Most roofs will protect your home from the elements for 10-15 years, but your roof won’t do all that work on its own. You need to make sure that you’re taking care of your roof all of the time. The following article will give you keep your roof in good shape.
Inspect your own roof annually. The most common time of year for a roof to suffer from damage is during the winter and spring months. For this reason, these are the times to pay close attention to your own roof.
Inspect your own roof yearly. Spring and winter months tend to damage is prevalent.
Make sure that you’re secured whenever you need to go on your roof.
If it is raining and your roof is leaking, you shouldn’t attempt to climb up onto your roof and fix the problem until it has quit raining. It is impossible to quickly fix a leak problem, and you are putting yourself in danger. When it’s dry, you can fix it safely.
Mow your lawn prior to having a contractor comes to remove your roof.This will ensure he can find if dropped. If he has a magnetic tool for finding nails, short grass will also help this tool work more efficiently.
It is important that you check the references of any contractor you allow them to work on your roof.Once you have their references, check them out and ask about value and quality of the work.You need to also make it a point to have a look at some of the addresses in person. Drive by and look at the work before deciding who you will hire.
Just before your roof is removed for repair, mow your lawns. This enables them to find nails much easier should they fall during the job. A magnetic nail finder also works better in short grass if your contractor uses one.
Make sure to do your research when looking for a contractor. Don’t just accept the cheapest or first company you locate.
Make sure any roofer you hire has liability insurance. The main thing that this will show you about a policy bodes well for a contractor’s reliability.Secondly, if something were to get damaged while your roof was being worked on, their insurance should cover any damages.
You never want to just get on your roof in search of damaged spots. If there are issues, have a professional come take a look. You want to avoid walking up there and causing a cave in.
If your appointment with the roofer is scheduled, but he or she is not coming for a couple of days, you should try to provide yourself with a temporary fix for your leaking roof. Get yourself a piece of heavy duty plastic and cover the leaking area with it.
Don’t attempt to create a temporary fix for your roof with short-term solutions. It may not cost you a lot to do, but it will get more expensive in the future.You should take care of problems as early as possible before they get worse.
Once you have narrowed down your list of potential contractors, ask them what kind of warranties are available. You need a warranty of at least three years, preferably five. The warranty should cover defective supplies and poor workmanship. The contractor should also provide you with manufacturer warranty copies.
Check roofing materials before installation.
Get references from any roofing company you may hire. A legit company that performs well and is honest should have no problem coming up with multiple references. If the company is unable to produce this information, it may be time to look somewhere else. This usually indicates a problem with the contractor isn’t a true professional.
Be sure that you’re hiring a roofer that has the proper licensing before they do any work. If you don’t know what your area requires, you shouldn’t take what the roofer says about it as the truth. Find the proper authorities to make sure rules are being followed.
Don’t get too discouraged if you’re not able to find out where a leak is originating from. You are going to find the problem, and having a buddy will help as well.If you have a big area to cover, communicate with cell phones to prevent unnecessary large amounts of water from getting into your home.
Keep your roof clear of leaves and gutters clean.When debris builds up, water stays put. When water stagnates, the materials that make up your roof can rot, which requires costly repair work.
Don’t install new shingles until you’ve gone over your roofing materials. Many leaks actually originate from basic installation, with cracked shingles or nails that are an improper length to begin with. Be sure the shingles you use are durable and do not have any cracks. Also, be sure the nails can penetrated your shingles and keep them in place.
Don’t pay for a down payment before there has been some work starts. Many shady contractors ask for full payment.
Get several quotes before you pick a roofer. Some contractors have much higher prices that are crooks who want to milk you for your money. To avoid falling for a scam and losing your money, make sure you compare fair market prices and know what you’re getting into first.
Always buy quality, name brand roofing materials for the best results. Even if the materials are very cheap to buy you need to think over the fact that if they were to wear out quickly you may have to fix things, costing you more money.
If you want a unique looking roof, ask the potential contractor about the amount of experience the roofing crew has with what you are considering. If they tell you they have little or no experience, find a different roofer. You sure don’t want to have to take a chance when it pertains to your roof.
Properly Maintained
Ask any contractor you are considering what associations the roofing company is a member of. The better contractors join associations to stay current with industry news and developments and to network with other contractors. If this isn’t the case, you need to be wondering whether the contractor is fully dedicated to his work.
If your roof is properly maintained, your house will stay properly maintained as well. In some ways, your roof is one of the most important assets you have. Have these tips in mind when you need roof maintenance.