Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, & Beyond!
Tweet
Find us on Google+ (240) 793-5867
Unlike many other projects around the house on the Eastern Shore, roof shingling is an entirely different beast. Most other projects can be puzzled out on the spot. Window replacement, door hanging, trim installation--all share similarities with other home remodeling projects.
That's why most Maryland and Delaware homeowners choose to hire a professional roofer to replace their shingles. Apex Construction is the roofing professional of choice on the Maryland and Delaware coast. However, we encourage all home owners to do their own due diligence on roofing basics so they don't have to take our word for it.
Apex Construction encourages all home owners to know some basics of roofing shingles and the roofing installation process itself before calling that first roofing company on your list.
As long as the existing shingles are relatively flat and not too wavy/curvy/warped, and as long as their underlayment is sound, you most likely can install new shingles over the old shingles.
That holds true mainly for composite or asphalt shingles. Wood shingles present more of a problem, as it is impossible for any other shingle to be laid on top of them.
How many layers of composite shingles can your roof support? As a rule of thumb, three layers of shingles are about the maximum that a roof can support. Three layers of composite shingles is about equal to one layer of slate shingles. Apex Construction does not recommend more than 3 layers of shingles to our customers.
Delmarva homeowners who want to re-shingle their roof--that is, laying down multiple layers of shingles without removing existing layers--often think that they are saving money. This may or may not be the case, let us explain.
You need to consider two things: 1.) Stripping a roof of existing shingles is a fast process. Most roofers can strip a roof of shingles in a half-day. 2.) Laying down shingles on top of existing shingles presents its own problems. Besides the weight factor mentioned above, subsequent layers of shingles can repeat the waves, bumps, wrinkles, and other imperfections of the first layer. By stripping the roof, it is possible to make quick repairs that will allow the layer of shingles to lay down flat and smooth.
Roof shingling has traditionally involved the installation of the familiar asphalt or composite shingles. But with the advent of newer materials, it is possible to purchase rubber shingles that look amazingly like slate or wood.
While it is true that composite shingles tend to be cheaper in the short term, concrete and fiber-cement shingles are other roofing options that equalize in price over the long term.
And don't be afraid of real slate shingles. Real slate has come down in price dramatically over the years and is available to the average homeowner who is intent on installing a quality roof. GAF's TruSlate line is one example of consumer-grade slate shingles. Apex Construction is a certified installer for GAF roofing materials.
Finally, did you know that you don't even need shingles on your roof? Metal roofing, in long sheets, works well because its fewer seams present less of an opportunity for water to come through. Not only that, metal roofing can be recycled when its lifespan is over. To see a recent metal roof project performed by Apex Construction like HERE.
Contact us for any roofing related or other general contracting questions you may have. We offer free consultations and encourage you to bid your next project with us!
Apex Construction replaced the roof on this historic Wattsville, VA Church. Multiple layers of the old church roof were removed, new plywood installed, and then a brand new asphalt roof was nailed down. This was a neat project for us because of the historic nature of this building. Allow Apex Construction to bid your next roofing project, call us anytime for a free consultation!
Below is a brief history of the Wattsville United Methodist Church.
Historic Wattsville United Methodist Church began by accident, when two Methodist preachers came to the door of David Watts seeking shelter after their boat was destroyed in Chincoteague Bay. This occured in 1795, making this one of the oldest Methodist Churches on the Eastern Shore. From this accidental meeting, Watts' house became a meeting place, and eventually a society formed. They built two meeting houses before this one, which was dedicated on Aug. 10, 1919.
The church was first organized into the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in the 1840's, the congregation withdrew and entered the Methodist Protestant Conference, the first church to do so on the shore. They would remain a Methodist Protestant Church until the 1930's when they became simply the Methodist Church, and evntually in the 60's the United Methodist Church.
The building, located in Wattsville, Accomack County Virginia is a typical eastern shore country church, a white frame building replete with stained glass windows and bell-towers. The church has been officially named Wattsville since the dedication of this building in 1919, but was at one time known as Friendship Church. That name is preserved by Friendship United Methodist Church, located on the other side of the town, which was created in the 1860's by the African American members of this church.
Asphalt shingles are by far the most popular roofing material today. They are relatively cheap, they last for a long time (sometimes with 30 year warranties or more), and roofers don’t mind working with them. Asphalt shingles have become more attractive over the years. No longer are you limited to the standard black or gray asphalt shingle. Now, you can find asphalt shingles that look like wood, slate, and even like…asphalt.
There are two ways to roof a house with asphalt shingles. The first way is by completely removing all the existing shingles. The second way is to lay a second layer of asphalt shingles on top of the existing layer. There are arguments for and against both methods. The main argument against laying additional layers of asphalt shingles is that the roofing materials can get too heavy for the underlying roof framing. And this can be a real problem, especially for older houses. In fact, it is often said that a triple layer of asphalt shingles is equal to a single layer of slate roofing materials. And if you know slate, you know this is pretty heavy. The main argument against stripping off the existing layer and then laying down a new layer is that you’re adding more work to the process. Not a real problem if roofing professionals are tackling the job—they can strip most roofs in a morning—but if you’re doing the job yourself, it can be rough.
One other problem with shingling over existing shingles is that you are essentially repeating some of the surface irregularities that may already be there. If you’re contemplating putting on a new roof, there’s probably a good chance that you may have bubbles, bumps, and waves that you need to get rid of. Putting new shingles over that doesn’t do much for the aesthetic aspect. One way to minimize this problem is to go over the old roof and correct as many problems as you can. It doesn’t take much more than a hammer, some roofing nails, and a handful of shingles to correct the problem of bumps, gaps, and protruding nails.
Stripping shingles from a roof can be a very anxiety-provoking activity. You need to make sure that you’re doing this at a time of year when there is no chance of rain or snow. Even the slightest sprinkle can destroy your attic insulation, walls, and flooring. To name a few. This is another reason why you want the professionals to do your roof. A large band of experienced roofers can strip and put up a new asphalt roof on an average-sized house in two or three days. Apex Construction can install a new asphalt roof for you, just give us a call for a free consultation.
