The previous asphalt shingle roof on our late-80’s backsplit, like many installed 10 to 15 years ago, was nearing the end of its life. We contacted a number of companies, including The Roofman. The estimator, Mike Galt, promptly paid us a visit and conducted a thorough inspection of the roof AND the attic. He then explained in great detail what he found and what the best course of action would be. The meeting was not so much a sales pitch as a crash course in attic and roofing systems. Mike’s passion and expertise regarding both the theory (building science) and practice (how to actually DO the job) was very evident. He patiently answered our long list of questions, and, within a few days, returned with a comprehensive written quote and information package. We met again for further discussion and to finalize the deal. Between this experience and the stellar reviews on HomeStars, we felt very confident that The Roofman was the right choice.
This was not a cheap job, but it was well worth the investment. Having been educated on the subject, we decided to have our attics upgraded in terms of air sealing, ventilation, and insulation (our house is a backsplit, so there are 2 attics). A re-roofing job is a great time to do this, as the old roofing material is being removed anyway. A properly functioning attic needs an airtight separation from the living space, unobstructed soffit and ridge venting, and lots of insulation (minimum R50). Also, bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans should vent straight to the outdoors, NEVER into the attic. Of course, all of these things were wrong in our attic (see “before” pictures inside the lower attic). The soffits were plugged with insulation, the separation from the living space was not properly air-sealed, and the amount of insulation was well below modern building codes. As you can see in the “after” shots, the insulation level has been dramatically increased, soffit baffles let fresh air into the attic, and the exhaust fans vent to the outside, as they should. We strongly recommend you opt for the attic upgrade if your attic is found to be deficient in any way. The benefits are:
•Airtightness will improve indoor air quality (attic air is not very good air)
•Your roof will last longer due to control of heat and moisture build-up in the attic
•You’ll avoid condensation and mould growth in your attic
•You’ll avoid ice dams, which can cause major damage and are a potential safety hazard
•You’ll feel more consistent and comfortable temperatures inside the house
•You’ll reduce your energy consumption (and carbon footprint)
•When it comes time to sell your house, the inspector will like what he sees
•Ontario is planning to require home energy evaluations at resale – and the attic is a huge part of your home’s energy efficiency
Of course, we also had the roof covering completely overhauled. We went with the GAF Timberline shingles complete with the “System Plus” warranty. This is a very comprehensive roofing system and warranty program registered directly with GAF. It includes lifetime (50 year) NON-PRORATED coverage on the entire roofing system (materials AND labour) and is fully transferable within the first 20 years. Such strong coverage is made possible by quality materials (heavy duty shingles, roof deck protection, “starter strip” shingles for extra wind resistance, leak barrier membrane in vulnerable areas, ridge venting, and specially designed shingles for ridge capping) combined with The Roofman’s GAF Master Elite certification.
The big job took 2 days to complete. The team, led by Marvin the foreman, arrived promptly at 7:30 am and kept working until sundown on both days. They have developed an installation process that allows them to work efficiently and do a thorough job while minimizing invasiveness and disturbance. It began with stripping off the old roofing materials – down to the sheathing. Next, they removed the sheathing along the eaves to install new soffit vent baffles, and closed it up again with new sheathing (included in the quoted price). They also temporarily created a small opening in the roof to allow the attic crew to do their work. This means they do not have to go through the access hatch inside the house (which would make a mess). Meanwhile, the shingle crew continued shingling as much of the roof as they could. Finally, the attic hole was patched up and shingled over. The crew worked very efficiently and took great care of our property. They were also very courteous throughout the process. Needless to say, we are very pleased with the end result. A picture is worth 1000 words, so we’ll let you have a look.
Thank you to The Roofman and GAF for offering such a comprehensive roofing AND attic solution! We are highly confident in our investment and would certainly recommend The Roofman for all your roofing and attic needs.
