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Whether buying a pre-existing home or building a new construction home, the roof is one of the most important and expensive components of a house. Home ownership comes with many responsibilities. It’s important to be aware of how your home functions and operates, from the roof to the floors. You want to be in tune with any changes over time to make sure there are no huge surprises down the road. Depending on the material used for the roof, as well as geographic location, repair and replacement vary significantly.
For example, Floridians, particularly those in south or southwest Florida, are likely to be required to perform more maintenance and replacements to their roofs than their friends further north. This is because of the sun and the havoc it wreaks on roofing materials, as well as severe storms and hurricanes that can batter roof shingles more frequently.
After a heavy rainfall, it’s good to inspect the ceilings throughout your house. You want to look for wet drywall on the ceilings, which will appear darker than the rest of the surface. Be sure to check around the heating and air conditioner vents-both the outputs and returns throughout the house. Sometimes if there was improper sealing at the time the house was built, there will be leaks near the ductwork and ultimately on the drywall in the ceiling. If you notice any wet areas on your ceilings, be sure to call a reliable and licensed roofer to come out to inspect. Chances are that the leak is originating from the roof and working its way down into the house.
Springtime is one of the best times of year to have roof repairs and replacements done because the weather is not unbearably hot, and hopefully you can snag a few consecutive days of dry weather to get the job done.
There are a few things to keep in mind when hiring a roofing company:
-First, make sure they are licensed and insured.
You can look up any business in your state business directory. Every state has a record of all registered businesses, including information on any complaints filed against the business. You can also check out the company’s rating on the Better Business Bureau website or search roofing associations of which they may be members. Be sure their insurance policy covers the dates that they will be performing work on your home.
-Word of mouth is a helpful way of finding a reliable roofer.
Ask your friends or neighbors for recommendations, and check out the quality of the work done on their homes when gathering company names.
-When interviewing companies, it’s important to ask whether or not they subcontract their jobs out to other companies or individuals. This important factor is crucial in the event that the job is done incorrectly and will determine culpability and liability for insurance purposes. Westchase Roofing, in the Tampa Bay area, prides itself on not subcontracting jobs out to other people. This gives their customers peace of mind knowing that a quality job will be performed by their personal employees.
-Get multiple quotes so that you can compare prices and determine a ballpark figure of what you should expect to pay. If the discrepancies between companies are so egregious, seek out a few additional estimates to get a more reasonable average.
-If you live in an area that is subject to severe weather, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and frequent strong storms, it is imperative that the workers cover the roof completely with tarps each night and secure them down before leaving for the day. Regardless of the weather forecast, a prudent company will be sure to cover the roof in a safe manner, because unexpected weather squalls are not unheard of, especially in Florida. A quick, unexpected storm can blow through and wreak havoc on a roofing job and result in the complete destruction of the entire home, requiring everything to be ripped out down to the studs.
Hiring a roofing company shouldn’t be intimidating. Do your homework and your due diligence, and you will be on your way to having peace of mind with a well-installed roof over your head.
Tamar Blazer is an attorney-turned-twin mom, with a passion for her family, friends, writing, good food, home decor and laughing. When she’s not lamenting on her lack of sleep, you can find her doing one of the too many projects she likes to take on, usually with a twin on either side.
