sherrisroofrenovations-blog

[sherrisroofrenovations-blog]

Got Our New Roof

Sorry for the long break, but we finally have a new roof! 

Our friends at Roofers of Arizona helped us out tremedously! The entire process was fast and very convient to our schedule. We are so happy to finally have this big project completed and could not be more thrilled with the results. Thank you to everyone who followed along on our journey!

[sherrisroofrenovations-blog]

Types of Roofing Materials to Use For Our Project

o we have spent the past week or so talking over the type of roofing material that we want to use on our home. There were a few things to be conscious about when choosing which material: style, climate, and price. I obviously wanted what looked best, but that isn't always the smartest route. We researched which materials were best for our area (Arizona) and what was good within our pricing point.

In Arizona, we have some very harsh summers with a ton of heat. We need something that can withstand that heat and reflect it from entering our home and baking us in the process. We researched different materials and found 3 types: concrete tile, clay tile, and metal.

Concrete Tile

Concrete roof tiles are a very budget friendly option, they come in three styles: flat, low curve, and high curve. They are great against the heat(yay!) and very durable. They come very plain looking, but can be painted to whatever color you'd like. Since they are cement, it is quite heavy and put a strain on your roof. They also absorb water, which can lead to mildew, so it is possible that you may need to replace them more often. It is said that concrete roofing tiles paint may fade, but the tiles themselves could last up to 50 years.

Clay Tile

These are much like the concrete tiles, but with a few differences. They are big pricier than the concrete option, so they may not be in everyone's budget. Like concrete tile, they are extremely resistant to the sun and are naturally fire-resistant. They are also very durable, and can last up to 100 years. Differing from concrete, they do not absorb nearly as much water, so you don't have to worry too much about mold forming. They have a natural color, and can be finished using ceramic to keep there color everlasting. A downside for these is that they are known to crack in cooler climates, as well as a fragility to very harsh weathers.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofs are known for their extreme durability, being able to take a major beating. It is also known for not degrading and having very minimal maintenance. Just like the other two, this is extremely fire resistant and actually the most so of the 3. A great thing too is that you can choose whatever of color you want it to be painted and the coating that is used will keep it that way for decades. If you get a coated metal roof, it will help reflect the sun's energy away from your home, saving you on monthly bills. Some disadvantages of metal roofing are that it is generally expensive like the clay tile. It also requires a specialized installer, which there are fewer metal roofers than others.

Our Descision

We have budgeted pretty well and saved enough to spend a good price on our roof. Comparing the inital advantages and disadvantages of the three, we kicked concrete to the curb. Then we had a discussion on what we really liked and disliked about the other two.

What I liked about the clay tile, is that classic spanish look that it has. I think it is very romantic and would love to have that sitting atop my house. I didn't like the lack of external durability and the pricing point on it. What I liked about the Metal roofing was the extreme durability and the endless color options that it came with. What I didn't like is that there are not as many expert roofers to install them.

Gary summed his up a little more concise than I did. For clay he like the style, but didn't like the lack of options. For metal he loved the durability and the number of options, and didn't really have any complaints on it.

So we talked it over and decided that with the options had, that metal roofing is for us! Now we just have to find a contractor who can get the job done!

[sherrisroofrenovations-blog]

Our Preliminary Research

So last weekend, we started the research on what we should be looking for when getting roof work done. We started off my coming up with a list of questions:

What are the benefits of getting a new roof?

Why is a professional necessary?

What should we look for in a roofing contractor?

How long will the work take, and when can we find a good time to get it done?

The first thing that we looked to do is answer those questions and in the process learn more about roofing.

What are the benefits of getting a new roof?

The obvious (and our initial) choice for this answer is that it will transform the look of our home. We believe that our outdated roof does not match the vision that we have for our residence, so we want to change that. Other than that we found that the two largest reasons are: increasing the value of our home and saving on energy costs.

According to Remodeling.net, getting a roofing replacement can increase the value of a home from an average of $15,000-$25,000, depending on the roofing material. That is an insane increase in value! This increase can even recoup the actual cost of a roof replacement by two-thirds. So basically, we are already getting 2/3rd of our payment on the replacments back, just by increasing the value of our home.

We can save even more money by becoming more energy efficient. A new roof can help your home do the following:

More effiently reflect solar light

New ventilation will allow proper airflow in your attic area

Increasing insulation, minimizing impact from outside weather

Why is a professional necessary?

First off, we knew that neither of us had the time, experience, or discipline to replace our own roof. Besides that, we wanted to know why we should be calling a roofing professional instead of a handyman who may be less expensive.

A professional has the correct training and experience that will allow them to complete a job without mistakes, and mistakes are one thing that we don't want to happen when getting a new roof. We also saw that the time it takes for a group of professionals to complete the job is significantly lower than an alternative, so this alone would save us money.

What should we look for in a roofing contractor?

This is a big one, as we want to make sure that we are correctly investing our money into someone who can do reliable, high-quality work. Over multiple sources, we found 3 common things to look for in a roofing company: insurance, location, and communication.

Insurance is important, because there is always a risk involved when getting roof work done, even with professionals. If there is damage or injury in the process, then insurance will cover it. We read that we need to make sure to check the companites insurance certificates, and if they can't produce them, then we need to keep searching.

Location is another factor, and we saw that you generally want to stick with roofers in your local area. In particular, you want to look for a company that has an established repuatation in your community. This is important, because these companies are more aware of weather conditions and building codes. Both Gary and I also love to support our local economy.

How long will the work take, and when can we find a good time to get it done?

Generally a roof replacement for a residence takes 2-3 days of work, but can last up to a week depending on weather conditions. The weather is generally very clear here, so that should not be a problem. Since Gary is working from home during the pandemic, we are available to have work done anytime up until Christmas.

We got to answer all of our beginning questions, and believe that it has helped us a lot to understand the process. If you read all of this, then we hope that it will help you too!