The first question that should be answered is should you repair or replace your existing roof. When a homeowner has water coming into the home the first thing that normally sets in will be panic. There are a few reasons for this initial reaction.
Most homeowners will not have any idea why their roof is leaking, and two questions will hit their mind. How bad is the damage I am looking at and what will it cost to fix?
What is the first step in a roof repair?
The first thing a homeowner should do when they see water leaking into their home is to find a top-rated local roofing company. Get to the internet fast and do a search for local roofers. After you have found some online, do a quick check on your top choices.
See if they have a lot of information about roof leaks on their website. Look for their credentials on their homepage. This is important because you need to know larger companies are backing them and believe in their work like CertainTeed Corporation.
These larger manufacturers have already done your homework for you if they have top credentials with them.
What steps should be done by a roofer?
The first thing a good roofer is going to do is ask you some questions, get where the obvious problems are, kitchen, bathroom, and so on. Next, he will need to walk with you through your home and look for any additional ceiling stains.
A top roofing professional will next ask to get in your attic and look for water stains on your roof sheathing or underneath part of your roof deck. This will tell him where any additional roof leaks may be hiding.
After a thorough attic inspection has been done it is finally time to get on the roof. Once all the water stains have been located now a roofer can look at your roof in those areas and see what is causing the roof leaks. Some of the most common roof related issues are plumbing pipe boots, skylights, heather or hot water stacks and a roof's valleys.
The next step should be your field representative putting together an estimate for you. After he gets his estimate together he should go over all the roof related issues that need to be repaired before he gives you his price.
It is important to know that a top roofing company will most certainly have a higher price than a smaller company. You need to decide if you want to fix your roof once or have a continuing problem. Cheap roofing companies are just out for the dollar, however, the really good ones want to solve your issue for good.
Once your price has been presented and you feel good they are your company there is one last thing to consider. Depending on the age of your roof and life expectancy if the repair price goes over 30% you should consider a new roof rather than a roof repair.
If the roof repair will not get you ten years down the road you need to really consider putting the repair money towards a new roof and end all questions about a roof problem.
Conclusion
In a leaky roof situation, it is critical to be fast in your decision-making process on which roofer to use but choose well.
The roofing company you choose will make all the difference in your satisfaction. If a roofing company says they can get to you fast, ask yourself why.
Maybe they are a large company and have plenty of staff but if not maybe it is because they have nothing else to do and you are the next mark.
Choose well and be happy.
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