Whether you’re a homeowner or a commercial landlord, you need to pay attention to your property’s roof. It might not be as noticeable as the other parts of your structure, but it plays a huge role in keeping your building in good condition and ensuring it can last for a long time.
Because of this, you have to make it a point to take care of your roof and repair it when needed. If you’re not sure where to begin, you can start by keeping these do’s and don’ts in mind:
DO’s:
Do assess your roofing materials
Take the time to visually inspect your roof and assess its condition. Are the materials still in good shape or do they look worse for the wear? Check for cracks, tears, leaks, and other signs of damage, and inspect the gutters and pipes to see if they’re still in good condition.
Do evaluate your roof’s needs
Your roof inspection should tell you what has to be done to keep your roof in excellent shape. If it only has minimal defects, you can hire someone who’ll fix these issues and have roof recovering done to protect the roof from further weather damage. However, if extensive damage is present, doing recovering isn’t a viable option since it won’t fix the underlying structural problems. In this case, tearing off the old roof and installing a new one might be the only solution.
Do ensure your roof meets building codes
Ignorance of the law isn’t an excuse. So, as early as possible, familiarize yourself with your local building codes and ensure that your roof and the rest of your property adhere to them. This way, you can avoid getting into legal troubles and stay away from the costs and headaches that they bring.
Do consider the future
When doing roof replacement, repairs, or new installation, it can be tempting to stick to the cheapest possible solutions to keep your expenses low. But remember: cheap materials often have low quality and can’t last for a long time. So, while you might save more today, you might end up spending more in the coming months and years.
DON’Ts:
Don’t say no to alternative materials
Asphalt roofing is one of the most common materials used in roof recovering since it’s budget-friendly and easy to install and maintain. But this doesn’t mean that you should limit yourself to asphalt. There are many other options out there such as liquid rubber, spray foam, and PVC, so it’s sensible to find out which option best suits your needs and budget.
Don’t let problems go unfixed
Once you notice roofing issues (no matter how minor they may seem), take steps to fix them ASAP. Don’t wait until they snowball into bigger problems, which can be difficult to repair and can result into bigger costs.
Don’t hesitate to hire a professional
Roof repairs, recovering, tear-offs, and installations require special skills and knowledge. Because of this, it makes sense to get the help of professional and experienced roofers. This way, you have the assurance that your roof problems are being taken care of by experts who know the correct solutions and will finish everything within the shortest possible time.
Remember these do’s and don’ts to keep your roof in great shape and help it last for years.