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Keeping Your Home’s Roof In Tip-Top Condition

Home maintenance jobs can be a hassle and most people look forward to them. The following article below has the information you need.

Don’t try to fix your roof in inclement weather. A slippery or wet roof could cause you to fall and seriously injure yourself. If you are doing your roof yourself, do it when it’s dry and sunny.

If you discover a leak in your roof while it’s raining, wait until it’s dry to examine and repair the leak. It’s too dangerous to work on a wet and slippery roof. This will allow you the time to do the job right and do it under safe conditions.

TIP! If you have a leak when it rains, examine it when it’s dry and fix it. Leaks cannot be quickly patched anyhow, and it may be dangerous to climb atop a wet roof.

Consider the local climate in your area when replacing your roof. Clay roofs work great in dry climates and can help to keep the home cool. Clay tiles applied in damper climates as they will deteriorate much quicker than other materials would. If you’re not sure, ask a professional.

When fixing a leak on your roof, make sure you fix the problem the first time. This means that it’s not a good idea to patch up the initial spot has been fixed. Check over the whole roof so that you might have a number of issues.

While leaks sometimes can be caused by shingles that are faulty, be sure you look at your roof’s foundation too. If you have dry rot on your home’s sides, it can allow water to get into your home. Check every possible entry point, including rotten wood, to ensure you solve the problem once and for all.

TIP! While leaks sometimes can be caused by shingles that are faulty, be sure you look at your roof’s foundation too. Water can enter into many areas that are rotting.

Make sure that you’re secured whenever you climb onto your roof.

Mow your lawn before the contractor work on your roof. This will make things much easier to find any nails that fall from the roof. If your roofer has a magnetic nail locator, it will work best with the short grass.

Consider the climate in your area when replacing your roof. You can aid in the coolness of your home by installing a clay roof if you live in a dry climate. However, if your climate is rainy, clay roofs can quickly deteriorate. If you aren’t sure, be sure to ask a knowledgeable professional.

TIP! Consider the climate in your area when replacing your roof. For instance, certain roofing materials, like clay, are better in cool climates.

Make sure you do your homework is done when you’re hiring a contractor. Don’t simply hire the cheapest or first company you locate.

Make sure any roofer has liability insurance. The main thing that this will show you about a policy bodes well for a contractor’s reliability.Secondly, in the event that something should happen to your house, their insurance company would cover the costs.

Have you hired a contractor who cannot repair your leaky roof immediately? If so, then you need a temporary fix to help you get by. Get a sheet of heavy duty plastic and cover the leaking area with it. No, it’s not the perfect solution, but it will work for the short term.

TIP! If your roofer is a few days away from attending at your home, there are temporary repairs you can undertake. You should purchase heavy plastic and nail it to the area.

Don’t attempt to create a temporary fix for your roof repairs. It may seem cost effective at the time, but in the end, and that may cost you more. You want to always catch any roof problems as early as possible before they cause serious damages.

It’s imperative that damaged shingles are replaced as early as possible and even a few flying off can add up to major leaks. Give it a quick look-over every time, but make sure to be safe about it.

Once your list of potential contractors is narrowed down you should see if any of them provide warranties. You want at least a 3-5 year warranty. Defective supplies and shoddy workmanship should be covered along with the warranties from the manufacturer.

TIP! When you have come up with a short list of possible contractors, check with each with regard to their warranties. You want a warranty that lasts between 3 and 5 years.

The materials used for these roofs are great for reducing energy costs and should help you use less energy. You can even reduce the amount of debris you have to dispose of by installing a metal roof over your current shingles.

It is dangerous to climb on a roof. Roofs are not made for people to safely stand on. Make sure that your shoes with rubber soles so as to prevent slipping. You should also make use of a harness if you have one.

Be sure a potential roofer is properly licensed. If you are not sure what is required in your area, do not just take the roofer’s word for it. Look up your local building department and call to ask what paperwork is needed.

TIP! Be sure that you’re hiring a roofer that has the proper licensing before they do any work. If you don’t what what your location requires, don’t simply believe what the roofer tells you.

OSHA has requirements that any roofing contractor needs to have a safety plan in place during a project. This will ensure that the quality and safety of your project.

Take it slow when hiring a contractor for your roofing needs. Ask the contractor lots of questions to ensure you are comfortable with them.

A contractor who has employees could be cheaper than one who works solo. The more people working on the roof, the quicker the job can be completed. Just make sure that if you’re hiring just one person you don’t get charged too much in labor costs.

TIP! If you hire a contractor who has workers to help them, it is often cheaper than hiring a contractor who works alone. A team of people can get the job done more quickly, and this may mean cheaper costs too.

When you hire a company to fix your roof, inquire as to whether their employees are sub-contractors. If the people working at your house are not the company’s own employees, it can create a liability issue. Make sure you understand the sub-contracting situation before entering into a repair contract.

Determine your roof’s age so that you’ll know if a minor repair or full replacement is needed. Your roof’s age is an extremely important factor for deciding when you need a contractor

The age of your roof will determine whether it needs to be replaced. Most roofs have a lifespan of around 20 years. If your current roof is installed over an older layer of roofing, you are going to have to redo your roofing in 20 years.

TIP! The age of your roof is a major factor in deciding whether it needs replacing. Most roofs only last about 20 years.

Roofing Materials

Think about what the weather in your area when you choose roofing materials. For example, wood shingles will not do well in extremely dry climates.Synthetic roofing materials do not last very long in hot climates. Metal roofs are not good for cold winters. Talk to a professional contractor to ensure you’re making a good choice.

Don’t get discouraged if you can’t locate the source of a leak on your roof. By utilizing a water hose and some help, you will eventually find it by a process of elimination. Communicate via cell phone if you have a large house so that you ensure there is no large pools of water flowing into the home as you test for leaks.

TIP! Do not worry if you are unable to immediately find your roof leak. You will eventually find the source of the leak, by eliminating certain areas, using a hose, and having someone else look at it, as well.

As previously mentioned, it can be a lot of work to maintain a good roof. However, if you are a homeowner you have no alternative but to give it the care it needs. Use what you have read as you tackle any roofing issues that are thrown your way. You’ll be rewarded handsomely.

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