When you have your roof replaced, you expect the roofer to remove the old shingles and nail new ones into place. This is the core element of roof replacement, after all. However, it is not all that a roof replacement involves. Sometimes, homeowners become a little confused when they watch their roofers working and realize they're doing more than replacing the shingles. You deserve to have a basic understanding of what's really going on during a roof replacement. So, here are four things you should not be surprised to see your roofer do.
Fixing the Roof Deck
The roof deck is the plywood that forms the actual base of your roof, under the shingles. Most roof replacements do not involve replacing the entire roof deck. But if part of your roof deck is damaged or rotten, your roofers will likely strip that part away and replace it. If you see a hole in your roof going through to the attic, this is what your roofers are doing.
Putting Down Underlayment
If you see your roofers putting down sheets of what looks like felt or paper, they are installing underlayment. All well-made roofs have underlayment. It goes between the roof deck and the shingles. Its purpose is to protect the roof deck if your roof does begin to leak. This way, any water will not permeate all the way to the wooden roof deck. In areas where there is a lot of snowfall or rain, your roofers are likely to use a thicker, more durable underlayment.
Installing Vents
Your roof probably has some vents already, but sometimes roofers add new vents when they replace a roof. Vents keep the attic cool and the roof cool. This is a smart move for energy efficiency, and it also reduces wear on the roof over the years. So, if you see your roofers creating rectangular holes in the eaves of your roof, they are likely going to install a soffit vent in those holes. If they are putting a big piece of metal along the ridge of your roof, that is a ridge vent.
Many roof replacements involve one or more of the steps above. Now that you understand what each step is and why it is important, you can feel more informed and confident when you watch your roofer installing your new roof. Talk to a company such as Hurricane Roofer to learn more about their process.