After several years of upkeep and maintenance, you’ve finally given in and decided that your roof just isn’t worth the effort anymore and have sought to have it replaced. You’ve gone to many different roofing contractors, who have given you various different estimates. When making this decision, it is paramount to understand what the contractor is trying to tell you. If you’re seeking roof replacements in Belvidere IL, and need to know more about what a roof estimate entails, here’s a crash course on the basics.
#1. Roofing materials
First and foremost on the list will always be the actual materials that will go into the roof. This estimate lists the manufacturer and the type and style of shingles the contractor wishes to use for this job. If design is a big factor in your plans for your roof, things like color, style and other design options in the estimate.
#2. Flashing
Flashing refers to sheets of metal, usually thin aluminum, placed over or around gaps in the shingles that can’t just be covered with another shingle. This is likely to happen if your roof has a chimney, or is attached to a wall or dormer. If any flashing at all is required, then it will be included in your estimate. If you’re getting a new roof, then the current flashing in place will have to be replaced as well. This is to reduce the risk of the old flashing being old or broken, coming loose, and doing further damage to the structure of your roof.
#3. Underlayment
You can always expect this and shingles to be on your estimate. Underlayment, of felt paper as it’s more commonly known, is what goes between the shingles and the roof deck/plywood. This is to reinforce the roof’s waterproofing capabilities. Try to get the underlayment and the shingles from the same manufacturer to reduce risk of something going wrong. Manufacturers sometimes put their personal spin on certain products they create, which is fine for them, but can be potentially hazardous or at least costly if one doesn’t match correctly with the other.
There are of course many other items that will be found on your estimate, but generally these three are the most likely. Every house needs shingles, underlayment, and will likely require at least one flashing, especially if they have a chimney. For further details on what will and will not appear on the estimate, talk to the contractor you eventually decide on, and he’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.
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