A house is a long-term investment and a significant decision any person can make in their life. That being said, every homeowner should always protect their investment and keep every part of their house in excellent condition.
Unfortunately, when it comes to house maintenance, roofs are at the bottom of the priority list. But as the protector of your home, you should also give importance to the roof.
That’s why when it comes to hiring a Roofing Company in Bridgeport, WV, making smart choices is essential for homeowners. Here are some terrible, yet common mistakes a typical homeowner does that you should avoid.
- Doing the Job Yourself
In any roofing repairs and maintenance, every home owner’s goal is to save as much money as they could. There are plenty of instances when a little elbow grease on your part can save you money without sacrificing the quality.
But let’s face it, not everyone has the same experience and skills that professional roofing contractors cultivated from years of working on roofing and other home repair projects.
Roofing is a complicated job that requires professional training. There’s always more to a roof than shingles. The whole system is made up of several layers that work together to protect your home from weather elements.
Proper installation and repairs would work to make the goal a reality, while an improper installation can only result in damaging your attic, walls, and foundation.
Doing the roof repairs and installations on your own might seem like a smart plan, but it might end up causing more problems in the long run. This might force you to spend even more to have these issues fixed by a professional than you would have if you just hired them in the first place.
Safety is also another thing to consider. Even professionals and seasoned do-it-yourselfers often underestimate the danger of taking on roofing projects when in it’s been reported to be one of the deadliest jobs in 2016 with 101 fatalities on that year with 48.6 per 100,000 workers fatal work injury rate.
- Not Cleaning the Gutters
Cleaning the gutters may appear to be a tedious task, but it’s a necessary thing to do. The key to having a quality roof system is keeping them in good working condition which you can do by keeping it clean and free of debris such as dead leaves, twigs, birds’ nest, and others. It’s merely part of the responsibility of owning a home.
So, what are the consequences of forgetting to clean your gutters or willfully ignoring them? Well, it can cause a whole lot of problems.
First, the debris that accumulates in your gutters during the dry season can cause clogging which you might not even notice until your gutters start overflowing on the first massive storm of the season.
Once your gutters start to overflow, it could put it at risk of some severe water damage or even collapse. Repairing all these potential issues can be pretty expensive.
However, this goes beyond paying for new gutters. This could also end up damaging to other parts of your house, including your foundation. Clogged gutters allow water to enter your basement or crawl space, which can lead to mold and other water damage. The water could also freeze and crack your foundation during the winter.
- Waiting Too Long
One of the worst things a homeowner can do is to neglect their roof. When you delay any small but necessary repairs, the problems would only worsen and cost you more money in the end.
As soon as you notice a problem with your roof, you need to contact a professional to perform an inspection right away. It’s also a good idea to get regular inspections instead of just waiting for visible signs of damage. This would help avoid problems from even occurring in the first place.
The roof should also be replaced as soon as it approaches 10-15 years of age, especially when there are preliminary signs of damage, such as shingle edge curling or missing shingles. It can cost you a lot more if you delay your roof replacement.
- Choosing the Cheapest Roofers
Cheaper is not always better. Hiring the lowest bidder to perform a roofing service for you is often too good to be true. In fact, it is!
It is a dangerous move to purchase a roof based on the price alone. At first, it may seem like a great way to avoid costly expenses, but this only appears in that way. In reality, this will likely lead to saving money in the short-term and will likely lead to long-term and costly repairs.
If hiring the lowest bidding contractor is necessary, keeping a healthy skepticism at all times would prevent being tricked by shady roofers. A significant amount of roofs completed by contractors that offered service at a low price were either done poorly or with builder-grade or contractor-grade materials.
Again, it’s always less expensive to do things right the first time. There are plenty of things you can do to ensure you hire the right roofing contractor. Take the time to read reviews of these roofers before working with them. Make sure that you also ask them questions that any reputable company would answer in detail and in a professional manner.
The price is an essential criterion for selecting a professional roofing contractor, but it shouldn’t be the only one. You should also consider other qualities, such as professionalism and quality workmanship.
In these instances, do not hesitate to contact a professional for your West Virginia roofing and Ohio roofing needs. Fahey Roofing Contractors is the trusty roofing contractor that will help with necessary roof repairs and replacement. Check out our residential and commercial roof repair services on our website or contact us at (304) 826-1333 to learn more.