A quality roofing installation starts with a clean slate. Your roofing contractor will lay tarps on your driveway or in front of your home to keep debris and mess from getting everywhere.
Next they will install the first row of shingles called the starter course. It consists of three tab shingles and has a self-sealing adhesive strip along the eave. The next shingle rows will be offset from each other. Reach out to Corpus Christi Roofing CO for expert assistance.
A roof is more than just the outer layer of your home; it protects you from the elements and keeps water out. A good roofing installation begins with proper preparation. This includes choosing a quality roofing material that satisfies climate, budget and aesthetic preferences. Thoroughly inspecting the underlying structure and securing necessary permits are also important.
Before beginning the actual roofing work, the crew should clear the area and remove all traces of old roofing materials. This is especially important if the roof is being repaired or replaced due to damage or wear and tear. This allows the roofing team to work safely and efficiently, and it prevents unforeseen problems from developing during installation.
Next, the roofing contractor should prepare the eaves and roof valleys. This involves installing drip edge flashing, valley flashing and ice and water sheathing. This helps keep water out of eaves and other areas where leaks often occur. The roofer should also install flashing around chimneys, wood stove pipes, certain vents and along hip roofs. The ridge cap is installed last, which adds extra protection to the crown of the roof.
Lastly, the roofing contractor should protect shrubs, flowers and other landscaping with tarps. This helps ensure that plants are protected from flying debris and that small pieces of old shingles don’t wind up in open drains. It is a good idea to cover any patio furniture or decorative items near the house as well, to prevent them from getting knocked over or damaged.
Even conscientious roofing contractors will kick up a lot of dust and other debris during a roof restoration. To avoid a messy cleanup, homeowners can move any belongings that are stored in the attic to another location until the project is complete. It’s also a good idea to cover any vehicles parked on the property with plastic sheets or tarps.
Finally, homeowners should consider scheduling their roof installation project for the early part of the day. This way, the roofing crew can get on and off the roof as needed without being at risk of overexposure to the sun’s heat. The crew will also be able to avoid the rain that often occurs in the afternoons, which can cause delays and slow progress.
Materials
The materials used for a roofing job play an important role in the final product. They determine not only the cost but also how long the roof will last, and can impact a home’s aesthetics, comfort and energy efficiency. There are many different roofing materials available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Some of the most popular are asphalt shingles and clay tile. Asphalt shingles are affordable, easy to install and come in a variety of colors and styles. They can be purchased as three-tab shingles, which provide a simple, slate-like appearance, or architectural shingles, which offer a more dimensional look.
Another option is clay or concrete tiles, which add texture and elegance to a roof. While they are more expensive than shingle options, they last 50 years or more and can complement Mediterranean, Mission and Southwestern-style homes. However, these roofs are heavy, require special framing and can impose an additional load on the house’s structure.
Rubber is a sustainable roofing material that can be made to mimic the appearance of other types of roofing materials. It’s less expensive than tile and shake, but requires regular maintenance and has a distinctive odor.
Rolled roofing is a practical and economical choice for low-slope residential roofs, as well as outbuildings like sheds and garages. It consists of large rolls of mineral-impregnated and asphalt-impregnated material topped with mineral granules.
Flat-roofing is a more complicated roofing system that requires professional installation and special materials to prevent leaks. It can be treated with a single-membrane system, such as EPDM or rubber, or thermo-polyolefin (TPO), or a PVC membrane. Metal roofing can also be used on flat roofs.
The other essential equipment for any roofing job is safety gear, including a hard hat and safety goggles. This is to protect the head and eyes from flying debris, such as nails, wood splinters and shingle pieces. Other items to consider include a caulk gun and roofing caulk, gloves, a nail punch, a tape measure, a utility knife, a hammer and tin snips. A tarp should also be placed on the ground around the work area to catch stray shingles and other debris.
Installation
During this phase, the roofing contractor will tear off your old roof. They will take several steps to protect your property before this process starts, including covering shrubbery and garden areas with tarps and using wooden boards to cover open drains to prevent small pieces of debris from clogging them. They will also set up a dumpster to contain the waste and ensure your yard stays clean and safe.
When the new underlayment is in place, the roofer will begin laying the shingles. They will overlap the starter strip by six inches and follow a pattern that involves closer nails near the edges and nails farther apart as they move up towards the ridge. The shingle rows will be finished with the underlayment to ensure a strong, leak-proof seal.
Once the roof is installed, the crew will clean up and remove all equipment and trash from your property. They will also inspect the finished job and make sure everything is in working order. If any repairs are necessary, the roofer will handle them as quickly as possible to minimize disruption to your home.
Maintenance
When roof maintenance is regularly done, it can help prevent damage and prolong the lifespan of your roofing materials. This preventative measure can also save money on energy costs and reduce repair bills in the future. In some cases, your insurance company may even offer a discount on your premiums.
A good maintenance program is tailored to the needs of each individual roof and should be documented in a checklist. This checklist should be kept on file for reference, and can be used to determine if a problem requires immediate attention or a planned roofing repair project.
The first step of a maintenance program is to inspect the existing roofing materials. Examine the shingles, tiles or metal roofing to make sure all components are intact and free of damage. Also look at the flashing, which is a layer of thin material, often made of galvanized steel, that is installed over the joints of the roof plane to direct water away from areas where the roof meets a vertical surface such as a chimney or dormer.
Another thing to do is remove debris from the roof surface, including accumulated dirt, leaves, sticks and twigs that can scratch or puncture flat roofing materials. This also includes clogged drains and gutters, which can cause leaks. Finally, trim any trees or vegetation that overhang the roof, as these can be a hazard during stormy weather.
After the roof has been inspected, it’s time to prepare the property for the roofing crew. This involves covering the garden or landscaping, moving anything that could be damaged by roofing debris and setting up tarps to protect plants from flying debris. It’s also a good idea to cover any vehicles on the driveway with tarps or boards, and ensure that all workers are keeping their feet dry.
Once the work begins, the roofing contractor will take care to protect the interior of the building from leaks while removing the old shingles. Once this is done, they will install the new shingles and flashing and clean up the area. Then, they will inspect the entire roof again to make sure all problems have been addressed. This is the time to catch any minor problems that can become major ones if left unattended, like a crack in the flashing that should be re-caulked.