Basic Things You Should Know About Roof Replacement

As you undoubtedly aware, your roof is one of the most crucial components of your house. While your foundation is key to supporting your structure, your roof helps to keep out the harsh elements and to control your interior climate. On top of that, your roof also plays a major role in curb appeal. When something is wrong with your roof, it stands out like a sore thumb. A damaged or poorly-maintained roof immediately increases the risk of failing inspection. So what can you do? Get a roof replacement from a local roofing contractor in South Jersey like RGB Construction.

To get you started, here are some basic things every homeowner should know about roof replacements:

What Does “Roof Replacement” Mean?

When you hear the phrase “roof replacement,” it means removing the old roof on your home or business down to the decking. From there, a new roofing system is installed. Unlike roof repair, which solves a specific problem, replacement ensures your entire roof is covered for long-term protection. Repairs may also happen during a roof replacement, especially if there were any extensive leaks.

Here are some of the main steps involved in a typical roof replacement:

1. Initial Inspection

A roofing contractor examines your roof to determine the extent of wear, damage, or aging. They’ll check for leaks, rotted wood, shingle condition, and ventilation needs before giving you an estimate.

2. Old Roof Tear-Off

The old shingles, underlayment, flashing, and sometimes damaged decking are removed. This step ensures that any hidden problems, like mold or rot, are discovered before the new roof goes on.

3. Roof Deck Repair (If Needed)

If, during inspection or tear-off, any damage to the roof deck is discovered, we’ll need to repair that ASAP. The roof deck is essential to a solid roof foundation. Once the roof deck has been repaired, the roofing team can begin laying the rest of the new roof.

4. Underlayment Installation

Underlayment is another essential piece of the roofing system. It’s a synthetic layer or felt that is rolled over the roof deck to create a moisture barrier. The underlayment aids in waterproofing but can also be damaged when shingles come loose or get punctured.

5. Flashing & Drip Edge Installation

Metal flashing is placed around chimneys, vents, skylights, and valleys to prevent leaks. Drip edges are installed along roof edges to guide water into the gutters.

6. New Roofing Material Installation

Shingles, tiles, metal panels, or other chosen roofing materials are installed according to manufacturer specifications for durability and appearance.

7. Ventilation Setup

Proper attic ventilation systems (like ridge vents or soffit vents) are checked or added to ensure air flows correctly, which helps extend the life of your new roof.

8. Cleanup & Final Inspection

Our team is diligent throughout the inspection, roof installation, and cleanup. No debris will be left behind. Once we’re done tidying up your yard, you’ll be taken on a final walkthrough. We’ll also conduct a thorough inspection to ensure the roof is watertight throughout and properly installed.

At the end of the process, you’ll have access to warranties as well.

Basic Signs You Need a Roof Replacement

While we’re calling these signs “basic,” the truth is they are anything but. Keep an eye out for these symptoms of a worn down roof. If you see them, you may need more than a roof replacement:

Patchy Ceiling

An immediate sign of a damaged roof would be spots appearing in the ceiling. These can be cracks, blotches, or other obvious blemishes appearing from water damage. If you spot this sort of thing, you can find the cause as cracks, gaps and other loss of seals around chimneys, joints on the roof, and other such things. These allow leaks which will cause the aforementioned ceiling decay and horrible things like mold.

Missing Shingles or Loose Granules

If this kind of damage is minor enough, repairs may be possible, to spare the costlier, more involved process of replacement. However, by the time it’s gotten this bad, it’s probably too late to save the existing roof. Shingles could be missing granules (the textured surface), be chipped, split, or blistered. Entire shingles, or chunks of them, may be missing. This can be caused by harsh temperatures, extreme weather or simply the ravages of time. Regardless of the cause, once this begins, it spreads not unlike how rust spreads on vehicles, and here come those awful leaks and pest invasions once more.

Curling Shingles

This is most common when using organic shingle materials such as wood, where thermal expansion and variations in humidity/sun exposure can cause the tiles to come unfastened and begin to curl. The result is pretty much the same as if the tiles were broken or missing.

Get Your Roof Inspected Regularly

At least twice a year, have your roof inspected by a local roofing contractor in South Jersey like RGB Construction. The best roofers can spot issues with your roof before any of the aforementioned signs of a roof replacement begin. That way, you can save money with repairs, prevent structural issues, and save yourself from major headaches. We can also help you set up a maintenance schedule to keep your roof in good condition for years to come.

Contact a South Jersey Roofing Company About Your Roof Replacement Today

Now that you know about the basics of roof replacement, it’s important to keep an eye on your roof. If your home or business is showing the signs that it needs a roof replacement, don’t wait! You want to avoid damages and costly repairs, after all. RGB Construction is here to help. With over 20 years in business and hundreds of satisfied customers, you can trust us with your roof.