ROOF REPLACEMENT

IS IT TIME TO REPLACE YOUR ROOF?

Repair or replace? That is the question that homeowners often face when it comes to roofing problems. While repairs can extend the life of your roof, they’ll only take you so far. Eventually, your roof will need to be replaced. The challenge is identifying when that is for your home. Waiting for an emergency to strike to invest in a roof replacement is a surefire way to overpay and rush your decisions.

There are a few common warning signs, and it’s likely you’ll experience more than one. Maybe there are some granules in the gutters, the flashing is showing signs of wear, and you’re coming up on 15 years with the same roof—in that case, a full roof replacement may be your best option. Keep an eye out for the key warning signs below as you weigh your options to replace or repair your roof.

Reasons to consider roof replacement

It’s Getting Old

If you have records of when the existing roof was installed, you can get a good idea of how long it should last. If your asphalt roof is over 15 years old, you can bet it’s time to start thinking about a roof replacement. However, the expected lifespan of materials alone isn’t enough. Variations in maintenance, ventilation, and other factors can impact lifespan, so it’s important not to lock into a specific number of years.

Damage to the Shingles

It’s important to inspect your roof after serious, inclement weather. Hail, high winds, snowfall, and downed trees can damage the shingles on your roof, leading to cracks and leaks. On a small scale, repairs can keep moisture out. But if there’s extensive damage, you may need to invest in a roof replacement

Spread of Granules

If you have an asphalt roof, the shingles are coated in granules to protect against damage from the sun. When the granules wear off, shingles take too much heat from the sun and can start to bubble/crack. Finding granules in your gutters or scattered on the roof can be a sign that it’s time for a replacement. Keep in mind that a brand-new roof will have loose granules. This is more applicable for mid-life roofs.

The Deck Is Damaged

Roofing isn’t all about shingles. The deck of plywood and/or substrate that keeps your roof intact is also important. If you see plywood sagging or showing signs of water damage, it is time to replace your roof.

Energy Bills on the Rise

There are many factors that impact a home’s energy efficiency. Your roof plays an important role. If energy bills are rising unexpectedly and you can’t find another cause, the roof may be contributing to the problem.

Flashing Wear and Tear

Other aspects of your roof that you should pay close attention to are the flashings around vents, chimneys and other penetrations on the roof.  These materials can break down over time, leaving your home vulnerable to the elements.

roof replacment : steps to replace your roof

Replacing a roof can be a complex process, and it's important to follow proper procedures to ensure the job is done safely and effectively. Here are the general steps involved in replacing a roof:

  1. Evaluate the existing roof: The first step is to inspect the existing roof and determine whether it needs to be completely replaced or if repairs will suffice. This includes checking for any signs of damage, such as missing or broken shingles, leaks, or rot.

  2. Choose materials: Once you've determined that the roof needs to be replaced, you'll need to choose the appropriate roofing materials. There are a wide variety of options available, including asphalt shingles, metal, tile, and slate. Consider factors such as durability, cost, and aesthetics when making your choice.

  3. Prepare the site: Before beginning work, it's important to prepare the site properly. This includes removing any debris or old roofing materials, and ensuring the roof deck is clean and free of damage.

  4. Install the underlayment: The underlayment is a waterproof barrier that is installed over the roof deck to protect the roof from moisture. It's typically made of felt, rubber, or a synthetic material, and is an essential part of the roof system.

  5. Install the roofing material: Once the underlayment is in place, the roofing material can be installed. This involves laying the shingles or other roofing material according to the manufacturer's instructions, and ensuring that they are properly fastened and aligned.

  6. Install flashing and other accessories: Flashing is a material that is installed around roof penetrations, such as chimneys and vents, to prevent water from entering the roof. Other accessories, such as ridge caps and vents, may also need to be installed depending on the type of roofing material being used.

  7. Clean up and inspect: Once the roofing is installed, the site should be thoroughly cleaned up, and the roof should be inspected for any remaining damage or issues. This is also a good time to check for proper ventilation and ensure that the roof is properly sealed.

