Reasons to Replace Your Roof
Your roof constitutes only five percent of the construction cost of your home yet provides protection for 95% of your investment.
Spotting worn out shingles and shades
Over time the material on your roof will split, curl and buckle. Aging material leads to failures in protecting your home from the Puget Sound weather. Rafter lines will appear when plywood begins to delaminate.
Missing Material
Aside from making your roof look unattractive, missing roofing material creates opportunities for water to enter your home. High wind, poor material installation, and time weakens the strength of your roof’s shingles.
Moss Growth
Moss on your roof isn’t like having your own eco- friendly green roof. Over time, moss breaks down and compromises the integrity of the shingle, be it composition or wood. Moss travels on the tiniest speck of dirt, lands on your roof and grows, grows, grows. Annual moss removal is a must on your check list in maintaining your roof.
Interior Signs
Looking in your attic is a great way to see the effectiveness of your roof’s ability to breathe and function. In essence, you are inspecting your roof the inside out
• Ceiling stains appear when your roof allows water to enter for a variety of reasons such as roof age, missing material, flashing failure, or punctures to your roof.
• Another sign to watch for is wet insulation. Wet insulation loses its effectiveness making your heating system work harder to keep your home warm and cool. Wet anything in your attic space is an invitation for mold and mildew growth.
• Spotting black mold is never a comforting sight. Attic mold is attributed to insufficient air flow from eaves to roof line. As shown in the diagram below air should travel from the soffits through your attic space and out the ridge line of your roof. Efficient ventilation begins with a proper roof installation
Algae Staining
Have you noticed black stains on your roof? That is algae staining. The algae spore, like moss, takes root on your roof spreading to form black triangular shapes on your shingles.
With our moist climate, algae is severe in the Puget Sound area. There are treatments available to remove these stains. Remember, never POWER WASH your roof!!
Questions To Ask Your Contractor
What is the business history of the contractor?
» Does the contractor hold a valid/current license for our state?
» Does the contractor carry workman’s compensation, property damage and liability insurance?
» Has the contractor ever claimed bankruptcy? Changed their name? If so, how many times and why?
Ask for an itemized estimate of the proposed scope of work.
Always get your project in writing, and make sure you understand what the project entails, aka, ask a lot of questions.
» What if the project requires more work than initially estimated...how does the contractor handle change orders?
» Does the company clean the project area when completed?
What is a Lien Release, and why would I need one?
A lien release is a document from the contractor’s supplier stating if the contractor you hired doesn’t pay their bill, you are not responsible. Any good contractor will do this as a courtesy for all of their customers, don’t accept any excuses on this one!
What GUARANTEES can the contractor provide?
• Does the contractor have warranties? If so, what are they?
• Can your contractor provide the warranties in writing?
Who will oversee my roofing project?
Does the company provide an on-site supervisor?
• If so, who is the supervisor?
• Will someone other than that supervisor inspect the progress daily?
ASK THIS: Is a Permit needed for my project? All necessary permits should be obtained by the roofing contractor and signed off by the roofing contractor.
If I sign with you, what are your communication policies prior to the project beginning?
• How will I be notified when my project will begin?
• What is you daily routine?
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