As a homeowner, certainly you want your home to look nice and remain in good condition. Over the years, you may replace or repair different items to ensure your home stays safe and comfortable. One of those important items to consider is, whether it is time to repair or replace your roof. This can be a daunting task, however we hope you will find the resources of this website invaluable as you discover your options.
At Burris Roofing, we understand selecting new roofing materials isn't something you do every day, so we have developed this resource to help you to be the best consumer when it comes to repairing or replacing your roof!
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Selecting the right roof for your home involves educating yourself about the multitude of roofing products available, choosing a quality contractor, and understanding what the important questions are to ask.
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Consider three things when selecting the materials for your roof:
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Top Ten Areas To Consider When
Choosing The Right Roofing System:
1. Style
There are many styles of shingles to choose from, depending on the details of your home's design, and exterior details.
Here are some roofing materials to consider:
2. Weight of the Product
Roofing is measured in "squares." A square represents 100 square feet of area -- generally a 10-foot-by-10-foot section. A composition shingle, for example, weighs substantially less than a concrete shingle. Installation of a heavier shingle
may take longer and therefore add extra hours to labor costs.
3. Local Codes/HOA restrictions
It is advisable to check with your local building officials or homeowners association to see if they have any specific requirements, prior to making your selection or roofing material. Many communities have restrictions that require the use of only natural building materials, including the roofing. In many cases, these restrictions were created to uphold the appearance of the community and help respect and maintain property values. This corresponds with the views of real estate, design, an architectural professionals.
4. Geographic/Weather Conditions
Carefully consider your climate and weather conditions in your area. Many things can affect a roof's life span. The location of your home makes a critical difference in longevity no matter which materials are used. For example, shade from trees or humid weather can create moss problems for some roofs, while those in drier climates may suffer more wear from hail or excessive heat. Fire-prone areas may be more dangerous for homes with wood roofs, while at the same time windy conditions put constant stress on any roof.
Roofing products have changed significantly over the years. There are a wide range of choices in materials, appearances and prices. Look for materials that will help protect your home for many years.
A roof system's performance is affected by numerous weather factors. Knowing about the following will help you make informed roof system buying decisions.
a. Sun: Heat and ultraviolet rays cause roofing materials to drastically deteriorate over time. Deterioration can occur faster on
the sides facing west or south.
b. Rain: When water gets underneath shingles, shakes or other roofing materials, it can work its way to the roof deck and cause the roof structure to rot. Extra moisture encourages mildew and rot elsewhere in a house, including walls, ceilings, insulation and electrical systems.
c. Wind: High winds can lift shingles' edges (or other roofing materials) and force water and debris underneath them. Extremely high winds can cause extensive damage.
d. Snow and ice: Melting snow often refreezes at a roof's overhang where the surface is cooler, forming an ice dam. This blocks proper drainage into the gutter. Water backs up under the shingles (or other roofing materials) and seeps into the interior. During the early melt stages, gutters and downspouts can be the first to fill with ice and be damaged beyond repair or even torn off a house or building.
e. Condensation: Condensation can result from the buildup of relatively warm, moisture-laden air. Moisture in a poorly ventilated attic promotes decay of wood sheathing and rafters, possibly destroying a roof structure. Sufficient attic ventilation can be achieved by installing larger or additional vents and will help alleviate problems because the attic air temperature will be closer to the outside air temperature.
f. Moss and algae: Moss can grow on moist wood shingles and shakes. Once it grows, moss holds even more moisture to a roof system's surface, causing rot. In addition, moss roots also can work their way into a wood deck and structure. Algae also grows in damp, shaded areas on wood or asphalt shingle roof systems. Besides creating a black-green stain, algae can retain moisture, causing rot and deterioration. Trees and bushes should be trimmed away from homes and buildings to eliminate damp, shaded areas, and gutters should be kept clean to ensure good drainage.
