Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … our skylights leaking water?
Sorry, but that doesn’t look very super, man. It does look like a job for Gunner, though.
Don’t mean to imply too many heroics here, but we did come to the rescue for a customer in New Hempstead, New York, interestingly once a hot spot for aviation in the early 20th century (speaking of up in the sky).
The homeowner had trouble raining down on him, you might say. Roof leaks and skylight leaks meant water was entering the house, and he needed a roof replacement and other work done pronto, before any more damage was done. This included the previously mentioned skylights as well as the gutters. In short, a complete roofing project.
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
New Hempstead, NY
However, the customer was working within a strict budget for this sudden home improvement project, and the issues of skylight seals and repurposing old gutters were likely to be more involved than what some might think.
However, can-do project manager Anthony did a thorough consultation and review, put pen to paper, and promised the customer we would make it happen using the available budget.
Replacing the roof was looking to be the pretty straightforward part of the job. The homeowner chose a nice shade of Oyster Gray from the dependable GAF asphalt shingles line. We’ve mentioned before and will again that these asphalt shingles offer great value, including their durability, warranty, and relative cost.
Now to the gutters. They were 20 years old, an age at which we’d typically recommend replacing with new gutters. But the customer wanted to keep them for a couple of reasons: liked the way they looked, and new ones would bust the budget. This new asphalt shingle roof and the skylight repairs were the budget’s priorities. Can’t argue with that.
Reinstalling old gutters can be delicate because, well, they’re old. They’ve been essentially stuck in one place for years and years, and when you take them off for new roof installation, you risk damaging or misshaping them because they’re set and have also taken an extended hammering from rain, snow, and other weather.
But we were careful and in good shape as we tackled the next thing: the roof’s drip edging. Drip edges are essentially flashing secured to a roof’s edge. Flashing is any material, usually metal, used for weatherproofing at critical points of a structure.
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
New Hempstead, NY
No matter the type of roofing, this is an essential layer of protection for your home. Drip edges not only keep the underlayers of your roof protected, but they also seal the area around your fascia, the horizontal board running right along the edge of your roofline. This is also where the gutter attaches to the house.
While the drip edges keep moisture away, this seal also protects your fascia boards in another way: keeping animals from trying to nest underneath them if there’s an opening. And, trust us, if you give them an inch, they’ll try!
Well, good news was that we shored up the edges and resecured the gutters (and gutter guards) without incident.
That leaves the skylight to report on, those wonderful ceiling windows that can shower a room with natural light while also providing a beautiful view of the heavens. Being able to see clouds floating by or snow falling can be one of the simple joys of homeownership. But if they leak, joy turns to misery and concern.
The skylight itself is pretty simple, typically a metal frame or wooden frame and a pane of glass. So, a window. But since this window is facing up rather than out, a leaky seal can lead to serious water damage. Gravity works.
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
New Hempstead, NY
When a skylight fails, it’s usually the seal or the flashing around it … or both (as was in this case). It can be a tricky thing to repair completely, so we recommend you hire a professional for the attention to detail that might be needed. Fortunately, our New Hempstead customer did!
We resealed the skylight and also installed new flashing to restore waterproof, airtight coverage – just like the rest of the new roof. The customer’s view is back to being heavenly and this job is complete, done in two days and right on budget.
The new roof looked sharp; it really did change the look of the house. Well-done to the crew.
Also, must mention that Anthony was twice rewarded for bringing this project home on the money. One, as always, he was glad to have a satisfied customer. Two, he had a happy customer who gifted him a case of his favorite beer, grateful for the good work.
We think that’s super, man!
City: New Hempstead
State: New York
ZIP: 10977
Category: Roofing
Materials used (manufacturer): GAF
Materials used (type): Asphalt
Materials used (color): Oyster Gray
Project Cost: $20,000
Time to Complete: Two days