As a homeowner, it’s important to be proactive in protecting your roof. If you’ve ever had serious damage to the roof of your home, you know how expensive and frustrating this can be.
This blog post is designed to give you some helpful hints about what you should do now to prevent big problems with your roof.
1. Check the condition of your roof periodically
It’s important to keep track of the condition of your roof. If you make a note every few months or so about how many tiles are broken, if there is any moss growth or other damage to your shingles, you will be able to better predict when it might start causing problems with leaks and other damages.
2. Get rid of any debris on your roof
If trees over-hang the roof, then it is possible that they could drop leaves onto your roof after they fall off in autumn or twigs during late winter/early spring which could not only look unsightly but cause some structural problems for your roof as well. Hiring someone professionally can prevent these issues from becoming a big problem for you later on down the road.
3. Inspect your roof for damaged shingles
If you have any areas of your roof that are discolored, then it is likely that there are damaged shingles underneath the shingle above it. If the damage goes all the way through to the inside of your attic, you could be in for a big problem if rain gets in behind the insulation and causes water damage to your ceilings or other parts of your home.
4. Get someone to inspect your roof before winter hits each year
This will allow them to remove any snow or ice from your roof before it can accumulate during colder weather. Accumulated snow on an older roof can create enormous problems with leaks because there won’t be enough weight on the roof to hold all of the snow in place. It’s also important to check around your chimney, stovepipe and any other protrusions from your roof during wintertime because they could accumulate ice which can damage them if not properly removed before it can stay there too long.
5. Check for loose or missing shingles
It is very common for older roofs that have been installed for many years to begin showing signs of age such as missing or loose tiles, holes in the surface of the tiles, curling at the edges due to heat exposure etc… If you begin seeing these things occurring on your roof, make sure you get someone out who knows how to replace shingles right away. There are certain tools and techniques that need to be followed in order for the new shingles to properly seal and prevent leaking.
6. Look for signs of general wear and tear caused by the weather
If your roof is showing signs of cracking, chipping or fading it might be time to consider having a professional come out and replace some tiles before any major damage can occur. These types of issues with your roof could lead to leaking which not only creates health risks if the inside of your home isn’t sufficiently dried but also can create serious safety problems such as falling through rotted or weakened floor boards if the problem has gotten bad enough.
7. Consider getting a protective coating for your roof
There are several different types of coatings that you could apply to the surface of your roof in order to prevent leaks, block harmful UV rays and also stop moss growth. If you have an older home with clay tiles or concrete slabs, it is especially important to get this type of coating applied since they can be highly porous which causes problems. There are many different types of coatings available, but make sure that your contractor knows what they’re doing otherwise you might end up with a much bigger problem on your hands later on down the line.
8. Get estimates for any repairs before hiring anyone to do them
It’s never a good idea to hire someone without first knowing how much their services will cost you. In the long run, it can save you a lot of headache and money by getting several different estimates from contractors in your area before making a decision. If they know that someone else may be able to do the work for less than they can, then their prices will go down accordingly and allow you to get better quality services at a lower price than what they’re initially offering.
9. Check the warranty of any roofing materials that have been installed
If your contractor isn’t willing to provide you with some type of warranty on the work that they’ve done, then this should set off some warning bells instantly because there is no way for them to guarantee their work unless they plan on repurchasing any material which was used to install your roof. If you can get something in writing, make sure that the warranty includes leaks and other problems that may develop over time.
10. A solid warranty is one of the best ways to protect yourself against future damage
Even if your contractor offers you some kind of guarantee on their work, it won’t mean very much if they’re unwilling to stand behind it for an extended period of time. Most reputable contractors will offer a minimum 1-year warranty on any materials or labor that they provide as part of their services which covers not only leaks but also wind damage from storms passing through your area as well as other types of issues that might occur as a result from normal wear and tear over time.
11. Check the credentials of any contractor you hire
If someone is trying to install or repair your roof, then they need to know what they’re doing in order for it to turn out right. There are many different types of certifications available for roofing contractors that can assure you that they possess the skills necessary to do their job correctly. The best place to start looking at all of these credentials is with their license. Most states also offer online services where you can verify whether or not an individual contractor has had any complaints filed against them in the past which may be a red flag when considering hiring them.
12. Get references from any contractor before hiring them
Once you’ve gotten estimates on the work that needs done, make sure to ask each individual contractor for references so that you can call some of their former clients. Ask them how long ago the work was completed, what type of services were provided and if they’re still happy with the results. However, keep in mind that most people are inclined to say that everything is fine even after terrible quality of service has been provided by someone which means that your best bet is to ask them whether or not they would hire this person again given the chance.
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