Frequently Asked Questions about Roofing & Roofing Contractors
Here at Fort Collins Roofing Service, we want to make sure that you have all the answers to your questions before you spend any money on a new roof or roof repairs. See some commonly asked and answered questions below, and please call us at 970-372-6161 if you have any questions.
Q: Can I repair or replace my roof myself?
A: You certainly can try, but we don't recommend it. Most novices or DIY'ers can't recognize things like dry rot, or don't know how to test a piece of plywood to see if it's still good. A carpenter or contractor will be able to help you with not only making sure that you will not have any water leaking through your roof and into your house, they will also be able to seal the roof properly.
Q: What is the average lifespan of a new roof?
A: That certainly depends on the type of new roof that you are looking to add to your home. Since 1980, roofing technology has become much better, and as a result, asphalt shingles have a longer lifespan than they did about 20-30 years ago. Asphalt shingles can be upgraded to a more hail-resistant shingle to add a few years to the potential life of your roof. If you are thinking about adding tile shingles or standing seam metal shingles to your roof, you can anticipate a much longer lifespan, sometimes upwards of 50-75 years. Tile and metal will not rot or decay like asphalt shingles will.
Q: If I replace my roof, does a warranty cover the shingles?
A: Nowadays, certain manufacturers will offer a lifetime warranty on their shingles. Companies like GAF, and CertainTeed will offer lifetime warranties, but those warranties will only cover the shingles, and not the flashing, plywood, or any other part of the roof. Any other warranty will be provided and explained to you at the time of your roofing purchase, and make sure you ask your roofer lots of questions about how their warranties work. Also, get something in writing stating exactly what the warranty says.
Q: What is the total cost of a new roof?
A: That depends on the type of material you are using, and how much your roofing contractor is charging you for labor. Obviously, price is a big factor in replacing your roof, but you should always make sure that you hire a certified contractor, and not someone that is just putting up your store bought shingles. The big problem with people price shopping, is often times, they are choosing someone who does cheap work, and your brand new roof replacement will need to be redone in just a few years.
Q: I have a couple roof leaks. Do I just need roof repair, or a roof replacement?
A: We won't be able to tell if you need a complete overhaul, or just a few new shingles and some tar paper until we have a chance to inspect your roof. We may have to replace a few shingles, and add some new plywood, or you may have had some excessive hail damage, and we have to renovate your entire roof. We do offer free quotes, so give us a call and we can have one of our Fort Collins roofing experts come out to your property and give it a look.
Q: How long does it take you to replace or repair my roof?
A: There are multiple factors, such as a simple roof repair, or a complete roof system replacement. For normal asphalt roof systems, it takes 2-3 days to completely re-roof a home, depending on the square footage. For larger projects like tile and standing seam metal roofs, it can take up to a week.
Q: Do you also offer roofing services for commercial buildings?
A: Yes, we offer custom roof coating systems, TPO, PVC, and Standing seam metal for commercial buildings. Check out our commercial roofing page for more info.
Q: Do I need to do anything before a roofing company starts with my new roof replacement?
A: As the first few hours of the project will be loud (we will be tearing off your current roof), we recommend going somewhere else while the old shingles are completely removed. If you work from home, you might want to think about taking half day off, or going to a coffee shop for work for that entire day. The second day, or during the time when the new shingles are added is a little quieter, but not much. There's really no way around us making noise, and we apologize in advance! Other than that, remove anything next to the walls of your home so any debris doesn't fall on it. If you have a hot tub, make sure to put the cover on, and if you have any tarps, cover anything that may be harmed by old shingles and nails temporary falling on it. We have tarps as well, and will cover anything that needs to be covered.
If you have any other questions about roof repair, roof replacement, or commercial roofing, please give us a call at 970-372-6161 and speak with one of our qualified roofing professionals!
Q: Can I repair or replace my roof myself?
A: You certainly can try, but we don't recommend it. Most novices or DIY'ers can't recognize things like dry rot, or don't know how to test a piece of plywood to see if it's still good. A carpenter or contractor will be able to help you with not only making sure that you will not have any water leaking through your roof and into your house, they will also be able to seal the roof properly.
Q: What is the average lifespan of a new roof?
A: That certainly depends on the type of new roof that you are looking to add to your home. Since 1980, roofing technology has become much better, and as a result, asphalt shingles have a longer lifespan than they did about 20-30 years ago. Asphalt shingles can be upgraded to a more hail-resistant shingle to add a few years to the potential life of your roof. If you are thinking about adding tile shingles or standing seam metal shingles to your roof, you can anticipate a much longer lifespan, sometimes upwards of 50-75 years. Tile and metal will not rot or decay like asphalt shingles will.
Q: If I replace my roof, does a warranty cover the shingles?
A: Nowadays, certain manufacturers will offer a lifetime warranty on their shingles. Companies like GAF, and CertainTeed will offer lifetime warranties, but those warranties will only cover the shingles, and not the flashing, plywood, or any other part of the roof. Any other warranty will be provided and explained to you at the time of your roofing purchase, and make sure you ask your roofer lots of questions about how their warranties work. Also, get something in writing stating exactly what the warranty says.
Q: What is the total cost of a new roof?
A: That depends on the type of material you are using, and how much your roofing contractor is charging you for labor. Obviously, price is a big factor in replacing your roof, but you should always make sure that you hire a certified contractor, and not someone that is just putting up your store bought shingles. The big problem with people price shopping, is often times, they are choosing someone who does cheap work, and your brand new roof replacement will need to be redone in just a few years.
Q: I have a couple roof leaks. Do I just need roof repair, or a roof replacement?
A: We won't be able to tell if you need a complete overhaul, or just a few new shingles and some tar paper until we have a chance to inspect your roof. We may have to replace a few shingles, and add some new plywood, or you may have had some excessive hail damage, and we have to renovate your entire roof. We do offer free quotes, so give us a call and we can have one of our Fort Collins roofing experts come out to your property and give it a look.
Q: How long does it take you to replace or repair my roof?
A: There are multiple factors, such as a simple roof repair, or a complete roof system replacement. For normal asphalt roof systems, it takes 2-3 days to completely re-roof a home, depending on the square footage. For larger projects like tile and standing seam metal roofs, it can take up to a week.
Q: Do you also offer roofing services for commercial buildings?
A: Yes, we offer custom roof coating systems, TPO, PVC, and Standing seam metal for commercial buildings. Check out our commercial roofing page for more info.
Q: Do I need to do anything before a roofing company starts with my new roof replacement?
A: As the first few hours of the project will be loud (we will be tearing off your current roof), we recommend going somewhere else while the old shingles are completely removed. If you work from home, you might want to think about taking half day off, or going to a coffee shop for work for that entire day. The second day, or during the time when the new shingles are added is a little quieter, but not much. There's really no way around us making noise, and we apologize in advance! Other than that, remove anything next to the walls of your home so any debris doesn't fall on it. If you have a hot tub, make sure to put the cover on, and if you have any tarps, cover anything that may be harmed by old shingles and nails temporary falling on it. We have tarps as well, and will cover anything that needs to be covered.
If you have any other questions about roof repair, roof replacement, or commercial roofing, please give us a call at 970-372-6161 and speak with one of our qualified roofing professionals!
