Your roof is probably the most taken for granted portion of your home. Until it starts to give you trouble in terms of leakage, missing shingles or sagging, the roof is expected to quietly do its job without fuss. But neglect, poor maintenance and lack of attention to early signs of damage can pose a serious safety issue. Dodgy roofs can damage the structure and property inside the building. They are a safety hazard to occupants, visitors and pets. Not least of all, they are an eyesore!
Do You Need A New Roof Or Fix Your Old One?
It’s not easy to figure out at first glance that your roof needs repair, restoration, replacement or a full roof rejuvenation. Most roofs are built to last for at least 20 years, and much longer in some cases. With some amount of maintenance and regular care, your roof can give you super service throughout its natural life.
Roofing work by its very nature is expensive, time consuming and labor intensive. Depending on the size, shape and complexity of the roof and design, the materials used and the extent of damage, the costs, time and labor will vary significantly. Roofing experts opine that the location of your home, whether in an urban or rural area, can also play a part in boosting up the rates.
Being such a major investment, it’s important to analyze why and when you need to work on the roof.
If there has been a major weather event in your area such as a storm, heavy snowfall, harsh summer or hail, or if you’ve had falling branches on the rooftop, this means you need emergency repairs.
In case your roof is more than 25-30 years old, and hasn’t been as well-maintained as it should, it may look shabby, sagging, faded, with curved edges, and have missing or rusty fitments.
You may notice your energy bills suddenly spiraling upwards. The most common reason is that your HVAC system is working overtime to maintain optimum temperatures. This may be because of gaps in the roof and poor insulation.
Perhaps you plan to sell, lease or rent out your home. A roofing makeover can certainly increase the value and get you a better clientele.
If you’ve just bought a home at a bargain, it’s wise to take a look at the roof. It probably needs work and that could be anything from minor repairs to a full replacement.
An old and dangerous roof can put you in non-compliance with local building regulations. Additionally, you may not get insurance coverage in case of accidents and damage.
While these are all valid, probably urgent reasons to transform your roof, you can’t discount the simple wish for a nicer look and feel to your home. Perhaps the roof is old fashioned, and doesn’t blend with modern design. It may not be made from modern and more efficient materials.
Once you’ve figured out the reasons why you need a restoration, you can start putting in the details.
Roof Refresh: The Ultimate Guide
Remember that roof work is certainly not the job fit for the average DIY enthusiast. No matter how simple the task appears, you could end up wasting time, materials, effort and money while putting yourself at risk. You will need professional help with this project.
First off, get a buy-in from all the other occupants of the home. Roofing work can be disruptive and can throw schedules out of gear. Ensure that the work is not planned while important events are in the pipeline, and people are generally in good health.
Roof work should be done during a longer spell of good weather.
Start off by getting a professional inspection done. This must be done by an objective, well-established, reputed and licensed roofing expert. They can give you a detailed report, possibly with a ballpark figure of what the costs would look like.
Compile a list of roofing contractors. Word of mouth from trusted choices is your best bet. You can also consult your local business directory and shortlist a few names. Ensure that they have a landline telephone and a street address. Read online reviews and ask for references. It’s a good idea to visit some of their sites and talk to former clients.
Compare quality of work, ability to stick to deadlines, safety record, communication skills and pricing. Cheapest is not always the best but stay away from extremes at both ends of the price spectrum.
Check their work experience, and whether they have done projects similar to yours. Also confirm valid licenses, permissions, insurance and workers compensation documents.
Put everything down in a written contract and get it signed by the contractor, with appropriate compensation for delays and damage. Get all the permissions required from local councils or authorities early to prevent delays.
Once you’re satisfied, you can get the advice of the roofers on the best material available within your budget and also your design preferences. When you firm up on this, you can explore availability and choices.
For a complete restoration, removal of the old roof has to be done carefully after informing your neighbors about possible disturbance. Ensure that the contract spells out waste disposal methods.
Check if the decking or framework have to be repaired or replaced and get this done. Now the underlayer and flashing can be installed. These are the parts that provide insulation, so ensure that the roofers have enough experience in this work. You may have to work with your HVAC technicians at this stage.
The new roofing materials can now be installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Some curing time may be needed at this stage.
A final inspection will have to be done to ensure that the structure is sound and the work has been done perfectly and completely, and meets industry standards. This would also include a safety inspection. Some contractors provide inspection by a third-party professional, or they may sign off with a warranty themselves.
All the waste and debris that accumulate in your yard have to be disposed of according to local regulations. You could hire a skip or small dumpster earlier for this and this cost can be factored into your budget.
