The Two Most Common Roofing Questions
From our experience, whether your roof needs a roof repair or a roof replacement, there are two questions that we always get asked by home owners: “How much will it cost?” and “How long will it take?” But outside of that, what are some of the other questions you should be asking us (or your professional roofer) and what kind of answers should you be expecting?
To start with, when speaking to your roof contractor it’s completely alright to bombard them with as many questions as you have. After all, repairing your roof or replacing your roof can be a big investment and done right, you can save a lot of money and stress in the long run.
To help you, here are some of the questions we are often asked, as professional roofers, and their answers:
Common Roofing Questions & Their Answers
DO ALL THE ROOFING COMPONENTS COME FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER?
Why is this question so important?
When you look at your roof you see what’s on top of it, shingles, tiles and so on, what you don’t see are all the pieces that lay under those shingles or tiles. Think of your roof like a car engine. It’s made up of many different parts, all playing their role in keeping a roof over your head – quite literally.
Some roofing companies try to lower their costs, or their price, by using different components from different manufacturers; allowing them to shop for the best price points. While this helps bring their cost down, it doesn’t always translate into your price being lower.
The main thing to be concerned about is the manufacturer warranties. If your entire roof system was built by parts from one manufacturer, that manufacturer will have certain guarantees and warranties that can help you repair your new roof should something go wrong. But if different parts are used and your roof is “jalopied” together so to speak, some of those guarantees and warranties may be voided.
HOW MANY NAILS ARE USED PER SHINGLE?
Installed right, a shingle roof will provide you many years of protection from the harsh Florida sun and the unpredictable weather (read: How Long Does A Roof Last In Florida?).
While different types of shingles require different installation types, your professional roofer should generally use four nails per shingle. Based on 80 shingles per square, regular shingles would require 320 nails per square. For high wind areas or when shingles are being applied to a mansard, six nails per shingle are required (480 nails per square).
WHAT TYPE OF FLASHING DOES MY ROOF NEED?
First, what is roof flashing?
Roof flashing is a thin material that is used to direct the flow of water away from areas of the roof that could build up water or leak, if no flashing was there. Most commonly, flashing is placed wherever the roof meets a vertical surface like a wall or a dormer. Flashing is installed to surround roof features, such as vents, chimneys and skylights. Here are some pictures:
As you can see, flashing is very important in order to keep your roof free of leaks. In Florida, poorly installed roof flashing can result in leaks due to the amount of rain and wind your roof experiences. While different roofers use different types of flashing, be sure to get the specifics about what kind your roofing contractor uses, the pros and the cons as well as the warranty and guarantees.
WHAT RIDGE VENTS WILL YOU USE?
Roof ventilation is very important in order to prevent mold and water damage. Even though in Florida, the air can be very damp and moist, it’s still important to have sufficient air flow under your roof and just above your ceiling. Most modern professional roofers use ridge-cap shingles to cover the holes that will ventilate your roof.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS DURING THE ROOF INSTALLATION?
In Florida, this is more than a valid question. That’s why we schedule our roofing jobs according to the weather – or as much as we can predict. But sometimes, Florida throws us a curve ball. But don’t worry, we are fully prepared. By using spot adhesives, we secure shingles until proper bonding takes place. That way, your roof will stay in place until the beautiful Florida sun comes back out and dries it properly. Be sure to ask your roofer how they prepare and handle rain and storms in the middle of a roof replacement or roof installation; and more importantly ensure that your roof repair and roof replacement are scheduled at a time when there are no storms predicted.