There are many reasons why a homeowner would want to re-roof their home. It could be that their roof is causing problems, or it could be that they are looking at selling their home and they want to give it a face lift. Whatever the reason for installing a new roof, homeowners should make sure that nothing they do leads to expensive mistakes. Here is your quick start guide to reroofing your home.
Getting Started
The first step in installing a new roof is finding a good roofing contractor. You can do this through referrals, by searching online, or by talking to a lumberyard or building distributor and seeing who they would recommend as a good roofing contractor. While going through this process, ask questions like: How much repeat business does the contractor I am considering using get? Do they belong to any professional associations? How knowledgeable are they about roofing procedures? Based on the answer to these and other questions, you will be able to find the right contractor for the job you are having done.
How Long Should a Roofing Job Take?
The size and complexity of the roof will determine how long the job will take. Smaller roofs can be completed in a day or two. Larger and more complicated roofs may take in excess of a week. In the contract that you make with the roofer, stipulate a not to exceed price and a set price for materials. Inclement weather can cause the roof replacement to take longer. While there are a number of variables that may affect the length of roof installation, it should never drag on.
Selecting Roofing Products
When selecting shingles, look at all the options that are available. Don’t just focus on price but also look at the features each type of shingle provides and the benefits that each gives. Some shingles are inexpensive and functional, while others are expensive and aesthetically pleasing. Sit down with a local shingle distributor and read some of the literature that they produce either online or in printed form. Ask questions about things like the difference between an architectural shingle and a standard shingle.
Ask them about the warranties they offer for their products. Check the UL fire resistance rating of each type of shingle you are looking at purchasing. Speak to a professional roofer like those found at A Clark Roofing & Siding Ltd and ask them what shingles they would recommend for your home and local weather conditions.
This roofing quick guide should help your roofing project get off on the right foot. Make sure that any contractor you use is licensed, bonded, and insured in your state. Also, make sure that they get the needed permits for the work that they are doing. Re-roofing a home is an expensive project, but it is one that yields benefits not only in the home’s resale value, but also in making the home a more attractive and safe place for you and your family to live.
I agree 100% that you should set up a set price or a not to exceed at the beginning of any contracted job. I’ve had jobs halted for weeks because or rain or other inclement conditions and I’d be bankrupt if I didn’t establish what I was paying the contractor beforehand. It may take some extra work to write it up or negotiate but it’s worth your time and your money.
The roof on my house hasn’t been touched or repaired in many decades. I’m pretty sure it will need to have a new roof installed, so I like how you mention that the first step is finding a good roofing contractor. Putting on a new roof really isn’t something I’d like to do by myself, so I’ll have to find the best roofer around so I know that job is getting done correctly.