Home maintenance is a never ending and important process. Maintaining the small and large tasks around a house can be exhausting, but necessary. No home maintenance repair or replacement job, however, is as important as roof installation.
If you have recently had a hail storm that has caused damage to your roof, it is imperative that you work with a qualified contractor to get it replaced. If your roof is older than 30 years and you are noticing any kind of leaks, it is also important to work with a contractor to see if you need a replacement. All roofs need replacement sometime, and simply laying your new roof over the old one can decrease your new roof’s life by 20%.
If you find out that you need a complete roof replacement it is important to contract with a qualified contractor. Proper installation and paying attention to details are key to the a properly functioning roof. For example, up to 95% of roof leaks occur at flashing details. A flashing point occurs anywhere the membrane itself is terminated or interrupted. On most roofs, flashing points are frequent and an individual homeowner likely would not know how to avoid problems at these points during installation. A full service roof contractor does. The scope of any roofing and gutter projects is quite large, so it’s worth hiring dedicated roofing contractors. Completely replacing a roof, for instance, can take anywhere from a few days to more than two weeks when the work is done by trained professionals. On your own, installation can take even longer.
Luckily, the newest and best roofing materials are much more durable and have very lengthy warranties. Most types of roofing materials, for instance, will last for about 25 years, and some may even last as long as 50. Asphalt roofing shingles, the choice that’s most commonly used across North America, last for 15 to 30 years, depending on maintenance and weather conditions. Offering some of the longest warranties, metal roofing, for example, can last as long as 50 years or more and require very little maintenance, but looking beautiful.
Roof repair and replacement is not an inexpensive process. Successful repairs and replacements, however, can last for years. Whether your roof is the victim of a major hailstorm or of old age, quality roof work will help maintain the rest of your house while adding to the value of your home.