Asphalt shingles are one of the most popular roofing options in North America for a number of different reasons. These shingles offer a balance of affordability, durability, and versatility while also coming in many different patterns and colors to match virtually any style or preference.
But have you ever wondered why it is that a new roof is so expensive? The truth is that there’s a lot more to roofing than meets the eye. In addition to shingles, a St. Louis roofing company uses many different materials and tools to install a new roof that will last for decades.
In this article, we will take a look at all the different materials used in asphalt roofing while also giving you a detailed look at the overall process of installing a new roof.
Roofing Materials
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are composed of several layers and materials that work together to provide a protective barrier for your home.
Fiberglass
The base layer of a modern asphalt shingle is usually made of fiberglass. This provides the surface for the rest of the asphalt shingle’s materials to adhere to to create a cohesive piece.
Asphalt Coating
A layer of asphalt is added to both sides of a fiberglass mat, acting as an adhesive for the rest of the shingle’s materials. The asphalt coating also provides waterproofing for the shingles, which protects the roof against precipitation.
Mineral Granules
The outer portion of an asphalt shingle is usually covered in granules, which are small particles of natural minerals. These minerals are what give asphalt shingles their colors.
Fire Retardant
The bottom portion of an asphalt shingle usually incorporates some form of fire retardant to prevent the roof from catching fire.
Adhesive Strip
You will also find an adhesive strip on top of an asphalt shingle. Shingles are installed in overlapping layers, and the edge of each course of shingles will line up with the adhesive strip on the previous course. When the heat from the sun warms up the adhesive strip, it will adhere to the overlapping shingle, which prevents the shingles from catching wind.
Underlayment
Your St. Louis roofing company will install underlayment over the roof deck to provide an extra layer of protection against moisture. It is installed in several courses starting from the edge of the roof, with each consecutive layer overlapping the previous.
Drip Edge
Drip edge is a corrosion-resistant metal strip that is installed along the roof’s edge to direct water away from the fascia board.
Flashing
Flashing is typically made from aluminum or galvanized steel, and it is installed around protrusions such as vents, chimneys, and skylights. Flashing serves to direct the flow of water toward the edge of the roof while preventing it from infiltrating gaps and seams in the roof.
Nails
While you may not consider nails to be a significant factor in the overall cost of a new roof, it can take many thousands of nails for your St. Louis roofing company to install asphalt shingles.
Installing Asphalt Roofing
Installing a new asphalt roof is a labor-intensive process that requires extensive preparation. Also, because the process creates a great deal of waste and debris, your St. Louis roofing company will perform a thorough cleanup once the job is done.
Preparation
Before removing the existing roof, your St. Louis roofing company will put down tarps around the house to catch the materials that they are removing. This helps to prevent waste from getting trapped in bushes and plants around the house’s perimeter.
Removal
Removing the existing roof can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on what type of roof they’re removing. Assuming that your current roof was installed correctly, the removal process can usually be completed in less than a day.
Inspection
Before installing new materials, your St. Louis roofing company will inspect your roof’s decking to ensure it is in good condition. They will also closely examine the roof for loose nails, cracks, rotting, and water damage. If necessary, they may need to remove sections of decking and install new material.
Underlayment
Once your St. Louis roofing company has ensured that the roof is safe and stable, they will begin by adding a layer of underlayment across the entire roof deck.
Drip Edge and Flashing
With the underlayment in place, they will then proceed to add drip edge around the edge of your roof decking. They will also install flashing anywhere that there is a protrusion from the roof. This includes chimneys, walls, vents, skylights, etc.
Starter Shingles
Starter shingles are the first row of shingles installed around the entire edge of the roof. These shingles are usually black with an adhesive strip along the edge, and they will be completely covered by the colored asphalt shingles you select for your roof.
Your St. Louis roofing company will nail your starter shingles down around the roof’s edge to help the rest of the shingles adhere and prevent wind damage.
Shingle Installation
Each row of shingles is laid down by carefully lining it up with the edge of the roof. As subsequent layers are laid down, your St. Louis roofing company will stagger individual shingles to prevent the seams from lining up with each other. This helps to ensure that water is not able to penetrate the layer of shingles and cause damage to the decking.
Each course of shingles will be nailed down, with the nails usually being driven just above the self-sealing strip. However, it is important to avoid driving the nails all the way down since this can puncture the shingle.
Ridge Cap
The ridge cap is made up of specially designed shingles and a piece of corrugated plastic. The corrugated plastic is lined up along the ridge of the roof, which is left open. This allows air to ventilate from the attic to the outside.
Once the corrugated plastic is in place, the ridge cap shingles are installed on top to provide a protective covering for the underlying plastic. This helps to prevent water infiltration while also giving the roof a more attractive finish.
Clean Up
Your St. Louis roofing company will pay special attention to this part of the process to remove any debris from your yard, flower beds, and driveway. This is an extremely important step because they need to remove nails and sharp objects from the previous roof. In order to ensure that no nails are left behind, they will walk the perimeter several times with a rolling magnet, which will pick up any metallic objects hiding in the grass.
DeG Contracting: Your Professional St. Louis Roofing Company
DeG Contracting is a St. Louis roofing company that has been in business for over 25 years. In addition to roofing, we also specialize in siding and windows, making DeG a one-stop shop for all of your home exterior needs.
If you are a St. Louis homeowner in need of a new roof, then call DeG Contracting today to get a free quote!
