Excellent Advice On Taking Care Of Your Roof
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!
Avoid putting off a roof repair for any length of time, even if it seems like a minor issue. Once a shingle or two have blown off, it's much easier for the wind to get underneath the rest and blow them off too, one-by-one. Fixing your roof right away will minimize damage, saving you money.
Remember that the area on the ground, just beneath your roof, is going to take a bit of a beating as your roof is replaced. If you have flowers or other shrubbery in that area, it might get damaged. There may be nothing your roofer can do to prevent it from happening, so try to avoid assigning blame.
Ask for copies of the roofing company's liability coverage before letting them work on your roof. If they are an experienced and professional company, then they should have these papers with them when they meet with you. Any company that doesn't carry or outright refuses to provide copies of their insurance and papers detailing worker's compensation should be avoided.
Since replacing your roof can be one of the most expensive projects besides the cost of the home itself, make sure you know who you're hiring. Avoid the temptation to hire a friend of a friend, or inexpensive "handymen." Look for a licensed contractor who guarantees his work and comes with many good reviews and recommendations.
When looking for a roofing contractor to hire, the Better Business Bureau can be an invaluable resource. What you want to look for are contractors that maintain an "A+" rating. The Better Business Bureau can be searched online, or you can contact a local office. You'll also be able to see any complaints filed, and how the contractor resolved those complaints.
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.
Always wear the appropriate footwear when venturing out onto your roof. Wearing a rubber soled boot can help you to keep your grip and has been proven to limit the rate of falls experienced by roofers. If you are unsure of the type of boot that you need you should contact an outfitter that specializes in contractors.
If you're attempting to handle roof repairs on your own, proceed with caution. A roof is a dangerous place to be, and you want to be properly equipped for it. Wear shoes with rubber soles, and use a well braced ladder that has rubber safety feet. Your roof isn't worth risking your life over.
Shingles can get damaged from time to time and it is important to fix or replace them when that happens. If a shingle can not be repaired, it should be replaced. Simply place a flat shovel under the shingle that sits above the one that is damaged. This can loosen the nails. Then, you can pull out the nail and take off the ruined shingle.
If you are replacing a roof yourself, always remember to lay a tarp on the ground. When you replace your roof, broken shingles and thousands of nails may fall to the ground below. If you tarp the area, you will make cleanup faster and easier. If you do not, you might find debris on your ground for months to come.
If you are looking to have a roof installed which will last the test of time, consider slate. These roofs often last over a century! You must have very strong trusses in place to support such a heavy roof, but when you invest in this material, you really get bang for your buck!
When you've narrowed your search for a roofing contractor to a few companies, consider asking each company for local references. This will allow you to see how recent customers felt about the business provided by the contractor. It could go a long way towards convincing you to hire or stay away from that company.
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.