The responsibility of home ownership can be quite confusing. Aside from actually performing your own maintenance, measuring costs and benefits is stressful in itself. The following article can be used to help out whether you should hire a professional contractor or take on the task yourself.
Although your shingles can sometimes cause a leak to occur, you should check out your roof’s foundation. Water could be seeping in from somewhere else, such as dry-rotted siding or gaps along windows or doors. Just checking the roof is not enough. Consider all the other possible places that water can get in so that you end the problem completely.
Make sure you’re properly secured when you’re on the roof. Many people suffer serious injuries attempting to perform roof repairs. The height and steepness of many roofs make falls a serious possibility.
Mow your lawn prior to having a contractor work on your roof. This way, you can easily locate any nails that have fallen off during the work process. If you get a contractor that has a nail finder with magnets on it, it will work better in shorter grasses.
Use background references to choose your roofing contractor. Once you’ve got them, check them out and ask about value and quality of the work. Also, check out a few of the addresses for yourself. Drive by the houses your contractor worked at and pay attention to their roofs.
When looking for a good roofing contractor, ask your family, friends and co-workers for recommendations. This will help you find someone who does good quality work at a reasonable price. Also find out what kind of warranty their roofer gave and whether he cleaned up the job site.
Check for liability insurance with the roofing company you choose. Insurance is a sign of a reliable contractor. Insurance is necessary to cover any accidents that may happen while your roof is being repaired.
The age of your roof plays a key role in the decision to purchase a new one. The average lifespan of a roof is about 20 years. If you installed a roof on top of your older roof, you’ll definitely need to replace the entire thing once you’ve reached that 20 year limit.
Before you install a new roof, check out your supplies. A lot of leaks come from installation, due to nails that aren’t the proper size, or shingles that are cracked. Only use the right tools for the job.
When deciding on a contractor to work on your roof, inquire as to how long that company has been in business. Those who’ve been around for years must have satisfied customers. A roofer who is just breaking into the industry may not be reliable or trustworthy.
Never pay for your new roof in full before the work has begun. One common scam among dishonest contractors, is to demand full payment up-front. These shady characters will rarely return to finish the job. Pay a deposit if required, but then you pay the balance after the work is done to your liking.
If you want a roof that is environmentally friendly, you should choose one that is made of coated metal. In addition to reducing your monthly energy bills, this type of roof is 100 percent recyclable. This type of roof can be placed over an existing asphalt roof.
Climbing onto your roof is dangerous. Most roofs are not designed to accommodate humans, so it is important that you do your best to stay safe. Prevent slipping by putting on rubber-soled shoes. Also, it would be a good idea to use a harness. Safety is paramount, so never work on your roof without assistance from another person.
The best roofers have insurance for accidents. Without insurance, you can be held responsible if something goes wrong. Avoid this by never hiring an uninsured contractor. Ask for this information and verify it by calling their insurer.
Whether you wish to do roofing projects by yourself or wish to hire a pro to do them, you need proper information. You have already taken the first step with this article, but learning about your options more thoroughly can also help. When you are making your decision, keep these tips in mind.
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