Roofing Tips That Can Really Help You Out
There are few things in the world that can ruin a home more thoroughly than weather damage. Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against the vagaries of the weather. As a responsible homeowner, you should know how to care for it. You’ll find some outstanding roofing advice presented here. Take a look and you may learn something really useful!
When you’re planning on installing a new roof, choosing a material mainly comes down to how long you plan on staying in the home. If you plan on selling the house soon, material that lasts 20 years may be appropriate. If you plan keeping the house and living in it long term, you’ll save money in the long run by choosing materials that last 40 years or longer.
If you will be going up on your roof to fix a leak, always work with a buddy. Roofing can be really dangerous and a fall can be devastating. Using a harness will help to ensure no bad accidents happen. You always want to wear rubber soled shoes for extra traction too.
It is important that you check the references of any contractor you hire. Swing by the homes the contractor worked on to check their quality. Also, check out a few of the addresses for yourself. You can take a look at the work the contractor is capable of.
When hiring a roofing contractor, you should make sure that he/ she has the proper equipment. If they charge you for labor by the hour, but are doing your entire roof with a hammer instead of a compressed air nailer, you will end up paying much more than you should.
It’s not easy to choose between roofing contractors, but asking for a list of references can be a huge help. Any company which refuses to provide such a list is not one which you want to hire. Don’t just ask for the list, though, be sure to call a few people on it to double check their experiences.
Don’t pay until the roofer finishes the work. While you might have to pay a small deposit, it shouldn’t exceed 25% of the project’s full price, or the base cost of just the materials. Never pay for labor in advance. Make sure you always look at completed work, then get copies of all important paperwork before you pay the roofer.
If you need to get a brand new roof and want to watch out for the environment, try looking into getting a living roof. You can use a living roof for growing flowers and many other types of plants. This can also give you a reasonable amount of insulation.
Only employ roofing contractors that can give you proof of insurance and an active license. If they can’t, don’t hire them. This is because you won’t have any recourse if their workmanship isn’t up to par and it ends up causing your home to have thousands of dollars in damages.
If you are thinking about which roof material to install on your house, consider the cost of the material but also the longevity. Some materials last much longer than others, and some are naturally fire-resistant. You have to think about more than just appearance and cost; consider all factors when purchasing material!
Does the company you are considering hiring to fix your roof have liability insurance? Are they registered with the WSIB? If not, consider another company, as you don’t want any problems occurring on your property if the contractor isn’t fully covered, otherwise you may end up in over your head.
Only hire a contractor who offers emergency services in their contract. If a tarp blows off in a storm or your roof caves in, you need to know that someone from the company will show up to fix the problem right away. If they don’t offer this service, move on to the next firm.
Ask your roofing contractor to include regular maintainance inside of your contract of having it replaced. Doing this can extend the life of your roof by many years, as well as ensure that you do not have to pay out of your pocket for every little roofing problem that you have.
Make sure your roof is well ventilated. Without good ventilation, heat and humidity will be able to do some serious damage to your roof. You can improve your roof by adding additional events, or by adding a single power vent. As long as your roof has room to breathe, you’ll be in good shape.
When inspecting your roof, take extra care to any areas where there are valleys. Valleys are where two of your roof intersections join together (they are also called ridges). These are common places for leaks to form and debris to collect so make sure that you take note of these areas during your inspections.
Ask for references for any roofing contractor that you are considering. If they are reputable, they should have plenty of references available. If they tell you they have done work for others in your area, drive by and take a look at what they have done. Try talking to a few owners if that is an available option.
After the roofing work is finished, get up there and make sure everything looks good. You don’t have to be an expert in construction to spot an issue or to know if something is not quite right. Do not write out the final check until you take it upon yourself to inspect the work that was done.
More often than not you are going to need a latter to gain access to your roof. When using a ladder, make sure that it’s on a level, solid surface so that it does not slip. If your ladder will be going on dirt, dig two small holes where the bottom of the ladder will be.
Sometimes owning a home feels like a constant struggle against disrepair. You’ll find that struggle a lot less challenging if you have a strong, secure roof on your side! No matter how handy you are and how much you know about home repair, learning a little more always helps. Make good use of this article’s suggestions and keep your roof in tip-top condition.