Problems with your roof can cause a lot of stress and roof repairs or roof replacements can be quite costly. Knowing some basic information about your roof will help reduce the amount of stress your roof can give you. Many roofing problems can be repaired quite easily and even replacing your roof can have affordable options that won’t break your bank.
Here are some of the most common questions homeowners have about their roofs and some simple and basic answers:
How long will my roof last?
Obviously this question can vary depending on if you’re buying a new home or if you are replacing your roof completely. If you’re buying a new home, the roof is definitely an aspect of the home that you should have inspected. While a roof inspection cannot tell you exactly how long the roof will last, by finding out when it was built, the materials it was built with and its current condition, a professional roofer will be able to give you a very good estimate of how long the roof will last.
When it comes to a new roofing installation, there are going to be two main factors that determine how long your new roof is going to last. The first being the materials it’s made out of (also read Understanding the Five Most Common Roofing Materials) and things like climate and weather that will put your roof to the test. For example, roofs in Florida need to withstand high intensity sunshine and heat, heavy rains, strong winds and the occasional hurricane.
With good maintenance, an asphalt shingle roof can last up to 20 and 25 years whereas clay and concrete tile roofs as well as metal roofs last more than twice that. In fact, metal roofs can often last up to 100 years. If you keep your roof regularly inspected, maintained and washed, you can expect it to last longer.
What Will a New Roof Cost Me?
The cost of your roof will depend on the size of your home as well as the kind of materials you choose to have your roof made of. But here are some price averages per square foot for the most common types of roof:
Asphalt Shingles: $70 to 120 per square
Metal roofs: $100 to $800 per square
Clay or Concrete Tile: $300 to $500 dollars per square
Slate tile roofs: $600+ per square
Wood tile: $100 to $150 per square
No 1 Home Roofing offers no-cost roof estimates and consultation, not only giving you an affordable estimate at competitive pricing, but also helping answer any questions you have and providing any needed consultation on the best roof type for your home.
If My Roof is Leaking, Do I Need to Replace It or Can It Be Repaired?
If your roof has a leak, it will need to be inspected to assess the damage. However, in most cases one or two leaks is not a disaster. Leaks can usually be repaired and do not require a full roof replacement. It is however very important that you call a professional roofer as soon as you see the leaks occur. If you have more than two leaks, your roof can still be repaired but the repairs will generally be more extensive.
What Are My Roof Replacement Options?
If your roof has suffered a lot of wear and tear or damage and it’s time to replace it, knowing your options can help you make the best choice for your home. Just because you are not an expert roofer, doesn’t mean you don’t have options. A completely new roof is not always the right choice. For example, if your existing roof is in decent shape it should be quite simple for a professional roofer to install another roof over the existing one, helping you save quite a lot of money. But this can only be done if your existing roof and its frame are not heavily damaged.
As different types of roofs have different options, when it’s time to replace your roof it’s best to call a professional roofer and discuss all your options.
How Do I Know if My Roof is Failing?
How do you determine the performance of your roof? Obviously if you see leaks, you know that your roof needs a repair. But how else can you determine if your roof is failing or not? Sometimes roof issues are not as obvious as water pouring from the ceiling. One of the first questions to ask that will help you determine how your roof is doing is its age. If a shingle roof is upwards of 20 years old, you can expect to replace it soon. While this is a great place to start, age is not the only thing that can cause a roof to start failing. Severe weather conditions can also cause roof problems. The best thing to do is to get a routine – yearly – roof inspection. Not only will this assure you that your roof is in good shape but it can detect damage early on and can help you roof last longer and prevent more costly damage to your home.
On a sunny day, you can check your attic to ensure there are no holes in your roof or not spots where the sun is shining through. While up there, also check for any wet spots or darker spots indicating slow water damage. Mold can also start to grow on your roof, check the top of your roof, near your chimney or the vents to see if mold is building up. Check for any wet spots or sagging spots on your roof, also check for wet or darker spots under your ceiling or underneath the roof.
If you have any questions as to if your roof is damaged or not or how to fix or maintain it, call a professional roofer. Just like you wouldn’t drive your car if it had a flat tire, any issues with your roof should be fixed right away to prevent further damage.
How Long Will It Take to Install a New Roof on My Home?
The answer to this question depends on what kind of roof you need and the size of your home. For the average sized U.S. home, installing a new roof of any kind is a matter of days, usually 1-2 or 3 days. For larger homes and estates, installing a new roof can take weeks. If you are having an asphalt roof installed on top of an existing roof, this can take even less time.
Roof replacements are generally scheduled around weather conditions to ensure quick installations. But should it rain or snow, roofing installations may need to wait until working conditions are appropriate.
Upon inspection, and depending on existing projects as well as available crew, most professional roofers will be able to give you a good estimate on how long it will take to install your new roof and schedule a time for it after inspection.
What Should I Do If I See Black or Green Spots Growing on My Roof?
In Florida, due to the humid weather and heavy rains during hurricane season, it’s completely normal for your roof to develop black or green like stains over time. The stains are generally small plant life growing on your roof, such as algae or moss. When you see these stains, it’s important to clean them off. This can usually be done with a hose. Left uncleaned, these plants can start to spread and can start to slowly eat away the asphalt from the asphalt shingles. Prolonged, they can start to cause mold and other damage to your roof. When you see them, clean them off but don’t be too worried as they are quite normal on roofs across America. Also read, How to Spot Mold on My Roof.
We hope that these questions and answers can help you better understand your roof and your roofing options when it comes to roof repairs and roof replacements. No 1 Home Roofing offers completely free onsite consultations should you have any more concerns about your roof or if you want to get an estimate for a roof repair or replacement. Contact us for more information.