Guide for Roofing Replacement

i.    Finding the right Roofing Contractor
ii.   Interview of the Roofing Contractor
iii.  Roofing Material
iv.  Systems and Warranties
v.   Service Agreement
vi.  End Note

i. Finding the right Roofing Contractor: This can be done either through the plethora of information available online or through references available from your acquaintances. Good place to look online id the National Roofing Contractor Association (NRCA) (www.nrca.net). Remember that your first priority should be quality and hence choose someone with reputation. In a study conducted by Harvard University, it was observed that 70% of new roofing companies shut down within the first three years because of lack of quality and sustainability. Be sure to see that the contractor is compliant to all set standards and ethical standards of the NRCA.

The other place to look for roofing contractors will be manufacturers’ websites like www.gaf.com or www. cerainteed.com. In most cases you can get referral information from your local neighborhood website also. Referrals should normally come from a well respected person and not from any Tom, Dick or Harry. Referrals are better than online search as the former will give you details about the contractor’s style of functioning, any complaints, and trustworthiness.

ii. Interview of the Roofing Contractor: Once you have shortlisted a few companies, it’s time to interview them. Ensure that it is more of a non-formal communication where you get all your clarifications and answers about the company, their products and services and what you will get by hiring them. Be forthright in asking in details about the roofing material to be used, its advantage, and the protection the material will entail. Remember your investment should be for the long term. It will give you protection and contribute to the resale value of your home later. Determine the trustworthiness of the contractor by talking to past clients and suppliers. Also verify whether the company carries liability insurance, Building License, affiliation to BBB and other professional organizations. The consultant from the roofing contractor office should enlighten you with the procedure involved in the roofing remodeling process. A good way to gauge the contractor’s effectiveness is to observe if they review and verify your roof measurement, and looks at your overall property and landscaping. A person taking note of all this is well prepared and competent to do a safe and successful roof tearing service and subsequent remodeling. You should also ask to be shown pictures of different stages of the work and should be shown samples of different roofing material options.

iii. Roofing Material

All shingles are asphalt; but what you need to confirm the quality and also the strength of the reinforcing mat. The matting can either be organic filter base (or paper mat) or more technologically advanced fiberglass base. The later have more tensile strength and are thus more resistant to tears, breaks or damage.

75% of all installed roofs and 85% of all remodeled roofing material is contributed by asphalt based shingles. Revised standard and code requirements have ensured improved quality of these products. What matters though is the number of laminated layers in the matting, the weight per 100 square feet, wind warranty (based on both shingle weight and sealant strips) and overall warranty (based solely on weight), and finally the shadow line (colorization) of the shingles. The shadow line is either done through ceramic chips or by painting, former being the more preferable way.

F.W. Dodge Reports mention that only 7% of all roofing was made of metal in 2006. Given their standardized appearance, they find more use in corporate construction. Installation needs more skill so the contractor being hired should be highly skilled to do a successful job.  Other roofing options are the tiles made either of concrete or clay (used in California and Florida), wood shingles or natural slate.

Using the fiberglass matted asphalt shingles has its own advantages in that they afford you a lot of options as far as looks are concerned. Choosing the right contractor matters a lot here because you can pick his brains for making the right choice.

iv. Systems and Warranties: A well planned and professional approach will ensure you get a guaranteed remodeling of your roof. So getting it from the industry leaders has its own beneficial and long term pay-off. Rather than picking individual components from different companies, it is advisable to use integrated products from the same company that in turn affords you an even more assured warranty.

Pay attention to the following seven components that together form your roofing system:

a) Leak barrier/water shield/ice shield-Imperative for watertight integrity at critical areas, it is installed at a minimum of six feet up the roofline from the edge of the roof, down valleys, around the chimney, intersection of vertical wall and a roof plane, and any other penetrative spots in the roofline.

b) Underlayment/felt paper-This is installed on the exposed portion of the roof decking and with inputs from advanced technology can increase the strength and air circulation, in turn increasing the lifespan of the wood decking.

c) Starter strips-Protects wind and water leakage under the shingles and is lined up through the entire roofline.

d) Shingles-Ensure that they carry a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, will ensure their quality.

e)Ventilation-Perhaps the most important aspect of the roofing remodeling. Improper ventilation will eat away into the life span of the wood decking and all other roofing components. Also is required to ensure a sanitized home air circulation.

f) Shingle cap-Is more relevant for the overall look of the roof and covers the peak of the roof. Mostly neglected but contributes to the overall warranty.

g) Company-The warranty will depend on the company providing it. Settle for a No Dollar Limit (NDL) warranty because the contractor/manufacturer will shell out the cost for labor and material without diminished pricing. Also ensure that the installation is properly done as it dictates the overall well-being of the roofing.

It is advisable to look for awards won by the contractor or certifications received as a method to validate the quality of the roofing contractor. If the roofing contractor does not have them he might still make false claims of being the best and allied recognitions. Hire someone who has the drive to try winning an award by working on your roof remodeling.

If you hire a reputed company that has strong referrals and uses the best roofing materials you are sure to get a high quality final end product. Be sure to hire someone with certified installation staff.

v. Service Agreement

The language of the contract should be easily discernible by the resident. Everything agreed to in regard to terms, pricing and conditions should be enlisted in details. The contract should be in an official pre-printed letterhead and contain complete description of the work, materials that will be used (including color, brand name, quality, and manufacturer information), installation procedure including position and amount, projected additional costs if any, total service cost, timelines and payment schedule. An initial down payment might be required, but do not pay the whole amount upfront and keep legal receipts for all payments that you make. Insist on being sent a proof of insurance on official letterhead.

vi. End Note

The purpose of providing you this guide was to apprise you of the details in our effort to help you make an informed and right decision in choosing your roof remodeling contractor. Using the above cardinal points will ensure you choose the right contractor and materials for your roof remodeling. Given the integrity question hanging over this industry, take your time to read and decide on the contractor. Remember this will have a direct bearing on your roof quality and also on the resale value of the home.