FAQs
When does my roof need to be replaced or repaired?
Problems with your roof are normally discovered after serious damage occurs. There are some warning signs: leaking, missing and curling shingles, cracked or discolored interior drywall, rusted or missing flashing, and visible cracks. Sometimes damage isn’t visible to the untrained eye from the ground. Call a us out for an inspection if a residential roof is over 15 years old.
Do I need to replace whole roof when it leaks?
Roofs could leak from a break in the waterproofing layer, sometimes caused by mechanical damage, from an opening in the sealant, and from deterioration or defects in the roofing material. The key roof management task is leak avoidance. Find and correct defects before they leak. Catching it early can avoid expensive interior repairs in the future. Be careful! Most work should not be do-it-yourself. Novices can harm a roof with improper roofing techniques and severely injure themselves by falling off or even through a roof in need of repair or replacement. Professional roofing contractors are trained to safely repair or replace a roof.
What are my re-roofing options?
There are two basic options: to replace the roof system, involving a tear-off of the old roof. The second one is re-covering the existing roof. That means to install a new membrane and surfacing on a commercial roof or putting new shingles over the old ones. If you already have two layers on your original roof, we should talk about whether we should lay one more on. We almost always prefer to tear off the old roofing shingles so we can inspect the plywood decking for weak areas, water damage and rot. It may cost a little more to do the tear off and dispose of the materiel, but you will know the job is done right and you will not have any roofing problems for a long time.
How long should a new roof last?
How do you know when you need a new roof? Age alone is the biggest factor. Asphalt-shingles come in a variety of colors and varying grades and can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years in the Midwest. However, even if the shingles themselves are backed by longer warranties (25, 30, or more), the national average life is just 13 years.
We tend to treat the roofs on our homes the way we treat our heating and cooling systems, we ignore them until we notice a problem and then we rush to make long-overdue repairs. When you have a new roof installed on your home, you want it to last for a long time. New roofs are one of the most expensive investments that you can make in your home, so the longer the roof lasts; the more economical it is in the long run.
An expert from MLK Construction can help you assess whether you need a new roof. We will come out and show you the problems with your current roof and help you decide on the best course of action. If you decide to get a new roof, weather you use us or not, first make sure the old roof will be torn off completely before the new one goes on. Removing the old shingles is the only way to inspect the wooden sheathing of your roof before making any repairs. Installing new shingles over old ones could hide some serious problems.
What is the cost of a new roof?
The price of a new roof varies widely, depending on the quality of the material selected, the shape, angles size and slope of the roof and other variables. If it is covered by insurance, your only cost will be your deductible.
What does hail damage do to a roof?
Hail does several things: accelerates granule loss, accelerates shingle aging, and leads to other associated problems. A shingle damaged by hail looks like dark spot where the granules on the shingle have been knocked off. Shingles are designed so that the granules block the UV of the sun and protect the asphalt underlayment. You will notice spots where hail has caused the surface of the shingle to be removed. In severe cases the hail can penetrate the shingle causing a leak into the attic below.
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