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Up on the Rooftop

How Does A Roofing Company Assess A Customer's Project?

8 November 2022

Lori Silva

Lots of things can go wrong with roofs, and that means a roofing company always has to assess the situation before committing to a solution. It is good for customers to know how a roofing company will approach this part of the job. You can expect roofing contractors to conduct assessments by looking for these four issues.

Structural Soundness

The scariest part of roofing work is where the roof gives out completely in some spots. A roofing company will have employees check both the outside and inside of the roof to see what kind of structural issues might be present.

For example, they'll check for signs that water has gotten through the shingles and damaged the underlying plywood. In the worst cases, the damage could extend to the rafters, support beams, or joists. These are the basic components that give the roof its shape. If those are damaged, the roofing company will have to remove and replace them before they can even consider attaching new felt and shingles.

Layers of Roofing Materials

In most cases, the structure is in good shape. The roofing company will proceed to assess just what's on the outside of the roof. Specifically, they'll look at how many layers of shingles are on the roof. Nailing a new layer of shingles into the old ones is a common practice because it saves their customers money. However, every layer adds thousands of pounds to the roof, and this eventually adds up to the point that the old materials have to come off. Otherwise, there is a risk the roof will collapse under its weight.

When a roof gets to this point, the contractors will strip it down to the plywood. This involves prying up the old layers of shingles and any protective felt. It also usually involves paying for at least one roll-off dumpster to haul away the junk.

Complexity

Some roofs are more complex than others. Eaves, valleys, dormers, chimneys, and gables can all make it harder to work around the roof. Roofing contractors have to cut shingles to account for odd angles, increasing waste.

Slope

The slope of the roof determines how much equipment roofing contractors will need. If a roof has an aggressive slope, the roofing company may need to bring in additional equipment so its employees can safely work. That extra equipment comes at a cost, and it also tends to slow things down because workers have to move it as they go up and down the roof.

For more information, reach out to a local roofing company, such as Hancock Construction & Roofing.

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