4 Things You Need to Think About When Remodeling Your Roof
4 Things You Need to Think About When Remodeling Your Roof
Do you need a new roof? You’re not alone.
Roofs need to be replaced around every 20 years, and with new homeowners often buying old houses, more and more people are finding that needing to re-roof is a normal part of buying a house. You probably have a lot of questions, right? How much will it cost? Who’s the best roofing company for the job? What materials are best?
Keep reading to learn about the most common mistakes homeowners make when replacing their roof and how to avoid them!
Four Things You Need to Consider When Remodeling Your Roof
1. Roofing Materials
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to roofing. In fact, there are many different types of roofing materials, and each one works best in a different situation. Here are the top materials used for roofing – talk to a roofing company to find out which option is best for you.
1. Asphalt Composition Shingles: First used in 1901, asphalt shingle roofs have been part of the American home landscape for over a century. These shingles are by far the most common type of roofing material. They aren’t the most attractive, due to their flat and matte appearance, but they are cheap and easy to get your hands on.
2. Wood Shingles: These shingles are sought after for their attractive appearance. They are made from split logs and can actually last a long time – around 30 years – if your roof installer did their job correctly. However, they are expensive and shouldn’t be used in areas where they’d become a fire hazard.
2. The Price
A lot of factors go into choosing the right roofing company for your remodel – one of them being price.
What goes into the cost of a re-roof? Some things to consider are how steep your roof is, the materials you choose, how big your roof is, and the contractor you choose. Some roofing companies don’t really worry about customer satisfaction because roof replacement only happens every couple decade’s, so they can’t get repeat business. Many homeowners base their final decision on price and because contractors often hire low-wage workers so they can deliver low bids, a low price often means you aren’t getting high-quality work.
Get references from your neighbors and check the websites of roofing manufacturers to get a list of certified roofing installers.
3. It Will Be Noisy!
One thing that most people don’t consider when replacing their roof is the noise. It’s going to be loud! Unfortunately, there’s no way around the noise, so you’ll probably want to stay out of your home when it’s being worked on. And if you have small children who still take naps, you’ll want to plan around that as well. Keep in mind that most cities have “quiet time” during which a construction crew cannot cause any noise. So, if your city’s quiet time is from 7 p.m. through 7 a.m., your roofing company will not be able to do any work during that time.
4. Paperwork Is Key
Roofing involves huge liabilities, and with liabilities comes everyone’s favorite thing – paperwork.
Make sure you have the right paperwork and permits before you start construction. Most cities require the following:
1. A building permit to ensure your roofing company follows building codes
2. A contract that specifies all the details you and your contractor have agreed to
3. A letter from your roofing company’s insurance carrier confirming that your project is covered. Make sure this letter is addressed to you
Wrapping It Up
Going through a re-roof comes with many challenges; it’s not as scary as it might seem. Make sure that you get the right paperwork, research the best roofing materials for you, and plan for the noise.
