Homeownership can be costly and time-consuming, but it’s worth the investment! When you buy your next roof or replace an old one there are some things that every homeowner should know before making such a big decision.
First off: roofs last around twenty years on average so if this sounds like something in need of replacement then do not wait too long; secondly – take into account what kind will suit best with how many people live at any given address (e); thirdly–think about color choices much more than anything else.
The investment may seem [costly and time-consuming] at first, but it will be worth every penny when you see the long term results.
You invest your time and money in roofing because a roof plays an important role in the protection of your property and for this purpose, you always want to make sure that the job is done right no matter if you are doing the project on your own or you hire a roofing contractor.
But when you are buying a new roof, it is important to consider some important factors before buying a new roof for your property. Here is a roofing checklist that you should consider before investing money in a roof.
Choose The Right Material
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The most important factor in buying a new roof is choosing the right material for the roof because a roof is a long term project so it is better to choose the best material. It is suggested that you should consider the appearance, lifespan and most importantly the price of each product. All categories of roofs have different specialties such as asphalt roofing shingles are known as the most economical and their life span is shortest for residential roofs.
While on the other hand, metal shingles of the concrete roofs last for a longer time period and these materials are usually a better choice if you are looking to make a long-term investment.
You can also choose beautiful metal roofs from collections apart from traditional shingles such as shakes, asphalt or slate. Because metal roofs mimic the looks of other traditional roofing materials and if we talk about architectural shingles they are superior to traditional roofing materials of shingles both in looks and performance. You should also consider the price of these new materials because they can be three times more than the standard price of 3-tab asphalt shingles.
These materials not only last longer but also enhance the beauty of the appearance which ultimately increases the resale value of your property. Besides that, you should know the advantages and disadvantages of all the materials when choosing for your roof.
Decide Between Layering Off And Peeling Off
When you are deciding on replacing the old roof with new roofing material, it is also important to decide whether you should remove the existing shingles before the installation of new material of you should layer on the new ones. It is a critical decision to take because, in order to comply with building codes, it is not allowed to layer on more than two shingle layers of the roof.
Because the second layer of the shingles roof will put stress on the roof which is dangerous for the building so it is suggested that you should peel off the older layer before heading on to installing new shingles.
However, if you are short of money of time you can lay them on the original layer of the shingles. But you should check thoroughly that if the old shingles of the roof are uneven or curling, it is highly recommended to peel off the old layer to get better results.
Thoroughly Examine The State Of Your Roof
When you see problems in your roof whether any leakage or damage, it is recommended that you should go for thorough inspection and examination of the state of your roof such as examine the plywood that supports the roof.
In this way, if you find any damage such as soft sheathing or broken parts or if the roof appears to be disintegrating, you can replace the base right away. So you can call a professional contractor as well so that he can thoroughly inspect the condition of your roof and guide you with the best possible solution.
Select The Best Roofing Company
There are some ambitious homeowners who go for installing new roofing, but it is not the best idea and it suggested to hire a professional roofing company that can handle the roofing project carefully. Because professional roofing contractors are experienced and skilled enough in the installation of the new roof.
You can choose the company by looking for more than two options and decide on the base of the quality of services they offer as well as the price they charge for the installation project. You should request the estimates for the project based on the material that you want to install on your roof.
For instance, there are some companies that do not provide services for working with rubber, concrete tiles or any other unconventional materials. So it is better to choose the right company that can provide you the best installation services for the roof.
It is a fact that you need roof installation only once in decades so it is suggested that you should never rely on repeat business as customer satisfaction is the foremost priority.
So never choose a company based on cost only because these companies do not provide top-quality services and you have to face consequences in the future.
Ask For A Written Contract
When you are done with choosing the best roofing contractor, it is suggested that you ensure to ask for a written agreement and contract where every detail of the project is mentioned.
Such as, type of your roof shingles, the material used, the color of the roof, a measure of the area to be worked and all important things that are involved in the process like, layering, flashing, stripping, etc.
So you need to ask these important things in a written contract and make sure to get referrals so that you can confirm that the things you have discussed are included in the contract so that you can make payment for the services.
Also, visit the visboo.com for more detail about roofing checklist.