What Can I Expect During My Roof Replacement?
Given our region’s unpredictable weather patterns, along with a lengthy hurricane season, the chances of a homeowner inevitably having to replace their home’s roof are pretty likely. If you’re lucky enough to not have been affected by Mother Nature and your roof has reached its life expectancy, this is also an opportunity for you to be “in the know” when it comes to having an awareness of, and realistic expectations, when it comes to replacing your roof. Another scenario that would require an understanding of this process is if you’re buying or selling a home. Whether buying, selling, or simply transferring a property to a family member, the condition of that property’s roof will come into question with regards to overall value and its ability to be insured. If and when you find yourself in one of these situations, your first step should be to contact a local and licensed roofing contractor like, H2H Roofing in Mandeville, LA. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help answer any questions you may have about your roof, schedule a complimentary roof inspection, or walk you through the replacement process.
When choosing your contractor, we recommend researching the company online. You should be checking for licenses, certifications, accreditations, completed projects, and of course, Google reviews. Aside from this, you should choose a contractor that is knowledgeable, professional and responsive to go over the specifics of their processes.
What Happens First?
After you’ve chosen a roofing contractor to work with, like H2H Roofing, a roof inspection would be scheduled to assess the current condition of your roof. Once the digital documentation has been gathered and shared with you, the homeowner, a decision will be made as to whether to move forward in the process at that time. There are generally 2 ways in which to have a roof replaced, either through an insurance claim or a retail scenario. There are certain parameters that would have to be met in order to get an insurance claim approved, and your contractor should be able to walk you through that process. It would include steps like, reaching out to your carrier, being familiar with your policy specifics, identifying the amount of your deductible and having the contractor meet with the field adjuster to assess the damage incurred to your home. The carrier will then offer a dollar amount for the roof replacement based on the scope of work, at which point the job would be scheduled.
In a retail situation, the homeowner would be paying out of pocket for the new roof, so contacting the insurance provider and the subsequent steps will not apply. Once the owner has received an estimate for the roof replacement by the contractor, a contract should be signed by both parties. Before signing, you should have a very clear understanding of this agreement, it should clearly state the work to be performed as well as work that is not included. The total cost of the job including materials, labor etc., should be itemized and understandable. The contractor should be able to explain any questions about the specifics of the contract agreement including its verbiage and customer expectations. At H2H Roofing, we believe that being open and transparent with our customers helps them to set clear expectations and that they’re satisfied with the decision to work with us!
It’s Time to Choose Materials….
We’re at the point in the process where it’s time to select the roofing materials that will be used for your new roof. Whether you opt to go with an impact resistant architectural shingle or a standing seam metal panel, the selections that you make for your new roof will certainly affect the cost of the overall job and possibly the date of install if the materials have to be specially ordered. Typically, suppliers keep the most popular brands and colors in stock, varying by geographic location.
The biggest decision that you’ll make in this whole process, aside from which contractor to work with, will be which finish or shingle you want on your roof. In Southeast Louisiana, the majority of homes have asphalt shingles. More than likely, this will be the material on your roof as well. Whether your focus is on an aesthetic match to the exterior of your home, something that has a longer lifespan or a combination of both, this decision is entirely yours! The contractor should be able to describe in detail the different tiers of shingle options; including the pros and cons of each to help assist you in this choice. Different manufacturers offer different warranty options for their products as well as complete roof cover system warranties, which would require that several components of the roof are made by the same manufacturer. H2H Roofing is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and is able to offer extensive warranty options to customers who are interested in them. You should check with your contractor to see what warranties they offer regarding labor and materials, this will provide you with the peace of mind knowing that your new roof cover is covered.
Other material choices may include things like underlayment and other accessories. Some components such as drip edge are required by local building code while some others are dictated by the specific layout of the roof and what it requires. Generally, if your existing venting is sufficient, those items will either be reused or upgraded with your roof replacement but it’s common practice to not relocate penetrating accessories if it isn’t required. Remember to check with your contractor to make sure that your roof’s venting is sufficient in comparison to the attic space.
Scheduling Your Roof Installation!
Your roof replacement is almost done! You have researched a local, knowledgeable roofing contractor like H2H Roofing, discussed the specifics of your roof, chosen materials and agreed upon a price (keep in mind that if yours is an insurance claim, there will be additional steps involving your provider). You’ve already completed the heavy lifting, all of the planning and preparation that you and your contractor have put in ahead of this point will ensure a smooth completion of your job. It’s finally time to get this install scheduled! Roof replacements typically take one day to actually complete. This includes the tear off of the old roof and the installation of the new one. Project Managers will schedule the installers according to the size of the job to ensure that the roof can be completed as quickly as possible, again in most cases, one day. This also minimizes the time that the roof deck is exposed to the elements. If a job is a larger one and it takes longer than one day, the installation will only pause at a point in which the roof is protected, weatherproofed, and then will resume the following morning.
Keeping in mind that the actual replacement typically only takes one day, referring to the weather forecast and scheduling the install accordingly is recommended. The materials will be delivered the same day as the scheduled install, conveniently, the morning of. At H2H Roofing, our Project Manager will arrive at the property the day of the install to perform oversight of your job. He will confirm the material order, prepare the property and direct the install crew as to any specifics of the job, protecting areas such as gardens, driveways, and decks. The PM will also have met with the owner beforehand to go over the plan of action, help set expectations, as well as address any questions or concerns the homeowner has.
When your roof is being replaced, it is considered a work site. Every precaution should be taken to ensure the safety of the people and the property. It is recommended that owners wait until the job is completed and the site has been cleaned of all debris before doing a walkthrough. Upon completion of the job, your contractor should offer a walkthrough of the work that was performed, pointing out any specifics, and getting the customer’s stamp of approval before dismissing the install crew.
Now What?
Now that your roof has been replaced, companies like H2H Roofing will provide you with a copy of your job folder, documenting the before, during, and after photos of your roof. This should be kept for your records and any potential reference in the future. If you’ve opted for either an extended manufacturers warranty and or a Fortified designation, your Contractor may need to provide additional documentation or follow up with either the manufacturer or IBHS. Whether seeking a warranty or a Fortified designation, the roof replacement will have to be completed first, if your contractor is on top of it, they will have already explained this process ahead of the install.
That’s it! You’ve done it! The only thing left you have to do is to take comfort in the fact that your home is protected with its new roof. At H2H Roofing our favorite part of this process is you having peace of mind that your home is protected after your roof replacement. At every step of your roof replacement, we aim to deliver the very best customer service experience, and we take care of your roof as if it were our own.
~ Team H2H
“LET’S ROOF!”