You know you want to hire a quality Roofing Contractor, but how can you tell which contractor does good workmanship vs a fly-by-night roofer? In addition to checking references and ensuring that your roofer has license, liability insurance and workers compensation, we have outlined some things to pay attention to determine if your roofing contractor does quality work.
Below are Four steps good roofers take when replacing your roof:
1. Check your attic for proper insulation and ventilation
Poor ventilation is one of the three main reasons why roof shingles fail (poor roofing materials and poor workmanship are the other two reasons), so before any work is done on your roof, a good roof contractor should inspect your attic to uncover potential hidden issues that could cause your roof to leak.
2. Install appropriate underlayment under the roof shingles
The underlayment system underneath roof shingles includes the ice and water underlayment (or waterproofing underlayment) and the felt underlayment (also referred as black tar paper) or instead of felt paper more advanced material called synthetic underlayment . Ice and water underlayment should be installed around critical areas where water is most likely to enter. This includes your roof edges around gutters, on valleys, underneath flashing, and around chimneys, skylights and vents. Felt or synthetic underlayment should be installed on the remaining areas of the roof. Good underlayment is water resistant, and provides a buffer between your shingles and the deck of your roof, in the event some shingles are blown away over time.
3. Avoid laying a new roof over existing shingles
Roofers who pay attention to good workmanship would not suggest that you simply add a layer over your existing shingles. It is important to know the state of the entire roof structure, including the roof decking and underlayment. Without removing the existing shingles, good roofers can’t inspect the decking nor verify the state of the underlayment. In addition, roof shingle manufacturer warranties do not cover any shingles installed on top of existing shingles.
4. Pay attention to the little details
A good roof contractor who is committed to providing quality workmanship will watch out for tiny details, such as ensuring the plywood deck is fastened securely to the rafter framing, the underlayment is properly installed, the shingles are nailed down properly and nails are not popping out, and that the flashings are properly finished. Water will get into even the tiniest of holes, so paying attention to the smallest details makes a difference when it comes to protecting your home from the elements.
At Estate Exteriors, we are dedicated to providing quality craftsmanship to our customers. When we come and inspect your roof, we take a system-based approach to determining the health of your roof and the extent of any roofing problems you may experience, and this includes an attic inspection to ensure you have an energy efficient attic. We also go up to your roof and look at every little detail to ensure you won’t encounter the roof repair problems we’ve commonly seen.