Whether you’re seasoned homeowners or just finished moving into the home of your dreams, one of the biggest issues that you’ll have to prepare for is your roof. When should you replace it? Who should you trust to fix your roof if any issues come up? You can get answers to all these questions here.
Homeownership is not easy and a million little things always need fixing or improving. If you have roof issues, it’s not something that you should ignore. It’s probably one of the reasons why you’re reading this article now.
Here are the 5 most important things you have to know about a roof replacement.
When to do it
Check your roof from the inside first. Go to the attic or the topmost level of your house and check for signs of damage: beams of light, water stains, or streaks. Next, if you’ve lived in the house for about 20 years, it’s high time that your roof was inspected (and replaced).
Step outside and check the shingles. If there are obvious signs of damage, especially after a storm, that’s probably your roof saying that it’s at the end of its life and needs to be repaired as soon as possible.
However, if your roof is less than 15 years old, there’s definitely a good chance that it doesn’t need to be replaced yet.
Here’s a checklist of things that you need to inspect before contacting anyone:
- Are there bald spots where granules can be missing?
- Are there cracked shingles?
- Is my roof above 15 years of age?
- Does it just look worn out and sagging in places?
- Are there dark streaks on the outside of the roof?
- Are there various plant life or moss growing on my roof?
- Are there any cracks or obvious damages after a storm?
- Are the shingles curling up?
- Do I have lots of leaking inside the house?
- Is my gutter apron missing or badly damaged?
Leave it to the experts
In the world of DIY videos and Pinterest boards, everything seems doable and easy to fix. However, if you’re not an expert, it’s best to leave it to those who will definitely have your best interests at heart.
If you’re in the PA area, these guys are awesome at what they do and they give free estimates and offer a lifetime warranty.
Shop around
Roofing replacement or repair doesn’t come in cheap. Although nobody wants to spend a fortune on roof repairs, any homeowner will still need to go through the trouble of having their roof replaced or fixed. That’s why when you’re looking for a contractor to do the job, don’t just settle for the first guys that show up on Google. Shop around and compare not just prices, but also their work ethic, transparency, safety and insurance policies, positive ratings, and past clients.
What to expect
Once you’ve decided on the right contractor to do the job, you’ll be given a choice of products to use, paperwork to sign, and a short schedule to finish the job. Roof replacements average about two to five days.
