Common Questions About Roofing in Grand Rapids Michigan

A leaking roof is something that should be repaired as quickly as possible. For most home owners however, knowing about roofing is something that is truly foreign and since the nature of the roof leak is usually the longer you wait the more damage your home will have it tends to put a lot of stress on the home owner simply because they don’t know. We’ve compiled some of the common questions you may have when getting roofing in Grand Rapids Michigan. And if there is a question that we haven’t covered here be sure to send us a message and let us know and we’ll try to answer it here. 

Common Questions About Roofing in Grand Rapids Michigan

Most of these questions are more focused for roof replacement in Grand Rapids Michigan but can also help you understand about your roof repairs as well. So here are the most common questions we typically get at Grand Rapids Home Pros.

How Big is a Roofing Square?

Many roofing contractors will talk about the size of the roof in terms of squares. They may say your roof is ’30 squares’. A square in roofing is 100 square feet. So a roof that is 30 squares is 3,000 square feet. This refers to the surface area of the roof as well. So a home with a more pitched roof will have a larger roofing surface and more squares than the same size home with a lesser pitched roofing surface.

Is Metal Roofing Better Than Asphalt Shingles?

This is a common question that we get a lot and there is not a good answer to be honest. There are many different qualities when it comes to shingle roofing and metal roofing that it makes comparison difficult. For instance, GAF has a roofing system that is designed to last more than 50 years while some of the lower quality roofing lasts less than 15 years. Metal roofing can also have these differences in quality. Typically however, metal roofing is more expensive when compared to shingle roofing with similar warranties.

How Long Will My Roof Last?

How long your roof will last will depend on the quality of the roofing materials that are installed. Typical roofing material warranties today last from 15 to 50 years. Most quality roofing materials will last about 30 years. When getting a new roof be sure to inquire about the length and scope of the warranty of the roofing materials.

Can Metal Roofing Be Interchanged with Shingle Roofing?

If you’re interested in changing the roofing on your home from shingle roofing to metal roofing there are some things that will need to be done. Depending on the roof decking that you have installed will determine the lengths you’ll need to go to in order to make that happen. Either metal roofing or shingle roofing can be interchanged with each other but the cost of doing so will be impacted by other factors of the roof which mostly involve the roof decking and how it is installed.

Who Makes the Best Roofing Shingles?

There are several large roofing manufacturers that offer products in the Grand Rapids Michigan areas. Two of the biggest are GAF and Owens Corning. While there are advantages of some roofing materials manufacturers the products are similar. One thing that you should avoid is much smaller manufacturers of roofing products. You’ll want to know that the warranty on your roof will be honored in years to come if there is a problem with the roof. Going with a smaller manufacturer may not give you that luxury.

Should I Clean My Roof?

There may be times when your roof gets moss or other debris on the roof. Removing the debris from the roof is needed however, one thing that you’ll want to avoid is pressure washing the roof. Pressure washing the roof can blast away shingle granules and cause damages to the shingles and should be avoided.

How Much Does a New Roof Cost?

There are many factors that go into a new roof installation. The type of materials used and the quality are two of the main factors. Other factors include whether the roofing is going to be installed over the old roof such as re-roofing. In order to determine just what a new roof will cost on your home be sure to contact Grand Rapids Home Pros today. We offer free estimates on home improvement projects including roof replacement and repairs in Grand Rapids Michigan.