The Process of Roofing Replacement

If you've ever wondered how roof replacement works, you came to the right blog. We're going to break down the steps that go into successfully completing a roof replacement.

1) Gathering the correct supplies

It's important to gather the correct supplies before beginning a roof job because you want to be prepared. From lumber to the correct shingles or metal, gathering what is required for the job is essential to any roof replacement.

2) Protecting the home

When you are preparing to start construction on any home, it is crucial that you protect your home from the elements. This is because when you tear off a roof's protection (shingles), it is exposed to harmful elements. For this reason you must tarp the entire outside of your home and set up all protection.

3) Strip down the roof

Now you must strip down the roof and inspect it for any spots that require repair. Any structural weaknesses in your new roof will diminish the quality and durability of your roof. This is why you want to have a roof repair service in Tampa FL come out and inspect your roof.

4) Prep the roof to be re-done 

Once the roof has had any wood replaced that needed it, you must prep it. This means waterproofing/ice proofing the wood. You want to do this because it will increase the integrity of your roof and it will help it last longer.

5) Add underlayment

Now you must add the proper underlayment to your roof. This is the material that will be placed between the shingles/sheet metal and the wood structure. Read guides on selecting the correct material for the job.

6) Add structural protections 

Try and locate spots in your roof where water may be able to sit. This is usually at spots where there are chimneys, vents, etc. You want to add protective divergent materials here to prevent any water from being able to sit.

7) Add the roofing material

The most important part of any roof replacement is the installation of the new roofing material. Hiring a professional to do this is critical to your home.

8) Clean up and do a final inspection

It is important for your neighbors and the environment that you clean up after the job is finished. Once you finish this part you want to do a final inspection to confirm that everything is correctly installed. Congratulations, your new roof has been installed.

6 Warning Signs you Need a New Roof

1. Watch your neighbors 

If your neighbors have been replacing their roofs and your house was made around the same time, you may need a new roof. Roofs tend to last about 20 – 30 years. 

2. Sagging roof and/or cracked walls

These signs indicate the structural integrity of the house has been compromised. Especially in Florida, sinkholes can cause your house’s foundation to sink in some areas. This is why walls will crack and roofs will sag. Once you see this, you know it’s time to call a roofing expert in St. Petersburg FL.

3. Water damage

When you start to see water spots seeping in from your roof, it’s time to get a new roof. This is a two way problem because if water is leaking in from your roof, then your roof is compromised. AND if water sits in the roof-area for too long it can cause wood rot, mold, and other types of destruction.

4. Shingle Wear

As your roof ages, shingles will begin to show signs of wear and tear. Depending on where you are from, you can expect to see different types of wear. For example if snow and hail are excessive, your shingles will experience erosion and blunt-force damage. Or if there is a hurricane you will have shingles that are completely missing.

5. Sunlight is coming through cracks

When this is happening you should replace the roof as soon as possible. When there are cracks in the roof, water and sun can cause damage to the interior roof. The sooner you have this fixed, the less likely you are to have to replace the whole roof.

6. Your power bill is higher than usual

Many things can cause this, and one common cause is issues with the roof. If your shingles have lost the asphalt, they lost their ability to shield the heat. Now more heat is coming in from the roof which will cause your AC to run more. When you weigh the cost of a new roof vs. the cost of the power bill + roof repairs, it is usually a better idea to have the roof replaced

A Brief History of Roofing Materials

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While it is not entirely known when the history of roof-building began, it appears as though the first civilization to begin the construction of roofing-tile was in Neolithic China. This dates back to as early as 3000 B.C.

There were many driving forces behind the advancement of roofing techniques, the main ones being pricing, availability of resources, and fire-resistance. Surprisingly, fire resistance was a big driving force because many roofing-materials were highly combustible and led to massive fires. 

Clay tiling was a highly preferred roofing material because it was waterproof, fire resistant, low cost, and more. This invention gave way to other forms of shingling, such as wood shingles. Eventually asphalt shingles were developed in America in the 1920’s and quickly became the ideal roofing material. It could be given different coatings to improve fire resistance, insulation, and durability. 

Metal roofing has always been considered the best roofing material in terms of quality and utility, however it was very expensive for a long time. This caused it to be limited to only important buildings such as churches, temples etc. As metallurgy & mining practices improved, so did the availability of metal for roofing. This led way to modern roofing as we know it today. 

Modern roofing contains the beneficial qualities of all of these materials but at a fraction of the cost. Homeowners today can tailor their roofing to suit their needs. No doubt, roofing will continue to advance over time. We hope you enjoyed our article on a brief history of roofing. Bay Area Roofing a roofing contractor, contact us if you need roof installation in Tampa Bay FL!