In a perfect world, one doesn’t need to spend time thinking about a home’s roof. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect and inevitably the time will come when the roof becomes a serious issue. However, few homeowners know enough to take care of roof problems by themselves. Keep reading to educate yourself more on how you should care for your roof.
Whenever the weather is bad, you should never get on top of your roof. This could cause injury and roofs are difficult to replace while moist. If you’re making roof repairs, do it when it’s dry and sunny.
Make certain you are secured the right way when you venture 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.
Do not let a contractor pressure you into hiring them. Pushy people like this will never give up on getting you to sign with them, and the results usually aren’t pretty. Stop them before you’re pressured into something you don’t want.
Make sure that the roofing contractor you hire is licensed. If you don’t know what’s required, find out for yourself. Look up the building department in your area and give them a call to see what is needed.
Before you actually start installing new shingles, be sure to carefully examine your materials. Too short or too long nails or weak shingles can lead to leaks. Being sure that the shingles are in perfect condition and that you are using the correct nails to hold them securely will help the roof to last much longer.
Identifying the cause of leaks is frustrating but totally doable. By utilizing a water hose and some help, you will eventually find it by a process of elimination. If it’s a big house, use cell phones to communicate so that water isn’t flowing into the house unnecessarily as you test different areas to find the leak.
Only consider hiring roofers who are able to show proof of current insurance and licenses. If they won’t, do not think about hiring them. Without proper licensing, you’ll have very little recourse if the company turns in poor workmanship.
You should check your roof after wind storms, for instance by climbing on a ladder if you cannot see the entire roof from the ground. It’s critical to find damage to shingles early, and a few flying shingles can result in major leaks. Whether you have to get up on your rooftop or can see it from a ladder, be sure to be safe while performing an inspection.
It is hazardous to climb atop the roof. A roof is designed to repel the elements, not for being conducive to human beings. Make sure that your shoes have rubber soles so as to prevent slipping. Also, it would be a good idea to use a harness. Lastly, be sure that you have someone around to help you out.
When you’re thinking about hiring someone to work on your roof, you need to be sure that you look to the BBB first. The BBB is a reliable source to find out about other customers’ past experiences with contractors in your area. You need to also check-in with the Chamber of Commerce.
Friends and neighbors can be an excellent source of information about roofing contractors. Using the information given to you by others who have had work done by the contractor is the best way to find a good one. Past tradesman who have worked on other areas of your home may also be a source of knowledge. At the very least, they’ll be able to guide you towards the right direction.
After reading the above article, you should have a sense of comfort regarding your new knowledge of your home’s roof. If you take care of your roof properly, it will give you fewer problems in the years ahead. Keep the ideas presented here in mind to tackle even your worst problems without difficulty.