Should I Replace My Roof?
Your home’s roof is an integral piece of the entire structure. It helps protect your home’s interior, which can lead to moisture problems once compromised. Therefore, ensuring your roof is in its best state is important. Regularly checking it will allow you to catch issues early on, one of the many ways you can lower property maintenance costs. The best way to do this is to have a roof inspection from a professional roofing company like Elite Construction & Roofing. We can help you look for common signs of wear and tear in older homes such as:
- The roof is beginning to sag. This may indicate your home has more serious problems besides just the roofing. Typically, the problem could be with your home’s foundation. Sunlight is shining through the attic. If light can get in, so can rain. Moisture problems could lead to more problems.
- The shingles are covered with moss or algae.
- There are granules in the gutter. Granules help keep the sun off the asphalt. Once they start to fall off, your roofing quality will quickly deteriorate.
- The shingles are cracked. You should not panic if only a few shingles have cracked. However, if the problem is widespread, it may mean you need a new roof.
- Entire shingles are missing. Replacing a few shingles here and there shouldn’t be a problem. However, you should start worrying when the roof begins to look like a checkerboard.
- The shingles are curling. There are two ways in which shingles can curl: there is clawing and there is cupping. Clawing is when edges of the shingles stay flat and the middle starts to come up. Cupping is when the edges turn upward. Both indicate weathering signs and signal that problems – potential leaks – are imminent.
If you notice one or more of these signs, it’s evident that your roof needs replacing. Have it inspected by a professional roofing installation specialist and once assessed, the specialist should be able to tell you whether a roof replacement is necessary or not.
If a replacement is necessary, then you should begin planning accordingly. Your plan should cover cost estimates, lead time for seasonal suitability, and what roof type you currently have.
How Long Will It Take For My New Roof Installation?
Let us answer that question.
The time it takes to replace a roof depends on several factors. Such factors include:
Type of roofing material used
Roofing materials are different in type and style. Common roofing types include wood shakes, synthetic slate, flat roof, concrete tile, steel sheets, asphalt shingles, and natural slate.
| Type of roofing materials | Average replacement (days) |
| Wood shakes | 3 – 4 |
| Synthetic Slate | 3 – 5 |
| Flat roof | 2 – 3 |
| Concrete Tile | 8 – 9 |
| Steel sheets | 3 – 4 |
| Asphalt shingles | 1 – 2 |
| Natural Slate | 6 – 7 |
For the estimation above, the crew size considered is of five people and the area considered is 35-40 sq. ft. All other conditions, such as availability of materials, inspection time, weather, and so on have been favorably considered.
The size of your home
The larger your home, the longer period it will take to replace the roof and vice versa. For homes that are less than 1200 sq. ft., installation can take a day. For bigger homes, expect the installation to take a few more days.
Type of roof decking used
The type of roof decking can also dictate how much time it takes to replace a roof, albeit at a smaller extent. At times, damage can occur at the roof decking if prior leaks were bad and allowed to leak over time. In this case, the roof decking could be damaged and need to be replaced.
The method used to replace the roof
Asphalt shingles on a roof can be replaced using two methods: re-roofing and tear off. Re-roofing is done by installing new asphalt shingles directly over the damaged areas. This is both money- and time-saving.
Tear-off, on the contrary, is the exact opposite. It’s the complete removal and replacement of damaged areas.
The historical significance of the home
It may take much longer to complete the roof replacement if your home has some historical significance. This is because extra care must be used during the replacement process and permits may be required to alter the home. There may be specific building codes required for historic homes on the national registry.
So, how long does it take to replace a roof? Well, it’s evident that the answer to this question is – it depends. Several factors need to be accounted for, such as those aforementioned. Once accounted for, you can be sure of a warm, cozy, and leak-free home. If you’re looking for the best professional roofer, call Elite Construction & Roofing for excellent customer service, affordable prices, and detailed work done right the first time.