Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I Really Need A New Roof?
Most older roofing shingles have a 15- to 30-year lifespan depending on the shingles’ quality, the location, foliage around your home, and how well the roof was installed originally. Direct sunlight, weather/wind damage, and poor ventilation can shorten the life of your roof.
The CertainTeed and GAF shingles we use today have lifetime warranties, but that hasn’t always been the case. We advise that 12-15 years is a good rule of thumb to go by. At that point, check for these warning signs:
If your roof is older than 15 years old, we recommend to give us a call so that we can come out and assess for replacement.
How Much Does A New Roof Cost?
Ourteam will inspect your roof and will let you know the best system for your home.
The price of a new roof system varies widely, depending on such things as the materials selected and the warranty selected.
Our shingle roof estimates offer a variety of options, including 3-tab vs. architectural, 10/20/25 year warranties, etc.
Our flat roof systems offer a variety of options including modified bitumen. PTO and coatings, warranties, etc.
How Long Do Estimates Take?
You will generally get your new roof estimate 24 to 48 hours after our sales representative has visited your property.
What Does My Roof Estimate Include?
Your estimate will enclose a detailed description of all actions that will take place during the re-roofing and offer 4 options of roofing choices that vary with warranties and product quality. If gutters, gutter guards or skylights were also assessed at your appointment, the pricing and product descriptions for those items will be included as well.
If I Sign With Armor, How Long Does My Roof Take?
Weather permitting, it could be as early as a few days after we receive your signed estimate. When that is received, we put your property in the installation queue. Most often, your roof is installed within 2-10 days of receiving all of your completed paperwork.
How Do I Request An Inspection?
Please give us a call to (423) 760-3333 when you are ready to install your new roof or send us your roofing estimate signed and completed with all color selections (shingles & drip edge) and we will schedule your installation.
Can I Replace My Roof In The Winter?
We can install your roof all year round, except for the days with severe weather conditions: rain, thunderstorms, day temperature lower than 38F, etc.
How Long Does Installation Take?
The duration of the project depends upon the size of your roof. It will usually take one day to two days but can take longer under certain circumstances.
What If It Rains?
In the case of inclement weather, your roof install will be rescheduled to the next dry day. We do not open a roof unless we have a clear workday.
What Will The Installer Be Doing?
On installation day, your home will essentially become a construction site. The crew will use tarps to cover the immediate grounds around your home, as this will also assist with proper site cleanup. As the project starts, old shingles will be removed, nails will fly away and wind will blow shingles. Be advised – all will be cleaned and a magnetic sweep is completed to remove all debris and materials before we finish work on your home.
*Please be aware that your roof has been there for approx 15 to 20 years accumulating dust, pollen and tree debris. All that dirt will be in the air when our technicians take off the shingles.
*Crew members will remove the shingles from the roof and one member is responsible for throwing them down to a crew member on the ground to place them in the dumpster. This is why the dumpster needs to be located close to your home.
*Once we take the shingles and underlayment off, we will check the wood decking for damaged/rotten areas. A new roof cannot be installed on sub-par decking. We will replace damaged decking at a cost agreed in the installation contract.
*New underlayment is installed and then the new shingles.
*The crew members will clean as best as they can the blown shingles, nails or debris and put all in the dumpster.
*Dumpster will be collected the evening of or the day following your installation. The driver will clean up the area where the dumpster was located.
What Time Will Installers Arrive?
The crew will arrive between 7:00 am to 9:00 am or 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, pending weather and unforeseen conditions. There will be a crew chief and a field supervisor assigned to your installation. All concerns during installation are to be directed to the office via phone (423) 760-3333 or email [email protected]
Will The Crew Be Taking Breaks?
Yes. Please be aware that temperatures on roofs can exceed 110 °F and it is very easy for them to dehydrate.
All members will take a lunch break all at the same time and few other shorter breaks, on a rotating schedule.
What Happens To Old Shingles?
For every roof installation we have a dumpster to collect old shingles and all debris related to the installation.
Where Will They Put The Dumpster?
