A good roof keeps you safe from the dangers Mother Nature can throw at you. When the roof begins to fail, nature finds its way in and may cause havoc with many other areas of your home. Knowing how to care for your roof can really save you trouble in time. The information below will help.
Look at your roof closely once a year. The roof is particularly vulnerable during the cold winter months on in to the warmer spring season. Because of this, you must pay special attention during these months.
Don’t procrastinate replacing shingles. Replacing or repairing your roof as problems arise can save money and stress later. Your roof will last longer if it is properly maintained.
Never delay in repairing or replacing shingles. Although you may believe that it is okay to procrastinate on this for a little while, doing so can cause worse damage in the future. You should fix or replace weak shingles as soon as possible to prevent leaks from appearing. Prevention is key.
While damaged shingles are sometimes the cause of leaks, be sure you look at your roof’s foundation too. Water can enter into many areas that dry rot has occurred. You need to be checking all potential entry points to make sure there is no problem.
When you are choosing roofing contractors, it’s important to look at background references. Call the clients and ask them about their experience. Talk to these people to get a good idea of the quality, and drive by the house to take a look at the work. Drive around and look at the work before determining who you will hire.
Always wear rubber-soled shoes when working on a rooftop.
There are several important questions that one should ask a roofing contractor prior to the contract signing. For example, see how many nails they’re going to be putting into the shingles. Three isn’t enough. Ask about their policies and make sure you are happy with the answers you receive. If you do not, move on.
If you have already called a roofing contractor, but is not to occur for a few more days, use a type of temporary fix on the leaky roof. Get a piece of heavy duty plastic and cover the leaking area.
Liability insurance is a must for any roofing contractor you intend to hire. To begin with, if they’ve got this insurance, you can ensure they’re reliable. In addition, if they have an accident or cause serious damage to your roof, you won’t be held liable. Their insurance company will handle it.
Insurance is something that you need to have when it comes to roof work. If your roofer does not have insurance and your property is damaged, you’re left to pay the bill. Don’t just take their word for it either; ask for proof that they have plenty of up to date, make them show you the documentation that proves it.
Unless you are required to, do not pay up front. Try not to give the contractor more than 25 percent upfront. But paying the whole amount up front can cause the roofer to do less than they agreed to, or poor work.
A roofing team working in unison can achieve good results more quickly.
If you’re going to hire someone to work on your roof for you they need to have credentials that are up to date. Just about everywhere needs to have licensed roofers working in that area, so be sure they have a valid and current license. They should maintain full liability insurance, and also have a current certificate for workers’ compensation.
Don’t get frustrated if you’re unable to locate where a leak on your roof. You are going to find the problem, and having a buddy will help as well.If you are dealing with a roof that’s on a large home, utilize cell phones for communication to avoid having water leaking into the house any more than necessary when you test various areas to locate the leak.
Make sure your materials are in good condition. Too short or too long nails or weak shingles can lead to leaks. Be sure that you have strong shingles that don’t have any cracks and that you’re using nails that can penetrate your shingles so that they are secured onto the structure.
Ask prospective roofing contractors how long they’ve been roofing. Those who have been working in your area for a long time obviously know how to keep their customers happy. A roofer who is just breaking into the industry may intend to take advantage of you.
Do not get upset if you cannot find sources of leaks in your roof. By utilizing a water hose and some help, you will eventually find it by a process of elimination. If it’s a big house, use cell phones to communicate so that water isn’t flowing into the house unnecessarily as you test different areas to find the leak.
Don’t cut corners when purchasing roofing materials.The cheapest supplies aren’t necessarily the cost of the damage and repairs that substandard materials lead to.
When undergoing a roof replacement, you may want to consider architectural shingles. Architectural shingles look much better than regular ones and will last longer. Also, these types shingles are highly desired so they can actually improve the value of your home.
Don’t overlook small details when hiring your roofer. Someone that arrives on time and calls ahead when they say they will is probably dependable. You want to see both of these qualities to be present in your roofer.
