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| Frequently Asked Questions |
Roofing Questions
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- What are my options if I decide to re-roof?
You have two basic options. You can choose a complete replacement of the roof system,
involving a tear-off of the old roof, or a re-cover over the existing roof, involving only
the installation of a new membrane and surfacing. If you've already had one recover over
your original roof, check with a professional roofing contractor to see if your deck can
support a second recover.
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- My roof leaks. Do I need to have it totally replaced?
Not necessarily. Leaking can result because some flashings have come loose or because a section of the
roof has been damaged. A roof failure, however, is generally irreversible and results from improper installation
or choice of materials, or from the installation of a roof system inappropriate to the building.
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- Can I do the roof myself?
Most work should not be do-it-yourself. Professional roofing contractors are trained
to safely and efficiently repair or replace a roof. Novices can harm a roof with improper roofing
techniques and severely injure themselves by falling off or even through a roof in need of repair or
replacement. Homeowner maintenance should be confined to roof inspections in both the fall and spring
to check for cracked or curling shingles, and to cleaning rain gutters filled with dead leaves and other
debris. If you must see the roof for yourself, use a firmly braced or tied-off ladder equipped with
rubber safety feet. Wear rubber-soled shoes and stay on the ladder (and off the roof) if possible.
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- How long can I expect my roof to last?
The condition and lifespan of your roof will depend on the type of roof you have,
the effects of your local environment and the maintenance which the roof has received.
According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, asphalt shingles generally last
15-20 years; wood shingle/shakes, 10-40 years; clay/concrete tiles, 20+ years; slate,
30-100 years; metal roofing, 15-40+ years. Roofing product manufacturers offer a variety
of warranties on their products. Take a close look at those warranties to see what
responsibilities and financial obligations they will assume if their products fail to
reach their expected lifetimes.
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- What will a new roof cost?
The price of a new roof varies widely, depending on material selected, the
contractor doing the work, the home itself, area of the country, local labor rates,
time of year, and more. Keep in mind that cost is
only one factor, and it must be balanced against the quality of the materials and
workmanship. For each roofing material there are different grades and corresponding
prices. Plus, there are a variety of styles and shapes. You need to look at the full
product range and make a choice based on your budget and needs.
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- Is ventilation really that important?
Well, the shortest answer is "Yes," but there are reasons. Here are a few:
The Importance of Ventilation
- Good Ventilation creates a cooler attic in the summer
- An overheated attic, combined with moisture, can be damaging to
roof decking and roofing shingles, causing them to distort and deteriorate
prematurely.
- Good ventilation creates a dryer attic in the winter and helps
prevent ice dams.
What is an ice dam?
- Good ventilation serves two main functions:
- Moves hot air next to the roof deck out of the attic in the summer.
- Dilutes and removes the moist air in the winter before it can cause damage.
Different Types of Ventilation
There are many different types of roofing ventilation. Each has it's advantages and drawbacks:
| Static Vents - The least expensive but only provides ventilation in the immediate area where they are installed. |
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| Gable Vents - The wind must blow directly into one vent in order to get the air flowing across the attic and out the other vent. |
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| Turbine Vents - Experience the same problems as the static vents but generate a greater airflow than the static vents. |
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| Power Fans - They provide a high airflow. However, they take energy to operate so they create an ongoing expense. Also, fans controlled by a thermostat will usually operate only in the summer. These fans do nothing to remove the moist air that gets in the attic during cold months. |
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The Most Ventilation For The Money
 A ridge vent is positioned along the entire length of the roof peak. In addition to being excellent exhaust vents, ridge vents blend in with the roof line, making a more attractive home. Years of research has proven that ridge vents with external baffles, combined with
under eave venting, is the most efficient and effective system you can install.
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- What is waterproofing under layment?
 Waterproofing under layment is installed underneath the shingles in areas where extra protection is desired.
High wear areas like the valleys on the roof, around dormers, rakes, eaves and skylights are good places to put an extra barrier of protection against water leakage
caused by ice damming and wind-driven rain.
Waterproofing under layment is self-sealing so that it seals around nails providing a water tight barrier against moisture.
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- I have a brick chimney, does it really need reflashing?
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 Some roofing contractors will not reflash the chimney unless it is specified in the contract. It is time consuming work and takes a high degree of skill to flash a chimney properly.
A favorite line to get out of reflashing the chimney is, "Why fix something' that
is not broke?"
The truth is that if the chimney is not reflashed when the roof is installed, the chances of the chimney leaking in the next 3-5 years are very high!
If you're going to make the investment of getting a new roof system installed on your home, ensure that the system will keep you dry for years down the road. Make sure that the contractor is specifying that the chimney will definitely be reflashed!
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- Do I need a permit for my new roof?
Yes. A permit is required by your city/county in order for any work to be done on your house.
We will pull the appropriate permit for the work being done on your home. Once the permit is pulled
the roofer will post it on your property so it is visible for any city/county inspections. You may
take the permit down AFTER your roof has passed it's final inspection from the city/county.
