Hire Professionals for Residential Roof Repair or Replacement
​Your home's roof shields you, your loved ones, and your possessions from the elements, providing shelter and security. However, even the most well-constructed roofs can develop issues that require attention. When faced with roof problems, many homeowners contemplate whether to tackle the repairs themselves or roofing contractors. While DIY projects can be rewarding, roof repair or replacement is a task best left to experienced experts. Let's take a look at the top four reasons why hiring professionals for residential roof repair.
1. Expertise and Experience
Roofing professionals bring expertise and experience to the table. They have undergone training and have hands-on experience working on various types of roofs, from traditional shingles to more complex materials like metal or tile. This knowledge is crucial because every roofing project is unique, with its own set of challenges and requirements.
Professionals can assess the condition of your roof accurately and identify underlying issues that may not be immediately visible to an untrained eye. They understand the nuances of roofing materials, ensuring that repairs or replacements are done correctly. In contrast, DIY enthusiasts may lack the specialized knowledge and can inadvertently worsen the problem.
2. Safety
Roof work is inherently dangerous. Climbing onto a roof without the proper safety equipment and training can result in accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. Professionals are well-versed in safety protocols and have the necessary safety gear to protect themselves while working at heights. Additionally, professional roofers are insured, which means that if an accident were to occur during the project, you wouldn't be liable for any medical expenses or damages.
3. Quality Materials and Tools
Roof contractors have access to high-quality materials and tools that may not be readily available to the average homeowner. They know which roofing materials are best suited for your climate, ensuring that your roof remains durable and efficient for years.
The tools used by professionals are specifically designed for roofing tasks, allowing them to work efficiently and produce high-quality results. DIY roofers often have to make do with inadequate or makeshift tools, which can lead to subpar workmanship and costly mistakes.
4. Time and Cost Efficiency
Roof repairs or replacements can be time-consuming, especially for those without experience. Professionals, on the other hand, can complete the job efficiently, saving you both time and money in the long run. They are well-versed in the necessary steps and can anticipate potential issues, preventing costly delays.
When it comes to residential roof repair or replacement, hiring professionals is a decision that offers numerous advantages. Their expertise and experience ensure that the project is completed correctly, while their commitment to safety protects both the workers and homeowners. Professionals have access to quality materials and tools, enhancing the durability and efficiency of your roof. Lastly, their time and cost efficiency make the investment in professional roofing services well worth it. By entrusting your roofing needs to experts, you not only enhance the longevity of your roof but also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a secure and well-maintained home.
3 Pros and Cons Regarding Roof Repair or Replacement
If you are trying to decide between roof repair or replacement, it is a good idea to weigh the pros and cons before settling on the direction you want to take. If your roof only needs minor repairs, fixing only what is broken can save you time and money, but putting off replacing a roof in bad shape could lead to other damages to the home.
Advantages of Roof Replacement
Home Value
A new roof, unlike roofing repairs, will add a great deal of value to the home. If you are considering selling the home in the next few years, then the choice between roof repair or replacement should be approached from the long-term potential gain. Simple repairs preserve the home but don't add any significant value at the time of the sale.
2. Curb Appeal
Roof repair will not blend perfectly with the existing roof, even if you use the exact same roofing material and color. Your existing roof has slowly faded with the passage of time, and repaired areas will typically stand out when viewed against the original roof.
3. Peace of Mind
A new roof will last for 20 years or more, giving your family the peace of mind of knowing that the home's interior is well-protected against leaks. In contrast, making localized repairs may stop leaks for the time being, but indicate that your roof is beginning to age and more repairs may be necessary in the near future. It is logical to replace the entire roof at once rather than multiple smaller jobs in a few short years.
Disadvantages of Roof Replacement
Cost
Full-roof replacement can be very expensive, especially if you choose to go with certain types of roof material such as ceramic tile. Luckily, as long as the roof beneath those tiles is still in good condition, individual roof tiles are easy to replace and will not require removing more tiles than need to be replaced.
