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Re-Roofing Your Home: 5 Upgrades to Consider

1. Choose an energy-efficient shingle – Shingle roofs are a traditional form of roofing that has come a long way in recent years. There’s now a huge variety of colors and textures for homeowners and architects to consider when it comes to shingles. Reflective shingles can be a particularly smart choice if your property is situated in an exposed or often sunny area. Their granulated surface reflects the sun’s rays, and studies show that they can reduce interior cooling costs by up to 15%.

2. Install low-maintenance gutters – Gutters are among the most important roofing components, as they channel water away from the property, preventing moisture build-ups and damage to brickwork. Contemporary guttering is almost seamless in design, which means that they are much less likely to leak and they don’t trap leaves and other clogging matter as easily. Today’s gutters can be purchased in a variety of colors, so find one that perfectly matches other roofline products.

3. Improve roof ventilation – Attics become like furnaces in summer if they are not well-ventilated. That heat buildup radiates to the rooms directly below the attic, making them uncomfortable. To keep the attic—and your home—cooler, be sure your roofing contractor installs ridge vents across the top of your roof. Barely noticeable from the street, ridge vents allow air movement beneath the ridge cap shingles. For ventilation to be effective, soffit vents located under the eaves draw cooler air into the attic as hot air is being expelled. A cooler attic means your home will be more comfortable during the summer without having to spend a fortune on air conditioning.

4. Install an airtight chimney cap – A chimney cap is essential to the safety and proper functioning of your chimney. When your fireplace is not in use, warm air from inside your home is literally gushing out the chimney when the weather is cold. The damper in your firebox does little to stop it because it is not airtight. Ask your roofer about installing an airtight chimney cap while the roof is being worked on.

5. Consider additional features – Don’t forget to consider additional features that can help with ventilation and internal climate control. For example, you may want to install a solar-powered attic fan or a skylight to let in natural light.

Re-roofing your home may not be the most glamorous of home improvements, but it’s an essential investment that can greatly extend the life and value of your property. Take your time to find roofing materials that complement the rest of the property and look for additional features that can help with ventilation and internal climate control.

Talk to the Roofing Specialists at Total Home Roofing to review all of our roofing upgrades and options that you may want to consider when re-roofing your home.