Replacing a roof can be a complex and labor-intensive process, and it's important to hire a qualified professional if you're not experienced in roofing work. A professional roofing contractor can help ensure that the job is done safely and effectively, and can provide advice on the best materials and techniques to use for your specific situation

Roof Replacement Cost

A home roof replacement costs between $5,400 to $19,800 on average as of 2023. However, roof replacement costs can vary depending on the roofing material installed, home size, slope of roof, local labor prices, and other factors discussed below.

Asphalt shingles, the most common type of roofing in the U.S., would cost between $6,000 to $10,000 on average, to install on a standard 3,000 square foot roof , although most roofing companies charging per roofing square, not square foot, so if your asking for a price it would only benifit you to know how many squares your roof.

When you work with roofing contractors, you may hear the term “squares” being discussed as part of roofing material estimates.

Roof surfaces are measured in squares. A roofing square is an area of your roof that equals 100 square feet and covers a 10’ x 10’ area. The number of roofing squares needed for a project is calculated by dividing the total roof area by 100 (which is 1 square).

For example, if your roof covers a 3000 square-foot area, divide 3000 / 100 = 30, so your project would require 30 squares of shingles to cover your roof.

Average Roof Replacement Costs by Material

Here are a few average costs for a new roof by different roofing shingles and material types. These average roof replacement costs were last updated in 2023 and in order from lowest to highest cost. This example shows the average low and high costs for a standard 3,000 square foot roof with a low roof pitch and no garage in Dallas, TX.

Condition of the Existing Roof

If you need a total roof replacement because your existing roof is heavily damaged, then this may affect the cost as well.

For example, if your roof has a hole in it that requires work on the underlying wood structure, this involves extra labor and materials. Water may have seeped into your attic and upper floors, causing damage that needs to be repaired.

In general, minor roof damage may not be that expensive, but major roof structural damage is likely to be much costlier.

Ventilation

If it’s determined that your roof doesn’t have adequate ventilation, then installing new vents may impact your roofing project’s costs and timeline.

Roof Slope

Remember learning how to calculate rise over run in junior high math class? Roof slope is a real-life opportunity to do a rise over run calculation to figure out the incline, or slope, of your roof.

Residential roofs may have steep slopes, low slopes, or a combination of both. Roof slope is expressed either as a ratio or fraction indicating how many inches the roof rises vertically for every 12 inches it runs horizontally (rise/run).

For example, a roof with a 10/12 (or 10:12) slope is much steeper than a roof with a 4/12 (or 4:12) slope.  

In general, the steeper the roof, the more expensive the project cost, and this is typically due to safety reasons. For instance, a very steep roof might require special equipment for the roofers to use while they work on it.

Roof Slope Factor

The slope factor of the roof also contributes to the total square footage. You can determine the slope factor with the aid of a calculator, but roofing contractors typically have slope factor charts that simplify the process.

If you know your roof’s slope, you can find the slope factor using an app or online calculator. If you’re measuring the roof square footage from the ground, then a pitch factor needs to be added.

Waste Factor

Roofing contractors typically add somewhere between 10-15% to the total roof square footage to account for waste factor, but this calculation can vary based on roof style or roofing materials. In roofing, waste factor accounts for material that is overlapped in valleys & hips, as well as cut off material around flashings, penetrations, and gable ends.

Material Disposal Fees

If your roofing project involves removal and disposal of existing roofing materials, then your contractor may add disposal fees onto the total cost of the job. This might involve a dumpster rental if the job is big enough, or might be a general materials disposal fee.

In an attempt to remind customers that Rapid Rodent Removal are also roofers, we have also made a table of contents with all of our information about rats , mouse , squirrels and Roofing , Roof Repair , Roof Replacement (articles & blog) stemming from to all about Rat poop , Mouse poop , Squirrel poop or Raccoon poop in Your Home & or Rats in Attic, to Roofing Contractors to Rodent Control.