of air in your attic
can
help prevent
condensation during extreme cold
outside air
temperatures.
During cold snaps the cold outside
air mixes with warm
moist
air that escapes from your house
through attic access
doors,
bath vents, poorly insulated
ceilings, light fixtures housings,
and numerous other ways, causing
moisture and frost in your
attic space. It is very important to prevent conditioned air
from entering your attic space! Excess humidity in your home
is not desirable! Also proper venting
and insulating help
prevent ice dams. Ice dams can occur
when
it is well below
freezing, but the snow on your roof
still
melts rapidly.
The warm air escaping from your
house,
melts
it. The melting
snow re-freezes when it reaches
the overhangs of your
roof
where there is no warm air
from your house to continue
melting
the
snow, causing an ice dam to form
higher and higher.
A
compounding
problem!
MAKE SURE TO VENT, INSULATE AND SEAL
PROPERLY!!
Which shingle do I choose?
Good question. There are so many I have
trouble
keeping
up with them myself! The main thing is
choose
a shingle that has
at least a 25 year warranty. Also in the
rare
instance you have a
problem with your roof, you want a
company
that will stand
behind it. We use shingles made only by
quality
manufacturers.
There are standard 3- tab shingles,
dimensional
shingles, also called laminated or
architectural
shingles or
simulated wood shake shingles and many
"designer"
shingles.
The dimensional shingles have a rougher
look
and generally
come with a better warranty. There are
25
year through
lifetime warranties in the dimensional
shingles.
The weight
of the shingles usually go up
accordingly
with the length of
the shingle warranty. There are wood,
slate,
simulated slate,
concrete, metal, clay tile, simulated
clay
tile, WHEW!
The list goes on and on. Now days, most
home
owners choose
30 year laminated shingles. If you
have
a
reputable contractor
install your new roof he can help you
select
the right roof for you.
How do you clean up and dispose the old
roofing?
Before we begin tearing off we take precautions to protect
the landscaping by covering everything in harms way with tarps.
We either lay tarps on the ground or stretch them down off the
roof and over your landscaping. Some times plywood is leaned
against the house for added protection where needed.
On roofs that are easily walked upon, we tear off and carry the
old shingles to the spot where the truck or dumpster is parked
and toss the shingles in! Very little debris ever hits the
ground!
If the job takes more than one day to complete the site
is cleaned daily. When the work is completed we do a final
thorough cleanup. We roll a magnet on wheels through the yard
and drive way to get stray nails, rake up the smaller roof
particles
and clean out the gutters. Things the homeowner can do
to help are, Make sure the grass is mowed, make sure leaves are
raked so stray nails don't nestle down in them. Have bushes and
trees trimmed for easy access to your roof. We know you take
pride
in your home and we are considerate of that.
What can I do to prepare for the roofers ?
A number of things can be done to prepare before the job begins.
1.) Mow the grass and rake the leaves.
2.) Trim bushes and trees away from house if possible.
3.) Remove items on the walls and shelves if you think they are not secured properly.
4.) Cover valuables that may be in the attic.
5.) Remove vehicles from the garage and driveway.
6.) Let us know where a power outlet can be found and make sure it works.
Will there be any dust or debris in my
attic area?
Yes. In all roofing jobs, some of the finer grit will fall
between
the
cracks of the plywood or plank board decking. In cases
where
a vent system is installed, saw dust will fall into the
attic.
We suggest removing or covering any items stored in the
attic
space if dust or debris accumulation is a concern.
Should I protect items inside my house from
damage?
Yes. On all roofing jobs there is a degree of vibration which
comes
down through the framework of the home. While it is not
necessary
to panic, it is recommended you safeguard fragile items such
as
glass globes on chandeliers, pictures which are not
securely
mounted to the wall, or the "old family heirloom" on the
mantel.
Items in the kitchen cabinets should not be affected, nor
should
there be a need to empty the china cabinet. If in doubt, take
a
few minutes to protect any non replaceable items.
When should I replace my roof?
Most composition roofs last 15 - 30 years depending several
factors.
How long of a warranty did the shingles come with,
how well the shingles were made, and how steep is the
roof.
(Steeper roofs last longer). Signs that your roof needs
replaced
are...
excessive granule loss that exposes the asphalt, (granules
show
up
at the bottom of your down spouts), shingles
blow off during wind
storms more frequently, cracked or brittle shingles, curling
shingles
and a leaking roof.
