Many homeowners don’t think twice about their roof until it starts leaking. When a hole develops in your roof, you’ll likely feel panic set in as you realize water is now pouring onto your fixtures and furnishings. Luckily, replacing a roof isn’t as expensive or challenging as you may think.
Determine the extent of the damage
Before you invest time and money into replacing a roof, you need to know what’s wrong with it. Since you’re most likely replacing a damaged roof, head to your attic and make a quick assessment of the damage. If there are obvious signs of leak damage, such as exposed shingles, wet insulation, and discolored ceiling tiles, get your roof assessed as soon as possible. If your roof isn’t damaged but is showing signs of wear and tear, you can still replace it to improve the lifespan of your roof. If your roof is completely gone, you’ll need to replace it completely. But if only a portion of the roof is missing, you may be able to repair it instead. You should first see if you can make repairs yourself. Save all the damaged materials and mementos from the old roof and try to patch the holes yourself. You may be able to make temporary repairs with paper and sealant. If you don’t know what to look for, you’ll end up patching the same problem repeatedly. A professional assessment will give you an accurate estimate of the damage, which will help you decide whether to replace the roof. click reference
Check your insurance coverage
If you’re replacing a damaged roof, you’ll want to make sure your homeowner’s insurance covers the replacement. You may be surprised to learn that some policies don’t cover roof repairs. If your homeowners insurance doesn’t cover a new roof, you may want to consider renouncing your coverage and walking away from your mortgage. This is a drastic measure, but it may be your only option if you can’t find another way to make payments. If you can’t find any reason why your home insurance doesn’t cover roof replacement, you may just be unlucky. Most homeowners find their policies cover roof replacement as part of standard homeowner’s coverage.
Plan ahead for error-proofing
Replacing a roof won’t go as planned. It may be more expensive and time-consuming than you planned, and you may run into unexpected issues. To avoid costly mistakes and time-consuming delays, take the time to plan ahead. Write down the steps you’ll take when replacing your roof. You may need to create a timeline for when each task will occur. When planning your timeline, keep in mind that a lot of your work will be done on weekends and after work hours. To make sure you don’t miss any deadlines, mark your calendar with important dates. If a contractor says he’s going to start working on your roof, make sure you write that date down on your calendar. You don’t want to leave a note in your email or on your fridge, but you do want to make sure you remember the date. blog link
Don’t skimp on materials
Though you may be tempted to cut costs, this is the most important tip on replacing a roof. A cheap roof replacement will cost you more in the long run. To ensure your new roof lasts as long as your old one, don’t skimp on materials. You’ll need to replace some of the damaged roofing materials, but also use more expensive materials such as metal or fiberglass. To find the right balance between cost and quality, use materials that are comparable to your current roof. If you start replacing your roof with cheap materials, you’ll be forced to replace them much sooner. You may also find yourself in need of a new roof sooner than you expected.
Be sure you find the right roofer for the job
You can’t just grab the first roofer you see and start work on your roof. It’s important to do some research to find the right professional for the job. There are many great resources for finding a qualified roofer. Look for a reputable local authority or Better Business Bureau (BBB) listing for a roofer. With a list of recommended roofers in hand, call around to some of your top candidates and make an appointment. When you meet with prospective roofers, ask them a few questions to help you weed out the bad apples. Ask the roofer what experience he or she has with the type of roof you have.
Replacing a roof isn’t a DIY project
Replacing a roof isn’t a DIY project. You can’t just do it yourself in your garage or backyard. Roofing installations are regulated by the federal government. This means your contractor will need to complete a federal OSHA 10-hour training course and follow federal rules when installing your roof.