... Tip Num 14 From 948
Visit your attic a few times a year. Doing this can help you to find a small problem that may exist with your roof before it becomes a larger and more expensive problem. A good idea is to take a look at the change of each season so that you do it at least four times each year.
You may want to consider avoiding chain roofing companies. While they may do a fine job, they usually cost a good deal more and pay their employees far less than their competition. This can mean that their employees are less satisfied and experienced due to a high turn-around. Be sure to consider this before choosing a contractor.
Any homeowner that has had to have a roof fixed or replaced can inform you of how nightmarish it is to handle poor maintenance issues. But you can use the advice given here to avoid those consequences. Use this new information to prepare, plan, and execute professional roof maintenance or hire a quality contractor.
It is very common for the gutters on your house to become clogged, so make sure you have them cleaned on a fairly regular basis. If you allow them to stay dirty, it will give rain a chance to build up and pool on top of your roof, which increases the chances of the roof becoming damaged.
Any Radin Roofing contractor you are considering hiring should maintain full and up to date credentials. Check to see that his licenses are up to date and valid. In addition, contractors should have full liability insurance in case they have an accident at your home. That way, you will not be liable.
Only hire someone to work on your roof if they have insurance and the proper kind of licenses. If they aren't able to, don't think about hiring them. Without this protection, you have no way to recoup your costs in the event of damages or faulty installation.
Do not choose the first roofer you find in the phone book or online. By choosing the first roofer you read about, you may end up spending more money that you need to. Call numerous roofers and go with the most reliable one at the best price you can find.
One great way to check up on your roof is from the underneath. Climb up into your attic during the day and check whether any daylight is peeking through. If you can see the sun, that means there is definitely a problem, so call in an inspector right away to determine the issue.
Avoid paying the full amount for your repairs upfront. On average, avoid paying more than 25% as a start-up cost. It would be horrible if they did bad work or didn't do everything you thought they would.
Get multiple quotes from multiple roofing companies. Not all companies are the same. You could see a company with huge ads in the Yellow Pages, but that doesn't guarantee the quality of their work. Obtain multiple quotes from various roofing companies and compare their details to each other. Try only getting bids from licensed contractors since some states don't require licenses for roofing contractors.
If you are getting bids from a few different roofers, have each of them give you a list of how much the materials are and what the cost of labor is. You want to know exactly what everything is costing you, as it will allow you to compare different people more effectively.
When a vicious storm blows through, you will have to climb up to the roof to check for damage. Of course, look for any missing pieces, be they shingles or flashing. Also check your gutters for looseness and clogs, and check nearby trees for any limbs which are broken and could come crashing down on your home.
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.
When working on a roof, safety must be a top priority. Repairing a roof in bad weather is a recipe for disaster. Just do what you can with the leak, like collecting the water in a bucket, and look at the roof later when the weather is better.
When your roof nears the time of needing a replacement, it is important to consider all of your options. Are there any repairs that can be done to postpone the replacement? If there are cheap repairs that can be done to prolong this, it may be worth it. This way you don't have to spend a large amount of money quite yet.
Never allow someone to work on your roof without then furnishing a written contract. If they do work that is subpar and you end up having issues with them, it will be hard to prove what they were contracted to do if you don't have any paperwork. If your contractor gives you a hard time about this, it would probably be best to find someone else.
Climbing on top of a roof can be extremely dangerous. Many roofs are not really designed to support humans, so precautions must be taken. Put on rubber-soled shoes to help prevent slipping. Also, it would be a good idea to use a harness. Finally, you should always enlist the help of a loved one.