How To Hire Roof Contractors

It's never a good idea to hire roof contractors without doing your homework. Advance knowledge before it's time to hire roof contractors can save much grief as well as unnecessary expense. This is one area when it's definitely advantageous to shop and compare.

It's important to know your specific needs before you hire roof contractors. For most newly built homes in the process of construction, the builder selects roof contractors as part of the building contract. For older homes that require roof repairs, the task of finding roof contractors can be daunting. But, it doesn't need to be. Here are several items to know before you shop and compare:

1. Is the roof repair limited to a small area? Very often, what appears to be a leak in the roof may, in fact, be a matter of faulty gutters, deteriorating fascia beneath the gutters or the gutters may simply be clogged with debris and are causing seepage of rainwater under the eaves. This should be checked first. If the roof is leaking in one small area, it may only require patching, rather than roof replacement.
2. How old is the current roof? Generally, asphalt shingled roofs last up to 25 years under normal circumstances and without weather and temperature extremes.
3. What is the size of the roof? The size of the roof is generally determined by the overall size of the building structure itself. This can be found on most property and land maps provided by the original surveyor.
4. What type of roofing material is the current roof manufactured from? There are several types of roofing materials: slate, copper, asphalt shingles, vinyl-clad aluminum and others known as "composition" roofing materials. Most residential structures have asphalt shingles. But, replacing the roofing material is an opportunity to look into alternatives. Another consideration is solar roofing panels - the most state-of-the-art roof coverings.

When all of the information about roofing material, size and nature of the leak has been determined, it's time to begin searching for roof contractors. To hire roof contractors, look for those that are licensed, certified and with at least 5 years experience in roofing installation and repair and the types of roofing materials with which they have experience. Read the installation contract carefully and be sure to request a materials and labor guarantee to protect your investment.