g. Trees and leaves: Tree branches touching a roof will scratch and gouge roofing materials when the branches are blown by the wind. Falling branches from overhanging trees can damage, or even puncture, shingles and other roofing materials. Leaves on a roof system's surface retain moisture and cause rot, and leaves in the gutters block drainage.
h. Missing or torn shingles: The key to a roof system's effectiveness is complete protection. When shingles are missing or torn off, a roof structure and home or building interior are vulnerable to water damage and rot. The problem is likely to spread -- nearby shingles also are ripped easily or blown away. Missing or torn shingles should be replaced as soon as possible.
i. Shingle deterioration: When shingles are old and worn out, they curl, split and lose their waterproofing effectiveness. Weakened shingles easily are blown off, torn or lifted by wind gusts. The end result is structural rot and interior damage. A deteriorated roof system only gets worse with time -- it should be replaced as soon as possible.
j. Flashing deterioration: Many apparent roof leaks really are flashing leaks. Without good, tight flashings around chimneys, vents, skylights and wall/roof junctions, water can enter a home or building and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and electrical systems. Flashings should be checked as part of a biannual roof inspection and gutter cleaning.
5. Product cost vs. benefit
How do you know you are getting your money's worth when buying a roof?
Understanding the Components of the Roofing System
All steep-slope roof systems (i.e., roofs with slopes of 25 percent or more) have five basic components:
a. Roof covering: shingles, tile, slate or metal and underlayment that protect the sheathing from weather.
b. Sheathing: boards or sheet material that are fastened to the roof rafters to cover a house or building.
c. Roof structure: rafters and trusses constructed to support the sheathing.
d. Flashing: sheet metal or other material installed into a roof system's various joints and valleys to prevent water seepage.
e. Drainage: a roof system's design features, such as shape, slope and layout that affect its ability to shed water.
In either case, the costs will vary depending on the material used and the complexity of the roof shape. Not only will the materials be priced differently, but the labor costs to install different materials can vary drastically. Typically, the steeper the "pitch" or angle of your roof, the greater the repair or replacement cost because of the extra safety considerations and labor time involved. Costs will vary depending on the material used and the complexity of the roof shape. Not only will the materials be priced differently, but the labor costs to install different materials can vary drastically.
6. Durability - Weather/Environment
Testing for Resistance
Testing standards exist to measure a roofing product's relative resistance to impact, wind and fire. Roofing manufacturers are not required to subject their roofing materials to all testing standards. However, when materials are tested and receive these ratings, consumers can use this information to help them determine which roofing product is right for their home.
Impact Resistance
UL 2218 is a testing standard designed by Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) to evaluate a roofing material's potential resistance to the impact of hail.
Roofing products may have a testing label indicating a specific impact-resistance rating. Depending on how the material performed during UL 2218 testing, the product may receive a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 impact- resistance rating. Roofing with a Class 4 rating is expected to provide the greatest impact resistance.
Wind Resistance
Windy conditions put a constant stress on your roof. The wind may lift the edges of roofing material, allowing water to penetrate. High winds can cause tearing in asphalt composition shingles. Extreme winds can even cause many roofing materials to blow off.
Products perform best when installed per the manufacturer's instructions.
If you select an asphalt product for your roof, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer Association (ARMA) prefers the use of nails to staples for securing shingles. Using a hammer for installation vs. a nail gun gives the installer more precise control when nailing. In windy areas, many manufacturers and local building codes call for six nails per shingle instead of the usual four.
7. Durability - Foot traffic
When the roof is repeatedly subjected to high pressures or harsh chemicals, the aging of the roof structure is significantly accelerated. At this point, the concrete roof tiles are more likely to shift, slip, or break and asphalt shingles are more likely to become brittle and crack. When this happens, there is a greater likelihood of tearing the roof membrane simply by walking on the roof. Click here to request our Do-It-Yourself Guide for Inspecting Your Roof before you inspect your roof.