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- How do I prepare for my re-roofing project?
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- Remove all fragile items,
including light fixtures, mirrors, pictures, figurines, etc. from the walls,
ceilings, and shelves. These items can fall if not firmly attached. We suggest
that you check to make sure they are secured. If in doubt, take them down.
Small cracks or crow's feet will sometimes appear in older plaster and sometimes
small particles of the acoustical will fall. We cannot assume the responsibility
of these items as a result of re-roofing.
- Please remove all items from around the perimeter of the house that could be hit
by falling roofing material,
such as cars, boats,
furniture, barbecues, plants, etc. Please use extreme caution
around your home after material has been loaded on the roof and be advised that roofing
materials could fall at any time! Drury Bros. Roofing will not be held liable
for any of these items if damaged.
- Be prepared for noise! There will be constant hammering for two or more days, depending
on the size of your roof. You may want to plan on some time away from the house while the job is
in progress.
- Your contract will be estimated on allowing access to the driveways for our trucks and access to
electricity. If exterior plugs are not available, please run an extension cord through a window or
door. During the time of your project, we ask that no vehicles be placed in the driveway area near
our trucks due to the debris during construction. We will not be held responsible for damage to a
vehicle during this time.
- If you have low hanging branches over your roof, some trimming may be necessary. Our men will
only cut those limbs, which limit our ability to do an efficient job. In some cases, you may prefer
to have the tree or trees trimmed by professionals before we begin our job. We will notify you if this
is a concern.
- Please keep children and pets away from the work area!
- Please be aware that small parts of shingles and some dirt will fall into the attic and garage wherever there
is any space or joint in the plywood or plank decking. There is no way to prevent this.
Please remove cars from garage and cover anything that you want protected from falling debris. Drury Bros. Roofing is
not responsible for any damage or clean up.
- After the roofing job is complete, the roofers will sweep around the house and driveway with a magnetic nail roller.
We will make every effort to pick up all nails. Please be advised that some nails hidden in the grass or shrubbery may remain.
- We remove and reinstall antennas (satellites) in the same location. We are not responsible for the repositioning of these dishes, and
may need to be realigned by you or your satellite company.
- In Colorado, all concrete driveways will eventually crack. The trucks used in the roofing process
are large and heavy and can cause a weak driveway to prematurely crack. If your driveway was constructed
according to industry standards-correct backfill and tamping, 4" thickness, and steel mesh reinforcement-it is highly unlikely that these trucks will
crack the driveway. Because it is impossible to determine if the driveway was properly installed, Drury Bros. Roofing will not be responsible for
driveway damage.
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- How will weather conditions affect me?
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Heat-
Heat can be a problem if temperatures reach 90+ degrees. The most common heat related issue is "scarring" the shingles. Scarred shingles occur when
the asphalt becomes too soft and granules can no longer adhere to the shingle when weight is applied, so walking on the roof can then cause black streaks or
"scars" to appear.
Cold-
Cold becomes a problem when temperatures drop below 40 degrees. Once a shingle becomes cold it is brittle and can break very easily. Also, shingles have a self
sealant
on the back that helps them adhere to your roof and seal down so there is no water leakage. If this problem occurs than you may have continuous leaks and damage to the interior
of your home which can be costly to repair.
Rain-
If your roof has been torn off, and no waterproofing under layment (felt) has been
laid, then rain will effect you. When decking is exposed to the rain it may become
weak in spots and eventually become rotted after your new roof is installed. Once your decking starts to rot the only option to repair it will be a complete tear off
to replace the decking.
Snow-
It is not a good idea to have your home re-roofed if it is snowing. When it is snowing it is too cold to roof the house because the shingles
cannot seal. By snow accumulating on an unsealed roof you can expect leaks and interior damage.
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- When do I pay for my new roof?
Drury Bros. Roofing will never ask for any money up front. Upon the comletion of your new roof (when new roofing
materials are installed), you will receive an invoice for the full amount due for your roofing project. Please fax
this invoice directly to your insurance company so they will start processing your second check. We will accept a partial
payment or your first check upon completion of the roof, and the balance when the second check is received. Please make sure
arrangements with the insurance companies, banks, and mortgage companies that funds will be available to you at this time.
You may also take advantage of any coupons or discounts you may have received as long as they are within the expiration date and
used with a full payment.
If payment in full is not made within 30 days of completion; a 1.5% penalty will be applied per month
until the balance is fully paid. In addition a lien may be filed on your property to protect us for the work performed. Please
pay promptly to avoid any of these issues.
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- Will I receive a warranty?
Yes, upon final payment you will receive two warranties along with your
receipt. Your new roof will be covered by two warrantees:
- Workmanship: This is our warranty. Our warranty will cover workmanship,
labor, and installation for 2 years. It does not cover the materials. The specifics of this warranty are outlined on the
back of the warranty itself.
