A typical roof lasts about 15 years, but it needs some help along the way. You must make sure to maintain your roof properly. The following tips will give you keep your roof in good shape.
Leaks come from having damaged shingles, but you should also inspect your roof’s foundation. If your home has dry rot in the outside walls, water can enter there. Check all entry points to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Don’t hesitate when it comes to replacing worn or broken shingles. Replacing or repairing shingles immediately saves you both time and stress later. Taking proper care of your roof will make it last.
If you need to fix a leak in your roof, you need to make sure you fix it properly the first time around.This means never stop on the first place you locate that has problems. Check the whole roof and you might have a number of issues.
Liability insurance is a must for any roofing contractor you intend to hire. First of all, there are plenty of shady roofers out there, but the ability to carry valid liability insurance is beyond most of them. If anything happens while they work on your roof, the insurance will take care of it.
Mow your lawn prior to having a contractor comes to remove your roof.This will make things much easier to find any nails that fall from the roof. If your contractor brings a magnetic nail finder, it will work better in shorter grasses.
It is important that you check out your potential contractor’s history before you hire. Once you have their references, ask the homeowners who the roofer worked for how they feel about the quality and value of the work. You should also go and check some of the addresses if you have the time. Drive by and get a good look before making your final hiring decision.
Only hire an experienced contractor. If you know anyone who has recently had their roof fixed, find out if they would recommend that contractor. This is vital since having terrible repairs done can cost you a lot of money.
Make sure that your roofer has adequate liability insurance. The mere existence of such a roofer is the fact that they are a reliable person.Secondly, if a worker sustains injury on the job, their insurance should cover any damages.
Don’t attempt to create a temporary fix your roof. You may think you are saving money, but ultimately you might have more damage costing more in the end. The smartest thing to do is take care of any problem as quickly as possible to prevent things from getting worse.
Always ask a contractor to provide references. An honest roofer will be eager to provide his references to you. If a company is reluctant to do so, you might want to look into another roofing contractor. It is a sure sign that they are not the company you want to work with.
Make sure any roofer you hire has the proper licence to do the job. Do not trust the roofer to tell you the honest truth about what he says. Contact the building department and ask them what is needed.
The age of your roof often determines whether it needs to be replaced or not. Many roofs only last for around twenty years prior to needing replacement. If the roof you have now covered the old roof, after twenty years you don’t have any other option besides replacing it.
Voice any concerns or inquiries that you have with your contractor. You may have a question you didn’t ask that turns into a problem. If you can’t get clear answers from a contractor, they’re probably not someone you want to work with.
If a roof leak has you worried, you would be wise to take a garden hose and spray it. This will let you determine if you do indeed have a leak and also where the leak is located. This costs much less than hiring a professional.
Roof boots are an area of a roof that is commonly ignored. These rubber boots can dry out. When this occurs, you are very susceptible to leaks so be sure to check on them and replace if necessary.
Do not agree to any contracts that are not written down. A lot of times, people make verbal agreements with contractors, but have problems when the work is poor. Getting things in writing is key if you want to be able to prove damages in the future.
Having a well-maintained roof will help you keep your house in good shape. Your roof can be seen as probably the most important part of your home’s exterior. Remember the advice you’ve read here, so you will be prepared when it’s time to fix your roof.