Shingles, Nails, and Beyond

Do you have a roof that has started to leak? Are you wanting to have it taken care of as soon as possible but you aren't sure how to find the right person or company for the job? Finding the right roofer to take care of your needs can be a challenge, especially if you've never had to do so before. While there is no magic wand to wave to have your roof fixed instantly, there are questions you can ask to ensure that you hire the best one for the job. A few questions you should ask include the following:

Who will actually be doing the work? When you hire a residential roofing contractor to fix your roof, the expectation is that his or her employees will be doing the job. This is often the case. But when things get busy, it's also not unusual for a contractor to subcontract the work out to other roofing companies. While this isn't bad, it can make things more complicated if something happens to go awry with the roofing process. Make sure that the contractor offers a guarantee and/or warranty on all work done, whether the work was sub-contracted out or performed by the contractor's direct employees.   

How long will the whole thing take to complete? If you need to have your whole roof redone, the entire process might take a few weeks from start to finish. If it's only a patch job or even if it's all of the shingles that need to be replaced, everything should be completed in just a couple of days. If you have decided to switch to a different roofing material, the thing that takes the longest amount of time will likely be waiting for your permit to be approved. A professional residential roofing contractor should have a relatively good idea as to how long the process will take from start to finish. 

What if there is a storm while the roof is being repaired? Any residential roofing contractor worth his or her salt will have a plan in place to deal with storms. If it's only a light drizzle, the workers might keep going - especially if they are almost done anyway. But for dorms with heavy rain, lightning, or high winds, the workers may need to stop work entirely until the storm passes. They should also cover up the area being worked on to protect it from moisture and other damage. This is usually done by affixing a tarp or plastic sheet to the area but the specifics will be up to your contractor. 

Next time you need work done on your roof, make sure you research a reputable residential roofing contractor in your area.