Things to Know Before Replacing Your Roof

Things to Know Before Replacing Your Roof

Replacing a roof on a home or building is a large investment and involves a level of strategic and aesthetic decision-making. There are a lot of roofing options to consider on the market today, so it’s helpful for home and business owners to understand a few main points to help them navigate the process.

At Alpine Sheet Metal Systems, we know a thing or two about roofs. We’ve been serving the Dallas and Fort Worth area of Texas for over 20 years, and below are our top four things to know and think about before replacing your roof.

Understanding All of the Different Roofing Materials

Do you want to stay with the original design of your roof, or are you interested in using a different material? There are quite a few different roofing types, and each of them has its pros and cons.

The main roofing materials fall into the following seven categories:

  1. Asphalt Shingle
  2. Metal
  3. Cedar Shake (Natural Wood)
  4. Composite Shingle (aka Synthetic)
  5. Slate (Natural Stone Tiles)
  6. Barrel Tiles (Traditional Spanish Roof Tiles)
  7. Membrane-Style TPO or PVC

It’s recommended to work with a contractor and/or architect to truly understand the differences, price points, and stylistic design components of each material to make the best decision.

For example, metal roofs options alone can include the following options:

  • Copper Roofing
  • Aluminum Roofing
  • Galvanized Steel Roofing
  • Galvalume Steel Roofing
  • Stainless Steel Roofing
  • Standing Seam Metal Roofing
  • Stone Coated Steel Roofing

Understanding What’s Important to You in a New Roof

Before replacing your roof, it’s important to think through what you want in a roof in the first place. Do you want a roof that stands out designwise compared to other homes in your neighborhood? Do you want a roof that is more cost effective? Do you want a roof that is more energy efficient? Do you want a roof made of a material that is proven to have a long lifespan?

For example, a metal roof in a neighborhood of standard shingle roofs might really pop and give your home the advantage of even more curb appeal.

There are also roof types that meet a home or business owner’s needs in multiple categories.

For example, going back to metal roofs, aluminum roofing sheets reduce the energy costs of a building, are sturdy and resilient, can be painted in a variety of different colors, and can last over fifty years (easily the lifetime of some homes and office buildings in today’s market). This checks a lot of boxes 

Now, it’s true that we’re a little biased toward metal roofs, but this is just to help you see that choosing a specific type of material does not mean your other needs have to be dropped.

Understanding Roof Warranties

Regardless of the roofing material you want to use and whether you are replacing a roof for a home or a business, understanding roof warranties is also important. We recommend working with your roofing contractor, installer, and/or manufacturer to make the best decision regarding what you want covered.

There are three main types of roof warranties to wrap your head around:

  • Standard Manufacturer’s Warranty
  • Workmanship Warranty
  • Extended Manufacturer’s Warranty

Simply put, a standard manufacturer’s warranty is for the products, a workmanship warranty is for the install, and an extended manufacturer’s warranty actually combines both. Owners should also check with their home or building insurance provider as well to see if additional coverage is needed or not.

Understanding What’s Involved in a Roof Replacement

A roof replacement is a large project, and there needs to be a level of physical and mental preparation in place before work begins. We recommend that home and business owners sit down with their contractor weeks before and actually talk through the pieces and timelines of their roof replacement.

This discussion should include an extensive list of questions such as:

  • How long will it take for the old roof to be removed?
  • How long will it take for the new roof to be installed?
  • What are the steps of the installation?
  • How are old materials going to be disposed of (i.e., is there going to be a dumpster on site in front of a house or in a building’s parking lot)?
  • Where are new materials going to need to be stored?
  • What interior preparation needs to be made to protect furniture, floors, artwork, and the like?
  • What exterior preparation needs to be made to protect the lawn, landscaping components, and physical property like grills or pools?
  • Can people stay in the house or work in the building while the replacement is happening?

In some neighborhoods and business complexes, additional prep like communication to an HOA or customers will also need to be thought through. There might be noise regulations or other issues like temporarily blocking a sidewalk or parking spots as well.

It’s better to be safe and understand all of the moving pieces and people affected before the project begins.

Trust the Roofing Experts

Our team at Alpine Sheet Metal Systems are your metal roofing and sheet metal fabrication experts, so let us help you with your next roofing project, repair need, or historic metal roof restoration.

Contact us today to get a free quote or stop by.

ASMS Sheet Metal Fabrication

About Jeff Folsom

Jeff Folsom is the founder and president of Alpine Sheet Metal Systems, a key player in North Texas’s commercial construction sector, specializing in roofing and architectural design. He also leads Alpine Roofing Construction and Alpine Thermal Imaging Systems, expanding his influence across the U.S. Residing in Dallas, Jeff enjoys travel, auto racing, and boating in his free time.

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