Need a New Roof in Dallas
You may be having problems with your roof and wondering whether you should seriously think that you need a new roof in Dallas. A roof is one of the most important parts of the structure of your house and the interior including the walls and floor would be left unprotected to the elements unless they are properly protected. You and your belongings as well as those of your family would be left completely exposed. The roof provides protection which is important for the material from which your house is constructed. Preventing leaks is an important function and a properly installed roof safeguards the efficiency and safety of the house by forcing water and snow to drain into gutters. It is also vital in climate regulation by keeping the indoor temperature steady and cutting back on the size of utility bills.
There are some unmistakable signs that it is time to replace the roof. The first one is age and you can reckon that a wooden or asphalt shingle roof should last for between 20 years and 30 years. However, this life expectancy depends on several factors, such as where you live, whether your roof has one layer of shingles or two, and whether it is adequately ventilated. Another one is damage because damage to the roof from weather and sun can reduce the life of a roof quite significantly. The curling and cracking of shingles are also signs of either age or damage, or both. If you find shingle granules in the gutter of the roof or if there are discoloured patches on the roof, it is more than likely that the shingles are giving way. Similarly, the growth of moss and algae indicate the roof is not getting rid of moisture adequately which will affect the shingles over a period of time.
Another problem area is the decking and the presence of moisture in the decking or the insulation can create weakness. Ice and water shields (membranes made of rubber used to prevent leakage at the eaves and valleys) will keep the decking in reasonable shape. If you check from your attic, and can see original shingles on the underside portion of your roof, you almost certainly need to replace the plywood decking. If you find a leak, does this mean that you have to change your roof? Not necessarily, because the roof might just be repairable. However, you should keep in mind that a small leak can be an indication of much bigger problems so it is worth having it checked out. Leaks can be caused by a number of things including badly sealed roof valleys, flashing that has cracked or broken shingles.
Before you hire the right contractor, check if they can give you an estimate of the time it takes to replace the roof. Would they know what they will need such as access to electrical outlets? Experienced contractors can give you all the details of roof replacement, but you should feel confident that you can trust them to do a good job. Ask for references from previous clients or study the testimonials on the website and make sure that you check out. It also helps of potential contractors are certified by any of the major roofing businesses. Similarly, the right contractor will be able to convince you that a total roof replacement is required and that just roof repair will not work.
There are some unmistakable signs that it is time to replace the roof. The first one is age and you can reckon that a wooden or asphalt shingle roof should last for between 20 years and 30 years. However, this life expectancy depends on several factors, such as where you live, whether your roof has one layer of shingles or two, and whether it is adequately ventilated. Another one is damage because damage to the roof from weather and sun can reduce the life of a roof quite significantly. The curling and cracking of shingles are also signs of either age or damage, or both. If you find shingle granules in the gutter of the roof or if there are discoloured patches on the roof, it is more than likely that the shingles are giving way. Similarly, the growth of moss and algae indicate the roof is not getting rid of moisture adequately which will affect the shingles over a period of time.
Another problem area is the decking and the presence of moisture in the decking or the insulation can create weakness. Ice and water shields (membranes made of rubber used to prevent leakage at the eaves and valleys) will keep the decking in reasonable shape. If you check from your attic, and can see original shingles on the underside portion of your roof, you almost certainly need to replace the plywood decking. If you find a leak, does this mean that you have to change your roof? Not necessarily, because the roof might just be repairable. However, you should keep in mind that a small leak can be an indication of much bigger problems so it is worth having it checked out. Leaks can be caused by a number of things including badly sealed roof valleys, flashing that has cracked or broken shingles.
Before you hire the right contractor, check if they can give you an estimate of the time it takes to replace the roof. Would they know what they will need such as access to electrical outlets? Experienced contractors can give you all the details of roof replacement, but you should feel confident that you can trust them to do a good job. Ask for references from previous clients or study the testimonials on the website and make sure that you check out. It also helps of potential contractors are certified by any of the major roofing businesses. Similarly, the right contractor will be able to convince you that a total roof replacement is required and that just roof repair will not work.