How to Know When to Consider Re-roofing Your Home

It may be time for you to install a new roof, but you’re not entirely sure. How do you know when it needs to be done? Here are some tidbits of great advice.

Spring is right around the corner and that means it’s an excellent time to inspect your roof for any damages. Start your inspection with a visual check from outside. Be on the lookout for any obvious damage first, such as missing shingles, cracked tiles, or warped or gapping wood shakes. Follow the roof line with your eyes. It should look perfectly horizontal. If instead, you notice a sag, it is possible there may be a structural problem created by a prolonged roof leak. If you do see a sag, you should consult a roofing repair professional immediately.

If you have an asphalt roof, look for thin, weather-worn shingles. If these shingles are brittle, it is possible that they have lost their protective inner oils, and a re-roof might be necessary. Over time, traditional wood shakes and shingles can warp, split, thin and be torn off, leaving the roof structure exposed to the elements. If you only notice a few spots that need work, a quick and simple roof repair may be in order.

To be thorough, roof inspection also needs to occur inside the house. Look for dark water stains on the ceilings of the attic or top floor of your home. If you notice anything, contact a professional for a complete consultation. We hope these few tips help! And if you notice anything suspicious, please contact our roofing professionals at A Real Advantage Construction right away.

Evaluating Your Roof

If you feel your roof is reaching that 20-year mark, take some time to evaluate it carefully. Go into your attic and inspect the underside of the roof deck for stains and wet spots that indicate small leaks are present. Roof leaks appear dry with dark rings on the edges, somewhat like a coffee stains. Spotting leaks at this point is always better than spotting them when they are substantial enough to drip onto your ceilings.

If you can walk on your roof, take a walk to see if the surface looks good. Inspect the surface granules on your shingles. If they are wearing off, your roof is nearing the end of its expected lifespan and will need to be repaired or replaced. If the shingles are starting to warp and curl, you need to think about having a roofing contractor give you an estimate on roof repair as soon as possible, because you are nearing the point where repair is not possible and you will have to fully replace the roof.

If you find that you need a new roof, consider hiring a qualified roofing contractor, rather than a general handyman. This improves the likelihood that the job will be done well, and it also helps your new roof to have a longer life expectancy. It's far better to pay a little more now and have the roof last longer, than to face the need to replace it again not far down the road.

Finding a Roofer for You

If you need work done on your roof, it is time to start looking for a professional to do the job. Trying to do it yourself is quite dangerous even if you know what you are doing since it requires getting up on your roof to finish the task. Your time is better spent looking for a roofing expert, so find out how to locate a good one.

In most cases, you can ask people you know if they know the name of a good roofing professional. However, unlike other household tasks, getting work done to the roof is not exactly common unless there was a recent storm that damaged many homes. Therefore, do not expect to come up with too many leads by asking friends, family, and neighbors.

If you could not get any recommendations from people you know, check out the internet for a free way to find roofing professionals. Many people like to post reviews online of their recent experiences with roofing experts. You should peruse such reviews to find out the good and bad of local companies before you hire anyone. Some just offer ratings with few details, while other review sites encourage users to list why they liked or did not like the job that was done to their home. The latter is likely to be most helpful for you.

If you just want a list of roofing contractors so that you can get started calling for quotes, you can look in your local phone book. You should find the contact information of local roofers, along with ads that discuss the services they offer. This way, you can start calling around and collecting price quotes before you decide on anyone.

Some roofing companies send out coupons to homes, or feature them in the newspaper. Look for these to collect a few names of companies, as well as savings. Church bulletins and local newsletters should also feature advertisements, some of which could be for companies that offer household repairs. Such ads may also boast savings, so be sure to look for these.

We Currently Provide Home Contracting Services in the Following Boroughs of New York:

Brooklyn · Bath Beach · Bay Ridge · Bensonhurst · Bergen Beach NY · Borough Park · Brighton Beach · Brooklyn Heights · Caharise · Coney Island · Ditmas Park · Ditmas Park West · Downtown Brooklyn NY · Dyker Heights · Flatbush · For Hamilton · Fulton Ferry · Gowanus · Gravesend · Greenpoint · Greenwood Heights · Manhattan Beach NY · Manhattan Terrace · Mill Basin · Mill Island · Ocean Hill · Park Slop NY· Prospect Lefferts Garden · Prospect Heights NY· Prospect Park South · Sea Gate · Sheepshead Bay · Souther Park Slope · Sunset Park · Williamsburg NY

Selecting a Roofing Contractor

After you have made a list of at least 3 potential roofing contractors to replace your shingle roof, tile roof, or metal roofing system, it is a good idea to call them and gather more information before asking them to provide a roofing estimate. Professional roofing contractors Bronx expect to provide information and are glad to do it to earn your business. This being said, there are many contractors out there who seem non-responsive. It is often useful to let the contractor know you will only be accepting bids from 3 contractors - some homeowners like shop endlessly at the expense of contractor's time. Some roofing contractors Queens have had experiences with unreasonable or dishonest homeowners or homeowners who seem flaky and unsure. Therefore, while you are interviewing them, they will also be interviewing you before they agree to work on your roof replacement Bronx.

When you meet with your New York roofing contractor, you will notice the contractor's who truly enjoy their work and take pride in the quality and materials they provide. The contractor will provide you with their business information including New York contractor license number, phone number, and address. Any Brooklin, Bronx or Queens roofing contractor should carry worker's compensation and general liability insurance. Request the name and address of the insurance carrier, along with a copy of the company's insurance certificate. You also request three professional references from your roofing contractor and call them once you are close to a final decision.