VentSure® Ventilation Products

A look at Owen Corning's VentSure® Ventilation Products

How Residential Roof Maintenance Can Save You Money

Roofs do not last forever, that is the bottom line. Whether you have purchased a brand new home, or you have owned your home for twenty years, roof maintenance is an important responsibility. For the most part, major roof failures including leaks, missing shingles, or interior water damage result when we ignore minor problems. Unfortunately, many homeowners are shocked when they learn the price of a roof replacement, especially considering the fact that minor repairs are usually easy and inexpensive.

As is the case with any costly problem, it is always best to prevent problems than to wait for them to arise; similarly, prevention is almost always the less expensive route. Preventative residential roof maintenance should be scheduled at regular intervals so that a professional contractor can inspect the condition of your roof and identify potential problems in advance. Regularly maintaining your residential roof not only helps to keep your roof in good condition, but internal elements of your home as well. Roof leaks can cause thousands of dollars of structural and aesthetic damage, but this does not need to be the case. Residential roof maintenance will solve external problems before they cause internal problems. Moreover, as roof damage allows water to infiltrate your home, standing water can get trapped in the ceiling or attic potentially leading to the formation of mould and mildew which are known to cause health problems.

Indeed, in many cases of regularly scheduled maintenance, residential roof repairs are quite minor and inexpensive. If these problems are ignored or overlooked, more major concerns will arise. These major concerns will likely lead to more damage on roofing surfaces which will become increasingly expensive to repair. Maintenance should ideally be scheduled after winter months when inclement weather such as heavy snowfall is likely to have had the greatest impact on your roof. A fall inspection is also advisable to ensure your roof is in optimal condition for withstanding winter weather. As you can see, regular maintenance prevents costly repairs in two ways: first, residential roof maintenance allows you to identify small leaks or damage to material before they become big problems; and, regular maintenance ensures that your roof is structurally sound and providing the best protection when you need it most.

Ultimately, an effective residential roofing maintenance program should be scheduled for twice a year. Your contractor should inspect your roof and roofing fixtures such as vents, chimneys, and gutters while also checking that roofing materials are in good condition. During maintenance debris will be removed from your roof and minor repairs will be made. Not only does maintenance prevent future repairs, but it also extends the life of your roof which is a cost saving measure on its own.


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Hip and Ridge Shingles

Owens Corning Hip and Ridge Shingles 

Risks of Repairing a Roof Yourself Without a Roofer

Homeowners will to try to repair their own roof sometimes because they want to save money. This can be very dangerous not to mention it can make things worse in some cases. A homeowner usually anticipates regular maintenance every year such as HVAC repair, painting or plumbing problems. With each call to a contractor to fix things around the house costs can add up. Many homeowners also pay on preventive yearly maintenance contracts or home buyer warranty plans that only cover a selective range of problems. Above all things constructed on your home your roof is the most important. Some homeowners will try to save a few bucks by going to the local hardware store and pick up a bucket of tar or some shingles. No matter how much confidence you have in your home improvement skills trying to create a Band-Aid can lead to more potential problems down the road.

A roof leak can be very harmful and cause an unsafe environment to live in. Even a small roof leak can cause a massive amount of black mold and wood rot. A roof leak can be ongoing for many years without any notice. Dampness can also attract termites and other annoying nuisances. Climbing up on a roof can be very dangerous for anyone without much experience. Roofs can be steep and they also have surface mold that is very slick to walk on. Attempting to do a roof repair without sufficient training or safety precautions is not only life threatening, it can cause a severe injury to occur. When repairing your roof it is always best to contact a specialist. A professional experience roofing contractor can examine your situation and help resolve any roofing problems that you might have.

Most roofers have certifications and many years of experience dealing with roof repairs. In fact many roofers have spent a great deal of their lives analyzing and conducting roof repairs on a day-to-day basis. A professional roofer will use his own fundamental troubleshooting steps to find out the cause and effect of your roof problem. Sometimes when a homeowner tries to repair a roof on his own it can cause additional problems or make the repair more complicated for the roofing contractor. This is and can cause price of the repair to be higher than expected. If you have an emergency and the rain is coming in asked the roofing contractor to see if he can do a temporary repair to watertight your home until the repair can be scheduled to be done properly.

The roof over your head is the most important part of your home. It protects your belongings, the structure of your home and the health and safety of your family. A roof repair is not something to be taken lightly. Find a roofing contractor that you can trust to provide you with the best advice that will use many years of experience to correct your problem. Not all repairs of the same, each roof has a different design and installation flaws from previous contractors. Don't let your wallet guide you in the direction of making a hastily decision that you will regret in the near future.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7383202

Owens Corning Oakridge® Shingles Collection

Owens Corning Oakridge® Shingles Collection

Owens Corning WeatherGuard® HP Shingles Collections

Owens Corning WeatherGuard® HP Shingles Collections

Roofing Contractors: Criteria For Selecting A Good One

Selecting roofing contractors requires research and foresight, as with any other professional relationship. These are good general guidelines for anyone on the lookout for good roofing contractors and honest business professionals in general:

1. Confirm that they have a permanent address and other forms of contact information: There are a number of people who work in construction that operate out of their vehicles, which creates a huge risk of unreliability and untrustworthiness. A permanent address means there is an easily accessible, physical location where you can contact them in case of problems. Permanent addresses also signify good enough finances to pay rent and other expenses, which a good roofing contractor should have at their disposal. Ideally, you should also have his or her name, number, business and personnel names, as well.

2. Talk to them in advance, before having them come to give estimates: Talking to roofing contractors before they have seen your site makes it easier for you to get an unbiased answer as to their usual rates and services.

3. Confirm that they are licensed professionals: Anyone can hang out a shingle and claim to have professional experience. A license is a credential, and it indicates basic competence and commitment, since the process of getting licensed is involved. Looking up licenses also helps verify information. You should get his or her license number.

4. Confirm that they have insurance coverage and inquire as to the amount: Insurance will potentially protect both of you in case of accidents. Any roof contractor without insurance should raise a red flag. Professionals would be unwilling to take a risk like that.

5. Check on their references and portfolio, if applicable: The best roof contractors have substantial experience, ability, and responsibility. They should have a history of previous satisfied clients, and should be enthusiastic about sharing their work history with you. Good contractors would see your business with them as another opportunity to build their reputations and further their careers.

6. Evaluate their past performance and customer service: The only real way to get a sense of a professional's skill is to see it in action, or look for prior evidence. The way they interact with customers currently, including you, is a good way to signal their level of skill and experience, as are the direct records of them.

7. Look them up in the Better Business Bureau, including complaints: Good brick and mortar businesses and others should be listed in the Better Business Bureau. Most companies will also be given detailed evaluations. Find out what even their critics say about them, since even good businesses will face criticism.

8. Ask about their warranty, its coverage, and its duration: Warranties give consumers recourse in the worst situations, and reassurance in the best situations.

9. Get a written contract: Contracts should include all terms of service, as well as details on your rights and responsibilities. You must agree to all the terms of the contract before signing anything.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7357394