Avoid the Pitfalls of DIY Roofing by Hiring a Roofing Contractor

If you are one of the people that thinks that tearing down your old roof and replacing it is going to be a piece of cake, you are going to be one of the many that are wrong!  Tackling a roof is a major undertaking, because the work is strenuous, and it is going to take you much longer than you think that it will.

Roofing contractors replace roofs all the time, after all, that is their job and they can do quality work quickly.  Therefore, the roofing contractor that you hire will ensure that your roof is installed properly and will keep the elements out throughout the next fifteen or twenty years.
Here are 4 pitfalls that you will see if you choose the DIY roofing route instead of hiring a roofing contractor:

1. Spend Extra Money

You may think that you are going to save money if you replace your roof on your own, but since you are not an expert like a roofing contractor, you may miss out on noticing damage that needs to be repaired.  If you do not make necessary repairs now, you will end up paying more money later on, either when you are finally doing the repairs, or you need to hire a roofing contractor to do the work for you.

2. No Warranty

Most manufacturers will not honor a warranty on their materials unless a roofing contractor has installed the product.  By replacing your roof on your own, you are not going to have a warranty on any of the work that you have completed.  This will also make it possible that you may end up paying more in the long-term.

3. Length of Project Will Be Longer

Roofing contractors can easily put a new roof on in a day or two, because they can bring in multiple workers to do the job.  If you replace your roof on your own, you may be looking at it taking a week or even longer before you have laid your last shingle.

4. Dangerous

Roofs are high off the ground, and some are higher than others.  If you are not used to walking around on a roof, let alone bending over to nail shingles down and dragging piles of shingles up from the ground, there is a good chance that you can fall.  A little slip is one thing, but that little slip can easily end up with you on the ground seriously injured.

Replacing your roof on your own always sounds good at first, but once you really consider the consequences, you will see that a roofing contractor is your best option.  So, get all those DIY thoughts out of your head, call your roofing contractor, and sit back and relax as they do all the work for you. 

Learn more about Home Pro Roofing and their vast line of custom roofing options installed by professional roofing contractors including: asphalt shingle roofing, metal roofing, roof repair, and new roof installation at www.homeproroofingmi.com.  Our roofing contractors offer services throughout Michigan including: Kalamazoo, Brighton, Lansing, and the surrounding areas.

5 Things That Occur When You Wait Too Long to Replace Your Roof

It always starts out with a small problem. Maybe a small drip, a tiny hole, or minute cracks in the roof; they are often completely harmless and at the time are not a big deal. However, overtime these small signs can grown into large problems.  These small problems are signs that your roof requires some general repairs and maintenance.
Most people put off repairing their roof because it saves time and money in the short-term. If you neglect repairing your roof in the short term because you think it will save you money you may be surprised to learn that you’ll end up spending more than you would’ve if you had repaired your roof problem earlier. Local shingle roofing companies offer a free consultation on your homes roof and its needed repairs.

Here are 5 things that can happen if you neglect to contact a local roofing contractor to replace/repair your roof when you first notice the small things.

1. Leaks and Water Damage

The first effect of disregarding your roof is that it may start leaking. Patches of wetness may show up on the roof and gradually down the walls. The paint inside of your home may start to peel. You may ignore these wet patches as nothing but overtime the situation worsens because the leaks expand, allowing more water to enter the crevices and softening the structure. These leaks can cause your roof to sag with the weight and may also destroy electrical wiring resulting in a fire hazard or short-circuit.

2. Mold and Pests

Wet roofing and walls tend to cause mold to grow and spread. Once mold sets in, it is very hard to remove it. Moreover, it is very expensive to take care of. There may also be the added problem of pests starting to infest the roof. Rodents, insects, lizards and what not.

3. Worker Safety

The more you delay on contracting a local roofing contractor to fix the roof, the more it’ll become dangerous for workers to work at the last minute. The mold and leaks may cause your ceiling to sag and not hold the extra weight. So, there may be the danger of the roof falling while the roofing contractors work. Moreover, breathing in all the mold for a long time can tire the workers and cause them headaches. The workers will be endangered.

4. Increased Repair Cost

Because you neglected on repairing/replacing your roof earlier, what seemed as small issues become unignorable issues. If you have the issues fixed as soon as possible at an early stage, you won’t need to replace the whole roof. But if you did neglect on the small issues, later, you will have to spend much more than you would’ve to replace the roof. The longer you take to repair your roof, the more the costs increase.

