Easy Steps That Will Help You Take Care Of Your Roof
Yes, most roofing materials can protect you for well over a decade, but you still need to do work to help it protect you. You have to be sure to maintain your roof properly. You should go over this article to learn more about roofing.
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.
Ask your friends and relatives for references if you need a new contractor. Find out whether he used good quality materials, did the work at a good price, and whether they were pleased overall with the job he did. Ask as many questions as you can to get the best possible repair for your money.
Replace any missing shingles as soon as you notice that they have come loose. One missing shingle could eventually lead to thousands of dollars in damages. To make sure that this does not happen to you, you should check your roof once a month for any shingles that may have fallen off.
Measure twice, cut once. If you will be doing your own roofing job, you want to make sure your measurements are correct. This will save you both time and money. You can assure your measurements are accurate by taking the extra time it takes to measure two, or even three times.
It's not easy to choose between roofing contractors, but asking for a list of references can be a huge help. Any company which refuses to provide such a list is not one which you want to hire. Don't just ask for the list, though, be sure to call a few people on it to double check their experiences.
Try spraying your roof down with your garden hose in order to find the leak. Remember, however, that this trick is only good idea during the warmer months. Doing this in the winter is hazardous, and can lead to further damage to your roof in the mean time. Be sure to have someone inside while the roof is being sprayed so that you are sure to find the culprit.
If you live in a cold climate that has considerable snowfall in winter, you should think about a metal roof. If your roof pitch is steep enough, you will never need to worry about snow buildup on your roof. The slick surface of the metal will cause the snow to just slide off rather than accumulate.
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.
For a quick way to determine the state of your roof, check your gutters. If you find shingle granules building up inside, that means your shingles are starting to degrade. Once this begins, it is only a matter of time before your roof must be replaced, so get the job done quickly.
Do not just hire anyone to put a new roof on your house. A roof is an important part of any home and to ensure you are getting what you pay for and protecting your home, you should research contractors before choosing one to put a new roof on your house.
If you have paid to have new shingles installed on your roof, make sure that you get what you have contracted for. There are many unscrupulous roofers that will try to place older materials on your roof in order to have a bit of extra money in their pockets in the end.
You should take the time to think about how your lawn's landscape affects the integrity of your roof. The biggest issue for roofs tends to be large trees. Old trees can have very old and brittle branches that can lead to a great deal of damage when they come down. To prevent this you should be sure to keep a good eye on the growth of any trees surrounding your home.
Make sure you get a detailed estimate by any contractor you are thinking of hiring to work on your roof. This estimate needs to include everything from permits, materials, cleanup and labor. It is also important that you get this estimate in writing. Any reputable business should be more than willing to provide you with one.
A well-maintained roof will protect your whole home. In a sense, your roof is a very valuable asset. Apply the tips from this article and do more research about roofing.