When it comes to roofing, most homeowners aren’t aware of the steps they need to take in order to maintain it properly. Read on and learn what you need to do in order to care for your roof. When fixing leaks, do it right the first time. If you find one leak, it’s likely that others exist as well. Check over the whole roof so that you can see if there are more problems that you’re going to have to take care of. Here we share Tips To Help You Get The Most Out Of Your New Roof.
Tips and Tricks:
- Whenever you have to climb up onto your roof to work, wear rubber boots. Even if the weather is warm and dry, such shoes are necessary for grip. Stay safe to ensure you don’t slip and fall.
- Always be sure that you’re not paying for the whole project before it’s all done. A downpayment of about 25% is all that should be needed to get them started on the job. You wouldn’t want them to perform less work than you anticipated.
- Don’t fix your roof with short-term solutions. Though you may think you are saving money, more damage can occur, which will cost even more. The best rule to follow is to always fix the problem fully, and as soon as you can, to avoid worse problems later.
- Get multiple quotes from multiple roofing companies. Not all companies are the same. You could see a company with huge ads in the Yellow Pages, but that doesn’t guarantee the quality of their work. Obtain multiple quotes from various roofing companies and compare their details to each other. Try only getting bids from licensed contractors since some states don’t require licenses for roofing contractors.
- When you install a metal roof on your home, make sure accumulated snow will not slide off over a doorway. You or a guest could be surprised when a large clump of snow slips off the roof onto your head. Use special crosswise pieces to direct the snow off to either side instead.
- Do not just hire anyone to put a new roof on your house. A roof is an important part of any home and to ensure you are getting what you pay for and protecting your home, you should research contractors before choosing one to put a new roof on your house.
What to do:
- It’s great to have a home surrounded by trees, but they can be a real burden on your roof. Trim any branches that are coming in contact with your roof. Otherwise, you may wind up replacing scratched or punctured shingles. A little extra effort goes a long way when it comes to your roof!
- Do not hire the first roofer that you talk to. The only way to get the best deal is to talk to several different people and see what your options are. In general, five bids is a good number. Any less than that, and you are probably selling yourself short.
- Make sure you install a ridge vent into your roof so as to prevent dry rot from occurring. Contrary to popular belief, dry rot is not caused by water damage, but rather a lack of ventilation. Installing a ridge vent will ensure that your roof is properly ventilated throughout the year.
- If you are roofing yourself, make sure you always double-check any measurements you make. Regardless of how certain you are on a measurement, one small mistake could cause you to waste valuable materials, which could result in hundreds or even thousands lost. When using pricey items, such as galvanized roof flashing, this is especially important.
- Voice any concerns or inquiries that you have with your contractor. In fact, failing to ask any questions can cause huge problems in the future. If you can’t get clear answers from a contractor, they’re probably not someone you want to work with.
- Check out a contractor’s work history before you consider hiring them. Verify these references by personally calling past clients so you can determine the quality of their work. In addition, if your contractor has current clients, drive by the clients’ homes so that you can check out the contractor’s work firsthand.
Conclusion:
As was mentioned earlier, many homeowners don’t know how to properly maintain their roof. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the steps you need to take to prolong the life of your roof and prevent any unfortunate incidents from occurring. Be sure and use the information you have just learned.