Having clearance for the dumpster is the homeowner’s responsibility. Please have the driveway completely cleared in order to avoid being blocked in by the dumpster. If the dumpster has been scheduled to be parked on the street, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to block off the space in front of the property (using cones, personal car, trash bins, etc) prior to 5:30 am the morning of install.
What Exactly Is Vinyl Siding?
Vinyl siding is an option for your home that resists deterioration and rotting. Vinyl siding looks like painted wood, but with much more durability. However, it can be damaged in rare cases, such as being hit by large hail.
How Much Should I Expect To Pay?
With all home improvement projects, the cost of new siding is dependent on several variables. Armor Xteriors always uses competitive pricing. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation and learn more about what options you have for your home.
Can My Homes Exterior Be Maintenance Free?
Not completely, but pretty close! Armor Xteriors can replace all of your exterior wood surfaces that require regular maintenance. This can be done by replacing your exterior with a “no maintenance required” solution, or fitting custom aluminum over the existing wood siding.
How Does Vinyl Siding Effect My Homes Resale Value?
After installing new vinyl siding, you can expect to see a return of approximately 80%, not including any savings on utility bills which can save you each month your in your home.
How Long Does Installation Take?
While every job is different, new siding can be installed on your home in less than a week.
Do We Offer Replacement Window Units?
Yes, at Armor Xteriors we offer Ply Gem Premium, Pro and Contractor Series Replacement products with options and features to meet your needs.
Can I Get My Windows In Different Colors?
Yes, Ply Gem products are available in a variety of colors.
Can I Do The Work Myself?
To maintain their industry-leading performance, windows need to be installed square and level, with a suitable water barrier. If your windows are not installed with these requirements, as a professional would do, it may lead to damage to not only your window, but additionally to your home.
How Much Does Installation Cost?
The exact cost of a window installation will depend on the kind of window you purchase and the type of installation needed. The energy efficiency of the windows will help you save on utility bills, making the overall cost less in the long run.
Do I Need To Be Home For The Installation?
Someone from your home will need to be there to let us in the house and answer any questions we may have. Part of the installation process necessitates we go inside your home to set your window according to our high standards. Your window will be installed by a highly trained professional that will respect your home leaving the site clean.
Architectural & 3-Tab Shingles
Architectural
3-Tab
Drip Edge
Drip edge is a metal angle flashing that goes along the eaves and gable ends of your roof system to protect the edges and wood structure from water intrusions/damage. It is installed with an intended tilt, which is specifically meant to direct water away from your roof.
Drip edge aids to shield your home from the following damage:
Ridges
In simple language, the ridge of a roof is the peak where two opposing roof planes meet. A ridge runs horizontally and is suitable for ‘ridge venting.’
Hips
A hip (or a hipped roof) is a roofing style where all roof sides slope downward toward the ground/eaves – where the walls of the house are below the eaves on each side of the roof.
Gables
A gable (or a gabled roof) is a roofing style where two sides slope downward toward the walls – and the remaining sides include walls that extend from the bottom of the eaves to the peak of the ridge.
Valleys
When two roof surfaces meet, a valley is created. The valley creates a channel that allows moisture to run off the roof.
Seamless Gutters
Seamless gutters offer the best leak protection as there are only seams at corners and at end caps. Typical residential and commercial gutter installation is with miter strips and screws, but we also have the ability to make hand-mitered corners, securing them with rivets, for all seamless gutter systems rather than using miter strips. This ensures a great seal at the corners and creates a more attractive joint, much like a picture frame with barely visible seams at the corners. Seamless gutter options can be made for 5″ and 6″ K style, half round, and box gutter systems.
K-Style Gutters
K-style gutters have a more modern profile, and they are ideal to manage the water produced in the heavy storms that are commonly found in this area. Our half round-gutters are also a good option, and they are a good match with tile and slate types of roofing options.
Box Gutters
Box gutters are the more traditional option in older homes throughout the Chattanooga & North Georgia areas. These are large gutters with wood frames and copper, stainless steel, or tin metal lining the wooden box. These are very wide gutters, which have low maintenance requirements.
