A well constructed roof keeps you safe from the elements. When your roof has an issue, all sorts of chaos can commence. Knowing how to care for your roof saves you trouble in time. Read the below to prepare yourself.
Never hesitate if your shingles need to be replaced. Stalling may seem wise at the time, but eventually, the damage may worsen. Replacing or fixing shingles now will prevent trouble and money spending in the future. Keeping a roof maintained can help it last a long time.
Inspect your own roof yearly. Roofs are commonly most damaged during winter months as well as spring and winter.
Sometimes a leak is the result of a faulty shingle, but other times, there may be an issue with your roof’s foundation. If there’s dry rot, water may be able to enter a home. Check everything over to ensure it is up to snuff.
Make sure that you’re secured whenever you climb onto your roof.
Avoid fixing your roof when things are icy, snowing or raining. Rain, sleet, and snow can cause you to fall, which can seriously injure or even kill you. Especially if you are all alone on a project, only do work on dry, sunny days.
If you’ve called a roofer, but he or she is not coming for a couple of days, have a temporary solution in place. Get some heavy plastic material and you can nail that over the leaking area.
Make sure that you fix your leak right the first time. Do not stop after fixing one small area. Inspect your roof carefully and look for other areas that need to be fixed too.
Don’t fix for your roof with short-term solutions. It may seem cost effective at the time, but it may end up causing more damage, you are more likely to have further damage that will only cost you more money. You should take care of problems before they cause serious damages.
It is important that you check out your potential contractor’s history before you allow them to work on your roof. Follow up on the references, calling previous clients to find out if they are satisfied with the work. Also, check out a few of the addresses for yourself. Drive by the houses your contractor worked at and pay attention to their roofs.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential contractors, ask each what sort of warranties they provide. You want a warranty that lasts for about three or more years. The warranty needs to cover defective supplies and sup-par workmanship, and you should have manufacturer warranty copies too.
If you feel pressured by a salesman, do not agree to anything and show him to the door. These salesmen are simply in it for the profit.
Make sure your roofer has credentials, valid certifications. Nearly every locale needs licensed roofers, do not neglect checking for current and valid licenses from any contractors you are considering.
If you’re going to have someone work on your roof, they need up-to-date liability insurance. First of all, there are plenty of shady roofers out there, but the ability to carry valid liability insurance is beyond most of them. Secondly, in the event that something should happen to your house, their insurance should cover any damages.
A roofing team working in unison can achieve good results more quickly.
If you have an appointment with a roofer, but he or she is not coming for a couple of days, have a temporary solution in place. Buy heavy plastic, then nail it to that spot. This will cost you a lot of money in the future on repairs.
Check roofing materials thoroughly before putting new shingles up.
Inspect your roofing materials prior to putting up new shingles. Leaks often occur quickly due to improper installation. Make sure the shingles are strong and free from cracks and that the nails you use will penetrate the shingles and secure them onto the structure.
If a roof leak has you worried, try using a garden hose to spray it down. This will help you find out if there’s a leak and assess how bad it is. This is a lot cheaper alternative to having to hire a professional.
Never cut corners! The cheapest supplies aren’t necessarily the best option as they can end up costing you more money down the road.
Don’t forget the little things when you hire a roofer. You can measure a roofer that shows up on time. You want these qualities to be present in your roofer.
If parts of your roof aren’t visible from ground level or from a ladder, you had best climb up there to inspect them after serious storms with lots of wind. It is important to catch shingle damage early since a few coming off can mean huge leaks. Give your roof a quick inspection; howeverm remember that safety always comes first!
Get quotes from different contractors before you pick a contractor to replace or repair the roof. Some contractors are looking to take advantage of you that they can. To steer clear of rip-offs, evaluate the roofing market.
When it comes to maintaining your roof, one area that most people neglect are the roof boots. These rubber boots are located where the roof fence comes up and they can dry out. When this occurs, leaks usually are not too far behind so make sure this doesn’t become a problem area for you.
It can be dangerous to get on a roof. Roofs aren’t designed for human traffic. Make sure to wear shoes with rubber soles so as to prevent slipping. You should also consider wearing a harness if you have one.
Projects being undertaken by roofing contractors must have a safety plan in place as per OSHA requirements. These plans are for making sure projects get completed properly. So, prior to hiring a roofer, be sure there is a safety plan established. When they don’t have one, don’t hire them.
Not all roofers are equal in skill, so choose wisely. Do not get tricked by fancy ads. Word of mouth can be the best kind of advertisement. Check reviews online or seek out the advice of friends. Look at the roofer’s rating with business groups in your area. Hiring a sub-par contractor could cost you plenty of money.
Given the number of variables you have to consider, you should weigh your choice of roofing contractor very carefully. If you do not know where to go, speak with loved ones and neighbors who have hired professional roofers before. Ask detailed questions to get a quality contractor.
Ask prospective roofers about the workload to make sure they have enough time to help you. Find out the number of employees work for this company. Companies with several projects and few employees are more likely to miss deadlines.
When you are shopping for a company to work on your roof, ask if their workers are listed as sub-contractors. In the event of liability problems, (suits, accidents, or the like) things can get extremely complicated if the workers involved aren’t directly employed by the contractor you hire. Check over this prior to signing anything.
Learn more about the different roofing materials. Each has pros and disadvantages. Metal is tougher to install, however, and may not be the most visually attractive option. Asphalt shingling is cheaper and easier to install, but it generally doesn’t last as long. You should also want to think about tiles or wood shingles too.
Prior to selecting a roofer, be certain to learn a bit about roofing. Read up on types of roofs and rules before speaking with a contractor. This can help you avoid being taken advantage of since you’ll have an idea of the type of work you’ll need done on your roof.
Watch out for those storm chasers.These are roofers that have been hit hard by storms. Most of these contractors are from outside your state and cannot show you proper credentials for your home state. You can easily spot these contractors by their different area codes, most notably through their area code (which won’t be local) and their references.
Don’t assume that you need a new roof. Call a roofer and have them inspect it before you invest any money. It’s common for people to spend big bucks on a brand new roof when all they really needed were some low cost repairs.
Always be wary of the weather is about to happen before you are planning to work on the roof. Rain is the obvious weather pattern you want to avoid, but strong winds should also be avoided.
Always ensure that any potential roofing company you hire has the necessary paperwork ready before they start. Your contractor might need permits or bonds before they start working. Call your local building departments and find out exactly what your contractor will need before the project begins.
A little paint might be all it takes to void your roof’s warranty. Call the insurance company prior to attempting a paint job. A brand new roof won’t mean anything if it’s not protected.
Remember safety. Roofing work can be quite dangerous. Wait for ideal conditions. When there’s inclement weather outside, stay off your roof! It isn’t anything that is worth hurting yourself over. You need to be sure you’re aware of what to do, and that you’re being safe.
Check with your roof. Most professional companies have listings with the BBB.The BBB has always been a great resource for dealing with any contracting service.
If the roofing contractor you are considering cannot provide you with a license from the state registrar, then you should not hire him. If a contractor is not licensed and provides poor work, you are in trouble. What occurs if you have paid someone who is not licensed more than $1,000? You’re actually a law breaker!
Anyone that has had to do any kind of work on the roof is going to tell you that it’s a hard job and has to be done properly to avoid any trouble. When you have the information here, you can avoid that trouble. Use this new information to prepare, plan, and execute professional roof maintenance or hire a quality contractor.
When thinking of keeping your roof in good shape you need to be sure that you have clean gutters. When your gutters are filled with debris, water can get backed up which will make your roof more prone to developing a leak. A once a month cleaning is sufficient to maintain your gutters.
