Tag Archives: roof maintenance

Pros and Cons of a Roof Overlay

As time goes by and your roof goes through normal wear and tear, your roof may be in need of some work. This is something that every homeowner has to go through, especially those who are living in their homes for long periods of time. Your first option would be, of course, replacing the entire roof. But, what you may not be aware of is that you have a completely different option available to you: overlaying. Essentially, overlaying is the practice of putting new shingles on top of the old and damaged shingles that you already have on your home. Overlaying your home, instead of giving your home a brand new roof, can boost your roof’s lifespan while keeping your wallet intact. The choice is up to you as a homeowner and what your needs are. In turn, it is important to weigh the pros and cons in order to understand what the right choice will look like for you.

Pros

If you are dealing with a tight budget, overlaying your roof might be the better option for you. Because you are just adding new shingles onto the old ones, you are not using as many materials as you would when you are implementing an entirely new roof. This keeps more money in your pocket, at least initially. Also, you do not have to hire as much manpower as well then you would when you are replacing your entire roof. When you choose to overlay your roof, there’s definitely a lower upfront cost.

Also, it takes way less time to overlay your roof instead of installing a completely new roof. That means that you will be spending less time in discomfort and dealing with the construction that comes from remodeling your home. This is all dependent on the fact that you have a roof that is in good shape and can handle the weight of an extra roof.

roof overlay

Cons

Overlaying your roof is just like adding another roof on top of your roof. With that action, it means that there is going to be a ton of extra weight added to your home. You have to make sure that your home is able to deal with all this extra weight. For this reason, overlaying might not be the best option for older homes that are not built to deal with the weight of a second roof. Having the look of a second roof may also dip the resale value of your roof as well. It is not exactly the most appealing look that you can give to your home.

An overlayed roof is not going to last as long as a brand new roof. When you overlay it, you are not catering to the problems that might lay underneath. Things like mold, water damage, and broken shingles are going to be forgotten about because you can not cater to those problems to your first roof when you implement an overlay. With an overlay you are just adding something on top of those problems; a temporary fix. After you add an overlay to your home, then it is going to be quite difficult to find out where leaks are coming from since there are now two roofs on your home. If you live in a climate with a severe rainy season, then overlaying your home instead of replacing it might not be the best choice for you.

Additionally, overlaying is not necessarily the option for everyone. If you are dealing with heavy problems such as curling or broken shingles, then overlaying your roof is not going to be the best option for you. Additionally, adding an overlaying roof is going to add unnecessary heat to the previous roof that’s lying underneath. That’s going to make the existing roof brittle as time goes on.

There comes a time where you will have to completely replace your roof. When that time comes, you are going to end up paying more to replace the two layers of roofing. Overlaying your roof may have a lower cost upfront, but depending on the current state of your roof you may have to pay more over time in order to keep it in good condition.

Is Overlaying Your Roof Right for You?

Depending on a variety of reasons, overlaying your roof might be the right choice for you. If your roof does not have any major issues, then overlaying your roof might be a good choice since the overlay has a stronger foundation to hold to. If you are dealing with major water damage, mildew, moss, or missing shingles then you may just want to completely redo your roof.

If you are having the tire roof done instead of a partial section of the roof, then you may choose to overlay your roof. If you are just looking for a partial section of your roof, then overlaying your roof will make that one section thicker than the rest of your roof. This can lead to serious problems as time goes by, and it also is quite unappealing as well. Additionally, if your roof has already been overlaid in the past then you should not do it again.

Overlaying your roof is a choice that many homeowners choose to make throughout the lifespan of your home. Go over the previously mentioned pros and cons in order to understand whether overlaying your roof would be the right choice for you. Overlaying can easily cater to a small budget while giving your roof’s lifespan an extra boost, but they also may add to a larger cost and more maintenance in the long run. It all depends on what you are looking for as a homeowner, and how you imagine the future of your roof heading. If you are still unsure whether you need an overlay, then try to ask a professional roofing company for help. They will be able to look over the current condition of your roof and help you make the decision over whether your roof will be able to withstand the effects that an overlay may bring.