Half Round Gutters
Half-round gutters are popular on historic and modern homes and buildings. They can be made seamless with aluminum or copper or in sections in paint grip steel. Many people find these gutters more elegant than other styles and are installed with 4″ round downspouts and have options to be installed with hidden hangers or exposed brackets and with or without leaf guard systems. Half round gutters hold less water than other K-style systems, but they don’t have problems with adequate drainage due to the size of the gutter and downspout. Contact us for gutter installation services today.
Downspout
Downspouts are the vertical, pipe-like devices connected to gutters, installed along the sides of buildings, which redirect water and safely lead it away from your home and towards a designated drainage area.
Guards
Gutter guards can be defined as rolls of special material such as a mesh that are fitted into your existing gutters in order to stop leaves and other debris from entering the gutter and potentially blocking the gutter, downpipes and even the stormwater drain.
Awning Window
Awning windows open out by pivoting from the top of the window sash, operated by a crank. Awning windows commonly are paired with large picture windows and may be placed along bottom, sides, or top of the picture window to provide ventilation. They can also be installed above doors, much like transom windows. Because they open out, awning windows are not recommended near walkways and other traffic areas, lest the open windows obstruct the traffic path.
Casement Windows
Casement windows also open out (like awning windows) and usually pivot from side hinges. Many casements have fairly large glass panes to provide ample light that is uninterrupted by muntin bars or other framing. Casements also typically offer more open ventilation area than other window types. When closed and locked, casement windows can make a very effective seal for improved energy performance. Like awning windows, casements should not open out into traffic lanes.
Single & Double Hung Windows
Box gutters are the more traditional option in older homes throughout the Chattanooga & North Georgia areas. These are large gutters with wood frames and copper, stainless steel, or tin metal lining the wooden box. These are very wide gutters, which have low maintenance requirements.
Picture Windows
Picture windows are best in areas where airflow is not important because they do not open. They are often large glass expanses occupying the center portion of a wall to provide broad views and ample sunlight. Picture windows also work well for high windows in two-story foyers. Because they do not open, picture windows are less prone to air leakage than operable windows, but their large glass panes can lose or gain a lot of heat (compared to an insulated wall), even with energy-efficient double-pane construction.
Bay Windows
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room.
Slider Windows
Slider windows slide open sideways. Like casements, they can offer clear views and ample ventilation, but they cannot be sealed as tightly as casements. Sliders are commonly used for egress windows in basement or below-grade bedrooms, due to their large openings and easy operation. Utility windows at the tops of basement walls also tend to be sliders.
Sliders are quite simple, having no mechanical parts (other than a lock), and usually very basic seals and no tension mechanism. This simplicity often makes them the least expensive type of window
Clapboard
Clapboard siding is designed with long, narrow boards of around 4”. These planks are nailed lengthwise to the wall of the house. They overlap each other top to bottom and look like wood in texture and profile. The overlap of planks produces a shadow line that creates an interesting profile. It is more subtle than other siding options that also overlap.
Dutch Lap
Dutch lap siding takes the traditional lap to the next level. The angle of the bevel is sharper, creating more of a contrast between the planks. The troughs in the overlapped areas are deeper, creating an even stronger shadow line.
Beaded Seam
With beaded seam siding, you have an even more interesting shadow line. Each plank of siding has a rounded notch cut into the bottom edge. When siding planks were handmade, this was a very expensive feature and only found on very upscale homes.
Board & Batten
Also called barn siding, board and batten siding is the widest of all, with planks of up to 12 inches wide. The boards are installed either vertically or horizontally, with narrow strips of wood nailed over the gap between the boards.
Cedar Shake
Cedar shakes are a traditional siding option and were originally made by hand. Workmen would chop a cedar log lengthwise to obtain wedge-shaped sections of cedar that would then be attached to the wall. They are very rough and have a lot of texture, which makes them unique.
Real cedar shakes are a rich color, but over the years, they dry out and turn gray. They also must be maintained with fresh stain every few years. With vinyl siding manufactured in sheets to look like cedar shingles, you can have the look without the upkeep. You also have your choice of colors with the vinyl selection.
Hand-Split Shake
Staggered-edge siding looks like hand-split shingles, much like cedar shakes. With shingle siding, the individual shingles are installed and the overall look shows complex shadow lines. Vinyl siding made with staggered-edge may be manufactured in panels.