How To Tell If Your Roof Needs to Be Fixed
There are many signs that could indicate that your roof is damaged in some way, and will need repair. It is essential that if any of these signs are noticed that you reach out to an experienced roofing professional that can help repair these damages. Some of these signs include:
Dark streaks on the ceilings. Dark streaks or spots are indicative of a problem that is less severe but has been going on for a longer period. Sagging ceiling material. Whether drywall or plaster, when it gets wet it gets much heavier. Sagging, and eventually falling ceiling material is a positive sign of water damage.Visible water damage. Spots on ceilings. Holes with dripping water. Soft or sagging flooring. All are indicative of water infiltration.Having a roof that is older than 20-30 years. Old roofs need more work, that’s life. If you’ve had your existing roofing in place for 20 years or more, it’s probably due to be replaced. A thorough inspection should be made.
Why You Should Leave a Roof Fix in The Hands of a Professional
Roofing can be complicated, and the consequences of doing a poor job can be catastrophic. It seems like you can learn almost anything on-demand nowadays, but doing a quality roofing job isn’t a “learn it in a YouTube video” task. A slight inaccuracy or missed step could mean you now have a complete interior renovation needed because of mold, or a $50k foundation fix from water that wasn’t handled properly.
On top of all that, it’s incredibly dangerous, and professional roofers with professional safety gear fall and are injured or killed daily on the job. So when it comes down to it, doing it yourself is one of those instances where the potential risks far outweigh the relatively meager financial savings.
What To Look For When Hiring a Company To Fix Your Roof
There are many factors that you should consider when potentially hiring a company to fix your roof. Not only do you need to make sure that they are properly qualified and permitted, but they should also have a reputation that helps to reinforce your initial impressions. Here are some things to look for in your potential roofing company:
How long have they been operating? While there are certainly capable roofers out there that are new to the industry and don’t have significant history, they are rare. The ideal roofing contractor is one that will have a demonstrable history of not just operating or being in business, but also a history of satisfied customers.Look at their portfolio, past work, or speak to previous customers. For businesses in the construction service industry, reputation is paramount. Lean on the internet heavily, it will give you as close as possible to an unbiased opinion, with it being difficult to delete an unfavorable review or opinion. This will also give you an insight as to how they respond publicly to bad ratings.Be sure that they are licensed, bonded, and insured. This seems like it shouldn’t be something that the potential client would need to check, since you would think that responsible business owners would keep it all up to date, but that is not always the case. Make sure that your roofer has current licensing and insurance so that if the worst should happen, you will still be able to make an insurance claim to have any damages covered, and if they are hurt they will be able to file a claim with their business insurance and not your homeowner’s insurance.Find out about disposal of the old roofing. Any reputable roofer is going to prep the roof first by removing the old roofing materials to be sure there are no problems with installation. While most contractors will have the cost of materials hauling and disposal “baked-in” to their estimate, this is not a hard and fast rule, and some shadier contractors may spring it on you later, or tell you you’re responsible for it. Be sure you know what is going to happen to that roof’s worth of shingles and nails.Look past the price. While price is obviously going to be an important factor in your final contractor decision, it should not be the sole deciding factor in your choice. There are many times when a lower-priced job bid will reflect a contractor’s lack of quality or damaged reputation, however, there will also be situations where a contractor will heavily overvalue their work. Use your best judgment, but be sure it isn’t your only guiding light.Get it all in writing. All of it. Each point of your roofer’s service should be documented fully and accurately, from the initial estimate to any financing agreements needed, and any additional provisions. The documentation should detail explicitly how long the job will take, how much it will cost, how overages or unexpected situations will be handled, Find out about contingencies. Some important questions to ask your potential roofer are those that cover situations that you don’t plan on. What happens if there are unplanned expenses or repairs that are not detailed in the initial estimate? What happens if there is a scheduling issue or the job isn’t done on time for other reasons? What if the job is finished and there is a problem, or you aren’t otherwise satisfied? These are all critical inquiries to make, particularly before the team is halfway into the job and hits a hiccup, or there are extenuating circumstances that delay the completion of the job.Be sure your installer is able to provide a warranty. Most roofing materials will have a guarantee, but only when installed by an authorized agent. If the materials you are having installed have such a requirement, be sure that your installation professional is able to satisfy those requirements.
Remember, its better to be overly cautious about your roof damage than to ignore it and let real, severe damage occur. If you need an emergency roof fix, other roof repairs, or just some routine maintenance, reach out today for a free estimate from our experienced and professional contractors so that you can rest assured knowing that all of your roofing needs are being well-taken care of.