Roofing Repairs and Replacement – Things To Consider

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It’s been a HOT few days in northern Michigan and as I sit in front of the fan my mind has wandered, as it often does, this time to roofing repairs and replacements. I know, weird, right, but stay with me.

Emma is looking to buy a house and one of the things that we told her to really look at is the roof. Buying a house is a huge investment and we don’t want her to have to worry about another big investment with roofing repairs and replacements.

However, our roofing knowledge is pretty limited so I let the google powers that be help me find some answers to share with you and her.

Do I Need A New Roof?

That’s the million-dollar question. Here are some things to consider:

• The roof looks old and worn
• Shingle edges are curled
• Shingles are missing
• Shingles are cracked
• The roof is over 20 years old
• There are dark streaks/moss on the roof

A visual inspection should let you know if you’re going to need a new roof in your immediate future. Of course, these are the things we are telling Emma to look at when buying a house.

If you live in an area that has severe weather that can also require a roof replacement as tropical storms, hurricanes, and even horrendous winter storms can cause damage to your roof.

We live in a cold crazy climate and had to have our roof replaced a couple of years ago. We were finding roof shingles in our yard after wind storms and concluded that age and a pretty brutal winter the previous season caused the issues. Ugh. Not a fun expense, but very happy with the outcome so completely worth it.

How To Choose A Contractor

I’d say we do a pretty dang good job of home DIY repairs. We’ve ripped apart bathrooms and put them back together, remodeled kitchens and installed new flooring. The one job we won’t even consider doing on our own is roof replacement.

Nope, we are leaving that to the pros. However, there are a lot of “pros” out there so how do you figure out who to hire?

Well, we start by asking a lot of questions and asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. Here are a few to get you started in the right direction.

1. Talk to their recent clients. Ask them for a list of their last 3 or 4 customers and give them a call. I know, a wild idea in today’s technology, but sometimes picking up the phone is best. Most people will be happy to share their experience.
2. Does the contractor provide a warranty and how does it work? You don’t want to be five years down the road with your new roof, something happens and the contractor is either out of business or won’t fix the issue. Be sure to understand exactly who is backing the warranty and the work. Getting a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty can help provide this information.
3. Does the contractor have insurance? Ask for a copy of it and, once again, pick up the phone and call their insurance company to make sure the insurance is valid.
4. How long has the contractor been in business? Is she new to owning her own business but has years of experience in the roofing industry? Is your house the first roof the contractor has ever worked on. Understand the scope of the contractor’s knowledge and skills before signing a contract.
5. What roofing material do they specialize in? There are fiberglass shingles, asphalt shingles, and even metal roofs. Find a contractor that specializes in your roofing needs.
6. Ask for a quote. For my friends in Florida, the guys over at Westchase Roofing are happy to provide you with a free quote.

Be sure to bookmark this page. You never know when you’ll need information on roofing. Lord knows I didn’t think I’d be helping Em buy a house from 100s of miles away. Thank goodness for facetime so I can see the roof of the home in real-time and help her make a major purchase decision.

Want to update more things in your home?  Check out our Ghost Bed mattress review for how we made our bedroom even more welcoming!