Whether you are installing a new roof over your house or replacing an old one, roofing is a big project. Roofing Birmingham Al installation costs a lot of money such that homeowners should be certain there is a need for a new or replacement roof to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Before embarking on a roofing project, consider the following factors as these may impact and create unwanted consequences once roofing work begins.

Thorough Inspection

The entire roof must be thoroughly inspected by a licensed and experienced professional. Inspection includes all components of the roof system such as the flashings, decks, rafters and trusses.

Project Cost

Replacing or installing a new roof is expensive. That is why it is always advisable to know beforehand how much you will be spending for the entire project. After all, you do not want to run out of funds midway through the project. A functional and easy-to-use roof replacement calculator can do wonders to your budget management. It will help you obtain a realistic estimate of the costs and prepare you for what lies ahead.

New Roof or Resurface

Homeowners at times have the option of removing the old roof and mounting a new roof or just covering the old roof with the new one. While putting in a new roof without removing the old material cuts completion time, removing the old roof is advisable if its present condition will only weaken the new roof.

Roof Materials

Carefully think about the roof material that you will be using for your new roof. You might have used the old roof to save money but that constraint no longer exists now. Some home designs work better with specific materials.

Roof Age

The average roof lasts about twenty years, give or take a few years depending on the materials used and workmanship. If your roof is considerably less than this age, other factors might be causing your roof problems and not necessarily the roof itself.

Written Contract

A written contract will ensure that both parties to the agreement knows precisely their rights and responsibilities before the project commences. The contract should contain details of the project, including scope of work, materials to be used and costs. New works to be performed or materials to be added must follow the steps outlined in the contract.

Noise

Putting up a new roof requires weeks of noisy work. If a member of your household is having trouble sleeping at night, it might be best to defer work until such time the noise that usually comes from roofing work is tolerated by everybody.

Increase in global temperature is an inevitable and direct effect of climate change. However, it is not the only cause of temperature increases; cities create their own heat islands because of rapid urban development. The increase in temperature results to various negative consequences, including poor air quality, increase of heat-related illnesses, increase energy use and increase water consumption.

To combat these undesirable effects of elevated temperature, the construction industry came up with the concepts of cool roofs and green roofs. If you are interested in knowing the positive contributions of these designs in improving the quality of roofing Birmingham Al, we listed them out for you.

What are Green Roofs?

Green roofs are roofs that are either partially or fully covered with living plants. A basic green roof design incorporates a waterproof membrane to keep rainwater out of the building, drainage system for proper water disposal, a layer of soil where plants thrive and the plants themselves that make the roofs green.

This type of roof may be installed in just about every structure, including government, commercial, residential and educational buildings.

Green roofs may be extensive or intensive. Extensive roofs have a thin layer of soil or other medium with hardy, drought-tolerant plants that require minimal maintenance, no pesticides or fertilizers, and minimal human intervention. Intensive roofs act like the traditional park or garden with a wide variety of plants installed.

Benefits of a Green Roof:

• Prolongs the roof service life
• Reduces energy costs to keep the structure cool
• Enhances the aesthetics of the building
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduces urban heat island effect
• Improves the quality of air by reducing pollutants and temperatures

What are Cool Roofs?

Cool roofs are made of different materials – such as roof tiles, shingles, coatings and paints – that reflect the sun’s energy instead of absorbing it. They are designed to reflect sunlight and therefore, absorb less heat than a conventional roof. The roof is characterized by high degree of solar reflectance that decreases heat gain into the structure. A building with a cool roof can have up to 50° to 60°F less temperature than conventional structures. Energy savings are, in fact, one of the direct benefits of a cool roof since the building temperature is lower and requires less energy to cool.

Benefits of a Cool Roof:

• Reduces energy demands and lower building temperatures
• Improves heat management in non-air-conditioned rooms
• Prolongs the duration of roof lifespan by reducing roof temperatures
• Saves energy bills by cutting down on the use of air-conditioners