Building, maintaining, and fixing your roof can be difficult and time-consuming. However, it’s important to realize that you aren’t alone. Many professionals are here to help you protect your home’s greatest asset: your roof. In addition to this, there are some maintenance tips you can do on your own. We’ll take you through both so that you know what to do, whether you choose to work with a pro or do some minor repairs on your own. Check out our dos and don’ts of proper roof maintenance.
Don’t: Neglect Researching Your Contractor Ahead of Time
Knowing who you’re dealing with is the first step in our list. If you’re calling in a roofing service, you should know the ropes and vet your roofing contractor properly. So how can you do this? Read below to find out more.
Make Sure You Look Up the Company
What’s the worst thing you can do when you’re trying to choose your roofing company? Neglect looking them up. You’ll always want to know who you’re dealing with, and when you ask them the questions below, you will know of their lack of experience if something goes wrong.
How Long Have They Been in Business?
Learning how long a person’s been in business is the first step in determining how well they’ll do the job. Check out their “about us” page on their website and ask for any referrals you can for prior work. Have they made a name for themselves?
Check their social media and see how they interact with their clientele. Also, pay attention to how their clientele interacts with them. They’ll most likely have a few negative reviews, usually on whatever social media site they’re on. How do they respond to the few disgruntled clients they have? No one’s perfect, and companies will make mistakes. However, if they seem to double down on mistakes and redirect the problem—move on. You want someone who can take accountability for their mistakes.
Are They Local or Out of State?
If the roofing contractor is local, that’s a huge benefit for you. Local companies are typically better suited to working on your roof. This is also great for the local economy since dollars stay within your residential area. If you have a small community, this is a serious boon.
You’ll also have to pay fewer travel costs if you work with a local company. This way, you can keep travel expenses to a minimum and save a bit. Also, a local contractor will understand the area. They’re knowledgeable about regulations, weather, and local construction concerns. This minimizes issues that slow down schedules and raise costs overall since they can easily factor in all these aspects of the job.
Are They Insured? Do They Have Workers’ Compensation?
Ensuring a company is insured is one of the most important parts of pre-roofing vetting. You’ll need the proper insurance if someone ruins your roof. While you may not expect experts to damage your roof, it’s important to understand that mistakes happen, even if they happen only on occasion.
Workers’ compensation is equally important. For most states, it’s mandatory. A company that doesn’t have workers’ compensation is a serious red flag for everyone involved. It’s one of the first signs of a lack of professionalism because you should always have your paperwork in order and protect your employees.
Workers’ compensation ensures that you aren’t responsible for damages if someone hurts themselves during a job on your property. If they don’t have it and an accident occurs, you’ll be liable for any medical bills and lost wages.
The last thing you need to worry about when trying to have your roof repaired is handling additional costs on top of what you already paid. This is an essential requirement for roofing contractors, even if the state doesn’t require it. If they don’t have it, look elsewhere.
Do: Take Care of Surrounding Areas
Make sure you trim your trees. If you don’t, you run the risk of your trees scraping against the roof during poor weather conditions. Beyond hearing that scraping noise within your home, though, you may have another, bigger problem. In inclement weather, a tree could fall on your home. This situation may seem like an outlier, but it’s more common than you’d think.
Additionally, overhanging trees shed smaller twigs. These can collect in your gutter and on your roof. They can also provide an environment for mold and algae to grow due to a buildup of water and gutter blockages. This, in turn, can harm the area around the roof.
Don’t: Attempt Repairs on Your Own for Major Projects
An analysis of the dos and don’ts of proper roof maintenance isn’t complete without a small caveat about DIY projects. While it’s OK to do some minor repairs on your roof—say, adjusting a shingle or two—it’s not OK to try and do full-scale projects. We dedicated an entire section to what you should ask your roofing contractor in the beginning because you should use their services if you have any major roof repairs.
Repairing a roof can be an extensive and sophisticated process. If you don’t have training for it, “fixing” roof damage can be dangerous and make your roof even worse. Then, because you don’t have insurance for a fix, you’ll spend even more money since getting someone to look at your roof after that debacle costs more. Ensure that you make the right decision and call a pro.
Don’t: Wait Until the Last Minute for Repairs
When you see a small problem, it’s tempting to want to put it off for a while, especially when money is tight. However, you should fix the problem right away. When was the last time it benefited you to leave something that needs repairs for months or even years at a time? It’s easy to lose track of the repairs you need to fix, so hop on it right away.
These are a few things you can do for roof maintenance. While we can’t decide for you, we strongly ask that you consider what we have to say. It could save you time and money. If you’re considering a roofer, make sure you shop Pro-Home Services! We’re the best in the business.
