5 Key Questions That Help You Find A Good Roofer

As a homeowner, you are constantly trying to make sure your home is in its best condition. However, when disaster strikes, you may need more than just a DIY attitude. Finding a good roofer, for example, is at the top of the list of “musts” when it comes to storm damage, as well as long-term home upkeep. Finding the right roofer is not easy, and when you have the added pressure of fixing your roof ASAP, it gets harder.

Taking the time to think clearly, calmly, and logically can make the difference in getting the job done right. Here are five basic, though important, questions you can ask to help find a good roofer:

1. “Do you provide a written estimate for the repairs?” There are a number of roofing businesses out there that will give free estimates after taking a look at your home, but the reputable ones take the time to give you an estimate in writing. A good roofer will be exhaustive in looking at the damage and take notes. While they may give a general “ballpark” number while they are there, they are quick to note that a written, comprehensive breakdown of cost is best for you to make a decision. It allows you, the homeowner, to be more vigilant about costs during the whole process.

2. “Are you a local company?” When stormy weather comes through and causes significant damage, it is hard to know what steps you need to take to get things back to normal. Unfortunately, there are many “fly by night” companies that take advantage of this confusion and promise more than they can provide before leaving town. It is important to verify if a roofer is local and has a physical store front/office. The company tends to be more accountable because they are part of the community.

3. “What kind of insurance do you carry? Do you have a good workman’s comp policy in place” This is a combination of questions, but the message is clear — you are asking whether the company can cover costs in case something happens to someone during the job. Should something happen while a crew is on your property and the company is not covered, you could be liable for it, and considering the stress you feel about your roof repair, you could be dealing with an even bigger headache.

4. “Will there be someone with whom I can communicate from start to finish?” As the homeowner, you need to be able to have conversations and interact effectively with the crew. You do not want to “kinda” understand things or “sorta” see what will be happening; you need to be in the know the whole time. Depending on the size of the company, you may have either a general site manager or the owner him-/herself on the job. No matter the situation, you must have a point-of-contact you are comfortable with and fully understand.

5. “What type of warranty do you offer?” Getting a new roof should mean peace of mind for a homeowner because the roof should have quality that spans about two decades or more. Even then, you want to be sure that the company stands by their work. A written warranty of what their responsibility is to you is essential.

On the whole, your role as a homeowner involves doing your homework and researching prospective roofing companies. It is important to be thorough, but you must also take your time.

New Roof Or Roof Repairs Choose The Best Roofing Materials For Cost Effective Maintenance

Repairing a storm damaged roof or completely renovating or replacing an old roof demands the best roofing materials available, simply because the roof is the principal part of your home that protects it – and your family – from the worst of nature’s pent up fury.

From the subtle choice of roof timbers to the specific tiles used to clad the structure, don’t even think for a minute that it is wise to cut down costs by not using the best roofing materials available, or the best roofing service.

Day in and day out the roof over your head just sits there holding back the rain and snow, expanding and contracting with the constant variations of temperature from high noon to middle of the night, summer and winter while having to contend with continued incursions by insect and wildlife, is it any wonder why roofs need to be constantly checked for breaches that would allow the elements to invade.

Then again your home will need a roof that complements the architectural style of build as well as the neighborhood, and to this end only the best roofing materials with the widest possible selection of materials and variations as well as colors and designs will suffice.

Now, consider that your business is one of roofing or roof construction contractor, wouldn’t it be good to have the backing of a company that supplied the very best roofing materials to the trade, where the support of an industry professional is on hand to offer best advice and has a wide selection of the best roofing materials on stock for immediate delivery.

Quality composite tiles that are easy to handle and can be cut, ground or drilled and securely attached with industry standard roofing tools enabling more rapid and effortless and uncomplicated installation even on a variety of roof angle pitches and elemental exposure.

Hip/ridge rake, hip starter and metal closures are all available in matching colors for seamless collection.

Lightweight design of material makes the roof installation much less of a challenge and makes easier and more rapid deployment than installing the heavy and delicate natural products.

Tiles that are a third of the weight of concrete and clay tiles and can be installed on existing homes without the need for expensive structural roof modifications and are also a great choice for new homes because the lightweight structure and composition will save on the amount of timber needed to create the roof trusses; indeed a fewer number of trusses can be used at wider spacing.

Metal Roofing: Why Homeowners Should Consider A Metal Roof

If you’re looking to make a big change, consider adding metal roofing to your home. Metal roofing is very durable and looks great with minimal impact on the environment.

If you’re a homeowner, there’s a good chance your house is protected by traditional asphalt shingles. These have been the standard for a number of years and the options for homeowners have increased dramatically as the manufacturers of shingles add different colors and types to ensure a truly unique look. However, asphalt is no longer the only option for buildings. Metal roofing is gaining in popularity, but why is this an excellent choice?

Reason # 1: Metal roofing Is Sturdy And Long Lasting

Steel is the primary material for these types of roofs, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s possible to find stone coated steel roofing. As you might expect, these types of roofs are incredibly sturdy. A stone coated steel roof is typically installed directly over the existing shingles. Although many people originally worry that the additional weight of the steel coated roof could cause a problem, this new material actually weighs between 1/3 and 1/8 of the weight of a standard roof. Additionally, homeowners can take solace in the fact that it’s possible to find manufacturers that offer a 50 year warranty, which means their house will be protected from the elements for as long as they own the home and sometimes even longer.

Reason # 2: Why This Is A Green Option

Metal roofing is an environmentally friendly option for a number of reasons. First of all, because the existing shingles are left on the home, it keeps them out of landfills. Each year, 20 billion pounds of old shingles are left in landfills across the U.S., even though recycling options are available. Another reason is that stone coated steel options are made out of 25 – 90% recycled material. They also contain no petroleum products and are 100% recyclable whenever they’re eventually removed from a house. Lastly, because this material is so durable, many homeowners find that it doesn’t need to be replaced even long after the 50 year warranty is over. This means no new raw materials need to be sourced.

Reason # 3: Metal roofing Looks Great

One last reason homeowners are looking to install this type of shingles is that it looks great. They can choose from shingles in a number of different appearances, which means that they can find a type that matches the style of their home. There are a number of different colors available too, ranging from a Mediterranean inspired reddish brown, to brown, to charcoal gray. Many of these color shades aren’t available in regular asphalt shingles, so homeowners who choose one can ensure their home stands out in the neighborhood.

These are only three reasons to consider making the change to metal roof. If your roof is leaky or you’ve recently had a storm blow through and damage the shingles, consider making the change to a metal roof. If you’re planning on staying in your home for a long time, doing this can help ensure that you’re only replacing the roof once in your home’s lifetime and provide you with decades of security knowing your home is well-protected from the elements.