Frequently Asked Questions

One of the most common questions asked. If you wait for ceiling stains, specialized water collection devices (buckets) or sounds of dripping water, you could have waited too long. In some situations, by the time water gets inside the office or warehouse there could be serious issues with the structural decking. This could add a significant cost to the roof replacement.

Depending on the roofing system, there are telltale signs a roof should be evaluated by a professional.

Asphalt Shingles

1. Asphalt shingles are curling up in the corners and/or are losing their granules.
2. Missing shingles
3. Moisture entry into the building.

Low-Slope Roofing

1. Loose Membrane or bubbles in the roofing sheet.
2. Missing sections of roof membrane.
3. Moisture entry into the building.

Remember, getting up on a roof is dangerous, if you’re unsure, simply call us and we would be happy to help provide an evaluation.

The easy answer for this is yes. With all simple answers there are conditions.

1. The existing roof cannot have any trapped moisture or the new roof you installed will not be warrantable and WILL fail well before its published life expectancy.
2. Check with your local building official for the maximum allowed layers of roof. Typically a total of two-layers is the maximum allowed by code.
3. Weight of the existing roof. You do NOT want to install a slate roof over a previously installed shingle roof. Your beautiful office space could end up in the basement!

Leaving the existing roof in place does save money. That being said, we always recommend our customers to remove the existing roof to expose the structural deck. This insures that no issues will arise by not seeing rotted or loose decking that you would otherwise never see.

This question completely depends on your budget and the application. You don’t want to put a nice red copper metal roof on a flat roof just like you wouldn’t want to put a black EPDM roof on your sloped roof.

Aesthetics play a large part in the final decision making process. The best advice is not to wear a three-piece suit if you’re going out to dinner at your local dive bar. Do your research. See what look you’re going for coupled with your budget and call us to get an evaluation. We’d be happy to price up your options for you.

This can vary greatly depending on what type of roofing system you have. Steep-slope roofing tends to last longer than low-slope roofing. Being inland compared to on the ocean can also determine total longevity.

 Slate: This natural stone can last up to 100-years.

Metal Roofing: Life expectancy is 40-50 Years depending on material type, project location and maintenance.

Asphalt Shingles: 25-Years to lifetime. Simply put…the better the shingle, the longer they last.

 EPDMTPO/PVC Roof: 10-30 Years depending on system components and assembly.

 Built-up Roofing/Modified Bitumen: Typically it is five times the number of plies in the system (i.e. 3-ply is 15-years). This also varies on the types of plies installed. Modified Bitumen can last just as long with less plies due to the composition of the sheets.

The single best thing you can do to prolong the life of your roof is annual maintenance. Simple things like cleaning your gutters or roof drains are critically important. Water that backs up can cause substantial damage to interior surfaces. Trapped moisture can also lead to mold growth.

Gathering up debris that accumulates on the roof that can get swept into roof drains or downspouts are also important. Preventing debris from entering roof drains or downspouts is important to prevent the unnecessary cost of having to hire a plumber to clear the roof drain leaders. ,

 Look for signs of wear and tear that need attention before they become a major problem. Loose or missing flashings, large bubbles in the roof or punctures/lacerations should all be noted and addressed.

Show your roof just as much loving care as your fellow co-workers or office equipment. A small investment can add years to the life of your roof. Besides, aren’t those things usually under your roof?

 Not sure on how to do anything mentioned above? Let us know and we can provide this service for you. We’d be happy to provide an estimate for annual inspections/maintenance.

This cannot be answered in a FAQ section. The factors are numerous. Things such as roof type, slope, height, size are just some of the items that affect the roof pricing. Any roofing contractor worth his weight in salt will give you plenty of options during the estimate phase along with information on those options so you can make an educated decision.

The best advice is to do your research. Don’t make sporadic or emotional decision. Know what you plan on getting and make sure it is worth the cost. Capeway Roofing wants you to get a roof that you are going to be happy with, whatever that roof type may be.

Unfortunately, most of the mistakes made in roofing are not always obvious or visible once the project is complete. Here are some of the common mistakes on shingle roofs:

1.  Ice and Water Shield is a critical part of any steep-sloped roof installation. All ridges, valley’s hips and eaves should get at least one layer of ice and water shield. The eave portion is the most critical. At the eave or gutter side of the roof, the ice and water shield should extend a minimum of 24-inches up the roof slope beyond the vertical plane of the outside wall.
2.  Ventilation. Making sure your sloped roof is ventilated is critical to prevent dry-rot. There should always be two points of ventilation on a roof. One is for the air to enter the attic space and the other is the egress. Typically these are done in soffit and ridge vents. Turbine ventilators, electric fans and other types of technology are also utilized depending on your condition.
3.  Shingle fastening is also a common problem. This is more of a problem with pneumatic (air powered) fastening systems. Nails are over driven (driven to deep, puncturing the shingle) or under driven (leaving a bump in the roof at the nail heads) all of which cause blow off and/or leaks.

Low-slope roofing is more difficult to notice the errors in installation without proper training. The best protection is to make sure you purchase a manufacturer’s warranty (not just a contractor’s guarantee). The warranty mandates a site inspection by the manufacturer to make sure your roof is done properly.