Article writer-Christoffersen Lillelund

When you're getting into roofing, you have to learn quite a bit before you make any decisions. All the different advice can seem overwhelming, and it helps to have some great advice, cut and dry, all in one place. Keep reading for helpful hints and tips about your home's roof.

You want to make sure that you hire a good contractor to take care of your roofing job. Looking on the Internet for reviews can help you to find the right fit for your roofing job. Internet reviews tend to be more frank and honest, since they are anonymous.

Choose a roofing contractor who is skilled and experienced. You might consider asking family and friends for personal recommendations. That is critical, as you need to have a good job done that doesn't have to be repaired expensively later.

If a salesman is pressuring you into a deal, turn him away. Pushy people like this will never give up on getting you to sign with them, and the results usually aren't pretty. Stop them before you're pressured into something you don't want.




In the winter months, be sure your roof is equipped with ice and rain shields. Also, make sure it has proper ventilation. Your home is heated by the wall line and this is where ice tends to build up. It is the build up of this ice that can cause interior leaks.

You should have certain expectations of your roofer. For example, any shingles that fall down to the ground should be picked up and hauled off your property. In you can find out more , the roofer should pick up the majority of the nails that fall down as well, although it is likely that a few may be missed. In general, your yard should be clean and picked up after the work is completed.

Do you love the look of wood shingles but not the fire hazard? You can now purchase roofing material that presents the look of wood shingles, but is made of steel or composite materials instead. The steel roofing is pre-formed with the appearance of shingles, but is actually large panels.

Does the company you are considering hiring to fix your roof have liability insurance? Are they registered with the WSIB? If not, consider see page , as you don't want any problems occurring on your property if the contractor isn't fully covered, otherwise you may end up in over your head.

Try not to walk on your roof too much, as this can cause damage and leaks in and of itself. When it's really cold out, the shingles are brittle and when it's warm, they are soft! Both conditions create circumstances that make it easy to destroy your roofing tiles, so only go up there if you have to when the temperature is extreme outside.

Sometimes it can be hard to determine if you just need your roof fixed or if it needs to be replaced. This decision is usually made when you have a leak, storm damage or your roof is at least 15 years old. Have your roof inspected by your insurer and trust in their diagnosis.

If the source of your leaky roof is evading you, don't worry. It's only a matter of time before you find it through the process of elimination and using a water hose may help in combination with a buddy-system. If you have a large house, try using cell phones to talk so that the water doesn't go into the house by mistake as you test possible leak areas.

If you have a general handyman that does work in and around your home, do not allow him to do anything to your roof. Fixing a roof requires a high level of experience and know-how. This is why you would be better off hiring someone that specializes in this type of work.

It is important that any roofing contractor you are considering provides you with the address of their physical location. It should not be a PO box or an apartment! When they have office space, even if it is within a home they own, you know where to go if you have any problems.

Only hire a contractor who offers emergency services in their contract. If a tarp blows off in a storm or your roof caves in, you need to know that someone from the company will show up to fix the problem right away. If they don't offer this service, move on to the next firm.

Is it time for a new roof? A roofing job is not only a huge project, but is expensive as well. That is why you want to make sure you hire the right professional for the job. Do a good amount of research to ensure that you are hiring the right company.

Before agreeing to work with a roofer, ask whether the company has undergone any recent name changes. Unscrupulous contractors and companies often change names in the aftermath of litigation, bankruptcy or dissolution. The name change is intended to give them a clean break, and it can have dire consequences for your project.

When you are trying to hire a roofing contractor, you should avoid being shy. Open up and feel free to ask him any questions you have. The last thing you want is to shell out a lot of money to have a job done that you really do not understand.

If you're in a cold place, don't allow ice to build up on the roof. Ice can be damaging in more than one way. You can avoid an accumulation of ice with drip shields or ice and rain shields. Proper ventilation will make your roof last a lot longer.

Don't let unscrupulous storm-chasing contractors dupe you. These types of contractors are generally on the spot right after a major storm. Most of them travel from state to state and do not have proper licensing or insurance. Other signs of these false contractors include non-local area codes, references from different locations, and removable stick-on vehicle decals.

You have read advice that will help you get started putting a new roof on your home. Keep that advice with you as you make your plans. You want to be happy with the complete project, knowing that your home, your biggest investment, is properly sheltered and protecting your family.