A well constructed roof is going to shield your family from the outside elements. When the roof begins to fail, Mother Nature can create serious problems with your home. Knowing about proper roof maintenance can really save you money and time in the road. Read through the tips on keeping your roof in good shape.
Examine your roof on a yearly basis. Roof damage is most likely to occur during winter and spring. Due to this, it is best to keep a close eye on your roof during this time especially.
If a leak pops up during a storm, examine it when it’s dry and fix it. You can’t walk safely on a wet and slippery roof.A dry roof is much safer.
If you find a leak during a storm, wait until everything is dry before heading up to your roof. Leaks cannot be quickly patched anyhow, and it may be dangerous to climb atop a wet roof. Once the roof dries, you’ll be able to fix the problem.
Don’t try to fix your roof when the weather conditions are poor. A slippery or wet roof can cause you to fall; this may result in a bad injury or worse. If you are doing your roof yourself, only do it when the weather is dry and sunny.
Roof foundations may be the cause of your leaks so don’t only assume it is the shingles. Dry rot on the side of your home can allow water to enter your home. Look at every entry point, even rotten wood, to see if the problem can be solved for good.
Make sure that you’re safely secured whenever you climb onto your roof.
When roofing is concerned, safety should be your number one priority. If it is raining outside and you attempt to make roof repairs, you may end up getting injured or worse. Just do what you can with the leak, like collecting the water in a bucket, and look at the roof later when the weather is better.
You should avoid going up on the roof to inspect for damage. If you’re having major issues, find a pro to come look at it. You do not want to be walking on the roof cave in under your feet.
Don’t set step on your roof without properly securing your footing. It’s critical, and you can lose balance when you haven’t climbed onto a roof often; thousands are hurt or lose their life from falling each year.
When you have a short list of contractors you want to contact, check with each with regard to their warranties. You need to find someone offering a warranty that is going to last for about three or more years. It should cover both defective supplies as well as poor workmanship, and they should also give you photocopies of manufacturer warranties too.
If you have a leaking roof, but the roofing contractor you contacted can’t get there for a couple days, you might want to try a temporary fix. You could try putting plastic over a leak, for instance, and nailing it down. This isn’t the best way to work with leaks, however, it works in a pinch.
If you’re looking into hiring a roofer, you should ensure they have proper credentials that are updated. Nearly every area requires some sort of licensing for roofers, so inspect your contractor’s paperwork to ensure that they are fully compliant.
Don’t just climb onto your roof to look for problem areas. Get an inspector out to do the job right. You do not want to run the risk of the roof collapsing when you go on it.
Do not get upset if you are unable to immediately find your roof. You will find the source eventually if you use a water hose, and the use of a water hose and a buddy system can help. If it’s a big house, communicate with cell phones to prevent unnecessary large amounts of water from getting into your home.
It is very important that roofers have insurance. If you hire an uninsured roofer who damages your property, it’s going to cost you. Ask if the roofer has insurance in place, and make sure you see written documentation that it is current and sufficient in amount.
Keep your roof and other debris to make it last. When debris builds up, water stays put. This can cause your roof to begin to rot, both which can cost you lots of money.
You shouldn’t get frustrated if you can’t figure out where your roof is leaking. You will find the source eventually if you use a water hose, and having a buddy will help as well. Walkie talkies or cell phones can help make communication easier in a big home as you test each portion of the roof.
Get several quotes before hiring one. Some contractors are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. To avoid falling for a scam and losing your money, you need to see what the going rate is in your market before making decisions.
Only hire a roofer that can provide proof of active licenses and insurance policies. If they don’t have this, don’t hire them. If you hire them, you could cost yourself a lot of money.
Roof boots are an area of a roof that is commonly ignored. These rubber boots can dry out. When this happens, leaks are far more likely, so don’t forget to check and replace as needed.
Always be sure that you inspect your roof after there has been a lot of wind in your area. It’s very important to catch damage to the shingles as early as possible and even a few flying off can add up to major leaks. Check it over with binoculars or up close and personal.
When deciding on a contractor to work on your roof, it pays to contact the BBB. This will allow you if any previous customers of the companies you are considering have lodged any complaints with any contractors you are thinking of hiring. You ought to make inquiries with the Chamber of Commerce in your local area.
When repairing a roof or getting one installed, check the materials thoroughly. Cracked shingles are easy to find in advance, but can cause big problems in the future if overlooked. Be certain your materials are intact at all stages of the work.
Speak with people you know to see if they know of any roofing contractor. This is the best ways to find someone reliable and honest. They may be able to get you where to look.
