The Homeowners Guide to Roof Replacement

Your Home is Unique

Every home is different. Some are painted yellow and doused with rustic decor, some are painted white and embellished with a modern flair, and others are painted grey with a farmhouse twist. Every home is different, with its own unique family inside that carefully crafts it to their taste and vision. On the inside and out, your home fits your aesthetic perfectly and is a reflection of your incomparable style and personality.

Whether your siding is painted yellow, white, or grey and your decor differ greatly from family and friends, all of your homes share something in common: their structure. You all have floors, walls, and roofs over your head to protect you from the elements. While visibly different, they’re structurally the same. As homeowners, you all share the same mission, too; keep your home operating at its best and your family inside of it safe. 

What happens when something out of your control disrupts the perfect home you’ve worked so hard to build? A hurricane hits and your roof is damaged beyond repair, or a tornado blows through your neighborhood and suddenly your beloved cypress tree is crashing onto your roof. Or, maybe, a thunderstorm destroys your shingles. Now, you’re left with leaks, debris, and unwanted pests making their way into your once flawless home.

It can feel a bit like doomsday when something happens to the perfect place you’ve built. Perhaps it’s not quite as dramatic as a hurricane or tornado coming to town for a visit, but something like a roof leak, a lack of maintenance, or a replacement you’ve been putting off for a few years. In either scenario, the thought of replacing your roof can be extremely daunting. 

What goes through your mind?

How much is this going to cost me?

Can I trust the roofing contractor to do their best work?

What are my roofing options?

And so forth. There are a million questions that a concerned homeowner can conjure up when inviting someone else to fix their home; the special oasis they’ve worked so hard to create.

You’ve got questions, and RoofCrafters has answers. We’ve been helping homeowners like you replace their roofs for the past 29 years, and if there’s one thing that we choose to pride ourselves on, it’s the fact that we keep your best interest at heart. Everywhere, every time. We know that your home is your sanctuary, which is why your comfort and happiness are always at the forefront throughout your roofing project.

Part of being comfortable with the roof replacement process is being knowledgeable about the entire journey. From start to finish, RoofCrafters believes you should be educated. In this guide, you will learn every question you may ponder before you decide to have a roof replacement. We’ve taken nearly 3 decades of experience in the roofing industry and compiled it in this guide for you for one reason: to educate you on all-things-roof-replacement so you feel comfortable sitting in the driver's seat on the arrival of your project’s commencement.

The Type of Material You Select

The type of roofing material that fits your style and aesthetic may not always be the cheapest, however, it will certainly offer you the most curb appeal. Roofing materials vary in their costs greatly. To get a better idea of what your favorite material would cost you, the prices of the most popular types are:

• 3-tab shingle roof, average cost $7,300 – $10,600
• Architectural shingles, average roof cost $11,200 – $17,100
• Upgraded architectural shingles, average roof cost $13,100 – $19,000
• Standing seam metal roof, average roof cost $27,500 – $42,300
• Spanish tile roof, average roof cost $33,700 – $69,800

If you are on a tight budget and don’t want to sacrifice your sense of style, or the quality of roofing materials that will be installed on your home, a financing option may be right for you. This can help you afford the option to upgrade the quality of materials with a low monthly payment.

The Workmanship Warranty Level

Each roofing manufacturer provides its contractors with detailed installation instructions and guidelines they must follow. So, depending on the material you choose and the manufacturer who makes it, the cost of your new roof will be impacted either positively or negatively. This is due to the grade of the material.

For example, if you opt for a 10-year workmanship warranty from a manufacturer, that would require the roofer to apply a lesser grade of material to your roof, as well as a less extensive installation method. Now, if you were to choose a 25-year workmanship warranty, the requirements in material grade and installation methods will provide your roof with a greater lifespan. 

