Affordable Residential and Commercial Roofing Company In Cincinnati

If you own a home or commercial property, eventually you’re going to need a new roof. Needing a new roof means replacing your old one, certainly, but what exactly does it mean to have your roof replaced? Unfortunately, the term “roof replacement” may mean different things to different roofing contractors (and customers), and in order to be a savvy and satisfied customer, you’ll want to have a solid understanding of what a roof replacement should entail and what types of pitfalls you should look out for.

What Is Roof Replacement?

roof replacementTypically, a “roof replacement” should mean removing the roofing materials: shingles and paper, all the way down to the wood, and then replacing it all with new materials. In short – a “roof replacement” should REPLACE your OLD ROOF with a NEW ROOF.

That Sounds Simple Enough …

If you want or believe you need a new roof, you may have been told by a contractor that laying down new shingles on top of the old ones is basically just as good as a roof replacement. Beware. As it seems, that’s actually just adding new roofing materials on top of some of the old ones, and it’s not usually a good idea. It’s easy to get misleading information from the internet, well-meaning friends who actually don’t know any better, or even unscrupulous roofers. It’s a major reason why it’s always the best idea to get a thorough estimate from a trusted, local roofing contractor for any roofing or contracting work before you choose a company to hire. A roof replacement is a major investment. You won’t necessarily pay more when you hire the best, so it’s worth it to do some careful research. It’s also why it’s vital to hire a company that has a stellar reputation, and one that demonstrates their willingness to answer all of your questions before they begin work and as their work progresses. It’s important to know exactly what the estimate covers, because one roofing company may provide you an estimate that includes shingling over your existing roof – while another contractor’s bid may include removing shingles and underlayment before laying new shingles down (which IS the correct method). Ask all of your questions, and always make sure you’re comparing “apples to apples”.

How Do I Know if I’m Getting What I Need?

If your roof is going to be entirely ripped off and you’re having a totally new one put on, that’s certainly a roof replacement. At a minimum, your roofing contractor should rip everything down to the deck. And keep in mind that if you’ve previously had two layers of shingles put on your roof, you can’t do another layer on top of those – at that point, it’s time for a full roof replacement, and a reliable roofing contractor will tell you so.

The Factors That Go into a Roof Replacement Estimate

Once you have your estimate in front of you, you want to make sure that you understand what you’re looking at, and that you’re comparing truly comparable estimates. The two biggest factors that go in a roof replacement are labor and materials.

The material costs include:

  • the roof cover,
  • the underlayment (the membrane under the roofing surface),
  • flashing,
  • gutters,
  • new fans and ventilation (if required).

Labor costs will include the time and effort required to:

  • remove the old roof,
  • install a new one,
  • haul away debris,
  • clean up the worksite.

Check what type of warranty is being offered for your roof replacement project as well – that’s important and each roof replacement company may offer something different.

It’s important not to choose a roofer simply because they offer the lowest price. All contractors will have to pay for labor and materials. If an estimate seems much lower than the others, they may be citing the cost of materials accurately but giving a low estimate for labor … while writing in a disclaimer that the labor costs may go higher. You may also be willing to pay a little more in labor costs if they finish the job faster, or if the work comes with a longer warranty. This is why you want to truly understand an estimate before you select a roof replacement company, and you want to read carefully and have all of your questions answered before you make your final choice.

The Typical Process for Replacing a Roof

The first step in replacing the roof should be a thorough inspection of the existing structure. Are there water leaks into the attic or the rest of the house? How is the fascia holding up? What is the condition of the flashing around the chimney, and what is the state of the chimney itself? You need to know if there is a need for structural repairs before you start ripping up the roof.

Suppose the inspection has been done and the scope of work has been properly defined. The next step is to pull up the existing shingles or roof tiles and underlayment. This will expose the roof decking. While an inspection of the roof from both the inside and outside of the home should give you an idea of its condition, you might find other things that need to be repaired in the process. If any part of the roof has rotted or deteriorated, it needs to be replaced. So if there is evidence of rot or damage to the roof deck, the underlayment or waterproof barrier on the roof deck has to be replaced, too.

Next comes the new flashing. You want to have flashing installed anywhere that there is heavy runoff and where two surfaces meet. This includes the edges of the chimney and bends in the roof. Drip edging and ice dam protection should be put in at this point, too. Your new roof may or may not come with new gutters and drainage, depending on the needs of your home.

Good roofing contractors will clean up the worksite completely before they leave. They’ll dispose of the old shingles, scrap wood, and the old roof membrane. They may or may not leave you with extra shingles or roof tiles to make repairs in the future as needed.

Harper: Your Reliable Cincinnati Roof Replacement Company

If you think the roof on your Cincinnati-area home may need to be replaced, contact Harper Siding and Roofing for a detailed estimate. It’s possible your roof is fine as it is (and if it is, we’ll tell you)! If you do need a new roof, we’ll provide a thorough estimate with all costs broken down so you can see what you are paying for. If you’re in the market for a new roof, call the most trusted roof replacement company in Cincinnati: Harper Siding and Roofing.

The Inspiration for Affordable Window Companies in Cincinnati

When people on the coasts look inland to Cincinnati, there are some aspects of Ohio life they envy. Whether these people grew up in the midwest and headed coastward, or whether these people started out on the coast, this is the case. When they look at Cincinnati, they see great value. Excellent public schools and houses that are reasonably priced. Your dollar goes much further in Cincinnati than it does in, say, northern Virginia or Seattle. This, my friend, is why Cincinnati has affordable window companies. The work ethic of the southern Ohioan is strong. People in this town respect a job well done, and respect the quality of the work. Cincinnati people tend to be direct and no-nonsense, and with that taken into consideration, savvy window companies know that they cannot puff up their invoices with unnecessary charges. Parts and labor, and nothing else. Leave the price-gauging to other cities.

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