For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

PART ISo You’re Looking atGetting a New Roof...

So You’re Looking at Getting a New Roof...

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

Nothing lasts forever, and the roof over your head is no exception. Day in, day out, your roof shelters you from the sun and rain, and provides you with your first line of defense against the more severe forms of inclement weather. Eventually, whether from simple wear and tear, or perhaps due to damage from the weather, there will come a time when you’ll have to have work done on your roof, either to have it repaired, or to replace it entirely.

Having determined, in a general sort of way, that something needs to be done about your roof, the very first thing you need to do as part of your roofing project is to get an idea of what, exactly, needs to be done. Inspect the inside of your roof from within your attic. Is there a leak? Has rot or mold set in that might affect the structural integrity of your roof? Are there any sagging areas?

So You’re Looking at Getting a New Roof...

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

Do a visual inspection of your roof from the outside, too. Take a pair of binoculars and walk around your home, examining the roof as you go. Alternatively, you can use a ladder to climb up to the roof and look around. How extensive is the damage? How do the supporting structures look? Has rot set in in your eaves? Is the flashing still in good condition, or is it damaged or rusted?

If you have any sort of structural damage, then chances are you’re going to have to replace the roof; at the very least, you’re going to have to address the problem of the roof’s structural integrity. There’s no point installing a new roof over your head if it’s going to come crashing down on you anyway.

Even if the damage is limited enough that a patch job might take care of it, if your roof is within 5 years of the end of its serviceable lifetime, then you need to consider if it’s worth it to go with a patch job. After all, you’re going to need to replace the entire roof anyway in a couple of years. You might decide to go with the patch for now, but at the very least, you should start saving up for that new roof already.

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

PART IIGetting Up To Speed

Getting Up To Speed

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

Unless you’re an experienced do-it-yourself handyman, or you yourself just happen to work in roofing, you’re going to want to engage the services of a professional roofing contractor for your roofing project. Not only is it safer overall for you, but professionals are much less likely to make the kind of misjudgments that can result from doing the job yourself.

Before looking up contractors, however, take the time to do some research on your own. Make an estimate of how much the project is going to cost; even a “guesstimate” is better than having no idea at all. Set a budget, and set aside at least 10% of that budget as emergency funds, in case of contingencies.

Due diligence now will save you from headaches later on.

Some dos and don’ts when choosing a contractor:

▶ DO look up as many contractors from your immediate area as you can. Employing a local company will cut down the time it takes to complete the job, as well as costs due to transportation.

Getting Up To Speed

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

▶ DO verify licensing, identification, and insurance. Check that the contractor is legitimate by verifying tax identification number, business address, business website, email address, and contact number. Contact the local licensing board and find out what the relevant licenses are. Check with the local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints about the contractor. Ask to see license and insurance certificates.

▶ DO ask your prospective contractors for multiple references, preferably from your immediate area. Ask for at least one reference from a job where they encountered problems. This will help you determine how they handle unexpected complications. Contact the contractors’ references. Ask about their experiences with the company, and whether or not they’d recommend them.

▶ DO inform the contractors that you are shopping around, checking other contractors. Competition is good, and will help you get the best deal on your roofing project.

▶ DON’T take the contractor’s offer as set in stone. Negotiate; try to get the best deal you can. Tell them what your budget is, and ask for their help in keeping within the budget.

▶ DO find out who the contractor’s supplier is. Contact them and get references for them, too. Make sure you have both a good contractor and supplier.

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

PART IIIGetting It All On Paper

Getting It All On Paper

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

Having finally chosen the contractor for your roofing project, it’s time to buckle down and get the paperwork out of the way. On no account should you let any actual work start without work plans, a contract, and the requisite permits. Have the contractor draw up detailed plans for the renovation project. This should include what work will be done in each area as well as what materials will be used. Each piece of work that will be done should be included in the project plan.

Working together with the contractor, use the plans to come up with a detailed contract for the job. This includes daily start and end times, safety procedures to be undertaken, as well as details on how clean up will be done. Each separate sub-project should be listed, and include the list of materials, the number of people needed to do each sub-job within the greater whole, costing for both the materials and the labor, and the time it will take to complete each sub-item.

Getting It All On Paper

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

The contract should include payment particulars, such as down payments or advances for materials, payment schedules, as well as penalty clauses if a particular job is not finished on time. If early completion is a factor, the contract should also include details of the rewards for early completion.

DO NOT, under any circumstances, pay for anything ahead of time, much less the entire job, or allow that to be part of the contract. Payment should be contingent on job completion.

With plans and contract in hand, secure the necessary permits for the project. While the contractor may be able to get you the permits as part of the job, the responsibility for making sure all the paperwork is in order is ultimately yours.

The permits necessary for your roofing project will vary depending on the town or city where you live; check with your local Building Safety office. You will almost certainly need a building permit; in addition to the job documentation, you may also need to secure permits for the different types of work being done.

If your house is located in a historic or archeological district, it may be necessary to obtain approval for the projected changes. In such a case, you will need to secure a permit from the associated review board or committee.

For Want of a Roof: A Guide to Roofing Projects

RHINO ROOFING3720 Commercial Street NE Suite 400

Albuquerque, NM 87107

(505) 552-3900www.RhinoRoofingABQ.com