Roofing Frequently Asked Questions
Roofing Frequently Asked Questions. Shelter Construction Services is committed to helping you with your Roof Replacements or Gutter Installation. You will find many answers to your questions below. You are invited to call us at (434) 724-8160 to speak with one of our experts.
What is a roofing person called? A Roofer (Installer)
What are the top 5 Roofing Materials? Standing Seam Metal Roofs, Asphalt Roofs, Composite Roof, Slate Roofs, and Shake Roofs
Why are roofs expensive? Asphalt Shingles are produced by oil byproduct (Asphalt). Production and transportation cost continue to rise with inflation. Metal Roofs are subject to market fluctuations. As labor prices continue to rise as the cost of living affects the workers, office staff, and management.
Will roofing cost go down? Roof material cost may level out but, a reduction in cost is not likely to happen at any point in the future. Inflation continues to drive cost up.
What time of year is the best to replace a roof? Typically Late Fall & Spring. Metal Roofs can be installed year round.
Can you claim a new roof on your income tax? The short answer, No. Home improvements are not tax deductible. However, if you have a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) then you could write off the interest from your HELOC Loan if you pay for your roof using it.
What you should know before replacing your roof? The signs that you should look for includes (Storm Damage, Cracking, slipping shingles, Age of Roof). Contractor Qualifications (State Licensed, Factory Trained/Certified, Reviews, Portfolio). To make sure that you are getting an Apple for Apple comparison review Quality, Timeframe, and Compare Estimates. Make sure that the Contractor includes removal to the Roof Deck to verify if the Deck needs replacing or not. Rotted roof decks need to be replaced. NEVER just look at the price. READ THE DETAILS of the Proposals first. Quality is not cheap. Cheap quotes are likely missing key details.
What are the signs that a roof needs to be replaced? Age (20-25 Years old for Asphalt Shingles). Water Leaking in your Home/Business. Shingles Cracked, Broken, Hail or Wind Damage. Visible Sagging, Abnormal Shape of the shingles (High or Low Spots), Mold growing in your home, Moss or Biologics growing on your Shingles.
How loud is it inside when getting a new roof? It is noticeable during the construction process however it is tolerable.
How long does it take to put a new roof on a house? The average house is 1 Day. There are other factors that can increase the timeline. The type of Roof System (Standing Seam Metal takes longer due to labor intensive work) if the Roof is high pitched, cut up (Hips & Valleys) these all increase the time to finalize an install.
Should I replace my roof if it is not leaking? If you have an asphalt roof it is wise to know the age of the roof. The reason is because the granules wear off, the asphalt breaks down, and the tar strip that holds the shingles together breaks down. Seeing alot of granules in the gutter is a good indication that you should be budgeting for a new roof.
Should you replace the gutters when replacing the roof? It is a good idea to change the gutters at the same time. The reason is because the gutters may be pulling away from the facia wood or damaged. Sealant also breaks down over time and that would need to be updated as well.
How much value does a new roof add to the home? A new roof can significantly change the value of a Real Estate transaction. Depending on the roof system it can significantly increase the value of the home during a appraisal.
Should I replace 20 year old gutters? It depends, looking at the sealants is a big factor. If they are damaged or worn. It may be time to replace them.
What goes on first the roof or the gutters? We suggest putting on gutters after installing a new Roof. This will protect the finish and keep post construction granules from getting into the new gutter.
Do roofers start at the top or the bottom of the roof? Roofs are installed from the eave (gutter edge) and works up the roof to the ridge.
How often should gutters be replaced? 20 years and after.
Should there be a gap between the roof and gutter? There should not be a gap between the gutter & roof. The gutter should be tight to the facia board. We do recommend having all facia wood metal wrapped to protect it from rotting.
Should you put gutters all around your house? Gutters are essential to protecting your home’s foundation. It is a critical part of your home and works as a system.
Should gutters drain onto the roof? It is not recommended because the excess water will erode the granules off the shingle and will eventually degrade the shingle life.
Is 5 inch or 6 inch gutters better? 6″ Gutters carry off 50% more water than the 5″ gutters. The weather conditions that we have been experiencing with high rain volumes also are a good reason to upgrade to 6″ gutters.