What exactly does it mean to re-roof? Re-roofing is a term applied to the process of re-covering an existing roof system rather than tearing off the existing roof down to the boards and replacing the roof entirely. There are many reasons why a homeowner might choose to re-roof rather than replace a roof, but in general it comes down to time and expense. It’s simply easier and takes less time to slap a new roof on over the old one, especially if the original roof has only minor damage.
Many homeowners are unaware, however, that building permits are generally required even when you re-roof a house Continue reading →
Hail stones can vary in size from pea size, or ¼ inch in diameter, which typically cause very little roof damage up to golf-ball sizes, or ¾ in diameter, which can cause significant roof damage depending on the distribution, direction, and density of the hail. In general, hail that directly hits a roof causes more damage than hail that glances off or are has its direction influenced by wind.
Let’s take a look at a few myths that are common misconceptions among homeowners.
- I looked at my roof after the last hail storm, and I don’t see any problems.There are many types of roofing materials and it can be hard without professional training to know whether there is actual damage to your roof as a result of a hail storm. Continue reading →
Do you know the steps to finding the right contractor to repair or replace your roofing? Colorado Springs has some of the worst hail storms in the nation and roofs often have to be repaired after. The bulk of the work involved in finding a roofing contractor is doing your own homework and you’ll want to do this carefully.
Let’s talk about some steps you can use to find the right roofing contractor. When you get started, these are the first things you can do to find the right roofing contractor:
- If a neighbor or local friend has recently had their home’s roof repaired or replaced, ask whether they were happy with the work and whether they’d recommend the contractor. Continue reading →
Once you know what you need to have done to your roof, and you’ve located a short list of potential roofers in Colorado Springs, you’ll want to take some steps to be sure you are protecting yourself and your home from liability or other problems.
These steps are absolutely crucial and should not be skipped for any reason:
- Get an estimate and get it in writing. A high number of problems that occur between homeowners and roofing contractors could easily have been avoided with written contracts. Oh, and once you have an agreement, get that in writing as well. Continue reading →
Any experienced roofing contractor will have references on hand, plus that contractor will expect and encourage you to call those references.
When you have two or three references, you’ll want to ask each person some standard questions that will help you decide whether this roofer did a good job or not. Of course, contractors won’t give you a reference for those jobs that don’t go smoothly, but even the jobs that go well can give you some information about their workmanship.
When you talk with the reference, you’ll want to ask them some questions like these:
- How long ago the work was done and has the roof has shown any problems since, like leaking or buckling?
- Did the contractor do the work on time and within the budget. If not, what happened?
- Was the site cleaned up after the contractor and their crew left? Continue reading →
Once you’ve picked your roofing contractor, or have a shortlist of contractors, you’ll want to ask each a few questions so you know what you’re getting. These are the following questions you’ll want to ask your roof contractor before you sign anything:
- What materials will you use on my roof? You want to know that your contractor is familiar with the materials and confident in their quality.
- When will the job start and how long will it take? The roofing contractor you choose should be able to give you a fairly accurate start date and let you know if there is any flexibility in that date. They should also be able to give you an expected completion date.
- Who will pull the building permit? Continue reading →
