FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ROOFING
Some of the question's we get asked, often!
General Roofing Question's
It is always better if you are at home when we come out to quote your project. This allows us to do a complete and thorough evaluation of your needs that include having access to the attic space. Many things factor is when pricing a roofing project such as proper ventilation. Without it, your home could develop mold in the attic space that could possibly effect you and your family if left unattended. Therefore, we would like to have access to your attic to assure your home is properly ventilated.
Proper ventilation is mandatory for our Manufacturer’s Warranty.
We occasionally have rotten wood when we install a new roof and having access to your attic allows us to give you a more accurate estimate factoring in the amount of wood we see that needs to be replaced. Although it may be impossible to find all damaged wood.
Our goal is to educate the customer and give them sufficient information to make the best decision for their family. We would like to show how GT Construction installs a roofing system and how all the components of this system work together to protect your home, giving you the last roof you’ll ever need. Instead of taking the easy out and coming by measuring your roof and sticking an estimate in your mailbox without having a clue what your needs truly are.
This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions….
Many times having the husband and wife present when we come out eliminates additional phone calls or another interruption to your schedule simply by getting questions from all parties involved out of the way in one visit. Not that we won’t come out as many times as required, but we want to make the overall process as easy and stress free as possible for the customer.
We are invited into customers’ homes every day and often find that if we give the information to one party without the other being present, it leads to another visit and another intrusion to your already busy schedule. We would like to eliminate that with one visit and give you enough information to make the best decision and guys honestly most of the time we have found that the ladies like to be a part of choosing the color. Over all the process is much smoother when both parties are involved. We’re able to let everyone know how the job will be scheduled, when the materials will arrive, the job supervisor’s name, and how the process will flow from start to finish. This allows both husband and wife to have a full understanding of what to expect from us throughout the entire process.
The phrase “roof warranty” can refer to several different kinds of warranties offered by different providers. Most roof leaks aren’t covered by standard home insurance, but some home insurers do make provisions for roof-related issues. There are also some add-on home warranty plans available for covering roof leaks and repairs in particular. In addition, roofing manufacturers typically offer their own materials warranties, and your local roofing contractor should have some level of workmanship warranty for services provided.
Your Free Roof Inspection Supervisor will go over this with you in person.
Unfortunately, yes, it can. Learning that you’ve unintentionally done something to void your roofing materials warranty is not a pleasant feeling, especially whenever you’re trying to get a problem with your roof addressed. The best way to avoid this unfortunate situation is to read over your policy and become familiar with any voiding circumstances for your warranty coverage.
There are a few notable issues you should be aware of when it comes to unintentionally voiding your roofing warranty. Here are some of the more common voiding circumstances:
- Installing new shingles on top of the old ones
- Improper roof installation
- Adding certain roof fixtures and features
- Mixing roofing materials from different manufacturers
- Not providing adequate roof ventilation
Many property owners tend to confuse the manufacturer warranty (for products or materials), with the workmanship warranty offered by the roofing contractor. What the workmanship warranty usually promises is service in the event that the problem is the result of installer error. Contractor roof warranties don’t usually cover roofing materials, since these are covered separately by manufacturer warranties. However, if there is a problem with the materials themselves, most manufacturers will use the original installer to provide authorized materials warranty coverage.
Many roofing material manufacturers offer product warranties up to 25 years, or even 50 years in some cases. They can do so because their materials really are designed and engineered to last that long, or longer! Most modern roofing materials simply don’t fail prematurely under normal conditions.
So, what does cause a roof to fail prematurely?
Most of the time, a premature roof failure is almost always due to improper installation. The problem isn’t faulty materials; it’s poor workmanship!
Up to 99% of all shingle leaks that occur during a roof’s normal lifespan are due to poor workmanship, not faulty shingles.
Metal Roofing Question's
Absolutely not. Compared to most other roofing materials, metal roofing is one of the most energy-efficient and coolest roofs on the market today. Large surface areas with thinner yet stronger material dissipated heat back into the atmosphere at a far superior rate.
Metal roofs are one of the most efficient roofing systems on the planet and work almost anywhere if you choose the material quality based on your location and needs. They are thin sheets of metal that dissipate heat quickly, shun and reject radiant cold, and help maintain stability against moisture penetration.
Let’s do the cons first because it’s the shorter answer. The cons are the cost. Metal roofing costs more than most other residential roofing systems.
The pros? There are metal roofs still working that were applied over 100 years ago and remain functional and decent looking. Metal roofs are energy efficient while offering excellent performance during weather events. They are known for their longevity and durability. Metal roofs also maintain their aesthetic appeal for a very long time. Metal roofs can also help cool your home.
Like anything else in life, you have good, better, and best. The same applies to metal roofing.
Let’s break it down.
The thickness (gauge) of the metal plays a critical role in the quality of the roofing material, as does the quality of the metal alloys used. Paint or coloring is no different. Better alloys, increased thickness, and higher quality paint options will give you a far superior roof with protection that covers many potential issues down the road. These include:
Increased Usable Lifespan.