Some of the materials and installation methods that have an impact on the cost of your project include: 

• Underlayment or secondary waterproofing required to meet the manufacturer's warranty requirements
• Type of metal flashing required
• Number of fasteners needed 
• Installation method and materials required around the penetrations (pipes, skylights, chimneys, dormers, roof-to-wall details, and all valleys)
• Installation methods and materials are required along the edge of the roof or the perimeter of the roof
• Type of ventilation and installation method of the required ventilation

Cracks or Tears

At the beginning of your roof inspection, your contractor will start by making notes of any cracking, tears, holes, abrasions, or gaps in the membrane. If your roof has expansion joints, they should be inspected carefully to detect any cuts, gaps, and tears.

Similarly, if your rooftop has flashings, they’ll be thoroughly inspected, too if they seem to be pulling away from the roof or leaving any gaps. This aspect of the roof inspection, in particular, can help to determine if the roof is leaking or if there is severe damage to the roof membrane.

Rusted or Loose Nails

Any rusted, brittle, missing, or loose nails in your roof are a warning sign that the slate or tiles might come loose soon. If these materials were to come loose, not only can airborne debris be dangerous as it can hit people or damage other property, but it can also lead to roof leaks. Such roofing problems should be addressed immediately to prevent further damage to the structure before your new roof installation.

Mold or Fungus Growth

During a roof inspection, your roofer will also have to ensure that your roof has proper ventilation. The eaves must not be blocked up with insulation or other stored items as they can cause condensation. A loss of ventilation and condensation can lead to major fungus growth due to the moisture buildup in your ceilings. Over time, moisture and poor or no ventilation can cause wet rot decay to hidden parts of the roof timber at lower levels. You should know what happens now, right? Hint: the structure beneath your roof will have to be replaced, too.

In chapters 1 and 2 we discussed what factors determine the cost of your roof replacement, and what you can expect to happen during your inspection.

Hello, when are we going to talk about the replacement itself?

Your patience has paid off, I promise. It’s finally time for the big kahuna, the whole enchilada, and the biggie cheese of all questions: what happens during the roof replacement process?

Acquiring the Necessary Permits

The first step in your roof replacement process is to have all the required permits from your state and local building departments. This may also include any special homeowner association or architectural review board permits. Some community HOAs and ARBs regulate the type of roofing materials allowed, as well as the colors you can select.

The permit process is in place to let your contractors know of any specific material and installation requirements that are needed for your particular geographic area. You don’t want to have a new roof installed only to find out later that the material type or color is not allowed in your community. Having all permits in place assures you and your contractor this won’t happen.

Tearing Off the Old Roof

During the tear-off portion of the project, the roofing crew will use special tools designed to pry up the old roofing materials. The two most common tools that are used are spades and pitchforks.  

The crew will go over your existing roof with one of these tools and remove all of the old materials section-by-section to prepare the decking for your new roof installation. The tear-off will also include removing the old components such as metal eave drip, underlayment, pipe boot flashing, and any metal or plastic vents that may be on the old roof.

Cleaning Up the Job Site

After your new roof is installed your contractor will start the final clean-up. They will begin by cleaning all the debris from the new roof and gutters. Once the roof and gutters are clean, they will start cleaning the ground. You can expect this to take an hour or so depending on the size of your home.

The crew will remove all the tarps and pick up all the roofing debris from around your home and in your landscaping. Once all the debris is removed the crew will run magnets to pick up the loose nails around the perimeter of your home. This usually needs to be done 3 or 4 times to get the nails up.

As you now know, when you get your roof replaced, the old roof will typically need to be torn off. Most roofing materials that are removed will need to be taken to special construction dumps that are designed to handle all the different materials used in the roofing products, such as the petroleum in asphalt shingles. 

Depending on the type of materials that will be torn off, in some cases, materials can be recycled which could reduce the cost of your roof replacement. Either way, to get rid of the old materials, they need to be handled by labor to be put into dump containers and then transported by a CDL class driver. After the job site is completely clean, your contractor will remove the dump container and clean up around where it was positioned on your property.

Now that we’ve discussed the basics, let’s get to the fun part - your material options! Choosing the material that you believe will look best on your home all while adding some major curb appeal is the most rewarding part of the process. However, to make sure you get that butterfly feeling in your stomach instead of a pit caused by buyer’s remorse upon your project's completion, you’ll want to make sure you’re well versed in your options.

