When you have a roof replaced, you expect the roofer to replace your shingles, metal panels, tile, or whatever other outer roof material you might have. Indeed, this is the majority of the work involved with a roof replacement. But the outer roofing material is not the only roof component that's generally replaced during a residential roof replacement. Here are some of the other components a roofer typically replaces during this sort of job.
The Underlayment
You can think of your roof as having three layers. The first is the roof deck, which forms the structural base of the roof and is usually made from wood or plywood. The third is your outer roof material — your shingles or metal. The middle layer is sandwiched between your shingles and your roof deck. It's called the underlayment. It's a piece of felt or synthetic fabric that extends over the entire roof.
The underlayment offers water protection for your roof deck if your shingles or other outer roofing material ever start leaking. Your roofer will generally replace it during a roof replacement to ensure it's intact and fully functional.
Drip Edge
Drip edge is a piece of metal or plastic that is attached along the edge of the roof. It's usually partially layered under the last row of shingles, but it extends out past the fascia a little. The edge of your roof is the most vulnerable to water damage, especially if you live in an area where ice and snow buildup are concerns. Drip edge protects this vulnerable part of your roof from water damage. It keeps water from seeping under the edges of your shingles. Since drip edge does tend to rust or corrode with age, roofers typically replace it when they replace your roof.
Vents
Roofs have vents along the soffits to let cool air into the attic. They also have vents along the ridge of the roof to let warm air escape. These vents are made from metal, so they do usually rust over time. They are easiest to replace when the outer roofing materials are out of the way, so many roofers will give you new vents with your new roof.
A roof replacement is a bigger project than many people realize. Not only will your roofer replace your outermost roof materials, but they also tend to replace the other roof materials that are mentioned above.
For more information about home roofing, contact a local company.
Once you watched someone put a roof on a home, you have a much deeper understanding of what's involved in this sort of work. Roofing is not easy. There's a big mental component since the roofers need to decide how how many shingles to use, how to best lay them out, and so forth. Then, there's the physical aspect of roofing. Lugging packages of shingles onto the roof is not easy, and nailing them down take a lot of work, too. With that in mind, we welcome you to read more about roofing on this blog. Let the articles inform your opinion of the profession.