Taking care of your house is one of the most important parts of being a homeowner. Sometimes home maintenance can feel like a fulltime job. But keeping it in great condition will help it last for many decades.
One of the keys to keeping your family warm and dry is to replace the roof when it starts to fall into disrepair.
This article takes a look at how to replace a roof. It’s a step by step process that’s easier than you might imagine. You simply need the right tips along with the right tools for the job.
Keep reading to get the inside on home roof replacement that will help keep the rain and snow outside where they belong.
How to Know When It’s Time for a New Roof
It’s important to understand that roofs are built to last forever. Even the best roofs will eventually need to be replaced after a number of years. Natural elements like wind and rain take a toll, causing roof materials to deteriorate.
As a homeowner, you need to keep an eye on the condition of your roof and decide when the time has come to invest in a replacement. Keeping your roof free of leaks will help reduce the chances of internal damage to your home or worse.
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Materials
When you start shopping for a replacement roof, you’ll quickly discover that there are plenty of materials to choose from.
Asphalt shingles are typically the least expensive material and are relatively easy to install. Wood shingles make a beautiful roof but are significantly more expensive. And metal roofs look great but won’t be right for every home.
Ultimately, the choice of material will mostly come down to personal preference and the size of your budget.
Create a Roofing Budget
Speaking of your budget, you’ll need to decide how much money you have to work with. Before you start shopping for materials or moving forward with any other details, you need to be honest with yourself about your finances.
The more clear you can be about how much you can spend, the better your decisions will be.
Keep in mind that there’s no limit to the amount of money that can be spent on a new roof, but you don’t want to place yourself in a financial bind in the process of making repairs to your home.
Having a firm roofing budget will also help to speed up the shopping process because you won’t waste time looking at materials that you can’t afford.
Hiring a Contractor
Once your budget is set, you’ll need to decide if you plan to make this a DIY project or hire a roofing contractor for the job.
Replacing your roof yourself isn’t impossible, but it will still be a challenging job. So make sure that you’re up to the task.
If you decide that you’re biting off more than you can chew, asking around with family and friends for a referral. Then do plenty of research online to find a reputable roofing company that will do quality work at a reasonable price.
And if you do hire a professional roofing company, be sure to get a price quote in writing, which should include start-by and completion dates.
Price Isn’t Everything
When it comes to getting estimates for materials, it’s important to keep in mind that quality materials won’t necessarily be the most expensive.
In other words, you won’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to get a roof that will keep you warm and dry for many years. The key is to understand the differences in materials and to be a smart consumer.
You’ll also need to be clear about what’s included in the cost of the job so that you can eliminate the potential for unexpected fees or cost overruns.
After all, it’s natural to want to save every dollar possible. The key is to understand what you’re getting for your money and to remember that price isn’t always a precise representation of quality.
Removing the Olding Roofing Materials
Remember to never place a new roof over your existing shingles. This might sound obvious, but not everyone is aware of the roofing process.
The old shingles should always be totally removed before installing the new ones. This will give you a chance to inspect the decking and will enable the new shingles to lay properly.
Be aware that this will create a mess on the ground, so make arrangements for a Dumpster or have some other way of getting rid of the shingles once they’ve been removed from the house.
Here is another resource on how to reroof a house.
Inspecting the Roof Deck for Damage
Once the old shingles have been removed, take the time to thoroughly assess the condition of the decking. After all, damaged or rotting deck boards can lead to water damage inside your home.
Make any repairs that are needed, including patching holes or replacing pieces of decking that no longer appear safe.
Installing Your New Roof
When you’re ready to install the new roof, always remember to start at the bottom edges and work your way up. This will allow you to overlap the shingles so that they can shed water.
You will also need to place special caps at the peak and on hip rises, and to cut the shingles as needed to fit around valleys and dormers.
Now You Understand How to Replace a Roof
You really on your roof to keep you safe and dry throughout the year. Fortunately, these tips for how to replace a roof will help make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Keep scrolling to discover more great home design tips and advice.