2. Disruption
Putting a new roof on your home will be a disruption for your household for a short time. Keep in mind that a new roof entails tearing off the old one and hauling away the debris, while a tear-off and dry-in can be done relatively quickly, it does add steps to the roofing process. Between the noise of hammers and saws, and delivery lifts or other heavy equipment you should be prepared for some inconvenience.
3. Time
You can have a small area repaired in the course of a single day, but replacing the whole roof-- especially when a tear-off is necessary-- will take a good deal longer. At best, quality roof replacement is going to require 3 to 4 days, but 7 to 10 days is a more realistic estimate. Climatic conditions like rain can delay progress. Even after the roof is dried-in, roofers aren't going to be working on a slippery, wet roof.
If your roof is leaking, missing shingles or the soffits and fascia boards are looking bad, it is important to get roof repair or replacement as soon as possible. If you aren't sure which route is best for you, your roofing contractors can offer a wealth of advice, including offering you some excellent options for roofing materials that are appropriate for your home and region.
5 Examples of How Roofing and Exteriors Protect Home Value
The best way to think of your roofing and exteriors is to consider them together as a hard shell that shields the home's interior from weather, rodents, wildlife, and more. That shell was carefully constructed to fill the purpose, but a lot of things can happen over the years that make it more vulnerable. From seismic movements to a warmer climate, the exterior of a house needs to be repaired or replaced to keep it viable for decades to come.
Reduce Maintenance Costs
Time is the enemy of even the best roofing and exteriors. Nails will eventually loosen, pulling loose from the siding or allowing moisture under shingles and other roofing materials. Even factory-colored siding will eventually fade in harsh sunlight, and the soft timber used for fascia boards and soffits will age and decay. The older your roofing and exteriors become, the more they will require maintenance to provide the home with protection against the elements.
2. Curb Appeal
A home with a new roof and siding looks better. This enhances the enjoyment of cookouts and get-togethers, as well as making your home a more noticeable part of the community. Just as we all feel good about getting dressed up for special occasions, you'll also feel great knowing that your home is being viewed in a whole new light.
3. Improve Home Health
Once the seal formed by the siding and roof begins to lose its integrity, the health of your family may be affected. Mold and mildew can take root in moist, dark places such as between the soffit and the roof, in the attic, and inside your walls. This can aggravate breathing problems like asthma and COPD, leading to higher medical bills and more frequent medical care.
4. Home Value
It might surprise you, but putting a roof on your home can add 20 grand or more home value, and new siding offers a similar boost. If you are thinking about selling the home in the next few years, roofing and exteriors will transform your house into a more appealing, more valuable property to invest in.
5. Weather Worthiness
WIld weather is becoming more common in every part of the country and houses depend on their roofs and exterior to hold the forces of nature at bay. Old siding can be raked off in heavy winds, rain can find small cracks to penetrate the home's walls and attic, and burning sunshine can weaken asphalt roofing. Your home is your protection from storms, and it needs an exterior in good condition to work the way it should.
Even a home built with the best workmanship and materials on the market will eventually need fresh attention. For older homes that are already aging, it is vital to protect everything under the roof as well as you can to keep it in great shape for years to come. And while you are refinishing the outside of the home, you may want to consider adding an extension or building out your garage to accommodate a growing family.
Is It Better to Use One Company for Both Roofing and Exteriors?
In most construction scenarios, the job site can easily become cluttered with materials for both roofing and exteriors, equipment belonging to different companies, and limited access to the building. A better idea is for one qualified contractor to handle both parts of the project, effectively halving the number of people roaming around the property and eliminating some of the bottlenecks that occur when multiple companies are working on different aspects of the same job.
Project Management
For the property owner, replacing the roofing and exteriors at the same time makes it easier to manage the renovation project. Since the roof and exterior siding work together to form a shell around the building, taking care of both projects at once simplifies the project, allowing the contractors to move seamlessly from one part of the project to the other.
