The role of your roof in your home’s overall defense against harmful elements cannot be overemphasized. Having a well-installed roofing system should be the first step to securing your biggest investment, which is your home. This is why it’s very important to ensure that your roof is made from the highest quality materials and installed by one of the most trusted roofing companies in Chicago.
Knowing the importance of your roof for a fact makes you realize how big a life decision is to have a roof installed or replaced. It’s going to be a top dollar project, too, so you really have to give it a serious consideration. Here are some of the myths about roof replacement that you should avoid factoring in your decision to install one.
Myth # 1: Anyone Can Install a Roof
Installing your home’s roof by yourself is an exciting proposition. You can almost immediately feel the tread on your shoes scratching the surface of your roof’s shingles just by contemplating the idea. Unfortunately, as exciting as it may sound, this isn’t really practical, let alone safe. It can be dangerous for someone with no proper training and experience installing roofs to work at height.
Unlike other renovation work, such as wall painting and repair, that you can learn to do by yourself, roof installation or replacement is quite risky. Of course, you can learn it by following procedures and tips found on the Internet but there’s no guarantee that you will do a great job. After all, there’s a lot of complexities in roof installation that only a well-trained roofer can handle.
Myth # 2: All Asphalt Roofs Are the Same
You may think all asphalt roofs are the same since they appear to be identical. Truth is, unless they are of the same brand, there’s a difference between them that you cannot just ignore. Sometimes, even shingles of the same brand may even have slight difference in quality. Asphalt shingles are available in a wide variety of features, because manufacturers are constantly competing for distinction and at the same time they want to offer the consumers more choices. Simply put, when you tell your roofer you want asphalt roofing, expect to be presented with different brands to choose from, the priciest of which is usually the highest grade.
Myth # 3: Only Old Roofs Need Maintenance
Let’s be honest. Most of us think that a newly installed roofing system remains tough enough to resist damage during the first couple of years, which is why we only consider doing maintenance at the beginning of the third year. In truth, weather elements affect your roof at the same rate and scale at any point of its lifetime, and the reason we should maintain our roof in the first place is to keep its vulnerability at a minimum. Therefore, maintenance should start early, about 4 to 6 months after installation.
Myth # 4: A Leak is the Only Indicator that there’s Something Wrong with the Roof
While a leak is a sign of roof damage, it’s not the main barometer for your roof’s overall health. There are other equally alarming signs that you should watch out for. For instance, the accumulation of granules in your roof gutter is a telltale sign that your asphalt shingles are nearing expiration. Before the entire top layer of the shingles disintegrates altogether, call your roofer to do a large-scale inspection to determine how much longer your roof can last and whether or not immediate replacement is necessary.
Myth # 5: No Real Snow Means No Maintenance
We’ve all been told to have our roofs inspected and fixed after winter, because it can take a huge toll from snow and ice. This is why it’s easy to assume that the roof is fine when there’s no real snow during the winter season. While this may be reasonable, it isn’t always the case with roof. There’s no denying the undue stress thick snow can cause your roof but no snow in the cold season can be just as damaging because cold has its way of wreak havoc to anything in its path. In some cases, a layer of couple of inch snow can actually function as an insulator for your roof.
How to Hire a Roofing Contractor
With all these misconceptions about your roof going around and pointing towards the importance of professional roofing services, you shouldn’t settle for less than the most trusted roofing company in Chicago to look after your roof. Then again, finding the most trusted company among the sea of contractors claiming to be ahead of the game can be difficult. Here are some tips you can use to figure out the unreliable ones.
Local Referrals
. What better way of identifying the best contractor in town than to ask people who had just had their roof renovated or have first-hand experience working with renowned roofers? Local referrals are usually the most reliable lead you can obtain as it serves as a testament of excellent workmanship.
Certification
. Flowery and strong descriptions are not enough to win the hearts of smart buyers. Contractors must be able to back them with proof. What better way to prove the quality of one’s services than to obtain certification from recognized authorities in the industry. Check for the contractor’s certification and verify with the organization who they claim had issued it.
Warranty
. A warranty serves as a guarantee to a customer that a certain product or service is of high quality. It’s the provider’s way of telling you that you can take their word for it. Unfortunately, not all roofing warranties cover the contractor’s workmanship. Most simply cover the materials used, and this is usually provided by the manufacturer and not by the contractor. If you are presented with a warranty, make sure that it covers the roofing service as well.
License and Insurance
. Roof installation is a serious discipline surrounded by various kinds of risks. Poor workmanship may not only lead to future repair but also to accident involving members of the family. This is why most governments require roofing contractors, as well as each individual roofers, to obtain license to operate or practice. They are also required to be fully insured to protect their clients from financial obligations in case of unwanted happenings on their property.
Experience
. There’s no better way to measure the qualification of a roofing contractor than to know how long they’ve been in the business. Those who have been around for quite a while and have handled almost all kinds of roofing problems are most likely your best bet. Contractors like Muller Exteriors who can take care even of your windows and siding are the perfect choice. Having almost three decades of experience, Muller Exteriors have mastered the craft of installing any kind of roof as well as dealing with just about any roofing issue.
