Replacing the Roof of Your Home

If you are a homeowner and stay in your home long enough you will likely be faced with the need to replace your roof. There are steps you can take to delay the inevitable. For instance, if you have your roof inspected regularly then small problems can be addressed before they get out of hand.

However, if you have purchased an older home or have owned your residence for decades, your roof may simply be worn out and in need of replacing. Now, in today’s do-it-yourself environment many people may be tempted to take on the monumental task of replacing the roof themselves. We don’t recommend this – here is the list of complicated tasks that must be followed perfectly:

• Prepare well in advance. Ensure that the weather will be cooperative. You don’t want rain or snow falling on an uncovered roof. Also, take the time to educate yourself on how to replace the roof. What tools are needed? Where should the old roofing materials be discarded? What safety equipment is required?
  
• Start by removing the old roofing materials. This includes clearing away all nails and debris.
  
• Inspect the ‘roof bed’ thoroughly. Look for any signs of cracks or rot. Make needed repairs before continuing.
  
• Next, the ‘underlayment’ must be attached. The underlayment is a barrier against moisture, a layer between the roof core and the shingles. It comes in various materials.
  
• This is followed by installing drip edge. Drip edge is a non-corrosive material that provides a barrier between your home’s foundation and the elements that fall on the roof and dribble off. Drip edge is extremely important – it adds to the life of your roof and integrity of your home.
  
• Finally, install the roofing material. This includes the ‘ridge vents’ that allow warm and humid air to escape the attic space; ‘ridge caps’ that straddle the two slopes of a pitched roof; and ‘flashing’ that acts as a barrier at various joints on the house.
  
• Be sure to clean off the roof when done.

As this brief explanation should reveal installing a new roof is extremely challenging and should only be performed by a professional roofing company. Macbeth Exteriors are masters in all things ‘roof-related’. Contact us to meet all your roofing needs.