If you haven’t touched your roof in a few decades, it’s probably time for an upgrade. That upgrade could include fixes to minor problems like damage caused from the buildup of leaves dropped by a nearby tree, scraping trees that grew too closely to the house, and more. You might even consider just upgrading your new roof to be more efficient and esthetic.
Framing
Replacing your roof might mean framing. Newer homes are constructed to support the weight of wooden shingles or asphalt which means that replacing a clay roof doesn’t really change anything for you. However, if you are upgrading your roof with heavier materials, you might need to include structural framing in order to better support the overall top down weight of your improvement. This comes down to whether you are going to replace the roofing material on your existing roof with the same product or with something else. If you are going to replace it with something else you might need a professional contractor to make sure that the current design of your roof can support the extra weight. If it can’t, you might need to add the cost of framing to your estimate.
Installing Roof Solar Panels
While you are up there improving your roof, and getting estimates for new framing, you might consider installing solar panels.
- Solar panels extend the lifespan of your roof by adding a protective layer against debris, snow, and rain. This means your upgrade will not only strengthen your roof and fix any problems, but the installation of your roof solar panels will extend the lifespan of that upgrade.
- Solar panels make your home more energy efficient by absorbing most of the hot sun and in so doing, decreasing the temperature in the home.
- Solar panels, of course, reduce your long term energy costs.
- Solar panels give you tax credits and rebates, state and federal.
- Solar panels improve your resale value should you decide to sell your home down the line. Most homeowners can enjoy a $6,000 increase minimum per kilowatt installed on their home. So an upgraded roof with 3.1 kilowatts can increase the resale value by $18,000.
Weather Conditions and Roof Materials
If your roof is old, the materials used might be out of date, bad for the environment, or just bad for your energy consumption. It might be time to upgrade your roof by exchanging the material on top for something that is more suitable for your environment (and your budget).
Where you live will play a big role in what roof materials you want to use. Most homes can stand up to asphalt or wooden shingles which are inexpensive to replace should a few of them break during bad weather. Clay tiles might also be a good fit but need professional installation. They can cause damage to nearby homes should they break loose. Something you will need to consider is whether the material you currently have or material you want for your upgrade can withstand the severe weather conditions where you live. Certain states have to contend with a lot of heavy wind like those from tornadoes while others have to contend with a great deal of snow which can increase the load on top of the roof.
Ventilation and Insulation
Improving the temperatures in your home can be achieved by adding solar panels to your roof. Changing the roof materials can also be a better fit in with the environment in which you live. However, one way to upgrade your roof is to improve the ventilation and insulation of your roof. Proper ventilation let’s cold air enter the attic and warm air leave without building up. Insulation retains heat when the weather outside turns cold. Having a combination of insulation and ventilation prevents water from building up as well both inside and on the roof which could lead to structural problems, rot, and damage. Many people save money by ending their building envelope, the structure that gets insulation, with the ceiling of the top level/floor of the attic, but extending that building envelope to the roof can save you money long term.
Call the Roofing Experts
All of these considerations go hand-in-hand. If you are exchanging the roofing materials for something newer or better, adding insulation or ventilation, and considering installing solar panels, you might need to speak with a professional to review whether or not framing isn’t necessary upgrade to your roof. You always want to make sure that everything is stable and safe.