6 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Roof

Spring is the perfect time to get some fresh air and prepare your home for the beautiful and optimistic season ahead. Whether you are a renter in a cold-weather, expensive city like Chicago; or a homeowner in Minnesota or a property manager in Dallas,  Your roof is an incredibly important part of your house and it deserves your love just as much as the inside of your house does. Spring cleaning your roof will help repair your roof from the harsh conditions that the winter can bring so your roof can be the best it possibly once the springtime comes. Interested in learning more about protecting your roof? Read on to learn about tips that can fully strengthen your roof to protect you and your family through the warmer months.

1. Check Your Roof From the Inside

Sometimes, the best thing that you can do is check your roof from the inside. It’s one of the most looked over tasks by homeowners. They often think that you can see all of your roof’s shortcomings from the outside, but that’s just not the case. You can easily check around for mold and mildew growth when you’re looking at your from the attic. If you see any light coming from the outside that may be the first chance of witnessing a leak in your roof. Additionally, if you smell something but don’t see anything; don’t ignore it. That may be a hint of an inner source of damage. Take note of it for later and hire a professional in order to take a better look at it.

2. Examine Your Shingles

When it comes to your roof, the shingles are the first line of protection. Shingles are the flat, rectangular shapes that overlap to fully protect your roof. Checking out your shingles will help you understand what exactly you need to fix throughout your roof in order to strengthen your roof for the warmer months. We recommend that you don’t get on top of your roof in order to check out your shingles. This can end up being very dangerous, especially if you’re completing the task alone. Do the best examination that you can from the ground.

Keep a lookout for any gaps in the shingles or loose shingles that look like they’re about to fly away. These shingles are often the ones that need to be replaced fully. Loose shingles often come from bad installation or poor ventilation. Also, be sure to look out for shingles with weird staining as well. Stained shingles might be evidence that your roof has a leak or the ventilation system throughout your roof is broken. The shingles are what hold your roof together so it’s important that they stay in tip-top shape at all times.

3. Clean Out Your Gutters

After the winter season, your gutters are probably filled with debris and gunk. This is exactly why you need to take the time out to clean them. If your gutters are clogged they won’t be able to do the job that they’re made to do; drain your roof of precipitation. While you’re cleaning, you should look for evidence of wear and tear on your gutters. Things like rust and corrosion are signs that you might have to get your gutters replaced. If you do, then don’t procrastinate on the task. Gutters are an important part of your home and could lead to dire circumstances in the long run.

roof spring cleaning

4. Trim Nearby Branches

One of the biggest enemies against your roof is often nearby trees and their branches. This is often where most of the debris is coming from and what’s clogging your gutters and taking over your roof. Also, if those branches are close enough to your roof they can scrap it and damage the protective granules on top of the shingles. If you have the proper equipment to trim those branches in a safe manner then you may be able to take on this task yourself. But, if you aren’t confident in those abilities then hiring a professional arborist would do the trick just the same. It’s best to take care of this task before the full bloom of spring hits so you can have less foliage to deal with.

5. Clear Away Debris

Whether it’s dirt, leaves, or other debris, getting that gunk off of your roof can do nothing but help the quality of your roof. Also, since that debris is often unsightly to look at, cleaning the debris can give it a brand new look for the new season. Along the way, make sure that you’re using a cleaning substance that’s specified for roofs in particular. For example, bleach can strip away the color of your roof and damage your roofing materials.

6. Get Rid of Mold

If you see that your shingles are discolored, you might be dealing with mold. Mold can be very destructive to your roof. Dealing with mold is even more prevalent if you’re living in a wetter climate than usual. Some of the home remedies that you can try out on the mold are lead control strips or utilizing zine on the affected areas. If your mold was caught early enough, then these home remedies may be the only things that you need to take care of the problem. If it’s covered a large area of your roof, then you may need to call a professional roofer. Once the mold seeps deeper into your home it could negatively affect you and your family’s health. It’s important to be proactive towards mold so you don’t have to be reactive in the long run.

Winter can be a very harsh season. Your roof is often the first line of defense against these harsh conditions, so taking the time to clean your roof in time for the spring season is very important. Each of these tasks prepares your roof for the season ahead and repairs it from the storms and precipitations that may have happened throughout the winter. Often, you spring clean the inside of your house, why not spring clean the outside of your house as well? It will save you a lot of time, stress, and money that comes from neglecting one of the most important parts of your home: the roof.

 

 

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