It’s reasonable to assume that no homeowner likes to hear that their roof has to be completely replaced. I mean, what’s the point of that? It’s not as fulfilling as having your kitchen redone or purchasing new carpeting for your bedrooms, but it’s occasionally required. At some time, every homeowner will be advised that their roof has to be replaced.

If you allow it, a gorgeous new shingle roof may be just as gratifying. Most people fail to accept this because of the stress associated with roof replacements. Where do you begin? What exactly must be replaced? Will this cost me an arm and a leg?

V. Guinta & Son Roofing Co. understands your problems. We’ve been replacing roofs for over 90 years, so we’ve heard a thing or two about homeowners’ concerns regarding roof replacement. With all of this expertise, we know to provide people around the country with the piece of mind that roof replacements aren’t that awful.

How Does The Roof Replacement Process Work?

We won’t sugarcoat it: replacing your shingle roof is a major undertaking. When you choose a total roof replacement, every roof component is replaced. It is not the same as re-roofing, which simply entails installing a new layer of shingles on top of your existing shingles.

Instead, with a full replacement, every layer of your roof is ripped off, examined, and rebuilt, even materials you didn’t even know your roof had. We’ll walk you through the steps, starting with the first tear-off.

  • Tear-Off: When you decide to replace your roof, your contractor will first rip it off. They will go over your roof and remove the shingles piece by section in order to prepare for your new roof.

Tearing off your old roof is superior to re-roofing or covering your existing roof with modern materials. A roof tear-off has several advantages, including:

  • Quality: You’ll be receiving the very best. Your contractor will strip your roof so that he or she can examine and fix any high-risk spots. After that, new flashings may be put in, ensuring your property remains waterproof for years.
  • Longevity: A tear-off roof will last you for many years. New roofs trap far less heat than multi-layered roofs, providing an additional year. Excess heat causes shingles to curl and break down considerably faster, so a roof tear-off is frequently your best choice if you’ve had several roof repairs over the years.
  • Value: If you plan to sell your house soon, a new roof might increase the market value of your property. Roofs are important selling elements, thus roof tear-off is a fantastic alternative.

After the first tear-off, your contractor will be able to look closer at your roof’s structural components, identify any damage, and determine whether or not your decking needs to be upgraded or replaced.

  • Deck Examination: To understand why your decking has to be examined, you must first grasp what it is and why it exists! Your roof decking acts as a defense for the rest of your house. It provides an additional layer of protection and serves as the foundation for all structural support for your roof.

Decking often comprises multiple flat planks fastened to trusses or joists. Consider this to be the skeleton structure of your roof. Isn’t it true that every skeleton requires muscular tissues and skin? Indeed, but it’s disgusting. Similarly, the skeletal-like decking offers a surface for your shingles to survive and perform their job and something to connect the underlayment and other materials to.

As you can see, the decking is crucial. As a result, its examination is an important component of the replacement process since any damage, no matter how little, can compromise the structural integrity of the complete roof. It is essential that the decking is in good shape and can handle a new roof. If it’s rotten, damaged, or otherwise compromised, your contractor should also recommend that you replace it.

Installation of Underlayment, Drip Edge, and Flashing

When your decking has been inspected and approved, your contractor will begin installing the underlayment, drip edge, and flashing. It goes somewhat like this:

  • Underlayment: The underlayment is a critical layer between the decking and the shingles. This component mounted directly to the roof deck, is a waterproof barrier for your roof. The underlayment is the raincoat for your new roof.
  • Drip Edge: The drip edge is a narrow metal strip that runs around the perimeter of your roof. The drip edge guides rainfall away from your roof, preventing it from infiltrating the shingles and structure. The drip edge is the umbrella for your new roof.
  • Flashing: Like the drip edge, the flashing is a thin steel component that directs runoff water away from the roof’s more susceptible places, such as skylights or chimneys. The flashing is the stormwater system for your new roof.

Installing Shingles and Vents

It’s finally time for the exciting part:

Your shingles are now ready for installation! When the old roof has been removed, the decking has been inspected, and the underlayment, drip edge, and flashing have been placed, your new roof materials will be delivered, and your contractor will begin installing your new roof system.

The shingles will be placed in sections, with all the roofing components comprising the full roof system being installed in the proper sequence. Your rooftop ventilation system will also be installed during this operation. Although your roof must be watertight, it should not be airtight. Like you and me, your attic has to be able to breathe, and it does so via your roof.

Among the several ventilation system choices accessible to you are the following:

  • Ridge vents: These vents are often located at the roof’s apex. They aid in providing continuous and consistent exhaust ventilation at the highest point of the attic and are intended to withstand severe, wind-driven rain.
  • Off ridge vents: Off-ridge vents are not only UV-resistant but also a static system. This system is appropriate for installation on sloping roofs.
  • Gable vents: Unlike other venting systems, Gable vents are normally put on the outside wall of your attic and are designed to be visible. They offer architectural interest to your house while also providing necessary air circulation.
  • Mechanical vents: Mechanical vents, as the whirlybird discussed earlier, harness the strength of the wind to assist in removing excess heat and moisture from your attic.

Your contractor will assist you in determining which sort of ventilation system is ultimately best for you and your property.

Clean-Up

After the installation of your new roof, your contractor will begin the final clean-up. They’ll start by cleaning the debris off the new roof and gutters. After the roof and gutters have been cleaned, they will begin washing the ground. Depending on the size of your house, this should take around an hour.

The staff will remove all tarps and collect roofing debris from your house and garden. When all of the trash has been removed, the staff will use magnets to collect any stray nails around the outside of your property. This should be done three or four times to ensure that all metal pieces and nails have been removed from your property.

Are You Prepared to Replace Your Shingle Roof?

You should be feeling quite comfortable and confident about your next endeavor now that you’re a shingle-roof-replacement specialist. In 5 easy stages, you’ll know what to anticipate and be able to sit back and watch it all come together. After all, it’s not that horrible, is it? It’s not as exciting as getting a new couch, but everything will be OK.

If you’re just getting started, you’re probably looking for and hiring a local roofing contractor. V. Guinta & Son Roofing Co. has a team of roofing contractors to help you get the job done.

To begin your roof replacement adventure, give us a call for a free estimate. If you’d like to learn more about your roof replacement, please contact us! We are always available to answer inquiries and give information on the roofing business.