Re-roofing involved process.

by Arlene Shovald

Re-roofing an older home may be more involved than you expect.

"Typically,when you do an older roof, you have to strip it," said Fred Kaan of Banana Belt Contracting. "Older roofs have space sheeting, so there are six inch gaps between the boards and you have to sheet over that. A lot of people don't figure that into the cost.''

When re-roofing an older home, be prepared to sheet as well. With labor and material this adds about $50 to $60 a square to the cost, but it is necessary.

"This is one of the biggest problems we see with older homes," Kaan said.

Another factor to consider is the pitch of the roof. The higher the pitch, the higher the labor costs, and two story buildings are a little more expensive than one story.

When re-roofing any home, the owner should plan on stripping the old shingles if they are curled. As a licensed roofing contractor for El Paso County, Kaan said, the UBC (Uniform Building Code) only allows three layers of three-tab shingles or two layers of T lock shingles.

(Chaffee County does not currently require roofing contractors to be licensed.)

The four basic kinds of roofing are asphalt, metal, wood and concrete tile, and the cost is in the same order, with asphalt being the least expensive and the most common.

The three-tab asphalt shingles are those which look like bricks on the roof. T-locks resemble puzzle pieces put together, and are better for high wind areas.

"What you decide on in roofing depends on what you want, your age, what your goals are, etc.,'' Kaan said. "If a person isn't planning to stay in their house a long time, or if they are older, they may not want to put a lot of money into a metal roof, which is probably the best for this part of the country, but also more expensive.''

Metal pretty much lasts forever, unless a hole is punched in it. The same is true of concrete tile.

Another advantage of metal is that it sheds snow quicker so there is not as much weight on the roof.

Metal roofing comes in about 12 different colors, and almost every company that makes metal roofing guarantees the paint for 20 years.

"However, it will oxidize some and get dull," Kaan advises. 'There's nothing you can do about that.''

Cedar shake shingles are not recommended for a dry, windy climate like Chaffee County. They are expensive and after about five years they begin to look bad. Their life span is only 15 to 20 years, and most important, they are a fire hazard.

Spring and fall are the best times to roof. In winter, asphalt shingles become stiff and don't seal properly, and in summer, they become very soft and are easily damaged while working with them.

When putting on a new roof, it is advisable to add roof vents if the house doesn't already have them. Low profile vents can be put on gables and on the roof itself.

"The biggest enemy of a roof is heat and UV rays,'' Kaan said. "Vents mitigate the heat somewhat and can add another five years to the life of an asphalt roof.''

Another thing to keep in mind is keeping trees away from the roof. In high winds, branches can scrape the roof, and in rain and snow they can freeze to the roof and tear shingles off.

While do-it-yourselfers can do their own roof, it isn't advisable unless you have had some experience or are working with someone who has experience. There is too much potential for creating a leak if you don't understand how to put the roofing together.

"Start from the bottom up,'' Kaan advises, "and always remember, safety first."

The most common question people ask when planning a new roof is "how much will it cost.''

"Most people haven't researched what types of roofing are available,'' he said. "It's good to educate yourself before you make a decision. Knowing what you want makes the process easier."