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Understanding the Roofing Process


Mar 21, 2023

According to  RoofCalc.com , the average cost of a roof replacement in Florida is around $7,000. This amount can ramp to $11,000 depending on several factors such as project scale and the roofing materials used. 

Such a considerable amount of money is no joke, so you must understand how important it is for homeowners to know how contractors conduct residential roofing. Being discerning about how contractors execute roofing projects will help you see whether they’re doing a great job or not.

This article will help you understand the step-by-step process of a roofing project. We’ll also discuss many valuable tips that will help you know whether your contractor is doing a great job, the guarantees you can get from a new roof, and many other topics related to roof installation.

How Can You Know If Your Roof is Bad?

You may not see how bad your roof is at first glance, but there are some signs you should be aware of to know if it’s still in good condition or not. Some of these signs are obvious, and some are not. Some signals even emanate from inside the house, particularly your ceiling and attic.

A homeowner with eagle eyes can easily spot these signs, but a regular homeowner will have difficulty checking if their roof is still in good condition. They may even see these signs as somewhat usual and are just common manifestations of a functional roof. But if they know what to look for, the task will be a lot easier.

Below are some of the signs your roof typically shows if it’s not in good health.

  • Curled shingles
  • Old roof
  • Dark streaks
  • Moss growth
  • Wind and Hail Damage
  • Missing granules
  • Gutter build-up
  • Leakage

Check out our other article about the most common  signs your roof needs replacement  if you want to learn more about this topic.

Step-by-Step Guide to Roofing

Roofing contractors have different processes for installing a brand new roof. However, they usually follow a detailed procedure on how to properly, effectively, and safely work on your roofing project. The whole operation will involve general steps like planning, execution, and inspection. There are also steps between those three to ensure that the roofing contractor can install your roof as efficiently as possible.

Here at Century Roofing Specialists, we follow an 8-step process to ensure that your roofing project is done with precision, care, and excellence. Here are the steps we follow when we’re installing a new roofing system:

Step 1: Roof Inspection and Evaluation

Once you decide to work with Century Roofing Specialists, we will send in an inspector to inspect and evaluate your roofing system’s condition. The inspector will use this time to assess your roofing system’s health and identify what needs fixing. Are the shingles heavily damaged? Are there flashings that need replacement? 

They’ll also conduct an  interior inspection  to check the roof’s condition through your house’s interior, typically the attic. They’ll check if your attic has proper insulation and ventilation, if there is a presence of mold, or if there’s too much moisture in your attic or not. Too much of this moisture will cause condensation in the upper part of the roof deck, which can cause rusting of the exposed nails. It will also cause the deck to rot and promote mold growth.

Aside from inspection, they’ll also take the roof measurements needed for the project.

Step 2: Roof Repair/Replacement Proposal 

After conducting the inspection and evaluation, our team will now send you a roofing proposal. This proposal will include the project’s total costs, including materials, labor, and any other products or services you may choose to add to your roofing project. 

The good thing about receiving a roofing proposal is that you can use it to decide whether you want to proceed with the project or not, given the costs. A roofing proposal is an agreement between you and the contractor, with the latter ensuring that the price they’ve specified in the proposal will not exceed. 

You will pay these costs upon the project’s completion and not upfront. However, be advised that some contractors will require a deposit of around 15% to 50% of the overall cost. If the proposal appeals to you, you can proceed with the project. But if you don’t, you may choose not to sign the contract with the roofing contractor.

Step 3: Roofing Products Selection

This step will involve you by allowing you to decide on what roofing materials you’d want for your roof. You get to select the  roofing product’s  manufacturer, type, and color the roofing contractor will use on the roofing project. 

Here at Century Roofing Specialists, we provide you with a vast selection of beautiful color-blended shingles. We also have certifications from various manufacturers to offer their products. With us, you get to choose products from quality roofing manufacturers such as Mule-Hide, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, and GAF. The shingles on our inventory can fit whatever trim, stucco, or siding color you have in your home.

Step 4: Obtain the Necessary Permits

Once you agree with the proposal we’ve sent you and choose the materials you want, we will now start filing all of the paperwork necessary to begin the project, particularly the permits. Roofing permits are essential because they keep everyone involved in the project safe, including you. Replacing a roof, or even repairing one, could create an unsafe working condition on your property, thus requiring a permit.

Section 105.1 of the Florida Building Code states that anyone who intends to make any alterations to a structure must first apply to the building official and secure the required permit. Licensed roofing contractors can pull the  necessary permits  on behalf of the homeowner, but you should start by going to your local building department if you choose to file for it yourself.

Step 5: Roofing Supplies Delivery

Your roofing project now has a go signal from the local authorities. It’s now time for the roofing company to deliver the materials you’ve chosen earlier and other equipment needed for the project. Expect the contractor to deliver the materials either morning of the roofing replacement or the afternoon before. You should also expect dumpsters to arrive at your property, as the roofers will use them to remove your home’s old roofing materials.

The roofers will store said materials near the established roof access point in a dry area. They’ll also do their best not to deliver the materials days in advance, not to let them sit on your lawn and potentially kill your grass.

Step 6: Work Initiation

Now that the roofers have made the necessary preparations, they’ll start the roofing job until it is done. Keep in mind that the contractor may pause the project due to factors such as weather, but they’ll do their best to finish the project on time. 

Setting Up The Protection

The roofing job will start by making sure your property is protected from the job itself. An example is laying out tarps around your property to  cover your landscaping . These tarps also function as a dump zone where the debris from the torn-off will go later.

