Do you need a roof repair or want to replace it? Did a recent tornado or rainstorm damage your home’s roof? If so, you will likely search for a roofing contractor to solve your problems. 

Chances are that you have started doing a Google search, but there is so much to look at and check out to hire reliable roofing or reroofing contractors. 

You want to ensure the shortlisted roofer is licensed, insured, and has experience repairing or installing a specific roof type (like a terracotta roof). 

 This article will guide you on what to do to streamline the process of finding and hiring a trusted roofing contractor for the specific job.

What is a Roofing Contractor?

Unlike a general contractor or home renovation expert, a roofing contractor is an expert who specializes in repairing, replacing, and installing roofs. 

Also referred to as roofers, they are trained and skilled in working with different roofing materials, ventilation, underlayment, and other important roofing system components.

What to Look for When Choosing a Reoofing Contractor in Melbourne?

While many factors are considered when choosing a roofing contractor to repair, replace, or install a new roof Melbourne, here are a few primary considerations:

Roofing contractors must be licensed, bonded, and insured.

The roofing contractor you shortlist should be licensed, bonded, and insured. Hiring the roofers with these three pieces of paper can protect you and ensure the roofing job is done right. To ensure a roofer has all three, consider asking them for proof.

Licensed

A roofing contractor must register with your state’s board of licensing contractors to get the license to run a roofing business. It’s a must for roofing contractors to have a general contractor’s license, as roofing is a significant investment.

Bonded

Working with a bonded roofing company will ensure that if the company runs out of business during the middle of your roofing project or there is a problem with their work, and they don’t fix it, you can fall back on the bond company. 

Being bonded means that the bonding company ensures the customers that a roofing contractor does business efficiently and ethically.

Insured

An insured roofing contractor is always safe to work with. Suppose a roofer got injured while working on your roofing project on your property.

In such a case, you will have to bear his medical expenses when working with the uninsured roofing company. However, you can prevent such expenditure by collaborating with an insured roofing contractor.

Ratings and reviews

Another pro tip to hire trustworthy roofing or reroofing contractors is to check their reviews and ratings. You can ask around or check online. 

For instance, ask your neighbours, friends, or family members which roofing company they have previously worked with for their roofing projects. 

You can also browse online to check reviews and ratings of roofing contractors, such as Google reviews, social media reviews, or any other genuine platform.

Check physical address

A roofing company might serve a larger area outside of its main office or have a physical address locally. You should know if the shortlisted roofer will do business in your area for one year or more after completing the work. 

It’s better to work with a local roofing contractor so that you can call them if there is a problem with your roof in the future. 

Moreover, local roofing contractors will know the local building or roof installation codes, the paperwork required, and other essential things. 

It will ensure your roof is appropriately installed while complying with your state’s requirements.

So, looking for roofers with a physical office location in your area and a local phone number is best. 

Look for an established roofing contractor

When investing in roof repairs or replacements, you must research how long a potential roofing company has been in the business. 

It’s more beneficial to work with well-established roofing and reroofing contractors who have a strong history of running a business in your area. 

 If you choose a newer roofing company with experience for a couple of years, chances are their prices will be much cheaper, but such contractors compromise on quality. 

On the other hand, an established roofing company will be skilled enough to offer high-quality roofing services.

Choose the roofing contractor standing behind their workmanship

Many reputed roofing contractors offer clients roof warranties to protect their roof investment. So, you can get one on the roofing materials and another on the chosen contractor’s workmanship. 

The warranty on the contractor’s workmanship can protect you from inadequate repair, improper roof installation or other mistakes during the replacement or installation process. 

Most roofing companies offer warranties for their workmanship from one year to 25 years or even a lifetime. When looking at potential roofing contractors, consider choosing the one providing a lifetime warranty or close to it.

Ask for references from roofing contractors

When meeting potential roofing contractors, you should ask for an estimate and references from the jobs completed in the past 3-6 months. 

A reputable roofing company will not hesitate to give you genuine references. After securing references, you can ask past customers about their experience with the shortlisted contractor. 

Consider asking the past customers below-discussed questions:

• How did the roofing contractor protect your property?
• Did the contractor complete the roofing project on time?
• What warranty did they offer on their workmanship?
• How did the contractor clean up after repairing or replacing the roof?

 Ask about roofing materials

You can find an array of materials to use for your roof. However, not all of them are good. See to it that the roofing contractor is known for using superior-quality materials when repairing or installing your roof. Anything less can increase the likelihood of your roof becoming damaged shortly.

To sum up it all!

When it comes to repairing or installing a roof, the skills and experience of the roofing contractor can make or break your project. 

It’s crucial to hire the right roofing contractor to repair or install a new roof Melbourne for efficient and timely project competition. These discussed tips will help you find a reputed, reliable, and experienced roofing contractor in your area.

