What to know when choosing your roof:
There are many things to consider when your home needs a new roof. It is essential to educate yourself on the key elements of roofing to ensure that the work is done correctly and safely and within your budget. There are many products on the market that can significantly increase the price of your roof however not all these products are mandatory or essential for proper roof performance. Your roof assessor will be able to guide you in regards to which products are necessary to assure you of a good quality roof for which we can then confidently give you our installation warranty on.

Solid basic roofing can be provided relatively inexpensively without adding any unnecessary extras. Tar paper covering the whole roof, flashing replacement, drip edge, and or larger vents are not always necessary and will balloon the price of your roof while increasing the profit margins of the unscrupulous contractor. These items however may be necessary to ensure proper roof performance and should be recommended accordingly.

Factors that could affect your quote:

The angle of the roof (roof pitch):
The steeper the roof pitch, the more difficult it is to work on the roof therefore labour cost increases in proportion to the angle. The angle of the roof is calculated by the number of inches it rises vertically for every 12 inches it extends horizontally also known as a rise over run.
For example, a roof that rises 7 inches for every 12 inches horizontally would be called a 7/12 pitch or slope.

Layers of existing shingles
Roofs can range from one layer to sometimes three or four on older homes. The type of roofing materials previously installed on your home can also affect the cost dramatically. For example, cedar shakes; slate, metal etc. Labour rates can also be affected by the type of wood decking your roof was constructed with. For example, plywood, particle board, planks etc.

Materials that can be installed on your roof:

Underlayment
Underlayment can prolong a roofs life. Its major function is to prevent water penetration when ice and water remain on the roof. Ice dams and water pools along with long lasting snow accumulation can cause roof damage if proper underlayment is not installed.

There are two types of underlayment:

Asphalt Plain Felt
Commonly referred to as tar paper. This is a fiber material saturated with asphalt. This material is commonly applied on the roof perimeter or covering the whole roof depending on the type of roof decking your home is constructed with.

Ice and Water Protector
Commonly referred to as ice and water shield. It consists of a self adhesive rubber sheet that comes in rolls and is predominantly applied on low slopes and where water runs constantly on the roofs surface.

As your roofing contractor, we may chose to use ice and water protector and /or felt paper on critical roof areas or the entire roof perimeter. For lower slopes, it may be necessary to cover the whole roof area with ice and water shield.

Ventilation
Ventilation is a major component to your roofs performance and longevity. Proper ventilation will reduce moisture in the attic which will prolong roof-deck life. It will also keep the temperature in the attic in the winter more consistent which will in turn lead to less ice formation in the eave portion of your roof.

Proper ventilation consists of 1 Sq. Ft of ventilation for every 300 Sq.Ft. of attic floor space divided by 2 between the soffit ventilation and the roof vents.

There are six major groups of vents:
    1. Static Vents
    2. Exhaust Vents
    3. Turbine Vents
    4. Ridge Vents
    5. Power Vents
    6. Plumbing Base Flashing
To learn more, visit www.duraflo.com

Types of Valleys:
Valleys are usually categorized as either open or closed. The easiest way to determine whether you have an open or closed valley is that an open valley has the metal exposed when complete and the closed valley does not. Open valleys with or without metal are generally less expensive and are of inferior quality then closed metal valleys. Closed metal valleys offer a triple layer of protection consisting of your ice protector, metal and shingles. Closed valleys are superior to open valleys because they have only one seam vs. two therefore reducing the potential risk of a leak by 50%. They are also superior on multiple angle roofs because the high side will be cut allowing the water to flow over the seam and not splashing onto the lower seam. A good contractor can install both types of valleys however we at Imperial Roofs strongly recommend a closed valley installation on all of our projects even though we incur a higher cost of operations.



Drip Edge
A drip edge is a piece of metal which helps guide the water into the eaves. A drip edge is strongly recommended on any slopes below 4/12.

Flashings
Flashings are metal strips which seal the seams and joints of the roof. They are typically located around the walls joining the roof, around chimneys and skylights. In many cases, the flashings can be cleaned and restored if they are caught early and are made of galvanized metal. If the damage is progressive and extenssive they should be replaced. Utilizing our professional expertise we will recommend what is necessary to be done to ensure no leaks will occurr, sometimes all you need is to have them properly refastened and the seams re-caulked.

Shingles
Shingles are your roofs first line of defense against environmental damage. The type of shingles you chose is the biggest factor in determining the longevity of your roof. For example premium shingles constructed with heavy-duty felt or fiberglass asphalt saturated mats coated with ceramic granules will provide a longer roof life.
There are many types of shingles available for your roof therefore a professional advice is crucial in making your final decision. Different companies call their shingles of equal quality by different names for the same overall product so choose carefully. Most shingles are either of the three in one construction (three tab) or they are of the laminate variety meaning layered construction. Laminate shingles also known as architectural shingles are usually of the premium variety with heavy duty construction, they can range from 30 year to lifetime guarantee.

Organic /Asphalt shingles consist of an organic paper based mat saturated with asphalt to make it waterproof. A coating of ceramic granules are than applied. Organic shingles typically have more asphalt in their construction therefore they weigh slightly more than their fiberglass counterpart. They are however less flexible and are more prone to breakage in cold weather. They are at higher risk of water absorption as they age due to their paper base construction

Fiberglass /Asphalt shingles are thinner and lighter, and carry a better fire rating than organic paper based shingles. They are more flexible and perform better in cold climate application. They are only thinner in appearance because the starting mat is more easily saturated with asphalt so less overall asphalt is used. Fiberglass shingles are warranted the same from the manufacture as organics. Most laminate shingles are of fiberglass construction.