If you’re like most people who need a roof replacement, you’re not sure where to start – but you know that mistakes can be pretty costly when you’re looking at such a big job.
So what can you do to protect yourself and your home?
These are seven things you need to know about residential roof replacement.
What You Need to Know Before a Roof Replacement
For most homeowners, the most important things to know about roof replacement are:
- Find an Owen’s Corning, GAF or similar certified contractor
- Not all roofers are the same
- You can save money by leaving a layer behind
- You should invest in the best products
- Read through paperwork carefully
- Ask for the magnet
- You need to stay flexible
1. Find an Owen’s Corning, GAF or Similar Certified Contractor For Your Roof Replacement
If a contractor cannot produce work at the highest 1% on the industry, you don’t want them on your roof. As you may have seen on our home page, A.J. Roofing & Construction is a Platinum Preferred Owens Corning Contractor and one of the few in the Dallas and Edmond area. Roof replacement is a big deal, and you need to hire a company that’s exceptionally qualified.
2. Not All Roofing Companies Are Created Equal
Some roofing companies have an odd view on the job: They know that you won’t need a new roof for another 20 or 30 years, so they’re not too worried about getting repeat business from you. It’s important that you get word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and neighbors – or, at the very least, read Google reviews – before you hire a company so you can find out how they’ve treated others.
3. There Are Ways to Save Money
In some cases, you can save some cash on a roof replacement by leaving the old shingles in place. However, you need to know that leaving old shingles in place prevents your roofing contractor from inspecting the decking and flashing underneath, and from installing a new ice and water shield.
4. Top-Quality Products Pay Off in the End
Roof replacement can be an expensive job, but when you invest in sturdy, high-quality materials now, you’ll save on repair costs later. You’ll also prolong your roof’s life, which is important whether you decide to sell your home down the road or you plan to live in it forever.
5. Paperwork is Important (and You Need to Read the Fine Print)
You need a permit for a roofing project, which your contractor should get for you. It’s up to you to make sure it’s there, because you’re the one who’s going to be on the hook for it with the city if it’s not in place. You also need to check for warranties, special conditions and all the details outlined in your contract, including the time frame, cost and other important issues.
6. Ask for the Magnet
Yes, sadly all too often sloppy crews are careless with nails and leave them scattered across the property. It’s a pet peeve to homeowners all over the metroplex and rightly so. If you cut corners hiring your contractor this is the type of service you can brace yourself for. Your kids and pets could be running through nails for years to come. At A.J. Roofing & Construction we invested in the industries best magnet rollers for our project managers who are responsible for carefully removing nails from your front side and backyard BEFORE the job is complete. In addition, we also recommend homeowners keep an eye on the downspouts after the next big rain, as water pouring through the gutter system may uncover a random loss nail in the gutter system.
7. Stay Flexible but Firm
A roof replacement is a fairly quick job, but it’s one that has a lot of variables. The weather, the types of roofing materials you’ve ordered and several other factors can change the timeframe and scope of your job, so it’s important to stay flexible while holding your contractor accountable for the deal you made together.
Do You Need a Roof Replacement?
If you think your roof needs some work, call us for a free quote. We’ll come to your home in Dallas, Carrollton or any of the surrounding communities to evaluate your roof’s condition, as well as provide you with insight on all your options.
