The cost of changing your roof material can vary greatly. In the cheapest scenarios, it is possible to simply remove your shingles and lay down a new shingle or tile material without having to do much reinforcement or repair to the deck. It is also possible that you will have to spend several thousand dollars in roof deck repair before you can even install your new roofing material.
One of the trickiest things about this project is that it can be hard to estimate how much deck reinforcement and repair will need to be done until the project has begun. That is, once the roofer removes your existing tiles, they might identify unforeseen problems and damaged areas that need to be repaired. But, this shouldn't deter you from investing in a new roof material. In fact, if you do have such problems, it is absolutely necessary that you repair them as soon as possible, or else your building structure could be vulnerable to damage.
Reinforce Your Roof Deck, Even If You Don't Have To
Because the structural integrity of your home depends on the strength and waterproof seal of your roof deck, there are a few smart finishes that you should consider. That is, even if there is nothing currently wrong with the roof deck, it might be worth reinforcing it during the process of replacing your material. This way you are less likely to have potential problems with your new roofing material.
Vinyl Sheets
Vinyl sheeting is one of the best materials for reinforcing and waterproofing a roof deck. These thin sheets of vinyl are stretched over the deck and glued down for a seamless and watertight finish. These sheets waterproof the deck and create a nice flat surface for the roofing material to be installed over.
Spray Foam
Spray foam is another popular finish that is effective and affordable for roof deck reinforcement. The foam is sprayed directly over your roof deck. This can be a little more effective than vinyl sheeting because the foam is able to fill in and seal some of the small gaps and cavities in the deck. So, it is basically a two-in-one product. Spray foam is also thicker than vinyl which makes it a better insulator.
Spray foam and vinyl sheeting are both very affordable solutions that can solve the most common roof deck problems. They are quick and easy fixes that will protect your roof for the long haul.