Some people work as roofers for a summer or two. Others become lifelong devotees to the profession. Those who commit to roofing as a long-time profession really take the time to learn the details. Not only do they learn how to put roofs in place, but they also learn quite a lot about various roofing materials. This equips them to make good recommendations to homeowners who are looking for the right roof. We will also make some recommendations and tell you a bit more about roofers on this blog. While we are not roofers ourselves, we know a lot about the profession and are always happy to share.
When it's time for a roof replacement, you may have concerns about the type of roofing you have put on if you own a historic home. You'll want roofing that matches the period of your house, and if you live in a historic district, codes may apply to the type of roof you have put on your house.
Your roofer may need to do some research on your home to find out the original roofing materials if you don't think your current roof is an accurate depiction of your original roof. For instance, if your home has an asphalt roof now, it may have replaced a wood shake or tile roof. However, you may still want a new asphalt roof put on since it's an affordable roofing material. Here are some steps involved in an asphalt roof replacement on a historic home.
Remove Old Roofing And Start Fresh
While it's often possible to put new shingles over old ones, your roofer may recommend tearing off all of the old roofing materials so your roof deck can be thoroughly inspected. It's always important to prevent water damage, but it's even more important for a historic home when you want to preserve the original building materials as much as possible.
Plus, tearing off the shingles allows the roofer access to the deck so it can be inspected thoroughly for signs of damage. Damaged or rotted wood should be cut out and replaced.
Choose The Flashing Material
Metal flashing is placed around the chimney, pipe vents, and the roof valley. However, you can choose the type of metal flashing you want for your historic home. You might want copper flashing to go along with copper gutters on your house. Aluminum flashing is often used on modern homes, but copper was popular on older homes. However, copper is more expensive.
Select The Asphalt Shingles
The type of asphalt shingles you install could depend on the budget you have for the roof replacement. If you want the best protection for your historic house, you may want to pay more and have luxury shingles installed. These are thicker and more durable so your house has the best protection from hail and wind damage. When the risk of roof damage is reduced, the risk of leaking and water damage is reduced too.
Talk to a roofing contractor about your goals when you need a roof replacement on a historic home. The approach the roofer takes may be different if you want a new roof at the lowest cost compared to restoring the roof to its original style. Whatever you choose, you'll want the best protection for your home by choosing quality materials and by maintaining your new roof properly.