Removal of Old Roofing Materials

The first thing the roofers will do is tear off the old roof. The roof removal process will start at the furthest corner of your roof to ensure that the work moves towards the dumpster trailers and new materials. After removing a specific section, other roofers will start installing on the same spot. This tactic helps lessen the foot traffic on your roof and saves more time.

Gutter Cleaning

The roofers will simultaneously clean out your gutters as new roof sections are torn off and cleaned. Removing old materials from your roof will involve a lot of debris, and these will block your gutter. It’s the roofer’s task to remove any element that might pose as a blockage in your gutters, like leaves and mud.

Installation of New Roofing Materials

Once the roofers properly remove the rubble caused by the tear-off, they will now start laying the underlayment, along with the drip edge. Afterward, they’ll install the shingles you chose during the material procurement process, either through  hand nailing or air nailing . They’ll follow the same pattern as they did the old roofing removal. 

Later on, they’ll don the ridge cappings. The last thing the roofers will do is install all the vents that are critical to your roof’s ventilation system. 

Step 7: Site Clean Up

The project is nearing its end, and it’s time for the contractor to start cleaning up the site. For this reason, the roofers will blow off the leftover debris down to the dump tarps. They will ensure that no debris will remain on your roof.

Your contractor is ready to start cleaning up after installing your new roof. They’ll blow off your roof, allowing all debris to fall to the tarps. They’ll also blow out the gutters and downspout to remove any blockages. After cleaning the topside, they will now spend hours cleaning up the ground.

Once the roofers finish cleaning the roof, they roll up the tarps and reorganize their tools and equipment. They’ll even use magnets to ensure no nails are lying around your property. After cleaning up, there will be no noticeable trace of their work aside from your newly installed roof.

Step 8: Final Inspection

The roofing project is nearing its conclusion. After the roofers finish the installation, the roofing contractor will now inspect the finished product. Expect them to get on the roof, review its entire area, and scrutinize their roofer’s work to see if they’re up to the standards their roofing company is trying to uphold.

The last thing the roofing contractor will do is give you a final inspection report and the before-and-after photos of your brand new roof.

What Does a New Roof Involve?

Expect your roofing contractor to eliminate all the old materials on your roof. They will remove the old shingles, expose the deck, and apply underlayment to protect your roof from water and other natural elements. Afterward, they install new shingles right on top of the underlayment, which will make the roof last for over 20 years or more, depending on the type of shingles you choose for installation. 

Asphalt shingles are popular because they are inexpensive, but the residents of Florida will typically have different types of shingles to choose from. These choices are clay tiles, slates, concrete tiles, and more.

It is also essential to understand that a roof replacement will require days of arduous work. Your roofing contractor will work with you in a given timeframe of around 3 to 5 days. This schedule will be determined by various factors, including the size of your roof, the weather, and how accessible your roof is.

Your contractor will ensure that they finish the project on time. When building a new roof, it’s critical to recognize that numerous independent variables are at play. Be sure to have proper consideration, sound judgment, and realistic expectations when working with a roofing contractor.

How Can You Tell If a Roofer Has Done a Good Job?

If you want to check if the roofing contractor did a great job, relying solely on their word won’t cut it. Even if you’re not a  licensed roofing contracto r or an on-the-job trainee, you can still verify if roofers did an excellent roofing job or not. You can do so by following the checklist below.

The roofers:

  • Installed the shingles properly
  • Installed adequate flashing on specific areas of your roof (chimneys, vents, etc.)
  • Installed drip edges
  • Installed a chimney saddle (if necessary)
  • Installed quality underlayment
  • Used proper amount of nails (at least 4)
  • Used quality materials
  • Left no traces behind
  • Made the roof look uniform and even in appearance

Do New Roofs Have Warranties?

Most homeowners are unaware that installing a new roof is accompanied by a warranty. These warranties serve as a layer of protection for your investment. Roofing warranties can be complicated and intimidating at first, but you can discover the warranty’s coverages with the correct information and proper guidance.

There are two main types of roofing warranties.

Standard Manufacturer’s Warranty

Most roofing shingles will let you enjoy a basic limited lifetime warranty. The term “limited lifetime warranty” often means as long as you own your house. However, the warranty’s degree will largely depend on the manufacturer’s definition of “limited.”

Most manufacturer warranties will solely cover the defective material’s cost. That means you’ll shoulder any fees for removing and disposing of faulty shingles. You’re also responsible for the costs of installing the replacement shingles. Some manufacturers will cover the cost of defective shingle replacement, but only for the first few years. From that point on, they will offer perforated coverages. 

The general expectation for a standard manufacturer’s warranty is only coverage against factory defects. If the shingle damage is due to human error, the manufacturer may not give you any warranty coverage at all.

Workmanship Warranty

A workmanship warranty aims to protect your roof against possible damages or installation errors by the roofing contractor. If, for some reason, your contractor incorrectly installed your new roof, then you can make them correct it with no cost. This can be tricky, though, since the guarantees you get from contractors differ. 

If you want to understand the coverage of your workmanship warranty clearly, you can:

  • Request a letter that clearly explains what is and is not covered in the warranty.
  • Ask your contractor what the warranty covers: either the workmanship or materials. The warranty can also cover both.
  • Investigate the contractor’s track record to understand the credibility of the warranty they offer.

Conclusion

Replacing a roof involves a series of steps that requires inspection, planning, execution, and evaluation. If you decide to start a roofing project, you should expect it to be continuous, labor-intensive, and uninterrupted – unless there is inclement weather or accidents. 

You can also see if your roofing contractor did a great job checking the roof for signs of quality workmanship. And in case your roof encounters damages, you should consult your roofing contractor on what warranty coverage you’re protected with.

Contact us  today so we can help address your concerns about your roofing needs.

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