Roof Repair or Replace?

With many older homes, you are often faced with the decision as to whether you should repair or replace an older roof. Roof Replacement can be expensive, but consider this. A repair job can end up costing you more than you save. Roofing materials vary widely in price. Clay tiles are the most expensive, with the 3 tab asphalt shingle being the least. Roofing materials also change a lot depending on locale. In southern California you will often see ceramic and clay tile, which is not appropriate to areas such as New England, where winters can raise havoc with this type of material. There, you will see slate roofs which last for decades. In every instance, there comes a time when the roof needs to be either fixed or replaced. This article focuses on both aspects, giving pros and cons of both replace or repair.

When To Repair

The most obvious time to repair a roof is after wind damage or an especially harsh winter. You will experience dark spots on ceilings or even worse, dripping water that will damage the home interior. Ice dams that build up on roof edges will cause a roof that is not perfectly sealed to be damaged. Melting water gets under the roof edge, causing damage to the roof deck, or heavy ice buildups will push the roof edge up. If it persists, the roof edge will rot, causing even more expensive repairs. Some people try to get around this by using heat tapes. Be careful here – homes have burned because of this method. If the roof is fairly new, it might still be under warranty, and the contractor will repair it. Be careful here. You should always read the terms of the contract before you sign. Be sure that the roof is warranted to avoid trouble down the road, and be especially interested in repair policies. A good tip – when you are looking at a home you might plan on buying, check to see if the roof has been recently replaced. If so, insure that the roofer has left a few bundles of shingles for repairs. Trying to match up shingles on a roof can be a difficult task. When To Replace The rule of thumb is to replace a roof if one third of it is damaged. Deciding to replace a roof has a lot more factors than just deciding to paint the house. Here is a list of things to help you determine if the roof needs replacement:

# Interior walls or ceiling are blistered or there are dark spots on the ceiling
# Obvious leaking in the interior after a hard wind driven rain
# Signs of water damage or discoloration in attic spaces
# Soffits that are sagging or rotten
# Signs of leaking in the attic after an ice buildup (Look for excessive ice dams in the winter)
# Shingles are curling up or appear cracked. This can be checked easily from the ground with binoculars
# Signs of algae buildup, or dirty looking shingles in different areas of the roof
# A rise in energy costs over a typical winter. This could indicate that the roof is losing energy. A good tip – if insulation has been mounted to the underside of the roof deck instead of on the interior attic floors, suspect damage to the roof deck. This type of installation allows heat buildup during summer months, and will warp the deck plates.
# Signs of decay in shingles, sheathing and soffits. In this case, water is entering and possibly running down walls and entering the soffit.

When purchasing a home, know what type of roof is the best for the area of the country you are moving to. Certain roofs do not do well in humid or high heat climes, and roofs in portions of the country that have a lot of snow and ice need a bit more protection. In the south, where hurricanes are prevalent, roofs need to be designed to exacting standards. If buying a home there, inquire as to whether hurricane straps have been installed in the roof. This should always be done during construction, not afterwards. These straps are always secured to interior walls first, and then to the roof. They give the structure more integrity to withstand the rigors of high winds, and can save you thousands of dollars when installed. Florida has specific guidelines for installation and type of hurricane straps. In other hurricane prone areas, look for roofs made with galvalume, a material that is made from steel, and is strengthened with aluminum and zinc coatings. They are required in the Florida Keys. Fixing or repairing a roof is a common sense thing. Know your roof, and know when the time comes to repair or replace.

Alden Smith is an award winning author and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He writes on a variety of subjects, and excels in research.

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mohsin khan

In a May 2009 report, the “Denver Post” reported that “400 Coloradoans [had been] taken in [a] roof-repair scam.” This article shed light on a problem that unsuspecting homeowners across the country face every single day: Not all contractors-roofing or otherwise-are who they claim to be.

