planning your residential roofing project

PLANNING YOUR RESIDENTIAL ROOFING PROJECT

REPAIR OR REPLACE: DO YOU NEED A NEW ROOF?



PART ONeREPAIR OR REPLACE:

DO YOU NEED A NEW ROOF?If you’re tired of repairing leaks, mending gutters, or dealing with sagging portions of your roof, you are likely very much tempted to get your roof replaced with a new one. As a new roof can be quite a significant investment, however, the question arises whether you might really need a new roof or if it would be cheaper to have your existing roof repaired instead.

Unfortunately, unless you’re an architect, civil engineer, or building contractor, it might not be wise to make that decision on your own. If you make the wrong choice, you could end up risking the value of your

home and the safety of your family.



ROOF INSPECTION: THE KEY TO DETERMINING THE REAL CONDITION OF YOUR ROOF

The first logical step would be to hire a professional to inspect your roof and explain why you would or wouldn’t need to replace it. But before you search the yellow pages or ask your friends for referrals, there are a few obvious reasons why you’ll need to make that decision as soon as possible.

Your Roof’s AgeMost experts agree that a roof’s lifespan is about 20 years. It may be shorter than this, or even be a little bit longer, but a roof will usually last about that long without requiring a replacement. If your roof is around that age, then waiting a few more years to replace it won’t do you much good. If you have the resources now, then having a new roof installed would definitely be a good decision.



Sagging areasIf you notice that the roof has begun to sag in more than a few areas, it’s a sign that you need a new one. Sagging is a sign of structural problems, which means that your safety is in jeopardy.

Repair CostsIf you’ve needed to hire someone to repair the roof more often than you should, then it’s likely that those repair costs are starting to add up to a pretty hefty sum. Before you know it, the costs of repair could exceed the cost of a new roof.

In today’s economy, you never want to spend money on things you don’t need. Then again, you wouldn’t want to risk your safety either, or spend too much money on repairs. If you think that you need a new roof, it’s best to get a professional to have a look so that you can make the best decision. However, it would also be good to gain a bit of knowledge about roof replacement projects, so that you don’t walk into one without a clue what to do. Learn more about roof replacement and

installation in our next post. Stay tuned!



PART TWOWHAT TO KNOW ABOUT

ROOF INSTALLATIONIf the professional advice you’ve been given urges you to get a new roof installed, don’t take that advice lightly. As you go into the project, be mindful that you may have hired the best professional in your area to do the job, but it’s never a good idea to take on a major project without knowing a few things about it yourself. There will be some critical decisions you’ll need to make – and even though the contractor may explain things to you, knowing what they’re talking about beforehand will make things easier all around. It will also show that you’ve done your research and won’t

be easily misled.


WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ROOF INSTALLATION

ROOF DESIGNSIf you’re going to have your entire roof replaced, you may want to consider a roof design different from what you previously had. A new roof design would make it seem like you just bought a new home.

The two most basic roof designs are flat and pitched. Your contractor should be able to give you additional ideas or show you more designs that would look good on your home. However, you should take note that choosing a difficult design or oneethat may present additional risks to install may cost more than those with simpler, more basic designs.

ROOF MATERIALSWith so many different roofing materials, it would be difficult to describe every single one, much less make a definitive recommendation. It is a given, of course, that you need to select high quality, durable, and efficient materials. When you’ve found the right material, take the time to inspect the materials upon delivery and before the contractors install them. This is to make sure that they are the materials and products being used are to your specifications.


WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ROOF INSTALLATION

ROOF QUALITYThe quality of a roof can affect the value of your home, so you’ll need to make sure that the contractor provides quality workmanship. You may not know much about roof installation, but there are telltale signs that things may not be going the way they should. For example, too many wasted materials or poor workmanship are signs that the contractor may not be living up to the stipulations of the contract. These is why you must look for an experienced and certified roofer.

As you can see, it’s imperative that you find a roofing contractor whom you can trust. Not only does replacing a roof cost a significant amount of money, but the workmanship can affect the value of your home as well. In the next part of this e-book, we’ll discuss a

few ways you can find a reliable contractor.



PART ThreeTRUST THE ROOFER: WHAT IT

TAKES TO BE A PROFESSIONAL AND HOW TO FIND ONE

Replacing a roof is not a job for your neighborhood handyman. He may be able to repair a few leaks here and there, but replacing an entire roof is a job for a professional roofer. Whenever you sign a major contract – such as one for roof replacement or repair – you need to be able to trust the contractor, especially if you know very little about the project. These days, finding a reliable contractor can be a challenging task, but not if you know where to look and how to distinguish the good guys from the fraudulent ones.


TRUST THE ROOFER: WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PROFESSIONAL AND HOW TO FIND ONE

ASK FOR REFERRALSIf you have friends, family, or acquaintances that have recently had their roof replaced, they should be able to recommend their contractor to you, assuming they were fully satisfied with the job that was done on their home.

VERIFY PERMITS, LICENSES, AND OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTSA contractor that doesn’t perform well isn’t likely to stay in business for very long. To find “clients” – in this case, gullible homeowners who unfortunately don’t bother do their research on contractors first – disreputable roofers or roofing contractors often need to move from one area to another, which means that they won’t have the necessary documents to prove they are licensed to work in a certain locale. You might need to spend some extra time verifying the validity or authenticating any documents presented to you, but doing so will save you from a lot of problems.

NEVER PAY TOO MUCH UPFRONTIf the contractor asks for 100% payment upfront, take it as a negative sign. All good contractors know that owners need to reserve a portion of the payment to ensure that the work is completed properly. The balance on full payment is only released after final inspection and acceptance.

At this point, you should already have a better idea on how to decide if you need a new roof or simply have it repaired. You should also have a general idea of what a roofing contract is and how to find a reliable roofing contractor. If you feel that you need more information, don’t hesitate to do a bit more research or, better yet, contact a roofer that has already gained a good reputation in your area. Always remember that it is important that you feel comfortable with everything about the project before you proceed.



CROWN ROOFING & DRAINAGE LTD#118-11860 Hammersmith Way Richmond, BC V7A-5G1

1 - (877) 907 - 3066www.crownresidentialroofing.com

http://www.crownresidentialroofing.com

planning your residential roofing project

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