Roof Repair - After a Major Storm

The rain has stopped, the storm has passed and the homeowner must now venture outside to assess the damage left behind by Mother nature. Tree limbs have come down all around the house and one enormous limb teeters precariously upon the roof. Pieces of shingles dot the lawn, and there is no doubt about it, roof repair is necessary, as soon as possible.

After the tree limb has been safely removed from the roof, a contractor should be called out to the house to perform a professional evaluation of any damage the roof might have sustained. Whether or not a complete tear off will be necessary will be determined by the contractor at that time and an estimate will be written up. Roof repair can be expensive, so the homeowner should hire a reputable, insured and licensed contractor, who has provided references with photos of work that has been done by their business.

Once the evaluation of the damage is complete and an estimate has been written up and submitted to the homeowner, decisions about how to proceed must be made as soon as possible, before the structure of the home is compromised by outside elements coming in. Roof repair should never be postponed because a break in the shingles affects the barrier they provide between the outdoors and the interior of the home. Over time, even a small leak can create significant problems for the structure: damage to the drywall, insulation, window frames, siding and more, as well as providing mold and fungus a place to grow, which can lead to health issues for the homes occupants.

The choice of materials to use is another consideration the client must make. If the roof repair has transformed into a roof replacement, now may be an opportune time to make the home more energy efficient and eco-friendly. The use of shingles manufactured from recycled materials is one option, or the installation of a metal roof - available in various styles, colors and texture - which has a longer life than standard asphalt shingles. To add an additional eco-friendly dimension to the project, a request can be made to dispose of all discarded materials at a zero-waste landfill.

The contractor and crew hired to do the roof repair should have experience with all styles of gables, peaks, dormers and flat roofs, and be educated about the correct way to install materials around skylights, eaves, vents, gutters, chimneys and solar panels. If paying for a complete replacement, be certain new wood, underlayment and vapor barrier are used in addition to the shingles, shakes, tiles or metal panels.

The homeowner should request that all guarantees and warranties on both the materials and the installation work be put into writing, and check that all costs incurred during the project match the fees listed in the written estimate and are in line with the final bill. Once the work is complete, all materials have been hauled away and cleanup is done the homeowner should be satisfied the home is once again weather tight and secure.