Sad but true, consumers must take a proactive stance and investigate the (so-called) professionals they hire before putting down a cash deposit, or worse, paying in full for a home repair upfront. Of course, faced with an emergency situation like a leaky roof in the midst of a snowy January or a downpouring April, such detective work often falls by the wayside. In a rush to get the job done, many a homeowner will fall for what might otherwise present itself as an obvious money-robbing scheme.

In the case of the scammed Coloradoans, a roofing company approached “residents about inspecting their roof for possible damage, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Department.” In other words, the victimized individuals were sought out instead of doing the seeking, thereby giving them plenty of opportunity to do their research before swallowing the crafty bait hook, line and sinker.
Here’s how the roofing repair scam played out.

1. A representative from the alleged roof repairer “asks the homeowner to sign a release prior to inspecting the roof, explaining the release is a normal, routine procedure.”

2. When signed by the homeowner, the form allows the scamming roofing contractor “to act as an agent for the homeowner regarding the roof.”

3. “Once workers inspect the roof and find damage, they inform the homeowner that their homeowner’s insurance will cover the repairs.”

4. The roofing scam artist then “instructs the homeowner to ask their insurance company to have an adjuster come to the home to estimate the cost of the repairs.”

5. The insurance company performs the estimate and “sends a check for the repair work.”

6. Once the roofing scammers convince the victim to sign “the check over to [them] to begin repair work,” they slink away without ever completing the repairs.

How can you avoid become the victim of a roof repair scam like this one? Hire a professional roofing contractor who can offer proven experience, a written estimate and worry-free installation. To make sure you’re choosing the best roof repair company, arm yourself with a checklist before you sign a contract … no matter how desperate you are or how urgent the repair work is.

At a minimum, that checklist should answer the following questions.
1. Does the roofing contractor have a good reputation?
2. Does the roofing contractor have adequate insurance coverage?
3. Does the roofing contractor know, explain and comply with local building codes?

4. Does the roofing contractor commit to supervise the job during all phases of work and inspect it completely when finished?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, stop and reconsider hiring them. The best way to vindicate yourself against a scam artist is not to become a victim in the first place.

Roofs are not only the shelters of our house; they provide us with a sense of security for the entire family. It is not only about protecting the family from any external changes in the environment but it gives you a strong psychological security of your inner being. Therefore, roofs are necessary and that too it should be a strong and durable one.

During any external changes in the weather conditions like the sun, dust, rain, hail or snow, the roofs act as shields. Thus, it is necessary that the quality of the roof should be top-notch. Good and durable roofs avoid any localized damages like a hole or leakages that can be possibly repaired by own. However, there can be some major faults as the breakage in the chimney or some problem in the line of the two roofs and that needs an extra intervention. So before contacting a roof contractor, you can check out the various parameters and the requirements. For the purpose you will be more equipped with some good questions for enquiring the contractor.

One of the most important things is to frame out a proper roof repair estimates. For the purpose, you need to narrow down all your searches for some economical contractors that hire for the work. You can check out in your locality that whether there are any contractors who can mend the roof within an affordable cost.

When you are able to get the contacts of at least three roof repair contractors, you can get in touch and address your problem to them. If possible you can prepare a roof repair estimates either over the phone or by landing in their office as well.

Once you are able to get the information about the three roof repair contractors, you can choose the one that suits to your budget and the one which is more economical. There can be some differences in the estimates, as every roof contractor has some different costs involved into it. When you are comparing the quotes of a contractor to another there are certain things you need to make sure, like weather the cost of the labor charges are included in the contract, the extra material supply cost, et al. However, reviews of people are also important to take into account because they can suggest you about the performance of each repair contractors.

Some of the common items and the factors that will be included in roof repair estimates are:

Square footage of the area and the part of the roof that is to be repaired
The pitch of the roof
The roofing material that is to be used
The easy access of the area
The height of the building
The city license
The roof permits from concerned authorities of the state
Labor costs

The cost of the roof repair is determined with the cost of square foot area. This cost is incurred when you are hiring any roof repair contractors. However the cost of such repair will be much less if you are engaging a local worker or a handyman for repairing minor damages like a broken asphalt shingles or a leakage.

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