- Manufactures: This warranty is issued by the shingle manufacturer and covers
the materials that were used. These warranties vary based on 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, & Lifetime years, depending on the product you
have installed.
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- What is the inspection process?
A permit will be purchased from your city/county for your protection. This permit is an agreement between Drury Bros. Roofing
and the inspection agency. In order to keep our license active, we are obligated to fix any deficiencies the inspector might find
upon their final inspection. When the work begins on your property, this building permit will be posted where visible.
After your roof is completed, a Drury Bros. Roofing inspector will be out to perform a thorough inspection on the finished project.
Once we have inspected your roof, we will make a call to the city/county, in which you reside, for a final inspection. Please note
that once a final inspection has been called in, it can sometimes take up to 6 weeks depending on the city/counties schedule. Your
permit must remain visible to the inspector until your roof has passed final inspection. Also remember that we require payment for
your roof upon completion, not final inspection by the city/county.
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- Insurance Company payments and procedures
There are two major types of residential insurance policies,
"Actual Cash Value" (ACV) and "Replacement Cost" (RC)
. With an ACV policy your roof will depreciate in value each year for 10 years, if
your roof sustains any damages you will only receive a check for the depreciated value of
your roof.
If you carry a RC policy your insurance company will cover the cost to replace your new
roof minus your deductible. Home insurance policies that are "replacement cost" will
generally pay two installments for a new roof. The
first check should be sent to the policy holder as
soon as the adjuster has completed the damage assessment. The
second check, generally 10 to 40 percent of the total settlement, is held back
until repairs are completed. This second check,
usually referred to as "depreciation", will be sent
to the homeowner when the insurance company
receives an invoice for final payment. Immediately upon receipt of the invoice from
Drury Bros., please fax it to your insurance company. This will
expedite this depreciation
payment.
Please be aware that most settlement checks are valid for 180 days. If the homeowner
allows this check to expire, the Bank will not honor it
and a rather lengthy process will be required to have this check re-issued. Please
make sure this check has not expired
if you plan on endorsing it directly to Drury Bros. Roofing.
It is important to remember that the settlement is based on the cost to repair the
roof with materials of "Like Kind and Quality."
Sometimes there is a discrepancy in the adjustment in cost ($), size of roof (Squares),
or scope of damage between the homeowner and their insurance adjuster. If this is the case,
your Sales Representative has the experience necessary to resolve these differences
directly with your insurance adjuster. Again, we want to help whenever we can, and make
the entire process as uncomplicated as possible for you.
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- Mortgage Company payments and procedures
Most insurance companies will usually include
both the homeowner's and
the mortgage company's name on the first and, sometimes
, the second check. Mortgage companies require the homeowner to
endorse this check, and then send it to them. Each mortgage company has
its own procedures for releasing funds back to the homeowner. Normally this
is only after repairs have been done. The best thing to do is ask your
mortgage company what documentation they require to release these funds.
Please be aware that most settlement checks are valid for 180 days. If the
homeowner allows this check to expire, the mortgage company
will not honor it and a rather lengthy process will be
required to have this check re-issued. Please make sure the mortgage company
receives this check before it expires.
Some mortgage companies will require extensive documentation, and possibly an
inspection by one of their representatives. Because Drury Bros. Roofing has
assisted many homeowners with this process, we are familiar with the requirements.
Your Sales Representative will be happy to assist you however possible. We have
found that faxing documentation directly to your mortgage company can be a big time
saver to homeowners. We want to help you as much as possible.
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- What is an impact resistant rebate?
The number of roofing products available continues to expand
every year. As roofing technology continues to increase, so does the search
for the perfect roof; one which looks beautiful, maintains high property
value, is cost effective, very durable, resistant to hail and, most importantly,
maintenance free.
Some insurance companies will give a discount for a hail-resistant roof. this is
usually defined by roofing material that undergoes an Underwriters Laboratory test called "UL 2218."
In this test, steel balls of different diameters and weights are dropped
from different heights onto roofing material and then the damage incurred is assessed.
Based on the damage incurred, each material is given a rating. Roofing Companies
must agree with the insurance company to participate in their discount program. The
majority of companies have chosen not to participate
in these discount programs. Drury Bros. Roofing has chosen to participate with the insurance
companies, so our customers are able to obtain these additional discounts.
Drury Bros. Roofing offers all of the impact resistant materials needed to receive these
extra discounts. The following products are all impact resistant.
Please see our
Product Info page for more information on each of these products.
- Malarkey, Alaskan
- Certainteed, Landmark IR
- Dimensional
- 40 Year Warranty
- Owens Corning, Weatherguard
- Dimensional
- 40 Year Warranty
- Elk, Prestique Extra
- Dimensional
- 40 Year Warranty
- Malarkey, Legacy
- Dimensional
- 50 Year Warranty
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- Tamko, Lamerite
- Synthetic Slate
- 50 Year Warranty
- Decra, Stone Coated Steel
- Monier Lifetile
- Westile
- RGM, Chancellor
- Dimensional
- Lifetime Warranty
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