When it comes to home renovations, renovating your roof is most likely the most expensive job you will have to undertake. With that in mind, you want to be sure that you are fully prepared for everything that may happen during the process.
Here are all the things you must know before you start a roof renovation, so you have all the info before you get started.
1. A Roof Renovation Is Not Just Cosmetic
The first thing you need to understand is that when you have your roof remodeled, it is not just to improve the looks of it. Of course, remodeling the roof will make it look better and that will help with your overall curb appeal. However, having your roof remodeled will help improve the overall health of the roof, and therefore protect your home from the elements.
As such, when you are picking the materials and the style of your new roof, you will also have to keep in mind all the benefits of a particular roofing material, professional installation, and so on. All these things are crucial to ensuring the overall health of your home.
2. There Are Many Different Roofing Materials Available
If you are just starting with having your roof remodeled, then you may only consider having asphalt shingles installed, especially if that is what is on your roof right now. However, these days there are numerous different options when it comes to roofing materials. You have so many options available to you, that you will have to do your research before you settle on a specific option.
For example, asphalt shingles are popular for roofs as they are an inexpensive choice, and if you take good care of them they can last up to 25 years. If you want a longer lasting option, then you could go for a metal roof, as they can go for up to 70 years depending on their care. However, you will also note that these are more expensive, so you will have to keep that in mind.
If you are not sure which roofing material would be right for you, you should talk to a roofer to see what they recommend for you.
3. Extra Structural Work May Need To Be Done To Your Roof
Before going ahead with any roof remodeling work, you will have to have your roof inspected. You must hire an expert to come handle your inspection, as they will be able to spot any issues that you may not have been aware of. Of course, this is an extra expense, but it’s one that many roofers will tell you will save you more money down the road.
For instance, if you have your roof inspected the inspector may discover wood rot in the beams in your attic. If this is not addressed, over time those beams will rot away and cause structural damage to the roof. If you simply have the top layer of your roof remodeled and don’t address that, you will need to pay for more repairs later down the line, as well as the damage to your new roof thanks to those beams failing.
4. Professional Installs Are Always Recommended
Take a look online and you will often see people DIYing their new roof installation. That’s going to be tempting to a lot of homeowners, again because a roof remodel will typically be one of the most expensive jobs you have to undertake on your home. However, no matter how tempting it is, it is always better to spend the money on a professional install.
This is because when you hire professionals to handle your roof, you will also hire their experience in the work they do. No matter how handy you are in the home, you are most likely not experienced in fitting roofs. A professional will have years of experience, allowing them to properly handle the job at hand.
Also, fitting roofs can be dangerous work if you’re not used to it. A professional roofer will be able to bring the right equipment to carry out the job safely, ensuring that you and your family will be safe during the whole process.
5. Make Sure You Ask Questions When Choosing A Roofing Contractor
Once you are ready to have your roof remodeled, you will need to find the right contractor to handle the job. As this is such a large and involved job, then you’ll need to be sure that you’re finding the right contractor to handle it.
This sounds rather stressful for many homeowners, but luckily if you know how to find the right one, it shouldn’t have to be. Firstly, it’s a good idea to ask around your friends and family to see if they have any recommendations for local roofers, as that helps you find the right person quicker. You can also search for reviews of local roofers online to see what others are saying about them.
Once you have found a couple of roofers that look promising, get in touch and ask them to come and inspect your roof. Any good roofer should come and do this before quoting a price for the work. They should also clearly point out anything that they will have to correct or repair before the roof can be replaced.
The best way to know you have the right roofer is that they’re happy to answer any questions that you have. For example, you should be asking about whether your roof would be suitable for the materials that you want to use, or how long the job should take the roofer to complete.
Conclusion
These are some of the most important things that you need to know when you’re planning a roof renovation. Keep these in mind when planning your new roof, and you shouldn’t come across any surprises during the whole remodeling process. Remember as well that your roofer should be able to answer any questions that you may have.
If you live in Virginia areas such as Warren, Fairfax, Winchester, or Leesburg, Piedmont Roofing will be happy to help you with your roofing needs.
