Pay Attention To These 4 Things When Having Your Shingle Roof Installed

In addition to choosing the best roofing material for your home based on your preferences and the environmental conditions in your area, it is also critical for you to choose the right roofing contractor. Working with an experienced and reputable roofer will go a long way in ensuring you get your value for money. Choosing your roofer is also important because the lifespan of your roof is largely dictated by the quality of the work done during installation. We’ve discussed in a previous post some of the most common mistakes made during roof installations. Today, we discuss some of the things homeowners should pay attention to when having roof shingles installed. You shouldn’t have to worry about them if you have the very best contractor on the job, but it’s also important to be aware of them just to be safe. 1. Shingles that don’t quite match

Asphalt roofing is manufactured in batches. Roofers who do not use a consistent dealer can end up applying mismatched shingles if they are purchasing from multiple suppliers. You can avoid this very visible issue by choosing a roofing contractor who consistently utilizes the services of the same roofing supplies dealer. Via Angie's List

2. Installing over the old shingles [caption id="attachment_7213" align="aligncenter" width="601"] Image Courtesy of Wikimedia[/caption] Removing the old shingles may sound too costly, but failing to do so will increase the weight applied to the structure. This might compromise the new shingles and will definitely mean that you void manufacturer warranties. In fact, one of the marks of reputable roofers is that they never encourage shingle layovers.

In many areas it is unlawful to install a new asphalt roof without tearing off the old one. Even if your municipality allows a new layer of shingles to be installed over an old roof, it’s still best to remove the old shingles before installing new ones. This allows your roofing contractor to inspect the roof deck for fragile areas. Via Angie's List

3. Attic ventilation Although the greatest focus is on the roof itself, you also need to understand that if your attic is improperly or inadequately ventilated, this can cause damage to your roof and your home through premature aging of shingles, mildew and mold growth, warping and rotting of the roof deck among other problems.

A roof is an entire system, comprised of many components. Proper attic ventilation is necessary. Without it, your shingles can wear out sooner than they should, your insulation can be ruined and your energy costs can skyrocket. Via Angie's List

4. Contractor insurance [caption id="attachment_7216" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image Courtesy of Wikimedia[/caption]

Roofing contractors should have workmans' compensation and liability insurance to protect the homeowner in the event of an accident. Workers' compensation protects the homeowner if a roofing company's employee gets injured, and liability protects you from damage caused by the roofers during repair or replacement. Without workmans' compensation insurance, the homeowner may be responsible for medical bills and other costs associated with the injury. Your homeowners' insurance may not cover these types of accidents, so you will be personally responsible for the costs. Via Angie's List

A professional and reputable contractor will be sure to address each of the above concerns. As such, the best place to start would definitely be to establish the reliability and reputation of your contractor. If you are in need of expert advice or professional roof repair services in Brambleton, VA or any other area in Virginia, give us a call today. Featured Image: Image Credit

Pay Attention To These 4 Things When Having Your Shingle Roof Installed {was first seen on http://roof.net