PART I: THINGS TO CHECK AFTER ROOF INSTALLATION

Embarking on and overseeing any major contracting work project can be nerve-racking, especially when it falls on you to constantly monitor the work being done. If you didn’t keep a close eye on things, how would you know whether or not the work being done was progressing properly and if the roofer was, in fact, upholding the details of the contract?

Even if you were conscientious about monitoring the project’s progress, and assuming that all the materials specified in the contract were actually used, and all specifications were followed, there should still be a few more things for you to check on before you agree to sign off on the project’s completion papers.

CHECK FOR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP

High quality roofing contractors don’t cut corners, period. However, not all homeowners are fortunate enough to find and hire truly reputable contractors. Some might be more than willing to take a shortcut here and there to save on materials and labor costs.

Some of the roof components you need to do a visual check on are the flashings, gutters, and downspouts. The flashings should be aligned properly and the gutters should be sloped towards the downspouts, not the other way around.

If shingles were used on your roof, you should also check if any of them are misaligned. Misaligned shingles can lead to roof leaks in the future.

PART I: THINGS TO CHECK AFTER ROOF INSTALLATION

CHECK TO SEE IF THE AREA IS CLEAN

Any good contractor knows that they need to clean up once they’ve completed the job. A simple walk around the premises will reveal if they’ve actually cleaned up. You should look for nails or debris, especially if an old roof was torn down before installing a new one.

LOOK FOR ANYTHING UNUSUAL

While walking around the house, you can also take the time to look at the roof and check for anything unusual. These would include sags, unevenness, dips, and obvious signs of damage. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert on roofing. If something seems out of the ordinary, you should have the contractor explain. If the contractor can’t provide an acceptable explanation, feel free to have them correct the fault.

Just because a contractor claimed that they completed the job does not mean that you must instantly take their word for it. It would be best if you took the time to check and see if they did a good job, even if they do provide a warranty. You may be able to rely on the warranty, but that doesn’t save you the headache of finding out that your contractor made mistakes (intentional or unintentional).

In the next part of this series, we will discuss warranties and what you need to check and consider. Stay tuned!

PART II: WARRANTIES

If you’re satisfied with the work and have signed on the completion certificate, the only thing that will protect you from poor workmanship is the warranty. There are two basic warranties for roofing contracts: the contractor’s workmanship warranty or installation warranty and the manufacturer warranty.

The manufacturer warranty protects you from defects on the products, but rarely would this be of any use for you. Most defects are attributed to poor installation, so you should really focus on the installation or workmanship warranty.

You might already be aware of the warranty that the contractor provides. Even so, go through it one more time (or more if you need to). You need to be aware of the period of the warranty, among other finer details.

THE WARRANTY PERIOD

Most contractors will provide a workmanship warranty for a period of 10 years or more. If something goes wrong with your roof, simply call the contractor and have them fix it for free. Some contractors even provide a lifetime warranty.

A workmanship warranty sounds great, but make sure you read the fine print. Most warranties of this type will state that the contractor will only honor the warranty if they were the only ones who worked on the roof. This means that having another contractor do even a minor repair job can void the warranty.

PART II: WARRANTIES

Another thing that can void a contractor’s warranty is if they go out of business. If the contractor went bankrupt after a year and closed shop, you’ll no longer be able to count on the warranty. So pick a reputable contractor to begin with.

MONETARY LIMITS

Most manufacturer warranties do not have monetary limits. However, some do, so you should check this carefully – yes, even if the warranty is an NDL (No Dollar Limits). Always read the fine print because you could end up wasting a lot of time and money.

EXCLUSIONS

You should also read this portion carefully. Warranties often state that the warranty does not cover certain factors or situations, such as acts of God, abuse, or lack of maintenance.

Once you’re familiar with the warranties, you should focus on maintaining your new roof. Remember, some warranties can be voided if you fail to maintain the roof. In Part III, we’ll discuss maintenance procedures that

will ensure that your roof lasts a long time.

PART III: MAINTENANCE OF NEW ROOFS

In the previous parts of this series, we discussed what types of roofing warranties are available to you, should you need them. If you hired a high-quality contractor, there’s a good chance that you won’t need the warranty. However, you shouldn’t be lax about roof maintenance. No matter how good your contractor is, if you fail to maintain a new roof, it might not last as long as you expected it to.

Here are a few roof maintenance tips that will make your roof last longer and save you money on repair costs after the warranty period.

CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS

One of the most common reasons why roofs and gutters start to leak is because of debris that blocks the normal flow of water. You can’t imagine what people find in their gutters. By checking your gutters regularly, you’ll be able to make sure that there are no blockages.

You should also check for any stagnant water, even if the draining system is clear. Stagnant water is a sign that the gutter is poorly sloped, or that it is sagged or dipped.

CHECK THAT GUTTERS ARE ALWAYS SECURE

Gutters can come loose, especially if you live in an area with frequent high winds or hurricanes. If you find loose gutters, you can have these fixed before the gutter falls off.

PART III: MAINTENANCE OF NEW ROOFS

TRIM TREES NEAR THE ROOF

If you have a tree or two near the roof, make sure that no branches or leaves hang over or cover a portion of the roof. If they do, make sure you trim them or you’ll need to clean your roof more frequently than you may really want to.

REMOVE SNOW

During winter, thick slabs of snow can damage your roof. If it snowed heavily, rake the snow off immediately – or at least, as soon as the weather clears.

If you take the time to maintain your roof, you’ll save yourself from a lot of future potential roofing problems. Checking on your roof once or twice a month should suffice. Make sure as well to check your roof after every major weather disturbance, if only to make sure that nothing’s come loose.

Roofing by Curry

6245 Clark Center Ave. J Sarasota, Florida 34238

(941) 270-4770

RoofingByCurry.com