How To Keep Your Roof In Great Shape
Your roof is constantly being exposed to the elements, so it is amazing that it lasts as long as it does. However, no roof lasts forever. Eventually, you are going to have to replace or repair your roof. When this happens, arm yourself with the information in this article so you can have the job done right.
Inspect your roof once a year at the bare minimum. Spring and winter are times when damage is prevalent. Therefore, you need to carefully observe your roof during these seasons.
Always be safe when you're up on your roof. If you don't know what you're doing, don't go up there! Wear the right safety gear and don't do anything that puts your body at risk. Remember to bring along the right tools for the job as well to ensure you do the work right.
If you are seeking out a leak on your roof, use a hose to find where the problem is. If you aren't having any luck, reverse the direction of the water. If you're pouring it down the roof, try spraying it up the roof. Continue to move the water around until the leak is found.
If you have a leak and are going on your roof to search for it, bring a hose with you. You can spray the hose in order to find out where the leak is coming from. However, do not do this in the winter, as the water from the hose could cause ice.
Make sure that you hire a roofing contractor who has a locatable, permanent business residence. If you hire a roofing contractor who does not have a permanent place of business, you risk being scammed. Furthermore, if the roofing contractor you hire does a good job, it can be helpful to have said contractor's permanent contact details on hand in case you have any more problems with your roof in the future.
When signing a contract with a roofer, check for the small print about material costs and labor. Do sign with a company which lists the costs and what will happen if their costs increase during the job. Also go with a company which charges around $1.50 a square foot for decking replacement.
When choosing shingles, it is important you properly assess how long you would like your roof to last. For example, if you need a new roof but don't plan on living their for over ten more years, you could save money by using shingles that aren't meant for time periods longer than this. Remember, however, this has the possibility of lowering the value of your house upon the sale.
Be leery of anyone who randomly knocks on your door, and offers to fix your leaky roof. Unscrupulous con-men will offer to do the work, and most times run with your money, without doing any of the work at all. If you need a roofing job done, do your research and find a roofing contractor that you can trust.
Find out about roofing warranties from your roofer. Roof replacement and repair can be expensive, so you should always choose a contractor that offers warranties for the work. Professional contractors usually offer full warranties on new roofs or roof replacements, but they may not on repairs. Always get a copy of your warranty when the work is done.
The age of your roof can help you figure out if replacement is needed. 20 year old roofs are typically at the end of their lives. If you have a roof that was put on top of another roof, if 20 years have gone by, you likely must replace it.
Do you have loose shingles. If you do, it is important that you fix them. The fix is usually pretty simple. You need to lift the shingle carefully. Next, you apply enough plastic roofing cement under the shingle to hold it in place. Failing to fix a loose shingle can cause a lot of damage in the future.
Pay attention to the little things when you hire a roofing contractor. If the person calls when needed and arrives punctually, you most likely have found a good contractor. Your contractor should also provide you with typed estimate for the repairs needed. These qualities are important when it comes to a roofer.
One of the main reasons for roof leaks are due to clogged gutters. When you don't clean your gutters regularly, you allow water to buildup whenever it rains. This in turn, can cause leaks to occur. Be sure and clean your gutters of all debris regularly so as to prevent this from happening.
When your roof is leaking or damaged, it is too late to start learning about roofing. You need to learn as much as you can while your roof is still in good shape. Study the information from this article, so that you can get the roofing work you need done properly.