Q. How can a home owner recognize when a roof system has problems?
A. There are many signs that you have roof problems. Other than the most obvious, water intrusion, the most glaring would be a stain on the ceiling or walls. The paint on your interior walls might look like its running, or look wrinkled. On the outside of your home you might see rotten fascia board or plywood at your overhang or eaves. Or the freeze boards (birdblock) between the rafter tails at the top of your exterior house walls will be rotted. Paint on wood is very important to the life of your exterior wood framing. In our very hot climate, painting (or staining) the exterior wood on your home must be done at least every 3 to 4 years. It’s a good idea to walk around your home and check these areas periodically, especially if your home is older than 10 years old.
Q. What are my options if I decide to re-roof?
A. There are upgrades to any project, but the most basic option for tile roofs would be to keep your existing roof tile and color or change the shape of your existing roof tiles and also the color. There are three basic design shapes of concrete roof tiles. High profile or `S` tile, Low profile or `villa` and flat. Throughout those shapes, there are many different colors to choose from. Check with the only two concrete roof tile manufacturers for more info on the different roof tiles to choose from. www.BoralAmerica.com and www.Eagleroofing.com. There are also clay roof tiles. They also come in different shapes and colors. Homes with clay roof tiles are generally more expensive to replace because the system takes more time to install and the materials are more expensive. Some are much more expensive (than concrete). There are several clay roof tile manufacturers throughout the country. Too many to list here.
As far as shingle roofs, just about every choice is based on good, better or best. You should always start with a quality 30-year laminate or dimensional shingle. Three tab shingles are the lowest grade shingle and I don’t recommend those to anyone. As you go up in quality the price will go up significantly. A properly installed 30-year laminate shingle roof system will last at least 25-years. The manufacturers’ warranty on these shingles are pro-rated and diminish with time. I recommend CertainTeed shingles to all my customers.
For low sloped (flat) roofs, the choice is which system do you want? Most people don’t see their flat roofs, so esthetics aren’t as important. Usually, the biggest concerns are longevity and low maintenance.
Those are the most basic choices.
Q. Can I do the work myself?
A. I wouldn’t recommend anyone installing a roof by themselves. Replacing a roof is a difficult task that takes seasoned, properly trained people. Injuries are a real danger. Ladders can be very dangerous and we use a ladder many times a day. Roofing is a specialized construction field and if you make one mistake during the process, it will be expensive to correct. Some of the most expensive roofs that we complete are the ones that have been worked on by people who shouldn’t be roofing. Let trained professionals with experience (Tim KLINE Roofing) take on a major task like that so you can avoid costly problems. Not to mention getting a warranty with the work. We give you a 15-year workmanship warranty that doesn’t cost anything additional. We give that to all complete roof systems we install.
Q. How long can I expect my roof system to last?
A.That is determined by the type of roof you have, but most importantly, how the roof is installed. Great care must be taken during the installation process to ensure you get the most longevity out of your new roof. A properly installed, functional concrete tile roof installed by Tim KLINE Roofing will last 50-60 years. A functional roof will have all of the flashing’s installed correctly and ensure that when it does rain, the water only flows on top of the roof tiles or on the flashing’s. No where else. That is a very basic explanation of a properly installed concrete tile roof.
Flat (low sloped) roofs are very different from steep sloped concrete tile roofs. When it rains, water runs much slower off of the roof and the rain will touch every inch of a flat roof. Without proper sloping, water will pond and when water sits on just about any surface it will immediately begin the deterioration process. All water must get off the roof or it will directly effect the longevity of the system. Some low slope roof systems can withstand ponding water better than others. The sun’s UV rays are the biggest detriment (other than an improper installation) to the longevity of any low sloped roof. The sun shines on low slope roofs all day long every day. Also, tree debris will block the water from getting off the roof and is a very common problem. Those problems are very damaging to a weak system and will cause problems quickly. There are many different types of roof systems you can put on a low slope roof. At Tim KLINE Roofing, we install a built-up roof system. Basically, that is; a fiberglass membrane applied over your plywood decking, over that, a layer of hot asphalt that has a layer of felt applied to the hot, still liquid asphalt, on top of that, another layer of hot asphalt that has a roll of modified bitumen membrane applied to the hot, still liquid asphalt. There is obviously more steps to it than that, but a least you get a basic idea. This low slope roof system is very durable and when properly installed, has amazing longevity. Because of it’s durability and longevity, It is mostly used in commercial applications.
Q. What will a new roof system cost?
A.That is determined by the complexity, size and type of roof.
Q. How can I determine my annual roofing cost?
A. The cost of the roof system divided by the life of the system. 20k (just a number) divided by 50-years = $400 per year. Of course, a system not installed properly will make the cost rise expeditiously because the life of it will be much shorter.
