When it’s Time for a New Roof

February 26, 2007

Choosing a Roofing Contractor

All roofers are not created equal. Some are not committed to quality roofing, some are willing to cut corners to get the job done quickly; others just might be lacking experience. Defective roofing costs homeowners millions of dollars every year for whatever reason. HouseSmart Home Services Network Roofers are on roofs every day that have serious damage due to inferior roofing practice. They have provided this article to inform homeowners of what they need to know to avoid roofing mistakes that could cost them down the road.

Quality roofing isn't just a roof that doesn't leak. We see roof problems every day that were created during the installation. In many cases adequate ventilation is not adressed. Improperly ventilated attics will allow excess moisture to collect in the attic and cling to the underside of the roof.

Types of damage that can result include:

• Premature aging of your roofing system (fried shingles)
• Roof deck warping and rotting of the wood frame
• Mildew growth
• Buckling of shingles and felt
• Warping, cracking, or breaking down of wood framing
• Damage to siding, exterior or interior paint, and wallpaper
• Higher energy costs

Each step in the roofing process must conform to the specifications of the roofing material manufacturer and the uniform Building Codes.

1. The Key Ingredients of a Quality Roof
Every aspect of the roofing system; roof decking, chimney flashings, stack vent flashings, skylights - all components of your roofing assembly beyond the simple installation of roofing materials are carefully considered and all defects removed during the systematic roofing process.
2. Protection of Your Property
Replacing a roof has a big impact on your home. It is a massive and noisy undertaking. The roofing material on your home can often weigh 10 tons. The old roof is well attached to the deck and needs to come off. This process must be carefully controlled to not damage your home or you’re landscaping.
4. How to pick out the Right Contractor
Nothing is more important than picking out a trustworthy contractor. It is up to you, the consumer, to find a reputable roofer. Homeowners may be tempted to hire a “neighbor or a friend of a friend.” However well meaning this is, the homeowner may be left with a roof of unknown installation quality and no recourse in case of accident or future problems.

What to look for:
- Just because someone might claim to be a roofer, does not qualify them to install a roof. First, you need to find out if they are a roofing company or a re-contractor.
- Is it a licensed company?
- How long has it been in business?
- Is the contractor experienced with your roofing material brand?
- A fixed address (an office), telephone (not just a cell phone.) Where is the company located? You just might want to drive by and see their place of business. Are they substantial enough to have a permanent facility, or do they represent their location as a P.O. Box?
- Liability insurance (in case there’s a problem during the roofing), WCB coverage (you can obtain verification online at www.worksafebc.com by clicking on “Obtain a clearance letter”
- Is the contractor a member of the Better Business Bureau?
- Is the company you are considering financial stable?
- Check references. Look around and find your own references for a company.
- The lowest estimate is not always the best choice. Weigh it against the section “Selecting a Contractor” to help make your decision. Make sure you are getting estimates on the same type of roofing systems so that you are comparing “apples to apples”?

There are multitudes of ways to make a mess of a roof. Roofing systems keep homes dry and waterproof and it takes more than just roofing shingles to protect a home from water damage. Pipes and skylights and vents and chimneys; roof valleys and roof edges all must be properly detailed or the roofing system does not work. All too often structural defects are the result of the rush to get roofing and building construction done. It takes integrity to help a homeowner choose the bid that is a little more expensive but does solve all the defects on the roof. We have seen hundreds of ways corners are cut with the result being defective roofing. If it seems costly to have your house reroofed, it will be much more expensive to have it re-roofed again due to a poor installation.


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