In this article, we are going to talk about what you need to know to replace your roof. Well, first things first, you need to know what to expect off a worn off roof that needs to be replaced. You need to know what to look for. For you to know your roof needs replacement, these are the things to look at:
- Old age: the expected life of a roof is said to be 20 years. Sometimes it can be stretched to 25 years. Once your roof is passed that number of years old, it is time to look into replacing it.
- Buckling shingles: The moment you notice some shingles losing granules, just replace the roof.
- Neglect at roof valleys: if there is any damage on the valleys of the roof, just replace the roof because there could be leakage. Sunlight passing through the roof: If the light from the sun passes through the roof into your house, you need to replace the roof.
- Sagging roof: If your roof sags, this needs immediate attention. Therefore, a replacement is imminent. If any of these signs checkout, you need to contact local roofing companies like Applyrite.com, to make arrangements for estimates for your roof replacement. The following are some of the things you need to know before replacing your roof.
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Choose a good material
The kind of roofing material matters a lot. When choosing a material, think of the appearance, price and lifespan of the material. For example, asphalt roofing shingles are cheap, but their shelf life is short. Metal shingles are long-lasting and are the best especially if you are making a long term decision. Do not go for the roofing material that you had before.
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Taking off the old or layering on?
You should also think of whether you are going to remove the old roof shingles or you are just going to put the new roofing on the old shingles. According to the building code, you aren’t supposed to have more than two shingles.
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Roof frame status
You ought to inspect the plywood supporting your roof. When you realize the roof frame is soft or disintegrating, you should replace that too. Remove the existing layer and inspect well before moving forward.
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Do it yourself
If you are a person with the tools to do the roof replacement by yourself and you have the experience, go ahead and do it. Some of the shingles are easy to replace by yourself.
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Choose a good contracting company
Most people who own homes usually opt to hire Cincinnati roofing companies that are professional to do their roof replacement for them. You should make inquiries from different companies. Ask for the quotation of how much the roof replacement is going to cost. Most of these companies though do not prioritize customer satisfaction because roof replacement is once a decade or two. Therefore you should pick your roofing company based on the amount they offer the service for or get references from fellows you know.
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Be ready for the noise
Replacing the roof is very loud, especially hammering the newly bought shingles and also the removal of the old shingles. It is going to cause some nuisance. If there are people in the house that are sensitive to noise, try relocating them elsewhere while the roof replacement is going on. Probably looking for a place to stay because the whole roof will be taken out and dust and dirt will be flowing in the house. You do not want to stay around while that is happening.
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Contract
So, before any work begins, be sure the contractor gives you the contract that shows everything that you agreed with. These usually include:
- Shingle type
- The shingle colour
- The area of the roof to be worked on
- What the work
Do not forget to confirm everything you discussed is indicated in the contract before the installation begins.
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Get the essential documents
Apart from the contract, you ought to get another two documents. First, get the building permit. This is important to make your warranty valid. Make sure the roofing contractor follows the building code. Secondly, get the letter from the insurance company of the roofing contractor that is meant for you. This is proof that the project is covered.
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Ensure that cleanliness has been done
It is evident that if your old roof was removed, it probably brought down a lot of nails which probably landed on the compound. The nails could probably cause a lot of accidents. Some of the accidents include injuries or flat tires. Good for us all, contractors usually possess a piece of equipment that does the job of picking the nails up very easily. It is usually a very large magnet that has wheels. They usually move it around the compound to pick up those small needles. Most of the time some companies forget to bring that tool. Be sure to ask the contractors to do the nail collecting activity before you pay for the service offered.
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Make sure to prevent another roof replacement
Installing a new roof or replacing an old roof with a new one can be a very frustrating and complicated job to do. You should do all you can to make sure you will not require such services in the nearby future. You should try and extend the lifespan of the roofing materials by doing little maintenance.
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Be sure to inquire about refuse material disposal
You must ask the roofing contractors about how you can dispose of the refuse material from that activity of your roof replacement. The natural way is the roofing contractors usually come with a place to store all that refuse. If the roofing contractors do that then you should know where the refuse holder will be kept and the procedures they will take if it causes any damages.