This document was created to answer frequently asked questions about Siders roofing. Below, you'll find answers to questions concerning warranties, types of shingles and cost.
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What type of warranty do you offer on your Roofing?
Depending on the type of shingles you purchase, Siders roofing warranty can last from 10 to 30 years. |
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How can I get samples of your products?
Our sales representatives can come out to your home and help you determine what style of roofing would be best for your home. They can provide samples of our products. |
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What do I need to do to prepare for the installation of my new roof?
Remove all loose items from walls and shelves. The constant hammering may cause enough vibration to shake these items down. Make sure to clear your driveway and items directly surrounding your home. Also, please see that electrical power is provided to the outside of your home. If exterior plugs are not available, please run an extension cord through a window or door. |
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How will new shingles look on my roof?
Choosing Siders roofing is one of the best ways to improve the visual appeal and market value of your home. Their rich, dimensional appearance makes a statement that few other roofing materials can. |
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What is the best roof?
Wouldn't it be simple if there was one answer to all roofing problems? Unfortunately there is no magic pill in the roofing market that solves all roofing problems. What the market does offer is a wide selection of good products, each having attributes and faults. The key to selecting the proper roof system is identifying the specific roof design parameters of your building, and how each roof system meets those parameters. A simple example would be: If a building has very heavy foot and wheel traffic on the roof, a 45 mil single ply membrane probably would not be advisable, due to its limited puncture resistance. |
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Why does my roof leak?
Well a cynic might answer that there are two kinds of roofs, those that leak and those that will leak. Roofs leak from a break in the waterproofing layer, sometimes caused by mechanical damage (ie, someone dropping an HVAC access panel on the roof), sometimes from an opening in the sealant, such as pitch pans and caulking, and sometimes from deterioration or defects in the roofing material. The key roof management task is leak avoidance. Find and correct defects before they leak. |
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How long should a roof last?
Like any building component, roofs degrade at different rates depending on a large number of factors: the quality of original construction, the level of abuse, the level of maintenance, appropriateness of design, etc. So how long should a roof last? We have seen poorly designed and installed roofs go as few as six or seven years before they failed, and we have seen old coal tar built up roofs that were over 60 years old. Most building owners, roofing contractors and designers feel 20 years is an acceptable service life. |
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Can I cover over my existing roof?
Installing a roof over the top of an existing roof is generally acceptable under these guidelines: 1) A building cannot have more than two roofs; 2) No wet insulation can be left in place; 3) The roof structure must be able to handle the additional roof load; 4) The new roof must be attached to the roof deck to meet wind loads (it is not generally acceptable to adhere the new roof to the old roof) |
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How many roofs can I put on?
Most building codes allow a structure to have two roof membranes in place, but not a third. The codes are also now requiring all roof layers to be removed once the two roof limit has been reached, when looking to install the third roof. |
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When is the best time to put on a new roof?
This question could be interpreted two ways, so we'll answer each question.
1) What time of year is the best time to install a roof?
The optimum time to install a roof is when the temperatures are above freezing and the wind and rain are at the lowest intensity and frequency. This allows the roofer the best conditions for installation, with the fewest interruptions and lowest risk of leaking. Unless you are very fortunate, sometimes you cannot schedule the roofing work during these periods, and you may need to install the roof in cold temperatures, or in the rainy season. If you know this in advance, it may be possible to choose a roof system that is more tolerant of inclimate weather.
2) The second question might be put this way: "How do I know when my roof has failed?" Different roof types fail at differing rates and with different failure modes. Without going into a long dissertation, the several general failure clues are:
1. Does the roof leak in numerous locations?
2. Do leaks continue, despite repeated repair attempts?
3. Do repairs seem to make leaks worse, or do new leaks develop after repairs?
4. How tolerant is the occupancy to leaks? Low leak tolerance generally means the "failure" decision is reached earlier. It is generally better to reroof at the appropriate juncture, rather than pouring money and time into ill advised repairs, but there are exceptions. |
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How much does a new roof cost?
Before we can tell you how much your job will cost, we will need to know what it involves. We understand your concerns about budget and keeping costs under control. We have the same concerns ourselves. Therefore, the best way to estimate a cost is to have a Siders sales representative come to your home and take a look at your roof. |
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What is an architectural or dimensional shingle?
Unlike standard 3-tab, or strip shingles, which are single layer in design, a growing number of shingles are multi-layered or laminated. |
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What is an asphalt shingle?
Asphalt shingles come in two basic types: fiber glass and organic. |
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What is an organic shingle?
Organic shingles have a thick, organic felt base reinforcement, the felt is saturated with a soft, flexible asphalt. Organic shingles are tough, durable shingles with excellent durability in extreme cold weather and good performance characteristics in extreme heat. |
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What is a fiber glass shingle?
Fiber glass shingles are built on a core, or mat, of fiber glass reinforcement. Asphalt coating is applied directly to this mat and protective color granules are embedded into the coating. Fiber glass shingles carry a Class A fire resistance rating from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the highest rating available. |
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What is a composite shingle?
The same thing as an asphalt shingle; any shingle constructed of a base (fiber glass or organic), asphalt and granules. |
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What is algae (or fungus) found on roofs?
In some moist areas, algae can grow on shingles. Although the algae has no proven effect on shingle life, it does stain or discolor the shingle. Commonly called fungus, this algae staining can be unattractive. The algae-containing stains can be dramatically reduced by the use of special copper granules. |
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What are ice dams?
The typical ice dam is a buildup of ice that forms near the eaves or gutters as the result of interior heat escaping into the attic and through the roof decking. The heat melts the snow and ice on the upper areas of the roof resulting in meltwater. This melted water runs to cold, lower areas or eaves and depending on the conditions, can refreeze. |
