Knowing when you need to replace your residential roof isn’t always obvious. For example, you may notice a leak in your ceiling following a storm and assume it’s a sign that your entire asphalt roof is on its way out. But in actuality, you might just need a simple roof leak repair.
On the flip side, if you haven’t had a residential roof inspection in some time — especially after the hail storms we’ve experienced in Colorado — you might be due for a new roof. If that’s the case, this residential roofing buying guide can help you make the right decisions.
How to Know if You Need a New Roof
There’s not a single sign to look for when it comes to determining the health of your residential roof. Instead, you should look for a handful of specific signs that may indicate you have roof damage.
- Leaks (in your attic as well as your home’s ceilings and walls)
- Cracked or missing shingles or cracked roof tiles
- Roof hail divots that are black in color
- Asphalt granules in your gutters and downspouts
- Dents in your gutters
- Chipped or peeling paint under your eaves or around your home’s exterior
- Most importantly, you should schedule a professional inspection to get a clear understanding of the shape of your roof.
How to Know if You Need a Residential Roofing Repair
Some of the aforementioned signs can be remedied with a simple roofing repair, like added caulking to fill a crack, replacing metal flashing to help redirect water, or replacing damaged shingles.
However, if your roof has gone without routine repairs and maintenance for a while, or has sustained damage from hailstorms, you might not have an option to repair it. Your best bet is to start by having your roof inspected.
Choose the Right Roofing Material
You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a roofing material for your home. However, your best options may be limited, depending on your home’s style, location, climate, and your budget.
Asphalt Shingles
These are the tried-and-true shingles you’re used to seeing in Colorado. They’re durable, lightweight, and easy to install. They also come in a variety of colors and styles, so you’ll be able to find a variety that fits with just about any style of home. Asphalt shingles are typically the most cost-effective option on the market, and you can expect them to last 12 to 20 years. Consider impact resistant shingles for the largest return on value in our area.
Metal Roofing
Metal residential roofing is a great option in Colorado for one major reason: fire resistance. Plus, residential corrugated metal roofing is highly durable, sustainable, and incredibly low-maintenance. If you’re worried about noise with metal roofing, you’ll be relieved to know that modern installation techniques can help dull sounds. Metal roofing can be expensive upfront to install, but the benefit is that a metal roof can last anywhere from 30 to 50 years.
Tile Roofing
Tile roofing materials like slate, concrete, clay are one of the most eye-catching roofing looks out there. And the bonus is that they’re incredibly durable, lasting around 100 to 150 years, depending on the material. A drawback is the weight of tile roofing: it can be too much for some homes, so be sure to talk with your roofing contractor about it. Tile roofing is also one of the more expensive materials out there, but the aesthetics and durability may prove worth the cost.
Synthetic or Composite
Synthetic roofing materials can also be known as composite materials, as they’re made from multiple materials like fiberglass, laminate, and other materials. They’re also lightweight and easy to work with. You can expect a synthetic roof to last around 40 to 50 years, and the upfront costs are usually between the costs of asphalt and tile roofing.
Cedar or Wood Shake
A wood shake roof can be quite a beautiful accent to a home. But the drawbacks that come with wood shake roofing can far outweigh the benefits: they’re not as energy efficient as metal or asphalt, and as you might expect, they’re not fire-resistant. They’re also a pricey option to have installed. Check your homeowner’s insurance policy to verify this type of roofing material is covered by your insurance.
Flat Roofing
Flat roofs aren’t as common as shingles for residential purposes but can be an interesting and energy efficient alternative to traditional sloped roofs. They’re often made from rubber, making them lightweight and easy to install. A common option is EPDM roofing, which is highly durable and weatherproof. Typically, EPDM roofing is less expensive than materials like metal for flat roofing, but the good news is that repairs are easy for incidents like punctures and other damage. Other materials include single-ply white membranes like TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
Types of Roofing Services
Residential roofing services include inspections for your roof and home exterior, roofing repairs for things like missing or damaged shingles and water leaks, as well as total roof replacement.
Roof Inspections
It’s essential to have roof inspections completed twice a year, or anytime you notice or suspect damage to the roof of your home. We offer a thorough roofing inspection that focuses on the following:
- Roof and subroofing material
- Gutters
- Flashing
- Soffit and fascia
- Siding
- Windows
- Chimney and outdoor appliances (AC units or swamp coolers)
- And any hidden damage like interior water leaks in your atticClick here to request a complimentary roofing inspection.
Roof Repair and Maintenance
Roofing repair isn’t only about fixing water leaks and missing shingles. It’s also about making sure your roof is ready for future weather events and extending the life of your roof for as long as possible. For example, if you have storm damage like hail damage or wind damage, you could be opening your home to additional problems like mold or mildew accumulation, unnecessarily high energy costs, pest or rodent infestation, or more.
Roof Replacement
Depending on the state of your roof, you may be due for a total roof replacement. Check your roofing warranty and homeowners insurance policy, then get in touch with an experienced, qualified local roofing company.
A total roof replacement isn’t as scary as it seems, and depending on things like your choice of material, location, material availability, and contractor availability, your roofing project could be completed in as short a time as a few days. Your roofing contractor will be able to provide you with a realistic estimate of how long your project will take.
Choose the Best Local Roofer
Whether you need a straightforward roofing repair to fix a leak or a total roof replacement with a new material, make sure you hire the best roofing contractor available. Choose a company with quality reviews and a good reputation. Do your research and ask them the right questions. Most importantly, make sure you choose a contractor that’s local and familiar with roofing requirements in Colorado.
Our team at J&K Roofing has been in business for decades, and we pride ourselves on being knowledgeable, skilled, and trusted to complete any roofing, windows, siding and solar task. If you’re in the Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Front Range areas, give us a call today (720-336-2206) or visit our website.