Whether you spend hours worrying about your roof, or you don’t give much thought to your roof at all, it’s important to know how to take care of it. Roof repairs can be costly, and a little maintenance can go a long way. This article will equip you with some essential roofing advice.
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.
Don’t pay up front! A downpayment of about 25% is all that should be needed to get them started on the job. You would not want to find yourself on the receiving end of poor or incomplete work.
If you have an issue with your roof, it is a good idea to hire a professional to handle it. While it may seem a lot simpler and less expensive to do it yourself, you might actually end up spending more if you have to hire someone to fix a job that you have done incorrectly.
Get free quotes. Roofing prices can vary from roofer to roofer and you want to find out what the different prices are in our area. Be sure, though, that when you get prices you are getting the estimate for the same type of shingles and the same service from the roofer.
Make sure you are being very safe when working on the roof yourself. Secure a ladder, and carefully climb up or down the ladder as necessary. Let someone know where you are in case you get stuck on the roof for some reason. Wear non-slip shoes if you have to stand.
After you trim the lost of possible companies, make inquiries about warranties. You need to find someone offering a warranty that lasts for about three or more years. The warranty should cover defective supplies and poor workmanship. The contractor should also provide you with manufacturer warranty copies.
While you should leave heavy duty work up to professionals, there’s lots of preventative maintenance you can do to keep your roof in great shape. Keep an eye out for shingles that need to be repaired or replaced, and make sure your flashing and underlining are in good condition. With a little effort, you can avoid big repair jobs altogether.
Always check the shades side of your home for deterioration of the shingles. The side that is exposed most to the sun lasts longer because the heat of the sun keeps the shingles lying flat. This prevents wind and rain from loosening the shingles, but shingles on the shaded side come loose sooner.
Even if you don’t give a lot of thought to your roof, you should still know how to take care of it. This article has provided you with some great tips that should help you in a number of situations. If you take good care of your roof, it’ll take good care of you.