Each of these roofing materials serves a different purpose for different homes and people. Someone who chooses shingles may like the many types of style choices, just as someone who chooses metal may have a preference for the way the rain sounds when it comes down on their roof.

Although preferences are extremely important to someone who’s about to dish out some serious cash on a new roof installation, the structural needs of the home are at the forefront of the decision-making process.

The same person who wants a metal roof may not be able to invest in that material because of its weight, and the person who wants shingles may have a home that’s better suited for wood and slate roofing. It all comes down to what the contractor advises to do after the initial inspection.

Tile Roofing

Tile roofing is distinctive, beautiful, and sustainable, which makes it the roofing material of choice for residential properties. The rustic and classic look it offers to a property has been highly valued for a very long time. With the addition of a wide variety of shapes, profiles, and colors for endless decorative possibilities, tiles have remained a classic roofing option.

Tile roofs are incredibly versatile and durable, making them not only a stylish option but one that will keep you and your family safe, too. The storm resistance on this material is incredible, which is important for those living in regions with extreme weather conditions.

Metal Roofing

A metal roof is composed of metal tiles stitched together which form a seamless design. You have a variety of materials to choose from when you buy a metal roof: 

• Copper
• Tin
• Aluminum
• Steel
• Galvalume

You can customize the look of your home by investing in a metal roof. Available in multiple colors and designs, you can pick exactly how your home looks. You’ll stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and relish in the fact that your electricity bills have lessened. 

Metal roofs are extremely durable, offering unmatched protection. Metal roofs are strong and highly resistant. Opting for a metal roof protects your house from strong winds, rain, snow, and hail, but also hampers mold growth. As metals are hard materials, they can withstand the harshest weather without taking damage. These roofs are fantastic for homes in regions with extreme weather.

Choosing the color of a roof is oftentimes one of the most difficult decisions a homeowner must make throughout the roof replacement process. One wrong color miscalculation can ruin your entire vision and perhaps cause buyer's remorse, which is a horrible feeling nonetheless, especially when it comes to the large monetary investment that is your roof. 

The color of your roof is what ties your home’s exterior design together. If a strange color combination is chosen because you’ve been misguided, or the color isn’t quite what you were anticipating once it’s been installed, this can lead to anxiety, possibly a large check to the local painting contractor to color match your siding to your new roof. So, you must have the education and knowledge to anticipate what color roof you wish to have installed before your initial inspection.

Light or Dark Colors

When choosing a color scheme, we always like to ask you first. After all, it is a personal preference. So, what do you like better? A contrast or a blend? A contrast would be a light-colored home paired with a dark roof. Think of a white home, with a black roof. Now, how about a dark-colored home and a light roof? Perhaps a beige home paired with a white roof. That sounds pretty cool!

You can also choose to do a blend. A blend is where we match the roof as close as we can to the color of the rest of the home. An example of this would be a grey stucco home and a grey roof. You’ve got a lot to choose from!

The Location of Your Home

The location of your home will help determine the colors that would look best for your roofing system. In addition to the weather, you must also look at the type of sunlight and vegetation in your area. A lighter color roof will help reflect the heat in warmer zones, whereas in colder regions, a dark roof will help absorb heat and keep your home warm. Additionally, the type of landscape you have around you will also play a factor in choosing the right color for your roof.

The fun part’s over folks. Now, It’s time to start considering the functionality of your roof, and one of the most important components to take into consideration is your ventilation system. When you undergo a roof replacement, you’ll likely need a new vent system too. Certain vents work better with certain roofing materials, so you must understand the basics. Let’s jump right into what a ventilation system is!

What is a Roof Ventilation System?

Roofing ventilation systems are designed around the fact that anywhere you go, if you’re on Earth, that is, warm air rises. The same thing happens within your home. This is the reason why basements are generally cooler, and the upstairs rooms and attic tend to be warmer. 

During the heat of the summer months, the sun causes the air within your attic to become extremely hot. Your air conditioning inside the home will help to cool this hot air down. Vice versa, in the winter months, the cool air trapped in your attic will be heated by the temperature from the inside of your home. 