8. Life Expectancy
In general, the products that are made of organic materials, such as wood and asphalt, have a shorter lifespan. then do inorganic materials, such as concrete and clay. Some types of roofing have a very limited serviceable life. For example, wood shakes and some types of composition shingles may last no more than 15 years. Some products, such as ones made from fiber cement, have been on the market for only a few years; so no one really knows how well they will perform over the long run. On the other hand, real clay roof tiles have been around for thousands of years, and it has been shown in certain cases that clay roofs have lasted hundreds of years.
9. Fire Safety
Depending on how a material performs during fire-resistance testing, the product may receive a Class A, B or C fire rating, or possibly no rating. Products tested may be labeled with a specific fire-resistance rating.
Fire ratings are:
- Class A: Effective against severe fire exposure
- Class B: Effective against moderate fire exposure
- Class C: Effective against light fire exposure
- Non-rated: The roofing material either was not tested or failed one of the tests.
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Check local building codes before purchasing to see which standards need to be met.
10. Warranty
The five key things to look at when you examined the warranties of the product being considered or.
- the duration of the warranty coverage
- whether it is prorated or not prorated
- transferability to a future owner
- the company that stands behind the warranty
- is there fade coverage
a. Duration can turn into a numbers game with one company trying to outdo the others by increasing the number of years of coverage.
b. Beware of warranties that are prorated. Regardless of their duration, even if lifetime, you will have to pick up a portion of the cost for the replacement product. To make matters worse, some companies accelerate the proration schedule so that more of the cost is transferred more quickly. Ideally, the warranty should be non-prorated, so the coverage remains the same throughout the term of the warranty.
c. Warranties that are transferable borrow more value to you than you might think. In fact, it may result in a higher resale value for you, should you ever decide to sell your home. A potential buyer will consider your home more valuable, if they know that a major maintenance items, such as a roof, is covered by a transferable warranty. In addition, in this age of litigation were buyer sue sellers for problems with the houses they purchase, a transferable warranty could also help avoid a costly legal battle, should your roof develop problems after you sell your home.
d. The company that stands behind the warranty is important, too. If that Company does not have the resources to weather the storm of a large quantity of field failures, which could result from a single batch of bad material, then the warranty that you have may end up being worthless. For this reason, you should ask for some background about the manufacturers of the roofing products at your considering. You will find that they range in size from very small, with sales of less than $10 million, to the very large, with sales in the billions of dollars. But, you must assays questions to find out if the warranty is worth more than the paper on which is printed
e. There are some new innovations and warranties that should be noted. One of these is the advent of fade coverage. Fading to be a major issue in the long-term appearance of your roof. A beautiful color that fades badly after a few years will leave you with a roof that is less than what you originally expected. Most pain and metal roofs are notorious for fading, as are other materials or lie on coatings for their coloration. A warranty that covers fading is a good way to guard against this problem.
Check Warranties
Most roofing materials come with some type of warranty; read the fine print carefully. Different manufacturers carry different warranties for similar products. Save the wrapper from one of your shingle bundles to verify the exact product placed on your roof and the associated warranty. Here are some examples of warranties:
Pro-rated: The manufacturer pays claims based on the age of the roof. The older your roof, the less the manufacturer will pay to replace an older roof with a newer one.
First owner: Some warranties apply only to the first owner of a roof. If you plan to sell your home soon, the new owner will not be allowed to continue the warranty.
Warranty fee for flat roofs: Obtaining a warranty from the manufacturer of a roofing system for flat roofs may be cost-prohibitive. However, a local contractor may provide a two-year warranty.
Wind: Applies specifically to damage caused by wind.
Hail: Applies specifically to damage caused by hail. Hail warranties are not common.
Materials and defects: The manufacturer's warranty is typically limited to product defects that result from the manufacturing process. If your roofing contractor, for example, incorrectly installs the roof and a leak develops, the manufacturer would not be responsible for repairs. However, workmanship defects may be covered by a warranty given to the homeowner by the installer.
Workmanship: Manufacturers do not allow contractors to alter printed product warranties. The contractor may provide a workmanship warranty. The terms of this warranty would be written in the contract between the installer and the homeowner. This warranty period varies depending on the terms of the contract.
