Know What Should Be Included in Your Roof Replacement—and Avoid Corner Cutters
As a homeowner, it may seem like a roof replacement is a roof replacement, no matter who you’re working with. However, depending on the roofer, two different roof replacement projects can differ greatly. This is because some roofers may leave out key portions of the roof replacement in order to keep their bids lower and cut corners. To avoid these types of practices, we feel it’s important for you to know what is—or should be—included in a roof replacement.
At Dolan Roofing & Construction, our focus in roofing is on quality—quality you can rely on to protect your home and family. After all, we’re a family-owned company ourselves, so we understand how important it is to keep your loved ones safe. To keep you informed, here are a few key items that should be included in any roof replacement—as well as some examples of places where other roofers may try to cut corners.
Roof Accessories
A common area where some roofers may attempt to cut corners is in not replacing or installing important roof accessories. This could include drip edges, flashings, vents, ice and water guards, and drainage components.
While these may seem much less significant than the main portions of your roof, such as your shingles and underlayment, every part of your roof is an essential part of a complete roofing system. As long as all parts are operating as they should be, your roof will be much more effective in protecting your home from Mother Nature.
In some cases, roofing accessories may be reused, such as roof flashings. Overall, though, it’s important to make sure your roof will carefully consider each of these components instead of simply attempting to reuse everything.
Ventilation Assessment
As part of your roof replacement, a full assessment of your home’s ventilation should be included. Your home’s attic ventilation is an often overlooked—but critical—part of your roof’s performance. If your attic isn’t properly ventilated, it can lead to a host of issues, from moisture accumulation, mold, and mildew to soaring temperatures in your home.
A complete roof replacement will include running a ventilation calculation for your home to ensure ventilation is adequate. In addition, it’s also a best practice for your roofer to replace vents during the roof replacement process.
Full Tearoff
Before installing a new roof, the old roofing system must first be removed. This can be a laborious process, but it’s essential to ensure your new roof is built on solid foundations from the decking up.
A major red flag we see from some roofers is if they don’t tear the old roof off all the way to the decking. Fully tearing off the roof is the only way to assess potential roofing issues that have not yet reached the home’s attic. Without a full tear-off, the roofer may simply be covering over problems that will inevitably reveal themselves well before the roof has reached the end of its lifespan.
Starter Strips for Shingles
Starter strips are an integral part of shingle roofing systems. This is a layer of shingle material that covers up shingle joints to aid in shedding rainwater, and starter strips are very important for wind resistance as well.
Unfortunately, some roofers may skip this crucial step by only installing 3-tab shingles to save money on roofing materials. However, this sacrifices the overall integrity of the roof.
Dolan Roofing: Roof Replacement Professionals
At Dolan Roofing & Construction, we use a thorough roof replacement process to complete all replacement and installation projects. We never leave our customers guessing what will be included in their roof replacement—instead, we communicate with you throughout every step of the process and will gladly answer any questions you may have.
With Dolan Roofing, you can be confident that your San Antonio roof replacement will be professional, complete, and protect your home and family for years to come. Contact us to get started with an inspection!
