I received three widely different proposals from contractors. How should I decide which one to go with?
If the proposal is written in detail and is broken down into separate line items, it is a sign the contractor is being thorough and accurate. The proposal should include:
- Type of roof covering, manufacturer and color
- Materials to be included in the work
- Scope of work to be done (removal or replacement, flashing work, ventilation work)
- Who is responsible for repairing/replacing exterior landscape or interior finishes that are damaged during the course of the work
- Installation method
- Approximate starting and completion dates
- Payment procedures
- Length of warranty and what is covered
My contractor is offering a one-year warranty on my asphalt shingle roof system – is that the industry standard?
There are different warranties you will come across during your roofing project. First is the asphalt shingle manufacturer’s warranty, which covers defects in the manufacture of the shingle anywhere from 20 years to a lifetime.
The second is a warranty on the contractor’s workmanship. This typically covers installation and related issues and should contain what items are covered and what will void them. Many offer one year to two years of coverage, but there is no industry standard.
My contractor just started working on my roof and it’s the middle of winter! At what temperature is it too cold to install asphalt shingles?
No specific temperature guidelines exist regarding when it is too cold to install asphalt shingles. They may become brittle in cold temperatures, with fiberglass shingles more likely to break than organic ones. If the shingles are stored in a warm area and loaded onto the roof a few bundles at a time, breakage can be eliminated.
Only the underlayment has been installed on my roof and it rained last night. Now the underlayment is wrinkled – does it have to be replaced?
As long as the wrinkling isn’t severe enough to affect the shingle installation (the shingles don’t appear buckled or wavy once installed), the underlayment can probably stay in place. Heavier weight shingles can also minimize the effects of wrinkling.
During the reroofing of my house, the contractor left one side of the roof unprotected and when it rained, water entered the house and my ceiling and walls are damaged. Who is responsible for repairing the interior of my house?
Before signing a contract, make sure that it contains language specifying who is responsible for any damage that occurs as a result of the roofing work. All items of concern should be included in the contract.
One contractor’s bid includes no. 15 underlayment and another contractor says he only uses 30 because it’s the best. Who is right?
For asphalt shingles, NRCA recommends a single layer of no. 15 asphalt-saturated underlayment be used with roofs having slopes of 18 degrees or greater. For roof slopes between 14 and 18 degrees, a minimum of two layers of no. 15 underlayment is recommended. If you are installing a heavier-weight shingle with a projected long service life, using no. 30 underlayment instead of no. 15 would be appropriate.
My contractor wants to use staples instead of nails to install my asphalt shingles. Is that okay?
NRCA recommends galvanized steel or the equivalent corrosion-resistant roofing nails for asphalt shingle installation. Also, verify the governing building code requirements and what the shingle manufacturer recommends.
How do I clean algae and moss from my asphalt shingle roof?
Use a mild solution of chlorine bleach and water or mild detergent gently applied with a sponge or hand-held sprayer and rinse thoroughly. Do not scrub the shingle surface, use a power washer or high concentrations of bleach.
Courtesy of National Roofing Contractors Association
