Tag: roof installation services in Orlando

  • Questions You Should Ask a Roofer Before You Hire

    Questions You Should Ask a Roofer Before You Hire

    It’s important to hire the right contractor to handle any of your roofing needs. There could be a lot of roofers near where you live and if you want the best job for the best price, you may need to shop around. Asking the right questions, however, can help you to narrow down your search and hire the right contractor the first time.

    Do You Have a License?

    In most states, a license is required to operate as a roofing contractor. Florida is one of these states, which means that any contractor you talk to should have a license. The license should also be up-to-date. Anyone without a current roofing license to operate in your area should be crossed off your list.

    What Insurance Do You Have?

    If something goes wrong during the roofing work, it’s important to know who is liable. If the roofing contractor doesn’t have liability insurance that covers worker injuries, the homeowner could be on the hook. Your contract should have both general liability insurance as well as workers’ comp insurance.

    What Is the Warranty on the Roof?

    It’s also important to know how long the warranty will be for your roof. The minimum warranty you should look for is 25 years, depending on the material used on the roof. Longer-lasting materials should come with a longer warranty. Too short a warranty may indicate that the contractor knows that the roof won’t last very long and doesn’t want to pay for a replacement.

    Do You Provide Written Estimates?

    Do You Provide Written Estimates

    It’s a good idea to get everything in writing before you consider signing. Having a written estimate of what the work on your roof will cost so that you can compare it to other roofers’ estimates can help you to decide between different roofers.

    How Long Have You Been in Business?

    The longer a contractor has been in business, the more possible reviews you can check out. Additionally, they’ll also be more experienced. That isn’t to say that newer roofers won’t do a good job and that every long-term contractor is excellent, but you can see more examples of other work that contractor has done if they’ve been in business for a while.

    How Will You Protect My Lawn?

    How Will You Protect My Lawn

    During your roofing project, there could be a lot of people walking on your lawn to get to the roof. Additionally, there are roofing materials that have to be transported onto and off of the roof. Your roofer should have a plan for how to protect your lawn and any landscaping and plants from traffic and materials.

    What Will You Do to Make Sure the Project Is Completed on Time?

    While unexpected delays could occur, you’ll want to make sure that your contractor has a plan to complete your project on time. You don’t want to have your roof half-finished when hurricane season rolls around because a contractor was overbooked and kept pushing your project back. Some delays may be unavoidable, but there are problems that a contractor can plan for, such as needing additional materials, weather, and more.

  • Signs of a Roofing Scam

    Signs of a Roofing Scam

    There are a lot of excellent, reputable roofing companies out there. Unfortunately, however, not every roofing company is honest and it’s important for homeowners to be able to tell the difference so that they don’t fall for a roofing scam. The following are signs of a roofing scam that homeowners should look out for.

    Door-to-Door Sales

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    If a roofing contractor knocks on your door and tells you that your roof needs to be repaired, then that’s a sign it might be a scam. Be wary of any unsolicited reports that your roof is damaged. Someone knocking on your door won’t have inspected your roof yet and so any information about roof damage may be inaccurate. If you’re concerned that your roof does actually have damage, it’s a good idea to search for a known reputable roofing company to conduct an inspection.

    Storm Chasing

    Storms, especially in Florida, which gets seasonal hurricanes, can cause a lot of damage to roofs. However, you should beware of any roofer that knocks on your door after a storm to let you know about damage to your roof. This is because, especially during hurricane season, reputable roofers are too busy repairing roofs to solicit sales door-to-door. If someone knocks on your door after a storm, it’s still a good idea to seek out a roof inspection, but you should shop around for a roofing contractor.

    No Website

    client no website

    While not every roofing contractor has a full website, it’s much more common for a reputable company to have an online presence so that you can check customer reviews. A scammer may not have any online presence at all. This makes it easier for them to completely disappear once they’ve got your money.