Sometimes, when you closely pay attention to your home, you will realise that many parts have already started deteriorating and are reaching the end of their lifespan. But when it comes to the roof, you can find it hard to gauge whether it needs a repair or replacement. 

The primary reason for this dilemma is that the roof is installed at the topmost part of your house, and reaching it for inspection is a tall order. However, no matter how difficult it is, you should inspect your roof regularly, not just when you suspect an issue. 

Neglecting roofing problems for a long time can cause other severe problems and eventually damage the entire roofing system and building structure. 

It’s better to opt for professional roof replacement Melbourne to prevent such issues. These professionals will inspect your roof and replace it when necessary.

Going through this guide, you can uncover the reasons for immediate roof replacement. 

Why Should You Replace Your Roof Immediately? 

Old Roofs Might Not Survive Any Longer

Are you entering into the next harsh season soon? If so, assess your roof’s condition and see whether it can survive heavy snowfall, storms, or rain. It is particularly essential for houses in areas prone to harsh weather conditions. 

If your roof is close to the end of its lifespan and is battered, it won’t be able to survive the pressure of thick snowfall, heavy rainfall, or strong winds. You should know that roofs are often designed to last 30 years on average.  

If your roof hasn’t been repaired or maintained for several decades, now is the best time to replace it with a new one. Consider contacting professional roofers for roof replacement Melbourne before the typhoon season arrives. 

Sunlight is Peeping in Through the Roof

The attic is a prominent place to look for roof damage. You should not be able to see sunlight coming through the roof boards. However, if you do, there is a problem with your roof. 

There might be a hole or gaps in the internal structure of the roof, which brings unexpected sunlight into your attic. Well, it’s a valid reason to replace your roof. 

You might wonder what’s wrong with sunlight peeping through your roof. Bear in mind that the hole where sunlight can pass through is also the same one where water can seep into your attic. 

Water is the last thing you will want on your roof or attic as it could damage the home’s ceilings, walls, and even foundation and make your family uncomfortable.

If your roof has multiple holes or gaps, the situation requires immediate action, i.e., urgent roof replacement. 

Missing Roof Tiles

If your roof is made of terracotta or concrete tiles, one obvious sign that your roof needs to be replaced is when one or more tiles are missing. When that happens, consider your roof already compromised. 

But don’t worry; missing roofing tiles might not be bad news. You can save your current roof if the remaining tiles are otherwise in excellent condition. It means the missing tiles were either not securely installed or blown away by extreme weather.

In such a case, you can buy roof tile replacements and ask a professional roofer to install them immediately to protect your attic and ceiling from water damage. 

However, if the remaining tiles are chipped, curled, or broken, that’s when you should worry. It means that missing tiles are not the only problem. 

Eventually, other tiles will also start falling apart, leading to severe structural damage. In such a case, you should opt for a new roof installation. 

Roof is Infested with Pests

If pests have already invaded your roof and gutters, there’s no doubt you will need a pest infestation service. Sometimes, you can even save your roof through deep cleaning.

However, if your roof has been infested with pests for a long time, there is a high chance that termites and other creepy crawlies have moved into your attic, wreaking havoc on the roof and attic. 

If this is the case with your roof, the damage might have been already done. In such a case, you will have no choice but to remove and replace the roof. 

Planning to sell the House

If you plan to sell your house soon, an old, saggy, and rusty roof will not help your case. Instead, it will lower your home’s market value. 

To increase the market value of your home, you should consider roof replacement Melbourne if it is not in excellent condition. 

It can be an excellent investment as it will help maintain your house’s integrity, beautify the property, and add value to its appraisal. 

Leaky Roof

Another obvious sign that the roof needs repair or replacement is roof leaks. Regular attic inspection, especially after heavy rainfall, can help you check your roof for leaks. 

Besides the attic, you can check the walls and ceilings for any signs of ice dams. When the melted snow runs down the tiny holes in your roof, it can freeze again, forming ice dams on walls or ceilings. 

As the rain continues, water will run down the roof but will be blocked by ice dams. As a result, water will start accumulating under the roofing tiles, forcing its way into your home. 

If only a tiny part of the roof has leaks, it might not be necessary to replace the roof; minor repairs will do. However, if your roof leaks extensively, you should opt for complete roof replacement. 

To sum up it all

The state of your roof is essential for any house. You must keep it in good condition and ensure it is not damaged to keep yourself and your family safe and at ease. 

However, the roofs are not designed to last for a lifetime and, thus, require replacements after certain intervals. 

Your roof can encounter several issues like missing or broken tiles, leaky roofs, pest infestation, etc. You can prevent such problems with regular roof assessments and by taking necessary measures such as roof repairs or new roof installation. 

If confused about whether or not to replace the roof, look for the above-discussed signs.