If you’ve been thinking about tackling some home improvement projects this summer, don’t delay! The dog days of summer are heading our way, and before you know it the cold weather will be coming back. These all-too-brief warmer months are ideal for outdoor projects like updating your home’s exterior, and they’re great for any work that requires a well-ventilated work space. If you let these nice days slip by, colder temperatures at the end of the season could hamper your efforts—or, in some cases, even negatively affect the quality of the improvements.
If you’re contending with a leaky roof or missing shingles, remember that professionals say the average lifespan of a roof is 15 to 20 years. The warmer months are the best time for a roofing project, because new shingles require heat in order to form a weathertight seal. In fact, wintry conditions and re-roofing simply don’t mix.
There are many styles of shingles to choose from, ranging from budget-friendly three-tab shingles, super-laminate shingles, or architectural shingles as well as a variety of other shingle or even tile options.
When looking for a roof re-do, protect yourself and find a reputable, licensed and insured professional that does not do roof overlays, which involve adding a layer of shingles over an existing layer. If you don’t tear off the existing layer of shingles, you can’t determine the condition of the existing roof deck. During tear-off of the existing shingles, if any rot or damage to the roof deck is found, the roofer should repair the damage before installing the new shingles to safeguard the roof’s structural integrity for years to come!
—
Photo Credit: mikeledray / Shutterstock.com