Do not pay for a full roofing job until it is complete. Many scam artists try to persuade their victims to pay the full price upfront. Then, when they get their money, they flee. Rather, pay a percentage up front for start-up, and then pay the remainder when the job has been done to your satisfaction.
Don’t pay a down payment before the work done. Many shady contractors actually never return to finish work after receiving full payment only to disappear once they receive the funds.
Prior to someone working on your roof, ask them any questions on your mind. Neglecting to ask certain questions can lead to future trouble. Don’t bother with any contractor who isn’t willing to take the time to talk to you and answer all of your questions anyway.
It’s imperative that damaged shingles as early as possible and even a few flying off can add up to major leaks. Look at the roof each time, remembering to be safe.
Roof boots are so frequently overlooked. These boots are made of rubber and they are near where the fence of the roof comes up. They have been known to dry out after a while. When they dry out, leaks are likely. Therefore, it’s important to regularly inspect them and if needed, replace them.
Always check the materials before they go on your roof for possible defects. Be certain your materials are intact at all stages of roofing work.
If a contract isn’t in writing, then you shouldn’t agree to it. A verbal contract may be easier in the beginning, but it is safer to have things written down. A written contract is the sole way for proving they did not meet your requirements.
No matter how well the roof is installed, there are going to be problems down the line, especially if your area is prone to bad weather or extreme temperatures. A visit once a year will help you to keep your roof stays in top shape.
When hiring a roofing contractor, inquire as to whether their employees are sub-contractors. If the people they’re going to have doing the work on the roof aren’t employed by their company then you may run into some liability problems later on. You should double check prior to signing any contracts.
This will protect you to know whether or not you’re getting a good deal because you’ll know what kinds of things will need to be done to your roof.
Rubber-soled shoes are a must when performing any type of work on your roof. Walking around your roof is very dangerous. If you wear shoes with soles that are made of rubber, then it’s harder to slip because they have good traction. The surface of the roof can be slippery. If you slip, you could be killed.
Don’t ever work on the roof by yourself.
When picking roofing materials, you must take your climate into consideration. Don’t use wood shingles in dry climates. Extremely hot weather is even hard on some of the newer synthetic materials for roofing. Long, hard winters can wreak havoc on metal roofing. Contact a pro to ensure that your choices are best.
Never let ice to build on your roof for long periods of time if you reside in a colder climate. Ice can potentially cause damage to a roof in many different ways. You can help to stop ice by using ice shields and drip shields.Proper ventilation also be a big help.
Be wary of storm chasing contractors. These contractors look for work in areas that have been recently hit by a major storm. They generally aren’t local to your area. If you do not recognize the area code or the signs on their truck looks fishy, they might be storm chasers.
This will help you move about on the roof without risking slips and falls.
If the area you live in is cold a lot, you should be sure that ice isn’t building up on the roof. It leads to a variety of forms of damage. A simple measure that can help prevent damage from ice is the installation of shield to block rain and ice. Proper roof ventilation also helps to prevent the problem.
Once a roof has been installed or repaired, check out your attic once there has been some rain. This will help you notice any issues or leaks were fixed. You should easily notice weak shingles if there are any damaged shingles.
Avoid hiring any roofing professional unless they show you proof of licensing in your particular state. If the work does not turn out as promised, you will have no recourse available. What if you give $1,000 or more to an unlicensed contractor? Many states will see this as you breaking the law!
If your roof is poorly taken care of, it is not an experience that you will soon forget. By using the things you’ve gone over here, you shouldn’t have to deal with any trouble later. You’ll feel safe under your roof if you apply the tips you’ve learned here.
Before hiring a contractor, speak with the BBB to see if the company you’re interested in has listings. A good company is going to have some kind of listing with the Better Business Bureau while one that isn’t that good won’t have one. Utilize the power of the BBB when you are looking to hire any contracting service.