Less susceptible to damage from hail, wind, and falling objects, such as a fallen tree limb.
Your budget 29 gauge metals are mostly for sheds and storage buildings.
29 gauge is the thinnest of all metal roofing panels.
29 gauge is more susceptible to oil canning (waviness and buckling of the metal) Make sure you keep trim, ridge, and flashing the same gauge when building with thicker material. The lessor metals used in these areas will leave you exposed to points of failure on the roof in extreme weather conditions.
Never short cut to save a few dollars that could cause catastrophic failure in straight-line winds from thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Make sure you use quality fasteners.
Historically, fasteners are the first point of failure on metal roofing due to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, or entropy. Everything is in a state of degradation from the elements and time. Everything wears out. How long your roofing lasts is based on the decisions you make in your choice of materials used.
There are far superior fasteners on the market that didn’t exist just 20 years ago.
There are now lifetime fasteners that can most literally weather the storm.
For example, we use a lifetime screw on our Rib Panel roofs because the screw is often one of the primary leak points for metal roofs. Our standing seam product line has hidden fasteners and a lifetime paint and is considered the top choice for the best-looking, longest-lasting metal roofing system in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama.
The answer to this depends on the location and gauge of the material. As covered above, look at the gauge of the material you intend to use, then consider the options for your location. Only 22 and 24 gauge metal roofing panels and trim are approved to handle larger hail storms with less damage. 26 gauge is fine for most residential applications.
You can install metal roofing over existing shingles, but it is not always recommended. It is possible if the shingle roof is in excellent condition and was installed correctly with the best materials, such as a high-grade synthetic underlayment. In this scenario, the metal is only being installed over the shingle because of style preference. In other cases where the asphalt shingle roof is past its useful life and has experienced some level of leakage or failure, installing a metal roof over it is highly discouraged. In this scenario, one would be installing a new product on top of a bad foundation. The roof structure has already been damaged, and it could also be trapping moisture underneath the new metal roof.
General Question's FAQ
Yes and no. Roofs are covered by insurance like anything else on or in your home, but with some exceptions. If it’s affected by wind damage, hail damage, or that tree limb that fell on your roof in a recent thunderstorm, insurance will likely cover it.
If it’s natural wear and tear, your possibilities are slim to any of getting insurance to cover the cost of replacement. It’s safe to bet if your roof is older than 20 years, insurance coverage won’t be available in many policies.
Yes, roofs can be installed year-round. There are many pics in Google Images of roofers shoveling show off of roofs to re-roof them in the dead of winter. Asphalt roofs can become brittle and not recommended to be installed at temperatures below 40 degrees.
Metal roofing! This could be copper, alloy, steel, aluminum, etc.
The answer to this question varies considerably based on several factors.
Was it installed correctly?
What kind of asphalt material was used?
What kind of underlayment was used?
Was it vented properly?
How often does the house that it was installed on experience severe storms with high winds and hail?
What is the pitch of the roof?
Shingles are composed of 3 essential parts—a fiberglass mat, asphalt that encases the fiberglass mat, and the granules. The sun deteriorates asphalt, so the granules protect the asphalt from solar deterioration.
It’s also a cool way to build out some nice colors and aesthetics.
Many are, except for asphalt shingles. Metal, aluminum, and copper are not prone to helping fires rage. Other newer products are steadily increasing fire safety to new levels, making roofing safer with each passing year.
Architectural roofing shingles were the answer to the standard 3-tab shingles. They use the same basic products as the 3-tab roofing shingle, but they have a second layer of roofing designed to give depth and a more aesthetically pleasing look. Since it has a second layer, the bonus is that they usually outlast 3-tab roofing systems by several years.
Yes, although you may not need old-school, asphalt-saturated felt from days gone by, but you do need a quality underlayment. Felt acts as a moisture barrier and second layer of protection that supports your roofing material. Most manufacturers require some form of underlayment to keep their warranty valid. They list options that are acceptable for each roofing product.
GT Construction only uses a premium synthetic underlayment.
A square of roofing is 100 sq ft of coverage or a 10×10 area, hence the term “square”.
Most experts in the real estate industry suggest that curb appeal accounts for a lot of decision-making when purchasing a new home.
The roof is an essential factor in curb appeal.
When a house comes under contract, it gives the prospective buyer a chance to negotiate a far lower price because of an aged or damaged roof. It’s almost always beneficial to replace a worn roof before placing it on the market.
Studies show that you will receive most, if not all of your investment, in a new roof within three years of installation.
That depends on the condition of the gutters and the surface it’s affixed to, such as fascia boards. If they are rotted from poor roof maintenance, you’ll need to replace the fascia and the gutters, as an example.
You should have your gutters cleaned and inspected at least once a year, but preferably twice a year in the spring and fall.
Have more questions? Please get in touch.
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