Buying a New Roof Part 1

August 28, 2017 | Filed under: Buying a New Roof,Research

Many things can be accomplished with your home’s new roof. A good place to start your purchasing process is by understanding the major things which impact your decision and then thinking in terms of what your current roof offers and what it lacks that you want to address or correct with a new roof.

Buying A New Roof

Here are 3 things to consider when establishing your criteria for a new roof…and not just settling for the usual solutions.

1. Durability

Durability may seem like a “no-brainer” when it comes to roofing your home. Your roof, after all, provides great protection for you and your family. No one wants to have to replace their roof more often than necessary, or perhaps endure leaks or other problems at any time. However, what we often see is homeowners assuming that warranty length equates to the life expectancy of a product. Yet, when it comes to standard shingles, no one ever sees them lasting 40 or 50 years as their warranties would imply. Warranties are legal contracts/agreements, not predictors of durability. One of the best factors when considering durability is to go look at older projects that have the product you’re considering and talk to the property owners to learn from their experiences. You can take a look at our lifetime, transferable warranty here. It’s the very best in the industry.

2. Wind Resistance

If your home is located in an area prone to wind storms, or if it just seems to always be windy where you live, wind resistance will be high in your roofing consideration set. In many cases, roofing manufacturers will have optional special installation procedures for high wind areas. Many contractors will not be aware of these so you may need to do some research. To help create a roof that is as wind-resistant as possible, interlocking panels or shingles can be expected to perform better than panels that just overlap or are held together by short-lived sealants and adhesives.

3. Resiliency

One criterion for your new roof may be resiliency. If you’re in an area that is prone to hail or if your roof is subject to foot traffic on occasion, then a roof that maintains its flexibility and rigidity as it ages will be important. Some roofs lose impact resistance as they age while others will be just as resilient in 30 or 40 years as they are when they are new. Roofs that lose impact resistance as they age will be increasingly prone to damage from hail, foot traffic, and even tree branches that may fall on the roof. Learn more about the impact resistance of metal roofing in this short, informative video.

We will continue to update this list of criteria to be established for buying a new roof. Stay tuned.