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Homeowners often neglect their roofing system until it begins to leak or other serious damage occurs. In most cases, roofing issues can be discovered way before major (and expensive) problems happen. If you notice cracked, warped or missing shingles, broken flashing, loose seams, or large amounts of shingle granules in the gutter, it’s time to call a roofing contractor. Cracked paint, peeling wallpaper or wall coverings, and discolored plasterboard can also indicate roof damage. Periodic inspections can help uncover potential problems and allow you to address them before they become a major investment.

There are a few ways to determine if it’s time to replace your roofing system.
Age: Roofing systems generally last around 2 decades. If your roof is approaching 20 years of age, it’s near the end of its useful life.

Leaks: If you see evidence of water leaking inside to your home, it probably has been leaking for quite a while. Water can damage rafters, plywood sheathing, ceilings, walls and more. Extensive structural damage can create a huge problem for homeowners. It’s often cheaper and less involved to simply replace the roof before it begins to leak.

Appearance: Shingles that have begun to curl, break, or warp are a good indication that it’s time for a reroofing service.

It depends. If the leak is simply caused by faulty flashing or a small section of roof that has been damaged, then you will most likely only need to repair the source of the leak. If, however, the entire roofing system has failed as a result of poor installation or subpar materials, then a new roof installation is appropriate and often necessary.

Roofing work is generally not a DIY project. Professional roofing contractors are trained and benefit from years of experience to safely & effectively repair or replace your roof. An untrained homeowner can actually harm a roof with improper roofing techniques and could even harm themselves if the right tools & safety equipment are not used.

Simple maintenance tasks like inspecting a roof during the spring to look for broken or crack shingles & cleaning out gutters filled with debris are suitable for most homeowners but should still be done with care. Most DIY roofing projects end in additional costs & headaches for the homeowner, so they are best left to trained & experienced professionals.

Modern roofing systems typically provide approximately 25-30 years of useful service life. The life of your roof system will be determined by environmental conditions, proper installation & design, material quality, and adequate maintenance and repairs. Roofing material warranties can vary greatly so take a look at a manufacturer’s warranty programs before you decide.

Pricing on a reroofing service can vary greatly and will depend on factors such as materials, location, time of year, size of the home or building, average labor rates, and whether the project is residential or commercial. Because of the many variables to be taken into consideration when estimating a project, we feel it is unfair to try and ballpark a number.

It’s important to keep in mind that price should only be one factor you consider when choosing a contractor for a roof replacement. Quality of materials and highly skilled workmanship are just as important since your roof system will only be as good as the contractors who install it. Always insist on a contractor who is dedicated to providing quality work and has a reference list of satisfied customers that can vouch for their level of workmanship.

Although it may seem advantageous to install new shingles on top of your old roof because it’s cheaper, faster, and requires less labor, you could be setting yourself up for future costs (and headaches). Unless your current roofing system is completely problem free and only features a single layer of functioning shingles, your new roofing system may fail way too soon.

Many roofing contractors may be willing to simply nail new shingles on top of old shingles, but we always advises stripping the old materials complete off, all the way down to the deck, and then adding the new materials. Any defects, vulnerabilities, and potential problems in the plywood deck or truss system will go unnoticed unless you de-nail & re-nail.

Here are a few situations where you will need to remove the old roof before completing a reroofing service:

1. Shingles are missing, curled, split, or mossy.
2. The roof decking is sagging due to rot or deterioration.
3. The new shingles are lighter than your current roofing shingles. (This will cause all of the old bumps & ridges to show through the new roofing materials.)
4. Your current roofing system has more than one layer of shingles.

The right roofing company will be experienced, committed to quality, and have a trail of happy clients across the area. A quality contractor will always meet building codes and requirements and have strict standards for installers to adhere to. Make sure to get a detailed quote and research reviews & ratings from prior customers.

Homeowners can choose from composite or asphalt shingles, metal roofing, or slate tiles, with shingles being the most popular style of roofing. We are dedicated to using only the best quality roofing materials to complete any roof repair, new home roof installation, or roof replacement service, which is why we prefer CertainTeed products.

CertainTeed manufactures the top rated roofing systems in the country designed to withstand the harsh Washington climate. CertainTeed roofing systems use components that have been designed to all work together in order to deliver a quality roof that will last for decades to come.

The amount of time it will take to complete your reroofing project will depend on the size & complexity of your roof, the weather & season, if your old roof needs removed, the size of the roofing crew, and unforeseen issues with the roofing system. A small, uncomplicated roof may only take a few days to complete whereas a large, complicated roof structure with a number of problems may take several weeks to finish. If you would like a better estimate regarding your particular roof, give our roofing experts a call!

If you have any other questions or would like further explanations for these common roofing questions, contact us today. We’re excited to have the opportunity to earn your business and deliver incredible roofing services.

In some moist areas, algae can grow on shingles. Although the algae has no proven effect on shingle life, it does stain or discolor the shingle. Commonly called fungus, this algae staining can be unattractive. The algae-containing stains can be dramatically reduced by the use of special copper granules, which are included in CertainTeed shingles.

No. Your home will always be “dried in” at the end of every work day. This means that any portion of your roof that is torn off will have underlayments installed, which provide temporary water shedding protection, before we leave for the night.

Not in most cases, in fact most homeowner prefer not to be because of the noise. Although some homeowners like to be home to watch the work in progress.

Yes. On all roofing jobs there is a degree of vibration that comes down through the framework of the home. It is recommended that you safeguard all fragile items such as knick-knacks and pictures that are not securely mounted to the wall. If in doubt, take a few minutes to protect any non-replaceable items.