A well-maintained roof protects you and your family from the dangers Mother Nature can throw at you. If your roof is faulty, bad weather puts your home at risk. Knowing how to care for your roof can really save you trouble in time. Prepare yourself to keep your roof well-maintained by reading the tips in this article.
Ensure you thoroughly inspect your roof at least yearly. Spring and winter are the two seasons when roofs are most damaged. Because of this, it is especially important to inspect your roof during these seasons.
Inspect your own roof at least once yearly. Roofs tend to suffer the most damaged during winter months as well as spring time.
Leaks are often caused by weak shingles, but don’t discount a foundation problem as well. Water can enter into your home through dry-rotted siding. You need to be checking all entry points so that you can find the problem.
Never neglect safety precautions when working on your roof. Attempting leak repairs during rainstorms can cause serious injuries. Just do what you can with the leak, like collecting the water in a bucket, and look at the roof later when the weather is better.
Never neglect safety precautions when planning repairs on your roof. You can be seriously injured by attempting to fix a leak during a storm. Put a bucket under that leak until weather conditions improve and wait for clear weather.
Make sure that you’re secured whenever you climb onto your roof.
Before you sign any contract, make sure you ask certain questions of a roofer. One important question to ask is the quantity of nails they will put in each shingle. Generally, three nails are not enough. Test them to get the right answers. Go with another contractor if you’re not happy with their answer.
Mow your lawn the day before your roof. This will allow you to have an easier to find if dropped. If your contractor brings a magnetic nail finder, it will work better in shorter grasses.
Make sure that your roofer you choose has liability insurance. The mere existence of such a roofer is the fact that they are a reliable person. Secondly, if something were to get damaged while your roof was being worked on, their insurance should cover any damages.
When you are looking into hiring a roofing contractor, check with family, friends and co-workers first. Ask the people you know about their experience with different contractors, such as the services provided or the price. Ask as many questions as you can to get the best possible repair for your money.
If you have an appointment with a roofer, but the roofing contractor you contacted can’t get there for a couple days, use a type of temporary fix on the leaky roof. Get some heavy plastic and nail it up.
Check your roofing materials thoroughly before putting new shingles up.
One thing to ensure is that the contractor you choose is insured and bonded. When your contractor lacks insurance, all responsibility falls on you. Ask if the roofer has insurance in place, and make sure you see written documentation that it is current and sufficient in amount.
Always ask for several references before hiring a contractor to provide references. A legit company that performs well and is honest should have no problem coming up with multiple references. If a contractor is hesitant to give them to you, another contractor should be hired. This is generally a tell-tale sign of trouble ahead.
Don’t cut corners when purchasing new materials for your home’s roof. The initial cost savings of low priced materials cannot outweigh the best option as they can end up costing you more money down the road.
Confirm your contractor’s credentials before he starts the job. You need to find a roofer with a current licence and some excellent references. Also check out their insurance and Workers’ Compensation.
Inspect all materials that are being used on your home carefully. Be sure that you’re paying attention to what you’re doing at all stages of the work.
When having a roofing contractor repair or inspect your roof, you need to be sure that you look to the BBB first. This is the best place to search for complaints from previous customers about any specific contractors you may be considering. You can also check the area Chamber of Commerce.
If you wish to install a brand new, environmentally-friendly roof, don’t overlook using a living roof. This type of roof has soil and plants, just like a garden. A living roof only works for some climates, but it does provide great insulation.
Don’t agree to contracts that is not written down. Verbal contracts lead to trouble if the work agreed on is not completed properly. A written contract can help should any problems or not a contractor has not done what they promised to do.
Talk to your family and ask them for recommendations when it comes to selecting a roofer. This is the best ways to find someone reliable and honest. They may be able to tell you going the right way.
Always ask a contractor to provide references. A company that is honest is going to always be glad to give you a few references. If the company is dodgy about references, you should ditch them quickly. It can mean real problems down the line.
Take your time when hiring a contractor. Ask tons of questions to ensure they recommend someone that is well worth speaking to.
This will give you don’t get scammed.
A simple way to find out if a suspicious spot on your roof is leaking would be to spray the area well with your garden hose. That helps you find the leak and stop it. It’s cheaper than hiring a pro.
Watch out for those storm chasers.These flighty contractors are generally on residents in neighborhoods that have been hit hard by storms. Many are from other states and don’t have no documentation to work on your roof. You can easily spot these contractors by their different area codes, most notably through their area code (which won’t be local) and their references.
Anyone that has had to do any kind of work on the roof is going to tell you that it’s a hard job and has to be done properly to avoid any trouble. Armed with the suggestions presented above, you can spare yourself that trouble. You’ll feel safe under your roof if you apply the tips you’ve learned here.
Any roofing contractor you hire needs to have proper licensing and insurance. Anyone who is unable to provide this information should be shown the door. You have no options of recourse if their work is not up to standard.