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[N113]Need A New Roof

by Kris Koonar, Kri

People ignore their roofs for a simple reason that as long as your roof looks good from the outside, everything seems good enough. Besides, who wants to spend money just to maintain the roof? That is where the problem lies; the money. However, if you neglect your roof for too long, you'll just end up spending double the amount. Therefore, when it comes to the roof, the sooner it is dealt with the better. But how do you get to know that you need a new roof? The relatively long life of your roof is affected by the natural factors like the sun, rain, snowstorms and hurricanes. The reasons for considering the redesigning of a new roof include:

. The ultraviolet rays of the sun can easily wear out the quality of your roof, which can ultimately result in deterioration.

. Extremely hot temperatures can cause the expansion and contraction of the shingles on your roof. Besides hot conditions, humidity too can cause deterioration, as it gives rise to the moisture level in the air, which in turn helps in the growth of moss and other fungi.

. If your rooftop is uneven, rainwater is easily collected and it slowly softens the roof allowing water to seep through it easily. If this problem is not corrected immediately, the water seepage can even destroy the walls in your house.

Once you are aware of the cause for the damage, it won't be too difficult to decide whether you need a new roof or not. Additionally, if you observe the following signs, you can be sure that you need a new roof:

1. If you observe stains on the ceilings and walls in the inner structure of your house.
2. If you find any water seepage/leakage on your ceilings, especially after a heavy rainfall.
3. Roof ventilation plays a very important role in case of excessive humidity. The moisture in the air can easily spoil the paint job in the attic.
4. If you observe black spots on your roofs. This may either be due to algae or the pollutants mixed with the air.
5. Sometimes you may even observe cracked roof shingles or some missing shingles. Cracked shingles are the result of poor quality material. Winds contribute a lot for the blowing away of some weak shingles.

If the above signs are clearly visible, then you should definitely go in for a new roof. If your roof is as old as fifteen years then your roof should be your priority while renovating the home. The roof adds to the glamour of the exterior of the house and the desired look is easily hampered if the right steps in maintenance are not taken in time.

The roof should always be checked. You should keep tabs of its state. The following are signs that you may need a new roof.

· Your roof is between twenty and twenty five years old.
· The shingles are excessively cracking, curling, or they are blistering.
· There are many shingles that are missing and/are torn or damaged.
· The roof is leaking in many places.

* How much does a new roof cost?

There is no definitive answer as to how much a new roof will cost. There are a variety of considerations needed before an estimate can be given. From that information, a price quotation or an estimate could be done.

Some of the considerations are:

· Size of roof
· Materials to be used
· Location of house (this is needed to determine which materials would be best for that area's weather)
· Is it for a new house or a re roofing
· State costs and taxes
· Type of home

After that, you can have several contractors bid on the project to get the best price.

* When re-roofing, should I peel off old layers or simply add a new layer of shingles?

It is recommended that you add a new layer of shingles to your roof. Scrapping the old layers will just consume more time and energy, and at the same time by peeling off, the thickness of the shingles are decreasing, leading to possible leakages in the future. By adding new layers of shingles onto your roof, it protects the inner part of the roof and provides you relief against further leakages. Obviously, it would be a lot cheaper.

* What kinds of questions should I ask a roofing contractor?

Getting a roof contractor to do your roof needs a little certainty and guarantee. You can ask the following questions to the contractor to erase doubts regarding his/her services:

• Ask your roofing contractor questions with regards to their standing in their field of expertise. It will give you a hint whether they are really offering quality service to their clients.

• Ask questions with regards to their operation. This includes whether they have necessary permits and licenses to operate such business, and if they are carrying insurance in case there are unforeseen incidents that may happen during the construction.

• And lastly, ask questions with regards to the actual roofing constructions and the post-construction services and warranty. Inquire if they can explain to you in layman's terms how they will construct your roofing, what materials are going to be used, and what services and warranties they offer in case leakages or damages happened to your roof within a time period after construction.

* What kinds of questions should I ask references of a roofing contractor?

Sometimes, you need referrals from people who know the roofing contractor's work you are considering, especially when you are unfamiliar with that type of business. As the roofing contractor for references, especially from customers who have had work done by him. Questions like the following can be asked of your references of a roofing contractor:

• Initially, ask questions with regards to their relationship with the contractor. Maybe the contractor is a friend or a relative of your reference. That will give you an idea how well that reference knows the contractor.

• You can inquire if they have acquired the services of the roofing contractor. Ask them if they have personally witnessed the construction of their roof, and at the same time letting your reference talk about the quality of service.

• Lastly, ask queries on the reliability of their service, if it withstands the different outside elements surrounding the roof. In this way, you will have no doubt of the integrity of the contractor because the reference himself will tell all.

Article Source : Need Help Getting Home

About Author

Both Kris Koonar & Rae Fakner are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Kris Koonar has sinced written about articles on various topics from Site Promotion, Certified Public Accountants and Culture and Society. Classic serves Southern New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts Metal Roofing Market. Discover the benefits of. Kris Koonar's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.

Rae Fakner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Home Management. Rae Fakner is a regular contributor to roofing- and construction-related websites such as . Website: http://www.Roofing-Tips.com. Rae Fakner's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.