How to Choose the Right Roofing Contractor

When it comes to hiring the right roofing contractor, you want someone reputable, reliable, and safe at the end of the day. Your budget is quite important, but it should come second to quality and dependable work.

How Much Does a New Roof Cost?

It doesn't matter what type of roof you are looking for; one major factor that should guide you is the quality of material used to make the roof.

You would want a roof that will make a statement in your neighborhood and last a long time.

Replacing a roof is not complicated, but it is disruptive, so investing in a roof that will stand the test of time is preferable.

When Is It Time to Replace Your Roof?

Different manufacturers use different types of materials to make long-lasting roof materials. However, the roof has a lifespan before it begins to deteriorate. Reviewing the age of your roof is an essential step in determining whether your roof needs replacement.

The average lifespan of most roofs is around twenty years. However, this varies depending on the roof’s composition and wherein the county you are located. As discussed before, different buildings and houses have roofs with different compositions.

Breakdown of Popular Roof Materials and Lifespans:

•  Standing seam metal roof can last between 30 to 50 years.
•  Asphalt roll roofs last between 5 to 10 years.
•  Clay tile roofs are known to last anywhere between 40 to 100 years.
•  Wood shingle roofs and composite shingle roofs last between 15 to 25 years. 
•  Wood shake shingle roofs can last up to 40 years.
•  Slate roofs are the longest lasting capable of serving you for more than 100 years!

Depending on the material you choose for your home or building will directly impact when you need to replace your roof and how often. 

What Do I Do If There Is a Leak in My Roof?

Start by finding out where the leak is. Once you discover the specific spot, cover the area with a tarp before you even call the emergency service provider.

This may also be the time to find your insurance service provider to see if they can compensate you for the damages caused by damaged roofs. Even as you wait for the response of the expert, make sure to do the following:

– Get items out of harm’s way
– Control it as much as you can
– Contain the water pressure
– Take photos of the water and related damages

What To Do After a Hailstorm Hits Your Home

Steps to Take After a Hailstorm Hits

Hailstorms are a problem for property owners, farmers, and the ecosystem at large. Our homes are particularly vulnerable to this unpredictable force of nature. Small hailstorms have the proven ability to take down the leaves on trees, destroy plantations or dent your car. More sizable storms are even worse and can inflict even more damage, especially to our homes.

Once a hailstorm hits, all homeowners can wait out the storm and later assess their property’s inflicted damage. This damage may range from uprooted shingles, torn roofs, damaged wall sidings to broken windows. Homeowners face an urgent need to repair this damage and prevent further deterioration.

What Roofing Material is Right for My Home?

When it is time to choose a roof there are many materials and technologies to consider and it’s easy to get confused on which is best and why.

On top of choosing materials, there are many additional factors homeowners should take into consideration. They need to take into account expenditures, durability, aesthetics, and the existing residential home or commercial building.

This article gives an in-depth look at the roofing material homeowners could consider for their projects. This breakdown will help them determine what best suits their preferences and needs.

Standing Seam Roofs

Standing seam roofs are one of the most commonly used types of roof materials. The name comes from the innovative design that keeps moisture out by having paneled sheets that overlap and interlock.

Can You Use Homeowner's Insurance on a New Roof?

The first place many homeowners will turn to when they think about getting a replacement covering structure is their homeowner’s insurance policy.

What is an insurance policy?

The “dwelling coverage” portion of your homeowner’s insurance, after all, is meant to cover the cost of losses and damage to your private residence, including interior and exterior damage.

Suppose you are considering getting new roofing installed on your home.

In that case, you will probably want to take out your policy and read its fine print entirely and carefully to see precisely under what conditions or restrictions the insurer will agree to pay out for such work, to what extent or amount, and at what point in the structure’s life.

While coverage details will differ from insurer to insurer, policy to policy, and property to property, there are, however, certain limitations on coverage that almost all homeowner’s policies will include for such work.

Typically, your policy will cover a replacement for damage caused by unforeseen or unexpected sources or perils—that is, for accidental and sudden damage or due to an act of nature.

The most common risks covered by homeowners’ policies are fire, wind, hail, and water, but this will typically depend in part on where in the country you live.

How Does Extreme Cold Affect Your Roof and Home?

The roofs on our houses serve as protection against the harsh outdoors. Despite their protective nature, they are vulnerable over time to the battering they receive from mother nature. Winter seasons are accompanied by heavy rains, snow, ice buildup, and winds. Accumulating snow and ice, alongside heavy rains, can put a lot of strain on our property’s roof. Snow and ice buildup tend to be heavy and can be detrimental to your roof-structure as it constantly weighs it down and puts pressure on your frame.

This snow and ice may start to melt and leak through your roof via cracks and crevices. This leaking happens because the warmth from your home rises and melts the snow and ice from below. The resulting water damage can be extensive, especially if it encounters your electrical wiring and other water-sensitive material in your house. Roofs with a flat design are particularly vulnerable to snow damage as the accumulating ice has no way to fall off the top. Efforts to get rid of this accumulating snow may inflict more damage than good if poorly executed.

These cold conditions may also result in the formation of ice dams in the gutters, putting a lot of strain on their structure. Homeowners can avoid these dams by cleaning out their gutters as we approach winter seasons. Constant checks during the winter seasons will help you identify potential hazards and take swift action. De-icing agents and gutter heaters are practical tools that homeowners can use to break ice dams before they inflict more damage to your property.

Heavy rain and wind can rip off shingles, especially on old roofs, resulting in leakage. It can also damage the roof-flashings. Wind and rain exert a lot of wear and tear on the rakes and ridges. This damage can only be curbed by going for better quality roofing-material and having frequent inspections carried out by professionals to ensure your roofing’s are in peak condition.