The Importance of Gutters
Learn how important your gutter is from the top of your house to the bottom and you will never take it for granted again! Your Gutter and your Cincinnati roof work together to protect your home. Thanks to cleanmyexterior.com for the information!
What to Look for in a Cincinnati Roofing Contractor
Keeping a roof above your head, whether it’s in a house or in an apartment building is pretty crucial.
Having a sweet home isn’t just about being able to afford the mortgage. Protecting your family is a priority, and you want to be able to ensure it stays that way. Having the right Cincinnati roofing contractor can protect your home and family.
As a home or property owner, you might know a bit about how your roof should look like, or what to look out for to take care of its fundamental structure. You might know how to use a powerwasher or do the exterior painting But you don’t know everything.
There are various factors that might affect how long a roof will last before it needs any kind or repair or replacement. You can help it last longer, however, by scheduling regular inspections and maintenance services. Factors such as weather conditions and surrounding structures such as trees or other buildings are things you cannot control. So when you are planning on improving your home, you can start by making sure you have the right Cincinnati roofing contractor.
Find A Contractor with Experience
You might not know specifics about your type of roofing you have or about the materials needed to build and repair it. But worry not, this isn’t crucial in order to find a good Cincinnati roofing contractor.
They will and they should take the burden off from your shoulders and explain to you everything that needs to be done in order to take care of your roof. In some cases they can even extend your roof’s expected lifetime.
Choose a Contractor with Insurance
This is kind of a deal breaker. Making sure that your contractor has worker’s compensation and liability insurance is a must. This will give you peace of mind that the service they will be providing you is protected.
You can ask to see the certificates and you can also make a couple of calls just to make sure the company is legitimate and that they’re covered.
Buy Local
Making this a priority will save you numerous headaches. Do some research on their previous work or read past customer’s online reviews. Look out for poor reviews, but also be cautious about the type of complaint that the customers seem to recur with.
Find out if they have any local reputation with people you actually know. Ask around, and speak to other property owners or neighbors.
Establish Communication Channels
Don’t worry about making a decision over the phone or within a couple of days. Any Cincinnati roofing contractor should not pressure anyone about hiring them. If they work well, their work will speak for themselves and their reviews will reflect that. Take your time finding out more about them.
If whenever you talk with them again, they don’t respond, they don’t send the information you requested, or they don’t return your calls, don’t hire them. You want to be able to voice your concerns; a Cincinnati roofing job, no matter how big or small, is an important investment that you or anyone else shouldn’t take lightly.
5 Clear Signs You Need a New Roof
If you are a homeowner, then you have probably at one time or another thought about your roof, as well as chimney repair, power washing, and remodeling of your home. A roof, though, is the first line defense to your interior and you want to make sure that your home is protected. In Ohio, Cincinnati roofs take a beating over the harsh winters and sultry summers. One way to verify your roof is in good condition is to contact a Cincinnati roofing contractor for an inspection. In this short guide, you will be informed of the top five clear signs that you need a new roof.
- Missing/Cracked Shingles
Shingles are of the utmost importance on a roof. They are the first line defense to keeping water out of your home. Shingles, like all other products, have a lifespan. You need to monitor your shingles carefully, because if they reach a certain point where they are cracking and curling, you may not be able just to replace the shingles, you may have to replace the entire roof, especially if water damage has occurred.
- Water Leaks
Water leaks can cause a great deal of harm if they are not repaired quickly. Standing water on a roof is not a good sight to see. Most of the time when standing water is visualized on a roof it is due to an improperly installed roof. There can be other reasons as well such as a clogged drain or a loose flashing, but sometimes these repairs would be harder to fix, based on their locations, than installing a whole new roof.
- Visual Damage
If a rain or wind storm and blown through Ohio and, particularly, Cincinnati roofs, you may have been left with apparent damage to your roof. You may see a tree branch that has caused a gaping hole in the roof. If this is the case, you need to get your roof repaired immediately to avoid further damage. A Cincinnati roofing contractor could be consulted to give an estimate and a timeline to when the roof could be repaired or replaced.
- Roofing Bubbles
Another clear sign that you may need to have a new roof placed is if you notice large bubbles on your flat roofing. Sometimes roofing installations are not performed correctly and can cause large bubbles to appear on the surface of the roof. The bubbles are usually air-filled but can become filled with water if left untreated, which can then cause water leaks into the interior of your home.
- Sagging Roof
A sagging roof is yet another clear sign that you need to have your roof repaired or replaced. Usually, a wooden roofing deck that sits in between the exterior of the roof and the interior joists will start to sag when water leaks are occurring. The more sagging that is seen, the worse the water leak is. If you have sagging in more than one location, you may need to have your entire roof replaced.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors that can determine when you need a new Cincinnati roof. A Cincinnati roofing contractor will be able to give you an estimate of how much the cost would be if you are looking at replacing or repairing your roof. Cincinnati roofs go through the gamut of weather in Ohio, so make sure you are carefully observing your roof and gutters each season. If you follow our advice on the top five clear signs that you need a new roof, your interior will stay as beautiful and new as it is now and well into the future!
Warning Signs You Need a New Roof
Don’t wait to replace your Cincinnati roof until your shingles are blowing in the wind and your gutters and downspouts are on the ground. An emergency roof replacement is expensive. Leaks can cause additional rot and mold problems that require specialist water damage restoration services to reverse. Evaluate your roof every summer and after every major storm to catch the warning signs early.
The age of your roof
You can expect a roof in Cincinnati to last 20-25 years. However, nature isn’t always kind. Cincinnati roofs are exposed to constant sun, rain, and wind. If your roof is approaching its “late teens” it’s time to start checking on it more frequently and making plans for when it needs replacing.
Of course, younger roofs can develop problems as well. Even if you got your roof installed five years ago you should do regular maintenance checks just to be on the safe side.
Warped shingles
Shingles should lie in crisp, flat rows. If you notice that your shingles seem to be curling or falling out of line with the others this is a major warning sign. If only a few shingles are doing this, you may be able to replace them and prolong the life of your Cincinnati roof as a whole. That’s all that you will be doing, however. Even the best maintained roofs eventually wear out and need to be replaced. If shingles are coming loose, or if the asphalt itself is buckling and bowing, your roof has simply reached the end of its useful life.
Damage to the roof valleys
Your roof valleys are the places that receive the most wear and tear on your roof. Water is funneled off of your roof through these depressions; they often make up the angle of a roof where two planes meet. Leaks are a major concern in these areas. If you notice that your shingles here are particularly loose, this could be a warning sign that you may have to replace your roof. Also, check to make sure that the underpinning on the shingles is water tight. Tar or roof cement wears out more quickly than metal fittings. Check for this problem around weak areas on the roof such as a chimney or skylight as well.
What are your neighbors doing
This isn’t a question of keeping up with the Joneses. Most houses in a Cincinnati neighborhood were built about the same time. They’ve been exposed to the same weather patterns in that time. If you notice that more than one or two of your neighbors are replacing their roofs, you should do a thorough inspection of yours. Unless your house is drastically newer than others in the area your roof will be in about the same condition.
The best way to extend the life of your Cincinnati roof, past the average for the neighborhood, is regular cleaning and maintenance. Fixing loose shingles every spring and double-checking for leaks after the first big storm of the year will help you fix small problems before they become major. Even the best maintained roof will need to be replaced eventually. It’s better to heed the warning signs and schedule your roof replacement with Best Cincinnati Roofing; don’t wait for an emergency to arise.