5. Health Problems

Because of the growing mold, it may contaminate the air your breath. The leaks may cause puddles and may cause you to slip as well. There is also the added danger of the roof collapsing on you or your family.
Learn more about Home Pro Roofing and their vast line of custom roofing options installed by professional roofing contractors including: asphalt shingle roofing, metal roofing, roof repair, and new roof installation at www.homeproroofingmi.com.  Our roofing contractors offer services throughout Michigan including: Kalamazoo, Brighton, Lansing, and the surrounding areas.

The Roof Replacement Process

Replacing a roof can be a time-consuming process, which is why you will want to hire one of the local roofing contractors to do the job for you.  While you could eventually get your roof completed on your own, a local company can provide a more thorough roof replacement within a timely manner, since that is the job that they have been trained for.

The first thing that needs to be done when you are replacing your roof is protecting anything that is nearby.  Outdoor furniture needs to be moved out of the way, tarps can cover plants and bushes, and plywood can also be used to provide a barrier, so items underneath do not get destroyed.
Once everything is out of harm’s way, it will be time to remove the old roofing materials.  This can be a messy project, but if tarps are placed on the ground, the mess will stay contained for the most part.  As soon as the shingles are off your roof, the local roofing contractors should do an inspection to see if any of the wood is rotting or if there is any other structural damage.  These pieces of wood will need to be replaced before the roof is shingled.

Once your roof has been deemed to be in good shape, it is time to prepare it for the new asphalt shingles.  At this time roofing contractors can install drip edges, ice and water shields, and roofing felt is installed.  After all that, it is time to lay out the shingles and nail them in starting at the bottom and working towards the top.  During this process, the counter flashing, ridge vents, and ridge capping is also installed.

Clean up will happen in stages, as it is always a good idea to remove the old roofing materials before the rest of the work begins.  This gets it out of the way and prevents accidents from happening.  Of course, a final clean up should be done when the roof is completed.  The clean-up process should also include removal of the tarps and plywood, and moving the outdoor furniture back into place.
Before local roofing contractors leave, they should always do one final inspection of your roof, to ensure that everything is in place where it should be.  Depending on the size of your roof, it can take a day or longer for a local company to replace your roof.  However, this is normally faster than you could do it on your own, because local roofing contractors always send multiple employees to a job, so that the work is accomplished quickly.

Learn more about Home Pro Roofing and their vast line of custom roofing options installed by professional roofing contractors including: asphalt shingle roofing, metal roofing, roof repair, and new roof installation at www.homeproroofingmi.com.  Our roofing contractors offer services throughout Michigan including: Kalamazoo, Brighton, Lansing, and the surrounding areas.

Tips To Prepare For Your Roof Installation

You probably have given it a great deal of thought if you are reading this article. A roof replacement is often a costly and thoughtful undertaking that will not only render your home a construction site for a couple of days, but without the proper preparation and planning the whole construction project may not go as smooth as it should. Even though local roofing contractors go out of their way to assure you that the installation will be as easy as” taking candy from a baby”.  It pays to be prepared. Consider the following tips:

• Do research on the different types of roofing materials available to you. You will want to have an understanding of the pros and cons of each material and how the materials will best serve your home and family.
• Check with local roofing contractors and plan for them to install the roof during their off-peak season unless you require an emergency roof installation. Spring and summer are usually their busiest months, however, with clear communication and consultation, they can accommodate your needs. It also pays to be strategic with scheduling because some roof installation (depending on the size of the project) may take longer than others.  You also may be able to get a better deal on your new roof installation if you choose to have the roof installed outside of peak roofing season.
• There is also the issue of changes in weather to contend with. If you live in an area where it rains 24/7 you will want to have great patience and understanding in working to get the roof installed.
• Remember that you might be away from your home for most of the roof installation duration, therefore, take the necessary precautions to cover and secure belongings to protect them from falling debris and dust although unlikely can occur. Your local roofer may provide coverings for the exterior part of the house.  Remember to park your vehicle outside of the area to avoid damage.
• Talk to your local roofer to find out what they need from you. For example, they might require an outside electrical or water source that you may not have and notifying them beforehand will help them come prepared with an alternative.
• It is also important to board your pets or take them with you because noises during a roof installation may prove too much for them. Roofing is loud.   The last thing that you would want is for your pet to be startled and spooked.
• Ensure you have a contract signed ahead of time. Also make sure, before you sign on the dotted line, that the roofing contractor that you have chosen is both licensed and insured. 

Learn more about Home Pro Roofing and their vast line of custom roofing options installed by professional roofing contractors including: asphalt shingle roofing, metal roofing, roof repair, and new roof installation at www.homeproroofingmi.com.  Our roofing contractors offer services throughout Michigan including: Kalamazoo, Brighton, Lansing, and the surrounding areas.