Removing an Old or Damaged Roof

If you have the time and money, it's best to remove an existing roof for any roofing job. If the existing roof is badly worn or uneven, you must remove it.  Most roofing contractors will be happy to supply you with a free roofing cost estimate for this project if you are not comfortable doing it yourself. Removing damaged roofing is important for the following reasons:

• The cushioning effect of the olf roof under the new alloes impacts from branches, hail and even hard rain to dent the new shingles
• Any curled shingles or other flawswill show through to the new shingles. 
• When completed, there are usually telltale signs of the previous roof, such as cureled shingles at the edge. 
• There is a limit to the number of layers- the wtight of the roof- a house can bear. 
• The maximum number of layers may be mandated by local building codes. 

Assessing the Roof's Condition
Inspect you roof thoroughly. If you find signs of leaking such as moisture, stains, delaminating or separating plywood and rot, it is imperative that you remove the existing rood and repair the framing. Ice dams or splashing from gutters often causes rot at the eaves. You can carefully strip off the first two or three courses of shingles, cut out the damage, and replace the removed shingles with similar new ones. This will give you an even surface for reroofing, but may take as much time and effort as stripping the whole roof which would provide a better surface.

Spray Foam Roofing

Spray foam roofing is an interesting roofing material consisting of two different liquid materials that combine to form a seamless roofing material. After mixing, the foam expands over 20 times to form a complete solid roof. These roofs are popular for the speed in which they can be applied, while providing high performance water resistance and insulation.

Abbreviated SPF, spray foam roofing becomes an adhesive, that will adhere and make a roof on almost any surface except bitumen. This means concrete, cinder block, wood and metal roofs can be covered, which leads to lower costs and less roof waste. Instead of tearing off the old roof and installing a new one SPF can be installed. Spray foam also doubles as insulation further reducing a step required on roofing contractors in Denver. Once sprayed, SPF lasts around 50 years. During that time, it will need occasional maintenance in the form of cleaning and priming.

Sometimes roofing contractors in Denver add UV resistant granules to the top coat of foam to protect it from the sun. Foam is actually pretty hardy. The word foam often turns people off, but the foam is hard and durable. They handle human traffic better than asphalt roofs, but can still be damaged from limbs and tools falling on the roofing surface. However, because it is foam roofing contractors in Denver love SPF for its insulating abilities. A square foot of the substance weighs less than three pounds. This means the rest of that material is insulating air.

In warm climates especially, SPF roofing will pay for itself with reduced energy bills on cooling. Studies show that this roofing material pays for itself in 4-5 years. Few other roofing systems will pay for themselves ever. For the two polymers in the foam to correctly combine, the spraying must be done right. The gun, hose and feeding systems must all operate correctly to install a 1 to 1 ratio of the polymer bases. If something goes wrong, it must be fixed immediately or the project must be stopped. It can be hard for some roofing contractors to do this because this means swallowing the costs of redoing the roof.

Finding Leaks in Your Home

So your ceiling is leaking. Unless there is a problem in your heat pump or other HVAC equipment, it probably means you have a roofing problem. However, short of simply replacing the entire roof, it can be hard to find a leak. Water rarely drips straight down. Instead it finds studs and beams and follows them down into the home's interior. So the source of the leak, from both location and cause cannot be determined just by looking at watter dripping from the ceiling.

For small roof leaks, you may never notice because the water runs over such a long portion of your internal structure that it gets absorbed before it chips any paint or causes any other blatant damage. Water in the attic can cause serious problems. Moist areas always have problems with mold, but in the attic water can start to degrade your insulation.

When trying to find a leak, Denver roofing companies follow these basic guidelines. First any contractor or experienced roofer will inspect roof drains in the area. Especially in flat roofs, clogged drains can lead to standing water. The roof is not made to work underwater. It is designed to wick water off as quickly as possible while keeping the interior dry. A drain is not waterproof because it is only expected that water will flow straight down it.

For composition or asphalt shingles, you can run a blade along under the shingle. If it stops about an inch in, it is probably sealed with tar, but if it goes further there is a good chance that this could be your leak source.

Penetrations are the most common leak sources according to Denver roofing companies. Often these penetrations were added after the roof and were not sealed properly. All roof penetrations need special attention because they are weak points in the roof. A combination of flashing, pitch and roofing materials is recommended by Denver roofing companies.

