Roofing: It Is Probably Over Your Head
Posted by | Posted in Roofing | Posted on 08-01-2012
Roofing your home used to seem like a simple matter. If you had a small leak, you got your ladder out on the next dry day and repaired it yourself. Every 20 years or so, you took the old one off and put a new one on. Maybe you had some family or friends help and afterward you bought everyone pizza. Good times were had by all, right?
Well, it seems as if it has gotten a bit more complicated. Homes are larger, with much more complex roof lines. The choice of materials is vastly expanded and it takes knowledge of weather types, geography, wind speeds, pitch, etc. to figure out what to do. Should you use standard asphalt, architectural shingles, synthetic materials or even nice cedar shakes? That is why a licensed roof contractor is probably the best way to go these days. Let’s face it, homeowners are not going to replace the roof unless they have a catastrophic event or a monumental failure. Even then, they probably are unsure whether they want to make an insurance claim or just pay for it out of pocket. Choice of materials seems simple; the cheapest product that will (probably) stand up to the weather and that matches the color scheme should do.
A roofing specialist will be able to help sort through all these decisions. Their best interest is served by taking good care of your needs. If your roof shingles lasted many years without a problem, your roofing specialist may suggest you consider replacing them with a similar style and weight. If this was the first real stress test and they failed in a rather spectacular manner, you may hear them suggest that you step up a little higher. The reason for this is the next time you get severe weather they want your roof to hold. That way if they call you for a roofing referral, they know you will feel confident about recommending them.
Perhaps you have been considering a change that could affect your roof line or add to the overall size of the roof. Frequently roof contractors are licensed for remodeling, as well as roofing, decks and often windows. Now might be the opportunity to add those upstairs dormers and finish out the attic. Maybe you have been thinking of turning the garage into a home office (or home theater). As long as insurance is pitching in, you might as well get it done.
Speaking of insurance, most roof contractors know the basic ins and outs of homeowner policies. They can decipher the code of the fine print and can assist in getting the most out of your coverage. They can look up city, county and state building codes, as well as neighborhood associations. That helps you to stay in the good graces of your local governments. Call your local roof contractor the next time you have an issue and find out what your options are. Chances are good that there is more help available than you assumed.
