The reality of the roofing industry is such that no matter the time of year you can get a roof replacement if you really need it.  That being said, a reroofing is a major project that is best scheduled for a convenient time rather than left for an emergency.  Why?  Simply put, if you try to schedule a roofing project (reroofing or repairs) during a roofer’s busiest season, you are likely to pay a premium for the work.  On the other hand, if you take care to maintain your roof and schedule regular inspections, you will be in a better position to schedule a roof replacement during your roofer’s off season.  This usually means the labour costs are lower.  So, when is the best time to reroof a house?

Roofing Season

Ok, we’ve already established there is not a single season for roofing work, but there are times of the year when roofers tend to be quite busy.  While roofing contractors work year-round, their busiest time tends to land between the end of summer and beginning of winter when the weather is warm and dry and homeowners are preparing for winter weather.  Roofers actually prefer to work during these months too; fall weather is cooler and more predictable, and usually the rainy season hasn’t kicked in yet.  So, to make a long story short, late summer and fall months might be considered “roofing season” and a time when emergency roof replacement will be difficult to schedule and roofing contractors tend to charge more.

Winter Replacement

Many homeowners probably would never consider reroofing a house during the winter months, but there are some advantages to scheduling work at this time.  If late summer and fall are the roofing season, you can consider winter the roofing offseason.  During the winter months, you’ll find there is much more flexibility around when you can schedule work and costs can be lower.  There are certainly some challenges to roofing in the winter namely due to unpredictable weather.

Summer Replacement

Reroofing in the summer is advisable because of weather considerations, but unadvisable because of cost.  In fact, summer tends to be almost as busy as the “roofing season” we’ve already discussed, and because of higher temperatures shingle installation is more challenging too.  Nevertheless, in a pinch anything is possible and reroofing in the summer can also be easier because of more consistent weather.

The Best Time to Reroof

I’m sure you’re scratching your head right now and asking, “So, when is the best time to reroof?”  Ultimately, the best time for roof replacement is when you’ve carefully planned the project and scheduled it with a trusted roofing contractor.  This means you’ve already taken the preventative approach and scheduled regular inspections and maintenance for your roof and you and your contractor have decided that planning a roof replacement is in your best interests.

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What is in a residential roof?  They are pretty standard structures, are they not?  The untrained eye can easily make the mistake of thinking that all residential roofs are made from the same material; and the untrained builder could make the even bigger mistake of thinking that all residential roofing materials are appropriate in all geographies and climates.  Neither of these sentiments is true, however.  Indeed, there are many different roofing materials that can be used in residential roof construction, and each offer different strengths and weaknesses. 

Among the major types of materials used for residential roofs are asphalt shingles, wood, metal, tile, and slate.  Let’s take a closer look.

Asphalt Shingle Roofs

Asphalt shingle roofs are easily the most common variety of residential roof in North America.  Asphalt shingles are popular because they are inexpensive and easy to install.  Constructed from fibreglass and asphalt, these shingles can be sold in single-thickness varieties or more durable laminated alternatives.  While single-thickness shingles are much cheaper, laminated shingles are generally considered more attractive and more durable.

Wood Roofs

Wood roofs are certainly not a newcomer to the roofing market; in fact, they’ve been utilized for hundreds of years.  While these roofs are not suitable in regions that are at high risk for fires (they may even be banned in some areas), wood roofs are still a popular option for residential structures.  The lifespan of a wood roof is usually around 25 years, and these make very attractive options.  Available in cedar, redwood, or pine, home owners often find wood roofs are a beautiful alternative to asphalt.

Metal

Among the most versatile and durable roofs, metal roofs are another common choice for residential buildings.  Aluminum, copper, and lead roofing structures stand up well to even the most inclement weather, though they tend to be quite expensive.  Lead and copper-asphalt varieties of metal roofs usually come as shingles whereas the other varieties are used for seamed roofs where vertical sheets of metal are soldered together. 

Tile

Another attractive residential roofing material is tile.  Tile roofs are most commonly found on homes featuring Spanish Colonial and Mission designs.  These roofs are among the most expensive, and while they are very durable they are not always an appropriate choice as they are also very heavy.  As such, some existing homes cannot be retrofitted with tile roofing materials.

Slate

Finally, when it comes to residential roofing materials few products compare with the strength and durability of slate.  Indeed, it is not unheard of for slate roofs to last a hundred years or more.  Still, slate tends to be very expensive and heavy as well, so depending on your budget and the residential structure may not make an appropriate roofing option.

The post Residential Roofing Material Options appeared first on K2 Roofing Blog.

Hey look what we found! It’s an ugly roof and they are everywhere. Join us for our weekly ugly roof feature, where we will be featuring random ugly roofs we find in our communities.

Hey is that my roof?

Does this look familiar? If this is your house you need to contact us right now for a free estimate and discuss your ugly roof discount

If you find your own roof in our weekly ugly roof feature, contact us for a free estimate and you will be eligible for our ugly roof discount.

Check back here every Friday for the Ugly Roof of the week. You never know, it could be yours. 

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