Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Roofing
Roofing can be confusing, and many homeowners have common questions about it. People often ask how long a roof lasts, when to repair or replace it, and what materials work best for their area. Other concerns include costs, insurance coverage, and signs of damage like leaks or missing shingles. This FAQ will try and help answer these questions and more, making it easier to understand and care for your roof. For any additional questions feel free to reach out to one of our roofing experts.
Yes, you can safely make some preliminary checks of your own. (Hint: prior to getting the ladder out, use binoculars or a zoom-lens camera to check the general condition of the roof.) Look for the obvious; warped, cracked or missing shingles. If these conditions exist, surface repairs may be in order or, it may mean that more serious undetectable damage could exist beneath these areas. Indoors, examine walls and ceilings in the general areas of the damaged shingles.
Look for flaking plaster or peeling paint. If you suspect trouble, call a roofer to look it over. It’s too risky to leave it to your own judgment once you think you’ve found preliminary signs of damage.
A roof should be replaced before serious damage occurs. If you suspect there may be a problem, have it inspected right away. Some problems are only obvious in very bad weather. Don’t ignore these signs just because the weather has turned nice, and the problem has seemed to go away. Unseen damage can bring on serious structural and health issues (such as black mold).
There is a price per sheet for plywood replacement and a price per linear foot for board replacement. The cost of wood replacement will be an additional cost.
Yes, we always install Ice & Water Shield. We will install 3 Ft. in the valleys and 6 Ft. at the gutter edges (unless stated otherwise). We use “Grace” Ice & Water Shield – it is the best Ice & Water Shield on the market today. With the harsh Chicago winters, it is very important to not only install Ice & Water Shield, but to use a quality product as well.
Starter shingles are used while installing the first course of shingles (at the gutter edge). It is an additional layer of shingles that give added protection to that first course. All the shingles in the body of the roof overlap, therefore they have added protection underneath. However, the first course ends at the gutter edge and does not overlap an additional shingle. The starter shingles ensure that water does not seep through the seam on the shingle and penetrate to the deck or underlayment.
Based on the size of your roof, our recommendation will give you the proper amount of exhaust ventilation.
The basic roof cost is for a Certainteed Landmark shingle, which is a standard architectural/dimensional shingle. The upgraded option if for Certainteed Landmark Pro, which is a heavier shingle and comes in MaxDef colors that are more vibrant. Both shingle options come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Architectural ridge caps are special shingles that are installed on all hips and ridges of your roof. If you get a bid that does not state they are using architectural ridge caps, or if you decide not to have them installed, you will instead end up with a 3-tab shingle (matched to color as close as possible) that will be cut, bent and installed. You will then have a 25-year ridge cap on your limited lifetime roof. The architectural ridge caps really finish off the architectural look by adding the dimensional feel to your hips and ridges. We have a great example of the difference in our showroom.
Ridge vents are the most efficient form of exhaust ventilation on the market today. It is installed at the ridge (peek) of the roof. A ½” will be cut on either side of the ridge, the vent will be installed and shingled over. If you choose this option, all roof vents will be removed and the holes covered with plywood. Also, if you decide to go with ridge vent, it is unnecessary to get an attic fan. However, a ridge vent can be harmful to your roof system if you don’t have the proper intake ventilation. Usually this means having a continuous vented intake system coming from the soffit or gutter edge. More exhaust ventilation is not always better. A well-balanced ventilation system is key to the long-term life of your roof system.
The soffit area of the home is the overhang. You may notice that if you look up you will see vents in the aluminum part of the soffit. That is great, but occasionally when we pull the plywood during the tear-off, we look down into the soffit area and realize that the wood (which the aluminum is covering) was never cut. This means that the air is not getting to the attic. So, essentially you would have no intake ventilation. By initialing this item, you are giving us the ok to cut the holes needed in the wood for a proper intake ventilation system.
If you decide to go with ridge vent, an attic fan is not needed. If you decide not to go with ridge vent, an attic fan may be installed. An attic fan will help to circulate air in the attic.
The chimney is the most common area for leaks on your roof. By cutting the metal flashing into the brick, you are ensuring that you have the most protection in this area. If you don’t do this with your chimney flashing, at the top metal edge, a bead of caulk will be what protects your interior from water getting in and caulk tends to deteriorate over time.
Re-nailing the deck is important because it will ensure that all the wood decking is nailed properly, which will make sure you don’t end up with buckled plywood down the road which could require additional repairs. If this item is not clearly stated on your contract, it most likely is not being done.
Yes, we get the permit and schedule all necessary inspections.
In most residential cases we do not require a down payment. The balance is due in full at completion of the project. For some larger projects or commercial projects, we may require a down payment.
No; however, if you feel you have damage and there was a significant storm in the area, we recommend you call the insurance company to file a claim and have them do an inspection.
Yes, our labor warranty is fully transferable to the new owners.
Yes. We offer financing through a third party (Regions Home Improvement Financing). More information will be provided if you’re interested. The approval is good for four (4) months.
We will replace the gutter apron for a proper Ice & Water Shield installation. By replacing the gutter apron, it allows us to wrap the Ice & Water Shield into the gutter, providing superior protection against Ice and water. If the gutter apron was not replaced, the Ice & Water Shield would be installed on top of the gutter apron. This has the potential to allow ice build-up from the gutter to work its way under the gutter apron and Ice & Water Shield defeating its purpose.
There are several options:
- Call the office to set up a time to come in and discuss with one of estimate review specialists.
- Call to discuss over the phone with one of our office personnel and samples can be dropped off to your home.
- Email questions to our estimate review specialists and request samples to be dropped off.
We typically put jobs in order form when they are received. If there is an emergency and the work needs to be completed quickly, we work with you to get this taken care of. Weather is a factor in scheduling. We will usually call 1-2 days in advance, prior to starting work (In most cases).
It depends on the size of the project; most roofs typically take up to 2 days. If there are other components (gutters or soffit/fascia), different crews are set up for each of these. Gutters usually take ½ day and soffit/fascia, for full replacement, up to a week.
The Right Solution for ALL Your Roofing Needs
Peterson Roofing is a full service exterior company that has been proudly serving the Chicagoland area and Northwest suburbs since 1978. Whether it is a small repair or a complete replacement project, Peterson Professionals have the experience to meet your exterior needs. We have dedicated and experienced crews that specialize in roofing, soffit, fascia, gutters, preventive maintenance, attic insulation, masonry and more. Our crews are continually trained in-house in our training facility to keep up-to-date with all OSHA regulations and installation procedures.
