If you’re among the 73% of Michigan homeowners, reroofing your house is—or will be—on your to-do list. But how do you reroof a house in Michigan?
In a climate that’s home to severe rain, thunderstorms, tornado warnings, snow, hail and heavy heat each year, Michigan roofs take a greater hit than most. While reroofing houses is smart for all homeowners, midwestern weather makes it hard to procrastinate.
Reroofing a house isn’t as demanding as other home renovations. It only takes a few days to reshingle roofs, making the choice to do so that much easier.
Read on to learn how to reroof a house and keep your home intact.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Roof?
While there are plenty of home projects that can be done by yourself, new roof installations aren’t one of them. Roofs can be replaced within a matter of days by professionals, but doing so yourself asks for an undetermined amount of time. The time to replace a roof depends on skill level & speed of who is replacing it, how many square feet of roof you have, the pitch, or how steep it is, and how all of the materials will be taken to the roof.
Consider this – if it takes a professional roofing crew of 4-6 people 1-2 full days to reroof a house with the shingles placed on the roof already, how long will it take 1 person who is not a professional to do the roof?
The roof replacement process involves the following steps.
- Stripping all existing shingles and discarding them properly
- Applying ice dams to prevent water damage
- Inspecting the roof deck and replacing any boards that have damage
- Laying asphalt paper over the roof deck
- Lining metal drip edging around the roof’s edge
- Implementing valley flashing to manage water run-off
- Putting on new shingles uniformly
- Sealing chimney and vents
- Eliminating remaining debris
For professionals, reroofing a house is like muscle memory. Why? Beyond the technical knowledge, professionals know how roof systems work with the rest of the house.
While it’s tempting to see the roof as it’s own entity, it directly impacts the following things:
- Home insulation
- Home ventilation
- Gutters and the water drainage system
- Relationship to weather
- Noise absorption
- Home security
Think about those bees or wasps that always find the tiniest holes in the panels of your home. Now imagine if your roof had hundreds of those tiny holes. New roof installation requires precise work.
Missing a DIY roofing step can be catastrophic for a homeowner. While some lessons are learned the hard way, reroofing a house doesn’t have to be one of them.
How to Decide To Reroof Your House
Now knowing how to reroof a house, you might be wondering if you need a full replacement or just a repair. While it’s possible to add a layer of shingles to an existing layer, it’s not advised. Achieving the full benefits of reroofing means committing to hitting reset.
If you’ve experienced any of the following, it’s probably time to reroof.
- Mold or mildew
- Unexpected growths
- Sagging, unlevel, or caved in areas
- Broken, bent, or missing shingles
- Weather or tree damage
- Holes
- Leaks
- Pools of water
- Poor repairs
- Mismatched shingle patches
Roof repairs are most common for those who’ve had a shingle or two fly away from storms. The greatest way to distinguish your need between reroofing replacement or repair is by the severity of your roof damage.
Ask yourself:
- Are the issues spread throughout the roof, or located in one place?
- Is it a simple shingle issue or is it structural?
- Do I have moisture problems?
- Is the issue from one incident or from gradual wear and tear?
Roof repair costs may save you some dimes, but they may not solve the issue. When it comes to reroofing a house entirely, you can expect an improvement in the following places.
- Structural integrity
- Aesthetic appeal
- Property value
Investing in your roof’s health helps the entire home. Consider it good karma for yourself and any future homeowners—it lives on for decades to come.
New Roof Installation
New roof installations can last more than 50 years depending on your shingle material. Most roofs are made from the following.
- Slate
- Copper
- Asphalt
- Wood or cedar
- Clay
- Ceramic
While strong roofs make for safe housing, reroofing’s the time to pick your preferred style too. When it comes to choosing the right material, ask yourself these questions.
- What works with my style home?
- Do I want something rustic? Modern? Contemporary?
- What color feels best?
- Do I want something light or dark?
- What are the benefits of each material?
- Depending on the climate, you can choose materials that meet your specific needs like heat-resistance or sustainability
Consider reroofing to be like getting a hair treatment. A full cleaning, cut, and color change creates a total transformation.
Picking up the Pieces
Whether you’re a new homeowner or twenty years in, owning a home can feel like a puzzle. Maybe you moved into a place with little information about the roof’s last replacement. Maybe you’re just learning about roof replacement materials.
All home renovations are chances to learn something—call it the homeowner’s education.
Having a timeline of the home’s last repairs and replacements makes it easier to map out your upgrades list. In the event you don’t know, it becomes a guessing game. Playing by ear isn’t the most empowered way to own a home, so reroofing helps you start fresh.
The best home maintenance comes from preventative care, but roofs are the hardest part of the home to see. Having periodic inspections can keep your roof a part of the home upgrades conversation.
Raise Your Roof
Most people worry about their climate’s main weather threat, like tornadoes, thunderstorms, or heat. As a state of many wonders, Michigan’s got it all.
Living somewhere with such weather diversity tests a roof’s strength, and there’s no worse feeling than living under one whose integrity you question. Why stress when you know you can have a new roof in a matter of days?
Learning how to reroof a house makes it easy to commit to a when. Though homes are built similarly, they express themselves uniquely. See how your roof’s holding up with a free inspection, as the best way to reroof a house is by employing an expert.
Give us a call today to see how Above Roofing can help raise your roof!
