If you’re a typical homeowner, you don’t think much about your roof. However, you should be thinking about this integral part of your home. This article will teach you all you need to know about roofing. Keep reading for some great stuff.
If your roof leaks, wait until the weather passes to examine it. Not only is there no way to quickly patch a leak, but your safety could be compromised on a slippery, wet roof. Therefore, don’t climb on your roof until it quits raining and it is completely dry.
Some leaks are caused by shingles, but you should check your roof’s foundation. If your home has dry rot in the outside walls, water can enter there. It is important to examine every potential water entry point, like rotting wood, so that you are really resolving all the problem areas.
Make sure that you fix your leak right the first time. You need to ensure that the entire structure of your roof is sound. Be sure and inspect your entire roof to ensure that you don’t have a more widespread problem or additional leaks in other areas.
Cut the grass a little while before the roofing contractor arrives to remove the roof. It’s not uncommon for nails and other debris to land in the grass during construction. Shorter grass allows you to locate any errant nails. Even if your contractor has a nail finder, it’ll work better with clipped grass.
If you are waiting for your roofing contractor to show up, try a temporary solution for your leak. Buy heavy plastic, then nail it to that spot. This is a temporary repair that allows you to hire a contractor to fix the problem permanently.
It’s best to use a roofing contractor who has extensive experience in the industry. If you know anyone who recently had some work done on their roof, ask them for references. You need to hire an excellent contractor; this is the best way to ensure that you aren’t looking at expensive repairs down the road.
The age of your roof determines whether it needs to be replaced or not. Most roofs only have twenty years or so before they must be replaced. Even if you have a new roof on top of your old one, you’re going to have to replace it once the older one is about 20 years old.
Talk to your roofer about what kind of warranty they offer on their work. Some companies may give you a better deal than others. Make sure the warranty is in writing, as well as the estimate. This will ensure there shouldn’t be any disagreements about any of the terms of the estimate or warranty later on.
Check for references prior to hiring any roofing company. Any good company will oblige you by providing references. It would be a wise decision to move on to the next contractor of the company you are considering refuses to show references. This should raise red flags.
As stated earlier, most homeowners don’t know much about roofing. As you can see from the article you just read, this is important so that small issues do not become big expenses due to neglect. Keep in mind that maintaining your roof allows you to avoid more serious damages to the rest of your home.