Most companies will obtain the necessary measurements and inspections from outside the home. However, meeting with each estimator allows an opportunity to discuss your specific goals in obtaining a new roof and you may find each estimator will have slightly different recommendations in terms of materials and suggested options. This is also an opportunity to get a feel for a company's performance in the scheduling and keeping of appointments.

A number of factors come into play in making this decision. Older shingles tend to cup as they dry out and age. The new layer will follow the contour of the existing shingles which may cause your new roof to look bumpy or uneven. Also, the existing rows of shingles must have been run straight when installed. Again, the new layer will follow the old pattern and may lead to a visually unacceptable appearance.Of greater concern is the inability to inspect the roof deck for heat damage, rot or loose decking. While the wood can be inspected from inside the attic space for broken boards or water damage, loose decking can not bedetermined without removing the shingles and existing felt paper. (or rot) As wood becomes moist from humid air and condensation that collects in the attic space, it may swell slightly. As it dries out, the wood returns to it's natural position. Over the course of 20 years or so, this swelling and relaxing of the wood can lift the decking nails slightly which may prevent the wood from laying flat. This will be the only opportunity for the life of your new roof to address this condition. Delaminated plywood or root ridge vent to take out moisture. In general, removing the existing layer of shingles will double the cost of roof replacement.

Roofing felt paper, sometimes known as "tar" paper is an underlayment that is installed between the roof decking and roof shingle. Commonly used weights for residential housing are the 15# and 30# underlayments. In the past, 30# felt was often used in conjunction with the organic asphalt shingles then on the market. Today's fiberglass composite shingles offer greater durability and a longer life expectancy in a thinner and lighter format. Many manufacturers today recommend using 15# felt with their 20 year and 25 year fiberglass composite shingles available in our region. While many consumer publications continue to recommend 30# felt for reroofing projects, we suggest the manufacturer's rocommendations are followed to ensure full warranty protection.

No. In fact many folks prefer not to be home when the hammering starts! We do not need access inside the home providing there is an outside electrical outlet we can use in the case of bad wood or if you have chosen the option of a ridgevent system.However, if we have noted the possibility of damaged plywood, some homeowners like to be home.

In all roofing jobs, some of the finer grit will fall between the cracks of the plywood or plank board decking. In cases where a ridgevent system is installed, sawdust will fall into the attic. We suggest removing or covering any items stored in the attic space if dust or debris accumulation is a concern.

Yes. On all roofing jobs there is a degree of vibration which comes down through the framework of the home. While it is not necessary to panic, it is recommended you safeguard fragile items such as pictures which are not securely mounted to the wall, or the "old family heirloom" on the mantel. Items in the kitchen cabinets should not be affected, nor should there be a need to empty the china cabinet. If in doubt, take a few minutes to protect any non-replaceable items.

What often separates roofing companies is the quality of the site clean up at the end of each day.Professional roofing contractors should remove all roofing debris, clean out the gutter system and do a thorough cleaning of the grounds and landscaping.Included in this is the use of a magnet to pick up any nails that have reached the ground level. The perimeter of the home including lawn,landscaped areas, driveway and support vehicle parking area should be included in the search for nails.

Ice dams are the result of winter storm conditions. Because they are storm related, and not a roof flaw, damage caused by water is not covered by a shingle manufacturer's or roofing company warranty. Remember, roofs are designed to shed water to the ground.There are many products on the market to improve the capability of established homes to fend off ice dam leaks. Roofing contractors are able to provide an ever increasing number of products and information for re-roofing clients to choose from. The final responsibility remains with the homeowner when re-roofing to weigh the cost of prevention and protection products against the possible cost of damage if an ice dam leak occurs.

Ice dam related leaks occur when warm, heated air from the home begins to migrate through the insulation and into the attic area of the house. Without proper ventilation, this warm air collects in the attic area and may warm the underside of the roof decking. With outside temperatures keeping the top outside layer of moisture frozen, the warm decking melts the bottom layer of ice returning it to a liquid state. This underlayer of water will run down the shingles until it meets the "dam" at the gutter line. With no escape route, the water pools, then backs up underneath the shingles and enters the attic area through nail holes and seams in the roof decking.

While there is no "cure" for ice damming, the following steps can minimize the chance your home will be affected: Make sure your attic area has adequate insulation. Make sure your attic insulation does not cover your soffit air intake vents. Add soffit vents if your home currently does not have any. Make sure your attic area has sufficient air exhaust outlets (gable vents), and that the air flow is distributed throughout the attic space. Peak mounted ridgevents maximize air flow in attic areas. Products such as an ice & water shield can be installed at the eaves of the home and in valley areas under the shingles which will prevent water from entering the home unless it dams higher than the protection provides.