You want a safe home. You want a warm home. And of course, you want an energy-efficient home. Do you know what can help you achieve all of these goals? Your roof. That's right, if you call up a roofer and tell them about your desires, they can recommend some roofing repairs or materials to help you achieve those desires. They may recommend a metal roof, or they might recommend adding zinc strips to the roof peak. It all depends. One thing we can promise, though, is that learning more about roofing is a good idea. This blog is a good resource, but we recommend looking for other ones, too.
Which New Roof Installation Method Is Right For Your Home?
There are three main roof installation methods available. Which you choose depends on several factors, but the following can help you make the right decision.
Complete Teardown
Complete teardowns aren't common. This type of new roof requires removing all roofing components down to the trusses and rafters. Not only are the shingles and underlayment removed, but the roof decking is also removed and replaced. The result is a completely new roof from the trusses up. Generally, roof decking, which is the plywood sheathing that lays atop the trusses, is reused. This is why complete teardowns are rare.
Reasons to Consider This Method
A full teardown is only necessary if the roof decking has suffered damage. This is often the case in the event of a roof puncture, such as from a falling tree or in the event mold and wood rot has gotten into the decking due to major disrepair of the shingles.
Standard Teardown
A standard teardown consists of removal of the shingles and underlayment. The old decking is left in place, although it may need minor repairs such as patching of small punctures or replacement of short lengths due to light damage. A standard teardown is what most people are thinking of when they think of a new roof installation.
Reasons to Consider This Method
This is the preferred installation method when the decking is in good shape and the shingles are being replaced before they age enough to allow major water leakage to occur. You can also have a standard teardown if there is only minor damage to the decking boards, such as a small puncture from a fallen branch or localized water damage that only affects a tiny area of the decking.
Reroofing or Overlay
A reroof is also called an overlay roof. This method doesn't involve any teardown. Instead, new shingles are laid directly over the old ones. The old shingles act as the underlayment for the new shingles. This is the lowest cost and quickest method for installing a new roof.
Reasons to Consider This Method
An overlay is only a suitable option if the decking is in excellent condition and the old shingles are worn but not yet leaking. Most areas only allow two layers of shingles on the roof, so you can only have an overlay done if the last roof was a complete or standard teardown. Further, it's important to consider roof weight. The two layers of shingles must still fall within the weight limits for your roof.
Contact a contractor to learn more about the new roof installation options that are available.