During either season, a good ventilation system will allow the cool air, either coming naturally from outside or inside from your AC, to enter the attic near the eaves (edge or overhang of your roof) and exit near the peak. Traditionally, some of the vent areas will be lower, and the rest will be higher.

Ultimately, the goal of your ventilation system is to make sure the temperature, as well as the humidity levels outside, match those that occur within the attic space. Not only is this important for your home as a whole, but think about the longevity of your beloved decorations you keep stowed away up there. The last thing you’d want is Grandma Carol’s 80-year-old angel figurines that never see the light of day melt in the heat of August, right? Okay, don’t answer that. You get the point. 

Why is a Ventilation System Important?

Not only are vent systems mandatory for the sake of warranties, but they’re also important for several different reasons. These reasons include:

Heating and Cooling

Just as you and I breathe, your roof and attic need to do the same. Blistering heat and sunlight make your attic less than bearable. Grandma Carol’s figurines told us so. If your attic isn’t breathing properly, this hot air builds up after a while. All of this being said, there needs to be an “inhale where cooler air enters your attic through vents and pushes the warm air out. Then comes the “exhale”, or the escape of the hot air.

With proper ventilation, not only will your attic space remain at a moderate temperature, but so will your entire home. When the temperature is controlled, you’ll be at a lesser risk of trapped moisture and everyone’s least favorite, roof leaks.

When it comes to warranties, no two are written alike. A roof workmanship warranty works like insurance in that it protects your investment from manufacturer defects and shoddy workmanship. Most roofing systems come with several warranties.

A manufacturer’s warranty typically covers both the roofing materials (shingles or metal) and underlayment for 20-50 years. If you purchase a material-only warranty, should the shingles or metal deteriorate before the warranty is up, the manufacturer would be required to replace them. We recommend that you read the fine print, most material-only roofing warranties are prorated after 5 years or 10 years depending on the materials and brand.

A workmanship warranty depends on how well the roof system was installed. If your roof were to spring a leak after it was installed, this usually indicates poor workmanship. A labor-only warranty would require the roofing company to fix any leaks for a specified amount of time after it was installed. However, only a full-system warranty covers both labor and material defects.

This type of home roofing warranty typically covers things like shingles, underlayment, and flashings, along with other materials used in the installation of a roof. Full-system warranties usually also cover the full cost of repairing leaks, including labor and material. As a result, this type of warranty is more expensive than either material-only or labor-only warranties.

What’s a Lifetime Roof Warranty?

While most asphalt shingles manufactured today come with a lifetime warranty that’s good for as long as you own your home, you should be aware that most come with a provision that has a specified non-prorated period that typically only lasts 10 years. After that, you’ll be required to pay a portion of the replacement cost that’s determined by the age of the shingles. (This is another reason you need to carefully read the warranty in its entirety.)

Can You Transfer a Warranty?

That depends on several things. First of all, the home warranty roof coverage must state that it is transferable, along with the terms of transfer. Typically, this means that a roof can be transferred to the next owner should you sell your home while your roof is still under warranty. However, doing so may also reduce the rate of coverage for the next owner. It may also require you or the new owner to pay a warranty transfer fee.

All roofs need to be replaced at one point or another. Although we wish they could last us forever just like the wine glasses we bought in college have, it’s just not rational. Neglected roofs can quickly become an inconvenience and create disruption in your daily activities, so planning and preparation are key. It’s always better to take care of the roofing system as soon as possible to avoid any costly interior or structural damage that occurs from roof leaks.

In addition, a well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing roof will also increase your property’s value. So, it’s better to be mindful of all the factors that can affect the roofing system's lifespan and overall cost. The information provided in this guide provided you with everything you need to know regarding your upcoming roof replacement, ranging from costs, material options, and warranties. In the end, any decision you make should be based on your personal preferences and the budget you have allocated to your specific roofing needs.

When you choose RoofCrafters, you’re choosing family, and we want the very best for you. If you’re interested in joining our family and having your roof replaced by experts who have helped thousands of customers in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina undergo a headache-free roof replacement, drop us a line on our contact page and one of our friendly representatives will reach out to schedule your inspection at your earliest convenience.