When the snow starts to melt and home and business owners start to see leaks in their low-sloped roof, calls to flat roofing contractors in Oakville and Burlington increase. Not all the calls are for repairs however; a fair amount of them is from customers looking to convert their low-sloped roof to a standard, pitched roof. Why would a customer want to do this?
Most calls are from residential customers with a low-sloped portion of roof on their house. They like the look of the house but the higher cost of maintaining a low-sloped roof in Burlington and Oakville area, coupled with the poor service and workmanship from small, non-specialized roofing companies, gives them the idea that they would be better off with a standard sloped roof. However, are they really better off to do this? Let us look at the options.
Shingle roofs are much less expensive than low-sloped roofs. True or False?
It is true that a low-sloped roof is much more expensive than a shingle roof but low-sloped roofs last much longer.
You can install asphalt shingles with a 20 or 30-year guarantee but when you read the guarantee, you will find it is very limited and only applies if the conditions are met.
A low-sloped roof, installed correctly, by a certified company, is usually guaranteed for 10 – 20 years, but, under the correct conditions, can last up to 40 years. Therefore, unless you install cedar shakes or a metal roof, you will not have the same longevity as a low-sloped roof.
It is cheaper to convert my low-sloped roof to a standard sloped roof compared to replacing my low-sloped roof. True or False?
To most homeowners, cost is the main factor when decisions are made regarding maintenance and renovation to a home. Many homeowners will look at the cost of replacing the low-sloped roof compared to converting it to a standard slope and will see that the two costs are similar so why not convert to save money and have less chance for leaks in the future.
Unfortunately, if the job of conversion is done correctly with an architect’s drawing, insulation, vapor barrier, proper flashing, and asphalt shingles, the cost soon adds up to be more than replacing the low-sloped roof.
I cannot afford either option so why can’t I just build a steeper slope on top of the old roof and sheet it with tin? I have seen it done in the country on barns and outbuildings.
No matter if you require roofing services in Burlington, Oakville, or beyond, you can always find some unscrupulous contractor who is out to make a buck and does not have your best interests in mind. Just pick up the local newspaper and check out the handy men for hire section. That jack-of-all-trades may be good at some phases of construction, but when it comes to a low-sloped roof, usually only a specialist has the knowledge required to do the job correctly.
We see it all the time. A homeowner has hired one of these “low-cost experts” who has told them to just build up the roof to make the rain run-off quicker and sheet the roof with tin. Problem solved.
However, is it really solved or just a band-aid solution to cover-up the problem?
Chances are that “expert” did not take the time to address the moisture in the underlying roof, or the need for proper flashing, or the fact that it needs to be insulated. Usually, this “tent” style of roof works for a couple years then the problems begin. Moisture starts to build-up between the layers, water starts to leak in, or condensation forms under the tin and your problem is back.
But what can I do that is both affordable, long lasting, and is done correctly? We will look at these solutions next week as we explore your options and best practices to give you the long-lasting roof you desire with the low maintenance costs.