It really pays to hire a roofer who knows what they are doing if you need some shingle roofing work done in Calgary. The picture on the left shows the construction of a typical roof for a new home or an existing one for that matter without any ice dam barrier installed. (More on that later). All homes with asphalt shingles will have rafters, then plywood sheathing to nail into, a felt barrier and finally the asphalt shingles. At the end of the roof a fascia is installed to protect the end of the rafters and to seal this area from birds and squirrels entering your roof from this area. On the sides, flashing is installed to protect the rafter and to cover up any openings that may be in this area, although there are usually not too many.
In this post we will discuss some of the issues to be aware of when you are looking for a shingle roofing contractor in the Calgary area. Most people never look at their roof until there is some kind of problem and then they call a contractor to replace the shingles on their roof.
How Do I know I need my Roof Shingles Replaced
Basically if your roof leaks or if the shingles on your roof are beginning to curl upwards and / or break off, then it is time to consider replacing your shingles and make any necessary repairs. You can request several different quotes to compare the best prices.
The contractor you hire should provide a quote to you that include the following:
- Removal of the existing shingles, felt etc and clean up of material on the ground around your home
- Repair and / or replacement of any plywood sheathing that may have rotted due to water penetration
- Repair of any rafters that may have been compromised due to water leakage and rot.
- Installation of the new roofing felt
- Installation of an ice dam barrier
- Installation of the new shingles at the stated life span you have requested, which is typically 15,20,25 or 30 year shingles.
Prices vary a great deal for this type of work. The pricing will depend on:
- The size of the roof
- The quality of the roof shingles
- Access to the roof
- Slope of the roof
- Removal of existing shingles
- Repairs needed to rafters and / or plywood sheathing, fascia and flashing
- Installation of additional vents
- Replacement of existing vents to increase air flow
- Demand for shingle roofing contractors in Calgary
There is a lot more to shingle roofing in Calgary than many people expect and the folks at Flat roofing Calgary will be please to discuss your needs with you and prepare a quote to either repair your roof or replace the existing roof with new shingles. Give them a call today for a quote. Consumers also may want to discuss the need for an ice dam barrier if they suspect that they have problems in the winter with ice buildup on their roof.
Ice Dam Barrier
Ice dams on your roof can cause a lot of problems, including water leaking into your attic and then into the living area of your home. Ice dams can also cause your shingles to lift and crack, which in turn causes the roof to leak and may require premature replacement of the roof as well. There are several ways to prevent ice dams and also if you have one to prevent the water on your roof from backing up under your shingles and causing further damage. Ice Dams are usually caused by snow on your roof melting due to warm air from underneath the roof in your attic. Once the snow melts, the water runs down your roof to a cooler area and then freezes. As this area of frozen water builds up you end up with an ice dam that traps water on your roof providing an opportunity for water to leak into your roof.
Preventing Ice Dams
Basically the attic needs to be kept cold so that snow on your roof does not melt in the first place. First confirm that you have sufficient insulation in your attic to stop heat from home leaking into the attic from inside your home. Secondly confirm that you have adequate air circulation in the attic from a combination of vents in the roof and also from under the eaves through the soffit to keep your attic area cool. Your roof contractor should be able to help in this area and install additional roof vents if they are needed. Finally, in many cold climates, roofing contractors will recommend that a rubber membrane be installed between the shingles and the roofing felt along the bottom 4 to 6 feet of the roof which is typically were ice dams from. This rubber membrane also acts as an additional seal to stop water from entering your attic. Rubber membranes may also be installed around and below skylights that are on your roof for the same reasons.
If you would like to discuss shingle roofing in Calgary, ice dams and repairs to your roof, give them a call today to set up an appointment and preparation of a quote to replace your roof.