What Is a Complete Roof Replacement?

Just like owning a home, owning a commercial or industrial building has its fair share of expenses. Major repairs like installing a brand-new roof, for example, are costly but necessary investments when the time comes. A building roof that fails will cause a host of damage to your building, including the roof itself, interior spaces, the foundation and even the landscape surrounding the property.

Whether you’re looking at roof repairs or a total replacement, don’t waste time getting it done, but do take the time to find the right roofing material and roof installer. If you feel that your building’s roof is nearing the end of its life, then it’s time to conduct some research. Here’s what you need to know about complete roof replacement in Springfield, MA.

Reroofing vs. roof replacement

The first thing to figure out is whether you should reroof or replace the roof. The difference here is that reroofing is often less expensive than a complete roof replacement. Sure, you can save money opting for reroofing, but it is not the right option for every building owner:

• Reroofing: This is the process of layering new shingles or roofing material over an existing roof. Two layers is the maximum. Shingles aren’t torn off, which is why the reroofing proves goes much faster and is cheaper to complete.
• Roof replacement: During a complete roof replacement, everything gets torn off the roof, all the way down to the deck, and then replaced with new materials. You should choose to replace a roof that is falling apart, leaking or years beyond its estimated lifespan. Roof replacements are more expensive than reroofing, mostly because of the extra labor involved.

The roof replacement process

Roof replacements can be done at any time, but it’s the absolute right choice if there is more than one layer of shingles on the roof or problems with the roof deck. A complete roof replacement is ultimately the safer and longer-lasting option. Let’s look at what goes into a total replacement:

• Removing shingles: If you are replacing a roof, then you already know your shingles or roofing materials are in poor condition. Worn, curled or cracked shingles are a problem, and these will be removed all the way down to the wood deck to make way for a new roof.
• Inspecting the deck: The roof deck is the base of your roofing structure and keeps the shingles intact. A roofing professional will inspect your roof’s wood deck to determine its condition—it will either need to be repaired, or replaced if sufficiently deteriorated.
• Underlayment: A complete replacement calls for replacing the underlayment, which is the waterproof barrier installed on the deck. The most common option is roofing felt that uses asphalt as its protective material.
• New flashing: Flashing is made of rust-resistant metal. It protects roof valleys and rooftop features from heavy water runoff.
• New drop edging: This feature goes around the edge of the roof and offers protection against ice dams.

Reach out to R & H Roofing, LLP for more information about commercial roof replacement in Springfield, MA!

Categorised in: Commercial Roofing

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