The next place to look is the attic or crawlspace. This will get you closer to the source of the leak before water starts running everywhere. Sometimes problems with duct work or plumbing cause leaks that you think are roof leaks. On steep roofs, exposed nails can rust and cause holes for water to leak in. Accumulated debris can also cause water damage. Clear nests and sticks near chimneys and other obstructions. Swamp coolers with leaking pans will dribble water on the roof and shorten its lifespan significantly.

Think if any contractors were working on the roof around the time it last held up. HVAC contractors, electricians and the like might have added equipment or damaged something in the ceiling. Dropped tools are a leading cause of roof damage. The thin inner roofing material is not made to handle a heavy roofing hammer. In those cramped spaces it is easy to pull flashings loose and cause other roof damage.

Historic Spanish Clay Tile

Out of the monotony of common roofing material Spanish tile really pops. The distinctive barrel shape is instantly identifiable. Along with slate roofing, tile is one of the oldest roofing materials still in use. The main reason for its continued popularity lies with its sturdiness and artistic expressions. Tile will last for over a hundred years as long as it is not exposed to blunt trauma. Clay tile also comes in a myriad of roofing options, with different shapes, colors and textures. Some clay roofs have lasted hundreds of years.

Because clay tile is not water tight, it is often the flashing and waterproof roofing materials under the tile that has to be replaced before the tile. Working on the materials under the roof requires the removal of tile. Tile is strong, but brittle, so only an experienced Boulder roofing company should do this kinds of work. Usually what needs maintenance is the tile fastening system, the weather proofing or flashing.

Tiles resist weather and hail very well, but because there are spaces in between them they are not weather proof. During average rainfall most moisture will be quickly routed off the roof but there are always chinks in the armor. Because the tile is expected to last so long, it is important to install quality roofing materials underneath. This means metal flashing. Once properly installed, a clay tile roof should not need any further visits from the Boulder roofing company. Tiles often outlast the buildings and roofs they were installed in. There is actually a booming business in recycled tile from Spain. Broken tiles are the chink, and they do need to be replaced quickly.

These tiles are beautiful on historic and modern buildings. In olden days, clay tiles were hand made and fired in kilns. Historic buildings using tile often find that the tile is the most memorable aspect of the building.Some handmade Mexican and Spanish tile tradesmen still exist, but most tile used by a Boulder roofing company comes from factory made, machine extruded manufacturing.

Once installed in a new roof, tile often lowers the temperature of your roof and attic. All the air space allows for adequate airflow, essential in roofs. Without airflow, heat and moisture build up, eventually leading to rotting. The tile also acts as a barrier. It absorbs heat while there is the air space and roofing materials between the hot tile and the roof. Compare this with asphalt shingles which are thin, dark, and attached directly to the roof.

Built Up Roofs for Flat Roofing

In warm weather like California, people like the built up roof because it allows for a large shade overhang. Choosing the right color rocks to cover the tar also gives it a southwestern feel. The real reason that flat roofs are popular however is their cost. Flat roofs and roofing is very cheap because of the low amount of skilled labor. It is basically just a post and lintel - beam construction for the frame, covered in tar or some other material.

The tar-like material used to cover these roofs is called bitumen by professional Denver roofing contractors. The thick, black material must be heated for the roofers to spread it on the roof. Almost like asphalt, the layers of thick bitumen hold the gravel in place. The process is cheaper than other roofing choices because all the raw materials can be hauled to the job site to be mixed and poured. If you look at an asphalt shingle, you will realize that a bitumen roof is really just a handmade version.

A composition shingle consists of a felt base with tar and small pebble grains. Well a built up roof uses felt roofing, bitumen and and gravel on a larger scale. The felt material serves to reinforce the roof and stop the bitumen from spreading. Called "plies" built up flat roofs built by Denver roofing contractors measure the thickness of the roof by the number of plies. So a 3 ply roof has three layers of roofing material inside the tar membrane.

The way that Denver roofing contractors get the tar or asphalt bitumen up to a melting point is with a special heated tanker. The tanker then releases liquid tar on the roof to be mopped around by roofers. Needless to say, this is not a roofer's favorite part of the job. There are some tar alternatives that do not need heat to apply. However this means they probably use some organic adhesive that could be just as bad for you.

The mix-in product does not have to be gravel. Any kind of slag, glass fibers or mineral grains can be mixed in to create a built up roof. Some roofers opt out of this all together and just leave the roof covered in tar. Gravel is popular however because it makes the roof stronger, more resistant to the sun (imagine walking on tar in a sweltering day), can reduce the cost of total roofing materials, and also looks more attractive. Another alternative for sun control is to paint the roof white.