    Asking for Full Payment Upfront

    A small down payment is normal for roofing work. This is to cover the cost of materials before the contractor gets started on the roof. However, if the roofer asks for either a large down payment or the entire payment upfront, then that’s a sign of a scam. Many scammers will disappear as soon as they have the money, or partway through the roofing job, leaving you with an unfinished roof. The bulk of the payment should always be paid at the end after the work is complete, just in case the original scope of the project changes part way through.

    Low Price

    If the price that a roofer quotes seems too good to be true, that’s because it probably is. It’s important to shop around and ask for quotes from several different sources. However, most quotes from reputable roofing companies will be in the same ballpark. The materials and the labor shouldn’t be radically different. If one quote is a lot lower than the others, then it might be a scam in which either the scammer disappears with your money or inflated costs come up later on.

    Offers to Handle Insurance Claims

    insuranceIf a roofer offers to handle processing the claim with your insurance company for you, that’s a sign of a scam. This is because the roofer might report more work to the insurance company than was actually done, thus committing insurance fraud. In this scam, the roofer offers to pay your insurance deductible for you. The homeowner should always have a hand in the insurance claim process so that you know exactly what’s being claimed.

  • Signs That You Need a New Roof

    Signs That You Need a New Roof

    Roofs can be long-lasting. Some may last for decades. However, no roof can last forever. It’s important for homeowners to pay attention to their roofs for signs that it’s time for a roof replacement. Getting a replacement roof in a timely fashion can help to prevent damage inside the home caused by leaks in the old roof. But what are some signs that homeowners should look for that indicate it’s time for a new roof?

    There’s Water Damage in the Attic

    The most important role a roof plays is keeping water and other things from entering the house. An old roof that’s ready to be replaced may no longer be able to do this well. This means that water might get in. You won’t see this from the outside, but if you inspect the attic, you can look for stains or streaks that indicate water damage.

    The Roof Has Extensive Damage

    How a roof can get damaged depends on the material used to construct it. Tiles may crack. Shingles can curl up, lose grain, or become cracked. A homeowner should be familiar with what their roof looks like when in good condition so that they can recognize when it’s not anymore. It’s especially important to inspect a roof for damage following a storm. Florida is prone to hurricanes, so there’s a good chance of roof damage after one has blown through. You can also hire a roofer to inspect your roof if you’re concerned.

    Your Neighbors Are Getting Roof Replacements

    Often, homes within the same neighborhood were built around the same time. This means that the roofs are typically around the same age and are often made of the same material. These roofs would therefore all have approximately the same life expectancy. If you see that multiple of your neighbors are getting their roofs replaced, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to as well, but it’s a good idea to start looking for other signs that it’s time for a replacement.

  • How Does a Roof Protect a House?

    How Does a Roof Protect a House?

    Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. This is because it protects your house. A roof keeps a home safe from the elements and can even help to make your home more energy-efficient, lowering your utility bills.

    A Roof Shields a Home from Weather

    Because of its position on top of a house, it’s the roof that is the first part of a home to come into contact with the weather. The roof is what protects a house from rain. If a roof has been damaged and its seal against the weather isn’t complete, water can leak into the house below, causing water damage to both the house and the property within. In Florida, roofs play an especially important role because of hurricanes that roll in every year. The rain can be torrential, so it’s essential for Florida homeowners to keep their roofs in good repair so that they can do their jobs of protecting the house from the weather.

    A Roof Protects a Home from Fallen Debris

    If you live near trees, then your roof also protects your home from debris that falls from the trees. This can include branches, as well as leaves and other debris that could otherwise get inside your home. In Florida, there may still be a risk of tree branches and other debris on a roof even if you don’t live near trees. This is because hurricanes also involve high-speed winds that can lift and transport debris far from its place of origin.

    A Roof Helps to Lower Energy Bills

    In Florida, air conditioning is a must in the heat of summer. Florida’s temperatures are regularly in the 80s, 90s, and even the 100s. Florida isn’t called the Sunshine State for nothing. That’s where the roof comes in. The right roof can help to reflect the sun’s rays away from the house. If less heat is absorbed into the house from the sun, the air conditioning unit doesn’t have to work as hard, which can ultimately lower your energy bills.