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Be Your Own Contractor With These Tips About Your Home's Roof

Author: Wendy Aguiza
by Wendy Aguiza
Posted: Jan 04, 2014

Roof repair takes a lot of hard work and dedication. That said, it has to be dealt with before it spirals out of control. A little work now can save you a lot of time and money in the future. Read through the following tips if you want to learn what goes into proper roof maintenance.

If your roof is leaking in the rain, wait til it dries to fix it. A wet roof is an accident waiting to happen. Once the roof has dried, you can set about making repairs.

Never work on your roof if the weather outside is rainy, snowy or icy. Wet roofs greatly increase the chances of accidents caused by slips and falls. If you want to handle roofing projects on your own, make sure to do the work when the weather is dry.

If you have a leak and are going on your roof to search for it, bring a hose with you. You can spray the hose in order to find out where the leak is coming from. However, do not do this in the winter, as the water from the hose could cause ice.

When meeting with a professional roofer, ask to see a copy of their liability insurance. Any trustworthy roofer should have copies readily available. If they have a hard time providing you with their papers, they're probably not someone you want to work with. When you're trusting someone with your roof, you want all your bases covered.

Make sure that you hire a roofing contractor who has a locatable, permanent business residence. If you hire a roofing contractor who does not have a permanent place of business, you risk being scammed. Furthermore, if the roofing contractor you hire does a good job, it can be helpful to have said contractor's permanent contact details on hand in case you have any more problems with your roof in the future.

If you have a leaky roof, make sure that your gutters are clear. If there is no way for water to drain, then the gutters can accumulate rainwater and cause leaks in the roof. Install ridge and soffit vents so you can prevent any dry rot from developing on your roof.

If you are trying to replace or repair a roof on your own, always take precautions. Make sure to wear rubber soled shoes that grip and consider using a harness too. In addition, ask a buddy to remain on the ground in case you need help. Working on a roof requires standing in uneven ways and moving around far above ground, so these precautions are necessary.

When it rains, check your attic for leaks. Not every leak will make it down to your ceilings, so there is no harm in heading upstairs to check out what is going on. If you do this a few times per year, you can stave off massive repair bills for unnoticed problems.

Get free quotes. Roofing prices can vary from roofer to roofer and you want to find out what the different prices are in our area. Be sure, though, that when you get prices you are getting the estimate for the same type of shingles and the same service from the roofer.

If your home needs a new roof but you are short on funds, consider the relatively inexpensive composite shingle. This type of shingle is rated from 15 to 25 years, and the more you pay the longer the life of the shingle. Consider how long you will own your home before you invest in a new roof.

If you want to know if you should replace your roof, you have to take its age into consideration. Most roofs have a lifespan of twenty years before replacement is needed. If you installed your roof above an old one, you definitely need to have it replaced after twenty years.

Roofing

When looking to replace your roof, be sure to look around at your various options for roofing contractors. Have multiple people come out and give you different quotes. However, remember that the cheapest option is not always the best option. If you go the cheap route, but are unsure of the quality of their work, you could pay for it in the long run.

Only employ roofing contractors that can give you proof of insurance and an active license. If they're not able to do this, then they should not be hired no matter what. If your contractor does not have insurance and causes a large amount of damage, then you will be the one to pay.

When you are looking for a good roofer to handle any roofing issues you may have, you should ask your friends, family and neighbors for referrals. If you know someone who has had work done on their roof, they are likely to let you know how good their roofers were, which could end up saving you a lot of time and money.

Don't automatically conclude that a whole new roof is necessary. Have a professional inspect it before making plans to replace it. Many times people pay to get completely new roofing, when they could have had their old one repaired at a much lower cost.

While it's important to address roofing problems right away, you should always put off work if the weather is bad. Working on a roof during a storm is incredibly dangerous, and the benefits of getting work done right away aren't worth the risk. Take care of problems when you see them, but don't do work until the weather is safe.

Pick roofing materials that improve your home's one-of-a-kind architecture. If your roof is particularly steep, you may be better off with darker colored shingles. Your home will look a lot less severe. If you have a roof with a shallow pitch, then consider using light tones in your materials. This makes your house look taller.

If you are hiring a professional contractor to take care of your roofing needs, you need to make sure that they are properly insured. If they are not, you are liable to pay any damages that may occur while they work on your roof. It is important for your own protection that your contractor is insured.

When looking for a roofer, make sure you check out his credentials and that he is carrying the proper insurance. Roofing is risky work. If a crewman hurts himself on the job, and the contractor does not have the proper insurance, you may be liable for the medical costs because the injury occurred on your property.

When choosing roofing material, look at the architecture of your house. The roof affects the look of your home's exterior appearance. The roofing material must complement the architecture. For instance, a Spanish-style home will look good with a clay tile roof instead of a composite roof. So, choose the right material for the best look for your house.

A cool roof can save money, but it's not for everyone. It's true that a cool roofing system lowers cooling costs by reflecting heat and sunlight. However, this type of roof can also cause a slight increase in heating costs during the winter. Cool roofs are best installed in parts of the country where summers are much hotter and more humid than other areas.

While you may be looking for ways to keep homeowner chores at a minimum, one area that can't be neglected is your roof. That can result in serious problems down the road. Your best bet is to take responsibility for the care and maintenance of your roof. Keeping your roof maintained can potentially save you quite a bit of money and headaches in the future.

Being an indie reviewer, I enjoy finding out about different companies and topics that are helpful to me. To learn more about metal roofing by Metal Mart's Metal Roofing, go to www.metalroofingdirect.com.

About the Author

I love to read books and want to share all the things that I've learned from books and from my own experience.

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Author: Wendy Aguiza

Wendy Aguiza

Member since: Oct 21, 2013
Published articles: 111

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