Roof Replacement Costs

Installing a new roof is a big decision. You will have to hire a roofing contractor and pay thousands of dollars in roofing materials. If you are constructing a new home, the best bet is to go with what the architect advises and what will be the longest lasting investment.

Unfortunately roof shopping is not like shoe shopping. These materials cost a lot and will be what is protecting your family from the elements. So you will want to do some research and make some calculations about the overall costs and benefits of each product. The roofing contractor you choose is also important. Don't let them tell you that shingles will last longer than Denver metal roofing.

Although asphalt shingles are everywhere and have been the cheapest roofing choice for years, most roofing contractors do not recommend them anymore. Sure, the roofer will probably get more business because he will have to replace the whole thing every 10-20 years. In the meantime the roofing contractor will also make money as shingles break and need to be replaced. However, this results in significant extra costs to you, and significant waste in terms of old shingles. Those shingles are made of a petroleum byproduct, asphalt and do not bio degrade. So for economical and ecological reasons we do not recommend asphalt shingles.

To determine if you want a roofer, consider their track record. Ask about their other jobs and customers. If they offer any product or construction warranties, make sure you get those in writing. They should be helpful and give you a written proposal, not try and convince you to let them start work immediately. That is unless you have put off roof replacement for so long that your roof damage is starting to damage the interior of the home as well. Denver metal roofing is probably the hardiest type of roofing and it is not complicated to install.

Once you decide on a roofing contractor and type of roofing, price will probably influence your final roofing choices. When doing roof replacement, oddly shaped roofs or an excess of protruding roof structures like vents will make the job more difficult and expensive. The base price is found by multiplying the cost per roofing unit by the amount needed to cover the roof. The roofer then adds expenses like fasteners and labor. Labor often costs more than the total costs of roofing supplies. If you had a poorly designed roof or suffered damage, the roofer may have to tear off the old roof before installing Denver metal roofing. This is a much more expensive process than just laying tile shingles.

Repetitive Stress Roofer Injuries

Roof construction is an inherently dangerous industry. Roofers work high up so are at risk to fall. In competitive markets they are often on tight deadlines, so many Denver roofers get injured working in adverse weather. The combination of working outdoors, high above the ground, with heavy staple guns and materials make the job one of the most dangerous in Colorado.

The most common injuries for roofers are broken bones from falls. One slip and a Denver roofing contractor may be out of the business permanently. Clambering around beams requires a lot of nimbleness that may fade as roofers age. As data from aging roofers is collected, there is another possible injury being associated with Denver roofing companies, and that is repetitive stress injuries.

One study said that over half of all roofers who leave the Denver roofing industry do so because of pain induced by repetitive stress or other health reasons. Leaving the industry early can also be crippling financially. Many roofers do not have many other skills than constriction, so they may have trouble supporting themselves if they are forced into early retirement because of health reasons.

Repetitive stress is caused by doing the same stressful actions over and over. Things like carrying heavy roofing supplies up ladders and nailing frames are possible contributors. In houses with shingles or tile roofs, roof contractors have to nail thousands of shingles to the roof with a gun. They are often hunched over, nailing roofing tile after roofing tile in the sun. Each firing of the nail gun is like a small shock wave that can damage bone, nerves and connective tissue over time.

Unfortunately many of these roofers who have to retire early suffer from skeletal diseases. Being a roofer past the age of 50 is not very common because of the stresses on the body. So at a time when most occupations are reaching their peak, roofers are breaking down. They even seem to physically age faster than the norm. Most construction workers are paid by the hour, so as their bodies break down, older roofers have to take time off and miss work, which means they are getting paid less and face the possibility of not being rehired for the next job.

Beware Door to Door Roofing Scams

The roofing contractor business is going through a tight time now because of the economy and housing market. However any legitimate roofing company is not going to go door to door asking for free roof inspections and your business. But that is exactly what some "roofing contractors" are doing.

The scam works like this: the roofers drive through the neighborhood going door to door offering a free roof inspection. If the customer agrees, once on the roof, the roofer looks for damage and if there is any, reports it and tires to get a contract to fix it from the homeowner. This sounds just like any reputable roofing contractor in Denver would do, and it is. The difference is if the roof is fine, the scammers start damaging it.

So you have a 100% chance of having a damaged roof if you let a door to door roofer into your home. Legitimate Denver roofing companies may offer a free inspection, but they will not go door to door. In any case, it is a good idea to supervise workers, especially if you have not dealt with that company before. Benjamin Franklin had a plaque that applies in this case, saying: not to oversee workers is to leave your purse open.

