Article reprinted from Western Roofing magazine July/August 2007.

 

 

Reroofing on the Rise

Slower Housing Starts Should Increase Reroof Market

by Richard K. Olson, technical director, TRI

 

(Editor’s Note: Richard K. Olson is technical director for the TRI. The association represents industry professionals involved in the manufacturing and installation of concrete and clay tile roofs in the U.S. and Canada, and works with national, state, and local building officials to develop installation techniques, codes, and standards for better roofing systems. Olson may be reached at rolson@tileroofing.org.)

 

 

New construction is slowing, it doesn’t matter which economic forecaster you pick, the message will be, “don’t shoot the messenger for the news you are about to receive.” The facts, however, will remain the same. The slip in the economy is slowing the new construction market in many of the traditionally strong segments of the country. As builders look to reduce inventories of finished housing tracks, new construction projected for this year has been estimated to be 30% less in the Southwest and even greater in the Southeast.

                  With fewer consumers looking to upgrade to newer and bigger homes, the roofing community could see a shift in demand. More homeowners will be looking to remodel their existing homes or provide that necessary reroof to make sure they are able to capitalize on the improved market when it returns in a few years, if the forecasters are correct.

 

Proper Roof Maintenance a Key

                  While most homeowners understand the need to maintain the inside of their homes, many forget to look at the most important feature of the house, its water shedding roof. An easy item to overlook, it can be the single most expensive long-term cost for homeowners. A few simple tasks can lead to a significantly increased roof life, no matter what the roofing material.

                  The first advice is to always use a trained professional for roof inspection. Climbing on any roof can be a safety hazard and fall protection is now required in almost all areas of the country. A trained professional will also know the specific issues and codes that need to be inspected. While homeowners might climb on their roofs to see if there is significant granule loss of the shingle, slitting of the wood shake, or other major issues, they will be unaware to check the accessories that are often the first point of weather shedding failure.

                  Most of the roof penetrations for vents, plumbing jacks, and attic ventilation on roofs have some form of moldable flashing to keep the water out of the attic and ultimately the living space of the house. While this is often metal, there are now many products made from other materials. A trained professional will be able to see if there are issues resulting from prolonged weather exposure that might need attention. With metal products, there can be expansion and contraction of the material which can cause the sealant to pull away from the metal. For other materials, the exposure to UV rays can create wear issues over time. While they may appear from the ground to be okay, upon closer inspection, there might be issues or gaps that could let the water pass through. In the case of concrete and clay tile, the goal is to keep the water on top of the tile and it will do the job of removing itself from the roof. Step flashing and double flashings on pipe penetrations are used to properly manage the issue of water penetration.

                  Valley metals, chimneys, and flashings around skylights are also areas that require some attention over time. In areas like the Pacific Northwest, debris can gather in the valley metal from the blowing of pine needles and other vegetation in the winter months. If these valleys are not kept clean, they can act as small dams to unnecessarily divert water in a lateral direction on the roof. While tiles will have a very long life, metal flashings should be checked to make sure they are still performing as intended.

 

Remodeling Instead of Moving

                  Remodeling will provide additional items for homeowners to consider when it comes to a roofs design. Local building officials should be contacted to determine the requirements for repair versus reroof. In some areas there are requirements that if more than a certain percentage of the roof is damaged (say 25%), the entire roof must be upgraded to current code. While in most cases this is not a significant cost, roofers need to incorporate these changes into roofing bids. Design professionals or roofing contractors can help identify the requirements in specific areas surrounding codes, materials, and any other regional issues.

                  When remodeling, there is also the option to reuse the same tiles. In a process called “lift and relay,” older tiles can be placed on the new area of the remodel to maintain the same aesthetic look of the home. If new tiles are required, they can often times be incorporated into other areas of the roof that are not as visible to avoid any color variation. Changing the color of old tiles is also an option. There are recoating companies that have developed special color coatings designed to adhere to concrete and clay tiles, allowing homeowners to create a new color scheme for their home. •••