NASHVILLE
ROOF REPLACEMENT EXPERTS
Serving Nashville Tennessee & Surrounding Communities
Roof Replacement in Middle Tennessee
A beautiful place to live, Middle Tennessee has all four seasons and the roof on your home endures them all. Of course, eventually that roof is going to wearout. And when it does, costly damage can occur to the interior and even the structure of your home. That’s why the best time to replace your roof is before it fails.
A proper roof replacement includes removal of the old roofing materials, called tear off, followed by installation of a new roofing system. Roof replacement can be a fairly large investment. And knowing your roof’s size, and the features and components of the system is important if you want to negotiate the best price.
At Legacy Exteriors, we strive to provide the best roof replacement service in Middle Tennessee.
Determining The Size Of Your Roof
Roofers measure the size of your roof in what they call “squares”, which are approximately 10ft x 10ft sections of roof surface. How many squares is your roof? While a professional roof inspector ought to be able to measure by hand. But nowadays most companies will purchase a roof measurement done by satellite, called an EagleView.
The average roof size in Middle Tennessee is about 20 squares. But size is not the only factor that will affect your roof replacement cost.
Features & Components Affecting Roof Replacement Cost
Before a roofing company will give you a roof replacement estimate, they will almost always want to inspect the existing roof. The purpose is to confirm the roof’s size and identify features that will need to be accounted for during construction. Here are a few things that can impact roof replacement cost:
- Number of layers: labor and bulk waste disposal are more expensive when extra layers of shingles need to be removed
- Pitch and height: taller and steeper roofs cost more to replace due to increased difficulty of the job
- Hips, valleys & ridge lengths: anything not a flat surface requires special materials which can cost more
- Eaves & soffit depth: how far the roof extends beyond the vertical wall beneath it can affect the amount of water & ice shield needed to prevent damage from ice damming
- Decking type: most roofs have 4ft x 8ft plywood sheets underneath, but some older ones have planks which are more difficult to work with and/or replace
- Ventilation type & requirements: every roof requires a specific amount of ventilation per square foot of roof surface in order to manage the roof’s temperature in the summertime and minimize potential mold causing moisture in the attic. Types include: box, ridge, and power vents
- CV boot sizes: hose pipes sticking up from most roofs, the ones that kitchen and bathroom vents exhaust from, they have rubber boots around them which come in all different sizes
- Flashings: anywhere the roof meets a vertical surface, like a wall or chimney, a metal flashing is installed and sealed using special roofing adhesives
- Drip edge total length: this thin metal strip lines the entire perimeter of your roof, protecting the fascia from water running from the roof
The combination of all of the factors listed above will play into your roof replacement cost. Roofing companies typically provide a roof replacement estimate that uses materials equivalent to what currently exists on your property. But that does not mean you cannot upgrade, in fact this the time to ask what materials upgrades are available.
Upgrading Your Roofing Materials
You have many options when it comes to the materials used in building your new roof. These are the most common roof material upgrades:
- Asphalt shingles come in many different brands, styles and quality levels. They can be upgraded in terms of their thickness, durability, appearance and even environmental friendliness. Most shingle manufacturers also offer extended warranties for their products. And an asphalt shingle roof can be upgraded to a longer-lasting metal roof, as well.
- Water & Ice shield is like a giant rubberized tape that goes around the bottom edge of your roof, under the shingles. It prevents ice dams from creeping up under your shingles between the roof and the plywood decking. While the brand of ice and water shield used is not so important, including an extra row is definitely an upgrade and one that is recommended in areas that have extremely cold winters.
- Underlayment is the layer of roof material just under the shingles. Most of us expect to see black felt paper used for underlayment, as that is the least expensive option. But modern synthetic materials provide superior protection against moisture, and they are safer for the install crews to work with.
- Ventilation of your roof is measured in a ratio of square feet. Commonly, box vents called turtle boxes are installed to provide airflow. For a more streamlined look you can upgrade to ridge vents, which reduces the number of things popping up through your roof
While some folks hesitate to loosen the purse strings to upgrade the quality of their roofing materials, few things in life provide more peace of mind than trusting the roof over your head.
Should I Sign a Roofing Contract
A roof replacement contract protects both you and the roofing company. It documents details of what will be done by whom, using what, when and at what cost. Due to the copious amount of work that goes into installing a new roof, and the large dollar amounts associated with projects of this size, contractors require that you sign a contract before they mobilize for your roof replacement. Here are a few things to look for in that contract:
- Formal names of all parties involved – make sure the company who sold you the roof is the company responsible for completing the work
- Execution dates and a project completion date – make sure the contract includes dates when both you and the company signed it, and that it holds your contractor to a reasonable timeline for completing the project, typically within 30-60 days
- Payment schedule – usually payments are made in 2 or 3 installments. Expect to make a down payment, possibly a payment when materials are delivered to your property, and a final payment after project completion
- Scope of work – this is a detailed description of everything the contractor will be responsible for doing, make sure nothing that was promised has been omitted
- Upgrades and/or special orders – make sure your brand/model/color of shingles is specified, and any other customizations are clearly stated
Some roofing contracts are more lengthy than others, and most can be modified within reason if a client is adamant about it. Just make sure to read the whole contract before signing, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or request clarification.
Companies That Use Roofing Subcontractors
Pretty much all roofing companies use or have used subcontractors. It is a cost effective way to get projects done while allowing the company some flexibility when business goes up and down. This is especially true in regions where cold winters prohibit roof installation projects, and therefore roofing crews only work seasonally.
Using roofing subcontractors is not necessarily a bad thing. Often sub crews do more installs than inhouse crews, so they are faster and more experienced. The main question to ask your roofing company is how long they have worked with their sub crews. The longer they’ve had their subs the more quality control they will have over their work.
What To Expect After My Roof Is Installed
Once the roof project is complete you will be asked to sign a certificate of satisfaction (COS) before the roofing company will provide your warranty documents. This COS does not release the roofing company from standing behind their work, it simply confirms that the installation is complete.
Most roofing manufacturers require that a certified professional install their products in order for any warranty to be issued. Many roofing companies will provide a warranty certificate documenting their company info, the installation date, the materials used. You’ll want to keep this document in a safe place as the manufacturer’s warranty on shingles can be good for 30+ years.
Do You Need Roof Replacement Financing?
The cost of roof replacement can be a heavy burden, especially when it comes upon you unexpectedly. At Legacy Exteriors, we understand that the upfront cost of a new roof might be keeping you from doing what is necessary to properly protect your home.
For that reason, we have partnered with Hearth, a home improvement financing company that helps homeowners across the country to fund roof replacement projects quickly and affordably.
Financing can be the bridge that gets you to that next big check you’re waiting for, like a tax return or holiday bonus. And, with many different financing options to choose from, you can defer the upfront cost, instead making reasonable monthly payments.
Don’t let money be what stops you from protecting your home. Talk to your Legacy Exteriors project consultant about Hearth Financing, or click the link below!
