Professional roofing contractors that have been in business as long as Larsen Roofing get a lot of questions. Here are some of the more common ones and answers to them.
Q: How can I tell when I have a problem with my roof?
A: The first sign is too often a leak. When this happens, many times, the water has already deteriorated the wood decking and just now showing the signs inside your home. There are many things you can look for to help determine if you have a problem with your roof. First, you will need to perform annual visual inspections.
Other things to look for on a shingle roof would be excessive granular loss, buckling, missing shingles, and a host of others. With a metal roof look for penetrations that need to be resealed, screws backing out, or debris build up. Different roofs, steep pitches, and height can keep from doing these things or having the expertise to determine if you have a small or large problem or if you need total replacement. If you can't do any of these, give us a call.
Q: What options do I have if I discover a problem with my roof?
A: There are always going to be at least two basic choices: repair or replace. Which one to select may depend upon what the problem is and how severe it is. Some minor problems can undoubtedly be repaired, such as a loose roof flashing. Others are going to require consideration of a complete replacement. Be sure to determine what caused damage so severe as to require replacement and what you can do to avoid it in the future.
Q: How long can I expect a new roof to last?
A: Most roofers will provide you with a specific warranty or guarantee stating how long the roof you have just received is anticipated to last. Climate, environment, design, materials, workmanship and maintenance are all going to enter into this equation.
Be sure you know the answer to this question before you select which roof type you want. It may be more economical to pay more up front for a roof that will last longer; divide the cost by the number of years of the warranty to get a cost per year and then compare that amount by each type of roof’s cost that you are considering.
Q: Can I do the work myself?
A: Except for some of those minor things that are more maintenance than repair, such as putting a nail back in a loose shingle or re-securing loose roof flashing, you will be better off in the long run to hire a professional roofer who knows all the proper techniques that are required in the roofing industry.
Always be sure to be safety-conscious when going on your roof by wearing rubber-soled shoes for stability, firming bracing or tying the ladder you use, and stay off of the roof itself as much as possible and being very cautious wherever you walk. No amount of money you save would be worth falling down from or through the roof!