Do I need to be home to get an estimate?
The short answer is no. The long answer is no, but it is
better
if
someone is home. When someone is home you are assured that
you will get an estimate for exactly what you want, and it is
much
easier to answer any questions you may have. Most
estimates
only take about 15 minutes to do. Our representatives are
not
pushy sales people. Our representatives are trained to listen
to
your needs, take all necessary measurements and give you an
estimate for what you want. Most estimates are given at the
same
time we are at your home. If you need an estimate for specialty
shingles or a custom order we will have an estimate for you
within a few days. We want your experience with Peterson
Roofing to be a pleasant one, including the estimate.
How do I know if my contractor is reputable?
The simple answer is to ask around. Have they worked for any
of
your friends or relatives? Check with the Better Business
Bureau,
Chamber of Commerce, or with the building department. Ask
for
references or if they have done any work in the
neighborhood.
They should be able to come up with a few references right
away.
They shouldn't require any money as a down payment. We
hear
stories time and again of home owners who give a deposit to
the
contractor and never hear from the contractor again! I know
many
contractors seem to be "nice" people and very trust worthy but
don't
hire a contractor without good credentials.
Will my insurance pay for it?
In some case your insurance company will pay for a new roof.
Insurance will pay for a storm damaged roof, hail damage,
wind
damage tree damage etc. Many times we overlook our roofs
after
a severe storm and don't think about it until a leak appears.
Your
roof could have damage from a previous storm that was
overlooked.
When in doubt it is best to call your insurance company and
have
them send an adjuster to look at the roof and advise you on
the
damage if any. Peterson Roofing works with most insurance
companies and will do the required repairs specified by
the
insurance company, with no cost to you other than the
deductible
amount of the policy.
How much will it cost?
Peterson roofing charges on a per 100 square feet or "square"
basis. Click here for a real time estimate. Many factors determine
the price of the roof. How steep,
how big, how many stories, how
many layers need to be torn off,
how easy is access to your roof,
what type of shingle, is
there
a
need for wood replacement etc.?
The average 2 bedroom 1
story
home, not steep, tear off 1 layer
and re-roof, 25 year shingle
with
easy access to the roof costs
around $3750.00. We
charge
fairly
and honestly with all our
customers and do not take advantage
of any one. There are many
unassuming people who have the
misfortune of hiring the first
contractor that shows up.
The
contractor, many times, is a high
pressure salesman that tries
to
get as much money as he can with
no regard for the
various
factors involved in estimating your roof.
Rest assured
that
Peterson Roofing will only estimate on a" per square"
basis
and
only for the work required. Peterson Roofing offers
senior
citizens discounts.
How long will it take?
Most roofs take 1 to 2 days depending on the factors
described
above. The roof described above would take 1 day. A three
bedroom house that is three stories tall with 3 layers of
shingles
removed and all new sheeting would take about 5 days. We
clean
up the job site daily if the job requires more than 1 day to
complete.
We remove only what we can put back on in the same day.
That way we don't have to worry about a storm overnight.
Many inexperienced companies will tear everything off and
realize they "bit off more than they could chew". We see
roofs
all over town that have tarps needlessly hanging off them for
days and weeks. Tarps are not a sure fire way to keep out
the rain overnight. A strong thunderstorm can rip a tarp
to
shreds if the tarp is not securely fastened down. Don't
run
the risk of having your roof torn off and left uncovered
overnight!!
What kind of guarantee?
Peterson Roofing Guarantees all new roofs in writing for 5
years.
Most companies give 1 or 2 year guarantees. We will guarantee
to keep your roof in a watertight condition for 5 years. We
believe
in service after the sale. If there is any thing we can do to
help
you
with roof concerns we are here. We keep very good
records.
If years from now you should sell your house and need
information
for the new owners we will have it. If you put a room addition
on your house and want to know what color shingle to
match,
we will know. If you have a problem with your roof, for any
reason,
beyond the 5 year guarantee, we will still help you any way we
can.
Many contractor are looking for any way to get out of their
responsibilities. We will not let you go it alone even in the
rare
instance of material defects. We are here to help. Remember
a
guarantee is only as good as the person that stands behind it!
