First-Class Roofing Contractor in Hagerstown
Installing a new roof on your home is a great way to improve its curb appeal and value. Asphalt shingles are a wonderful option as they come in a variety of colors and styles to make your home look beautiful. Although asphalt shingles roofing is less durable when compared to metal roofing; they are still a great economical choice which why they are usually found on four out of five homes. This makes installing a new asphalt shingle roof a great investment to consider before selling a home. If you lay the shingles yourself, this will provide you with even more return on your investment. For those homeowners who do not wish to attempt this kind of challenging DIY project on their own, contact a local Hagerstown roofer for assistance.
For the daring homeowner that wants to learn how to shingle their own roof, this guide will give them some basic knowledge.
When learning how to install shingles on a roof, the first thing that should be considered is building codes and zoning laws, so check all those out with the city. Next, it is very important that the weather stays dry for a few days or more. It is not logical to replace a roof in the snow, rain, hail, or extreme wind as it will surely cause a mess in your home apart from the dangers and damages that it creates. A professional roofing company can replace most roofing systems in a day or less but it may take an amateur roofer several days or even a week depending on the situation.
When you have a good window of weather you can go ahead and purchase the shingles for the project. To discover how many squares you have and to find the best prices, it is suggested to go to a local home roof repair store or search online for roofing in Hagerstown. After buying the new shingles the next thing to do is to remove the existing shingles. If needed, use a solid ladder to climb up onto the roof and remove the old shingles.
If there are less than two layers of existing shingles on your roof then you can do what is called re-roofing which is where you lay the new shingles over the old ones. However, this is not advised because you will not be able to tell if there is any moisture damage to the plywood decking below the shingles and underlayment. You can look in the attic for signs of rotted wood on the underside of the decking if you have access to it, although not everyone has access beyond the drywall of the ceiling to see the underside of the plywood decking.
How to Install New Roof Shingles
After all of the old shingles have been removed, the plywood decking should be inspected, and replace any damaged boards if necessary. Next, place ice and water shield in critical areas that are more prone to roof leaks such as the valleys and first three feet from the perimeter of the house. You also may need to replace any metal flashing that is used as a leak barrier around chimneys, skylights, etc. Now you can get ready to install those beautiful new shingles on your roof by hauling them up there for easy access.
Carefully go up on the ladder to reach the rooftop and nail down the new shingles to the plywood after unrolling them. Roofing nails should be applied to secure the new shingles in place. After attaching your new shingles with the roofing nails, the final step is cleanup. The property needs to be cleaned up with the removal of the roofing shingles, nails, felt, and any other materials. The best way to do this is to obtain a large dump truck or a trailer to haul the old materials to the dump.
Well, there it is, you are now fully aware of how the process goes to put new shingles on a roof. With new asphalt roofing shingles, you can increase the curb appeal and durability of your home by changing. And if this sounds like something that is way over your head, make the safest choice you possibly can for both your health and your wallet and hire a professional Hagerstown roofing service. At Complete Builders, we are GAF Certified to install their premium residential roofing shingles and products that come with the best warranties in the industry.