Efficiency
Just as doing the roofing and exteriors at once is a boon to project management, it is also an efficient way to manage time and employee assignments. And when the same home contractors are working on both segments of the project, the workers have a working knowledge of what is being done and where they should focus each day's progress to get the most productivity.
Security
When only one contractor is working on the property, everything is more secure. You will become familiar with the faces working on the project, and that means there is less opportunity for unsavory outsiders to case the property or decide to liberate equipment for their own.
Quality
When your work is performed by a qualified contractor who can do the roofing and exteriors jointly, it is easier to maintain the desired level of quality control. Similarly, if something goes wrong, such as someone accidentally backing into the mailbox, there is no question about liability. And, with fewer workers on the job site, there is more room for everyone to move about, position equipment, and concentrate more fully on the task at hand instead of waiting on a chance to get started.
Economy
Replacing the roof and siding as a single project is generally a lot less expensive than splitting the job into two projects. Combining them doesn't reduce the workload, but it may simplify the permitting process and you will definitely be able to negotiate a lower overall project cost by negotiating with a single contractor rather than two of them.
Protection
When the project begins, it is always a good idea to take care of the roofing before the exterior siding. The rationale is simple on this count: If the roof is installed first, you won't have to worry about the siding getting damaged when workers are on the roof. Likewise, it is more logical to work in a top-down fashion so that all workers are safe from falling debris or dropped tools.
There are situations when the roofing or siding needs to be addressed individually, such as times when getting a roof and siding installed is time-sensitive or needs to meet different job goals that aren't possible with a single contractor. For most cases, however, the benefits of using a single home renovator outweigh any advantages of doing the jobs separately.
Should a 20 Year Old Tile Roof Get Repair or Replacement?
Roofing tiles have a lot to offer the property owner, including being eco-friendly, impressively durable, and capable of going for decades without requiring significant roof repair or replacement. The important thing to remember about a tile roof is that repairs should be made as soon as the damage is detected because a breach in that tough outer shell leaves the building vulnerable to wind, rain, and pest infestation.
Analyze the Damage
Depending on the type and amount of damage, the decision between roof repair or replacement may go either way. If there are a lot of broken or missing tiles, replacement is generally the best option. If only a few tiles are damaged you can probably just get the area repaired. A nice trait of tile roofing is that replacing a few tiles is a relatively simple task because each tile is fastened individually. You should also take a close look at the soffits and fascia boards to determine whether the roof needs more extensive repairs.
Flashing and Roof Repair
Flashing around chimneys, vent pipes, or other places will lead to more serious damage if it is not repaired promptly. Missing flashing or sections that have become separated in places allow moisture to get beneath the tile causing the wooden portion of the roof to start decaying. If the flashing is the only issue and the roof is still secure, qualified roofers can make the repairs economically.
Underlayment and Porous Tile
Roofing tile is porous. It does a great job of channeling water off the roof and provides excellent protection against ultraviolet light and wind, but the underlayment is the primary moisture barrier. Unfortunately, when tile breaks it tends to cause minor punctures or scapes in the underlayment, allowing moisture to penetrate the outer roof. This leads to decayed decking, rotten rafters, and more. If the leak is severe enough, a small hole in the underlayment has the potential to cause many thousands of dollars in damage to the ceilings and walls of the building. Since roof tile can be removed and reattached, it is possible to have the underlayment repaired, and the process is affordable when compared to having to purchase new roofing tile as well.
Underneath It All
A tile roof has more repair options than-- for example-- an asphalt tiled roof. Small sections can be repaired without causing damage to the surrounding areas, roofers are able to access the flashing more easily, and you can reuse tiles that are not damaged when the repaired area is re-tiled. Very few roofing materials can compare to tile when it comes to durability and ease of repair, and regular maintenance will make the roof last as long as the building itself.
For a tile roof, 20 years is only about a quarter of the expected longevity. Unless something causes major damage suddenly, it is possible to keep the roof in great shape for up to 75 or 80 years, and even keeping the same roof for a century or more is a realistic goal.