West Michigan Residential Roofing

Werner Roofing is a trusted, local West Michigan roofing company providing exceptional service and top-of-the-line materials from name brands like GAF and Sheffield Metals. Rest assured that a Werner Roofing residential roof will keep your family safe in any storm.

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Once you schedule a time to meet, a Werner Roofing representative will:

Visit your home, survey the problem, and give an honest assessment based on the current condition of your home.
Prepare a proposal that includes all of your possible options for repair and replacement.
Keep your budget in mind. We offer a variety of shingles and metal roofing materials for all budget types.

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What you need to know

If you’re building a new home or you’ve decided it’s time to re-roof your home, there are some basics you’ll want to consider when designing your new roof. You’ll want to know how to accurately calculate your costs, how to understand your roofer, and what your options are for your new roof. Check out these handy tips on what you should know about building your new residential roof.

Terminology – “Squares”

If you’re considering a new roof, it’s helpful to know some basic roofing terminology. First and foremost, roofers will talk about “squares.” Now, if you’re used to general home building terminology, you might incorrectly assume that they’re referencing a square foot.

SQUARES – A roofing square is a 10-foot-by-10-foot square, containing a total area of 100 square feet. This is helpful to know when you’re determining the cost of your new roof. Most bundles of composition shingles are made to cover 1/3 of a square.

So, say you have a 1,500 square foot roof. Your roof is therefore 15 squares and will take about 45 bundles of composite shingles to roof your house. Once you know what a square is, you’ll be able to calculate the cost of your roof with more accuracy.

Roofing Cost

Now that you understand how exactly your residential roof is measured, you’ll want to be aware of any extras that will increase your roofing costs. The cost of materials is the base price point, but you will have to take into account the cost of labor to install your roof, the shape of your roof, and if you’re re-roofing or if this will be your home’s first roof.

Additional cost considerations include:

More intricate styles of roofs than a simple gable roof
Add-ons like skylights and chimneys
When re-roofing, stripping the existing roof before installing the new one will add to your roofing costs significantly.

For more information on your projected cost, check out our blog on breaking down the cost of your roof.

Roofing Materials

The majority of roofs installed in the U.S. are either asphalt or metal for a variety of reasons:

Both tend to be the least expensive over their lifespan
They are the most durable options for residential roofing
Both have long lifetimes
They require very little maintenance
They well suited to the harsh West Michigan climate

For more information on the pros and cons of both options, check out our informational pages on asphalt roofing and metal roofing.

Roof Shapes

There are many different shapes of roofs to choose from, from gambrel to gable. When you’re building a new roof and choosing the style, it’s a good idea to take the area you live into consideration.

CONSIDER WHERE YOU LIVE – If you experience a lot of inclement weather, high winds, & harsh temperatures, some roofing styles are better for your home than others. It’s a good idea to talk to your roofer to ensure the shape of roof you have chosen is practical for the climate you live in.

Additionally, some roof shapes can be more expensive than others, so you’ll want to talk to your contractor to see what shape is right for your budget as well. For more information on different types of roofs, check out our blog post about the 7 basic roof shapes.

Free Roofing Estimate

Planning some work on your roof? Is your roof in need of repair? Werner Roofing can help. Contact our roofing team for a free estimate for your upcoming roofing project.

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