Even if you won’t be doing the actual work, you’ll need to know what to know before you have your new roof installed. If you plan right and based on solid information, then the rest of the project will flow smoothly. Guaranteed, there are legal loopholes and things to know about, and never rely on the knowledge or good graces of the roofing contractor to keep you informed.
Inspect Regularly
It’s a good idea and even a great one to check out your roof every year because that’s when you can see problems developing and get on it right away. This also includes problems around the chimney if you have one and around other external structures, and when you’re standing in your yard, it can be next to impossible to see these things.
Get a Good Contractor
You can have a roofing contractor go onto your roof and do this kind of preliminary visual inspection, but of course, you can always do this yourself, too, if you want. Inspections that are both visual and more in-depth is a form of investment into the overall investment you’ve made with the new roof, and it’s also preventive and just the smart thing to do.
All US states have regulations in place that are designed to help you and protect you with choosing a contractor. Naturally you want someone who knows what he’s doing and has a positive reputation in your community and in the local industry. Find out all the relevant state offices that have information you can use to confirm and/or verify your contractor is doing things right, etc. There is no reason for you to have advanced knowledge about this because most people don’t, and this is all very understandable.
Consider Support Beams
Anytime you notice your roof is in the beginning stages of a concave depression along the top seam, then you will need to change support beams plus the shingles. Obviously if the roof line is sagging, then have your roofing contractor come out and assess the situation. Sometimes if there’s been a leak for a long time, then this softens the wood and the weight of the roof causes the sagging. Depending on the exact cause for the sagging, you may be able to get away with adding more support beams in the attic. Once you have decided on buying a roof, then you have to think about who will be installing it. Contractors are just like any other service provider, and that should be enough to make you want to look deeper into this.