Roofing companies that are reputable can cover potential accidents on the roof. When your roofer doesn’t have this, you have to pay for any damages which occur. Ask the contractor about their liability insurance and verify what they tell you by checking with their insurer.
Safety Plan
OSHA has requirements that say every roofing contractor needs to have a safety plan in place during a project. The safety plan ensures that projects are completed the right way. Talk to your contractor before he starts about the safety plan. If they can’t provide one, find someone else to do the job.
OSHA requires roofing contractors to have safety plan for projects. This safety plan is necessary for ensuring projects are completed project.
Learn about roofing before hiring anyone to do work for you. This will give you a general idea of the work your roofer will do. That way, you can ensure you aren’t taken advantage of, as you will have a better idea of what you might need to have done.
Have your contractor explain the whole process. He should go over what kinds of products they’ll have to use, from costs to clean-up. Ask questions if you fully understand the roofer says. If you don’t think you’re getting enough information, it is a red flag, and you should consider hiring a different contractor.
Inquire with the contractor about necessary paperwork prior to letting him start working on your roof. Contractors often require bonds and permits to work on your property. Talk to your local building department and learn which licenses and permits are required before a contractor can work on your roof.
When you need to hire a company to do your roofing, ask if their workers are listed as sub-contractors. If they are, this can pose a liability problem. Make sure you understand the sub-contracting situation before entering into a repair contract.
Never work on a roof by yourself. If you have an accident working by yourself, there will be no one around to help you.
This may help you an advantage when it comes to talking with a ride since you’ll know about the work that needs to be done.
Never hire a roofing contractor who cannot provide proof that he is licensed. If the work isn’t done to satisfaction, there will be nothing you can do. What if you spend over a thousand dollars on a contractor without a license? In a lot of states, you are actually operating outside of the law!
Determine your roof’s age to see if a minor repair or to be replaced. Knowing when to replace it is dependent on how old your roof is.
Think twice before painting your roof to improve its appearance. Applying some paint to your roof could void the warranty you have on it. Contact the company that takes care of your insurance before you start any kind of work on your roof. A roof needs to be protected by the warranty.
Ask any roofing contractors you are interviewing how many projects he is currently working on. How many workers can they put on the company? Companies with lots of current projects and minimal employees could struggle to meet deadlines.
Clean gutters are essential to roof maintenance. Clogged gutters can back up water and cause leaks. Therefore, your gutters should be cleaned monthly.
Watch out for storm chasers! These contractors search for areas that have been recently hit with a major storm. Most are from out of state and cannot show you proper credentials for your home state. If you do not recognize the area code or the signs on their truck looks fishy, that’s a red flag.
Have it all written in an outline, from start to finish, along with needed repairs, materials, insurance claims, and expenses. Well-documented repairs run very smoothly and provide you with important records in the event that any problems occur. The paperwork you have can aid you in resolving disputes or confusion in the future.
Don’t hire roofing contractors that don’t have proof that they’re licensed in your state. If you aren’t satisfied with the work, there will be no available recourse. What happens if you are paying someone unlicensed more than one thousand dollars? You would be breaking the law in most states.
If you’re going to handle roofing issues yourself, be sure that there’s someone nearby who can keep an eye on you. The last thing you want is to have an accident and nobody be there to help you out. Be sure that a friend or relative can check on you, about every 10 minutes, to ensure your safety.
A single coat of paint might be all that is necessary to void the warranty on your roof. Call the insurance company prior to attempting a paint job. A fresh new roof doesn’t mean much less valuable.
When you’re thinking of hiring someone to work on a roofing project for you, be sure that you get prices from a few companies. Get cost and guarantee information from every contractor and compare the numbers so you can make the best decision. This will save you not just money, but time as well.
An important tip for roof maintenance is knowing when you should contact a pro. Unless you are or have been a roofer, there are many issues that you should only let a pro handle. Knowing when you should call a professional will make life a whole lot easier.
Dry rot, while seemingly a water-related proper, is actually caused from a lack of proper ventilation throughout the house. It will destroy shingles, plywood, and ridge vents. Watch for these problems to ensure you get them fixed before they spiral out of control. It could lead to disaster otherwise.
Any homeowner that has had to have a roof fixed or replaced can inform you of how nightmarish it is to handle poor maintenance issues. You should apply the tips you just read and start maintaining your roof on a regular basis. You’ll feel safe under your roof if you apply the tips you’ve learned here.
Being good about roof maintenance can protect your investment for the long run. You can easily perform many of the smaller repairs needed and typical maintenance demanded. While these types of repairs are easy to forget, neglecting them can cause much more damage in the future.