Most people don't know the difference of what it looks like for someone on a roof to be repairing or damaging a roof. And most people just mind their own business. The owners are usually inside and can't see anything that is going on. The scammers run it as a numbers game: eventually someone will let them on their roof, and someone will pay for the damage. Since they are just manufacturing work out of nothing, it only takes a few houses to pay for their week.

The only people who might understand are construction workers and insurance adjusters. Insurance companies hate this kind of behavior because it inflates the probability of something happening far beyond the projected average. Don't be worried that big roofing companies only care about the lucrative Denver roof replacement jobs. Most will give you a free consultation because they want to build connections. At some time, everyone will need a little roof work.

There was a case where an insurance adjuster noticed that roofers were damaging the roof of his neighbor. These crooked contractors were using the aftermath of a hurricane as an excuse to create more "wind damage."

Integrating your roofing decisions into your home concept

Your roof covers about half the visible area of your home from the outside. You therefore have some very important decisions to make regarding what kind of roof you want. This is going to be a fun process because of all the different options you have available! For every roofing material, there are many different styles and concepts you can go with.

In the good ol' days, a roof was just straw or wood over your head. Even further back was stone... and in modern days some Denver roofers even offer stone roof tile! The first settlers in Denver used wood planks with tar paper for water proofing. If you are making a log cabin, you can still use wood as your roof, but add tar paper and shingles or metal sheeting as well to make it last. Most modern homes have shingle, tile or metal roofs.

Metal is the easiest and simplest roof. Roofing for metal roofs basically just involves screwing the metal to the roof and leaving. It can be hard to make a metal roof attractive, but painting usually works well. A painted red roof indicates a kind of country barnyard style. A light blue or white roof will reflect sun heat and could be striking in the right background. Metal does not need much maintenance, although it will rust eventually, this would be after you had replaced your shingles several times.

Shingles are very popular in Denver due to their cheap price, light weight and ease of installation. Asphalt shingle installation is a labor intensive process, where the Denver roofing workers staple rows of shingles to your tar paper. The price for the materials is cheap however and it does not require highly skilled workers. Wood shingles on the other hand look much nicer and require more work to make and install. Wood lasts around the same time as asphalt/fiberglass shingles despite their use of natural material.

Tile is like shingles but made of a hard material like clay or concrete. The ceramic shingles are made by hand, cut from clay. Tile shingles last much longer than wood or ceramic. The tiles will last at least 50 years as long as they do not break. These tiles are very hard and strong against weather. They will however break or slip off if hit by branches or if people walk on them. So for tile roofs, you will have to replace a few tiles every year, while shingled roofs have to be completely replaced once they wear out. Tiles can also operate in a more narrow range of roof grades.

Call your Denver roof company to see what the life of your shingles is expected to be because you want to replace them before they start casing weather damage to your home.

Tile or Shingles?

The great debate in roofing is tile or shingles. The debate is not black and white. It gets clouded as slate shingles... which look about halfway between shingles and tile. Asphalt shingles are the cheapest kind of shingle. They are light and any Denver roofing company can install them easily, but they are not the most durable good.

Asphalt shingles are easy to replace, but they wear out quickly and can be damaged by strong weather. The problem with all kinds of shingles, both wood and asphalt, is that weathering slowly deteriorates them. Asphalt shingles shrink and wood shingles rot, the eventual end result of which is water damage through the roof below. Wood shingles have a long history in Europe but have been replaced by asphalt and other synthetic materials in the US for most common applications.

On the other hand, the low cost and flexibility of shingles make them more resistant to impact than tile, and the replacement cost is lower. Tiles are also more fragile when it comes to people walking around on them. Tile can break and fall off, causing a hazard. The tiles may offer more protection from impacts, at the expense of destroying themselves. Roof tile is made from a hard material like ceramic, clay or slate. There are many different styles, from Spanish rounded roof tile to simple square slate tiles. Tile is heavier than shingles, so when switching roof styles, hire an engineer or Denver roofer to check your roof for structural stability.

When it comes to insulating abilities, roof tiles work a little better than shingles because they are made of thicker material. The real difference in heat loss is your insulation in the attic. Proper insulation and venting will make much more of an impact than the type of Denver roof materials you choose.

From a pure aesthetics standpoint, only wood shingles can compete with tile. Tile looks cleaner and more masculine because of its thicker shape. The barrel roof tiles of southwest architecture are usually red or earth tones and give a more laid back tropical image.

If you want to really go crazy with your roof, hire a custom roofer that knows how to do old-school European shingles. There are many designs to choose from and your roof will definitely be unique.