RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
PART 1 Repair and Replacement Basics
RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT BASICS
Roofs provide our homes with weather protection, comfort, energy efficiency, and curb appeal – which is why we know well enough to get issues fixed as soon as they crop up. A malfunctioning roof is, after all, a dysfunctional roof. Signs that you need work done on your roof include: ██ Outside light showing through holes in the roof ██ Sagging roof deck
██ Leaking and water damage
██ Loose material around chimneys and other signs of roof penetration ██ Torn or missing shingles
██ Shingle granules in the gutter
Before you commission any roof repairs or replacements, however, first consider these factors.
SCOPE
Just how big a repair or replacement is needed will depend on the scope of the damage. Leaks, for instance, can be repaired simply by caulking gaps or holes, or could require more complicated work, such as the replacement of damaged vents. Replacement work could imply needing to gut the roof all the way down to the sheathing or just installing new shingles. RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT BASICS
MATERIAL CHOICES
The roofing material you choose will impact on both the cost and the complexity of your roof project. You don’t necessarily have to replace your current roof material with exactly the same material. What you do have to know before switching to a new roof material, however, is relevant information such as: Expected service life. Differing materials have differing lifespans. Asphalt, for instance, is only good for 30 years; metal can serve your home for at least four decades; and tile and slate can both last more than a century. Possible deterioration curve. Check for possible defects that your chosen roofing material may display over time. Wood roofs, for instance, can rot when exposed to temperature extremes – while other materials can better weather the elements. RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT BASICS
Life-cycle costs. Some materials require routine patch-ups and repairs; some can be left alone for years at a time and only require yearly painting.
Warranty. In most cases, you can get two separate warranties for your roofing material: one from the manufacturer, and one from the contractor. Make sure your coverage is comprehensive enough to take care of all possible issues. What about new installations and re-installations? What should you know about them, to make sure your project gets done successfully? Find out in the second installment of our e-book. RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
PART 2
Installation Tips
RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
INSTALLATION TIPS
Installation plays a direct role in the resulting functionality – and quality – of your roof, which is why we encourage every homeowner to pay particular attention to this part of the roofing project. Roofing resource EverybodyNeedsARoof.com offers these tips on tackling installation, from choosing a contractor to maintaining your roof.
CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR
Different states have differing rules on licensing for roofers, and it is imperative that you know the rules for your state. Some require roofers to be licensed, others require only registration. What’s more, the requirements for a license or for registration also differ. If you are unsure of your state’s specific prescriptions, as well as your roofer’s legal standing, you can consult the Contractor’s License Reference Site. In addition to your roofer’s credentials, it is also important to check his or her: ██ Written proposal. Roofing proposals should include all essential details of the proposed project – from start and completion dates to payment procedures. Make sure that you understand everything in your contractor’s proposal and – more importantly – that you are amenable to each of them.
██ Knowledge of building codes. The roofing industry follows four model codes, enforced on a national level. These are the International Building Code, the International Residential Code, the International Energy Conservation Code, and the International Green Construction Code. In addition to these, your state may enforce its own prescriptions. Your contractor should be knowledgeable in all technicalities involved in your roofing project. RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
INSTALLATION TIPS
UNDERSTANDING YOUR GOALS
Installation should be geared towards meeting your goals. A roof, after all, is not just meant to keep out the elements. Modern advances in engineering have made it easier for homeowners to combine weather protection, energy efficiency, and aesthetics into a single system.
While proper roof installation is essential, your responsibility as a homeowner extends beyond making sure that your roof is properly installed; maintenance is still important to your roof’s full functionality and you need to commit to doing reactive as well as preventive maintenance on your roof.
In the last installment of our e-book, we examine the need for maintenance, and the two types of maintenance you can do. RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
PART 3 The Need for Maintenance
RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
THE NEED FOR MAINTENANCE
Part one covered roofing repairs and replacement basics, while part two gave tips for new installations and re-installations. Now, to cap off this e-book, let’s talk about how maintenance factors into all of this. Having a completely functional roof does not mean that you can just lie back and let it take care of itself – remember that once a roof demands your attention, it will likely already be failing. Maintenance is integral to keeping your roofing system working well, as well as helping you save on unnecessary costs from issues that are left untreated. There are two types of maintenance: reactive and preventive. Let’s take a look at each of them in detail.
REACTIVE MAINTENANCE
Reactive maintenance, as implied by the term, is maintenance done in response to issues that crop up, such as leaks, damaged components, and loss of structural integrity. At this point, intervention must be done immediately to prevent escalation of the problem. Since DIY roofing is an inherently unsafe process that may create bigger problems – especially in the face of an already existing problem – it’s also probably best you tap a professional for the job.
RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
THE NEED FOR MAINTENANCE
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
An article on Buildings.com says that proactive or preventive maintenance, in general, helps property managers save around 10 cents per square foot every year compared to reactive maintenance. Also, properties maintained before issues happen last an average of 21 years, while roofs that receive maintenance after an issue manifests itself will likely last only up to 13 years.
Preventive maintenance covers: ██ Routine cleaning. Cleaning is a simple enough process, but it saves your roof (and your pockets) from a lot of problems down the road. A clean roof means leaves and other debris will not clog the gutter, and will thus allow water to flow freely.
██ Inspections. Inspections must be done twice a year – before the start of the worst season, and after it. Inspectors should look out for any damage on the surface of the roof and the field membrane, as well as around the drainage system. Conduct extra inspections after severe weather incidents as well. Lastly, make sure your contractor runs a good maintenance program. A trained eye can help you spot sources of possible issues well before they become a real issue, and guide you in harnessing the full functionality of your roof.
RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
Up And Above Contractors, LLC 2 Lower Hill Rd. Newton, NJ 07860
973-531-4225
www.upandabovecontractors.com
RULING YOUR ROOF: ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE