All roofing guides, screen 2
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Replacing your roof step by step
What Happens to Old Shingles? Disposal and RecyclingTorn-off asphalt shingles go to one of two places: a landfill, or, where a recycler within reach accepts them, into asphalt pavement, which the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) reports…
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Attic airflow and moisture · Professional roof inspections · Roof maintenance checklist
Blistering Shingles: Causes, Warranty Questions, and When It MattersShingle blisters are raised bubbles in the asphalt surface that can pop and leave small pits where the granules used to be. Before deciding who to call, check the soft…
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Professional roof inspections
Sagging Roof: Structural Causes and When It’s an EmergencyA sag that is new or growing, or that comes with popping or cracking sounds or doors and windows that suddenly stick, means leave the rooms below and get the…
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Choosing a roofing contractor
Who Actually Installs Your Roof? Subcontractors, Crews, and SupervisionThe company that signs your roofing contract may send its own employees or a subcontracted crew, and the paperwork behind whoever shows up matters more than the label. California's Contractors…
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Roof replacement cost
What Is a Roofing Square? How Roof Area Is Measured for EstimatesA roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface, the unit shingle quotes, material counts and labor prices are written in. The square count on your quote therefore describes…
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Storm and hazard damage · Choosing a roofing contractor
Roofing Scams and Storm Chasers: How to Spot and Avoid ThemMinnesota's Attorney General warns that home improvement scams are "particularly common after a major storm moves through an area," and roofing pitches after a storm follow a few recognizable setups:…
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Replacing your roof step by step
Roofing Safety Rules Explained: Fall Protection and Heat Requirements for Roof WorkRoof work falls under two kinds of safety requirements, and they differ in force: fall protection is a federal OSHA standard in effect now, while heat requirements vary by state,…
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Replacing your roof step by step · Choosing a roofing contractor
Roofing Deposits and Payment Schedules: What’s Normal and What’s a Red FlagCalifornia caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, and its later payments may not run ahead of the work…
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Parts of a roof
Roofing Nails and Fasteners: Placement, Length, and Wind ResistanceThe Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) says that for most asphalt shingles, each full-size strip shingle needs at least four nails, placed below the sealant strip but above the part…
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Roofing materials
Types of Roofing Materials: How to Compare Your OptionsThe right roofing material is the one your slope, framing and local rules allow, rated for your area's hazards, at the lowest cost per year of service. The National Roofing…
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Replacing your roof step by step
Can a Roof Be Replaced in Cold or Wet Weather?A roof can be replaced in cold weather if the installer follows the shingle maker's cold-weather instructions, because cold mainly delays the shingles' sealant strips from bonding until enough sun…
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The Homeowner’s Guide to Roofing: Every Roof Decision in One Map
Every roof question in this guide belongs to one of eight decisions: understand, diagnose, maintain, repair, replace, insure, finance or hire. Find yours in the decision list below, open the…
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Parts of a roof · Replacing your roof step by step · Roof replacement cost
Roofing Glossary: Terms You’ll See in Estimates, Contracts, and Inspection ReportsRoofing paperwork mixes four vocabularies: contractor estimates and contracts, product labels and ratings, building code and inspection reports, and insurance policies and claims. Find the document you are holding below,…
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Replacing your roof step by step · Choosing a roofing contractor
What a Roofing Contract Should IncludeA roofing contract should name the exact products, list the scope line by line, set a unit price for any rotten decking found after tear-off, and require a signed change…
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Choosing a roofing contractor
When a Roofing Job Goes Wrong: Complaints, Disputes, and Recovery OptionsWhen a roofing job goes wrong, start with a dated written notice to the contractor that includes photos and a deadline to respond, then choose a path by what you…
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Replacing your roof step by step · Roof replacement cost
Roofing Building Codes: What the IRC Requires When You Re-RoofThe International Residential Code (IRC) sets the model rules for residential roofs, but the version that binds your re-roof is the edition your state or city adopted plus whatever it…
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Choosing a roofing contractor
How to Verify a Roofer’s License and Insurance Before You SignWhether you can look up a roofer's license depends on your state: California, Illinois and Minnesota license roofing work, Florida's licensing agency runs an online search that covers roofing contractors,…
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Choosing a roofing contractor
Can a Roofer Pay or Waive Your Insurance Deductible?In Texas, a roofer who offers to pay, waive, absorb or rebate your insurance deductible is breaking state law, and Colorado and Minnesota bar contractors from promising the same thing.…
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Choosing a roofing contractor
Roof Warranties Explained: Manufacturer vs. Workmanship CoverageA shingle manufacturer's warranty pays only for the causes it lists, and the National Roofing Contractors Association puts manufacturer coverage periods at 20 years to a lifetime. Installation mistakes fall…
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Parts of a roof · Attic airflow and moisture
Types of Roof Vents: Ridge, Box, Turbine, Gable, and Soffit VentsRidge, box and turbine vents are exhaust vents that let air out near the top of the roof, soffit vents are intake vents that let air in at the eaves,…
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Parts of a roof
Roof Valleys: Open, Closed-Cut, and Woven Valleys ComparedA roof valley is the channel where two slopes meet, and it carries the runoff of both, so the method used there matters. Open valleys leave a lining exposed down…
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Parts of a roof
Roof Underlayment: Felt vs. Synthetic vs. Self-AdheredFelt, synthetic and self-adhered underlayment all serve as the backup water barrier under shingles, and which one you need depends on your roof's slope and wind exposure more than on…
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Flat roof materials · Replacing your roof step by step
Tying a New Roof Into an Existing Roof: Additions, Porches, and GaragesA new roof meets an existing one in one of three ways: it dies into a wall of the house, it joins the old slope in a valley, or it…
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Storm and hazard damage · Homeowners insurance and roof damage
Roof Damage After a Storm: What to Check and What to Do FirstAfter a storm, stay off the roof and work from the ground: confirm the house is safe, photograph damage inside and out before anything is moved, cover openings only if…
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Roof maintenance checklist
Roof Sealants and Caulk: Where They Belong and Where They Hide ProblemsRoof sealant belongs where a manufacturer or the code calls for it, such as hand-sealing shingle tabs in cold weather, cement spots on very steep slopes, or lap sealant on…