Your home needs a sturdy, functional roof to protect its residents and possessions from harsh elements.
Unfortunately, no roofing system can last forever, even with regular maintenance. At some point, your roof will fall prey to one or a combination of issues, including missing shingles and damaged decking. Plus, in the right conditions, it may reach its expiry date. In either case, if the issue is extensive enough, roof replacement becomes necessary.
When it comes to replacing your roof, the professional roofers at Alan’s Roofing follow these steps:
Step 1: Prepare Your Home and Yard
Most homes have numerous components that must be handled accordingly before roof replacement kicks off. For instance, if you have antennas, a common feature in around 18.6 million homes in the US, we will need to remove them, assuming they are on the roof.
The same applies to wall decorations. During roof replacement, your walls may vibrate. Since we care for your possessions, risking any wall-mounted valuables is out of the question. Keep in mind the need to move any items in your yard, including furniture and grills to avoid damage. Discuss any concerns about items in your attic with your salesman so he can convey that to the installation team.
With the above in mind, if you want roof replacement to take as little time as possible, try handling tasks like moving a car parked close to the structure and finding a safe place for your kids and pets before our team gets there.
Step 2: Tear Off the Old Roof
Once we’ve prepared your home and yard, our team will start tearing off the old roof. That means we will strip off old shingles and decking materials.
You are likely wondering why we insist on tearing off your roof, whereas we could simply install new shingles over the old ones. The answer is simple. Although the latter is possible, it’s not always the best option. Why? Having too many shingle layers forces your roofing system to bear too much weight, which can cause premature damage.
Plus, when we strip off your old roof, our team can easily identify hidden problems like water damage and mold before they aggravate and cause irreparable damage.
Step 3: Inspect the Roof Deck, Valleys, and Any Projections
A thorough roof inspection is an indispensable phase. First, we’ll check your roof deck for signs of damage, such as warping, algae growth, or rot. If our experts discover that your decking’s integrity is compromised beyond repair, we’ll have to replace it.
Also, our roofers will inspect your roof valleys for any signs of extensive damage. Although these components can last decades, sometimes issues like rust and corrosion often undermine their longevity. Since your roof needs valleys in excellent condition for optimum drainage, we may also need to replace them if they are in bad shape.
Step 4: Replace and Repair the Deck, Flashing, and Other Components
It is not uncommon for our roofers to find damaged components. That is why our team has to inspect your roof thoroughly. Remember, old roofing systems are often susceptible to issues like leaks, which can lead to a rotten deck.
That said, we may need to repair or replace the following, depending on their condition:
- Underlayment
- Decking
- Water and ice shield
- Flashing
- Ventilation
- Drip edge
- Ridge capping
Step 5: Add a Waterproof Layer
In areas like Florida, where heavy downpours aren’t unheard of, protecting your home against water damage is necessary. We know that and do everything possible to ensure your roof is in optimum shape, including installing a waterproof layer.
Professionals often refer to the waterproof layer between the shingles and deck as underlayment. So, if you hear our roofers mention the latter term, know it’s simply the component supposed to protect your property from damaging elements like rain and snow.
Step 6: Install New Shingles
After adding a waterproof layer, our experts will start installing new shingles. Generally, we use a variety of Owens Corning Shingles. These are top-shelf, fire-resistant products made from materials that can withstand harsh elements for decades.
And you don’t have to second-guess getting new shingles because their benefits are innumerable. For starters, if you replace your old roof with new asphalt shingles, your property’s value will generally grow. Plus, they improve your home’s overall appearance and curb appeal.
Step 7: Clean Up
An extensive roof replacement project can be messy. When it’s over, your property will likely be covered by assorted debris, ranging from broken shingles and old nails to torn-off underlayment and pieces of flashing. But don’t worry. Our roofers can help you clean up the mess.
Our clean-up services may start from the new roof, where we will remove any leftover debris or granules. If your sidewalks, siding, gutters, or other components need cleaning, our team can also attend to them, leaving your property in impeccable condition.
We’d Love to Hear From You
Roof replacement is a big project that can be scary at best. Fortunately, Alan’s Roofing has your back. We are roofing experts who provide affordable, unrivaled roofing services in Central Florida and surrounding areas.
We’ve successfully tackled countless roof replacements for over three decades, and our happy clients can attest to that. Would you like to find out more? Contact our team now. We look forward to hearing from you.