While the typical roof is designed to keep a home protected for ten to fifteen years, you shouldn’t count on it lasting that long without help. You must make sure to maintain your roof is maintained and cared for properly. Keep reading for more information about roofs.
Mow your lawn prior to having a contractor work on your roof is replaced. This helps make it easier to find any dropped nails easily. If you get a contractor that has a nail finder with magnets on it, cut grass can also help.
Although your shingles can sometimes cause a leak to occur, you should check out your roof’s foundation. If you notice dry root on the sides, then water has a chance to enter. Check everything over to ensure it is up to snuff.
Make sure to do your research when you’re hiring a contractor. Don’t just accept the cheapest contractor you can find.
Make sure whatever roofing contractor you choose has adequate liability insurance. The main thing that this will show you about a policy bodes well for a contractor’s reliability.If something does happen, the insurance will take care of it.
When a contractor is on his way, cut the grass. Having cut grass will help both you and the contractor find any nails that have fallen on the ground. If your contractor brings a magnetic nail finder, short grass will also help this tool work more efficiently.
If your roofing company can’t fix a problem for several days, fix it temporarily. Get yourself a piece of heavy plastic and cover the leaking area with it.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential contractors, ask each what sort of warranties they provide. You want to be offered 3-5 years. It must cover workmanship and defective supplies, plus they should give you copies of all manufacturer warranties as well.
Do some careful research before deciding which roofer to hire. Don’t just hire the cheapest guy or the first one you find. Look hard at the records and workmanship of various roofing contractors in your region. You can do this through the Internet, get feedback from others, or utilize services that help people to find trustworthy workers.
A roofing team working in unison can achieve good results more quickly.
The age of your roof is a good indication as to whether it needs replacing. Most roofs only have twenty years before they must be replaced. If your current roof was installed over an old one, you are going to have to get a new one after 20 years.
Be sure a potential roofer is properly licensed. Do not trust the roofer to tell you the honest truth about what is required. Talk to your local building department and find out what the contractor should have.
Check your roofing materials before installation.
Don’t get discouraged if you’re unable to locate the source of a leak on your roof. You will find the source eventually if you use a water hose, and the use of a water hose and a buddy system can help. If you have a large home, have another person on a cell phone to see if you’re getting water everywhere inside the house.
It is very important that roofers have insurance. If you work with an uninsured contractor and something is damaged, you’ll be the one responsible for the cost. The word of a roofer is not enough; be sure they can provide you with up-to-date proof of insurance.
Your whole house will be safe when you have a safe roof. You could say your roof is the most important part of your home, as it protects the rest. Really take these tips to heart, and make sure you follow through when you need to consider roofing again.
