Frequently Asked Questions About Roofing
How long does a tar and gravel roof last?
What is the life expectancy of a Torch-on Roof Membrane?
Why is it important to remove an old roof prior to reroofing?
What if the roof deck (substrate) has rot in it?
What does membership in RCABC mean?
What does ticketed journeyman mean?
What is the difference between guarantee and warranty?
How much insulation is adequate?
How long does a tar and gravel roof last?
An asphalt and gravel system will last approximately 18 years according to Statistics Canada. (top)
What is the life expectancy of a Torch-on Roof Membrane?
Life expectancy of a 2 ply SBS system (Torch-On) is generally accepted as having 25 plus years of service life. (top)
Why is it important to remove an old roof prior to reroofing?
Old roofs are removed prior to putting on a new roof to visually look at the underlying deck (substrate) and determine if the existing deck is suitable for reroofing purposes. (top)
What if the roof deck (substrate) has rot in it?
If the roof deck displays rot (typically wood) the area will need to be replaced with new materials. If the rot is not caused by membrane leakage, then the source of the rot needs to be determined. Often, ventilation of the attic or joist space area is not adequate. We recommend adjustments to the ventilation or retaining a roof consultant to supply the appropriate technical solution. (top)
What does membership in RCABC mean?
To be a Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia (RCABC) member, a roofing contractor must meet and adhere to the requirements listed by the association. Not every roofing contractor satisfies RCABC requirements. (top)
What does ticketed journeyman mean?
A ticketed journeyman is a level of competency as established by the Province of British Columbia. In 1992, the Province of British Columbia legislated roofing as a compulsory trade, which requires roofing contractors to maintain a ratio of journeyman roofers, apprentices and labourers. This only applies to companies supplying a RCABC roof guarantee or on public-funded work. (top)
What is difference between guarantee and warranty?
Simply, a guarantee is full value insurance on a project if (for any reason) the work fails, for the length of the guarantee period. A warranty is a reducing value policy that is prorated similar to what you might find on automobile tires. (top)
How much insulation is adequate?
Adequate insulation is determined by the BC Building Code. While reroofing doesn’t necessarily involve building permits or building code standards, insulation replacement can be determined by the thickness of the existing system or required R value. As the new insulations are more performance oriented, insulation value will usually be upgraded with the same thickness of insulation. (top)
